#1 of 197 #1 action movie of 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
2021 · Action, Adventure
$1.9B worldwide · 19% of the chart's total
$814.9M US & Canada · 42% $1.1B elsewhere · 58%
Action box office · 2021
Action Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 2021, with $1.9B worldwide, ahead of No Time to Die (2021) at $774.2M and F9: The Fast Saga (2021) at $726.2M. 197 action films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $10.3B in all, 29% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 19 crossed $100 million. That is 3 times the total of 2020, whose releases took $3.4B. By language, English leads with $8.1B across 97 action releases.
- 2021 releases with a gross
- 197
- combined worldwide
- $10.3B
- films crossed $100M
- 19
- vs 2020
- ×3
#1 of 197 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 2021?
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) leads with $1.9B, 19% of the total. The top 5 together took $4.6B, 45% of what all 197 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 2021, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 197. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2021.
- 1 Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: $814.9M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $1.9B
- 2 Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: $160.9M Rest of the world: $613.3M Worldwide: $774.2M
- 3 Jun 25, 2021 US and Canada: $173M Rest of the world: $553.2M Worldwide: $726.2M
- 4 Feb 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $686.3M
- 5 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)Oct 1, 2021 US and Canada: $213.6M Rest of the world: $293.3M Worldwide: $506.8M
Oct 1, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $506.8M worldwide - 6
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)Apr 23, 2021 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $435.7M Worldwide: $485.5M
Apr 23, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $485.5M worldwide - 7
Mar 31, 2021 US and Canada: $100.9M Rest of the world: $369.2M Worldwide: $470.1M - 8
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)Sep 3, 2021 US and Canada: $224.5M Rest of the world: $207.7M Worldwide: $432.2M Sep 3, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $432.2M worldwide - 9
Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: $108.9M Rest of the world: $301.8M Worldwide: $410.7M - 10
Nov 5, 2021 US and Canada: $164.9M Rest of the world: $237.2M Worldwide: $402.1M - 11
Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: $183.7M Rest of the world: $196.1M Worldwide: $379.8M - 12
Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $121.6M Rest of the world: $209.9M Worldwide: $331.5M - 13
May 28, 2021 US and Canada: $86.1M Rest of the world: $147.4M Worldwide: $233.5M - 14
Jul 30, 2021 US and Canada: $117M Rest of the world: $103.9M Worldwide: $220.9M - 15
Jul 30, 2021 US and Canada: $385.3K Rest of the world: $205.5M Worldwide: $205.8M - 16
Aug 6, 2021 US and Canada: $55.8M Rest of the world: $112.9M Worldwide: $168.7M - 17
Dec 22, 2021 US and Canada: $37.7M Rest of the world: $119.7M Worldwide: $157.4M - 18
Dec 22, 2021 US and Canada: $37.2M Rest of the world: $88.7M Worldwide: $125.9M - 19
May 7, 2021 US and Canada: $27.5M Rest of the world: $76.5M Worldwide: $104M - 20
Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021)Apr 16, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.4M Apr 16, 2021 · Japanese · Crime, Animation, Thriller $95.4M worldwide - 21
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $810.7K Rest of the world: $93.1M Worldwide: $93.9M Aug 13, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Sci-Fi, Drama $93.9M worldwide - 22
Apr 23, 2021 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: $42.1M Worldwide: $84.4M - 23
Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: $44.5M Rest of the world: $32.5M Worldwide: $77M - 24
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021)Jun 16, 2021 US and Canada: $38M Rest of the world: $32.1M Worldwide: $70.1M Jun 16, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $70.1M worldwide - 25
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)Jul 16, 2021 US and Canada: $25.3M Rest of the world: $40.5M Worldwide: $65.8M Jul 16, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $65.8M worldwide - 26
Mar 26, 2021 US and Canada: $27.6M Rest of the world: $29.9M Worldwide: $57.5M - 27
Apr 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $56.1M - 28
Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $32.7M Rest of the world: $21.1M Worldwide: $53.8M - 29
May 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $52.7M - 30
Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: $36.5K Rest of the world: $51.6M Worldwide: $51.6M - 31
My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: $34.7M Worldwide: $46.9M Oct 29, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $46.9M worldwide - 32
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)Nov 24, 2021 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: $24.9M Worldwide: $41.9M Nov 24, 2021 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery $41.9M worldwide - 33
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)Jul 23, 2021 US and Canada: $28.3M Rest of the world: $11.8M Worldwide: $40.1M Jul 23, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $40.1M worldwide - 34
Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.7M - 35
Feb 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.7M - 36
Sep 10, 2021 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $21.5M Worldwide: $34.9M - 37
May 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.2M - 38
Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong (2021)Apr 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $32.2M
Apr 29, 2021 · Cantonese · Action, Thriller, Crime $32.2M worldwide - 39
Nov 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $32.2M - 40
Oct 15, 2021 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: $19.7M Worldwide: $30.6M - 41
Aug 6, 2021 US and Canada: $346.3K Rest of the world: $29.6M Worldwide: $29.9M - 42
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: $13.2M Worldwide: $26.5M - 43
Jan 15, 2021 US and Canada: $15.6M Rest of the world: $7.5M Worldwide: $23.1M - 44
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (2021)Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.1M Oct 8, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $21.1M worldwide - 45
May 14, 2021 US and Canada: $7.4M Rest of the world: $11.7M Worldwide: $19.1M - 46
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021)Jun 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.7M Jun 11, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Drama, Animation $18.7M worldwide - 47
Sep 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.1M - 48
Jan 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.2M - 49
Nov 14, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.8M - 50
Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.4M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2021?
