The 8 Biggest Movies of 2005, and Whether They Were Any Good

2005 had a lot of money and a lot of opinions. Here's the year's top eight earners, counted up to the biggest, and whether any deserved it.

#1 made the most money of 2005. The comments are about to get loud.

1. 8
   Batman Begins (2005)8.8

   Lowest gross on this list. Best movie on this list.

   $375.6M worldwide, dead last here. Also an 8.8 movie.guru score, the highest of the eight. The growl voice was a choice, and the choice paid off.
2. 7
   Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)6.2

   Critics loved it. Audiences stayed weirdly quiet about it.

   83% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences put it ahead of only 48% of movies. Johnny Depp's Wonka is legit unsettling. $475M worldwide says families bought the ticket anyway.
3. 6
   Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)4.7

   Worst score here, and I still kinda like it.

   A 4.7 movie.guru score, under the 5.5 median, yet $487.3M worldwide. The plot is two people and a lot of drywall. Pitt and Jolie carry it on charm alone.
4. 5
   King Kong (2005)6.9

   Critics adored it. That reported $207M budget did not help.

   Metacritic 81, tied for best on this list. Reported $207M budget, the biggest here, against $556.9M worldwide. Jack Black chews scenery like Kong chews biplanes.
5. 4
   War of the Worlds (2005)5.3

   That 5.3 score is too low and I'm planting my flag.

   Critics gave it 76% on Rotten Tomatoes while audiences beat just 34% of movies. $603.9M worldwide. The opening stretch of Tom Cruise running is genuinely scary filmmaking.
6. 3
   The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)7.1

   An A+ CinemaScore for a movie that's merely fine.

   Audiences handed it an A+ and $745M worldwide. A 7.1 movie.guru score is fair. Siblings, a lion, and a middle stretch that wanders like it lost the wardrobe.
7. 2
   Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)8.2

   The most fun Potter, even with the book gutted.

   $901.4M worldwide and an 8.2 movie.guru score, second best here. Dragon, maze, lake, done. Mike Newell sprints through a doorstop book like it owes him lunch money.
8. 1
   Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)7.2

   Biggest movie of 2005 and the only good prequel. Fight me.

   $905.6M worldwide, just edging Potter, plus $414.4M domestic. A 7.2 movie.guru score. The dialogue is rough. The final act is still worth every minute.

$358.41 says the first comment is a joke about sand.

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