Chart shows Hollywood’s sharp decline in original movies from 1980 to 2018 

Picture perfect? Hollywood’s sharp decline in producing original movies is shown in chart examining Tinseltown’s top grossing films from 1980 to 2018

  • Reddit user rewindturtle complied the chart with data from Box Office Mojo
  • Shows ratio of top 25 grossing films each year that are original stories
  • Original movies have steadily declined among Hollywood’s top hits
  • Last highest grossing movie of the year to tell original story was Avatar in 2009 

A new chart reveals the precipitous decline in original films among Hollywood’s highest grossing films since 1980.

Reddit user rewindturtle created the chart on Wednesday using data from Box Office Mojo, showing the top 25 grossing films each year categorized by whether they are original stories or not.

The chart breaks the films down into three categories: original works, based on previously existing fictional works, and based on non-fictional character or event.

Reddit user rewindturtle created this chart on Wednesday using data from Box Office Mojo, showing the top 25 grossing films each year categorized by whether they are original

The highest grossing film of 2018 was Black Panther (above), which is based on the Marvel Comics character who first appeared in 1966

The highest grossing film of 2018 was Black Panther (above), which is based on the Marvel Comics character who first appeared in 1966

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (above) was the highest grossing film of 2017. It was also based on the existing fictional franchise

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (above) was the highest grossing film of 2017. It was also based on the existing fictional franchise

Original works appeared to peak in 1984, with three-quarters of the top-25 films being original works.

Last year, 2018, seems to have the fewest original films among the top 25.

The highest grossing film of 2018 was Black Panther, which is based on the Marvel Comics character who first appeared in 1966.

The most recent highest-grossing film of the year to be an original work was 2009’s Avatar.

The most recent highest-grossing film of the year that was original was 2009's Avatar (above)

The most recent highest-grossing film of the year that was original was 2009’s Avatar (above)

The chart’s creator notes that direct re-releases, such as the Star Wars Special Edition, and documentaries are skipped in the survey, and  the 26th highest grossing film being used in those cases.

Movies the contain pre-established characters but follow original protagonists in a unique storyline, such as Inglorious Bastards or Wreck-It Ralph, were considered original, the creator said.

List of No. 1 grossing movies in the US from 1980 to 2018

2018 Black Panther

2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi

2016 Rogue One

2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens

2014 American Sniper

2013 Catching Fire

2012 The Avengers

2011 Harry Potter / Deathly Hallows (P2)

2010 Toy Story 3

2009 Avatar

2008 The Dark Knight

2007 Spider-Man 3

2006 Dead Man’s Chest

2005 Revenge of the Sith

2004 Shrek 2

2003 Return of the King

2002 Spider-Man

2001 Harry Potter / Sorcerer’s Stone 

 2000 The Grinch

1999 The Phantom Menace

1998 Saving Private Ryan

1997 Titanic

1996 Independence Day

1995 Toy Story

1994 Forrest Gump

1993 Jurassic Park

1992 Aladdin

1991 Terminator 2

1990 Home Alone

1989 Batman

1988 Rain Man

1987 Three Men and a Baby

1986 Top Gun

1985 Back to the Future

1984 Beverly Hills Cop

1983 Return of the Jedi

1982 E.T.

1981 Raiders / Lost Ark

1980 The Empire Strikes Back

Source: Box Office Mojo 

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