#1 of 157 #1 action movie of 2009
2009 · Action, Adventure
$2.9B worldwide · 23% of the chart's total
$785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
Action box office · 2009
Action Box Office 2009: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 2009, with $2.9B worldwide, ahead of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) at $941.1M and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) at $886.7M. 157 action films released in 2009 report a worldwide gross, $12.5B in all, 37% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 23 crossed $100 million. That is up 28% on 2008, whose releases took $9.7B. By language, English leads with $11.8B across 71 action releases.
- 2009 releases with a gross
- 157
- combined worldwide
- $12.5B
- films crossed $100M
- 23
- vs 2008
- +28%
#1 of 157 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 2009?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $6.4B, 51% of what all 157 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 $941.1M Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)$302.3M US & Canada · 32% $638.7M elsewhere · 68% -
Number 3 -
Number 4 $836.3M Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)$402.1M US & Canada · 48% $434.2M elsewhere · 52% -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of 2009, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 157. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2009.
- 1 Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $785.2M Rest of the world: $2.1B Worldwide: $2.9B
- 2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)Jul 15, 2009 US and Canada: $302.3M Rest of the world: $638.7M Worldwide: $941.1M
Jul 15, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Mystery $941.1M worldwide - 3 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)Jul 1, 2009 US and Canada: $196.6M Rest of the world: $690.1M Worldwide: $886.7M Jul 1, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $886.7M worldwide
- 4 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)Jun 24, 2009 US and Canada: $402.1M Rest of the world: $434.2M Worldwide: $836.3M Jun 24, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $836.3M worldwide
- 5 Nov 13, 2009 US and Canada: $166.1M Rest of the world: $625.1M Worldwide: $791.2M
- 6
Dec 25, 2009 US and Canada: $209M Rest of the world: $315M Worldwide: $524M - 7
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)May 22, 2009 US and Canada: $177.2M Rest of the world: $235.9M Worldwide: $413.1M May 22, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $413.1M worldwide - 8
May 7, 2009 US and Canada: $257.7M Rest of the world: $128M Worldwide: $385.7M - 9
Mar 27, 2009 US and Canada: $198.4M Rest of the world: $183.2M Worldwide: $381.5M - 10
May 1, 2009 US and Canada: $179.9M Rest of the world: $193.2M Worldwide: $373.1M - 11
May 21, 2009 US and Canada: $125.3M Rest of the world: $246M Worldwide: $371.4M - 12
Apr 3, 2009 US and Canada: $155.1M Rest of the world: $205.3M Worldwide: $360.4M - 13
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)Aug 7, 2009 US and Canada: $150.2M Rest of the world: $152.3M Worldwide: $302.5M Aug 7, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $302.5M worldwide - 14
Jul 24, 2009 US and Canada: $119.4M Rest of the world: $173.4M Worldwide: $292.8M - 15
Jan 30, 2009 US and Canada: $145M Rest of the world: $81.8M Worldwide: $226.8M - 16
Aug 14, 2009 US and Canada: $115.6M Rest of the world: $95.2M Worldwide: $210.9M - 17
Mar 6, 2009 US and Canada: $107.5M Rest of the world: $77.9M Worldwide: $185.4M - 18
Mar 20, 2009 US and Canada: $80M Rest of the world: $103.7M Worldwide: $183.7M - 19
Jan 16, 2009 US and Canada: $146.3M Rest of the world: $37M Worldwide: $183.3M - 20
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)Jun 12, 2009 US and Canada: $65.5M Rest of the world: $84.7M Worldwide: $150.2M Jun 12, 2009 · English · Action, Thriller, Crime $150.2M worldwide - 21
Nov 18, 2009 US and Canada: $627K Rest of the world: $129.1M Worldwide: $129.7M - 22
Sep 25, 2009 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: $83.9M Worldwide: $122.4M - 23
Oct 2, 2009 US and Canada: $75.6M Rest of the world: $26.8M Worldwide: $102.4M - 24
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)Jan 23, 2009 US and Canada: $45.8M Rest of the world: $46.4M Worldwide: $92.2M Jan 23, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $92.2M worldwide - 25
Jul 22, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $71.3M - 26
Nov 25, 2009 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $23.5M Worldwide: $61.6M - 27
Feb 6, 2009 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: $34.8M Worldwide: $60.3M - 28
Apr 10, 2009 US and Canada: $9.4M Rest of the world: $46.4M Worldwide: $55.7M - 29
Jun 26, 2009 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: $32.2M Worldwide: $49.3M - 30
Feb 6, 2009 US and Canada: $31.8M Rest of the world: $17M Worldwide: $48.9M - 31
Sep 4, 2009 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $40.8M - 32
Oct 23, 2009 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $39.9M - 33
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)Oct 23, 2009 US and Canada: $13.9M Rest of the world: $25.4M Worldwide: $39.3M Oct 23, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $39.3M worldwide - 34
Apr 17, 2009 US and Canada: $13.7M Rest of the world: $20.9M Worldwide: $34.6M - 35
Feb 6, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $32.9M - 36
Apr 24, 2009 US and Canada: $23.1M Rest of the world: $9.4M Worldwide: $32.5M - 37
May 22, 2009 US and Canada: $25.7M Rest of the world: $5.8M Worldwide: $31.4M - 38
Apr 11, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.9M - 39
The Baader Meinhof Complex (2009)Aug 21, 2009 US and Canada: $476.3K Rest of the world: $26.5M Worldwide: $26.9M Aug 21, 2009 · English · Action, Biography, Drama $26.9M worldwide - 40
Dec 4, 2009 US and Canada: $16M Rest of the world: $7M Worldwide: $22.9M - 41
Apr 4, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.1M - 42
Dec 28, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21M - 43
Sep 25, 2009 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: $10.3M Worldwide: $20.6M - 44
Sep 16, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.7M - 45
Mar 20, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.6M - 46
Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker (2009)Aug 8, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.4M
Aug 8, 2009 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $19.4M worldwide - 47
Sep 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.4M - 48
Sep 4, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.3M - 49
Sep 11, 2009 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: $7.7M Worldwide: $18M - 50
Mar 27, 2009 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: $5M Worldwide: $17.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2009?
