#1 of 148 #1 action movie of 2020
2020 · Action, Drama
$461.4M worldwide · 14% of the chart's total
$372.8K US & Canada · <1% $461M elsewhere · 100%
Action box office · 2020
Action Box Office 2020: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
The Eight Hundred (2020) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 2020, with $461.4M worldwide, ahead of Bad Boys for Life (2020) at $426.5M and Tenet (2020) at $365.3M. 148 action films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $3.4B in all, 21% of it from the US & Canada. 9 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 79% on 2019, whose releases took $16.5B. By language, English leads with $2.2B across 78 action releases.
- 2020 releases with a gross
- 148
- combined worldwide
- $3.4B
- films crossed $100M
- 9
- vs 2019
- −79%
#1 of 148 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 2020?
The Eight Hundred (2020) leads with $461.4M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.7B, 50% of what all 148 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
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Number 5 $205.5M Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)$84.2M US & Canada · 41% $121.4M elsewhere · 59%
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of 2020, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 148. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2020.
- 1 Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: $372.8K Rest of the world: $461M Worldwide: $461.4M
- 2 Jan 17, 2020 US and Canada: $206.3M Rest of the world: $220.2M Worldwide: $426.5M
- 3 Sep 3, 2020 US and Canada: $58.5M Rest of the world: $306.8M Worldwide: $365.3M
- 4 Jan 17, 2020 US and Canada: $77M Rest of the world: $174.4M Worldwide: $251.4M
- 5 Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)Feb 7, 2020 US and Canada: $84.2M Rest of the world: $121.4M Worldwide: $205.5M
Feb 7, 2020 · English · Action, Adventure, Crime $205.5M worldwide - 6
Dec 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $198.9M - 7
Dec 25, 2020 US and Canada: $46.8M Rest of the world: $122.8M Worldwide: $169.6M - 8
Feb 28, 2020 US and Canada: $70.4M Rest of the world: $74.1M Worldwide: $144.5M - 9
Jan 24, 2020 US and Canada: $36.5M Rest of the world: $78.7M Worldwide: $115.2M - 10
Nov 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $80.5M - 11
Sep 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $70M - 12
The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)Dec 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $68M
Dec 24, 2020 · Chinese · Drama, Fantasy, Action $68M worldwide - 13
Dec 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $52.3M - 14
Nov 20, 2020 US and Canada: $793.5K Rest of the world: $50.1M Worldwide: $50.9M - 15
Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: $23.9M Rest of the world: $25.3M Worldwide: $49.2M - 16
Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $45.2M - 17
Jul 15, 2020 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $41.5M Worldwide: $42.7M - 18
Dec 18, 2020 US and Canada: $15.2M Rest of the world: $27M Worldwide: $42.1M - 19
Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $23.6M Worldwide: $40.9M - 20
Mar 13, 2020 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: $27.3M Worldwide: $39.9M - 21
Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: $821K Rest of the world: $36.6M Worldwide: $37.4M - 22
Oct 16, 2020 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: $17.1M Worldwide: $31.2M - 23
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020)Feb 26, 2020 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: $16.7M Worldwide: $30M
Feb 26, 2020 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $30M worldwide - 24
Dec 11, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $28.7M - 25
Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $28.5M - 26
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution (2020)Feb 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $27.3M Feb 27, 2020 · Japanese · Action, Fantasy, Animation $27.3M worldwide - 27
Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel III. Spring Song (2020)Aug 15, 2020 US and Canada: $200K Rest of the world: $19.1M Worldwide: $19.3M Aug 15, 2020 · Japanese · Animation, Fantasy, Action $19.3M worldwide - 28
Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.6M - 29
Jan 22, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.6M - 30
Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020)Feb 21, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.4M Feb 21, 2020 · Japanese · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation $17.4M worldwide - 31
Mar 6, 2020 US and Canada: $721.4K Rest of the world: $16M Worldwide: $16.7M - 32
May 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.3M - 33
Jun 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.4M - 34
Dec 25, 2020 US and Canada: $12.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.7M - 35
Mar 13, 2020 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: $4.7M Worldwide: $10.6M - 36
Jun 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.2M - 37
Aug 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.4M - 38
Nov 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.7M - 39
Feb 7, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.4M - 40
Oct 23, 2020 US and Canada: $245.7K Rest of the world: $7.3M Worldwide: $7.5M - 41
Mar 6, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5M - 42
Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.6M - 43
Jan 31, 2020 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: $551.6K Worldwide: $6M - 44
Sep 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.3M - 45
Feb 7, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1M - 46
Feb 21, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5M - 47
Jan 22, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 48
Nov 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 49
Sep 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 50
Dec 25, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2020?
