Look back at the most popular movie the year you were born

_

When it comes to the movie business, the only thing constant is change. Audiences' tastes in cinema have shifted dramatically over the decades — from when Biblical epics and sword-and-sandal dramas ruled the box office to moviegoers' current obsession with action-packed superhero flicks and horror films (regardless of their sway on critics).

Let's take a look back at the most popular film every year from 1937 to 2009.

Keep reading to see the biggest movie the year you were born (including "Gone With the Wind," seen here)…

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content

1937: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which is based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale, wasn't just the top-grossing film of 1937. It was also the very first feature-length animated film, as well as the very first Disney movie. Walt Disney won an honorary Academy Award for the cartoon for "significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field."

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content

1938: "Alexander's Ragtime Band"

Tyrone Power starred as the title character, who shames his family by pursuing jazz instead of classical music, in the drama, which spans the history of jazz over the course of more than two decades. Legendary composer Irving Berlin wrote the film, which is named after his eponymous song. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was the top-grossing film of the year and won one of the six Oscars for which it was nominated: best score. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "You Can't Take It with You."

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content

1939: "Gone With the Wind"

Vivien Leigh starred as Scarlett O'Hara opposite Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in the big screen adaptation of the Margaret Mitchell novel, which spans decades in the life of the daughter of a Georgia plantation owner before and after the Civil War. The epic love story wasn't just the top-grossing film of '39 — it's also considered the most successful film of all time when its overall gross is adjusted for inflation (it earned $390 million when admission was a quarter a ticket, which would be a reported $1.8 billion today). "Gone with the Wind" won eight of the 13 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture, best director and best lead actress. It also won an honorary Academy Award for "outstanding achievement in the use of color for the enhancement of dramatic mood" and a technical achievement Academy Award for "pioneering in the use of coordinated equipment."

1940: "Rebecca"

Alfred Hitchcock directed Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier in the psychological thriller "Rebecca," which chronicles a young woman's marriage to a rich widower and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his first wife's death. In addition to being the top-grossing film of 1940, "Rebecca" won two Oscars — for best picture and best cinematography — and earned a whopping nine additional nominations.

1941: "Sergeant York"

Gary Cooper starred as the titular WWI soldier Alvin York, a marksman and decorated war hero, in the Howard Hawks-directed biopic "Sergeant York," the top-grossing film of 1941. The historical drama won two Oscars — best film editing and best lead actor — and earned nine more nominations, including best picture. (The family drama "How Green Was My Valley" took home top honors during the 1942 Academy Awards, though it didn't fill as many theaters as "Sergeant York.")

1942: "Mrs. Miniver"

The big-screen adaptation of the eponymous 1940 novel was a huge hit at the box office and with the Academy. Greer Garson and Teresa Wright portrayed the two Mrs. Minivers — the matriarch of a rural English family and her daughter-in-law — and took home Oscars for their work in the WWII-set drama, the top-grossing film of 1942. "Mrs. Miniver" won four more Academy Awards — best picture, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography — and earned six additional nominations.

1943: "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman starred as anti-fascist guerrillas who fall in love during the Spanish Civil War in the big-screen adaptation of the 1940 Ernest Hemingway novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls." In addition to being the top-grossing film of 1943, the war drama earned nine Oscar nominations, including best picture. Ultimately, it only won one: best supporting actress for Katina Paxinou. Another Bergman film, "Casablanca," won the Oscars for best picture, best director and best screenplay that year — and went on to become one of the most iconic and beloved films of all time. But in spite of its lasting impact, "Casablanca" just didn't attract as much attention from the public back in '43.

1944: "Going My Way"

Bing Crosby starred as a young priest who's assigned to a New York City church, where he clashes with Barry Fitzgerald's older, more traditional priest, in 1944's "Going My Way." In addition to being the top-grossing film of the year, the musical dramedy won seven Oscars — best picture, best lead actor, best supporting actor, best director, best original story, best screenplay and best original song — and earned three more nominations.

1945: "The Bells of St. Mary's"

Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby co-starred as a nun and a priest in the 1945 sequel to 1944's "Going My Way." Like its predecessor, "The Bells of St. Mary's" was the top-grossing film of the year. The musical didn't land quite as well with the Academy, though, only claiming one Oscar (for best sound recording) out of eight nominations. It lost out on the prizes for best picture and best lead actor to "The Lost Weekend" and its star, Ray Milland, while "Mildred Pierce" star Joan Crawford bested Ingrid in the best lead actress category.

