#1 of 42 #1 action movie of 1996
1996 · Action, Adventure
$817.4M worldwide · 20% of the chart's total
$306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%
Action box office · 1996
Action Box Office 1996: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
Independence Day (1996) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 1996, with $817.4M worldwide, ahead of Twister (1996) at $494.6M and Mission: Impossible (1996) at $457.7M. 42 action films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $4.2B in all, 47% of it from the US & Canada. 13 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 16% on 1995, whose releases took $3.6B. By language, English leads with $4.1B across 37 action releases.
- 1996 releases with a gross
- 42
- combined worldwide
- $4.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 13
- vs 1995
- +16%
#1 of 42 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 1996?
Independence Day (1996) leads with $817.4M, 20% of the total. The top 5 together took $2.4B, 58% of what all 42 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of 1996, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1996.
- 1 Jul 3, 1996 US and Canada: $306.2M Rest of the world: $511.2M Worldwide: $817.4M
- 2 May 10, 1996 US and Canada: $241.8M Rest of the world: $252.8M Worldwide: $494.6M
- 3 May 22, 1996 US and Canada: $181M Rest of the world: $276.7M Worldwide: $457.7M
- 4 Jun 7, 1996 US and Canada: $134.1M Rest of the world: $201M Worldwide: $335.1M
- 5 Nov 8, 1996 US and Canada: $136.5M Rest of the world: $173M Worldwide: $309.5M
- 6
Jun 21, 1996 US and Canada: $101.3M Rest of the world: $141M Worldwide: $242.3M - 7
Dec 6, 1996 US and Canada: $33M Rest of the world: $126.2M Worldwide: $159.2M - 8
Feb 9, 1996 US and Canada: $70.8M Rest of the world: $79.5M Worldwide: $150.3M - 9
Nov 22, 1996 US and Canada: $92M Rest of the world: $54M Worldwide: $146M - 10
Mar 15, 1996 US and Canada: $56.6M Rest of the world: $65.4M Worldwide: $122M - 11
May 31, 1996 US and Canada: $51.4M Rest of the world: $63.9M Worldwide: $115.3M - 12
Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: $63.6M Worldwide: $101.4M - 13
Apr 12, 1996 US and Canada: $59M Rest of the world: $41.8M Worldwide: $100.9M - 14
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $33.4M Rest of the world: $56M Worldwide: $89.5M - 15
Aug 2, 1996 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $39M Worldwide: $60.2M - 16
Apr 19, 1996 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: $35.7M Worldwide: $57.4M - 17
Sep 20, 1996 US and Canada: $18.1M Rest of the world: $29.2M Worldwide: $47.3M - 18
Nov 6, 1996 US and Canada: $36.5M Rest of the world: $5.1M Worldwide: $41.6M - 19
Feb 16, 1996 US and Canada: $34.3M Rest of the world: $375 Worldwide: $34.3M - 20
Feb 23, 1996 US and Canada: $32.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.4M - 21
May 31, 1996 US and Canada: $31.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.4M - 22
May 24, 1996 US and Canada: $27M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27M - 23
Jan 19, 1996 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: $2.9K Worldwide: $25.8M - 24
Aug 9, 1996 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M - 25
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $23M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23M - 26
Sep 6, 1996 US and Canada: $21.6M Rest of the world: $1M Worldwide: $22.6M - 27
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M - 28
Jun 7, 1996 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.3M - 29
Jul 19, 1996 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.2M - 30
Apr 19, 1996 US and Canada: $14.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8M - 31
Sep 13, 1996 US and Canada: $14.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.5M - 32
Nov 7, 1996 US and Canada: $12.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.5M - 33
Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M - 34
May 3, 1996 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 35
May 10, 1996 US and Canada: $3.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.7M - 36
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996)Jan 12, 1996 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M
Jan 12, 1996 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $2.4M worldwide - 37
Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $889.1K Rest of the world: $79K Worldwide: $968.1K - 38
Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $269.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $269.3K - 39
Nov 8, 1996 US and Canada: $220.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $220.2K - 40
Nov 8, 1996 US and Canada: $107.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $107.9K - 41
Sep 12, 1996 US and Canada: $1.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9K - 42
May 9, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $184
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1996?
Of the top 10, Star Trek: First Contact (1996) earned the biggest share at home (63% in the US & Canada), while Daylight (1996) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 42 films, $2B (47%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Independence Day (1996) $817.4M $306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%
- 2 Twister (1996) $494.6M $241.8M US & Canada · 49% $252.8M elsewhere · 51%
- 3 Mission: Impossible (1996) $457.7M $181M US & Canada · 40% $276.7M elsewhere · 60%
- 4 The Rock (1996) $335.1M $134.1M US & Canada · 40% $201M elsewhere · 60%
- 5 Ransom (1996) $309.5M $136.5M US & Canada · 44% $173M elsewhere · 56%
- 6 Eraser (1996) $242.3M $101.3M US & Canada · 42% $141M elsewhere · 58%
- 7 Daylight (1996) $159.2M $33M US & Canada · 21% $126.2M elsewhere · 79%
- 8 Broken Arrow (1996) $150.3M $70.8M US & Canada · 47% $79.5M elsewhere · 53%
- 9 Star Trek: First Contact (1996) $146M $92M US & Canada · 63% $54M elsewhere · 37%
- 10 Executive Decision (1996) $122M $56.6M US & Canada · 46% $65.4M elsewhere · 54%
Gross bands
How Many 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
13 of 42 films crossed $100M and took $3.6B between them, 85% of the total. 10 films, 24% of the list, earned under $10M.
