#1 of 5 #1 biography movie of 1997
1997 · Adventure, Biography
$131.5M worldwide · 61% of the chart's total
$38M US & Canada · 29% $93.5M elsewhere · 71%
Biography box office · 1997
Biography Box Office 1997: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
Seven Years in Tibet (1997) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 1997, with $131.5M worldwide, ahead of Private Parts (1997) at $41.2M and Selena (1997) at $35.8M. 5 biography films released in 1997 report a worldwide gross, $214.7M in all, 56% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 2% on 1996, whose releases took $219.4M. By language, English leads with $214.7M across 5 biography releases.
- 1997 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $214.7M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1996
- −2%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 1997?
Seven Years in Tibet (1997) leads with $131.5M, 61% of the total. The top 5 together took $214.7M, almost all of what the 5 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 Biography Release of 1997, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1997.
- 1 Oct 8, 1997 US and Canada: $38M Rest of the world: $93.5M Worldwide: $131.5M
- 2 Mar 7, 1997 US and Canada: $41.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.2M
- 3 Mar 21, 1997 US and Canada: $35.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.8M
- 4 Dec 25, 1997 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $171 Worldwide: $5.7M
- 5 Jan 24, 1997 US and Canada: $589.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $589.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1997?
Of the top 5, Private Parts (1997) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Seven Years in Tibet (1997) made 71% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $121.2M (56%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $131.5M $38M US & Canada · 29% $93.5M elsewhere · 71%
- 2 Private Parts (1997) $41.2M $41.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Selena (1997) $35.8M $35.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Kundun (1997) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% $171 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Prefontaine (1997) $589.3K $589.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1997 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $131.5M from 1 film, led by Seven Years in Tibet (1997). January was the quietest month ($589.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Prefontaine (1997) $589.3K Prefontaine (1997)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Private Parts (1997) $77M Private Parts (1997)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $131.5M Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Kundun (1997) $5.7M Kundun (1997)
Last 10 years
How Does 1997 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1993 earned the most: $652.9M from 13 films, led by Schindler's List (1993). 1997 took $214.7M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 6 films | 6 | $172.8M | – | Good Morning, Vietnam (1988) $123.9M |
| 1989 5 films · +23% | 5 | $212.2M | +23% | Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M |
| 1990 6 films · −52% | 6 | $102.9M | −52% | Goodfellas (1990) $47.1M |
| 1991 4 films · +184% | 4 | $291.7M | +184% | JFK (1991) $205.4M |
| 1992 8 films · −64% | 8 | $106.3M | −64% | Malcolm X (1992) $48.2M |
| 1993 13 films · +514% | 13 | $652.9M | +514% | Schindler's List (1993) $322.2M |
| 1994 7 films · −92% | 7 | $52.6M | −92% | Wyatt Earp (1994) $25.1M |
| 1995 9 films · +633% | 9 | $385.1M | +633% | Braveheart (1995) $213.2M |
| 1996 8 films · −43% | 8 | $219.4M | −43% | Evita (1996) $141M |
| 1997 5 films · −2% | 5 | $214.7M | −2% | Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $131.5M |
Archive
Biography Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1929 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2.3B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2020s 7 years · $4.7B
2010s 10 years · $13.3B
- 2019 $1.3B #1 Ford v Ferrari (2019)
- 2018 $2.3B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $1.6B #1 The Greatest Showman (2017)
- 2016 $1.6B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 American Sniper (2014)
- 2013 $2.1B #1 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- 2012 $511.3M #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $319.8M #1 The Iron Lady (2011)
- 2010 $341.2M #1 The Social Network (2010)
2000s 10 years · $5.9B
- 2009 $1B #1 The Blind Side (2009)
- 2008 $330.9M #1 The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- 2007 $638.4M #1 Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
- 2006 $775.2M #1 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- 2005 $671M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $683.8M #1 The Aviator (2004)
- 2003 $165.3M #1 Monster (2003)
- 2002 $674.3M #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $541.6M #1 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
- 2000 $385.6M #1 Erin Brockovich (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.7B
- 1999 $347.4M #1 The Hurricane (1999)
- 1998 $301.1M #1 Patch Adams (1998)
- 1997 $214.7M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $219.4M #1 Evita (1996)
- 1995 $385.1M #1 Braveheart (1995)
- 1994 $52.6M #1 Wyatt Earp (1994)
- 1993 $652.9M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $106.3M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $291.7M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $102.9M #1 Goodfellas (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.2B
- 1989 $212.2M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 1988 $172.8M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- 1987 $105.8M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $3.5M #1 Sid and Nancy (1986)
- 1985 $254.3M #1 Out of Africa (1985)
- 1984 $2.9M #1 Phar Lap (1984)
- 1983 $129.6M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $73.3M #1 Chariots of Fire (1982)
- 1981 $61.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $135.5M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 8 years · $358M
1960s 7 years · $271.4M
1950s 2 years · $21.4M
1940s 1 year · $3K
1930s 1 year · $4.9K
1920s 1 year · $22.7K
FAQ
Biography Box Office 1997: 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 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing biography movie in 1997?
Seven Years in Tibet (1997) leads with $131.5M worldwide, $38M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Private Parts (1997) at $41.2M and Selena (1997) at $35.8M.
How much did biography movies released in 1997 earn?
5 biography films released in 1997 report a worldwide gross, $214.7M in all, or $42.9M per film on average. 1996 releases took $219.4M.
How many biography movies released in 1997 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Seven Years in Tibet (1997) with $131.5M.
How is the 1997 biography 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 1997. 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 1997 biography 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.