#1 of 457 #1 comedy movie of 2012
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
2012 · Adventure, Comedy
$877.2M worldwide · 9% of the chart's total
$161.3M US & Canada · 18% $715.9M elsewhere · 82%
Comedy box office · 2012
Comedy Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing Comedy Movies
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in 2012, with $877.2M worldwide, ahead of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) at $746.9M and Men in Black III (2012) at $654.2M. 457 comedy films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $10.2B in all, 35% of it from the US & Canada. 23 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 5% on 2011, whose releases took $9.8B. By language, English leads with $8B across 171 comedy releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 457
- combined worldwide
- $10.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 23
- vs 2011
- +5%
#1 of 457 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of 2012?
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) leads with $877.2M, 9% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.4B, 33% of what all 457 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 2012, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 457. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2012.
- 1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)Jul 13, 2012 US and Canada: $161.3M Rest of the world: $715.9M Worldwide: $877.2M
Jul 13, 2012 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Animation $877.2M worldwide - 2 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $216.4M Rest of the world: $530.5M Worldwide: $746.9M Jun 8, 2012 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Animation $746.9M worldwide
- 3 May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $179M Rest of the world: $475.2M Worldwide: $654.2M
- 4 Jun 29, 2012 US and Canada: $218.8M Rest of the world: $330.6M Worldwide: $549.4M
- 5 Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $237.3M Rest of the world: $301.7M Worldwide: $539M
- 6
Nov 2, 2012 US and Canada: $189.4M Rest of the world: $281.8M Worldwide: $471.2M - 7
May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: $416.4M Worldwide: $426.6M - 8
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $148.4M Rest of the world: $210.1M Worldwide: $358.5M - 9
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $79.7M Rest of the world: $165.8M Worldwide: $245.5M - 10
Nov 16, 2012 US and Canada: $132.1M Rest of the world: $104.3M Worldwide: $236.4M - 11
Apr 6, 2012 US and Canada: $57M Rest of the world: $178M Worldwide: $235M - 12
Mar 16, 2012 US and Canada: $138.4M Rest of the world: $63.1M Worldwide: $201.6M - 13
Mar 30, 2012 US and Canada: $64.9M Rest of the world: $118.1M Worldwide: $183M - 14
May 16, 2012 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $119.7M Worldwide: $179.4M - 15
Jun 29, 2012 US and Canada: $113.8M Rest of the world: $53.5M Worldwide: $167.3M - 16
Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: $54.8M Rest of the world: $101.7M Worldwide: $156.5M - 17
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $46.4M Rest of the world: $104.1M Worldwide: $150.5M - 18
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $77.3M Rest of the world: $42.5M Worldwide: $119.8M - 19
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $65.3M Rest of the world: $50.3M Worldwide: $115.6M - 20
Aug 8, 2012 US and Canada: $63.5M Rest of the world: $50.7M Worldwide: $114.3M - 21
Aug 17, 2012 US and Canada: $56M Rest of the world: $51.1M Worldwide: $107.1M - 22
Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: $86.9M Rest of the world: $18M Worldwide: $104.9M - 23
Mar 2, 2012 US and Canada: $54.7M Rest of the world: $48M Worldwide: $102.7M - 24
Apr 20, 2012 US and Canada: $91.5M Rest of the world: $4.5M Worldwide: $96.1M - 25
Sep 7, 2012 US and Canada: $36K Rest of the world: $88.8M Worldwide: $88.8M - 26
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $67.5M Rest of the world: $20.7M Worldwide: $88.2M - 27
Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: $35.3M Rest of the world: $50.3M Worldwide: $85.6M - 28
What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $41.2M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $84.4M May 18, 2012 · English · Drama, Comedy, Romance $84.4M worldwide - 29
Aug 3, 2012 US and Canada: $49M Rest of the world: $28.2M Worldwide: $77.2M - 30
Apr 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $74.3M - 31
Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $16.7M Rest of the world: $56.6M Worldwide: $73.3M - 32
Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $45.3M Rest of the world: $27.8M Worldwide: $73.1M - 33
May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $45.5M Rest of the world: $22.8M Worldwide: $68.3M - 34
Jul 27, 2012 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: $32.9M Worldwide: $68.3M - 35
Jun 29, 2012 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $66.9M - 36
Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $60.8M - 37
Dec 28, 2012 US and Canada: $18.4M Rest of the world: $41.1M Worldwide: $59.5M - 38
Jun 15, 2012 US and Canada: $38.5M Rest of the world: $20.9M Worldwide: $59.4M - 39
Jun 15, 2012 US and Canada: $36.9M Rest of the world: $20.8M Worldwide: $57.7M - 40
Aug 15, 2012 US and Canada: $51.9M Rest of the world: $4.2M Worldwide: $56M - 41
Apr 13, 2012 US and Canada: $44.3M Rest of the world: $10.5M Worldwide: $54.8M - 42
Apr 27, 2012 US and Canada: $28.8M Rest of the world: $25.3M Worldwide: $54.2M - 43
HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012)Apr 3, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.1M
Apr 3, 2012 · French · Family, Adventure, Comedy $50.1M worldwide - 44
Tad, the Lost Explorer (2012)Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.5M
Aug 10, 2012 · Spanish · Animation, Adventure, Family $49.5M worldwide - 45
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: $37.1M Rest of the world: $4.7M Worldwide: $41.9M - 46
Jan 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.9M - 47
Jan 27, 2012 US and Canada: $26.4M Rest of the world: $11.7M Worldwide: $38.1M - 48
Feb 24, 2012 US and Canada: $35M Rest of the world: $553.4K Worldwide: $35.6M - 49
Mar 9, 2012 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: $25.5M Worldwide: $34.6M - 50
Dec 27, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $33.7M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2012?
