#1 of 109 #1 comedy movie of 1997
1997 · Action, Sci-Fi
$589.4M worldwide · 16% of the chart's total
$250.7M US & Canada · 43% $338.7M elsewhere · 57%
Comedy box office · 1997
Comedy Box Office 1997: Highest-Grossing Comedy Movies
Men in Black (1997) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in 1997, with $589.4M worldwide, ahead of As Good as It Gets (1997) at $314.2M and Liar Liar (1997) at $302.7M. 109 comedy films released in 1997 report a worldwide gross, $3.6B in all, 58% of it from the US & Canada. 9 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 15% on 1996, whose releases took $3.2B. By language, English leads with $3.1B across 94 comedy releases.
- 1997 releases with a gross
- 109
- combined worldwide
- $3.6B
- films crossed $100M
- 9
- vs 1996
- +15%
#1 of 109 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of 1997?
Men in Black (1997) leads with $589.4M, 16% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.8B, 49% of what all 109 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 1997, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 109. 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 Jul 2, 1997 US and Canada: $250.7M Rest of the world: $338.7M Worldwide: $589.4M
- 2 Dec 23, 1997 US and Canada: $148.5M Rest of the world: $165.7M Worldwide: $314.2M
- 3 Mar 21, 1997 US and Canada: $181.4M Rest of the world: $121.3M Worldwide: $302.7M
- 4 Jun 20, 1997 US and Canada: $127.1M Rest of the world: $172.2M Worldwide: $299.3M
- 5 Aug 13, 1997 US and Canada: $46M Rest of the world: $212M Worldwide: $257.9M
- 6
Nov 7, 1997 US and Canada: $45.3M Rest of the world: $205.9M Worldwide: $251.2M - 7
Nov 26, 1997 US and Canada: $93M Rest of the world: $85M Worldwide: $178M - 8
Jul 16, 1997 US and Canada: $105.3M Rest of the world: $69.2M Worldwide: $174.5M - 9
Dec 19, 1997 US and Canada: $61.9M Rest of the world: $60.5M Worldwide: $122.4M - 10
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)May 2, 1997 US and Canada: $53.9M Rest of the world: $13.8M Worldwide: $67.7M
May 2, 1997 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $67.7M worldwide - 11
Dec 25, 1997 US and Canada: $43.1M Rest of the world: $21.2M Worldwide: $64.3M - 12
Sep 19, 1997 US and Canada: $63.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.9M - 13
Mar 7, 1997 US and Canada: $59.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $59.9M - 14
Jul 18, 1997 US and Canada: $44.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.5M - 15
Aug 1, 1997 US and Canada: $31.4M Rest of the world: $12.9M Worldwide: $44.3M - 16
Sep 26, 1997 US and Canada: $43.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.7M - 17
Mar 7, 1997 US and Canada: $41.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.2M - 18
Feb 14, 1997 US and Canada: $36.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.4M - 19
May 23, 1997 US and Canada: $34.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.7M - 20
Jan 17, 1997 US and Canada: $31.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.5M - 21
Jul 2, 1997 US and Canada: $29M Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $30.7M - 22
Feb 14, 1997 US and Canada: $29.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.5M - 23
Apr 25, 1997 US and Canada: $29.2M Rest of the world: $4.2K Worldwide: $29.2M - 24
May 9, 1997 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.6M - 25
Apr 11, 1997 US and Canada: $28.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.1M - 26
An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)Oct 31, 1997 US and Canada: $26.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.6M Oct 31, 1997 · English · Thriller, Horror, Comedy $26.6M worldwide - 27
Jul 25, 1997 US and Canada: $23.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.7M - 28
Aug 1, 1997 US and Canada: $23.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.1M - 29
Dec 5, 1997 US and Canada: $22.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.6M - 30
Dec 25, 1997 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M - 31
Feb 26, 1997 US and Canada: $20.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.1M - 32
Jan 24, 1997 US and Canada: $19.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.1M - 33
Jan 31, 1997 US and Canada: $12.7M Rest of the world: $6.1M Worldwide: $18.8M - 34
Feb 14, 1997 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.3M - 35
Apr 4, 1997 US and Canada: $16.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.6M - 36
Oct 10, 1997 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 37
May 30, 1997 US and Canada: $13.6M Rest of the world: $995.7K Worldwide: $14.6M - 38
Aug 29, 1997 US and Canada: $14.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.5M - 39
Aug 6, 1997 US and Canada: $14M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14M - 40
Dec 23, 1997 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.2M - 41
Apr 4, 1997 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12M - 42
Feb 7, 1997 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.5M - 43
Apr 4, 1997 US and Canada: $11.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.4M - 44
Aug 22, 1997 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.9M - 45
Dec 12, 1997 US and Canada: $10.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.7M - 46
Jun 6, 1997 US and Canada: $10.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.1M - 47
Apr 11, 1997 US and Canada: $9.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.5M - 48
Jan 24, 1997 US and Canada: $9.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.4M - 49
Jul 11, 1997 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.3M - 50
Jul 2, 1997 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1997?
