#1 of 9 #1 comedy movie of December 1997
1997 · Drama, Comedy
$314.2M worldwide · 55% of the chart's total
$148.5M US & Canada · 47% $165.7M elsewhere · 53%
Comedy box office · December 1997
Comedy Box Office, December 1997: Top-Grossing Releases
As Good as It Gets (1997) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in December 1997, with $314.2M worldwide, ahead of Mousehunt (1997) at $122.4M and Wag the Dog (1997) at $64.3M. 9 comedy films released in December 1997 report a worldwide gross, $570.3M in all, 54% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 33% on November 1997, whose releases took $429.5M. By language, English leads with $570.3M across 9 comedy releases.
- December 1997 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $570.3M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs November 1997
- +33%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of December 1997?
As Good as It Gets (1997) leads with $314.2M, 55% of the total. The top 5 together took $544.9M, 96% of what all 9 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 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 December 1997.
- 1 Dec 23, 1997 US and Canada: $148.5M Rest of the world: $165.7M Worldwide: $314.2M
- 2 Dec 19, 1997 US and Canada: $61.9M Rest of the world: $60.5M Worldwide: $122.4M
- 3 Dec 25, 1997 US and Canada: $43.1M Rest of the world: $21.2M Worldwide: $64.3M
- 4 Dec 5, 1997 US and Canada: $22.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.6M
- 5 Dec 25, 1997 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M
- 6
Dec 23, 1997 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.2M - 7
Dec 12, 1997 US and Canada: $10.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.7M - 8
Dec 26, 1997 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M - 9
Dec 12, 1997 US and Canada: $13.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1997?
Of the top 9, The Borrowers (1997) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while As Good as It Gets (1997) made 53% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $310.7M (54%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 9 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 As Good as It Gets (1997) $314.2M $148.5M US & Canada · 47% $165.7M elsewhere · 53%
- 2 Mousehunt (1997) $122.4M $61.9M US & Canada · 51% $60.5M elsewhere · 49%
- 3 Wag the Dog (1997) $64.3M $43.1M US & Canada · 67% $21.2M elsewhere · 33%
- 4 The Borrowers (1997) $22.6M $22.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Mr. Magoo (1997) $21.4M $21.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1997) $12.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Deconstructing Harry (1997) $10.7M $10.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Afterglow (1997) $2.5M $2.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Hugo Pool (1997) $13.3K $13.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1997 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 52 (Dec 21–27) took $414.5M, led by As Good as It Gets (1997). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 The Borrowers (1997) $22.6M The Borrowers (1997)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 Deconstructing Harry (1997) $10.7M Deconstructing Harry (1997)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 Mousehunt (1997) $122.4M Mousehunt (1997)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 As Good as It Gets (1997) $414.5M As Good as It Gets (1997)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1997 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). December 1997 took $570.3M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1988 8 films | 8 | $535.8M | – | 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 |
| December 1997 9 films · −20% | 9 | $570.3M | −20% | As Good as It Gets (1997) $314.2M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1997, Month by Month
The months of 1997 with their totals: July leads with $883M, led by Men in Black (1997).
- January $91.9M #1 Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)
- February $117.1M #1 Vegas Vacation (1997)
- March $409.9M #1 Liar Liar (1997)
- April $119.5M #1 Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
- May $151.9M #1 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
- June $309.7M #1 My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
- July $883M #1 Men in Black (1997)
- August $373.7M #1 The Full Monty (1997)
- September $110.7M #1 In & Out (1997)
- October $52.9M #1 An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)
- November $429.5M #1 Bean (1997)
- December $570.3M #1 As Good as It Gets (1997)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office December 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 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in December 1997?
As Good as It Gets (1997) leads with $314.2M worldwide, $148.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Mousehunt (1997) at $122.4M and Wag the Dog (1997) at $64.3M.
How much did comedy movies released in December 1997 earn?
9 comedy films released in December 1997 report a worldwide gross, $570.3M in all, or $63.4M per film on average. November 1997 releases took $429.5M.
How many comedy movies released in December 1997 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by As Good as It Gets (1997) with $314.2M.
How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.