5. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
One of the biggest events in the history of blockbuster cinema, the release of the final chapter in the ten year, eight movie Harry Potter saga saw the series go out on a high note from both a financial and artistic perspective. It was already the most lucrative franchise in movie history by far before the release of Deathly Hallows Part 2, but the closing chapter of the cinematic and cultural phenomenon broke box-office records around the globe, as well as being the best movie in the series since Prisoner of Azkaban. The decision to split the final movie into two parts with release dates six months apart seemed to be a purely financial decision to build anticipation (and thus increase box office) for Part 2, but it turned out to be a wise move. Although Part 1 was as visually spectacular as we've come to expect from the franchise, the lack of real danger in the narrative sees the story merely treading water as opposed to advancing, saving all the best moments for the final movie. However, it all worked out in the end as Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the Potter universe's equivalent of a war movie, with an unrelentingly thrilling third act that stands tall as the franchise's greatest extended set-piece. A generation of cinemagoers have watched these characters develop over a decade, and the movie is an intensely rewarding experience that gives all of the key cast members emotional and physical character moments. David Yates' mastery of the source material provides a visually rewarding, action-packed, heartfelt conclusion to one of cinema's greatest franchises. Unsurprisingly, the end of the Harry Potter series resulted in the biggest box-office yet for the multi-billion dollar franchise (although the 3D release may also have helped). Deathly Hallows Part 2 took $169.2m in its domestic bow, the biggest ever at the time, and an incredible $483.2m worldwide opening weekend that easily stands as the biggest ever. It also became the first non-James Cameron movie to cross $900m in overseas grosses on its way to a worldwide total north of $1.3bn, and it sits comfortably as the fourth biggest movie in history.