Top Grossing Films of 2015
According to the latest box office data, the highest earning film worldwide was Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which grossed approximately $2.07 billion and was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The second highest earner was Jurassic World, which earned around $1.67 billion and was produced by Universal Pictures, with its opening weekend setting a new record at the time. Both films were released in the United States during the summer season and led the global market for the year. The third highest grossing title was Furious 7, which earned about $1.52 billion and was distributed by Universal Pictures, featuring a tribute to the late Paul Walker. The top five was completed by Avengers: Age of Ultron and Minions, which earned $1.40 billion and $1.16 billion respectively, with the latter produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. For additional box office figures and studio market share data, see the latest reports from Forbes and Box Office Mojo Forbes highest grossing movies 2015.
The 2015 theatrical market was dominated by a small number of franchise sequels and reboots, with the top ten films collectively earning over $10 billion worldwide. Studio distribution strategies relied heavily on 3D and IMAX formats, with Star Wars: The Force Awakens earning more than $200 million from international IMAX screens alone. The average production budget for the top five films ranged from $150 million to $300 million, with marketing costs adding tens of millions more per title. Domestic box office performance mirrored international trends, with Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens holding the number one and two positions in the United States for multiple consecutive weeks. The year also saw strong returns for animated films, with Minions becoming the highest grossing non sequel animated film at the time of its release.
Most Critically Acclaimed Films of 2015
On the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, the best reviewed film of 2015 was Mad Max: Fury Road, which holds a 97% critics score based on more than 300 reviews and was directed by George Miller and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. The second highest rated film was The Revenant, which holds a 78% critics score and was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, with the film later winning the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director. Spotlight, which won Best Picture at the 88th Academy Awards, holds a 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and was distributed by Open Road Films. The third highest rated film on Metacritic was Carol, which holds a score of 94 based on 44 critics and was distributed by The Weinstein Company. For a full list of award winners and nominations, see the official Academy Awards database Academy Awards 2016 ceremony.
Critics consensus from major publications highlighted Mad Max: Fury Road for its practical effects and sustained action, while Carol was praised for its cinematography and performances by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. The Revenant was noted for its use of natural light and long takes, with Leonardo DiCaprio winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role. Spotlight was recognized for its investigative journalism narrative and ensemble cast, winning Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Other highly rated films from the year included The Big Short, which holds a 96% critics score and was distributed by Paramount