Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Directed by J. J. Abrams and released on December 18, 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens launched the sequel trilogy 32 years after Return of the Jedi and marked Disney's first live-action Star Wars theatrical release. Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, the film grossed $2,068,223,624 worldwide. In the United States and Canada, it earned $936,662,225—holding the all-time domestic box office record for nearly 11 years until Spider-Man: Brand New Day surpassed it in 2026. With a net production budget of $535.5 million ($638.9 million gross), it was also nominated for 5 Academy Awards at the 88th Oscars and became the highest-grossing film of 2015 before spawning The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).