Movies have always chased the extraordinary, from massive budgets to record crowds and unforgettable stunts. Every so often, a film goes far enough to earn a place in the Guinness World Records, standing out for achievements no one saw coming.
Whether through careful planning or sheer ambition, these cinematic milestones show how far the industry can push the limits. From explosive action to jaw dropping success stories, these 10 pictures made history in ways few others have.
Most Weekends for a Movie to Be Number One: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” spent sixteen weekends at number one at the US box office, more than any other film in history. Seen by an estimated one hundred sixty one million Americans, Steven Spielberg’s family sci fi masterpiece captivated audiences and maintained its box office dominance over an extended run.
Longest Score for a Superhero Movie: Man of Steel (2013)
At the time it was recorded, “Man of Steel” featured the longest score for a superhero movie, with a total runtime of one hundred eighteen minutes. Composed by Hans Zimmer, the soundtrack includes the extended piece “Man of Steel: Hans’ Original Sketchbook,” which helped the score surpass that of “Batman v Superman” and set a new benchmark for superhero film music.
First Movie Based on an App: The Angry Birds Movie (2016)
“The Angry Birds Movie” holds the Guinness World Record as the first feature film based on a mobile app, bringing the wildly popular game to the big screen in 2016.
Most Appearances by a Movie in Other Movies: Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” holds the Guinness World Record for most appearances by a movie in other movies, with more than one hundred twenty nine documented instances where it is shown on a television screen or in the background of a scene. The picture entered the public domain upon release due to a copyright filing error, which has allowed filmmakers to use it freely for decades without needing permission or paying royalties.
Most Expensive Movie Poster: Metropolis (1927)
An original art deco poster for “Metropolis,” the groundbreaking 1927 German science fiction film by Fritz Lang, was sold for six hundred ninety thousand pounds in 2005. Designed by graphic artist Heinz Schulz Neudamm, the rare poster is one of only four known copies, with others held in museums and private collections.
Most Credited Individuals for a Movie: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
“Avengers: Infinity War” holds the Guinness World Record for the most credited individuals on a single film, with five thousand one hundred nine names listed on IMDb. The record is driven largely by the movie’s vast visual effects team, which alone included more than two thousand six hundred artists who helped bring the superhero epic to life.
First Film With Digital Water: Antz (1998)
DreamWorks’ animated feature “Antz” was the first movie to use computer software to accurately simulate the properties of water. Prior to this 1998 release, fluid effects were traditionally hand-drawn or crafted frame by frame, but “Antz” introduced digitally rendered water in scenes like an underground flood and a thrilling ride on a raindrop.
Highest Grossing Christmas Movie: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)
“Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” holds the Guinness World Record as the highest grossing Christmas movie, earning over five hundred forty million dollars worldwid. Based on the beloved 1957 book “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” the animated film surpassed previous record holder “Home Alone,” cementing its place as the most financially successful holiday themed picture to date.
Most Film Extras: Gandhi (1982)
More than three hundred thousand extras appeared in the funeral scene of “Gandhi,” the 1982 historical drama about the life of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. Filmed on the anniversary of the real event, the massive scene was completed in a single morning and remains one of the most ambitious crowd sequences ever captured on film.
Largest Film Stunt Explosion: Spectre (2015)
The 2015 James Bond movie “Spectre” featured what was, at the time, the largest stunt explosion ever filmed. In a seven and a half second blast captured in Morocco, more than two thousand two hundred gallons of kerosene and seventy three pounds of explosives were detonated as Bond and Madeleine Swann escaped a crumbling enemy compound.