Summary
Movie re-releases have been going rampant in theaters for a long time now, especially in the last few years. It’s certainly understandable, as watching a movie at home is really nothing compared to the experience of watching it at a movie theater.
On the other hand, some people might not have been born in 1972 or 1977 when The Godfather andStar Wars: A New Hope first premiered, so having the opportunity to experience those movies in cinemas for the first time is a no-brainer. And, of course, some of these opening weekends have been absolutely massive. These are the most successful movie theatrical reruns.
10Beauty And The Beast
Original Release: 1991 – Re-Release: 2012
Of course, Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s most iconic movies, and probably the quintessential princess movie. Yes, you can make arguments about other princess movies being more iconic, likeCinderella and Snow White, but Beauty and the Beastis at least on-par with those older classics.
Before Disney started making live-action remakes of varying quality to all of its iconic movies, it simply re-released them in theaters for all children to see, and since Beauty and the Beast has always been regarded as one of Disney’s finest, it is totally expected to have a massive re-release. In this case, the movie grossed around the $62 million mark.
9Finding Nemo
Original Release: 2003 – Re-Release: 2012
Any late-’90s and early-2000s kid remembers Finding Nemo as one of the best movies from their childhood. It is, of course, one of Pixar’s finest movies and a huge hit at the box office. It’s full of fun moments, awesome characters, and a touching ending.
It should come as no surprise that a 2012 re-release was just as successful, or, at least, as successful as any re-release can get, understanding that a re-release will never achieve the impact of a first-time premiere. Nonetheless, Finding Nemo still managed to net around $16.7 million in its re-release weekend.
8Star Wars – Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back
Original Release: 1980 – Re-Release: 1997
Known as the quintessential sequel by excellency, Empire Strikes Back was everything it needed to be. It pushed the characters and scenarios even further, introduced new characters, thickened the plot with the single most iconic twist of all time, and left a huge cliffhanger set up for a conclusion.
The original Star Wars trilogy was re-released in 1997 to prepare people for the then-upcoming Star Wars – Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and featured a lot of controversial new additions and altered scenes.The best one of these changes might be in Empire Strikes Back, as the windows in Cloud City add a nice touch to an otherwise claustrophobic scene. This re-run made $78 million at the box office.
7Star Wars – Episode 6: Return Of The Jedi
Original Release: 1983 – Re-Release: 1997
What can we say about Return of the Jedi? Some people see it as the weakest part of the original Star Wars trilogy, but we can’t think of a better ending to the story. Luke finally becomes a Jedi thanks to Yoda’s and Obi Wan’s training. He resists Darth Sidious and the dark side, and ends the Empire.
We can’t forget Anakin’s redemption, finally fulfilling the prophecy and destroying the Sith and finally bringing balance to the Force. With great cinematography and a memorable soundtrack, Return of the Jedi is awesome, which helped it gross around $89.3 million during its re-release.
6Star Wars – Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Original Release: 1999 – Re-Release: 2012
For a movie as hated (at the time) as The Phantom Menace, it surely was a complete hit in both its 2012 and the later 2024 re-releases. Probably because kids during the prequel era are now grown-ups who love these re-releases.
Of course, The Phantom Menace had a lot going for it. Darth Maul’s iconic double-bladed lightsaber, and the theme written for him by John Williams, Duel of the Fates, which was so good that it became a theme for Star Wars in general. It should come as no surprise it made $102 million in 2012.
5Jurassic Park
Original Release: 1993 – Re-Release: 2013
“Welcome… to Jurassic Park” is a line that still echoes these days in the form of various references, Easter eggs and memes. That’s a testament to how much of an iconic movie Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park became. Part of the movie’s appeal was its memorable soundtrack, written by John Williams.
We live in a world where we love to fantasize about this long-gone in the past, so a brilliant movie like Jurassic Park was bound to be a hit. In any case, Jurassic Park’s 20th anniversary re-release was also a hit, making around $118 million at the box office.
4The Lion King
Original Release: 1994 – Re-Release: 2011
Another movie that was brought back to theaters thanks to the magic of 3D technology. To some, The Lion King is the best Disney movie of all time, thanks to its iconic soundtrack, with music by Hans Zimmer and songs by Elton John, and iconic voice acting, courtesy of the legendary James Earl Jones.
’90s and 2000s kids loved The Lion King, and would watch it over and over again, in spite of that one tragic scene and broke everyone’s hearts. So, it’s no surprise that thousands of people rushed in to see this great movie in theaters one more time in 2011, earning around $150 million.
3Star Wars – Episode 3: Revenge Of The Sith
Original Release: 2005 – Re-Release: 2025
Probably the most important re-release in recent years. Revenge of the Sith was, at the time of its original release, one of the most important moments in pop-culture. 2005 was the year every kid dressed up as Darth Vader for Halloween. The movie is filled with memorable and memeable lines.
It’s the climax of the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader, and seeing that moment where he gets his iconic mask for the first time was absolutely mind-blowing. It was in 2005, and it still is in 2025. Few movies have a finale as artistically beautiful as Revenge of the Sith’s. It made more than $50 million on the opening weekend alone.
2Star Wars – Episode 4: A New Hope
Original Release: 1977 – Re-Release: 1997
Of course, the original Star Wars movie was the highest-grossing re-release out of all the 1997 special editions. It was the first time people got to visit the galaxy far, far away, and they completely fell in love with it.
Everything in this movie is engrained in people’s collective consciousness, so if you re-release one of pop culture’s biggest and most unexpected hits, it’s only logical for it to be a hit again. With parents now wanting to teach their children about the Force, the Jedi, and the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire. It made around $160 million in 1997.
1Titanic
Original Release: 1997 – Re-Release: 2012
Titanic is the original blockbuster movie, the movie that became famous (among other things) for breaking the record of the highest-grossing movie of all time, since it was the first to reach the billion-dollar mark.
We all know it’s iconic from every angle you look at it. Celine Dion’s song, iconic scenes like the band playing until their deaths, dialogues that have now become memes, like the French girl’s scene, Jack and Rose spreading their arms to the wind. Titanic has a little bit of everything, and it was obviously going to be a success upon re-releasing in theaters, grossing a whopping $350 million.
