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Action box office · December 2008

Action Box Office, December 2008: Top-Grossing Releases

Defiance (2008) is the highest-grossing action movie released in December 2008, with $51.3M worldwide, ahead of The Spirit (2008) at $39.2M and K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) at $21.4M. 13 action films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $178.5M in all, 32% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 86% on November 2008, whose releases took $1.3B. By language, English leads with $100.6M across 3 action releases.

December 2008 releases with a gross
13
combined worldwide
$178.5M
Defiance (2008), the #1
$51.3M
vs November 2008
−86%
Defiance (2008) movie poster #1 of 13
#1 action movie of December 2008

Defiance (2008)

2008 · Action, Drama

$51.3M worldwide · 29% of the chart's total

$28.6M US & Canada · 56% $22.6M elsewhere · 44%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Action Hits of December 2008?

Defiance (2008) leads with $51.3M, 29% of the total. The top 5 together took $147.4M, 83% of what all 13 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Defiance (2008) movie poster Number 1
    $51.3M Defiance (2008)
    $28.6M US & Canada · 56% $22.6M elsewhere · 44%
  2. The Spirit (2008) movie poster Number 2
    $39.2M The Spirit (2008)
    $19.8M US & Canada · 51% $19.4M elsewhere · 49%
  3. K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) movie poster Number 3
    $21.4M K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. 252: Signal of Life (2008) movie poster Number 4
    $18.5M 252: Signal of Life (2008)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) movie poster Number 5
    $17.1M The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008)
    $10.4K US & Canada · <1% $17.1M elsewhere · 100%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Action Release of December 2008, 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 December 2008.

  1. 1 Defiance (2008) movie poster
    Defiance (2008) Dec 31, 2008 · English · Action, Drama, History $51.3M worldwide
    Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: $22.6M Worldwide: $51.3M
  2. 2 The Spirit (2008) movie poster
    The Spirit (2008) Dec 25, 2008 · English · Action, Drama, Thriller $39.2M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $19.8M Rest of the world: $19.4M Worldwide: $39.2M
  3. 3 K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) movie poster
    K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) Dec 20, 2008 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Crime $21.4M worldwide
    Dec 20, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.4M
  4. 4 252: Signal of Life (2008) movie poster
    252: Signal of Life (2008) Dec 6, 2008 · Japanese · Adventure, Drama, Action $18.5M worldwide
    Dec 6, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.5M
  5. 5 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) movie poster
    The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) Dec 17, 2008 · French · Action, Thriller, Adventure $17.1M worldwide
    Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: $10.4K Rest of the world: $17.1M Worldwide: $17.1M
  6. 6 Max Manus: Man of War (2008) movie poster
    Max Manus: Man of War (2008) Dec 18, 2008 · Norwegian · Crime, War, Action $15.4M worldwide
    Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.4M
  7. 7 Punisher: War Zone (2008) movie poster
    Punisher: War Zone (2008) Dec 5, 2008 · English · Action, Drama, Thriller $10.2M worldwide
    Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $10.2M
  8. 8 Spooky Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! (2008) movie poster
    Spooky Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! (2008) Dec 20, 2008 · Japanese · Fantasy, Animation, Action $3.2M worldwide
    Dec 20, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2M
  9. 9 Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008) movie poster
    Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008) Dec 11, 2008 · Malay · Action, Comedy, Fantasy $945.8K worldwide
    Dec 11, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $945.8K
  10. 10 Timecrimes (2008) movie poster
    Timecrimes (2008) Dec 12, 2008 · Spanish · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $553.2K worldwide
    Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: $514.1K Worldwide: $553.2K
  11. 11 Tomica Hero: Rescue Force Explosive Movie: Rescue the Mach Train! (2008) movie poster
    Tomica Hero: Rescue Force Explosive Movie: Rescue the Mach Train! (2008) Dec 20, 2008 · Japanese · Family, Action, Adventure $450.9K worldwide
    Dec 20, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $450.9K
  12. 12 Silambattam (2008) movie poster
    Silambattam (2008) Dec 18, 2008 · Tamil · Romance, Action $278.3K worldwide
    Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $278.3K
  13. 13 Four Dragons (2008) movie poster
    Four Dragons (2008) Dec 4, 2008 · Cantonese · Adventure, Action $67.2K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $67.2K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 2008?