Of the top 10, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) earned the biggest share at home (52% in the US & Canada), while Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) made 90% of its gross abroad. Across all 197 films, $3B (29%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $1.9B $814.9M US & Canada · 42% $1.1B elsewhere · 58%
- 2 No Time to Die (2021) $774.2M $160.9M US & Canada · 21% $613.3M elsewhere · 79%
- 3 F9: The Fast Saga (2021) $726.2M $173M US & Canada · 24% $553.2M elsewhere · 76%
- 4 Detective Chinatown 3 (2021) $686.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $506.8M $213.6M US & Canada · 42% $293.3M elsewhere · 58%
- 6 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) $485.5M $49.9M US & Canada · 10% $435.7M elsewhere · 90%
- 7 Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) $470.1M $100.9M US & Canada · 21% $369.2M elsewhere · 79%
- 8 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) $432.2M $224.5M US & Canada · 52% $207.7M elsewhere · 48%
- 9 Dune: Part One (2021) $410.7M $108.9M US & Canada · 27% $301.8M elsewhere · 73%
- 10 Eternals (2021) $402.1M $164.9M US & Canada · 41% $237.2M elsewhere · 59%
Gross bands
How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
19 of 197 films crossed $100M and took $8.7B between them, 85% of the total. 140 films, 71% of the list, earned under $10M.
19% 26% 40% 14%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $1.9B · 19% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 4 films, 2% of the list $2.7B · 26% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 14 films, 7% of the list $4.1B · 40% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 38 films, 19% of the list $1.4B · 14% of the gross
- Under $10M 140 films, 71% of the list $170.1M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $2.3B from 21 films, led by Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). January was the quietest month ($57.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Marksman (2021) $57.7M The Marksman (2021)
- February Feb Detective Chinatown 3 (2021) $739.4M Detective Chinatown 3 (2021)
- March Mar Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) $588M Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- April Apr Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) $796.3M Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)
- May May Cruella (2021) $452M Cruella (2021)
- June Jun F9: The Fast Saga (2021) $830.5M F9: The Fast Saga (2021)
- July Jul Black Widow (2021) $1.1B Black Widow (2021)
- August Aug Free Guy (2021) $701.1M Free Guy (2021)
- September Sep Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) $496.6M Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- October Oct No Time to Die (2021) $1.8B No Time to Die (2021)
- November Nov Eternals (2021) $515.1M Eternals (2021)
- December Dec Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $2.3B Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Last 10 years
How Does 2021 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). 2021 took $10.3B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 171 films | 171 | $13.8B | – | 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 |
| 2021 197 films · +204% | 197 | $10.3B | +204% | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $1.9B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 2021?
English-language action films took $8.1B across 97 films, 78% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language action films ($1.1B) and Japanese-language action films ($878.1M).
2021 Action Box Office by Language
- English $8.1B97 films · #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
-
Chinese $1.1B11 films · #1 Detective Chinatown 3 (2021) - Japanese $878.1M18 films · #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)
-
Korean $91.5M9 films · #1 Deliver Us from Evil (2021) -
French $46.4M4 films · #1 The Stronghold (2021) - Cantonese $33M2 films · #1 Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong (2021)
-
Telugu $26.5M10 films · #1 Vakeel Saab (2021) -
Russian $15.6M7 films · #1 Chernobyl: Abyss (2021) - Hindi $12.3M6 films · #1 Sooryavanshi (2021)
- Tamil $8.5M12 films · #1 Karnan (2021)
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 2021: 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 197 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 2021?
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) leads with $1.9B worldwide, $814.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come No Time to Die (2021) at $774.2M and F9: The Fast Saga (2021) at $726.2M.
How much did action movies released in 2021 earn?
197 action films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $10.3B in all, or $52.4M per film on average. 2020 releases took $3.4B.
How many action movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). 19 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.