In The Multiverse Of Money: The Highest-Grossing Benedict Cumberbatch Movies

August 2024 · 11 minute read

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Benedict Cumberbatch has consistently been featured in high-profile roles since his breakout role on BBC's mystery crime drama series Sherlock Holmes.

Over his two-decade career, Cumberbatch has starred in over 50 films, resulting in a collective box office haul exceeding $15 billion.

That figure easily underscores his massive bankability, which undoubtedly translates to a net worth clocking in at around $30 million.

While his portrayal of the brilliant but insufferable detective gained him wide recognition, Cumberbatch is not one to settle into a singular niche.

He has stretched his range as an actor, appearing in Oscar-winning dramas, family-friendly adventures, and, of course, some superhero hits in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Academy Award-nominated actor has contributed to several box-office hits, and today, we're looking at the highest-grossing Benedict Cumberbatch movies.

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10 The Grinch (2018)

Global Box Office, The Grinch - $540,029,016

Audiences were treated to another adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch in 2018, with Cumberbatch in the lead role.

Cumberbatch lends his voice to the titular Grinch, a grumpy recluse who despises the holiday season and hatches a plan, with his loyal canine companion Max by his side, to ruin Christmas for the cheery residents of Whoville.

While some critics lamented the lack of creative deviation from the source material, the film's animation and vocal performances, particularly Cumberbatch's, were widely acclaimed.

The Grinch grossed $271.4 million in the United States and Canada and $255.4 million in other countries, for a total worldwide gross of $527.8 million against a production budget of $75 million, making it the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time.

According to Deadline Hollywood, The Grinch generated a net profit of $184.6 million when production expenses, marketing costs, and box office grosses are considered.

Estimated Budget

$75,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$67,572,855

Box Office (Domestic)

$272,242,291

Box Office (International)

$267,779,471

Box Office (Total)

$540,029,016

9 Doctor Strange (2016)

Global Box Office, Doctor Strange - $677,796,833

Benedict Cumberbatch's debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) saw him take up the mantle of Doctor Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme.

This origin story follows Strange's transformation from a brilliant, egotistical surgeon to a master of the mystic arts after a tragic accident leaves him without the use of his hands.

The film was met with praise for its cast, visual effects, and musical score. Doctor Strange grossed $232.6 million in the United States and Canada and $445.2 million in other territories, for a total of $677.8 million worldwide.

Deadline Hollywood's analysis revealed that Doctor Strange generated a net profit of $122.65 million after factoring in expenses and revenues.

Estimated Budget

$165,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$85,058,311

Box Office (Domestic)

$232,641,920

Box Office (International)

$445,154,156

Box Office (Total)

$677,796,833

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8 Thor: Ragnarök (2017)

Global Box Office, Thor: Ragnarök - $855,301,806

Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange made a quick appearance that is north of a cameo in Thor: Ragnarök, the quirky and colorful third installment of the Thor franchise.

Thor: Ragnarök offered a radical change in tone with its vibrant colors and comedic style injected by director Taika Waititi.

In this intergalactic adventure, Thor finds himself battling for survival on the planet Sakaar and must race against time to prevent Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying Asgard.

Cumberbatch's brief but pivotal appearance was praised, adding another layer to the dynamic between Thor and his fellow Avengers.

Thor: Ragnarök scored $316 million in the United States and Canada and $539 million in other territories, for a total of $855 million worldwide.

Deadline Hollywood's analysis revealed that Thor: Ragnarök generated a net profit of $174.2 million, taking into account production budgets and box office grosses.

Estimated Budget

$180,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$122,744,989

Box Office (Domestic)

$315,058,289

Box Office (International)

$540,243,517

Box Office (Total)

$855,301,806

7 The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (2014)

Global Box Office, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - $962,253,946

The conclusion to Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy saw Benedict Cumberbatch unleash the full fiery and destructive power of Smaug the Dragon.

In this grand finale, greed-fueled conflict erupts as dwarves, elves, humans, and even orcs clash for control of the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasure.

Though the film drew some criticism for its over-the-top CGI battles, Cumberbatch's motion capture and voice performance as the terrifying dragon was universally lauded.

Audiences still flocked to see the film, propelling it to box office success. In North America, it earned $255.1 million, with a further $707.1 million from other territories, for a global total of $962 million.

Made with an estimated production budget of $250 million, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies generated a net profit of $103.4 million.

Estimated Budget

$300,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$54,724,334

Box Office (Domestic)

$255,138,261

Box Office (International)

$707,063,077

Box Office (Total)

$962,253,946

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6 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

Global Box Office, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness - $955,775,804

Benedict Cumberbatch returned as the Master Of Mystic Arts with his Cloak Of Levitation on his shoulders in a mind-bending sequel that pushed Doctor Strange deep into the chaos of the multiverse.

After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Strange finds himself protecting America Chavez, a young woman who can travel between universes, from the powerful and corrupted Scarlet Witch.

With director Sam Raimi at the helm, the film infused elements of horror into the MCU, delivering a spectacular experience.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness scored $411.3 million in the United States and Canada and $544.4 million in other territories, resulting in a total of $955.8 million worldwide.

A Forbes blogger estimated the film's profit to be $183 million, highlighting its commercial success.

Estimated Budget

294,500,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$187,420,998

Box Office (Domestic)

$411,331,607

Box Office (International)

$544,444,197

Box Office (Total)

$955,775,804

5 The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013)

Global Box Office, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - $959,079,095

In the second installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, Benedict Cumberbatch unleashed the terrifying presence of Smaug, the treasure-hoarding dragon beneath the Lonely Mountain.