20% 65% 15%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 2% of the list $817.4M · 20% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 12 films, 29% of the list $2.7B · 65% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 19 films, 45% of the list $614.6M · 15% of the gross
- Under $10M 10 films, 24% of the list $16.6M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1996 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $1.1B from 8 films, led by Twister (1996). January was the quietest month ($28.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) $28.2M From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- February Feb Broken Arrow (1996) $217M Broken Arrow (1996)
- March Mar Executive Decision (1996) $122.9M Executive Decision (1996)
- April Apr Courage Under Fire (1996) $173.1M Courage Under Fire (1996)
- May May Twister (1996) $1.1B Twister (1996)
- June Jun The Rock (1996) $594.7M The Rock (1996)
- July Jul Independence Day (1996) $834.6M Independence Day (1996)
- August Aug Chain Reaction (1996) $91.1M Chain Reaction (1996)
- September Sep Last Man Standing (1996) $84.4M Last Man Standing (1996)
- October Oct The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) $132.8M The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
- November Nov Ransom (1996) $509.9M Ransom (1996)
- December Dec Daylight (1996) $260.6M Daylight (1996)
Last 10 years
How Does 1996 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1996 earned the most: $4.2B from 42 films, led by Independence Day (1996).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 52 films | 52 | $1B | – | Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M |
| 1988 44 films · +13% | 44 | $1.2B | +13% | Crocodile Dundee II (1988) $239.6M |
| 1989 55 films · +54% | 55 | $1.8B | +54% | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) $474.2M |
| 1990 51 films · +35% | 51 | $2.5B | +35% | Total Recall (1990) $261.3M |
| 1991 48 films · −16% | 48 | $2.1B | −16% | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) $517.8M |
| 1992 36 films · −5% | 36 | $2B | −5% | The Bodyguard (1992) $411M |
| 1993 43 films · −15% | 43 | $1.6B | −15% | The Fugitive (1993) $368.9M |
| 1994 43 films · +76% | 43 | $2.9B | +76% | True Lies (1994) $378.9M |
| 1995 53 films · +24% | 53 | $3.6B | +24% | Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) $366.1M |
| 1996 42 films · +16% | 42 | $4.2B | +16% | Independence Day (1996) $817.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 1996?
English-language action films took $4.1B across 37 films, 99% of the total, ahead of Cantonese-language action films ($12.5M) and Japanese-language action films ($968.1K).
Archive
Action Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2017 leads with $20.6B, led by Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017).
2020s 7 years · $61.4B
- 2026 so far $6B #1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- 2025 $11.9B #1 Zootopia 2 (2025)
- 2024 $8.7B #1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- 2023 $10B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $11.2B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $10.3B #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 2020 $3.4B #1 The Eight Hundred (2020)
2010s 10 years · $152.6B
- 2019 $16.5B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $19.7B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $20.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $16.5B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $16.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $16.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $12.5B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $13.8B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $10.7B #1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- 2010 $9.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
2000s 10 years · $73.2B
- 2009 $12.5B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $9.7B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $7.5B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
- 2006 $6.7B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $5.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $6.8B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $8.7B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $5.6B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $5.5B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- 2000 $4.7B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $32.6B
- 1999 $4.4B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $4.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $5.1B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $4.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $3.6B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $2.9B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $1.6B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $2B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $2.1B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $2.5B #1 Total Recall (1990)
1980s 10 years · $10.7B
- 1989 $1.8B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $1.2B #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- 1987 $1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $1.1B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $931.7M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $1.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $1.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $653.6M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $544.5M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $1B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $2.8B
- 1979 $524.3M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $509.4M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $104.8M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $28.9M #1 The Eiger Sanction (1975)
- 1974 $238.7M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $84.1M #1 Magnum Force (1973)
- 1972 $94.5M #1 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
- 1971 $112.6M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $119.5M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $286.3M
- 1969 $30.7M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.6M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $49.1M #1 You Only Live Twice (1967)
- 1966 $31.4K #1 Django (1966)
- 1965 $115.3M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $24.8M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $62.5M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $88.9K #1 Sanjuro (1962)
- 1961 $88.8K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $13.1K #1 Exodus (1960)
1950s 7 years · $3.2M
1940s 2 years · $2.3M
1930s 2 years · $5.8K
1920s 2 years · $1.8K
FAQ
Action Box Office 1996: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 42 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 1996?
Independence Day (1996) leads with $817.4M worldwide, $306.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Twister (1996) at $494.6M and Mission: Impossible (1996) at $457.7M.
How much did action movies released in 1996 earn?
42 action films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $4.2B in all, or $99.6M per film on average. 1995 releases took $3.6B.
How many action movies released in 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 13 films crossed $100 million, led by Independence Day (1996) with $817.4M.
How is the 1996 action box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 1996. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the 1996 action box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.