Excited movie goers are getting back into their seats and enjoying some time away from Netflix as the silver screen ignites with a series of new films.
Hollywood felt the cold slap of Covid-19 and lockdowns, with productions put on hold, actors forced to isolate and a long list of shows impacted by the pandemic.
The industry however, remains resilient as we look back on some of the highest grossing movies of all time and celebrate the potential some of the sequels have to offer! – Presented byTop Shelf International
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR – 2018
There is no doubting the effect super hero movies have had on Hollywood – Director Martin Scorsese has referred to comic book movies as “Theme parks” and described them “Not cinema”.
No matter where you sit in relation to these movies there is no doubting their success when it comes to franchises, toys, games and of course movies!
After a decade of movies that introduced us to various comic legends Infinity war brought them all together to take on their most powerful enemy yet.
The Avengers must stop Thanos, an intergalactic warlord, from getting his hands on all the infinity stones. However, Thanos is prepared to go to any lengths to carry out his insane plan.
And we were all there to watch as this movie marvel grossed $2.048 billion!
#4 STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS – 2015
$936,662,225 is a lot of galactic credits! The first film in the sequel trilogy that saw a new order threaten to destroy the New Republic. Not a bad earning for Disney’s first romp into the galaxy far far away.
The film was criticised for generous borrowing of beloved ideas from George Lucus’ original trilogy. Audiences were quick to spot similarities between certain characters and locations but the film was fresh enough to excite fans for what the other two films might offer.
Join Finn, Rey and Poe as they find a way to stop the evil First Order and find Luke Skywalker, the last surviving Jedi before it’s too late.
#3 TITANIC – 1997
One of the few all time classics on this list, James Cameron inspired audiences worldwide as it raked in a whopping $2,201,647,264. The film saw a brief re release to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic which earned it an additional $343.6 million worldwide!
Watch Jack and Rose fall in love despite their differences as this iconic vessel departs on its maiden and final journey. And even if you don’t enjoy the romance of this one, the attention to detail and celebration of this engineering marvel remains on point.
#2 AVENGERS: ENDGAME – 2019
Second on this list is the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War with a gross of $2.7897 billion worldwide, Endgame was truly the event movie of the year as it wrapped the impressive ten year journey of some of our favourite comic book heroes.
After Thanos, an intergalactic warlord, disintegrates half of the universe, the Avengers must reunite and assemble again to reinvigorate their trounced allies and restore balance to the galaxy. This movie was in fact the first-ever film to earn over $1 billion within its first weekend, after release!
#1 AVATAR – 2009
Top spot on this list is James Cameron’s sci-fi epic: Avatar. The technology that brought this film to life was an impressive leap in 3D image technology.
For those wanting to get the most out of the experience there was the IMAX and 3D iteration of the film. Avatar was one of the first widespread worldwide movie experiences that pushed the price tag higher for movie goers.
The film follows Jake, who is paraplegic, he replaces his military serving twin on a planted known as Pandora. His mission presents questionable moral concerns, especially as the natives of Pandora begin to accept Jake as one of their own.
And while it looked for a moment as if Avatar 2 may actually make a 2021 release… The film had to be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Disney has pushed it back once again to December 2022.
The gaming industry won’t be left out with the upcoming “Frontiers of Pandora” video game set to release in 2022.
The open-world action-adventure video game will stick closely to the Avatar film series. Developed by Massive Entertainment and is set to be published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna and Stadia as well.
Trump says U.S. strikes could last four to five weeks and described the operation as the last best chance to act, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns the hardest hits are yet to come
Six U.S. service members have been killed, additional American forces are being deployed to the region, and the White House says nine Iranian naval ships have been destroyed
Iran says it sees no limit to its right to self defence and will not negotiate, as missile and drone attacks continue across Israel, Lebanon and Gulf states
More than 500 Iranians have been killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes, with further deaths reported in Lebanon, Israel and the UAE
Shipping, aviation and energy markets have been severely disrupted, more than 11,000 flights have been cancelled, Gulf stock markets have closed temporarily, and oil and gas prices have surged amid Strait of Hormuz fears
Crude oil surges 7% amid fears of Middle East conflict; Strait of Hormuz disruptions may push Brent over $100.
Crude oil prices spiked dramatically as investors react to the growing risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East. U.S. crude surged 7.2 percent, trading near $71.84 a barrel, signalling heightened concern across energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint, has come under intense scrutiny. Rising war-risk insurance premiums and suspended tanker traffic are already slowing the movement of oil, creating ripple effects in global supply chains.
JPMorgan has warned that prolonged disruptions over three weeks could force Gulf producers to reduce output, potentially pushing Brent crude prices to between $100 and $120 a barrel. Markets are closely watching for developments that could reshape global energy pricing.
Trump declares final chance to strike Iran, aiming to dismantle missile systems and prevent nuclear weapons amid U.S. troop losses.
President Trump has declared this is the final opportunity to strike Iran as conflict intensifies across the Middle East, outlining four key military objectives including dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities and targeting its navy.
The U.S. says its mission is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to halt its alleged support for terrorist groups abroad, signalling a potentially prolonged campaign in the region.
Four U.S. troops have already been killed, with officials warning further casualties are possible as operations continue.