Having been merely hinted at in An Unexpected Journey, here the fearsome dragon takes center stage as Bilbo and the dwarves infiltrate his treasure-laden lair.

Using motion capture and his distinctive voice, Cumberbatch's performance brought Smaug to life as a menacing antagonist.

While the film, like the trilogy overall, faced some critical comparisons to the Lord Of The Rings series, it delivered a stirring adventure with increased action and stakes.

Although fans had mixed feelings about The Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation Of Smaug generally ranks highest with its increased pace and Smaug-centric action sequences.

This enthusiasm translated into a massive box office haul. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug grossed $258.4 million in North America and $700.6 million in other countries for a total of $959 million worldwide.

Calculating all expenses, The Desolation of Smaug reportedly made a profit of $134.1 million.

Estimated Budget

$250,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$73,645,197

Box Office (Domestic)

$258,387,334

Box Office (International)

$700,640,658

Box Office (Total)

$959,079,095

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4 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Global Box Office, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - $1,017,106,749

Benedict Cumberbatch made his first foray into Middle-Earth with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, lending his talents to not one, but two crucial roles.

He brought the terrifying dragon Smaug to life through motion capture and his deep voice, as well as The Necromancer, a mysterious sorcerer (later revealed as Sauron), hinting at the rising darkness within the world.

This return to J.R.R. Tolkien's world ignited both excitement and trepidation among fans, welcomed audiences with its familiar feel, and introduction to a new band of adventurers.

Fueled by nostalgia and a desire to revisit the Middle-Earth, An Unexpected Journey grossed $303 million in the United States and Canada and $718.1 million elsewhere, for a total of $1.017 billion worldwide.

Estimated Budget

$180,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$84,617,303

Box Office (Domestic)

$303,030,651

Box Office (International)

$714,000,000

Box Office (Total)

$1,017,106,749

3 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Global Box Office, Spider-Man: No Way Home - $1,921,847,111

Doctor Strange may have his own successful film franchise, but his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home propelled the web-slinger to unexpected box office heights.

Picking up after Peter Parker's identity is exposed, he turns to Strange for a magical solution, inadvertently unleashing villains from alternate realities.

The film capitalized on immense fan hype by bringing together elements of past Spider-Man franchises, making it a cinematic event like no other.

Spider-Man: No Way Home not only served as Spider-Man's third solo adventure in the MCU but also seamlessly tied into past Spider-Man franchises, delighting fans with nostalgic callbacks and familiar faces.

Spider-Man: No Way Home earned $814.1 million in North America and $1.108 billion in other territories, for a global total of $1.922 billion.

No Way Home surpassed its predecessor as the highest-grossing film released by Sony Pictures and the highest-grossing film of 2021.

Deadline Hollywood estimated No Way Home's final net profit at $610 million.

Estimated Budget

$200,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$260,138,569

Box Office (Domestic)

$814,115,070

Box Office (International)

$1,107,732,041

Box Office (Total)

$1,921,847,111

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2 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Global Box Office, Avengers: Infinity War - $2,052,415,039

The stakes have never been higher than in Avengers: Infinity War.

This culmination of the Infinity Saga sees Thanos, the Mad Titan, finally emerge from the shadows, determined to wipe out half of all life in the universe.

Benedict Cumberbatch reprises his role as Doctor Strange, this time forging new alliances with other heroes, including some witty exchanges with Tony Stark.

With a production budget estimated at $325 million, Avengers: Infinity War is one of the most expensive films ever made.

Despite the cost, the film received critical acclaim for Josh Brolin's performance as Thanos, the Russo brothers' direction, and the film's action sequences and emotional weight.

Avengers: Infinity War grossed $678.8 million in the United States and Canada and $1.374 billion in other territories, for a total of $2.052 billion worldwide, making it the first superhero film to gross over $2 billion worldwide.

Avengers: Infinity War generated a net profit of $500 million for Disney by the end of its theatrical run.

Estimated Budget

$325,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$257,698,183

Box Office (Domestic)

$678,815,482

Box Office (International)

$1,373,599,557

Box Office (Total)

$2,052,415,039

1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Global Box Office, Avengers: Endgame - $2,799,439,100

Capping off the Infinity Saga in epic fashion, Avengers: Endgame is the highest-grossing Benedict Cumberbatch movie to date.

Reprising his role as Doctor Strange, Cumberbatch joins the remaining Avengers in a desperate attempt to undo Thanos' devastating actions from Infinity War.

The film sees Earth's Mightiest Heroes grapple with immense loss and embark on a time-twisting mission to reverse Thanos' deadly snap. Endgame delivered an emotionally charged and action-packed resolution to a beloved saga.

It was praised for its direction, performances, and its ability to weave together the narratives of 22 preceding films.

This crowd-pleasing finale shattered box office records, achieving a record-breaking worldwide opening of $1.2 billion, nearly double the previous record set by Infinity War.

In North America, it grossed $858.4 million, with a further $1.941 billion from international markets, resulting in a global total of $2.799 billion.

Deadline Hollywood calculated Endgame's final net profit at $890 million, making it the most profitable film of 2019.

Estimated Budget

$356,000,000

Opening Weekend (Domestic)

$357,115,007

Box Office (Domestic)

$858,373,000

Box Office (International)

$1,941,066,100

Box Office (Total)

$2,799,439,100

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