#1 of 65 #1 adventure movie of 2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2003 · Action, Adventure
$1.1B worldwide · 16% of the chart's total
$381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
Adventure box office · 2003
Adventure Box Office 2003: Highest-Grossing Adventure Movies
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is the highest-grossing adventure movie released in 2003, with $1.1B worldwide, ahead of Finding Nemo (2003) at $941.6M and The Matrix Reloaded (2003) at $741.8M. 65 adventure films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $7.2B in all, 40% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 16 crossed $100 million. That is up 23% on 2002, whose releases took $5.9B. By language, English leads with $7B across 40 adventure releases.
- 2003 releases with a gross
- 65
- combined worldwide
- $7.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 16
- vs 2002
- +23%
#1 of 65 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Adventure Hits of 2003?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B, 16% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.9B, 54% of what all 65 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $1.1B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)$381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 $654.3M Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)$305.4M US & Canada · 47% $348.9M elsewhere · 53% -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Adventure Release of 2003, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 65. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2003.
- 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $381.9M Rest of the world: $756.7M Worldwide: $1.1B
Dec 17, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $1.1B worldwide - 2 May 30, 2003 US and Canada: $380.8M Rest of the world: $560.8M Worldwide: $941.6M
- 3 May 15, 2003 US and Canada: $281.6M Rest of the world: $460.3M Worldwide: $741.8M
- 4 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)Jul 9, 2003 US and Canada: $305.4M Rest of the world: $348.9M Worldwide: $654.3M Jul 9, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $654.3M worldwide
- 5 Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $111.1M Rest of the world: $343.5M Worldwide: $454.6M
- 6
Nov 5, 2003 US and Canada: $139.3M Rest of the world: $288M Worldwide: $427.3M - 7
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)Jun 27, 2003 US and Canada: $100.8M Rest of the world: $158.3M Worldwide: $259.2M Jun 27, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $259.2M worldwide - 8
Oct 24, 2003 US and Canada: $85.3M Rest of the world: $165.1M Worldwide: $250.4M - 9
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)Nov 14, 2003 US and Canada: $93.9M Rest of the world: $117.7M Worldwide: $211.6M Nov 14, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $211.6M worldwide - 10
Jul 25, 2003 US and Canada: $111.8M Rest of the world: $85.3M Worldwide: $197.1M - 11
Feb 14, 2003 US and Canada: $47.9M Rest of the world: $138.4M Worldwide: $186.3M - 12
Jul 18, 2003 US and Canada: $28.1M Rest of the world: $132.4M Worldwide: $160.5M - 13
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)Jul 25, 2003 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: $94.4M Worldwide: $160.1M Jul 25, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $160.1M worldwide - 14
Nov 21, 2003 US and Canada: $101.1M Rest of the world: $32.8M Worldwide: $134M - 15
Dec 10, 2003 US and Canada: $66.8M Rest of the world: $56.4M Worldwide: $123.2M - 16
Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $48.5M Rest of the world: $73.5M Worldwide: $122M - 17
Jan 17, 2003 US and Canada: $66.9M Rest of the world: $22M Worldwide: $88.9M - 18
Feb 7, 2003 US and Canada: $60.5M Rest of the world: $27.8M Worldwide: $88.3M - 19
Sep 26, 2003 US and Canada: $47.7M Rest of the world: $33.3M Worldwide: $81M - 20
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)Jul 2, 2003 US and Canada: $26.5M Rest of the world: $54.3M Worldwide: $80.8M Jul 2, 2003 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation $80.8M worldwide - 21
Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: $31.2M Rest of the world: $42.3M Worldwide: $73.5M - 22
Apr 18, 2003 US and Canada: $67.4M Rest of the world: $4M Worldwide: $71.4M - 23
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)Nov 14, 2003 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $47.5M Worldwide: $68.5M Nov 14, 2003 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Animation $68.5M worldwide - 24
Mar 21, 2003 US and Canada: $23.1M Rest of the world: $39.8M Worldwide: $62.9M - 25
May 2, 2003 US and Canada: $42.7M Rest of the world: $12.8M Worldwide: $55.5M - 26
Jun 13, 2003 US and Canada: $39.4M Rest of the world: $15.8M Worldwide: $55.3M - 27
