#1 of 111 #1 action movie of 2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2003 · Action, Adventure
$1.1B worldwide · 13% of the chart's total
$381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
Action box office · 2003
Action Box Office 2003: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 2003, with $1.1B worldwide, ahead of The Matrix Reloaded (2003) at $741.8M and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) at $654.3M. 111 action films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $8.7B in all, 42% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 24 crossed $100 million. That is up 55% on 2002, whose releases took $5.6B. By language, English leads with $7.6B across 51 action releases.
- 2003 releases with a gross
- 111
- combined worldwide
- $8.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 24
- vs 2002
- +55%
#1 of 111 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 2003?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B, 13% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.4B, 39% of what all 111 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $1.1B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)$381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 $654.3M Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)$305.4M US & Canada · 47% $348.9M elsewhere · 53% -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of 2003, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 111. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2003.
- 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $381.9M Rest of the world: $756.7M Worldwide: $1.1B
Dec 17, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $1.1B worldwide - 2 May 15, 2003 US and Canada: $281.6M Rest of the world: $460.3M Worldwide: $741.8M
- 3 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)Jul 9, 2003 US and Canada: $305.4M Rest of the world: $348.9M Worldwide: $654.3M Jul 9, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $654.3M worldwide
- 4 Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $111.1M Rest of the world: $343.5M Worldwide: $454.6M
- 5 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)Jul 2, 2003 US and Canada: $150.4M Rest of the world: $283M Worldwide: $433.4M Jul 2, 2003 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $433.4M worldwide
- 6
Nov 5, 2003 US and Canada: $139.3M Rest of the world: $288M Worldwide: $427.3M - 7
May 2, 2003 US and Canada: $214.9M Rest of the world: $192.8M Worldwide: $407.7M - 8
Jul 18, 2003 US and Canada: $138.6M Rest of the world: $134.7M Worldwide: $273.3M - 9
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)Jun 27, 2003 US and Canada: $100.8M Rest of the world: $158.3M Worldwide: $259.2M Jun 27, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $259.2M worldwide - 10
Jun 20, 2003 US and Canada: $132.2M Rest of the world: $113.1M Worldwide: $245.3M - 11
Jun 6, 2003 US and Canada: $127.2M Rest of the world: $109.2M Worldwide: $236.4M - 12
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)Nov 14, 2003 US and Canada: $93.9M Rest of the world: $117.7M Worldwide: $211.6M Nov 14, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $211.6M worldwide - 13
Aug 8, 2003 US and Canada: $116.9M Rest of the world: $90.8M Worldwide: $207.7M - 14
Jul 25, 2003 US and Canada: $111.8M Rest of the world: $85.3M Worldwide: $197.1M - 15
Oct 10, 2003 US and Canada: $70.1M Rest of the world: $110.8M Worldwide: $180.9M - 16
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)Jul 11, 2003 US and Canada: $66.5M Rest of the world: $112.8M Worldwide: $179.3M Jul 11, 2003 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $179.3M worldwide - 17
Feb 14, 2003 US and Canada: $102.5M Rest of the world: $76.6M Worldwide: $179.2M - 18
May 30, 2003 US and Canada: $106.1M Rest of the world: $69.9M Worldwide: $176.1M - 19
Jul 18, 2003 US and Canada: $28.1M Rest of the world: $132.4M Worldwide: $160.5M - 20
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)Jul 25, 2003 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: $94.4M Worldwide: $160.1M Jul 25, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $160.1M worldwide - 21
Jul 19, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $155.1M - 22
Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $53.8M Rest of the world: $63.5M Worldwide: $117.2M - 23
Aug 15, 2003 US and Canada: $82.6M Rest of the world: $34M Worldwide: $116.6M - 24
Jan 31, 2003 US and Canada: $52.8M Rest of the world: $48.4M Worldwide: $101.2M - 25
Sep 12, 2003 US and Canada: $56.4M Rest of the world: $42.4M Worldwide: $98.8M - 26
Sep 19, 2003 US and Canada: $52M Rest of the world: $43.7M Worldwide: $95.7M - 27
Feb 7, 2003 US and Canada: $60.5M Rest of the world: $27.8M Worldwide: $88.3M - 28
Sep 26, 2003 US and Canada: $47.7M Rest of the world: $33.3M Worldwide: $81M - 29
Jun 27, 2003 US and Canada: $45.1M Rest of the world: $29.9M Worldwide: $74.9M - 30
Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: $31.2M Rest of the world: $42.3M Worldwide: $73.5M - 31
Jan 29, 2003 US and Canada: $497.2K Rest of the world: $65M Worldwide: $65.5M - 32
Feb 28, 2003 US and Canada: $34.7M Rest of the world: $21.8M Worldwide: $56.5M - 33
Jun 13, 2003 US and Canada: $30.9M Rest of the world: $20.2M Worldwide: $51.1M - 34
Jan 17, 2003 US and Canada: $36.4M Rest of the world: $13.7M Worldwide: $50.1M - 35
Mar 14, 2003 US and Canada: $34.2M Rest of the world: $11.8M Worldwide: $46.1M - 36
Apr 4, 2003 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: $17.6M Worldwide: $44.4M - 37
Nov 26, 2003 US and Canada: $19.5M Rest of the world: $24.5M Worldwide: $43.9M - 38
Apr 16, 2003 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: $14.4M Worldwide: $37.7M - 39
Aug 22, 2003 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: $12M Worldwide: $34.3M - 40
May 23, 2003 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: $6.4M Worldwide: $26.9M - 41
Feb 7, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24M - 42
Jan 31, 2003 US and Canada: $22.1M Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $23.5M - 43
May 16, 2003 US and Canada: $746.4K Rest of the world: $20.1M Worldwide: $20.9M - 44
Jul 5, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.9M - 45
One Piece: Dead End Adventure (2003)Mar 1, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.8M
Mar 1, 2003 · Japanese · Action, Animation, Adventure $14.8M worldwide - 46
Oct 10, 2003 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: $3.6M Worldwide: $13.8M - 47
Apr 18, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13M - 48
Feb 21, 2003 US and Canada: $12.9M Rest of the world: $41K Worldwide: $12.9M - 49
Aug 8, 2003 US and Canada: $671.4K Rest of the world: $11.5M Worldwide: $12.2M - 50
Feb 21, 2003 US and Canada: $9.3M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $12.2M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2003?
Of the top 10, Hulk (2003) earned the biggest share at home (54% in the US & Canada), while The Last Samurai (2003) made 76% of its gross abroad. Across all 111 films, $3.6B (42%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B $381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $741.8M $281.6M US & Canada · 38% $460.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 3 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $654.3M $305.4M US & Canada · 47% $348.9M elsewhere · 53%
- 4 The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M $111.1M US & Canada · 24% $343.5M elsewhere · 76%
- 5 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) $433.4M $150.4M US & Canada · 35% $283M elsewhere · 65%
- 6 The Matrix Revolutions (2003) $427.3M $139.3M US & Canada · 33% $288M elsewhere · 67%
- 7 X2: X-Men United (2003) $407.7M $214.9M US & Canada · 53% $192.8M elsewhere · 47%
- 8 Bad Boys II (2003) $273.3M $138.6M US & Canada · 51% $134.7M elsewhere · 49%
- 9 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) $259.2M $100.8M US & Canada · 39% $158.3M elsewhere · 61%
- 10 Hulk (2003) $245.3M $132.2M US & Canada · 54% $113.1M elsewhere · 46%
Gross bands
How Many 2003 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
24 of 111 films crossed $100M and took $7.4B between them, 85% of the total. 58 films, 52% of the list, earned under $10M.
13% 16% 56% 13%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $1.1B · 13% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 2 films, 2% of the list $1.4B · 16% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 21 films, 19% of the list $4.9B · 56% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 29 films, 26% of the list $1.2B · 13% of the gross
- Under $10M 58 films, 52% of the list $120.9M · 1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2003 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $2.2B from 16 films, led by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). April was the quietest month ($111.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Recruit (2003) $249.5M The Recruit (2003)
- February Feb Daredevil (2003) $375.6M Daredevil (2003)
- March Mar The Core (2003) $144.4M The Core (2003)
- April Apr A Man Apart (2003) $111.6M A Man Apart (2003)
- May May The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $1.4B The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- June Jun Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) $871M Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
- July Jul Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $2.2B Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- August Aug S.W.A.T. (2003) $396.3M S.W.A.T. (2003)
- September Sep Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) $299.8M Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
- October Oct Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) $208.5M Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
- November Nov The Matrix Revolutions (2003) $691.4M The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
- December Dec The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.7B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Last 10 years
How Does 2003 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2003 earned the most: $8.7B from 111 films, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 43 films | 43 | $2.9B | – | 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 |
| 1999 46 films · +3% | 46 | $4.4B | +3% | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $1B |
| 2000 58 films · +7% | 58 | $4.7B | +7% | Mission: Impossible II (2000) $546.4M |
| 2001 71 films · +17% | 71 | $5.5B | +17% | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M |
| 2002 100 films · +2% | 100 | $5.6B | +2% | Spider-Man (2002) $825.8M |
| 2003 111 films · +55% | 111 | $8.7B | +55% | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 2003?
English-language action films took $7.6B across 51 films, 87% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language action films ($270.7M) and French-language action films ($78.1M).
2003 Action Box Office by Language
- English $7.6B51 films · #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- Japanese $270.7M14 films · #1 Bayside Shakedown 2 (2003)
-
French $78.1M4 films · #1 Taxi 3 (2003) -
Spanish $30.2M2 films · #1 Mortadelo & Filemon: The Big Adventure (2003) -
Hindi $28.5M12 films · #1 Koi… Mil Gaya (2003) - Telugu $12.8M4 films · #1 Tagore (2003)
-
Korean $8.8M5 films · #1 Silmido (2003) -
Cantonese $8.4M4 films · #1 The Twins Effect (2003) -
German $7M1 film · #1 Werner - Gekotzt wird später! (2003) -
Swedish $4M2 films · #1 Kopps (2003)
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 2003: 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 111 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 2003?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B worldwide, $381.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Matrix Reloaded (2003) at $741.8M and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) at $654.3M.
How much did action movies released in 2003 earn?
111 action films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $8.7B in all, or $78.4M per film on average. 2002 releases took $5.6B.
How many action movies released in 2003 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). 24 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2003 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 2003. 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 2003 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.