Looking back at the movies that brought audiences to theaters in 2011

This year Hollywood is looking at the lowest total box office grosses since 2006.

However, the L.A. imagination factories have been surging over the last few years and despite low numbers, the studios are still expected to bring in more than $9.5 billion in the U.S. for 2011.

In 2011, 570 movies have been released to theaters but which ones topped the list? Here's a look at the top 10 box office winners.

10. Captain America: The First Avenger

The prequel to 2012's mega-movie; The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger, hit theaters in July with a $65 million opening weekend. It follows the Hulk series, the Iron Man series and May's Thor. Starring Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving, Captain America ended its run just short of $176.7 million. A sequel is in the works to follow the Avengers.

9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

The reboot of the Charlton Heston classic, Rise of the Planet of the Apes tells the beginning of the story. It reveals how the apes gained their intelligence and began their revolt against humanity. Starring James Franco, it hit theaters in August with an opening weekend of $54.8 million. It ended its run in 9th at $176.7 million, just under $50,000 and ahead of Captain America: The First Avenger.

8. Thor

The second Marvel Comics movie on this list, Thor served to set up both July's Captain America and next year's The Avengers. Starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, Thor exploded into theaters in May with a $65.7 million opening weekend. It ended up earning $181 million.

7. Cars 2

The sequel to Pixar's 2006 blockbuster, Cars 2 featured the voices of Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy as the beloved tow truck Mater. It hit theaters in June with an opening weekend of $66 million. Cars 2 raced into seventh place with a total haul of $191 million.

6. Fast Five

The latest in The Fast and The Furious series; Fast Five blew away the competition in April when it hit theaters with an opening weekend that finished just shy of $86.2 million.  The movie ended up earning just shy of $208.9 million.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

The fourth movie in the series and the first not related to the original trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides featured Johnny Depp as the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow. It stormed theaters in May with an opening weekend of $90 million. The Pirates ended up taking home a haul of $241 million.

4. The Hangover Part II

Featuring the return of The Wolfpack, The Hangover Part II took the action from Las Vegas and sent it to Thailand. Audiences propelled the movie to an almost $86 million opening weekend. By the time the party was over, the movie had earned $254 million and talk of another sequel was gaining steam.

3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I

The only movie in the year's top 10 that's still in theaters; The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I earned the year's second biggest opening weekend. When it hit theaters in November it brought in $138 million. So far it has earned $259 million. Audiences are sure to storm theaters next year when the second half of the final Twilight movie hits theaters.

2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

The third movie in the Transformers series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the second highest grossing film in the series. It hit theaters in May with an opening weekend of $97.8 million. By the time it finished its run, Transformers: Dark of the Moon had earned $352 million.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The undisputed box office champ for 2011 is the final chapter of J. K. Rowling's saga about the boy who lived. Hitting theaters in July, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 savaged the competition with the biggest opening weekend of the year, bringing in $169 million in its first few days in theaters. It ended its box office run with $381 million, making it the highest grossing movie in the 8 movie series.