#1 of 92 #1 adventure movie of 2012
2012 · Action, Adventure
$1.5B worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
Adventure box office · 2012
Adventure Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing Adventure Movies
The Avengers (2012) is the highest-grossing adventure movie released in 2012, with $1.5B worldwide, ahead of The Dark Knight Rises (2012) at $1.1B and Skyfall (2012) at $1.1B. 92 adventure films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $15.4B in all, 33% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $1 billion and 28 crossed $100 million. That is up 88% on 2011, whose releases took $8.2B. By language, English leads with $14.7B across 42 adventure releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 92
- combined worldwide
- $15.4B
- films crossed $100M
- 28
- vs 2011
- +88%
#1 of 92 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Adventure Hits of 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $5.6B, 37% of what all 92 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 Adventure Release of 2012, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 92. 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 Dec 14, 2012 US and Canada: $303M Rest of the world: $714.1M Worldwide: $1B
- 5 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)Jul 13, 2012 US and Canada: $161.3M Rest of the world: $715.9M Worldwide: $877.2M
Jul 13, 2012 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Animation $877.2M worldwide - 6
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)Nov 16, 2012 US and Canada: $292.3M Rest of the world: $556.3M Worldwide: $848.6M Nov 16, 2012 · English · Adventure, Drama, Thriller $848.6M worldwide - 7
Jul 3, 2012 US and Canada: $262.8M Rest of the world: $495.9M Worldwide: $758.7M - 8
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $216.4M Rest of the world: $530.5M Worldwide: $746.9M Jun 8, 2012 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Animation $746.9M worldwide - 9
Mar 23, 2012 US and Canada: $408M Rest of the world: $287.2M Worldwide: $695.2M - 10
Nov 21, 2012 US and Canada: $125M Rest of the world: $484M Worldwide: $609M - 11
Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $237.3M Rest of the world: $301.7M Worldwide: $539M - 12
Nov 2, 2012 US and Canada: $189.4M Rest of the world: $281.8M Worldwide: $471.2M - 13
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $162.8M Rest of the world: $263.3M Worldwide: $426.1M - 14
Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $126.5M Rest of the world: $276.9M Worldwide: $403.4M - 15
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 - 16
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 - 17
Aug 17, 2012 US and Canada: $85M Rest of the world: $229.9M Worldwide: $315M - 18
Rise of the Guardians (2012)Nov 21, 2012 US and Canada: $103.4M Rest of the world: $203.5M Worldwide: $306.9M Nov 21, 2012 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation $306.9M worldwide - 19
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $65.4M Rest of the world: $237.6M Worldwide: $303M - 20
Mar 30, 2012 US and Canada: $83.7M Rest of the world: $218.3M Worldwide: $302M - 21
Mar 9, 2012 US and Canada: $73.1M Rest of the world: $211.1M Worldwide: $284.1M - 22
Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: $113.2M Rest of the world: $162.9M Worldwide: $276.1M - 23
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 - 24
Aug 3, 2012 US and Canada: $58.9M Rest of the world: $139.6M Worldwide: $198.5M - 25
Mar 30, 2012 US and Canada: $64.9M Rest of the world: $118.1M Worldwide: $183M - 26
Dec 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $171.3M - 27
The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)Apr 27, 2012 US and Canada: $31.1M Rest of the world: $92M Worldwide: $123.1M Apr 27, 2012 · English · Adventure, Animation, Family $123.1M worldwide - 28
Aug 17, 2012 US and Canada: $56M Rest of the world: $51.1M Worldwide: $107.1M - 29
Feb 24, 2012 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $82.5M - 30
Jan 27, 2012 US and Canada: $51.6M Rest of the world: $28.2M Worldwide: $79.8M - 31
Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $489.1K Worldwide: $50.4M - 32
HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012)Apr 3, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.1M
Apr 3, 2012 · French · Family, Adventure, Comedy $50.1M worldwide - 33
Tad, the Lost Explorer (2012)Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.5M
Aug 10, 2012 · Spanish · Animation, Adventure, Family $49.5M worldwide - 34
A Turtle’s Tale 2: Sammy’s Escape from Paradise (2012)Aug 1, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.3M Aug 1, 2012 · English · Adventure, Family, Animation $49.3M worldwide - 35
Sep 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47.2M - 36
Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles – Animal Adventure (2012)Mar 3, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $46.2M
Mar 3, 2012 · Japanese · Animation, Family, Adventure $46.2M worldwide - 37
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 - 38
Feb 16, 2012 US and Canada: $35.7K Rest of the world: $35.8M Worldwide: $35.8M - 39
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 - 40
Kamen Rider Fourze The Movie: It’s Space Time, Everybody! (2012)Aug 4, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19M Aug 4, 2012 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $19M worldwide - 41
Nov 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.7M - 42
Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $47.8K Rest of the world: $15M Worldwide: $15.1M - 43
Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.7M - 44
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $744.3K Rest of the world: $8.9M Worldwide: $9.6M - 45
Mar 23, 2012 US and Canada: $698.2K Rest of the world: $8.8M Worldwide: $9.5M - 46
Kirikou and the Men and Women (2012)Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.4M Sep 28, 2012 · French · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation $9.4M worldwide - 47
Jan 25, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.9M - 48
