Michael J. Fox‘s best movies are known and loved by fans worldwide, but which of his greatest works has the highest box office gross? The Canadian-born star broke onto the scene playing Alex Keaton on the hit sitcom, Family Ties. However, it was his success on the big screen that would forever cement his place in popular culture.
Fox landed the starring role in 1985’s Back to the Future, which introduced him as Hollywood’s newest comedy leading man. He produced a string of hits throughout the ’80s and into the ’90s, stretching his range to include dramatic parts as well. Fox disclosed his early onset Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in the late ’90s, and his output slowed shortly after.
Though he has effectively retired from acting, that hasn’t stopped him from making impactful appearances in movies and TV shows in smaller roles. With a legacy of amazing films under his belt, it’s no surprise that Michael J. Fox is still a beloved icon. Many of his best films were commercial successes on top of their critical popularity.
10
Casualties Of War (1989) – $18 Million
Casualties of War was one of Michael J. Fox’s few box office bombs, and the movie’s $18 million gross wasn’t enough to break even. Fox plays Private Max Eriksson, a Vietnam War soldier who clashes with his commanding officer when his unit kidnaps a woman. Brian De Palma’s blunt anti-war film showed a side of Fox that audiences hadn’t seen.
His onscreen chemistry with Sean Penn is a highlight of the film, and it proved that Fox could do something other than comedy. Unfortunately, the startling Vietnam War movie was in an overcrowded field. Casualties of War was overshadowed by movies like Born on the Fourth of July, and it faded into the background of the 1980s war film catalog.
9
The Frighteners (1996) – $29 Million
Peter Jackson’s first foray into American filmmaking didn’t produce box office gold. The Frighteners concerns a widower who can talk to ghosts, who uses his supernatural gift to solve a series of murders in a small town. Fox plays the lead character, and the horror comedy gave him a chance to meld his two acting gifts into one performance.
Earning only $29 million, The Frighteners lost money when factoring in additional costs above the production budget. Nevertheless, it’s a brilliant hidden gem, and the perfect illustration of Jackson’s whimsical and macabre sense of humor. It’s one of the most underrated movies of the ’90s, and one of the most overlooked works in Michael J. Fox’s filmography.
8
Teen Wolf (1985) – $33 Million
Released right after Back to the Future, Teen Wolf also helped establish Fox as a bona fide teen idol. He plays a high school basketball player who begins turning into a werewolf. Unfortunately, his newfound popularity comes with a few setbacks. Teen Wolf isn’t a masterpiece, but the $33 million blockbuster has nostalgic charm that just screams ’80s.
Fox’s charisma keeps the somewhat generic script from ever being boring. There are iconic moments, such as the car surfing sequence, and it still has some importance as a thinly-veiled morality tale about puberty. Teen Wolf is a cornerstone of Michael J. Fox’s career, and it would not have been as good with another actor in the lead role.
7
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) – $41 Million
In the middle of Disney’s animated renaissance, the studio released a few live-action movies too. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey follows two dogs and a house cat as they cross the wilderness to reunite with their owners. The gimmick for Homeward Bound is that big stars like Michael J. Fox and Sally Field provide the animal’s voices.
The charming animal adventure story scored $41 million, though The Movie Database estimates the budget at around $24 million. This means the movie probably broke even at best, though the sequel proves it fared better. Nostalgic for millennials, Homeward Bound showcased Fox’s voice acting talents. Many of the actor’s best later roles were behind the microphone.
6
Doc Hollywood (1991) – $54 Million
Ranked among Michael J. Fox’s most underrated movies, Doc Hollywood was a decent success at the box office. A hotshot surgeon is traveling through rural South Carolina when a car accident leaves him stranded. He is forced to help out around town, and soon comes to love the bucolic lifestyle. The part allowed Fox to do what he does best.
Dr. Stone grows from a heel to a hero, and Fox’s natural charm helps to soften the blow. Doc Hollywood never abandons its humor, but it also has a compelling love story that pushes the movie forward. It lost points with critics for being rife with clichés. However, the movie has only gotten more endearing with the passage of time.
5
The American President (1995) – $107 Million
The late Rob Reiner had a knack for crafting beautiful character-driven stories, and The American President is no different. The widower incumbent U.S. President has his reelection zipped up, but a new relationship threatens his popularity. Fox appears as Lewis Rothschild, the domestic policy advisor to Michael Douglas’ President Shepherd.
Political stories were popular in the 1990s, as evidenced by the over $100 million haul for The American President. It’s one of Fox’s best movies because it shows how easily he adjusted to changing roles. Rothschild isn’t the lead, but he makes an impact with less screentime. The 1995 gem is poignant and idealistic, something desperately needed in politics.
4
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) – $186 Million
Effectively contributing to the end of the Disney renaissance, Atlantis: The Lost Empire was a massive disappointment for the company. The adventure story follows a brilliant linguist who finds a book that he believes will lead him to the lost city of Atlantis. Eschewing Disney’s typical fantasy, Atlantis was ambitious from start to finish.
Fox headlines as the voice of Milo, but his star power was not enough to resurrect the flop. It grossed $186 million, meaning it lost a lot of money after factoring in other costs. Years later, Atlantis has grown a huge cult following who appreciate the film’s traditional animation and clever story. It’s arguably Fox’s best voice work to date.
3
Back To The Future Part III (1990) – $245 Million
The final installment in the Back to the Future trilogy is also the lowest-grossing, though $245 million is nothing to scoff at. Marty travels back to the Old West to help prevent Doc Brown from being gunned down by one of Biff’s ancestors. Gleefully embracing the western aesthetic, Part III is a huge change of pace from the first two.
While it lacks the same excitement as its predecessors, Part III is much better than Part II in overall execution. Fox naturally returns as Marty McFly, and the third movie gave him a chance to show off a more mature character. The franchise went off on a high note, ensuring that all three were bona fide blockbusters.
2
Back To The Future Part II (1989) – $332 Million
The overwhelming box office success of Back to the Future Part II proved that a four-year wait didn’t kill the audience’s excitement. Marty ends up in an alternate future where Biff has used knowledge of upcoming events to become a wealthy and powerful man. Though decidedly more complex than the first, Part II is the clunkiest of the trilogy.
Michael J. Fox gets to play multiple roles in the $332 million smash, and he’s hilarious in each. The film struggles to balance its disparate tones, though it does have some stellar action sequences. Back to the Future Part II is by no means a bad movie, but it had the near-impossible task of following an all-time time travel classic.
1
Back To The Future (1985) – $392 Million
Michael J. Fox is one of the few actors whose best movie also happens to be their highest-grossing. Back to the Future follows teen Marty McFly who is accidentally sent back to 1955, where he interferes with his parent’s relationship and jeopardizes his own existence. Making the time travel concept fun and accessible, it’s a perfect popcorn flick.
The role of Marty made Fox a movie star, and he was perfectly cast as the unorthodox hero. There’s a timeless charm to Back to the Future, and it remains one of the most beloved ’80s films decades later. It has grossed nearly $400 million across various releases, making it the most successful Michael J. Fox movie by far.
Source: Box Office Mojo
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