#1 of 11 #1 comedy movie of December 1996
1996 · Drama, Sport
$273.6M worldwide · 38% of the chart's total
$154M US & Canada · 56% $119.6M elsewhere · 44%
Comedy box office · December 1996
Comedy Box Office, December 1996: Top-Grossing Releases
Jerry Maguire (1996) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in December 1996, with $273.6M worldwide, ahead of Michael (1996) at $119.7M and Mars Attacks! (1996) at $101.4M. 11 comedy films released in December 1996 report a worldwide gross, $713.2M in all, 64% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 40% on November 1996, whose releases took $509.4M. By language, English leads with $593.5M across 10 comedy releases.
- December 1996 releases with a gross
- 11
- combined worldwide
- $713.2M
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs November 1996
- +40%
#1 of 11 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of December 1996?
Jerry Maguire (1996) leads with $273.6M, 38% of the total. The top 5 together took $655.3M, 92% 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 Comedy Release of December 1996, 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 December 1996.
- 1 Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $154M Rest of the world: $119.6M Worldwide: $273.6M
- 2 Dec 25, 1996 US and Canada: $95.3M Rest of the world: $24.4M Worldwide: $119.7M
- 3 Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: $63.6M Worldwide: $101.4M
- 4 Dec 20, 1996 US and Canada: $46.2M Rest of the world: $51.4M Worldwide: $97.5M
- 5 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)Dec 20, 1996 US and Canada: $63.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.1M
Dec 20, 1996 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Crime $63.1M worldwide - 6
Dec 20, 1996 US and Canada: $22.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.3M - 7
Dec 18, 1996 US and Canada: $12.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.8M - 8
Dec 5, 1996 US and Canada: $12.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.8M - 9
Dec 6, 1996 US and Canada: $9.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.8M - 10
Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $285.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $285.1K - 11
Dec 6, 1996 US and Canada: $7.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1996?
Of the top 10, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Mars Attacks! (1996) made 63% of its gross abroad. Across all 11 films, $454.3M (64%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Jerry Maguire (1996) $273.6M $154M US & Canada · 56% $119.6M elsewhere · 44%
- 2 Michael (1996) $119.7M $95.3M US & Canada · 80% $24.4M elsewhere · 20%
- 3 Mars Attacks! (1996) $101.4M $37.8M US & Canada · 37% $63.6M elsewhere · 63%
- 4 One Fine Day (1996) $97.5M $46.2M US & Canada · 47% $51.4M elsewhere · 53%
- 5 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) $63.1M $63.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 My Fellow Americans (1996) $22.3M $22.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Marvin's Room (1996) $12.8M $12.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Evening Star (1996) $12.8M $12.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Everyone Says I Love You (1996) $9.8M $9.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Citizen Ruth (1996) $285.1K $285.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many December 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 11 films crossed $100M and took $494.7M between them, 69% of the total. 3 films, 27% of the list, earned under $10M.
69% 29%
- $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, 27% of the list $494.7M · 69% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 5 films, 45% of the list $208.5M · 29% of the gross
- Under $10M 3 films, 27% of the list $10.1M · 1% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 1996 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 50 (Dec 8–14) took $375.2M, led by Jerry Maguire (1996). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 1–7 The Evening Star (1996) $22.5M The Evening Star (1996)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 8–14 Jerry Maguire (1996) $375.2M Jerry Maguire (1996)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 15–21 One Fine Day (1996) $195.8M One Fine Day (1996)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 22–28 Michael (1996) $119.7M Michael (1996)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 29–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1996 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1996 earned the most: $713.2M from 11 films, led by Jerry Maguire (1996).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1987 8 films | 8 | $353.8M | – | Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M |
| December 1988 8 films · +51% | 8 | $535.8M | +51% | Twins (1988) $216.6M |
| December 1989 10 films · −5% | 10 | $507.5M | −5% | The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M |
| December 1990 6 films · −46% | 6 | $273.2M | −46% | Kindergarten Cop (1990) $202M |
| December 1991 8 films · +69% | 8 | $460.7M | +69% | Hook (1991) $300.9M |
| December 1992 4 films · −76% | 4 | $111.3M | −76% | The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) $46.7M |
| December 1993 7 films · +172% | 7 | $302.5M | +172% | Beethoven’s 2nd (1993) $118.2M |
| December 1994 13 films · +56% | 13 | $473.3M | +56% | Dumb and Dumber (1994) $247.3M |
| December 1995 9 films · −35% | 9 | $308.3M | −35% | Waiting to Exhale (1995) $81.5M |
| December 1996 11 films · +131% | 11 | $713.2M | +131% | Jerry Maguire (1996) $273.6M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1996, Month by Month
The months of 1996 with their totals: December leads with $713.2M, led by Jerry Maguire (1996).
- January $57M #1 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
- February $166M #1 Happy Gilmore (1996)
- March $336.7M #1 The Birdcage (1996)
- April $139.6M #1 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
- May $76.2M #1 Eddie (1996)
- June $510.5M #1 The Nutty Professor (1996)
- July $51.7M #1 The Frighteners (1996)
- August $241M #1 Jack (1996)
- September $236.8M #1 The First Wives Club (1996)
- October $117.7M #1 That Thing You Do! (1996)
- November $509.4M #1 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- December $713.2M #1 Jerry Maguire (1996)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office December 1996: 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 comedy movie in December 1996?
Jerry Maguire (1996) leads with $273.6M worldwide, $154M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Michael (1996) at $119.7M and Mars Attacks! (1996) at $101.4M.
How much did comedy movies released in December 1996 earn?
11 comedy films released in December 1996 report a worldwide gross, $713.2M in all, or $64.8M per film on average. November 1996 releases took $509.4M.
How many comedy movies released in December 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by Jerry Maguire (1996) with $273.6M.
How is the December 1996 comedy 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 December 1996. 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 December 1996 comedy 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.