Of the top 10, The Invisible Man (2020) earned the biggest share at home (49% in the US & Canada), while The Eight Hundred (2020) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 148 films, $711M (21%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Eight Hundred (2020) $461.4M $372.8K US & Canada · <1% $461M elsewhere · 100%
- 2 Bad Boys for Life (2020) $426.5M $206.3M US & Canada · 48% $220.2M elsewhere · 52%
- 3 Tenet (2020) $365.3M $58.5M US & Canada · 16% $306.8M elsewhere · 84%
- 4 Dolittle (2020) $251.4M $77M US & Canada · 31% $174.4M elsewhere · 69%
- 5 Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) $205.5M $84.2M US & Canada · 41% $121.4M elsewhere · 59%
- 6 Shock Wave 2 (2020) $198.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) $169.6M $46.8M US & Canada · 28% $122.8M elsewhere · 72%
- 8 The Invisible Man (2020) $144.5M $70.4M US & Canada · 49% $74.1M elsewhere · 51%
- 9 The Gentlemen (2020) $115.2M $36.5M US & Canada · 32% $78.7M elsewhere · 68%
- 10 Caught in Time (2020) $80.5M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2020 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
9 of 148 films crossed $100M and took $2.3B between them, 69% of the total. 112 films, 76% of the list, earned under $10M.
69% 27%
- $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 9 films, 6% of the list $2.3B · 69% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 27 films, 18% of the list $914.5M · 27% of the gross
- Under $10M 112 films, 76% of the list $140.5M · 4% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2020 Earned the Most?
January releases took the most, $998.3M from 26 films, led by Bad Boys for Life (2020). April was the quietest month ($494.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Bad Boys for Life (2020) $998.3M Bad Boys for Life (2020)
- February Feb Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) $448.9M Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
- March Mar Bloodshot (2020) $78.9M Bloodshot (2020)
- April Apr True History of the Kelly Gang (2020) $494.6K True History of the Kelly Gang (2020)
- May May Nightfire (2020) $16.1M Nightfire (2020)
- June Jun #Alive (2020) $25.4M #Alive (2020)
- July Jul Peninsula (2020) $50.2M Peninsula (2020)
- August Aug The Eight Hundred (2020) $543.2M The Eight Hundred (2020)
- September Sep Tenet (2020) $450.4M Tenet (2020)
- October Oct Honest Thief (2020) $51M Honest Thief (2020)
- November Nov Caught in Time (2020) $152.8M Caught in Time (2020)
- December Dec Shock Wave 2 (2020) $577.7M Shock Wave 2 (2020)
Last 10 years
How Does 2020 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2017 earned the most: $20.6B from 286 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017). 2020 took $3.4B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 169 films | 169 | $10.7B | – | Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) $1.1B |
| 2012 171 films · +29% | 171 | $13.8B | +29% | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
| 2013 185 films · −9% | 185 | $12.5B | −9% | Iron Man 3 (2013) $1.2B |
| 2014 174 films · +29% | 174 | $16.1B | +29% | Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014) $1.1B |
| 2015 213 films · +4% | 213 | $16.7B | +4% | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) $2.1B |
| 2016 255 films · −1% | 255 | $16.5B | −1% | Captain America: Civil War (2016) $1.2B |
| 2017 286 films · +25% | 286 | $20.6B | +25% | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) $1.3B |
| 2018 274 films · −4% | 274 | $19.7B | −4% | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $2.1B |
| 2019 278 films · −16% | 278 | $16.5B | −16% | Avengers: Endgame (2019) $2.8B |
| 2020 148 films · −79% | 148 | $3.4B | −79% | The Eight Hundred (2020) $461.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 2020?
English-language action films took $2.2B across 78 films, 63% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language action films ($638.9M) and Cantonese-language action films ($198.9M).
2020 Action Box Office by Language
- English $2.2B78 films · #1 Bad Boys for Life (2020)
- Chinese $638.9M9 films · #1 The Eight Hundred (2020)
-
Cantonese $198.9M1 film · #1 Shock Wave 2 (2020) - Japanese $134.9M14 films · #1 My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020)
-
Korean $100.2M9 films · #1 Peninsula (2020) -
Telugu $70.9M5 films · #1 Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020) - Hindi $70.4M5 films · #1 Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020)
- Malayalam $6.6M3 films · #1 Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)
- Tamil $4.7M5 films · #1 Walter (2020)
-
Vietnamese $4.6M2 films · #1 13rd Sister: Three Deadly Days (2020)
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 2020: 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 148 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 2020?
The Eight Hundred (2020) leads with $461.4M worldwide, $372.8K of it in the US & Canada. Next come Bad Boys for Life (2020) at $426.5M and Tenet (2020) at $365.3M.
How much did action movies released in 2020 earn?
148 action films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $3.4B in all, or $22.9M per film on average. 2019 releases took $16.5B.
How many action movies released in 2020 made $1 billion?
None. 9 films crossed $100 million, led by The Eight Hundred (2020) with $461.4M.
How is the 2020 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 2020. 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 2020 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.