Of the top 10, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) earned the biggest share at home (80% in the US & Canada), while The Full Monty (1997) made 82% of its gross abroad. Across all 109 films, $2.1B (58%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Men in Black (1997) $589.4M $250.7M US & Canada · 43% $338.7M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 As Good as It Gets (1997) $314.2M $148.5M US & Canada · 47% $165.7M elsewhere · 53%
- 3 Liar Liar (1997) $302.7M $181.4M US & Canada · 60% $121.3M elsewhere · 40%
- 4 My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) $299.3M $127.1M US & Canada · 42% $172.2M elsewhere · 58%
- 5 The Full Monty (1997) $257.9M $46M US & Canada · 18% $212M elsewhere · 82%
- 6 Bean (1997) $251.2M $45.3M US & Canada · 18% $205.9M elsewhere · 82%
- 7 Flubber (1997) $178M $93M US & Canada · 52% $85M elsewhere · 48%
- 8 George of the Jungle (1997) $174.5M $105.3M US & Canada · 60% $69.2M elsewhere · 40%
- 9 Mousehunt (1997) $122.4M $61.9M US & Canada · 51% $60.5M elsewhere · 49%
- 10 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) $67.7M $53.9M US & Canada · 80% $13.8M elsewhere · 20%
Gross bands
How Many 1997 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
9 of 109 films crossed $100M and took $2.5B between them, 69% of the total. 63 films, 58% of the list, earned under $10M.
16% 52% 28%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, <1% of the list $589.4M · 16% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 8 films, 7% of the list $1.9B · 52% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 37 films, 34% of the list $1B · 28% of the gross
- Under $10M 63 films, 58% of the list $104.8M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1997 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $883M from 10 films, led by Men in Black (1997). October was the quietest month ($52.9M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) $91.9M Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)
- February Feb Vegas Vacation (1997) $117.1M Vegas Vacation (1997)
- March Mar Liar Liar (1997) $409.9M Liar Liar (1997)
- April Apr Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) $119.5M Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
- May May Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) $151.9M Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
- June Jun My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) $309.7M My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
- July Jul Men in Black (1997) $883M Men in Black (1997)
- August Aug The Full Monty (1997) $373.7M The Full Monty (1997)
- September Sep In & Out (1997) $110.7M In & Out (1997)
- October Oct An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) $52.9M An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)
- November Nov Bean (1997) $429.5M Bean (1997)
- December Dec As Good as It Gets (1997) $570.3M As Good as It Gets (1997)
Last 10 years
How Does 1997 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1997 earned the most: $3.6B from 109 films, led by Men in Black (1997).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 101 films | 101 | $3B | – | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) $329.8M |
| 1989 110 films · +5% | 110 | $3.1B | +5% | Back to the Future Part II (1989) $332.9M |
| 1990 91 films · +13% | 91 | $3.5B | +13% | Ghost (1990) $505.7M |
| 1991 108 films · −33% | 108 | $2.4B | −33% | Hook (1991) $300.9M |
| 1992 76 films · −10% | 76 | $2.1B | −10% | Sister Act (1992) $231.6M |
| 1993 90 films · +27% | 90 | $2.7B | +27% | Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) $441.3M |
| 1994 118 films · +32% | 118 | $3.6B | +32% | True Lies (1994) $378.9M |
| 1995 109 films · −15% | 109 | $3B | −15% | Toy Story (1995) $394.4M |
| 1996 120 films · +4% | 120 | $3.2B | +4% | 101 Dalmatians (1996) $320.7M |
| 1997 109 films · +15% | 109 | $3.6B | +15% | Men in Black (1997) $589.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Comedy Movies Speak in 1997?
English-language comedy films took $3.1B across 94 films, 86% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language comedy films ($36.2M) and Cantonese-language comedy films ($18.8M).
