Karl Urban has been in the industry for a while. Since the '90s, really. And, throughout that time, he's developed a pretty decent following. Then, with The Boys, that profile got a bit of expansion, even more so than with The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Riddick, Xena: Warrior Princess, Ghost Ship, or Star Trek.
After all, the viewers may have remembered Urban from two of the Lord of the Rings films, but the majority wouldn't be able to spout out his name on the fly. But Billy Butcher? That rolls off the tongue in a way as natural as Urban's performance as the character. Hopefully, there will be more big movies for the man down the line. But, for the time being, here are Urban's highest-grossing movies. Note that the figures are domestic tallies that have not been adjusted for inflation.
10 The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) - $57.7 Million
David Twohy gave horror and sci-fi fans a minor classic with 2000's Pitch Black. But, then, the same director nearly derailed the whole IP with that film's follow-up: The Chronicles of Riddick. A bloated mess that's blatantly hinging on Vin Diesel's then-peaked star power, not even Urban and Thandiwe Newton could save this one.
Not a Massive Success
It may have made the list, but in no way was The Chronicles of Riddick a success. With $105 million behind it (in 2004 dollars much less), it only netted about $57.8 million domestically. Toss in an equally lackluster $58 million from overseas markets, where this really should have soared, and it was an outright bomb. Fortunately, the third installment would learn from many of this one's mistakes. Stream on Prime Video.
9 Pete's Dragon (2016) - $76.2 Million
David Lowery's Pete's Dragon is the best live-action Disney remake ever made, mostly because the original film is so lackluster. But, that aside, it's perfectly heartwarming and terrific on its own. After all, Urban plays the film's least likable character and his Gavin is, for the most part, fairly understandable (and believable).
Pete's Dragon Doubled its Budget
Just as the lackluster late '70s film underperformed at the box office, so too did the wonderful 2016 iteration. Fortunately, the film had a surprisingly slight budget of $65 million, but not even the presence of Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Urban could get it to $150 worldwide. It did double its budget, so at least it broke even. Not to mention, it's the exact type of film to gain an audience via rentals and streaming on Disney+.
Pete's Dragon
- Release Date
- August 10, 2016
- Runtime
- 102
- Studio
- Walt Disney Pictures
8 Red (2010) - $90.4 Million
Red, a late addition to the Summer 2010 blockbuster movie schedule, will always stand as the last really solid film to be led by Bruce Willis. But, it was also a nice, wide-release display of Urban's likability. This even in semi-villainous, easily dislikable government pencil-pushing type roles.
A Surprising Hit
Even with the star-laden cast and numerous setpieces, Red's budget was at most $60 million. A solid marketing campaign and a perpetual sense of fun got it up to just under $200 million. In other words, unlike the sequel (which did not feature Urban), the first Red was a hit. Stream on Prime Video.
7 Star Trek Beyond (2016) - $158.9 Million
If Karl Urban has ever felt like a natural fit for a role, it's as Judge Dredd in the phenomenal Dredd. But, there's also Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the rebooted Star Trek trilogy. And, while the three films can feel like a mixed bag on a binge-watch, Urban's performance is a consistent highlight, including in the throwback-vibed third film, Star Trek Beyond.
Star Trek: Beyond Almost Performed as Well as its Predecessors
Beyond did about as well as the 2009 Star Trek. In other words, it fell short, particularly on the domestic front. But, with nearly $350 million worldwide on a sizable but not grandiose (considering cast contract renegotiations) $185 million budget, it's still hard to look at Beyond's financial performance as a true success. Stream on Paramount+.
6 The Bourne Supremacy (2004) - $176 Million
The Bourne Supremacy marked a major shift for the franchise. Mostly because Paul Greengrass' command of character-driven narrative (and unfortunate reliance on shaky cam action sequences) came into the picture. And, along with Greengrass, Urban found himself a new addition as Russian Federal Security Service agent Kirill, a killer with comparable skills to born with whom the latter clashes intermittently throughout the movie.
Another Bourne Hit
Supremacy outgrossed Identity,both domestically and internationally. In other words, it confirmed that Bourne was a bona fide franchise. And, yet, the IP's heights had not yet been reached. Rent on Apple TV.
5 Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) - $228.8 Million
A troubled sequel that relies way too much on what's already been established by the IP's early days, Star Trek Into Darkness is a mixed bag of a sequel. Is it great seeing Benedict Cumberbatch as a major Trek villain? Sure. But when they try to cover up his identity only for it to be obvious from square one, any sort of tension in the film itself is deflated.
The Return of Khan
Whereas the first film netted over $250 million domestic, the sequel fell short with under $230 million. But it did better than the 2009 film overseas. By the time it left theaters, Into Darkness had amassed over $467 million worldwide. That said, it also cost more than the first film at $190 million as opposed to $150 million. Stream on Paramount+.
4 Star Trek (2009) - $257.7 Million
Star Trek was a major hit in Summer 2009, primarily because it had appeal even for those not well-versed in the IP. And, of all the accomplishments under the belt of J.J. Abrams' film, the very best might just come down to casting. From Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in the lead roles to John Cho, Urban, and the late, great Anton Yelchin rounding out the Enterprise's crew, everybody was perfectly suited for their respective position.
The Perfect Bones
While $150 million may seem like a sizable chunk of change, it really isn't for a movie as good-looking as Star Trek. And, while it didn't perform like gangbusters, it still did okay worldwide. All in all, it netted $385 million worldwide, which makes it a surprise that this kicked off a trilogy (perhaps more), yet profitable nonetheless. Stream on Paramount+.
3 Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - $315 Million
If there's a great random side villain in the MCU, it's Urban's executioner in Thor: Ragnarok. A gloating goofball with very little to gloat about, Urban's character nonetheless isn't a one-note joke. He has an arc, and Urban sells that very well.
The Best Thor Film, by Far
Fantastic reviews and a solid marketing campaign got Ragnarok up to $315 million domestically. Toss in an impressive $540.2 million from overseas markets and it outgrossed the previous two films across the globe. With a $180 million budget, its $855 million gross was quite pleasing, but there would be the initiation of a downward trajectory with the much-maligned Thor: Love and Thunder.
2 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) - $342.5 Million
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers both organically continued the narrative found in The Fellowship of the Ring and expanded the world of Middle Earth on screen. And, besides Brad Dourif, the best casting addition came in the form of Urban's Eomer, the leader of the Riders of Rohan.
A Massively Successful Fantasy Film
The combined budget of Jackson's trilogy was $281 million. And, while that sounds massive, there have been MCU ventures with even higher price tags. But, it was still a mighty investment, and one that paid off big time. For instance, in the case of Two Towers, it outgrossed Fellowship both domestically and internationally. Specifically, nearly $950 million worldwide against a $94 million price tag.
1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - $379 Million
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is considered by many to be the magnum opus of Peter Jackson's time on Middle Earth. It certainly garnered the most accolades of the trilogy (not to mention the Hobbit trilogy). And, like with Two Towers, it gave Urban some spotlight on the biggest scale possible.
Karl Urban's Highest-Grossing Film
Naturally, the shared budget that applied to Fellowship and Towers applied to King. And, like with the bump in revenue from Fellowship to Towers, there was a bump from Towers to King. By the time the third and final chapter of Jackson's trilogy had exited theaters, it had amassed over $1.15 billion worldwide and a slew of Academy Award nominations. It will probably always be Urban's biggest success.
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