#1 of 5 #1 comedy movie of May 2001
2001 · Adventure, Fantasy
$489M worldwide · 100% of the chart's total
$268.7M US & Canada · 55% $220.3M elsewhere · 45%
Comedy box office · May 2001
Comedy Box Office, May 2001: Top-Grossing Releases
Shrek (2001) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in May 2001, with $489M worldwide, ahead of Sordid Lives (2001) at $1.1M and About Adam (2001) at $803K. 5 comedy films released in May 2001 report a worldwide gross, $491.2M in all, 55% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 7% on April 2001, whose releases took $457.1M. By language, English leads with $2.1M across 3 comedy releases.
- May 2001 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $491.2M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs April 2001
- +7%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of May 2001?
Shrek (2001) leads with $489M, 100% of the total. The top 5 together took $491.2M, almost all of what the 5 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 May 2001, 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 May 2001.
- 1 May 18, 2001 US and Canada: $268.7M Rest of the world: $220.3M Worldwide: $489M
- 2 May 11, 2001 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M
- 3 May 9, 2001 US and Canada: $159.7K Rest of the world: $643.3K Worldwide: $803K
- 4 May 18, 2001 US and Canada: $17.1K Rest of the world: $211.7K Worldwide: $228.8K
- 5 May 27, 2001 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $45.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in May 2001?
Of the top 5, Sordid Lives (2001) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Fast Food Fast Women (2001) made 93% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $270M (55%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 5 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Shrek (2001) $489M $268.7M US & Canada · 55% $220.3M elsewhere · 45%
- 2 Sordid Lives (2001) $1.1M $1.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 About Adam (2001) $803K $159.7K US & Canada · 20% $643.3K elsewhere · 80%
- 4 Fast Food Fast Women (2001) $228.8K $17.1K US & Canada · 7% $211.7K elsewhere · 93%
- 5 Barking Dogs Never Bite (2001) $45.9K No US & Canada figure reported
By release week
Which Week of May 2001 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 20 (May 13–19) took $489.2M, led by Shrek (2001). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 29–May 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 19 Wk 19 May 6–12 Sordid Lives (2001) $1.9M Sordid Lives (2001)
- Week 20 Wk 20 May 13–19 Shrek (2001) $489.2M Shrek (2001)
- Week 21 Wk 21 May 20–26 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 22 Wk 22 May 27–Jun 2 Barking Dogs Never Bite (2001) $45.9K Barking Dogs Never Bite (2001)
Earlier years
How Does May 2001 Compare With May in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, May 1999 earned the most: $812.9M from 9 films, led by The Mummy (1999). May 2001 took $491.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1992 5 films | 5 | $278.7M | – | Sister Act (1992) $231.6M |
| May 1993 6 films · +17% | 6 | $326.8M | +17% | Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) $133.8M |
| May 1994 10 films · +109% | 10 | $682M | +109% | The Flintstones (1994) $341.6M |
| May 1995 7 films · −36% | 7 | $438.1M | −36% | Casper (1995) $288.1M |
| May 1996 9 films · −83% | 9 | $76.2M | −83% | Eddie (1996) $31.4M |
| May 1997 10 films · +99% | 10 | $151.9M | +99% | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) $67.7M |
| May 1998 13 films · −55% | 13 | $68.5M | −55% | Bulworth (1998) $29.2M |
| May 1999 9 films · +1087% | 9 | $812.9M | +1087% | The Mummy (1999) $417.6M |
| May 2000 12 films · −65% | 12 | $280.7M | −65% | Road Trip (2000) $119.8M |
| May 2001 5 films · +75% | 5 | $491.2M | +75% | Shrek (2001) $489M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 2001, Month by Month
The months of 2001 with their totals: August leads with $1B, led by Rush Hour 2 (2001).
- January $147.6M #1 The Wedding Planner (2001)
- February $273.6M #1 Down to Earth (2001)
- March $642.9M #1 Spy Kids (2001)
- April $457.1M #1 Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
- May $491.2M #1 Shrek (2001)
- June $489.3M #1 Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)
- July $728.9M #1 Cats & Dogs (2001)
- August $1B #1 Rush Hour 2 (2001)
- September $129.6M #1 Zoolander (2001)
- October $254.9M #1 Serendipity (2001)
- November $997.7M #1 Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- December $946M #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office May 2001: 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 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in May 2001?
Shrek (2001) leads with $489M worldwide, $268.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Sordid Lives (2001) at $1.1M and About Adam (2001) at $803K.
How much did comedy movies released in May 2001 earn?
5 comedy films released in May 2001 report a worldwide gross, $491.2M in all, or $98.2M per film on average. April 2001 releases took $457.1M.
How many comedy movies released in May 2001 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Shrek (2001) with $489M.
How is the May 2001 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 May 2001. 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 May 2001 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.