Of the top 10, Punisher: War Zone (2008) earned the biggest share at home (79% in the US & Canada), while The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 13 films, $56.6M (32%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Defiance (2008) $51.3M
    $28.6M US & Canada · 56% $22.6M elsewhere · 44%
  2. 2 The Spirit (2008) $39.2M
    $19.8M US & Canada · 51% $19.4M elsewhere · 49%
  3. 3 K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) $21.4M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. 4 252: Signal of Life (2008) $18.5M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. 5 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) $17.1M
    $10.4K US & Canada · <1% $17.1M elsewhere · 100%
  6. 6 Max Manus: Man of War (2008) $15.4M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  7. 7 Punisher: War Zone (2008) $10.2M
    $8.1M US & Canada · 79% $2.1M elsewhere · 21%
  8. 8 Spooky Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! (2008) $3.2M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008) $945.8K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Timecrimes (2008) $553.2K
    $39.1K US & Canada · 7% $514.1K elsewhere · 93%
Gross bands

How Many December 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 13 films reached $100M. 6 films, 46% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $178.5M total.

  • $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 7 films, 54% of the list $173M · 97% of the gross
  • Under $10M 6 films, 46% of the list $5.5M · 3% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of December 2008 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 51 (Dec 14–20) took $57.8M, led by K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 252: Signal of Life (2008) $28.7M 252: Signal of Life (2008)
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008) $1.5M Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) $57.8M K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 The Spirit (2008) $39.2M The Spirit (2008)
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 Defiance (2008) $51.3M Defiance (2008)
Earlier years

How Does December 2008 Compare With December in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, December 2003 earned the most: $1.7B from 8 films, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). December 2008 took $178.5M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 1999 1 film 1 $90.7M – Galaxy Quest (1999) $90.7M
December 2000 10 films · +850% 10 $861.3M +850% Vertical Limit (2000) $215.7M
December 2001 8 films · +25% 8 $1.1B +25% The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M
December 2002 6 films · −92% 6 $86.8M −92% Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) $67.3M
December 2003 8 films · +1892% 8 $1.7B +1892% The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B
December 2004 13 films · −84% 13 $272.5M −84% Blade: Trinity (2004) $132M
December 2005 7 films · −68% 7 $86M −68% Æon Flux (2005) $53.3M
December 2006 13 films · +1338% 13 $1.2B +1338% Night at the Museum (2006) $574.5M
December 2007 13 films · −44% 13 $696.5M −44% National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) $459.2M
December 2008 13 films · −74% 13 $178.5M −74% Defiance (2008) $51.3M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in December 2008?

English-language action films took $100.6M across 3 films, 56% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language action films ($43.6M) and French-language action films ($17.1M).

December 2008 Action Box Office by Language

  1. English $100.6M
    3 films · #1 Defiance (2008)
  2. Japanese $43.6M
    4 films · #1 K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008)
  3. French $17.1M
    1 film · #1 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008)
  4. Norwegian $15.4M
    1 film · #1 Max Manus: Man of War (2008)
  5. Malay $945.8K
    1 film · #1 Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008)
  6. Spanish $553.2K
    1 film · #1 Timecrimes (2008)
  7. Tamil $278.3K
    1 film · #1 Silambattam (2008)
  8. Cantonese $67.2K
    1 film · #1 Four Dragons (2008)
Archive

Action Box Office in 2008, Month by Month

The months of 2008 with their totals: July leads with $2.1B, led by The Dark Knight (2008).

FAQ

Action Box Office December 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 13 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing action movie in December 2008?

Defiance (2008) leads with $51.3M worldwide, $28.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Spirit (2008) at $39.2M and K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces (2008) at $21.4M.

How much did action movies released in December 2008 earn?

13 action films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $178.5M in all, or $13.7M per film on average. November 2008 releases took $1.3B.

How many action movies released in December 2008 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Defiance (2008), earned $51.3M.

How much of the December 2008 Action box office came from the US and Canada?

$56.6M of the $178.5M total, or 32%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 8 films of the 13 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.