The Top 10 Box Office Movies of 2010

In 2010, talking toys, mad hatters and super-armored comic book heroes dominated the box office, with moviegoers ringing up over $10 billion in ticket sales. Here are the top ten highest grossing films at the domestic box office this year.

10. THE KARATE KID
Domestic Total Gross: $176,591,618

Riding the 1980s nostalgia wave, and starring Jaden Smith — son of one of the biggest box office stars in the world — this martial arts action drama remake opened big and found a solid spot at number ten.

9. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Domestic Total Gross: $217,581,231

DreamWorks’ high-flying, fire-breathing 3D adventure comedy was the studio’s biggest-ever non-’Shrek’ animated hit, garnering both critical praise and spawning a new franchise — a sequel is already in the works.

8. SHREK FOREVER AFTER
Domestic Total Gross: $238,395,990

While it was the weakest box office performer in the hugely popular animated ‘Shrek’ series, the fourth and final fairy tale farce still easily made it into the top ten as one of the biggest movies of the year.

7. DESPICABLE ME
Domestic Total Gross: $250,588,005

While hatching his dastardly, super-villainous plan to steal the moon, Gru and has army of minions were also a runaway hit at the summer box office, sneaking its way into the top ten animated films of all time.

6. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1
Domestic Total Gross: $274,392,000 (and counting)

The popular teen wizard’s penultimate big-screen adventure cast a powerful spell on the box office, adding a heaping pile of Galleons to the ‘Harry Potter’ movie franchise’s $1.9 billion-and-counting total earnings.

5. INCEPTION
Domestic Total Gross: $292,517,082

‘The Dark Knight’ is a tough act to follow, but writer/director Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending sci-fi action caper drove audiences back to theaters for multiple viewings, making it one of the biggest movies of the year.

4. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
Domestic Total Gross: $300,531,751

Dedicated ‘Twilight’ fans flocked to see the third chapter of the supernatural romance saga, giving ‘Eclipse’ the highest single-day gross of the year — but just short of last year’s opening day record for ‘New Moon.’

3. IRON MAN 2
Domestic Total Gross: $312,128,345

Rocketing into third place, Robert Downey Jr. suited up for a much-anticipated second outing as Marvel Comics’ super-armored hero, kicking off the summer with the biggest opening weekend of the year.

2. ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Domestic Total Gross: $334,191,110

Director Tim Burton’s 3D re-imagining of the classic Lewis Carrol fantasy tale defied all expectations as the top earning spring release of all time, jumping into second place with a massive opening weekend of $116.1 million.

1. TOY STORY 3
Domestic Total Gross: $415,004,880

The third (and presumably final) installment of Pixar’s beloved franchise sits firmly at the top of the toy chest as the highest grossing film of 2010, nabbing the unstoppable animation studio its biggest hit yet.