Interesting Tidbit

While procrastinating the other day, I came across something very interesting. I was reading an article about the current multi-week box office slump, which I believe is in its 19th week, and found a link to boxofficemojo.com that had information regarding the all-time box office leaders (current and historic). One of the historical dates was the last time Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was #1 on the list all the way back on March 12, 1998, just days before the abomination that was Titanic claimed the top spot (I am still trying to figure out how that movie topped $600 million domestic). Times have changed and below, you can see how the top 10 has changed in the last 7+ years.

March 12, 1998
1. Star Wars $460,998,007
2. Titanic $453,867,325
3. E.T. $399,804,539
4. Jurassic Park $357,067,947
5. Forrest Gump $329,694,499
6. The Lion King $312,855,561
7. Return of the Jedi $309,306,177
8. Independence Day $306,169,268
9. Empire Strikes Back $290,271,960
10. Home Alone $285,761,243

Today (July 6, 2005)
1. Titanic $600,788,188
2. Star Wars $460,998,007
3. Shrek 2 $441,226,247
4. E.T. $399,804,539
5. The Phantom Menace $431,088,301
6. Spider-Man $403.706,375
7. LOTR: Return of the King $377,027,325
8. Spider-Man 2 $373,585,825
9. The Passion of the Christ $370,782,930
10. Revenge of the Sith $367,113,992*

How much times have changed. Jurassic Park is now #11; Forrest Gump #14; Lion King #15; Return of the Jedi #19; Independence Day #20; Empire Strikes Back #23; and Home Alone #24

*Still in Theaters and subject to change

For more information, go to http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm.