#1 of 161 #1 action movie of 2008
2008 · Action, Drama
$1B worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$535M US & Canada · 53% $477.6M elsewhere · 47%
Action box office · 2008
Action Box Office 2008: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
The Dark Knight (2008) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 2008, with $1B worldwide, ahead of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) at $786.6M and Kung Fu Panda (2008) at $632.4M. 161 action films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $9.7B in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 24 crossed $100 million. That is up 29% on 2007, whose releases took $7.5B. By language, English leads with $9B across 69 action releases.
- 2008 releases with a gross
- 161
- combined worldwide
- $9.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 24
- vs 2007
- +29%
#1 of 161 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 2008?
The Dark Knight (2008) leads with $1B, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.7B, 38% of what all 161 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 $786.6M Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)$317.1M US & Canada · 40% $469.5M elsewhere · 60% -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of 2008, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 161. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2008.
- 1 Jul 18, 2008 US and Canada: $535M Rest of the world: $477.6M Worldwide: $1B
- 2 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)May 22, 2008 US and Canada: $317.1M Rest of the world: $469.5M Worldwide: $786.6M
May 22, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $786.6M worldwide - 3 Jun 6, 2008 US and Canada: $216.1M Rest of the world: $416.3M Worldwide: $632.4M
- 4 Jul 2, 2008 US and Canada: $227.9M Rest of the world: $401.5M Worldwide: $629.4M
- 5 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)Nov 7, 2008 US and Canada: $180M Rest of the world: $423.9M Worldwide: $603.9M Nov 7, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $603.9M worldwide
- 6
Nov 14, 2008 US and Canada: $168.4M Rest of the world: $421.2M Worldwide: $589.6M - 7
May 2, 2008 US and Canada: $319M Rest of the world: $266.8M Worldwide: $585.8M - 8
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)May 16, 2008 US and Canada: $141.6M Rest of the world: $278M Worldwide: $419.7M May 16, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $419.7M worldwide - 9
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)Aug 1, 2008 US and Canada: $102.5M Rest of the world: $301M Worldwide: $403.4M Aug 1, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $403.4M worldwide - 10
Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $134.8M Rest of the world: $130M Worldwide: $264.8M - 11
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)Jul 11, 2008 US and Canada: $101.7M Rest of the world: $142.5M Worldwide: $244.2M Jul 11, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $244.2M worldwide - 12
Jun 20, 2008 US and Canada: $130.3M Rest of the world: $100.4M Worldwide: $230.7M - 13
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $80.2M Rest of the world: $145M Worldwide: $225.1M - 14
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)Jun 6, 2008 US and Canada: $100M Rest of the world: $104.3M Worldwide: $204.3M Jun 6, 2008 · English · Action, Drama, Comedy $204.3M worldwide - 15
Aug 13, 2008 US and Canada: $110.5M Rest of the world: $85.2M Worldwide: $195.7M - 16
Sep 26, 2008 US and Canada: $101.4M Rest of the world: $77.3M Worldwide: $178.8M - 17
Jan 18, 2008 US and Canada: $80M Rest of the world: $92.3M Worldwide: $172.4M - 18
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)Jul 11, 2008 US and Canada: $76M Rest of the world: $92.3M Worldwide: $168.3M Jul 11, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $168.3M worldwide - 19
Feb 22, 2008 US and Canada: $72.3M Rest of the world: $79.8M Worldwide: $152M - 20
Apr 18, 2008 US and Canada: $52.1M Rest of the world: $76.7M Worldwide: $128.8M - 21
Oct 10, 2008 US and Canada: $39.4M Rest of the world: $76.5M Worldwide: $115.9M - 22
Jan 25, 2008 US and Canada: $42.8M Rest of the world: $70.5M Worldwide: $113.2M - 23
Nov 26, 2008 US and Canada: $31.7M Rest of the world: $77.3M Worldwide: $109M - 24
Aug 6, 2008 US and Canada: $87.3M Rest of the world: $14.3M Worldwide: $101.6M - 25
May 9, 2008 US and Canada: $43.9M Rest of the world: $50M Worldwide: $93.9M - 26
Oct 17, 2008 US and Canada: $40.7M Rest of the world: $46.4M Worldwide: $87.1M - 27
Aug 22, 2008 US and Canada: $36.3M Rest of the world: $39.7M Worldwide: $76M - 28
Aug 29, 2008 US and Canada: $22.5M Rest of the world: $49.6M Worldwide: $72.1M - 29
Mar 28, 2008 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: $45.7M Worldwide: $71.6M - 30
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)Aug 15, 2008 US and Canada: $35.2M Rest of the world: $33.1M Worldwide: $68.3M Aug 15, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $68.3M worldwide - 31
Apr 11, 2008 US and Canada: $26.4M Rest of the world: $40.1M Worldwide: $66.5M - 32
Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: $22.6M Worldwide: $51.3M - 33
The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)Jul 16, 2008 US and Canada: $128.5K Rest of the world: $44.1M Worldwide: $44.3M
Jul 16, 2008 · Korean · Action, Comedy, Adventure $44.3M worldwide - 34
Sep 5, 2008 US and Canada: $15.3M Rest of the world: $27.2M Worldwide: $42.5M - 35
Mar 14, 2008 US and Canada: $24.9M Rest of the world: $16.8M Worldwide: $41.6M - 36
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $19.8M Rest of the world: $19.4M Worldwide: $39.2M - 37
Sep 25, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.6M - 38
Death Note: L Change the WorLd (2008)Feb 7, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.3M
Feb 7, 2008 · Japanese · Thriller, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $35.3M worldwide - 39
Sep 11, 2008 US and Canada: $551.7K Rest of the world: $30.5M Worldwide: $31.1M - 40
Aug 8, 2008 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $27M Worldwide: $29.2M - 41
Sep 19, 2008 US and Canada: $20.2M Rest of the world: $7.5M Worldwide: $27.7M - 42
Jun 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $27.2M - 43
Feb 15, 2008 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $23.5M Worldwide: $26.9M - 44
Oct 8, 2008 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $20M Worldwide: $25.7M - 45
Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear (2008)Apr 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $23.8M Apr 19, 2008 · Japanese · Animation, Mystery, Action $23.8M worldwide - 46
Feb 7, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $23M - 47
Mar 14, 2008 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: $11.5M Worldwide: $22.5M - 48
K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008)Dec 20, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.4M Dec 20, 2008 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Crime $21.4M worldwide - 49
Sep 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $20M - 50
Dec 6, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2008?
Of the top 10, Iron Man (2008) earned the biggest share at home (54% in the US & Canada), while The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) made 75% of its gross abroad. Across all 161 films, $3.8B (39%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Dark Knight (2008) $1B $535M US & Canada · 53% $477.6M elsewhere · 47%
- 2 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $786.6M $317.1M US & Canada · 40% $469.5M elsewhere · 60%
- 3 Kung Fu Panda (2008) $632.4M $216.1M US & Canada · 34% $416.3M elsewhere · 66%
- 4 Hancock (2008) $629.4M $227.9M US & Canada · 36% $401.5M elsewhere · 64%
- 5 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) $603.9M $180M US & Canada · 30% $423.9M elsewhere · 70%
- 6 Quantum of Solace (2008) $589.6M $168.4M US & Canada · 29% $421.2M elsewhere · 71%
- 7 Iron Man (2008) $585.8M $319M US & Canada · 54% $266.8M elsewhere · 46%
- 8 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) $419.7M $141.6M US & Canada · 34% $278M elsewhere · 66%
- 9 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) $403.4M $102.5M US & Canada · 25% $301M elsewhere · 75%
- 10 The Incredible Hulk (2008) $264.8M $134.8M US & Canada · 51% $130M elsewhere · 49%
Gross bands
How Many 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
24 of 161 films crossed $100M and took $8.3B between them, 85% of the total. 100 films, 62% of the list, earned under $10M.
10% 39% 35% 13%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $1B · 10% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 6 films, 4% of the list $3.8B · 39% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 17 films, 11% of the list $3.4B · 35% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 37 films, 23% of the list $1.3B · 13% of the gross
- Under $10M 100 films, 62% of the list $178.3M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2008 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $2.1B from 11 films, led by The Dark Knight (2008). March was the quietest month ($155.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Cloverfield (2008) $311.4M Cloverfield (2008)
- February Feb Jumper (2008) $498.8M Jumper (2008)
- March Mar Superhero Movie (2008) $155.1M Superhero Movie (2008)
- April Apr The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) $260.4M The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
- May May Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $1.9B Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- June Jun Kung Fu Panda (2008) $1.4B Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- July Jul The Dark Knight (2008) $2.1B The Dark Knight (2008)
- August Aug The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) $975.9M The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
- September Sep Eagle Eye (2008) $360.3M Eagle Eye (2008)
- October Oct Body of Lies (2008) $265.5M Body of Lies (2008)
- November Nov Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) $1.3B Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
- December Dec Defiance (2008) $178.5M Defiance (2008)
Last 10 years
How Does 2008 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2008 earned the most: $9.7B from 161 films, led by The Dark Knight (2008).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 46 films | 46 | $4.4B | – | 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 |
| 2004 117 films · −22% | 117 | $6.8B | −22% | Spider-Man 2 (2004) $784.6M |
| 2005 124 films · −19% | 124 | $5.5B | −19% | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $905.6M |
| 2006 135 films · +21% | 135 | $6.7B | +21% | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) $1.1B |
| 2007 167 films · +13% | 167 | $7.5B | +13% | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) $961.7M |
| 2008 161 films · +29% | 161 | $9.7B | +29% | The Dark Knight (2008) $1B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 2008?
English-language action films took $9B across 69 films, 93% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language action films ($191M) and Korean-language action films ($103M).
2008 Action Box Office by Language
- English $9B69 films · #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- Japanese $191M19 films · #1 Death Note: L Change the WorLd (2008)
- Korean $103M7 films · #1 The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)
-
Chinese $79.8M6 films · #1 Painted Skin (2008) -
Hindi $74.2M7 films · #1 Singh Is Kinng (2008) -
French $63.9M9 films · #1 Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008) -
Cantonese $20.4M8 films · #1 Connected (2008) - Tamil $20.1M16 films · #1 Dasavatharam (2008)
-
Norwegian $16.3M2 films · #1 Max Manus: Man of War (2008) -
German $9.6M2 films · #1 North Face (2008)
Archive
Action Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2017 leads with $20.4B, led by Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017).
2020s 7 years · $60.6B
- 2026 so far $5.2B #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 · $152.3B
- 2019 $16.5B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $19.7B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $20.4B #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 · $280.3M
- 1969 $30.7M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.6M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $43.1M #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 · $15.8K
1930s 2 years · $5.8K
1920s 2 years · $1.8K
FAQ
Action Box Office 2008: 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 161 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 2008?
The Dark Knight (2008) leads with $1B worldwide, $535M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) at $786.6M and Kung Fu Panda (2008) at $632.4M.
How much did action movies released in 2008 earn?
161 action films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $9.7B in all, or $60.4M per film on average. 2007 releases took $7.5B.
How many action movies released in 2008 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Dark Knight (2008). 24 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2008 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 2008. 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 2008 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.