1946: "The Best Years of Our Lives"

Two films ruled the box office during 1946: "Duel in the Sun" and "The Best Years of Our Lives." But while the Western earned only two Oscar nominations (for best lead actress and best supporting actress), the drama won a whopping eight Academy Awards, including best picture, best lead actor, best supporting actor and best director. The star of the film, a real soldier named Harold Russell who lost both of his hands while serving in the Army, made his acting debut as a veteran adjusting to civilian life following WWII in "The Best Years of Our Lives." In addition to his Oscar for best lead actor, the newcomer (pictured with co-star Cathy O'Donnell) took home an honorary Academy Award for "bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans."

1947: "Unconquered"

Paulette Goddard starred as an English indentured servant on the western frontier during colonial America opposite Gary Cooper as the man who buys and then frees her in the Cecil B. DeMille-directed adventure-drama "Unconquered," the top-grossing film of 1947.

1948: "The Red Shoes"

Moira Shearer starred as a ballerina torn between the composer she loves (Marius Goring, left) and the head of her ballet company (Anton Walbrook, right) in the 1948 drama "The Red Shoes." It was the top-grossing film of the year and won two of five Oscars for which it was nominated. Ultimately, "The Red Shoes" lost the Academy Award for best picture to another British production: a big-screen adaptation of "Hamlet" with actor-director Laurence Olivier in the title role.

1949: "Samson and Delilah"

Cecil B. DeMille directed Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature as the titular seductress and the strongman she betrays by cutting his hair, the secret to his super-strength, in the adaptation of the Bible story. "Samson and Delilah" was the top-grossing film of the year and won two of five Oscars for which it was nominated. At the time of its release, it was the third-highest-grossing film ever, behind "Gone with the Wind" and "The Best Years of Our Lives." (Because it debuted in December 1949, the Biblical drama was also technically the most popular film of 1950.)

1950: "King Solomon's Mines"

Stewart Granger starred as an adventurer helping a woman (Deborah Kerr) and her brother (Richard Carlson) search for her missing husband in the mines of Africa in the big-screen adaptation of the eponymous 1885 novel "King Solomon's Mines." The action-adventure film was the top-grossing movie of 1950 aside from "Samson and Delilah," which debuted in 1949, and won two of the three Oscars for which it was nominated. (It lost the Academy Award for best picture to "All About Eve.")

1951: "Quo Vadis"

Robert Taylor starred as a Roman officer who falls in love with a Christian woman (Deborah Kerr) as early Christians are persecuted by the insane emperor Nero in the drama. "Quo Vadis" was the top-grossing film of the year and earned eight Oscar nominations. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "An American in Paris," which is now considered the more iconic of the two films.

1952: "The Greatest Show on Earth"

Charlton Heston starred as the manager of a drama-plagued railroad circus in "The Greatest Show on Earth." The Cecil B. DeMille-directed drama was the top-grossing film of 1952 and won two of the five Oscars for which it was nominated: best picture and best story writing.

1953: "The Robe"

Richard Burton starred as a Roman officer involved with the crucifixion of Jesus who then becomes a Christian in the Biblical epic. "The Robe" was the top-grossing film of the year and won two of the five Oscars for which it was nominated. (It lost the Academy Award for best picture to "From Here to Eternity.")

1954: "Rear Window"

James Stewart starred as a photographer confined to a wheelchair who suspects that a neighbor has murdered his wife in the iconic Alfred Hitchcock-directed thriller, which earned four Oscar nominations.

1955: "Cinerama Holiday"

Though some of Hollywood's most iconic films ("Seven Year Itch," "Oklahoma!" and "Lady and the Tramp") debuted in 1955, it was a since-forgotten travel documentary called "Cinerama Holiday" that ruled the box office that year. The film chronicled the adventures of an American couple traveling in Europe and of a European couple traveling in the United States.

1956: "The Ten Commandments"

Charlton Heston starred as Moses in the iconic Biblical epic "The Ten Commandments." The Cecil B. DeMille-directed drama was the top-grossing film of the year and won one of the seven Oscars for which it was nominated. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Around the World in 80 Days."

1957: "The Bridge on the River Kwai"

Alec Guinness starred as Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson — a British POW at a Japanese prison camp in Burma, where the men are forced to build a bridge over the titular river — in the WWII drama. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" was the top-grossing film of 1957 and won seven of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best lead actor.