Nov 26, 2003 US and Canada: $19.5M Rest of the world: $24.5M Worldwide: $43.9M - 28
Nov 19, 2003 US and Canada: $27M Rest of the world: $11.4M Worldwide: $38.4M - 29
Apr 16, 2003 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: $14.4M Worldwide: $37.7M - 30
Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital (2003)Apr 19, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.3M
Apr 19, 2003 · Japanese · Animation, Adventure, Mystery $24.3M worldwide - 31
Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters (2003)Mar 8, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.8M Mar 8, 2003 · Japanese · Adventure, Family, Animation $21.8M worldwide - 32
May 16, 2003 US and Canada: $746.4K Rest of the world: $20.1M Worldwide: $20.9M - 33
One Piece: Dead End Adventure (2003)Mar 1, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.8M Mar 1, 2003 · Japanese · Action, Animation, Adventure $14.8M worldwide - 34
Nov 26, 2003 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: $7.8M Worldwide: $14.8M - 35
Aug 8, 2003 US and Canada: $671.4K Rest of the world: $11.5M Worldwide: $12.2M - 36
Oct 24, 2003 US and Canada: $4.4M Rest of the world: $7.3M Worldwide: $11.7M - 37
Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost (2003)Aug 16, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.1M Aug 16, 2003 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $11.1M worldwide - 38
Dec 13, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.7M - 39
Oct 17, 2003 US and Canada: $73.1K Rest of the world: $9.9M Worldwide: $10M - 40
Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $6.8M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $9.6M - 41
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003)May 18, 2003 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: $4.5M Worldwide: $6.9M May 18, 2003 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Music $6.9M worldwide - 42
Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003)Dec 20, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7M Dec 20, 2003 · Japanese · Fantasy, Adventure, Animation $6.7M worldwide - 43
Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.2M - 44
The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003)Apr 10, 2003 US and Canada: $285.4K Rest of the world: $5.6M Worldwide: $5.8M
Apr 10, 2003 · Hindi · Adventure, Romance, Thriller $5.8M worldwide - 45
Aug 15, 2003 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: $17.5K Worldwide: $5.1M - 46
Nov 27, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.1M - 47
Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice: The Final Battle (2003)Aug 2, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M Aug 2, 2003 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Adventure, Family $2.8M worldwide - 48
Feb 28, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 49
The Legend of Johnny Lingo (2003)Aug 29, 2003 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M Aug 29, 2003 · English · Action, Family, Adventure $1.7M worldwide - 50
The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey (2003)Sep 12, 2003 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M Sep 12, 2003 · English · Family, Adventure $1.7M worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2003?
Of the top 10, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) earned the biggest share at home (57% in the US & Canada), while The Last Samurai (2003) made 76% of its gross abroad. Across all 65 films, $2.9B (40%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B $381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Finding Nemo (2003) $941.6M $380.8M US & Canada · 40% $560.8M elsewhere · 60%
- 3 The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $741.8M $281.6M US & Canada · 38% $460.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 4 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $654.3M $305.4M US & Canada · 47% $348.9M elsewhere · 53%
- 5 The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M $111.1M US & Canada · 24% $343.5M elsewhere · 76%
- 6 The Matrix Revolutions (2003) $427.3M $139.3M US & Canada · 33% $288M elsewhere · 67%
- 7 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) $259.2M $100.8M US & Canada · 39% $158.3M elsewhere · 61%
- 8 Brother Bear (2003) $250.4M $85.3M US & Canada · 34% $165.1M elsewhere · 66%
- 9 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) $211.6M $93.9M US & Canada · 44% $117.7M elsewhere · 56%
- 10 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) $197.1M $111.8M US & Canada · 57% $85.3M elsewhere · 43%
Gross bands
How Many 2003 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
16 of 65 films crossed $100M and took $6.2B between them, 85% of the total. 27 films, 42% of the list, earned under $10M.
