#1 of 171 #1 action movie of 2012
2012 · Action, Adventure
$1.5B worldwide · 11% of the chart's total
$623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
Action box office · 2012
Action Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
The Avengers (2012) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 2012, with $1.5B worldwide, ahead of The Dark Knight Rises (2012) at $1.1B and Skyfall (2012) at $1.1B. 171 action films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $13.8B in all, 36% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $1 billion and 31 crossed $100 million. That is up 29% on 2011, whose releases took $10.7B. By language, English leads with $12.8B across 78 action releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 171
- combined worldwide
- $13.8B
- films crossed $100M
- 31
- vs 2011
- +29%
#1 of 171 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B, 11% of the total. The top 5 together took $5.2B, 38% of what all 171 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 2012, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 171. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2012.
- 1 May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $623.4M Rest of the world: $897.2M Worldwide: $1.5B
- 2 Jul 20, 2012 US and Canada: $448.1M Rest of the world: $666.8M Worldwide: $1.1B
- 3 Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $304.4M Rest of the world: $804.2M Worldwide: $1.1B
- 4 Jul 3, 2012 US and Canada: $262.8M Rest of the world: $495.9M Worldwide: $758.7M
- 5 Mar 23, 2012 US and Canada: $408M Rest of the world: $287.2M Worldwide: $695.2M
- 6
May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $179M Rest of the world: $475.2M Worldwide: $654.2M - 7
Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $237.3M Rest of the world: $301.7M Worldwide: $539M - 8
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $162.8M Rest of the world: $263.3M Worldwide: $426.1M - 9
Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $126.5M Rest of the world: $276.9M Worldwide: $403.4M - 10
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)Jun 1, 2012 US and Canada: $155.3M Rest of the world: $241.3M Worldwide: $396.6M
Jun 1, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $396.6M worldwide - 11
Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: $139.9M Rest of the world: $236.3M Worldwide: $376.2M - 12
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $103.9M Rest of the world: $231.4M Worldwide: $335.3M Feb 10, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $335.3M worldwide - 13
Aug 17, 2012 US and Canada: $85M Rest of the world: $229.9M Worldwide: $315M - 14
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $65.4M Rest of the world: $237.6M Worldwide: $303M - 15
Mar 30, 2012 US and Canada: $83.7M Rest of the world: $218.3M Worldwide: $302M - 16
Mar 9, 2012 US and Canada: $73.1M Rest of the world: $211.1M Worldwide: $284.1M - 17
Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: $113.2M Rest of the world: $162.9M Worldwide: $276.1M - 18
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)Sep 14, 2012 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: $197.8M Worldwide: $240.2M Sep 14, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $240.2M worldwide - 19
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $80.1M Rest of the world: $138.3M Worldwide: $218.3M - 20
Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $126.4M Rest of the world: $81.7M Worldwide: $208.1M - 21
Mar 16, 2012 US and Canada: $138.4M Rest of the world: $63.1M Worldwide: $201.6M - 22
Aug 3, 2012 US and Canada: $58.9M Rest of the world: $139.6M Worldwide: $198.5M - 23
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $19M Rest of the world: $179.1M Worldwide: $198.1M - 24
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $66.5M Rest of the world: $110M Worldwide: $176.5M - 25
Dec 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $171.3M - 26
Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $62.3M Rest of the world: $97.8M Worldwide: $160.1M - 27
Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: $54.8M Rest of the world: $101.7M Worldwide: $156.5M - 28
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: $95.7M Rest of the world: $37.1M Worldwide: $132.8M - 29
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: $51.8M Rest of the world: $80.8M Worldwide: $132.6M Feb 17, 2012 · English · Action, Thriller, Fantasy $132.6M worldwide - 30
Feb 3, 2012 US and Canada: $64.6M Rest of the world: $62.1M Worldwide: $126.6M - 31
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $37.5M Rest of the world: $79M Worldwide: $116.5M Jun 22, 2012 · English · Action, Thriller, Fantasy $116.5M worldwide - 32
Jul 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.9M - 33
Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $685.8K Rest of the world: $86.4M Worldwide: $87.1M - 34
Feb 24, 2012 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $82.5M - 35
Jan 27, 2012 US and Canada: $51.6M Rest of the world: $28.2M Worldwide: $79.8M - 36
Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $45.3M Rest of the world: $27.8M Worldwide: $73.1M - 37
Bayside Shakedown the Final: The New Hope (2012)Sep 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $72.9M
Sep 6, 2012 · Japanese · Crime, Action $72.9M worldwide - 38
Nov 21, 2012 US and Canada: $44.8M Rest of the world: $6.1M Worldwide: $51M - 39
Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $489.1K Worldwide: $50.4M - 40
Detective Conan: The Eleventh Striker (2012)Apr 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $44.4M Apr 14, 2012 · Japanese · Animation, Mystery, Action $44.4M worldwide - 41
Apr 27, 2012 US and Canada: $17.1M Rest of the world: $24.4M Worldwide: $41.6M - 42
Sep 21, 2012 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $27.6M Worldwide: $41M - 43
Jan 27, 2012 US and Canada: $26.4M Rest of the world: $11.7M Worldwide: $38.1M - 44
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)Aug 25, 2012 US and Canada: $32.4K Rest of the world: $37.7M Worldwide: $37.7M Aug 25, 2012 · Japanese · History, War, Adventure $37.7M worldwide - 45
Feb 16, 2012 US and Canada: $35.7K Rest of the world: $35.8M Worldwide: $35.8M - 46
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Wars (2012)Apr 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.8M Apr 21, 2012 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure $34.8M worldwide - 47
Oct 19, 2012 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: $8.7M Worldwide: $34.6M - 48
Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $18.9M Rest of the world: $15.6M Worldwide: $34.5M - 49
Apr 13, 2012 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: $18.6M Worldwide: $32.9M - 50
Aug 24, 2012 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: $10.8M Worldwide: $31.1M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2012?