1958: "South Pacific"

Mitzi Gaynor starred as a nurse who falls for Rossano Brazzi's French expat while stationed on a South Pacific island during WWII in the big-screen adaptation of the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. "South Pacific" was the top-grossing film of the year and earned one of the three Oscars for which it was nominated.

1959: "Ben-Hur"

Charlton Heston starred as the titular Jewish prince — who becomes a slave and then a charioteer during his struggles against the Romans before ultimately encountering Jesus and becoming a Christian — in the iconic drama. "Ben-Hur" was the top-grossing film of the year and won a whopping 11 of the 12 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best lead actor.

1960: "Spartacus"

Kirk Douglas starred as the titular slave-turned-gladiator, who becomes the leader of a massive rebellion against the Romans, in the iconic Stanley Kubrick-directed drama. "Spartacus" was the top-grossing film of the year and won four of the six Oscars for which it was nominated.

1961: "West Side Story"

Richard Beymer starred as Tony opposite Natalie Wood as Maria in the big-screen adaptation of the beloved New York City-set musical "West Side Story," which is inspired by William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." It was the top-grossing film of the year and won 10 of the 11 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture.

1962: "Lawrence of Arabia"

Peter O'Toole starred as the titular British archaeologist, military officer and writer in the epic biopic. In addition to being the year's top-grossing film, "Lawrence of Arabia" also cleaned up during the Oscars, winning seven of the 10 awards for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director.

1963: "Cleopatra"

Elizabeth Taylor starred as the titular Queen of Egypt and Richard Burton portrayed her paramour, Mark Antony, in the epic drama. In spite of its troubled production — the film famously went far over its production budget and was plagued by scandal due to the affair between its stars– "Cleopatra" was the top-grossing film of the year. It won four of the nine Oscars for which it was nominated but ultimately lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Tom Jones."

1964: "My Fair Lady"

Audrey Hepburn starred as Eliza Doolittle opposite Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins in the big-screen adaptation of the musical "My Fair Lady," which is based on the George Bernard Shaw play "Pygmalion" — in which a phonetics expert makes a bet than he can transformed a poor flower seller into a proper lady. It was the top-grossing film of the year and won eight of the 12 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best lead actor.

1965: "The Sound of Music"

Julie Andrews starred as Maria — a young governess who slowly falls for the stern father of the children in her care, Christopher Plummer's Captain von Trapp — in pre-Third Reich-ruled Austria in the big-screen adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. "The Sound of Music" was the top-grossing film of the year and won five of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director.

1966: "The Bible: In the Beginning…"

John Huston portrayed Noah and served as the narrator as well as the voice of God in the Biblical epic, which he also directed. "The Bible: In the Beginning…" focused on five Bible stories — creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark and Abraham — and was the top-grossing film of the year but earned just one Oscar nomination: best original score.

1967: "The Graduate"

Dustin Hoffman starred as Benjamin Braddock, who's seduced by Anne Bancroft's Mrs. Robinson, in the iconic Mike Nichols-directed dramedy, which is based on the Charles Webb novel. "The Graduate" was the top-grossing film of the year and earned seven Oscar nominations — but only took home one: best director. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "In the Heat of the Night." (It was a big year for cinema: The other three best picture nominees were "Bonnie and Clyde," "Doctor Dolittle" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.")

1968: "2001: A Space Odyssey"

Keir Dullea starred as Dr. Dave Bowman — who's traveling to Jupiter aboard a spacecraft controlled by the devious artificial intelligence HAL 9000 — in the Stanley Kubrick-directed sci-fi epic, which spans time and space. "2001: A Space Odyssey" won one of the four Oscars for which it was nominated and is now considered perhaps the most iconic sci-fi film in cinema history.

1969: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

Paul Newman (right) and Robert Redford (left) starred as the titular outlaws in the iconic Western, which was the top-grossing film of 1969 and won four of the seven Oscars for which it was nominated. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Midnight Cowboy," which filled less than half as many theaters as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

1970: "Love Story"

Ryan O'Neal starred as rich kid Oliver Barrett IV — who falls in love with Ali MacGraw's working-class girl Jenny Cavalleri — in the romantic drama, which gave us the iconic line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." It was the top-grossing film of the year but only won one of the seven Oscars for which it was nominated. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Patton."

1971: "Fiddler on the Roof"

Topol starred as Tevye, the Jewish father of five girls during the period when Imperial Russia ruled Ukraine, in the big-screen adaptation of the beloved musical. "Fiddler on the Roof" was the top-grossing film of the year and won three of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated. (It lost the Academy Award for best picture to the second-highest-grossing film of the year, "The French Connection.")

1972: "The Godfather"

Marlon Brando starred as mob boss Don Vito Corleone and Al Pacino portrayed his college-educated youngest son, Michael Corleone, who slowly enters the family business, in the iconic drama, which is often cited as the greatest film in cinema history. "The Godfather" was the top-grossing film of the year and won three of the 11 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best lead actor for Brando.

1973: "The Sting"

Robert Redford and Paul Newman starred as Great Depression-era conmen pulling a scam on a mob boss in the crime dramedy, which was the top-grossing film of the year. "The Sting" won seven of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director.

1974: "Blazing Saddles"

Cleavon Little starred as Sheriff Bart — who befriends Gene Wilder's alcoholic gunslinger Jim, The Waco Kid — in the hilarious Mel Brooks-directed satirical Western. "Blazing Saddles" was the top-grossing film of the year and earned three Oscar nominations.

1975: "Jaws"

Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss starred as three men hunting a deadly great white shark in the Steven Spielberg-directed thriller, which launched a franchise — as well as a shark-movie craze that continues today. "Jaws" was the top-grossing film of the year and won three of the four Oscars for which it was nominated. It lost the Academy Award for best picture to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

1976: "Rocky"

Sylvester Stallone starred as the titular boxer in the beloved sports drama "Rocky," which was the top-grossing film of the year and won three of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director.

1977: "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope"

Mark Hamill starred as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher starred as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford starred as Han Solo in the first installment in one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. The debut chapter in the epic space opera, which George Lucas directed, was the top-grossing film of the year and won six of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated, as well as a special achievement award for sound designer Ben Burtt. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Annie Hall," which is still a well-known film but made just a fraction of what "Star Wars" made at the box office back in '77.

1978: "Grease"

Olivia Newton-John starred as good-girl Sandy opposite John Travolta as bad boy Danny in the big-screen adaptation of the high school-set musical. "Grease" was the top-grossing film of the year — and is now one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time — but it earned only one Oscar nomination back in 1978: best original song for "Hopelessly Devoted to You."

1979: "Kramer vs. Kramer"

Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman starred as a former married couple battling over the custody of their young son (Justin Henry) in the drama, which was the top-grossing film of 1979. "Kramer vs. Kramer" earned five of the nine Oscars for which it was nominated: best picture, best lead actor, best supporting actress, best director and best adapted screenplay.

1980: "Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back"

Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker separated from his pals to pursue his Jedi training with Master Yoda in the second installment in the "Star Wars" franchise, "The Empire Strikes Back," which didn't make quite as much money at the box office as its predecessor but still more than doubled what "9 to 5," the second-highest-grossing film of 1980, made at the box office. The sequel won one of the three Oscars for which it was nominated and also earned a special achievement award for visual effects.

1981: "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark"

Harrison Ford starred as archaeologist Indiana Jones in the Steven Spielberg-directed action-adventure flick, which eventually spawned three sequels. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the top-grossing film of the year and almost doubled what runner-up "On Golden Pond" made at the box office. It also won four of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated, as well as a special achievement award for sound effects editing. Ultimately, though, the first installment in the "Indiana Jones" franchise lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Chariots of Fire."

1982: "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"

Henry Thomas starred as Elliott, a little boy who befriends an alien being after it's stranded on Earth, in the Steven Spielberg-directed sci-fi film. "E.T." was the top-grossing movie of the year and earned four of the nine Oscars for which it was nominated. It lost the Academy Award for best picture to a little movie called "Gandhi," which made just a fraction of what "E.T." banked at the box office — which, by the way, was more than double what the second-highest-grossing film of '82, "Tootsie," made.

1983: "Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi"

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reunited for the third installment in the "Star Wars" franchise, which was the top-grossing film of the year. "Return of the Jedi" earned four Oscar nominations and won a special achievement Academy Award for visual effects.

1984: "Beverly Hills Cop"

Eddie Murphy starred as Axel Foley, a police officer who relocates from Detroit to Beverly Hills to solve a friend's murder, in the action-comedy "Beverly Hills Cop," which was the top-grossing film of the year and even scored an Oscar nomination for best screenplay.

1985: "Back to the Future"

Michael J. Fox starred as Marty McFly, who encounters teen versions of his parents when he's transported back in time by Christopher Lloyd's Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, in the Robert Zemeckis-directed sci-fi comedy. "Back to the Future" was the top-grossing film of the year, spawned two sequels and won one of the four Oscars for which it was nominated.

1986: "Top Gun"

Tom Cruise starred as Maverick, a cocky Navy aviator competing in a prestigious training program in the Tony Scott-directed action-drama "Top Gun." It was the top-grossing film of the year and won one of the four Oscars for which it was nominated.

1987: "Three Men and a Baby"

Steve Guttenberg, Tom Selleck and Ted Danson starred as bachelors who suddenly find themselves caring for a baby girl while juggling a drug deal gone wrong in the Leonard Nimoy-directed comedy of errors "Three Men and a Baby," which was the top-grossing film of the year.

1988: "Rain Man"

Tom Cruise starred as an insensitive businessman who discovers he has an older brother with savant syndrome (Dustin Hoffman) in the road-trip dramedy. "Rain Man" was the top-grossing film of the year and also won four of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture, best director and best lead actor for Hoffman.

1989: "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"

Harrison Ford returned to the role of Indiana Jones in the third installment in the eponymous franchise, in which Sean Connery co-starred as Indy's father, Professor Henry Jones. "The Last Crusade" was the top-grossing film of the year and won one of the three Oscars for which it was nominated.

1990: "Ghost"

Demi Moore starred as a potter who's visited by the spirit of her murdered boyfriend (Patrick Swayze) in the romantic thriller. "Ghost" was the top-grossing film of the year and won two of five Oscars for which it was nominated. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Dances with Wolves."

1991: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"

Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor teamed up with Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 Terminator to protect her teen son, Edward Furlong's John Connor, in the sequel to 1984's "The Terminator." The James Cameron-directed sci-fi flick was the top-grossing film of the year and won four of the six Oscars for which it was nominated.

1992: "Aladdin"

Scott Weinger, the actor who played Steve on "Full House," voiced the titular thief, who stumbles upon a magic lamp containing a powerful genie voiced by Robin Williams, in the hit Disney animated musical. "Aladdin" was the top-grossing film of the year and won two of the five Oscars for which it was nominated: best original score and best original song for "A Whole New World."

1993: "Jurassic Park"

Laura Dern and Sam Neill starred as a paleobotanist and a paleontologist recruited by an eccentric industrialist to explore and review his new theme park, where cloned dinosaurs are the main attraction, in the beloved Steven Spielberg-directed sci-fi action flick. "Jurassic Park" was the top-grossing film of the year — and more than doubled what the second-highest-grossing film of '93, "Mrs. Doubtfire," made at the box office. It also launched a franchise that continues today and won all three Oscars for which it was nominated.

1994: "The Lion King"

Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick voiced the younger and older versions of the titular wild cat in the Disney animated musical, which chronicles the coming-of-age of a lion cub following the tragic death of his father (the voice of James Earl Jones). "The Lion King" was the top-grossing film of the year, spawned a Broadway musical and won two of the four Oscars for which it was nominated: best original score and best original song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

1995: "Toy Story"

Tom Hanks voiced a pull-string cowboy doll named Woody — who feels replaced by his owner's new favorite toy, a space ranger action figure named Buzz Lightyear (the voice of Tim Allen) — in the John Lasseter-directed Disney cartoon. "Toy Story," which spawned two sequels, was the top-grossing film of the year and earned three Oscar nominations. It also won a special achievement Academy Award for the development of computer-animation techniques.

1996: "Independence Day"

Will Smith's fighter pilot Captain Steven Hiller teamed up with Jeff Goldblum's satellite technician and computer expert David Levinson to thwart an alien invasion in the Roland Emmerich-directed sci-fi action flick. "Independence Day," which spawned a 2016 sequel, was the top-grossing film of the year and won one of the two Oscars for which it was nominated: best visual effects.

1997: "Titanic"

Leonardo Dicaprio starred as poor artist Jack Dawson opposite Kate Winslet as rich girl Rose DeWitt Bukater in the James Cameron-directed love story and disaster film. "Titanic" was the top-grossing film of the year — it more than tripled what the second-highest-grossing movie of '97, "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," made at the box office — and won 11 of the 14 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director. The epic is one of three movies (along with "Ben-Hur" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King") tied for the record for most Academy Awards won by a single film.

