40 movie sequels have hit $1 billion or more at the box office — here they all are

The cast of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Eamonn M.

McCormack/Getty Images "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" recently crossed the $2 billion threshold.

It's the fourth installment in the Tom Holland-led "Spider-Man" series.

It joins 39 other sequels that have made seven figures at the box office.

At one time, sequels were expected to have diminishing returns — but not anymore.

Now, if a sequel doesn't outgross its predecessor, it can be considered something of a failure.

Perhaps that's why, among the 64 films released by US studios that have made $1 billion at the box office , a whopping 40 of them are direct sequels to other movies — 44 if you count "Rogue One," "Minions," "The Phantom Menace," or "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," which are technically prequels.

This year alone, three sequels — " Spider-Man: Brand New Day, " "Toy Story 5," and "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" — have made at least $1 billion, with "Brand New Day" entering even more rarefied air by grossing over $2 billion , just the seventh film released by a US studio to do so.

Here are all 40 sequels to have hit $1 billion at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo data, from "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," to "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." 40.

"Jurassic World Dominion" (2022) Universal Studios Worldwide gross: $1,001,978,080 39.

"The Dark Knight" (2008) "The Dark Knight." Warner Bros.

Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,008,480,529 38.

"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" (2026) "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,013,045,939 37.

"Finding Dory" (2016) "Finding Dory." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,029,266,989 36.