Of the top 10, The Hunger Games (2012) earned the biggest share at home (59% in the US & Canada), while Men in Black III (2012) made 73% of its gross abroad. Across all 171 films, $4.9B (36%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Avengers (2012) $1.5B $623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
- 2 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) $1.1B $448.1M US & Canada · 40% $666.8M elsewhere · 60%
- 3 Skyfall (2012) $1.1B $304.4M US & Canada · 27% $804.2M elsewhere · 73%
- 4 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) $758.7M $262.8M US & Canada · 35% $495.9M elsewhere · 65%
- 5 The Hunger Games (2012) $695.2M $408M US & Canada · 59% $287.2M elsewhere · 41%
- 6 Men in Black III (2012) $654.2M $179M US & Canada · 27% $475.2M elsewhere · 73%
- 7 Brave (2012) $539M $237.3M US & Canada · 44% $301.7M elsewhere · 56%
- 8 Django Unchained (2012) $426.1M $162.8M US & Canada · 38% $263.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 9 Prometheus (2012) $403.4M $126.5M US & Canada · 31% $276.9M elsewhere · 69%
- 10 Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) $396.6M $155.3M US & Canada · 39% $241.3M elsewhere · 61%
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
31 of 171 films crossed $100M and took $12.2B between them, 89% of the total. 104 films, 61% of the list, earned under $10M.
27% 19% 42% 10%
- $1B or more 3 films, 2% of the list $3.7B · 27% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 4 films, 2% of the list $2.6B · 19% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 24 films, 14% of the list $5.9B · 42% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 36 films, 21% of the list $1.3B · 10% of the gross
- Under $10M 104 films, 61% of the list $206.6M · 1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $2.5B from 9 films, led by The Avengers (2012). April was the quietest month ($207.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Underworld: Awakening (2012) $427.6M Underworld: Awakening (2012)
- February Feb Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) $1.1B Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- March Mar The Hunger Games (2012) $1.5B The Hunger Games (2012)
- April Apr Detective Conan: The Eleventh Striker (2012) $207.1M Detective Conan: The Eleventh Striker (2012)
- May May The Avengers (2012) $2.5B The Avengers (2012)
- June Jun Brave (2012) $1.5B Brave (2012)
- July Jul The Dark Knight Rises (2012) $2B The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- August Aug The Expendables 2 (2012) $955.8M The Expendables 2 (2012)
- September Sep Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) $571.2M Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
- October Oct Taken 2 (2012) $586.2M Taken 2 (2012)
- November Nov Skyfall (2012) $1.3B Skyfall (2012)
- December Dec Django Unchained (2012) $1.2B Django Unchained (2012)
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2012 earned the most: $13.8B from 171 films, led by The Avengers (2012).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 111 films | 111 | $8.7B | – | 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 |
| 2010 159 films · −25% | 159 | $9.3B | −25% | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010) $1B |
| 2011 169 films · +14% | 169 | $10.7B | +14% | Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) $1.1B |
| 2012 171 films · +29% | 171 | $13.8B | +29% | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 2012?
English-language action films took $12.8B across 78 films, 93% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language action films ($364.9M) and Chinese-language action films ($178.6M).
2012 Action Box Office by Language
- English $12.8B78 films · #1 The Avengers (2012)
- Japanese $364.9M20 films · #1 Brave Hearts: Umizaru (2012)
-
Chinese $178.6M9 films · #1 Chinese Zodiac (2012) -
Korean $159.4M8 films · #1 The Thieves (2012) -
Hindi $122.5M13 films · #1 Rowdy Rathore (2012) -
Turkish $35.8M1 film · #1 Conquest 1453 (2012) -
Italian $20.5M2 films · #1 My Way (2012) -
Norwegian $19.4M1 film · #1 Headhunters (2012) -
Swedish $9.3M2 films · #1 Hamilton: In the Interest of the Nation (2012) -
Indonesian $9.1M1 film · #1 The Raid: Redemption (2012)
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 · $60.8B
- 2026 so far $5.4B #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 2012: 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 171 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B worldwide, $623.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Dark Knight Rises (2012) at $1.1B and Skyfall (2012) at $1.1B.
How much did action movies released in 2012 earn?
171 action films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $13.8B in all, or $80.7M per film on average. 2011 releases took $10.7B.
How many action movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
3 films crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Avengers (2012), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Skyfall (2012). 31 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2012 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 2012. 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 2012 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.