16% 32% 37% 14%
- $1B or more 1 film, 2% of the list $1.1B · 16% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 3 films, 5% of the list $2.3B · 32% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 12 films, 18% of the list $2.7B · 37% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 22 films, 34% of the list $988.4M · 14% of the gross
- Under $10M 27 films, 42% of the list $68.9M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2003 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $1.9B from 9 films, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). August was the quietest month ($33.4M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Kangaroo Jack (2003) $89.1M Kangaroo Jack (2003)
- February Feb The Jungle Book 2 (2003) $277.8M The Jungle Book 2 (2003)
- March Mar The Core (2003) $179.2M The Core (2003)
- April Apr Holes (2003) $139.3M Holes (2003)
- May May Finding Nemo (2003) $1.8B Finding Nemo (2003)
- June Jun Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) $315.9M Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
- July Jul Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) $1.3B Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- August Aug Koi… Mil Gaya (2003) $33.4M Koi… Mil Gaya (2003)
- September Sep The Rundown (2003) $82.9M The Rundown (2003)
- October Oct Brother Bear (2003) $273.7M Brother Bear (2003)
- November Nov The Matrix Revolutions (2003) $942.9M The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
- December Dec The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.9B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Last 10 years
How Does 2003 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2003 earned the most: $7.2B from 65 films, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 27 films | 27 | $2B | – | The Lion King (1994) $979.2M |
| 1995 36 films · +47% | 36 | $2.9B | +47% | Toy Story (1995) $394.4M |
| 1996 29 films · +23% | 29 | $3.5B | +23% | Independence Day (1996) $817.4M |
| 1997 34 films · −23% | 34 | $2.7B | −23% | The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) $618.6M |
| 1998 32 films · +14% | 32 | $3.1B | +14% | Armageddon (1998) $553.7M |
| 1999 33 films · +45% | 33 | $4.6B | +45% | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $1B |
| 2000 39 films · −3% | 39 | $4.4B | −3% | Mission: Impossible II (2000) $546.4M |
| 2001 44 films · +34% | 44 | $5.9B | +34% | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) $1B |
| 2002 56 films · −1% | 56 | $5.9B | −1% | Spider-Man (2002) $825.8M |
| 2003 65 films · +23% | 65 | $7.2B | +23% | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Adventure Movies Speak in 2003?
English-language adventure films took $7B across 40 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language adventure films ($123.1M) and Hindi-language adventure films ($18.6M).
2003 Adventure Box Office by Language
- English $7B40 films · #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- Japanese $123.1M9 films · #1 Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital (2003)
- Hindi $18.6M3 films · #1 Koi… Mil Gaya (2003)
-
French $16.3M3 films · #1 The Triplets of Belleville (2003) -
Spanish $10.2M3 films · #1 Moscow Gold (2003) -
Norwegian $2.8M2 films · #1 Wolf Summer (2003) -
German $1.2M1 film · #1 Pumuckl und sein Zirkusabenteuer (2003) -
Dutch $240.6K1 film · #1 Grimm (2003) -
Korean $189.6K1 film · #1 Sword In The Moon (2003) -
Danish $128K1 film · #1 Someone Like Hodder (2003)
Archive
Adventure Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1923 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $20.5B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $64.6B
2010s 10 years · $150.8B
- 2019 $20.5B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $17.2B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $18.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $17.6B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $18.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $13.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $13.7B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $15.4B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $8.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $8.6B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $71.5B
- 2009 $11.9B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $7.7B #1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- 2007 $7.9B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $7.1B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $7.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $6B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $7.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $5.9B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $5.9B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $4.4B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $23B
- 1999 $4.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $3.1B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $2.7B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $3.5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $2.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $2B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $1.1B #1 Cliffhanger (1993)
- 1992 $427.5M #1 Forever Young (1992)
- 1991 $1.1B #1 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- 1990 $1.6B #1 Dances with Wolves (1990)
1980s 10 years · $8.9B
- 1989 $1.7B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $819.3M #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- 1987 $429.9M #1 Predator (1987)
- 1986 $841.3M #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- 1985 $1.4B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $810.9M #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $990M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $474.1M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $590.1M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $763.7M #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.4B
- 1979 $450.6M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $596.2M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1.4B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $52.6M #1 King Kong (1976)
- 1975 $513.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $60.5M #1 Benji (1974)
- 1973 $35.5M #1 Live and Let Die (1973)
- 1972 $85.5M #1 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
- 1971 $476.6K #1 The Red Tent (1971)
- 1970 $251.8M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $759.7M
- 1969 $133.6M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $44.6M #1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1967 $274.2M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $16.1K #1 The Ghost of Monk’s Island (1966)
- 1965 $115.4M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $27.3M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $74.7M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $47.3M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $370.7K #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- 1960 $42.2M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $325.9M
- 1959 $74.6M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $172.8K #1 The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
- 1957 $27.2M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $42M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $93.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $43.9K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- 1953 $87.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $352.2K #1 Les Miserables (1952)
- 1951 $1.2K #1 Alice in Wonderland (1951)
- 1950 $7.7K #1 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
1940s 6 years · $5.3M
1930s 5 years · $25.7M
FAQ
Adventure Box Office 2003: 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 65 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing adventure movie in 2003?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B worldwide, $381.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Finding Nemo (2003) at $941.6M and The Matrix Reloaded (2003) at $741.8M.
How much did adventure movies released in 2003 earn?
65 adventure films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $7.2B in all, or $111.1M per film on average. 2002 releases took $5.9B.
How many adventure movies released in 2003 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). 16 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2003 adventure 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 2003. 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 2003 adventure 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.