1. AVATAR

Released on: December 18, 2009.

Budget: $237 million.

Box-office earnings: $2.783 billion. Avatar is the first film to gross more than $2 billion.

Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez.

Directed by: James Cameron.

What it’s about: Set in the mid-22nd century, a paraplegic marine takes on an avatar to be dispatched to the fictional planet of Pandora where the expansion of a mining colony threatens the existence of the indigenous Na’vi tribe.

The hype: First full-scale 3-D experience on 70mm. The fact that Cameron had been working on the film for 14 years. And the arresting promos focusing on Pandora and its blue, 9ft-plus inhabitants for which Cameron and Co. spawned a new language and culture.

Why it worked: The rich visual experience — from the floating Hallelujah Mountains to Pandora’s rich and colourful biodiversity — compelled movie buffs to watch and rewatch Avatar. The novel anti-colonial theme with humans as antagonists worked.

At the Oscars: Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It won for Art Direction, Cinematography and Visual Effects.

2. TITANIC

Released on: December 19, 1997.

Budget: $200 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.8 billion. Titanic was the highest-grossing film worldwide for 12 years till Avatar arrived.

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane.

Directed by: James Cameron.

What it’s about: The ill-fated RMS Titanic played host to a sublime love story between a penniless painter and a teenager forced into an engagement with an older, richer man. The ship sinks, but the Jack-Rose romance stays afloat. Forever.

The hype: Titanic came in with very little buzz with the budget battle between Cameron and producers 20th Century Fox casting a cloud over the release of the film. The lack of big names — DiCaprio and Winslet were rookies, and Cameron had bypassed the likes of Tom Cruise and Gwyneth Paltrow for his young stars — heightened the low expectations.

Why it worked: Pitched by Cameron as “Romeo and Juliet on a ship”, the theme of star-crossed lovers touched a chord with audiences across the world. The epic scale and the jaw-dropping visual effects were a winner. So was Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On.

At the Oscars: Titanic earned 14 Academy Award nominations, converting 11 of them into wins, including for Best Picture and Best Director.

3. harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2

Released on: July 15, 2011.

Budget: $125 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.2 billion (and counting). Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the highest grossing film of 2011 and the biggest earner in the Harry Potter series.

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson.

Directed by: David Yates.

What it’s about: The second part of the final Harry Potter film traces Harry, Ron and Hermione’s final efforts to find and destroy Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

The hype: “It All Ends 7.15” declared posters months prior to the release, forcing Potterheads around the world to alternately rejoice and lament the end of the smash-hit franchise. If the final face-off between Harry and Voldemort was eagerly anticipated, so was the prospect of seeing the Hogwarts trio 19 years later. End of innocence for some, end of an era for others.

Why it worked: The film lived up to expectations for the most part. If the Harry-Voldemort showdown was epic, the visual effects were spellbinding. The chance to see Harry, Ron and Hermione on screen one last time ensured that Deathly Hallows Part 2 opened big and remained big.

4. the lord of the rings: the return of the king

Released on: December 17, 2003.

Budget: $100 million.

Box office earnings: $1.1 billion.

Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler.

Directed by: Peter Jackson.

What it’s about: The final instalment of the fantasy trilogy based on JRR Tolkien’s bestseller series focuses on the former Fellowship of the Ring preparing for the final battle for Middle Earth.

The hype: Ever since the release of the first film — The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — in 2001, audience excitement and anticipation for the final film in the trilogy had grown to fever pitch. At the world premiere in the New Zealand capital Wellington, more than one million people lined the streets, cheering on the film’s stars.

Why it worked: Like the final Harry Potter film, fans did not want to pass up on the chance to watch the last instalment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The sweeping visual opulence, the winning performances and the fact that the film largely remained true to the book earned it two thumbs up from critics and cinegoers alike. Today, The Return of the King is unanimously considered the best film in the trilogy.

At the Oscars: The film bagged 11 Academy Awards, winning in all categories that it was nominated for — an Oscar record!

5. transformers: dark of the moon

Released on: June 29, 2011.

Budget: $195 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.095 billion (and counting).

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey.

Directed by: Michael Bay.

What it’s about: When the Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, they race against the Decepticons to reach it and learn its secrets.

The hype: The third film of the action-packed Transformers franchise was one of the most anticipated films of the year, its slick promos and clever marketing strategy promising a visual experience that would match up to the first two films. Lingerie model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley replacing hottie Megan Fox as eye-candy turned out to be a plus for the latest Transformers film.

