#1 of 11 #1 biography movie of 1999
1999 · Biography, Drama
$74M worldwide · 21% of the chart's total
$50.7M US & Canada · 69% $23.3M elsewhere · 31%
Biography box office · 1999
Biography Box Office 1999: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
The Hurricane (1999) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 1999, with $74M worldwide, ahead of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) at $67M and The Insider (1999) at $60.3M. 11 biography films released in 1999 report a worldwide gross, $347.4M in all, 59% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 15% on 1998, whose releases took $301.1M. By language, English leads with $347.4M across 11 biography releases.
- 1999 releases with a gross
- 11
- combined worldwide
- $347.4M
- The Hurricane (1999), the #1
- $74M
- vs 1998
- +15%
#1 of 11 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 1999?
The Hurricane (1999) leads with $74M, 21% of the total. The top 5 together took $297M, 85% of what all 11 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 1999, 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 1999.
- 1 Dec 29, 1999 US and Canada: $50.7M Rest of the world: $23.3M Worldwide: $74M
- 2 The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)Nov 12, 1999 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: $52.7M Worldwide: $67M
Nov 12, 1999 · English · Biography, Drama, History $67M worldwide - 3 Nov 5, 1999 US and Canada: $29.1M Rest of the world: $31.2M Worldwide: $60.3M
- 4 Dec 21, 1999 US and Canada: $28.9M Rest of the world: $19.4M Worldwide: $48.4M
- 5 Dec 22, 1999 US and Canada: $34.6M Rest of the world: $12.8M Worldwide: $47.4M
- 6
Feb 19, 1999 US and Canada: $32.6M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $34.7M - 7
Dec 17, 1999 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: $1.6M Worldwide: $7.8M - 8
Oct 15, 1999 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: $251.7K Worldwide: $6.5M - 9
Feb 26, 1999 US and Canada: $541.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $541.6K - 10
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)Dec 29, 1999 US and Canada: $507.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $507.9K Dec 29, 1999 · English · Biography, Documentary $507.9K worldwide - 11
Oct 15, 1999 US and Canada: $362.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $362.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1999?
Of the top 10, 20 Dates (1999) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 11 films, $204M (59%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Hurricane (1999) $74M $50.7M US & Canada · 69% $23.3M elsewhere · 31%
- 2 The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) $67M $14.3M US & Canada · 21% $52.7M elsewhere · 79%
- 3 The Insider (1999) $60.3M $29.1M US & Canada · 48% $31.2M elsewhere · 52%
- 4 Girl, Interrupted (1999) $48.4M $28.9M US & Canada · 60% $19.4M elsewhere · 40%
- 5 Man on the Moon (1999) $47.4M $34.6M US & Canada · 73% $12.8M elsewhere · 27%
- 6 October Sky (1999) $34.7M $32.6M US & Canada · 94% $2.1M elsewhere · 6%
- 7 Topsy-Turvy (1999) $7.8M $6.2M US & Canada · 80% $1.6M elsewhere · 20%
- 8 The Straight Story (1999) $6.5M $6.2M US & Canada · 96% $251.7K elsewhere · 4%
- 9 20 Dates (1999) $541.6K $541.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999) $507.9K $507.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1999 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 11 films reached $100M. 5 films, 45% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $347.4M total.
95%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 55% of the list $331.7M · 95% of the gross
- Under $10M 5 films, 45% of the list $15.7M · 5% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1999 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $178.1M from 5 films, led by The Hurricane (1999). October was the quietest month ($6.8M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb October Sky (1999) $35.2M October Sky (1999)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- 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 The Straight Story (1999) $6.8M The Straight Story (1999)
- November Nov The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) $127.3M The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)
- December Dec The Hurricane (1999) $178.1M The Hurricane (1999)
Last 10 years
How Does 1999 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1993 earned the most: $652.9M from 13 films, led by Schindler's List (1993). 1999 took $347.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 6 films | 6 | $102.9M | – | 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 |
| 1998 8 films · +40% | 8 | $301.1M | +40% | Patch Adams (1998) $202.3M |
| 1999 11 films · +15% | 11 | $347.4M | +15% | The Hurricane (1999) $74M |
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 1999: 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 11 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing biography movie in 1999?
The Hurricane (1999) leads with $74M worldwide, $50.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) at $67M and The Insider (1999) at $60.3M.
How much did biography movies released in 1999 earn?
11 biography films released in 1999 report a worldwide gross, $347.4M in all, or $31.6M per film on average. 1998 releases took $301.1M.
How many biography movies released in 1999 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Hurricane (1999), earned $74M.
How is the 1999 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 1999. 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 1999 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.