1998: "Armageddon"

Steve Buscemi, Will Patton, Bruce Willis, Michael Clarke Duncan, Ben Affleck and Owen Wilson portrayed deep-sea oil drillers hired by NASA to stop a massive meteor from destroying the planet in the Michael Bay-directed sci-fi action flick. "Armageddon" was the top-grossing film of the year and earned four Oscar nominations.

1999: "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace"

Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson starred as Jedis who encounter a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) in the fourth installment in the "Star Wars" franchise, a prequel to the original trilogy. "The Phantom Menace," which George Lucas directed, was the top-grossing film of the year and earned three Oscar nominations.

2000: "Mission: Impossible 2"

Tom Cruise returned to the role of Ethan Hunt in the sequel to 1996's "Mission: Impossible," in which the super-spy and his team attempt to stop a rogue agent from releasing a deadly bioweapon. The John Woo-directed action flick was the top-grossing film of the year, though it attracted less awards attention than films like "Gladiator" and "Traffic," which also debuted in 2000.

2001: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

Daniel Radcliffe starred as the titular boy wizard alongside Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in the big-screen adaptation of the hit children's book "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The fantasy flick launched a franchise, was the top-grossing film of the year and earned three Oscar nominations.

2002: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"

The second installment in the "Lord of the Rings" franchise bested the second installment in the "Harry Potter" franchise at the box in '02. Elijah Wood starred as Frodo Baggins, who struggles with the burden of carrying The Ring while traveling with Sean Astin's Samwise Gamgee toward Mordor, in the Peter Jackson-directed sequel to 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." In addition to making more money than any other film that year, "The Two Towers" also won two of the six Oscars for which it was nominated. Ultimately, though, it lost the Academy Award for best picture to "Chicago."

2003: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

Elijah Wood returned to the role of Frodo Baggins in the final installment in the "Lord of the Ring" franchise. "The Return of the King," which Peter Jackson directed, was the top-grossing film of the year and won all 11 Oscars for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director. The fantasy film tied with "Ben-Hur" and "Titanic" for the record for most Academy Awards won by any single film.

2004: "Shrek 2"

Mike Myers voiced the titular ogre in the sequel to 2001's "Shrek," in which the title character teams up with Puss in Boots (the voice of Antonio Banderas) and Donkey (the voice of Eddie Murphy) to stop Fairy Godmother from sabotaging his marriage to Princess Fiona (the voice of Cameron Diaz). The cartoon was the top-grossing film of the year and scored two Oscar nominations. Ultimately, it lost the Academy Award for best animated feature film to "The Incredibles."

2005: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson returned to the roles that made them stars in the fourth installment in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, which centered around the deadly Triwizard Tournament. "The Goblet of Fire" was the top-grossing film of the year and scored one Oscar nomination: best art direction.

2006: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" — which saw Johnny Depp return to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow — made more than a billion dollars at the global box office in 2006, making it the most lucrative installment in the series, which kicked off with 2003's "The Curse of the Black Pearl." While the first film in the franchise scored five Oscar nominations, "Dean Man's Chest" earned four — and ultimately took home the Academy Award for best visual effects. It wasn't as popular with critics, though, scoring a 53% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2007: "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

It was another big year for Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise! In 2007, the third installment in the series starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow — "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" — banked $963M at the global box office – down a bit from its billion-dollar predecessor. The threequel also earned fewer Oscar nominations — just two — and ultimately went home empty-handed. Reviews clearly didn't have much impact on ticket sales: "At World's End" scored a 44% rotten rating with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

2008: "The Dark Knight"

The second installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy — "The Dark Knight" — ruled the box office in 2008. It earned nearly a billion dollars in ticket sales and scored a 94% fresh rating with both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The superhero flick — in which Christian Bale's Batman faced off against Heath Ledger's Joker — also racked up Oscar nominations (eight total) and ultimately claimed two: best sound editing and best supporting actor for Heath, who died seven months before the film debuted. Another impressive accomplishment? "The Dark Knight" ranks third on IMDb's list of the most popular films of all time behind "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Godfather."

2009: "Avatar"

It's the second highest grossing film of all time, behind only 1939's "Gone with the Wind." James Cameron's "Avatar" earned more than $2.7B at the global box office after it opened in theaters in 2009. It scored an 82% fresh rating with both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes and earned nine Oscar nominations, ultimately winning best art direction, best visual effects and best cinematography. ("Avatar" lost the Oscar for best picture to Danny Boyle's indie darling "Slumdog Millionaire.")