Why it worked: Though it opened to lukewarm reviews, fans flocked to theatres to catch a glimpse of the 3-D skull-rattling action sequences, the death-defying stunts and the jaw-dropping special effects.

6. pirates of the caribbean: dead man’s chest

Released on: July 7, 2006.

Budget: $225 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.066 billion.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy.

Directed by: Gore Verbinski.

What it’s about: The second film in the fun action franchise had Depp’s Jack Sparrow pulling out all the stops to recover the heart of Davy Jones and avoid enslaving his soul to Jones’s service.

The hype: With The Curse of the Black Pearl whetting audience appetite, expectations from its 2006 follow-up were high. The film opened big, grossing in excess of $130 million within the first three days of its release.

Why it worked: Though it opened to mixed reviews, most of which criticised its over-indulgent plot, Dead Man’s Chest scored with its brilliant special effects, Johnny Depp’s antics and the beautiful Keira Knightley.

At the Oscars: The film received four Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Visual Effects.

7. toy story 3

Released on: June 18, 2010.

Budget: $200 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.064 billion. Toy Story 3 is the highest-grossing animated film of all time.

Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Cusack, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton.

Directed by: Lee Unkrich.

What it’s about: When the toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care centre instead of the attic, it becomes Woody’s responsibility to help them return home in this third film in the Pixar franchise.

The hype: With the first two films striking box-office gold, Toy Story 3 rode high on expectations. Toys to video games, clothes to accessories — the third Toy Story film was not only a box-office hit, but a marketing behemoth as well.

Why it worked: Fun tale cleverly told with a strong emotional core, Toy Story 3 stood out for its engaging narrative and loveable characters, easily qualifying as one of the best films of last year.

At the Oscars: Only the third animation film ever to be nominated in the Best Picture category, Toy Story 3 won for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

8. pirates of the caribbean: on stranger tides

Released on: May 20, 2011.

Budget: $250 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.038 billion.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane.

Directed by: Rob Marshall.

What it’s about: Comrades Jack Sparrow (Depp) and Barbossa (Rush) set out in quest of the elusive fountain of youth. But nemesis Blackbeard (McShane) and his daughter Angelica (Cruz) are after it too.

The hype: Propped up by the success of its predecessors, the latest Pirates film had a wide release, opening in as many as 402 IMAX screens worldwide — a record in itself.

Why it worked: Panned by critics, the film’s epic scale and the big names in the cast helped overshadow the meandering plot, excessiveness and lack of originality.

9. alice in wonderland

Released on: March 5, 2010.

Budget: $200 million.

Box-office earnings: $1.024 billion.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway.

Voices: Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, Barbara Windsor, Timothy Spall.

Directed by: Tim Burton.

What it’s about: Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel, Tim Burton’s computer animated/ live action fantasy adventure has 19-year-old Alice returning to the magical land 13 years after her first visit — this time to end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.

The hype: The prospect of watching a childhood favourite in 3-D. The eclectic star cast — Depp as the Mad Hatter, Hathaway as the White Queen and Bonham Carter as the Red Queen — was a big plus. In its opening weekend, Alice in Wonderland earned $210 million worldwide — a record of sorts.

Why it worked: Though criticised for its insipid climax, Burton’s eye for detail, the computer-generated imagery and the visually-pleasing sets made Alice in Wonderland a must-watch

At the Oscars: Alice in Wonderland won Academy Awards for Art Direction and Costume Design, narrowly losing out to Avatar in the Best Visual Effects category.

10. the dark knight

Released on: July 18, 2008.

Budget: $185 million.

Box-office earnings: $1 billion.

Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan.

What it’s about: As the Joker unleashes terror in Gotham City, it is up to Batman, Harvey Dent and Gordon to put an end to his devious plans.

The hype: The sequel to the 2005 film Batman Begins and the ninth Batman film overall, The Dark Knight had an extensive marketing and promotional campaign worldwide, starting several months before its release. Heath Ledger’s (who played the Joker) death due to drug overdose in January 2008 added to the interest surrounding the film. The third film in the trilogy — The Dark Knight Rises — releases in July 2012.

Why it worked: Ledger’s deliciously evil act as the Joker was a knockout. The engrossing screenplay and superlative technical quality made The Dark Knight the highest grossing superhero film till date.

At the Oscars: Nominated in eight categories, The Dark Knight eventually took home two Oscars — for Sound Editing and Best Actor in a Supporting Role, awarded posthumously to Ledger.