One of the most influential filmmakers in history, George Lucas has amassed quite a career for himself. First, as an up and coming filmmaker creating works such as American Graffiti before creating and starting the biggest franchise in cinema - Star Wars. Lucas founded and chaired Lucasfilm before selling it to Disney in 2012, but not before creating some brilliant IP’s.
George’s directing and writing have been a mixed bag to some but has created unbelievable financial success, the same applying to his role as a producer with the filmmaker grossing an insane amount of money in his films. So, here are George Lucas’ 10 highest-grossing films - that he either directed or produced - according to Box Office Mojo.
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984) - $333,107,271 WORLDWIDE
Indiana Jones is a Speilberg/Lucas series of adventure epics, the original three of which are classics. The second in the trilogy, Temple Of Doom was a bit dark for some fans’ liking and so is not as fondly remembered as the two films that sandwich it, it is however still a great part of a brilliant trilogy.
The film nearly made back its whole budget of $28,000,000 in its opening weekend which seen it earn $25,337,110, going on to earn $179,870,271 domestically before a further $153,237,000 was earned internationally, giving the film its worldwide total of $333,107,271.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) - $390,133,212 WORLDWIDE
Raiders Of The Lost Ark was the first entry of the Indiana Jones series and is one of the finest number one films of a trilogy in history. With a gorgeous score, fantastic characters as well as brilliant set pieces, humor and action, Raiders Of The Lost Ark shaped Indiana Jones into the phenomena the man and the franchise are today.
It was also another box office hit for producer and creator George Lucas. With an $8,305,823 opening weekend leading into an original $212,222,025 domestic total, and with a further $141,766,000 internationally, the film totalled at $353,988,025 from an $18,000,000 budget, before three sets of re-releases in ‘82, ‘83 and 2012 brought its total up an extra $36,145,187 to $390,133,212.
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) - $474,310,887 WORLDWIDE
The third, and in hindsight what should have been the last of the Indiana Jones franchise was one in which Lucas and Spielberg decided to leave behind the darkness of its predecessor in favor of a lighter more comedic tone. Ultimately this has led to Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade being remembered more fondly, still containing that movie magic of the first two films.
It also killed at the box office. From a series high - to this point - budget of $48,000,000, the film opened up with a $29,355,021 weekend. It then went on to secure $197,171,806 in domestic gross and $277,139,081 internationally - from a combination of the original release and a small European re-release in 1992. This gave The Last Crusade its worldwide total of $474,310,887.
STAR WARS EPISODE VI: THE RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) - $475,347,111 WORLDWIDE
It was only a matter of time before a Star Wars movie made its way onto this list, and the first to do so is the iconic end to the Original Trilogy, Return Of The Jedi. Lucas did not direct but his story and producing were there to create a fantastic film which, while it was not at the quality of the other two in the trilogy, will remain timeless.
Releasing in May of 1983, the film initially opened at a weekend earning of $23,019,618 before building into a domestic total of $252,583,617 and an international gross of $122,009,457 making its worldwide total $374,593,074. However, a rerelease in 1985 led to a further $11,252,123 before the special edition re-release in ‘97 added a further $89,388,357 to its total, all that plus a small limited re-release in Australia in 2014, and the films total worldwide gross rose to $475,347,111 from a $32,500,000 budget.
STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - $547,879,454 WORLDWIDE
Arguably the greatest Star Wars film of all time, The Empire Strikes Back took what its predecessor gave it and delivered one of the greatest sequels and twists in cinema. The film is flawless with story, character, performances, lore, and filmmaking all coming as one to deliver brilliance.
With a budget of $18,000,000, the film opened in May of 1980 with a $4,910,483 weekend before earning a total of $209,398,025 domestically and $190,685,234 internationally in its original release. Through various re-releases in 1982, 1997 (special edition release), 2014 and 2015, the film amassed a further $148,023,308 making its worldwide total $547,879,454.
STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002) - $649,436,358 WORLDWIDE
From arguably the best to arguably the worst, Attack Of The Clones is the first film on this list thus far directed by Lucas and is undoubtedly the worst. With cringe-worthy dialogue with clunky performances during a sometimes boring film, Attack Of The Clones adds to the lore but is not a brilliantly made movie.
It did do well at the box office though going through a $115,000,000 budget to an $80,027,814 opening weekend. It did $310,676,740 domestically and $338,759,618 internationally during its initial release with re-releases in 2002 and 2014 earning the film a further $8,485,488 and $114,089 respectively, taking the films worldwide total to $649,436,358.
STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE (1977) - $775,512,064 WORLDWIDE
The film that kicked it all off and sent Lucas’ career into the stratosphere, A New Hope is one of the best and most influential films to have been made. A New Hope has beautiful images, brilliant characters and the kind of rare entertainment that comes along once in a generation, this is in large part to its creator and director George Lucas.
On top of that, it is a film credited for helping kick off a blockbuster era of Hollywood and a lot of that comes from the money it made. From only an $11,000,000 budget, the film in its original release opened at $1,554,475 before going on to gross $307,263,857 domestically and $195,751,992 internationally. Through re-releases in 1982, 1997 (special edition release) and 2014, the film earned an extra $272,723,328 taking its worldwide total to an unbelievable $755,512,64.
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008) - $786,636,033 WORLDWIDE
The fourth, and inarguably the worst Indiana Jones film, Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is a film that the less talked about it the better. Harrison Ford on screen and a little mindless entertainment are the only decent elements of this Lucas produced film.
It did make a boatload of money though. With a large $185,000,000 budget, the film ended up delivering financially, opening at $100,137,835, earning $317,101,119 domestically and $469,534,914 internationally during its original and only run, making its worldwide total $786,636,033.
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) - $850,035,635 WORLDWIDE
Revenge Of The Sith is the best of the prequels and has some of the best things about the Skywalker saga in it. While Lucas’ dialogue is still a bit meh, it fits much better here with better performances, a stronger story and some iconic scenes such as the Battle of the Heroes.
As well as destroying the hearts of fans of The Clone Wars, the film also destroyed the box office. The film very nearly earned its $113,000,000 budget back in its $108,435,841 opening weekend. Following that it earned a domestic gross of $380,270,577 with an international gross of $469,765,058 coming from its original release and a short Australian 2014 re-release, making its worldwide total $850,035,635.
STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999) - $1,027,082,707 WORLDWIDE
The only George Lucas film to rake in over $1,000,000,000, The Phantom Menace was one of the most anticipated films of a generation. Despite all of its awful issues from a filmmaking standpoint, the film does make way for a load of lore for the franchise and on top of that who could fault Duel of the Fates.
The film cost $115,000,000 to make earning $64,820,970 in its opening weekend before earning $431,088,295 domestically and $493,216,789 internationally giving a worldwide total of $924,305,084 for its initial run. When the film was re-released in 3-D in 2012 it earned another $102,739,593 with a small re-release in 2014 earning it a $114,089 gross taking its overall worldwide total to $1,027,082,707.
