A lot of moviegoers think that "Titanic" is the largest grossing domestic film of all time, primarily because of its huge popularity as well as topping $600+ million in revenue following its release in 1997.

In fact, Titanic was the largest grossing domestic film in actual dollars, with Star Wars a distant second at $460+ million in 1977. Because money not only talks but sings and dances as well in our society, we remain impressed by large amounts of money. Not satisfied with this approach, I looked for a more accurate measure to compare and found it in adjusting for inflation. When adjusted for inflation, the actual moneymaking value of films takes on a new look.

Titanic, while No. 1 in actual dollars generated, is only No. 6 when adjusted for inflation.

The real No. 1 largest grossing domestic film in moviemaking history is none other than "Gone with the Wind", which grossed $198+ million in 1939 but its inflation-adjusted value in today's money is $1.329 billion (1,329,000,000+).

Here are the Top 25 moneymaking movies when inflation adjusted:

1. Gone with the Wind - $1.329+ billion (actual gross of $198+ million in 1939).

2. Star Wars - $1.172+ billion ($460+ million in 1977).

3. The Sound of Music - $937+ million ($158+ million 1965).

4. E. T.: The Extra-Terrestrial - $933+ million ($435+million in 1982).

5. The Ten Commandments - $861+ million ($65+ million in 1956).

6. Titanic - $844+ million ($600+ million in 1997).

7. Jaws - $842+ million ($260+ million in 1975).

8. Doctor Zhivago - $816+ million ($111+ million in 1965).

9. The Exorcist - $727+ million ($232+ million 1973).

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - $717+ million ($184+ million in 1937).

11. 101 Dalmatians - $657+ million ($144+ million in 1961).

12. The Empire Strikes Back - $646+ million ($290+ million in 1980).

13. Ben-Hur - $644+ million ($74 million in 1959).

14. Return of the Jedi - $618+ million ($309 million in 1983).

15. The Sting - $586+ million ($156 million in 1973).

16. Raiders of the Lost Ark - $579+ million ($242+ million in 1981).

17. Jurassic Park - $567+ million ($357+ million in 1993).

18. The Graduate - $563+ million ($104+ million in 1967).

19. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - $558+ million ($431 million in 1999).

20. Fantasia - $546+ million ($76+ million in 1941).

21. The Godfather - $519+ million ($134+ million in 1972).

22. Forrest Gump - $516+ million ($329+ million in 1994).

23. Mary Poppins - $514+ million ($102+ million in 1964).

24. The Lion King - $508+ million ($328+ million in 1994).

25. Grease - $506+ million ($188+ million in 1978).

Here are 10 more eye-poppers among the Top 100 grossing films when inflation adjusted:

44. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - $423+ million ($423+ million in 2006).

45. Blazing Saddles - $416 million ($119+ million in 1974).

46. The Passion of the Christ - $392 million ($370 million in 2004).

47. Smokey and the Bandit - $373+ million ($126+ million in 1977).

48. The Rocky Horror Picture Show - $362+ million ($112+ million in 1975).

49. Rocky - $362+ million ($117 million in 1976).

50. M.A.S.H. - $353+ million ($81+ million in 1970).

51. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - $352+ million ($179+ million in 1984).

52. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - $333+ million ($305+ million in 2003).

53. Sergeant York - $316+ million ($16+ million in 1941).

All figures are adjusted to the estimated 2007 average ticket price of $6.58. Some of these films had multiple releases; the release date used reflects the year of initial release.

Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley