#1 of 80 #1 biography movie of 2017
2017 · Biography, Drama
$469.1M worldwide · 30% of the chart's total
$174.3M US & Canada · 37% $294.7M elsewhere · 63%
Biography box office · 2017
Biography Box Office 2017: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
The Greatest Showman (2017) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 2017, with $469.1M worldwide, ahead of The Post (2017) at $193.8M and Darkest Hour (2017) at $150.8M. 80 biography films released in 2017 report a worldwide gross, $1.6B in all, 42% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 3% on 2016, whose releases took $1.6B. By language, English leads with $1.2B across 61 biography releases.
- 2017 releases with a gross
- 80
- combined worldwide
- $1.6B
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs 2016
- −3%
#1 of 80 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 2017?
The Greatest Showman (2017) leads with $469.1M, 30% of the total. The top 5 together took $968.2M, 61% of what all 80 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 2017, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 80. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2017.
- 1 Dec 20, 2017 US and Canada: $174.3M Rest of the world: $294.7M Worldwide: $469.1M
- 2 Dec 22, 2017 US and Canada: $81.9M Rest of the world: $111.9M Worldwide: $193.8M
- 3 Nov 22, 2017 US and Canada: $56.5M Rest of the world: $94.4M Worldwide: $150.8M
- 4 Sep 29, 2017 US and Canada: $456.9K Rest of the world: $87.5M Worldwide: $88M
- 5 Sep 22, 2017 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: $44.3M Worldwide: $66.6M
- 6
Dec 25, 2017 US and Canada: $28.8M Rest of the world: $30.5M Worldwide: $59.3M - 7
Dec 25, 2017 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: $31.9M Worldwide: $57M - 8
Jun 16, 2017 US and Canada: $44.9M Rest of the world: $10.7M Worldwide: $55.7M - 9
Dec 8, 2017 US and Canada: $30M Rest of the world: $23.9M Worldwide: $53.9M - 10
Sep 22, 2017 US and Canada: $6.7M Rest of the world: $35.5M Worldwide: $42.2M - 11
Dec 1, 2017 US and Canada: $21.1M Rest of the world: $8.7M Worldwide: $29.8M - 12
Oct 20, 2017 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: $8M Worldwide: $26.4M - 13
Mar 31, 2017 US and Canada: $17.6M Rest of the world: $8.6M Worldwide: $26.2M - 14
Jan 20, 2017 US and Canada: $12.8M Rest of the world: $11.3M Worldwide: $24.1M - 15
Aug 11, 2017 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $4.8M Worldwide: $22.1M - 16
Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: $10.7M Worldwide: $19.3M - 17
Sep 22, 2017 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: $6M Worldwide: $18.6M - 18
Jun 9, 2017 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $14.5M - 19
Feb 10, 2017 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: $10.6M Worldwide: $14.5M - 20
Sep 1, 2017 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $10.5M Worldwide: $11.6M - 21
Jun 16, 2017 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $11.5M - 22
Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $10.1M Rest of the world: $65.2K Worldwide: $10.1M - 23
Sep 22, 2017 US and Canada: $113.2K Rest of the world: $9.9M Worldwide: $10M - 24
Oct 27, 2017 US and Canada: $9.5M Rest of the world: $459.4K Worldwide: $10M - 25
Sep 22, 2017 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $4.3M Worldwide: $8.5M - 26
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)Nov 22, 2017 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $2.5M Worldwide: $8.1M
Nov 22, 2017 · English · Biography, Drama, Comedy $8.1M worldwide - 27
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017)Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $5.7M Worldwide: $7.4M Oct 13, 2017 · English · Biography, History, Family $7.4M worldwide - 28
Aug 25, 2017 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: $313.1K Worldwide: $7.2M - 29
Jun 2, 2017 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $6.7M - 30
Sep 1, 2017 US and Canada: $3.5K Rest of the world: $5.6M Worldwide: $5.6M - 31
Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $490.1K Rest of the world: $4.6M Worldwide: $5.1M - 32
Mar 31, 2017 US and Canada: $257.6K Rest of the world: $4.3M Worldwide: $4.5M - 33
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017)Sep 29, 2017 US and Canada: $768.9K Rest of the world: $3.6M Worldwide: $4.4M Sep 29, 2017 · English · Biography, Drama, History $4.4M worldwide - 34
Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: $2.3M Worldwide: $4.2M - 35
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)Dec 29, 2017 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: $3M Worldwide: $4M Dec 29, 2017 · English · Biography, Drama, Romance $4M worldwide - 36
Nov 3, 2017 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: $39.2K Worldwide: $2.5M - 37
Jan 26, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M - 38
Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge (2017)Jun 30, 2017 US and Canada: $128K Rest of the world: $1.8M Worldwide: $1.9M
Jun 30, 2017 · French · Biography, Drama, Romance $1.9M worldwide - 39
Oct 20, 2017 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $197.8K Worldwide: $1.9M - 40
Oct 20, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 41
Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: $314.9K Worldwide: $1.9M Oct 13, 2017 · English · Biography, Drama $1.9M worldwide - 42
Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $381.6K Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $1.8M - 43
Nov 3, 2017 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $75.1K Worldwide: $1.4M - 44
6 Below: Miracle On The Mountain (2017)Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.1M Oct 13, 2017 · English · Adventure, Biography, Drama $1.1M worldwide - 45
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017)Nov 24, 2017 US and Canada: $820.3K Rest of the world: $272.6K Worldwide: $1.1M Nov 24, 2017 · English · Biography, History, War $1.1M worldwide - 46
May 19, 2017 US and Canada: $33.4K Rest of the world: $999.3K Worldwide: $1M - 47
Sep 8, 2017 US and Canada: $378.3K Rest of the world: $566.1K Worldwide: $944.4K - 48
Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $569.3K Rest of the world: $182K Worldwide: $751.3K - 49
First They Killed My Father (2017)Sep 15, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $720.4K
Sep 15, 2017 · Khmer · Biography, Drama, History $720.4K worldwide - 50
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (2017)Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $571.4K
Apr 21, 2017 · Finnish · Biography, Drama, Sport $571.4K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2017?
Of the top 10, All Eyez on Me (2017) earned the biggest share at home (81% in the US & Canada), while Chasing the Dragon (2017) made 99% of its gross abroad. Across all 80 films, $660.1M (42%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Greatest Showman (2017) $469.1M $174.3M US & Canada · 37% $294.7M elsewhere · 63%
- 2 The Post (2017) $193.8M $81.9M US & Canada · 42% $111.9M elsewhere · 58%
- 3 Darkest Hour (2017) $150.8M $56.5M US & Canada · 37% $94.4M elsewhere · 63%
- 4 Chasing the Dragon (2017) $88M $456.9K US & Canada · <1% $87.5M elsewhere · 99%
- 5 Victoria and Abdul (2017) $66.6M $22.2M US & Canada · 33% $44.3M elsewhere · 67%
- 6 Molly's Game (2017) $59.3M $28.8M US & Canada · 49% $30.5M elsewhere · 51%
- 7 All the Money in the World (2017) $57M $25.1M US & Canada · 44% $31.9M elsewhere · 56%
- 8 All Eyez on Me (2017) $55.7M $44.9M US & Canada · 81% $10.7M elsewhere · 19%
- 9 I, Tonya (2017) $53.9M $30M US & Canada · 56% $23.9M elsewhere · 44%
- 10 Loving Vincent (2017) $42.2M $6.7M US & Canada · 16% $35.5M elsewhere · 84%
Gross bands
How Many 2017 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 80 films crossed $100M and took $813.7M between them, 52% of the total. 57 films, 71% of the list, earned under $10M.
52% 42%
- $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 3 films, 4% of the list $813.7M · 52% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 20 films, 25% of the list $661.2M · 42% of the gross
- Under $10M 57 films, 71% of the list $103.6M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2017 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $867M from 9 films, led by The Greatest Showman (2017). July was the quietest month ($559K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Founder (2017) $26.6M The Founder (2017)
- February Feb A United Kingdom (2017) $14.5M A United Kingdom (2017)
- March Mar The Zookeeper's Wife (2017) $31.5M The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)
- April Apr The Lost City of Z (2017) $25.7M The Lost City of Z (2017)
- May May Afterimage (2017) $2.6M Afterimage (2017)
- June Jun All Eyez on Me (2017) $90.4M All Eyez on Me (2017)
- July Jul Endless Poetry (2017) $559K Endless Poetry (2017)
- August Aug The Glass Castle (2017) $29.9M The Glass Castle (2017)
- September Sep Chasing the Dragon (2017) $257.7M Chasing the Dragon (2017)
- October Oct Only the Brave (2017) $68M Only the Brave (2017)
- November Nov Darkest Hour (2017) $164M Darkest Hour (2017)
- December Dec The Greatest Showman (2017) $867M The Greatest Showman (2017)
Last 10 years
How Does 2017 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2013 earned the most: $2.1B from 42 films, led by The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). 2017 took $1.6B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 23 films | 23 | $330.9M | – | The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) $78.2M |
| 2009 24 films · +217% | 24 | $1B | +217% | The Blind Side (2009) $309.2M |
| 2010 14 films · −67% | 14 | $341.2M | −67% | The Social Network (2010) $224.9M |
| 2011 38 films · −6% | 38 | $319.8M | −6% | The Iron Lady (2011) $115.9M |
| 2012 29 films · +60% | 29 | $511.3M | +60% | Lincoln (2012) $275.3M |
| 2013 42 films · +310% | 42 | $2.1B | +310% | The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) $407M |
| 2014 64 films · −18% | 64 | $1.7B | −18% | American Sniper (2014) $547.7M |
| 2015 71 films · −9% | 71 | $1.6B | −9% | Everest (2015) $203.4M |
| 2016 75 films · +4% | 75 | $1.6B | +4% | Dangal (2016) $303.7M |
| 2017 80 films · −3% | 80 | $1.6B | −3% | The Greatest Showman (2017) $469.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Biography Movies Speak in 2017?
English-language biography films took $1.2B across 61 films, 76% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language biography films ($88M) and French-language biography films ($12.3M).
2017 Biography Box Office by Language
- English $1.2B61 films · #1 The Greatest Showman (2017)
-
Chinese $88M1 film · #1 Chasing the Dragon (2017) - French $12.3M4 films · #1 Dalida (2017)
-
Norwegian $10M1 film · #1 The King's Choice (2017) -
Polish $3.3M2 films · #1 The Last Family (2017) - Finnish $2.4M2 films · #1 Tom of Finland (2017)
-
Spanish $831.9K2 films · #1 Endless Poetry (2017) - Khmer $720.4K1 film · #1 First They Killed My Father (2017)
-
Dutch $270.2K1 film · #1 Riphagen: The Untouchable (2017) -
Czech $227.5K1 film · #1 I, Olga Hepnarová (2017)
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 2017: 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 80 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing biography movie in 2017?
The Greatest Showman (2017) leads with $469.1M worldwide, $174.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Post (2017) at $193.8M and Darkest Hour (2017) at $150.8M.
How much did biography movies released in 2017 earn?
80 biography films released in 2017 report a worldwide gross, $1.6B in all, or $19.7M per film on average. 2016 releases took $1.6B.
How many biography movies released in 2017 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by The Greatest Showman (2017) with $469.1M.
How is the 2017 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 2017. 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 2017 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.