We may have been feeling the effects of a recession in 2010 but the cinemas have been booming as Avatar dominated at the beginning of the year.
And 3D featured heavily at cinemas this year as a whole host of movies cashed in on this latest trend, some with more success than others.
But as 2010 draws to a close we are going to take a look back over the some of the most successful movies of the last twelve months, two of which broke the $1 billion barrier.
1. Toy Story 3 - $1,063,136,372
It’s hard to believe that we first saw Woody and Buzz on the big screen back in 1995, which saw the birth of Pixar and kicked off the revolution in animation movies.
And this summer Woody, Buzz and co were back as a third film in the Toy Story franchise hit the big screen and won over critics and cinema go-ers.
Toy Story 3, which is the best of the series, is the biggest grossing movie of the year as it broke $1 billion at the global box office.
It’s not only the biggest animation movie of all time, beating the record that was held by Shrek 2, but it is the fifth biggest movie of all time.
2. Alice In Wonderland - $1,024,299,722
Alice In Wonderland saw Tim Burton team up with leading man Johnny Depp for the first time since Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
3D was still a very exciting prospect for cinema go-ers and fans flocked to see Burton’s take on a famous tale and Depp take on the role of the Mad Hatter, a role that was perfect for the actor.
The movie brought together and all stars cast of Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Matt Lucas as well as introducing audiences to Mia Wasikowska.
The movie stormed the box office all over the world and broke through $1 billion, and became the sixth biggest movie of all time.
3. Inception - $823,368,082
Summer is usually about the big superhero blockbusters but this year it was Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic Inception that grabbed all the headlines.
Inception was the first movie for Nolan in two years, since that little film The Dark Knight in the summer of 2008, and it was to be a triumphant return.
Leonardo DiCaprio led the ensemble cast of Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tom Hardy and Michael Caine as Inception won rave reviews.
This bold and clever movie was a monster success and grossed over $823 million worldwide - could it sneak a Best Picture Oscar nomination?
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 - $782,601,257
To say that there has been some eager anticipation around the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 would be a little bit of an understatement as the movie has dominated the box office since its release.
The movie is the first part of the final instalment of the Potter franchise - which will see Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint leave behind the characters of Harry, Hermione and Ron after a decade.
And, as you may imagine the movie has been a huge success and is chasing down The Philosopher’s Stone, which it the most successful Potter movie in the series.
5. Shrek Forever After - $737,433,086
Animation really was the order of the day this year as the likes of Pixar, Dreamworks and Universal have all done battle in this genre.
Shrek Forever After is the final movie in the franchise that has been a huge success throughout the noughties.
One of the biggest franchises of all time Mike Meyers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas reunited for the final time - but had just as big a hit this time around.
Shrek 2 is the biggest movie in this series and while Shrek Forever After didn’t quite scale those dizzy heights it too over $737 million to become the fourth biggest movie of the year.
6. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - $692,921,112
From bunch of super fans to another the Twi-hards were out in force this summer as Eclipse, the third book to be adapted for the big screen, was released.
The movie once again didn’t fair overly well with the critics but that didn’t stop the fans from flocking to the cinemas to see Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles of Bella, Edward and Jacob.
The movie set a new record for the biggest midnight opening in the U.S. and Canada before setting a second record of the biggest Wednesday opening in the U.S.
However the movie didn’t quite reach the $709 million of New Moon but it the sixth biggest movie of the year with $692 million.
7. Iron Man 2 - $621, 751, 988
Two years after Robert Downey Jr resurrected his career with one swoop as Tony Stark the actor was back in Iron Man 2.
The movie saw him reunite with filmmaker Jon Favreau as well as Gwyneth Paltrow. Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell all joined the cast.
Iron Man 2 was met well by the critics and was a solid sequel to the excellent 2008 movie, which surpassed everyone’s expectations.
And taking $621 million it out performed it’s predecessor and there is already a third movie in the pipeline.
8. Despicable Me - $534,687,065
Despicable Me is the most recent animation movie to make the top ten and is the third to feature in the biggest grossing movies of the year.
Despicable Me was brought to the big screen by Universal Picture as they try to break up Pixar and Dreamworks’ domination of this genre.