1997 Comedy Box Office by Language
- English $3.1B94 films · #1 Men in Black (1997)
-
Chinese $36.2M2 films · #1 Addicted to Love (1997) -
Cantonese $18.8M1 film · #1 Mr. Nice Guy (1997) -
Japanese $2.3M1 film · #1 Crayon Shin-chan: Pursuit of the Balls of Darkness (1997) -
French $535.9K2 films · #1 Marius and Jeannette (1997) -
German $214.1K1 film · #1 Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1997) -
Spanish $15.7K1 film · #1 Esmeralda Comes by Night (1997)
Archive
Comedy Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $16.1B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $40.8B
2010s 10 years · $118B
- 2019 $16.1B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $11.8B #1 Incredibles 2 (2018)
- 2017 $12.9B #1 Despicable Me 3 (2017)
- 2016 $12.4B #1 Finding Dory (2016)
- 2015 $14.3B #1 Minions (2015)
- 2014 $9.3B #1 Big Hero 6 (2014)
- 2013 $10.7B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $10.2B #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- 2011 $9.8B #1 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
- 2010 $10.4B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $79.4B
- 2009 $9.2B #1 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
- 2008 $9.3B #1 Mamma Mia! (2008)
- 2007 $10.3B #1 Shrek the Third (2007)
- 2006 $8.4B #1 Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
- 2005 $8B #1 Madagascar (2005)
- 2004 $7.5B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $8.1B #1 Finding Nemo (2003)
- 2002 $6.4B #1 Men in Black II (2002)
- 2001 $6.6B #1 Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- 2000 $5.7B #1 What Women Want (2000)
1990s 10 years · $33.7B
- 1999 $5.4B #1 Toy Story 2 (1999)
- 1998 $4.2B #1 There's Something About Mary (1998)
- 1997 $3.6B #1 Men in Black (1997)
- 1996 $3.2B #1 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- 1995 $3B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $3.6B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $2.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $2.1B #1 Sister Act (1992)
- 1991 $2.4B #1 Hook (1991)
- 1990 $3.5B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $17.5B
- 1989 $3.1B #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- 1988 $3B #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $2.1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $2B #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- 1985 $1.5B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $1.9B #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $979.6M #1 Terms of Endearment (1983)
- 1982 $1.1B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $752.2M #1 Arthur (1981)
- 1980 $1.1B #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.2B
- 1979 $823.9M #1 1941 (1979)
- 1978 $568.8M #1 Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- 1977 $509.1M #1 Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- 1976 $181.6M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $301.6M #1 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- 1974 $309.1M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $313.5M #1 The Sting (1973)
- 1972 $19.3M #1 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)
- 1971 $10.7M #1 Gentlemen of Fortune (1971)
- 1970 $209.7M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $554.7M
- 1969 $66.3M #1 The Love Bug (1969)
- 1968 $98.4M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $162.1M #1 The Graduate (1967)
- 1966 $177.9K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $364.7K #1 Do Not Disturb (1965)
- 1964 $143.3M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $61.9M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $1.8M #1 Copacabana Palace (1962)
- 1961 $1.4M #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- 1960 $19.1M #1 The Apartment (1960)
1950s 10 years · $162M
- 1959 $231.6K #1 Some Like It Hot (1959)
- 1958 $2.1M #1 Paris Holiday (1958)
- 1957 $46.4K #1 Ali Baba Bunny (1957)
- 1956 $51.1M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $94M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $3.1M #1 White Christmas (1954)
- 1953 $9M #1 Father of Four (1953)
- 1952 $2.2M #1 Singin' in the Rain (1952)
- 1951 $56.4K #1 The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
- 1950 $16K #1 Rabbit of Seville (1950)
1940s 10 years · $188M
- 1949 $217.9K #1 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
- 1948 $29.7K #1 Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948)
- 1947 $1.1M #1 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- 1946 $37.7M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $21.9M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $31.7K #1 What’s Cookin’ Doc? (1944)
- 1943 $1.3M #1 The Marry-Go-Round (1943)
- 1942 $723 #1 The Palm Beach Story (1942)
- 1941 $2.3M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $123.3M #1 Pinocchio (1940)
1930s 10 years · $31.5M
- 1939 $26.1M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $18K #1 Bringing Up Baby (1938)
- 1937 $19.3K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $4.7M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $532K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $43.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $108.6K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $12.2K #1 Fanny (1932)
- 1931 $8.3K #1 Marius (1931)
- 1930 $1K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
FAQ
Comedy 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 109 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in 1997?
Men in Black (1997) leads with $589.4M worldwide, $250.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come As Good as It Gets (1997) at $314.2M and Liar Liar (1997) at $302.7M.
How much did comedy movies released in 1997 earn?
109 comedy films released in 1997 report a worldwide gross, $3.6B in all, or $33.2M per film on average. 1996 releases took $3.2B.
How many comedy movies released in 1997 made $1 billion?
None. 9 films crossed $100 million, led by Men in Black (1997) with $589.4M.
How is the 1997 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 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 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.