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2012)Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $177.8K Rest of the world: $7.4M Worldwide: $7.6M Jan 20, 2012 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $7.6M worldwide - 49
Journey to the Christmas Star (2012)Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.4M
Nov 9, 2012 · Norwegian · Fantasy, Adventure, Family $7.4M worldwide - 50
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie (2012)Jan 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7M Jan 21, 2012 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $6.7M worldwide
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 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) made 82% of its gross abroad. Across all 92 films, $5.1B (33%) 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 Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1B $303M US & Canada · 30% $714.1M elsewhere · 70%
- 5 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) $877.2M $161.3M US & Canada · 18% $715.9M elsewhere · 82%
- 6 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012) $848.6M $292.3M US & Canada · 34% $556.3M elsewhere · 66%
- 7 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) $758.7M $262.8M US & Canada · 35% $495.9M elsewhere · 65%
- 8 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) $746.9M $216.4M US & Canada · 29% $530.5M elsewhere · 71%
- 9 The Hunger Games (2012) $695.2M $408M US & Canada · 59% $287.2M elsewhere · 41%
- 10 Life of Pi (2012) $609M $125M US & Canada · 21% $484M elsewhere · 79%
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
28 of 92 films crossed $100M and took $14.7B between them, 95% of the total. 49 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.
31% 33% 31%
- $1B or more 4 films, 4% of the list $4.8B · 31% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 7 films, 8% of the list $5.1B · 33% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 17 films, 18% of the list $4.8B · 31% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 15 films, 16% of the list $626.7M · 4% of the gross
- Under $10M 49 films, 53% of the list $123.7M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $3.4B from 8 films, led by Skyfall (2012). October was the quietest month ($22.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Grey (2012) $153.4M The Grey (2012)
- February Feb Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) $463.1M Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- March Mar The Hunger Games (2012) $1.5B The Hunger Games (2012)
- April Apr The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012) $208.1M The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)
- May May The Avengers (2012) $1.8B The Avengers (2012)
- June Jun Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) $2.1B Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- July Jul The Dark Knight Rises (2012) $2.8B The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- August Aug The Expendables 2 (2012) $1.1B The Expendables 2 (2012)
- September Sep Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) $300.3M Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
- October Oct War of the Buttons (2012) $22.7M War of the Buttons (2012)
- November Nov Skyfall (2012) $3.4B Skyfall (2012)
- December Dec The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1.6B The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2012 earned the most: $15.4B from 92 films, led by The Avengers (2012).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 65 films | 65 | $7.2B | – | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
| 2004 71 films · −17% | 71 | $6B | −17% | Shrek 2 (2004) $932.5M |
| 2005 77 films · +22% | 77 | $7.3B | +22% | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) $897.5M |
| 2006 87 films · −2% | 87 | $7.1B | −2% | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) $1.1B |
| 2007 92 films · +11% | 92 | $7.9B | +11% | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) $1B |
| 2008 83 films · −2% | 83 | $7.7B | −2% | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $786.6M |
| 2009 107 films · +54% | 107 | $11.9B | +54% | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
| 2010 95 films · −28% | 95 | $8.6B | −28% | Toy Story 3 (2010) $1.1B |
| 2011 79 films · −5% | 79 | $8.2B | −5% | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) $1.3B |
| 2012 92 films · +88% | 92 | $15.4B | +88% | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Adventure Movies Speak in 2012?
English-language adventure films took $14.7B across 42 films, 95% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language adventure films ($186.8M) and Japanese-language adventure films ($161.2M).
2012 Adventure Box Office by Language
- English $14.7B42 films · #1 The Avengers (2012)
-
Chinese $186.8M5 films · #1 Chinese Zodiac (2012) - Japanese $161.2M9 films · #1 Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles – Animal Adventure (2012)
- French $84.1M6 films · #1 HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012)
- Spanish $51.4M4 films · #1 Tad, the Lost Explorer (2012)
-
Turkish $35.8M1 film · #1 Conquest 1453 (2012) -
Hindi $15.6M3 films · #1 Agent Vinod (2012) -
German $14.1M3 films · #1 Famous Five (2012) - Norwegian $7.4M1 film · #1 Journey to the Christmas Star (2012)
-
Korean $6.3M2 films · #1 Ghost Sweepers (2012)
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 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 92 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing adventure 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 adventure movies released in 2012 earn?
92 adventure films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $15.4B in all, or $167.7M per film on average. 2011 releases took $8.2B.
How many adventure movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
4 films crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Avengers (2012), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Skyfall (2012) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). 28 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2012 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 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 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.