Of the top 10, Star Trek (2009) earned the biggest share at home (67% in the US & Canada), while 2012 (2009) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 157 films, $4.6B (37%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Avatar (2009) $2.9B $785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
- 2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) $941.1M $302.3M US & Canada · 32% $638.7M elsewhere · 68%
- 3 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) $886.7M $196.6M US & Canada · 22% $690.1M elsewhere · 78%
- 4 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) $836.3M $402.1M US & Canada · 48% $434.2M elsewhere · 52%
- 5 2012 (2009) $791.2M $166.1M US & Canada · 21% $625.1M elsewhere · 79%
- 6 Sherlock Holmes (2009) $524M $209M US & Canada · 40% $315M elsewhere · 60%
- 7 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) $413.1M $177.2M US & Canada · 43% $235.9M elsewhere · 57%
- 8 Star Trek (2009) $385.7M $257.7M US & Canada · 67% $128M elsewhere · 33%
- 9 Monsters vs Aliens (2009) $381.5M $198.4M US & Canada · 52% $183.2M elsewhere · 48%
- 10 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) $373.1M $179.9M US & Canada · 48% $193.2M elsewhere · 52%
Gross bands
How Many 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
23 of 157 films crossed $100M and took $11.3B between them, 90% of the total. 101 films, 64% of the list, earned under $10M.
23% 32% 35% 8%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $2.9B · 23% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 5 films, 3% of the list $4B · 32% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 17 films, 11% of the list $4.4B · 35% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 33 films, 21% of the list $1B · 8% of the gross
- Under $10M 101 films, 64% of the list $149.6M · 1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2009 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $3.5B from 10 films, led by Avatar (2009). February was the quietest month ($169.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Taken (2009) $518.1M Taken (2009)
- February Feb The International (2009) $169.7M The International (2009)
- March Mar Monsters vs Aliens (2009) $819.4M Monsters vs Aliens (2009)
- April Apr Fast & Furious (2009) $543.2M Fast & Furious (2009)
- May May Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) $1.6B Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
- June Jun Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) $1B Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- July Jul Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) $2.2B Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- August Aug G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) $572.7M G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
- September Sep Surrogates (2009) $266.6M Surrogates (2009)
- October Oct Zombieland (2009) $212.6M Zombieland (2009)
- November Nov 2012 (2009) $1B 2012 (2009)
- December Dec Avatar (2009) $3.5B Avatar (2009)
Last 10 years
How Does 2009 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2009 earned the most: $12.5B from 157 films, led by Avatar (2009).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 58 films | 58 | $4.7B | – | 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 123 films · −19% | 123 | $5.5B | −19% | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $905.6M |
| 2006 136 films · +21% | 136 | $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 |
| 2009 157 films · +28% | 157 | $12.5B | +28% | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 2009?
English-language action films took $11.8B across 71 films, 95% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language action films ($171.9M) and Chinese-language action films ($134.3M).
2009 Action Box Office by Language
- English $11.8B71 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
- Japanese $171.9M13 films · #1 Yatterman (2009)
-
Chinese $134.3M7 films · #1 Red Cliff (2009) -
Korean $119M9 films · #1 Tidal Wave (2009) -
Hindi $31.1M9 films · #1 Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009) -
Russian $23.2M4 films · #1 Black Lightning (2009) -
Spanish $20.2M4 films · #1 Cell 211 (2009) -
Cantonese $10.6M6 films · #1 Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) -
Thai $10.2M3 films · #1 Ong Bak 2 (2009) - Tamil $7M12 films · #1 Aadhavan (2009)
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 2009: 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 157 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 2009?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B worldwide, $785.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) at $941.1M and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) at $886.7M.
How much did action movies released in 2009 earn?
157 action films released in 2009 report a worldwide gross, $12.5B in all, or $79.4M per film on average. 2008 releases took $9.7B.
How many action movies released in 2009 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Avatar (2009). 23 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2009 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 2009. 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 2009 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.