#1 of 45 #1 action movie of 1998
1998 · Action, Adventure
$553.7M worldwide · 13% of the chart's total
$201.6M US & Canada · 36% $352.1M elsewhere · 64%
Action box office · 1998
Action Box Office 1998: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
Armageddon (1998) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 1998, with $553.7M worldwide, ahead of Saving Private Ryan (1998) at $482.4M and Godzilla (1998) at $379M. 45 action films released in 1998 report a worldwide gross, $4.3B in all, 49% of it from the US & Canada. 15 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 16% on 1997, whose releases took $5.1B. By language, English leads with $3.5B across 39 action releases.
- 1998 releases with a gross
- 45
- combined worldwide
- $4.3B
- films crossed $100M
- 15
- vs 1997
- −16%
#1 of 45 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 1998?
Armageddon (1998) leads with $553.7M, 13% of the total. The top 5 together took $2B, 48% of what all 45 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 1998, 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 1998.
- 1 Jul 1, 1998 US and Canada: $201.6M Rest of the world: $352.1M Worldwide: $553.7M
- 2 Jul 24, 1998 US and Canada: $217M Rest of the world: $265.3M Worldwide: $482.4M
- 3 May 19, 1998 US and Canada: $136.3M Rest of the world: $242.7M Worldwide: $379M
- 4 May 8, 1998 US and Canada: $140.5M Rest of the world: $209M Worldwide: $349.5M
- 5 Jul 10, 1998 US and Canada: $130.4M Rest of the world: $155M Worldwide: $285.4M
- 6
Nov 16, 1998 US and Canada: $111.5M Rest of the world: $139.3M Worldwide: $250.8M - 7
Jul 17, 1998 US and Canada: $94.1M Rest of the world: $156.2M Worldwide: $250.3M - 8
Sep 18, 1998 US and Canada: $141.2M Rest of the world: $103.5M Worldwide: $244.7M - 9
Mar 13, 1998 US and Canada: $57M Rest of the world: $126M Worldwide: $183M - 10
Jun 12, 1998 US and Canada: $74.3M Rest of the world: $90.5M Worldwide: $164.8M - 11
Apr 3, 1998 US and Canada: $69.1M Rest of the world: $67M Worldwide: $136.2M - 12
Aug 21, 1998 US and Canada: $70.1M Rest of the world: $61.1M Worldwide: $131.2M - 13
Nov 6, 1998 US and Canada: $41M Rest of the world: $75.7M Worldwide: $116.7M - 14
Dec 11, 1998 US and Canada: $70.2M Rest of the world: $42.4M Worldwide: $112.6M - 15
Mar 6, 1998 US and Canada: $57.2M Rest of the world: $45.2M Worldwide: $102.4M - 16
Apr 3, 1998 US and Canada: $32.9M Rest of the world: $60.2M Worldwide: $93.1M - 17
Jul 10, 1998 US and Canada: $54.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $54.7M - 18
Dec 25, 1998 US and Canada: $50.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.6M - 19
Jul 29, 1998 US and Canada: $44.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.5M - 20
Sep 25, 1998 US and Canada: $41.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.6M - 21
Apr 24, 1998 US and Canada: $27M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27M - 22
Aug 14, 1998 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.4M - 23
Oct 30, 1998 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 24
Jan 16, 1998 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.9M - 25
Apr 10, 1998 US and Canada: $19.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.2M - 26
Feb 6, 1998 US and Canada: $19.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.2M - 27
Oct 23, 1998 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.6M - 28
Feb 5, 1998 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M - 29
Jan 30, 1998 US and Canada: $13.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.8M - 30
May 1, 1998 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 31
Jan 30, 1998 US and Canada: $11.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.2M - 32
Mar 27, 1998 US and Canada: $10.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.5M - 33
Sep 4, 1998 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.3M - 34
May 27, 1998 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.3M - 35
Jul 23, 1998 US and Canada: $9.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.6M - 36
Jan 8, 1998 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2M - 37
Apr 24, 1998 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.2M - 38
Oct 9, 1998 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 39
3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)Apr 10, 1998 US and Canada: $375.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $375.8K
Apr 10, 1998 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $375.8K worldwide - 40
Sep 18, 1998 US and Canada: $146.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $146.1K - 41
Sep 5, 1998 US and Canada: $25.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.8K - 42
Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998)Oct 16, 1998 US and Canada: $15K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15K Oct 16, 1998 · English · Thriller, Action, Comedy $15K worldwide - 43
Nov 1, 1998 US and Canada: $4.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3K - 44
Sep 25, 1998 US and Canada: $3.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1K - 45
Jun 24, 1998 US and Canada: $1.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1998?
Of the top 10, Rush Hour (1998) earned the biggest share at home (58% in the US & Canada), while The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) made 69% of its gross abroad. Across all 45 films, $2.1B (49%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Armageddon (1998) $553.7M $201.6M US & Canada · 36% $352.1M elsewhere · 64%
- 2 Saving Private Ryan (1998) $482.4M $217M US & Canada · 45% $265.3M elsewhere · 55%
- 3 Godzilla (1998) $379M $136.3M US & Canada · 36% $242.7M elsewhere · 64%
- 4 Deep Impact (1998) $349.5M $140.5M US & Canada · 40% $209M elsewhere · 60%
- 5 Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) $285.4M $130.4M US & Canada · 46% $155M elsewhere · 54%
- 6 Enemy of the State (1998) $250.8M $111.5M US & Canada · 44% $139.3M elsewhere · 56%
- 7 The Mask of Zorro (1998) $250.3M $94.1M US & Canada · 38% $156.2M elsewhere · 62%
- 8 Rush Hour (1998) $244.7M $141.2M US & Canada · 58% $103.5M elsewhere · 42%
- 9 The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) $183M $57M US & Canada · 31% $126M elsewhere · 69%
- 10 Six Days Seven Nights (1998) $164.8M $74.3M US & Canada · 45% $90.5M elsewhere · 55%
Gross bands
How Many 1998 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
15 of 45 films crossed $100M and took $3.7B between them, 88% of the total. 11 films, 24% of the list, earned under $10M.
13% 75% 12%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 2% of the list $553.7M · 13% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 14 films, 31% of the list $3.2B · 75% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 19 films, 42% of the list $511.3M · 12% of the gross
- Under $10M 11 films, 24% of the list $21.8M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1998 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $1.7B from 7 films, led by Armageddon (1998). February was the quietest month ($33.3M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Hard Rain (1998) $53M Hard Rain (1998)
- February Feb The Replacement Killers (1998) $33.3M The Replacement Killers (1998)
- March Mar The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) $295.8M The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
- April Apr Lost in Space (1998) $278M Lost in Space (1998)
- May May Godzilla (1998) $751.7M Godzilla (1998)
- June Jun Six Days Seven Nights (1998) $164.8M Six Days Seven Nights (1998)
- July Jul Armageddon (1998) $1.7B Armageddon (1998)
- August Aug Blade (1998) $154.6M Blade (1998)
- September Sep Rush Hour (1998) $296.8M Rush Hour (1998)
- October Oct Vampires (1998) $36.1M Vampires (1998)
- November Nov Enemy of the State (1998) $367.5M Enemy of the State (1998)
- December Dec Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) $163.2M Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Last 10 years
How Does 1998 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1997 earned the most: $5.1B from 51 films, led by The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). 1998 took $4.3B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 55 films | 55 | $1.8B | – | 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 |
| 1997 51 films · +22% | 51 | $5.1B | +22% | The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) $618.6M |
| 1998 45 films · −16% | 45 | $4.3B | −16% | Armageddon (1998) $553.7M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 1998?
English-language action films took $3.5B across 39 films, 81% of the total, ahead of French-language action films ($27M) and Japanese-language action films ($25.8K).
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 1998: 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 45 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 1998?
Armageddon (1998) leads with $553.7M worldwide, $201.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Saving Private Ryan (1998) at $482.4M and Godzilla (1998) at $379M.
How much did action movies released in 1998 earn?
45 action films released in 1998 report a worldwide gross, $4.3B in all, or $95M per film on average. 1997 releases took $5.1B.
How many action movies released in 1998 made $1 billion?
None. 15 films crossed $100 million, led by Armageddon (1998) with $553.7M.
How is the 1998 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 1998. 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 1998 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.