Top 10 Summer Box Office Movies

The year's biggest grosses are the usual fare. Big blockbusters, films targeted at children and 3-D fests. In fact, the highest grosser is all of the above. The second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold $375.5 million worth of tickets to beat out every other competitor this year. It is most likely going to hold that position to maintain the year's highest grosser title. Well, until the next Twilight film is released. Harry Potter 7.2 surpassed Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King to become the 13th highest grosser of all time.

The wizard had to fight off competition from Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which had been released a month before HP. Transformers has so far managed $350.5 million out of the U.S. market. Hangover 2 comes in third, with almost $100 million less. The film's prequel, which had also shattered box office records two years earlier, achieved a feat comedies rarely do nowadays, sitting up there with the fantasy, action, adventure films. Bradley Cooper and his fellow misfits pulled in $254.4 million.

The wolf pack is followed by the Johnny Depp minting machine. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' $240.8 million was enough to see it take the fifth spot. Fast Five, a once loathed franchise came back with unexpected critical acclaim and a $209.8 million reward for its troubles. Number six is hardly a bomb by any standards but when it's from Pixar, then the bar is raised. The studio's last film, Toy Story 3, was 2010's biggest money-maker. Cars 2 received lukewarm reviews but still managed to collect $189.2 million.

The year's first summer offering and adaptation of the comic book of the same name, Thor, posted positive results making $181 million guaranteeing a sequel. Another comic book adaptation and fellow Avenger, Captain America, followed closely with a $172.2 million. The second comedy in the Top 10 is the only original, non-sequel film in the list. Bridesmaids manages a rare and admirable feat, especially for a first-time feature director and a relatively unknown all-girl main cast. Paul Feig's debut brings in an unprecedented $168.5 million to claim the ninth spot.

Rounding up the Top 10 is a film by another first-time director, though the film itself is a sequel. The second installment of Kung Fu Panda pulled in $164.8 million dollars to make Jennifer Yuh Nelson the highest-grossing female director in the history of film.

Most of these films are still showing in some theatres and pulling in money. The summer standings are unlikely to change but the films will definitely add to their tally. Summer being a prime season for releases, the films do not expect a lot of competition. But the release of Twilight: Breaking Dawn is definitely going to shake things up.