Charts
The Most Successful Movies of the 21st Century (Stream Graph Visualization)
Not only is this visualization by Alex Varlamov incredibly vibrant and captivating, it is packed with juicy knowledge that any movie buff or even casual entertainment consumer would enjoy. The interactive element invites you to explore the successes and failures of each distributor, and you can pinpoint specific movies to see how they fared against other films. The format lends itself brilliantly to the topic of “Movie Waves in the 21st Century”.
Click below to zoom

This type of visualization is called is called a stream graph. A stream graph is a type of stacked area graph which spreads out of a central axis, resulting in a flowing, organic silhouette that is appealing to the eye. They are excellent mediums for conveying a more general view of data so you can gather an impression quickly. For example, you can quickly see that Disney dominates the box office every year because of the copious amounts of baby blue. Stream graphs became popular after being used by Lee Bryon in the 2008 New York Times article on movie box office revenues. If you do not have the proper flash player to view the visualization, you can check it out here.
According to this chart, the highest grossing film in the 21st century is Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Despite how polarizing it was among fans, it is now considered a legendary and iconic film that launched the new generation of Star Wars films. It may come as no surprise to Avengers fans that Avengers: Endgame has the second highest domestic box office earnings in the 21st century. Disney’s Marvel Studios ranks highly across the entire visualization which is a testament to the storytelling, casting, pacing, and action abilities of the franchise.
We hope you enjoy browsing this dazzling visualization – it may inspire a rewatch or two, or you might discover a film you had previously slept on to explore.
Charts
Study Examines the Best and Worst States for Mothers to Live
A new study from Kremp examines an important aspect of motherhood. They created a scoring system to determine the best and worst locations for mothers to live in. Thanks to the multitude of details the team provided, we can see exactly how they came to their conclusions. The criteria for the scoring system examine diverse ways a community can support mothers and analyze the health and well-being of mothers and children living in each state. While something like a motherhood experience is subjective, these criteria give a fair way to compare motherhood in various locations.
Click below to zoom.
The methodology relied on these factors:
- Women’s Median Earnings
- Gender Wage Gap
- Child Care Costs
- Percentage of Mothers in Good or Excellent Health
- Percentage of Children in Good or Excellent Health
- Percentage of the Population Under 18
- State School System Scores
- Percentage of Parents Who “Definitely Agree” Their Child is Safe in School
- Weeks of Parental Leave Available
- Paid Family Leave Availability
- Job Protection
Based on these criteria, these ten states scored the highest:
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Kentucky
- Delaware
- South Dakota
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Florida
While these ten states received the lowest scores:
- Montana
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Nevada
- West Virginia
- New Mexico
The study and map are helpful precisely because motherhood is such a subjective experience. One mother may consider education of the utmost importance, while another may not be so concerned with this but focused on childcare costs and healthcare. While the study aimed to take all these factors together and score them as a whole, concerned moms can use this data to draw their own conclusions and judge the best location for their family’s needs.
The “best” state for moms often depends on the type of mother. A working mom might have vastly different priorities from a stay-at-home mom. A working mom would likely agree that Massachusetts is the best state for them because of a smaller wage gap and plenty of paid parental leave. In fact, Massachusetts offers the most parental leave compared to all other states. A mom of one child will have unique needs compared to a mom with four children. The age of the children also plays a role. Do the children need daycare, or are they all school-aged? A single Mom may consider Virginia the best state for their situation because of the low cost of living compared to average wages, though once again, Massachusetts has a lot to offer.
The map aspect of the study’s design gives us interesting insights, too. The color patterns show us that many of the best states for motherhood are in the Northeast, while many of the worst states are in the South. This map certainly gives parents something to think about if they are considering a move or planning a future family.
Charts
Study Scores American Cities Based on Cleanliness
A fascinating new study from OxiFresh shows us that cities can be scored and analyzed on how clean they are. Cleanliness may seem subjective, but the team took a brilliant approach to quantifying and scoring cities with a method that issued cities a score out of 100 in seven categories.
They used these seven areas to form their scoring system:
- Population density: number of people per square mile
- Rodents: Percentage of homes with signs of mouse and rat infestations
- Cockroaches: Percentage of housing units with cockroach infestations
- Vandalism: Percentage of homes without vandalism and abandoned buildings in a half-block radius
- Litter: Percent of homes without litter surrounding the property within a half-block radius
- Air quality: Number of days in 2024 that scored “Good” or higher on the Air Quality Index
- Tap water quality: Average number of contaminants in the municipal drinking water
The strength of this graphic lies in the details. We can see exactly how each of the 25 cities analyzed scored so that we can consider them individually and as part of a whole.