Once again a whole host of stars lined up to voice the characters with Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand and Julie Andrews all on the cast list.
9. Clash of the Titans - $493,214, 993
Clash of the Titans was a remake of the 1981 classic and saw Sam Worthington take over the central role as Perseus.
Directed by Louis Leterrier the movie brought together an impressive cast of Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.
Clash of the Titans was another movie that took advantage of out interest in 3D and the film went on to gross over $493 million.
There is already a sequel in the pipeline called Wrath of the Titans.
10. How To Train Your Dragon - $493, 202,818
We come to the end of the biggest grossing movies of 2010 and we round off the top ten with How To Train Your Dragon.
The movie kicked off the great year we have had in the animation genre as it took over $493 million, a sequel is already being planned.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
We may have been feeling the effects of a recession in 2010 but the cinemas have been booming as Avatar dominated at the beginning of the year.
And 3D featured heavily at cinemas this year as a whole host of movies cashed in on this latest trend, some with more success than others.
But as 2010 draws to a close we are going to take a look back over the some of the most successful movies of the last twelve months, two of which broke the $1 billion barrier.
1. Toy Story 3 - $1,063,136,372
It’s hard to believe that we first saw Woody and Buzz on the big screen back in 1995, which saw the birth of Pixar and kicked off the revolution in animation movies.
And this summer Woody, Buzz and co were back as a third film in the Toy Story franchise hit the big screen and won over critics and cinema go-ers.
Toy Story 3, which is the best of the series, is the biggest grossing movie of the year as it broke $1 billion at the global box office.
It’s not only the biggest animation movie of all time, beating the record that was held by Shrek 2, but it is the fifth biggest movie of all time.
2. Alice In Wonderland - $1,024,299,722
Alice In Wonderland saw Tim Burton team up with leading man Johnny Depp for the first time since Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
3D was still a very exciting prospect for cinema go-ers and fans flocked to see Burton’s take on a famous tale and Depp take on the role of the Mad Hatter, a role that was perfect for the actor.
The movie brought together and all stars cast of Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Matt Lucas as well as introducing audiences to Mia Wasikowska.
The movie stormed the box office all over the world and broke through $1 billion, and became the sixth biggest movie of all time.
3. Inception - $823,368,082
Summer is usually about the big superhero blockbusters but this year it was Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic Inception that grabbed all the headlines.
Inception was the first movie for Nolan in two years, since that little film The Dark Knight in the summer of 2008, and it was to be a triumphant return.
Leonardo DiCaprio led the ensemble cast of Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tom Hardy and Michael Caine as Inception won rave reviews.
This bold and clever movie was a monster success and grossed over $823 million worldwide - could it sneak a Best Picture Oscar nomination?
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 - $782,601,257
To say that there has been some eager anticipation around the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 would be a little bit of an understatement as the movie has dominated the box office since its release.
The movie is the first part of the final instalment of the Potter franchise - which will see Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint leave behind the characters of Harry, Hermione and Ron after a decade.
And, as you may imagine the movie has been a huge success and is chasing down The Philosopher’s Stone, which it the most successful Potter movie in the series.
5. Shrek Forever After - $737,433,086
Animation really was the order of the day this year as the likes of Pixar, Dreamworks and Universal have all done battle in this genre.
Shrek Forever After is the final movie in the franchise that has been a huge success throughout the noughties.
One of the biggest franchises of all time Mike Meyers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas reunited for the final time - but had just as big a hit this time around.
Shrek 2 is the biggest movie in this series and while Shrek Forever After didn’t quite scale those dizzy heights it too over $737 million to become the fourth biggest movie of the year.
6. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - $692,921,112
From bunch of super fans to another the Twi-hards were out in force this summer as Eclipse, the third book to be adapted for the big screen, was released.
The movie once again didn’t fair overly well with the critics but that didn’t stop the fans from flocking to the cinemas to see Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles of Bella, Edward and Jacob.
The movie set a new record for the biggest midnight opening in the U.S. and Canada before setting a second record of the biggest Wednesday opening in the U.S.
Tagged in Toy Story Alice in Wonderland