The Most Profitable Action Movies Ever Made

Movie studios spend a ton of money making action movies. When adding up marketing expenses, box office splits, and some creative accounting, it’s unsurprising that the highest-grossing action movies are often not the most profitable ones.

A prime example is the 2009 blockbuster “Avatar.” Despite breaking box office records repeatedly, the film only ranks at #33 on the following list. In contrast, the most profitable action movie of all time is a low-budget surprise that you might not expect. Some of the profitable hits were even good — here are blockbuster hits that are actually critically acclaimed .

One profitable example is the James Bond franchise, with its first three installments all ranking in the money-making top ten. Then there’s the unexpected hit “Jackass: The Movie,” which transformed a modest production budget of just $3.2 million into $125.2 million (adjusted for inflation) at the global box office. While the classification of “Jackass: The Movie” as an action movie is arguable, it’s success as a franchise is undeniable. ( Check out the worst movies from every major franchise. )

A list of cinema’s most profitable action movies (adjusted for inflation) presents a broader perspective compared to the genre’s highest-grossing titles. While modern franchise installments dominate the top grossers, net profits highlight smaller and older films that unexpectedly succeeded at the box office. Even so, you’ll still find numerous “Star Wars” titles and other predictable hits among history’s most profitable movies.

To identify the most profitable action movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo analyzed data on global box office and production budgets from Opus Data , by Nash Information Services. Action films were ranked based on the return on investment ratio of global box office earnings to production costs. Box office figures were adjusted for inflation using historical ticket prices from the National Association of Theatre Owners . Only films with a global inflation-adjusted box office of at least $10 million were included. IMDb user ratings and Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scores are current as of October 2022. Genre classification and director credits came from IMDb.

Here are the most profitable action movies ever made:

50. The Maze Runner (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: Wes Ball
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.24
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $390.5 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $38.1 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (465,719 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 65% (173 reviews)

49. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Peter R. Hunt
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.25
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $529.0 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $51.6 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (92,686 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 80% (56 reviews)

48. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Summit Distribution

• Directed by: David Slade
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.38
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $819.8 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $78.9 million
• IMDb user rating: 5.0/10 (246,518 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 48% (254 reviews)

47. Hero (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

• Directed by: Yimou Zhang
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.44
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $280.4 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $26.8 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (181,729 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (210 reviews)

46. The First Purge (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

• Directed by: Gerard McMurray
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.54
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $140.0 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $13.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 5.2/10 (64,432 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 56% (176 reviews)

45. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2016)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

• Directed by: Jake Kasdan
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.68
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.0 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $95.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (378,318 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 76% (240 reviews)

44. Aliens (1986)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: James Cameron
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.78
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $452.6 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $42.0 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (713,913 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 98% (81 reviews)

43. Independence Day (1996)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: Roland Emmerich
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$10.90
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $155.4 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (574,769 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 67% (79 reviews)

42. The Karate Kid (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

• Directed by: John G. Avildsen
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.36
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $247.7 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $21.8 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (225,946 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 89% (44 reviews)

41. Earthquake (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

• Directed by: Mark Robson
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.39
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $386.3 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $33.9 million
• IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (16,373 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 47% (30 reviews)

40. Lucy (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

• Directed by: Luc Besson
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.44
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $512.9 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $44.8 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (495,243 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 67% (239 reviews)

39. You Only Live Twice (1967)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.75
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $837.9 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $71.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (110,255 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 73% (52 reviews)

38. Batman (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

• Directed by: Tim Burton
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.75
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $944.3 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $80.4 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (377,200 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 73% (77 reviews)

37. The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

• Directed by: James DeMonaco
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.85
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $125.5 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.6 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (101,958 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 55% (164 reviews)

36. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• Directed by: Steven Spielberg
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.90
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $908.0 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $76.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (486,711 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 84% (69 reviews)

35. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Source: Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

• Directed by: Peter Jackson
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$11.92
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.7 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $142.8 million
• IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,829,628 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 93% (275 reviews)

34. The Terminator (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

• Directed by: James Cameron
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$12.19
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $212.7 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $17.4 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (860,344 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 100% (66 reviews)

33. Avatar (2009)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: James Cameron
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$12.28
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $3.6 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $289.5 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (1,239,880 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 82% (320 reviews)

32. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

• Directed by: James DeMonaco
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$12.39
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $125.1 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.1 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (152,857 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 57% (144 reviews)

31. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.24
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $761.6 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $57.5 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (109,504 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 81% (58 reviews)