Click below to zoom.
The team’s scoring system determined that these cities are the cleanest:
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon/Washington
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington
- Rochester, New York
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota/Wisconsin
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Richmond, Virginia
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, Colorado
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
- Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas
And at the bottom of the list, we find these ten cities:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York/New Jersey
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware/Maryland
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, Washington DC/Virginia/Maryland/West Virginia
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois/Indiana
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Cincinnati, Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
We can see which factors the team considered the strongest indicator of whether or not a city is clean. For example, waste management obviously has a huge influence on a city’s cleanliness. The team included population density on the list because higher populations produce more garbage and may strain the local waste management system. However, even large cities can manage waste effectively with the right investments. The Portland metro area is the cleanest on the list, and it has made a strong investment in robust recycling and waste removal, which pays off. The city’s clean streets and parks lead to lower pollution levels and fewer rodents and insects, all adding to the city’s excellent cleanliness score.
The lowest scorer, the New York City metro area, has struggled with trash removal for decades. The city is full of back alleys that tend to collect rubbish, grime, and pests. These nests of trash and garbage lead to pollution, unpleasant smells, and the city’s famous rat infestation. As the biggest metro area in the country, though, the city has a lot of challenges to overcome to get cleaner.
The way this map and graphic present information lets us draw conclusions and ask new questions. How did your city score? Do you agree with the team’s methodology?
Charts
Explore the Best States for Car Enthusiasts
Do you have a passion for fast cars, scenic drives, and classic automobiles? If so, you might be curious about which states cater best to car lovers. The experts at Speedway Motors have developed a ranking system that evaluates each state based on the factors most important to auto enthusiasts. Their in-depth analysis reveals which parts of the country offer the best experience for those who live and breathe cars.
Click below to zoom.
How the Rankings Were Determined
Determining the ultimate destination for car fans isn’t an exact science, but the research team considered a variety of key factors to ensure a well-rounded assessment. Here’s what they looked at:
- The percentage of roads in excellent condition
- The average number of snow days per year
- The frequency of hailstorms annually
- Registration costs and duration
- The price of fuel per gallon
- The percentage of uninsured drivers
- The number of car shows held in the state
- The availability of auto racing venues
Do these factors align with what you’d consider important for an ideal car-friendly state? We think this method covers all the essential aspects—driving conditions, costs, events, and opportunities to enjoy the thrill of the road.
Top States for Car Lovers
Based on this ranking system, the following states earned top spots for their well-maintained roads, favorable weather, affordable fuel, and exciting car culture:
- Florida
- Alabama
- Idaho
- North Carolina
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- Arizona
- Indiana
- New Hampshire
- Kentucky
Florida takes the lead as the best state for car enthusiasts, thanks to its warm climate, minimal snowfall, and well-kept roads. Car lovers will also appreciate the numerous auto events, such as the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where rare and luxury cars take center stage. Racing fans, on the other hand, can enjoy the adrenaline rush of the iconic Daytona 500. Even though fuel prices are slightly above average, Florida’s thriving car culture more than makes up for it.
The State with the Most Car Meet-Ups
This chart’s strength comes from the way it breaks down specific aspects that appeal to car lovers. For example, if you don’t care about driving as much as you care about attending car shows, you can re-evaluate the rankings and bring the states with the highest scores for car shows to the top of your list. This would make California the top state in terms of car shows, with more than any other state. Monterey Car Week alone can satisfy even the most passionate enthusiasts!
The State with the Best Roads
For those who express their love of cars with road trips, you’ll be interested to know that Alabama has the best-kept roads in the nation. 75% of them are well-maintained and in good condition. They’re closely followed by New Hampshire at 74%.
States with Low Gas Prices
It’s hard to enjoy a good road trip if you blow your budget on gas. Oklahoma offers the most value for your money, with average gas prices of $2.53 per gallon at the time of the study. Texas came in second place at $.259 per gallon.
-
Business Visualizations8 months ago
Everything Owned by Apple
-
Business Visualizations6 months ago
America’s Most Valuable Companies Ranked by Profit per Employee
-
Maps2 years ago
The Most Popular Surnames in Countries Around the World
-
Business Visualizations2 months ago
The Biggest Fortune 500 Company in Every State
-
Misc Visuals2 years ago
How to Pick a Perfect Watermelon
-
Timelines1 year ago
A History of the Oldest Flags in the World
-
Maps1 year ago
Penis Lengths Around the World
-
Business Visualizations2 years ago
How Many Companies Does Elon Musk Own?