From rom-coms to horror films
Greta Gerwig’s 'Barbie' (2023) was the first film directed by a solo female director to join the billion-dollar club. This groundbreaking achievement served as a reminder of how, time and time again, movies directed by women have silenced their critics by dominating the box office.
From comedies to animated films, and even superhero movies, let's take a look at the highest-grossing movies of all time by female directors. Click on to discover them.
Barely three weeks into its run, writer-director Greta Gerwig's blockbuster grossed an astounding US$1.03 billion at the global box office.
Considered one of the best animated films of all time, 'Frozen' earned US$1.28 billion in worldwide box-office revenue. It was co-directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.
By the same directors, 'Frozen II' was even more successful than its prequel, earning US$1.45 billion on global ticket sales.
Co-directed by Anna Boded and Ryan Fleck, with US$1.13 billion in ticket sales it became the first female-starring superhero movie to pass the billion-dollar mark.
With a world gross of US$821.8 million, 'Wonder Woman,' directed by Patty Jenkins, became not only a box-office hit, but also one of the best-reviewed films of the DCEU.
Sisters Lilly and Lana Wachowski followed up their 1999 hit with 'The Matrix Reloaded' in 2003, which grossed US$741.8 million.
Released six months after 'The Matrix Reloaded,' the Wachowski sisters' third Matrix installment grossed US$427.3 million worldwide.
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the martial art animation film grossed US$665 million worldwide against its US$150 million budget.
Phyllida Lloyd's ABBA movie musical 'Mamma Mia!' made us all dream of Greece. This earned it US$611 million worldwide.
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the worldwide phenomenon grossed US$569.7 million globally.
Pixar's first film with a female protagonist, 'Brave' was directed by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews. It grossed a whopping US$539 million worldwide.
Co-directed by duo Vicky Jenson and Andrew Adamson, 'Shrek' was the first animated film since 1953’s 'Peter Pan' to compete for the Palme d’Or. Grossing US$484.4 million, it also won the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Grossing US$443.1 million on a $70 million budget, 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel' was directed by Betty Thomas.
After the successful book series, the movie kicked off the vampire renaissance of the late 2000s. Directed by Catherine Hardwick, the film grossed US$408.4 million worldwide.
Featuring an ensemble cast, 'Shark Tale' made US$374.6 million worldwide against its US$75 million budget. It was directed by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, and Rob Letterman.
'What Women Want' is a 2000 rom-com directed by Nancy Meyers. It had a worldwide gross of US$374 million.
Directed by Mimi Leder, the film depicts the attempts to prepare for and destroy a comet that will cause a mass extinction. It grossed over US$349.5 million worldwide.
A box-office success that starred Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, the movie earned US$317.4 million. It was directed by Anne Fletcher.
Written and directed by Amy Heckerling, this '80s rom-com was a box-office success, grossing US$297 million worldwide.
Another Betty Thomas-directed movie, this now classic comedy, starring Eddie Murphy, grossed US$294.5 million.
Directed by co-star Elizabeth Banks, 'Pitch Perfect 2' outgrossed the original 'Pitch Perfect' (2012) in five days. It grossed US$287.1 million globally.
Directed by Sharon Maguire, the iconic 'Bridget Jones's Diary' was a worldwide success, earning US$281.9 million around the world.
Written, directed, and produced by Nancy Meyers, the hilarious 'Something’s Gotta Give' was a box-office success, earning US$265.3 million.
The iconic rom-com was directed by the late Nora Ephron. It ultimately grossed US$250.8 million in the global box office.
Another highly successful Nora Ephron-directed flick with the same stars, 'Sleepless in Seattle' grossed US$227.8 million.
Featuring an ensemble cast, 'It's Complicated' was another highly successful rom-com by Nancy Meyers. Worldwide, it grossed US$219.1 million.
Based on the 'Saturday Night Live' sketch of the same name, the comedy was a critical and commercial success, grossing US$183.1 million. It was directed by Penelope Spheeris.
Directed by Penny Marshall, 'Big' was pivotal to Tom Hank's career. It was also a huge commercial success, grossing US$151 million worldwide against a production budget of US$18 million.
Tom Hanks starred in another highly popular film directed by Penny Marshall. An all-time classic, 'A League of Their Own' grossed US$132.4 million.
Sources: (Forbes) (Evening Standard)
See also: The most essential rom-coms of the '90s
The highest-grossing movies ever directed by women
From 'Barbie' to 'Twilight,' these movies made a mark
MOVIES Female directors
Greta Gerwig’s 'Barbie' (2023) was the first film directed by a solo female director to join the billion-dollar club. This groundbreaking achievement served as a reminder of how, time and time again, movies directed by women have silenced their critics by dominating the box office.
From comedies to animated films, and even superhero movies, let's take a look at the highest-grossing movies of all time by female directors. Click on to discover them.