30. Deadpool (2015)

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

• Directed by: Tim Miller
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.48
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $849.7 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $63.0 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (1,028,029 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 85% (348 reviews)

29. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• Directed by: Tony Scott
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.83
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $648.1 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $46.9 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (120,477 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 47% (36 reviews)

28. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Guy Hamilton
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$13.94
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $473.0 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $33.9 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (106,264 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 39% (51 reviews)

27. Liu Lang Di Qiu (2018)

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

• Directed by: Frant Gwo
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.03
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $705.6 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $50.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (30,729 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 69% (39 reviews)

26. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

• Directed by: Ang Lee
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.23
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $362.9 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $25.5 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (269,574 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (159 reviews)

25. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)

Source: Courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment

• Directed by: Tatsuya Nagamine
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.44
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $123.4 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $8.5 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (27,991 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 82% (56 reviews)

24. Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: Richard Marquand
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.62
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.4 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $94.5 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,046,826 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (98 reviews)

23. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

• Directed by: Steve Barron
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$14.96
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $438.5 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $29.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (94,819 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 41% (54 reviews)

22. Thunderball (1965)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Terence Young
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$15.69
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.1 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $67.6 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (119,137 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 87% (52 reviews)

21. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Guy Hamilton
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$16.11
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $644.0 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $40.0 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (107,159 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 64% (50 reviews)

20. The Bodyguard (1992)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

• Directed by: Mick Jackson
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$16.44
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $907.1 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $55.2 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (135,069 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 35% (48 reviews)

19. Jurassic Park (1993)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

• Directed by: Steven Spielberg
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$16.60
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $2.3 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $139.4 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (981,994 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (133 reviews)

18. Escape Room (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

• Directed by: Adam Robitel
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$17.29
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $158.9 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $9.2 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (122,673 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 51% (159 reviews)

17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• Directed by: Steven Spielberg
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$18.37
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.2 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $65.9 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (960,289 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 96% (89 reviews)

16. The French Connection (1971)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: William Friedkin
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$18.71
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $228.5 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $12.2 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (123,316 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (88 reviews)

15. The Mask (1994)

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

• Directed by: Chuck Russell
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$19.53
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $789.4 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $40.4 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (385,499 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 80% (54 reviews)

14. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts

• Directed by: Arthur Penn
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$20.28
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $380.7 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $18.8 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (113,469 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 89% (65 reviews)

13. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• Directed by: Martin Brest
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$21.09
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $862.3 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $40.9 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (184,449 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (54 reviews)

12. Live and Let Die (1973)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Guy Hamilton
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$23.11
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $870.1 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $37.6 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (108,422 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 65% (51 reviews)

11. Top Gun (1986)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• Directed by: Tony Scott
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$23.83
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $882.6 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $37.0 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (432,459 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 58% (74 reviews)

10. Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: Irvin Kershner
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$23.87
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $1.9 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $78.3 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,282,261 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (108 reviews)

9. Dangal (2016)

Source: Courtesy of Zee Tamil

• Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$32.12
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $323.1 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.1 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (190,485 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 88% (17 reviews)

8. From Russia With Love (1964)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Terence Young
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$39.45
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $592.4 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $15.0 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (135,565 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (61 reviews)

7. Jаckass: The Movie (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

• Directed by: Jeff Tremaine
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$39.64
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $125.2 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $3.2 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (95,665 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 49% (94 reviews)

6. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

• Directed by: Stuart Paton
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$40.00
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $447.8 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $11.2 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (1,823 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 100% (8 reviews)

5. Goldfinger (1964)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Guy Hamilton
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$41.63
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $937.8 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $22.5 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (191,024 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 0% (0 reviews)

4. Dr. No (1963)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

• Directed by: Terence Young
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$59.57
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $634.5 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $10.7 million
• IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (168,025 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (60 reviews)

3. Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope (1977)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

• Directed by: George Lucas
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$70.49
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $3.2 billion
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $45.2 million
• IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,354,898 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 93% (135 reviews)

2. Billy Jack (1971)

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Handout / Getty Images

• Directed by: Tom Laughlin
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$122.50
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $544.0 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $4.4 million
• IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (6,159 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 63% (16 reviews)

1. Mad Max (1979)

Source: Courtesy of American International Pictures (AIP)

• Directed by: George Miller
• Box office return per dollar of production budget: +$498.75
• Global box office, adjusted for inflation: $369.9 million
• Production budget, adjusted for inflation: $741,700
• IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (208,109 votes)
• Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (64 reviews)

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