Of the top 10, Silver Linings Playbook (2012) earned the biggest share at home (56% in the US & Canada), while The Intouchables (2012) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 457 films, $3.6B (35%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) $877.2M $161.3M US & Canada · 18% $715.9M elsewhere · 82%
- 2 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) $746.9M $216.4M US & Canada · 29% $530.5M elsewhere · 71%
- 3 Men in Black III (2012) $654.2M $179M US & Canada · 27% $475.2M elsewhere · 73%
- 4 Ted (2012) $549.4M $218.8M US & Canada · 40% $330.6M elsewhere · 60%
- 5 Brave (2012) $539M $237.3M US & Canada · 44% $301.7M elsewhere · 56%
- 6 Wreck-It Ralph (2012) $471.2M $189.4M US & Canada · 40% $281.8M elsewhere · 60%
- 7 The Intouchables (2012) $426.6M $10.2M US & Canada · 2% $416.4M elsewhere · 98%
- 8 Hotel Transylvania (2012) $358.5M $148.4M US & Canada · 41% $210.1M elsewhere · 59%
- 9 Dark Shadows (2012) $245.5M $79.7M US & Canada · 32% $165.8M elsewhere · 68%
- 10 Silver Linings Playbook (2012) $236.4M $132.1M US & Canada · 56% $104.3M elsewhere · 44%
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
23 of 457 films crossed $100M and took $7B between them, 69% of the total. 356 films, 78% of the list, earned under $10M.
33% 36% 25%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 5 films, 1% of the list $3.4B · 33% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 18 films, 4% of the list $3.7B · 36% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 78 films, 17% of the list $2.6B · 25% of the gross
- Under $10M 356 films, 78% of the list $621.6M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $2.4B from 45 films, led by Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012). January was the quietest month ($226.8M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Always: Sunset on Third Street ’64 (2012) $226.8M Always: Sunset on Third Street ’64 (2012)
- February Feb This Means War (2012) $280M This Means War (2012)
- March Mar 21 Jump Street (2012) $723.9M 21 Jump Street (2012)
- April Apr American Reunion (2012) $658M American Reunion (2012)
- May May Men in Black III (2012) $1.9B Men in Black III (2012)
- June Jun Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) $2.4B Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- July Jul Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) $1B Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- August Aug Hope Springs (2012) $660.1M Hope Springs (2012)
- September Sep Hotel Transylvania (2012) $645.1M Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- October Oct Frankenweenie (2012) $350.6M Frankenweenie (2012)
- November Nov Wreck-It Ralph (2012) $849.4M Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
- December Dec Parental Guidance (2012) $491.3M Parental Guidance (2012)
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2010 earned the most: $10.4B from 399 films, led by Toy Story 3 (2010). 2012 took $10.2B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 284 films | 284 | $8.1B | – | Finding Nemo (2003) $941.6M |
| 2004 327 films · −8% | 327 | $7.5B | −8% | Shrek 2 (2004) $932.5M |
| 2005 319 films · +7% | 319 | $8B | +7% | Madagascar (2005) $542.1M |
| 2006 387 films · +5% | 387 | $8.4B | +5% | Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) $667.1M |
| 2007 447 films · +23% | 447 | $10.3B | +23% | Shrek the Third (2007) $808.3M |
| 2008 386 films · −10% | 386 | $9.3B | −10% | Mamma Mia! (2008) $703.2M |
| 2009 396 films · −1% | 396 | $9.2B | −1% | Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) $886.7M |
| 2010 399 films · +14% | 399 | $10.4B | +14% | Toy Story 3 (2010) $1.1B |
| 2011 427 films · −7% | 427 | $9.8B | −7% | Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) $665.7M |
| 2012 457 films · +5% | 457 | $10.2B | +5% | Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) $877.2M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Comedy Movies Speak in 2012?
English-language comedy films took $8B across 171 films, 78% of the total, ahead of French-language comedy films ($648.3M) and Japanese-language comedy films ($245M).
2012 Comedy Box Office by Language
- English $8B171 films · #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- French $648.3M38 films · #1 The Intouchables (2012)
-
Japanese $245M17 films · #1 Thermae Romae (2012) -
Korean $225.3M18 films · #1 The Grand Heist (2012) -
Hindi $130M17 films · #1 Rowdy Rathore (2012) - Spanish $85.3M18 films · #1 Tad, the Lost Explorer (2012)
-
Russian $76M8 films · #1 Three Heroes on Distant Shores (2012) -
German $71.2M19 films · #1 Turkish for Beginners (2012) -
Italian $65.6M16 films · #1 We Have a Pope (2012) -
Portuguese $41.2M8 films · #1 Till Luck Do Us Part (2012)
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 · $117.9B
- 2019 $16.1B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $11.8B #1 Incredibles 2 (2018)
- 2017 $12.9B #1 Despicable Me 3 (2017)
- 2016 $12.3B #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 $290.9M #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 · $552.3M
- 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 $355.2K #1 Do Not Disturb (1965)
- 1964 $140.9M #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 · $149.8M
- 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 $42.2M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $94M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $3.1M #1 White Christmas (1954)
- 1953 $5.7M #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 · $185.7M
- 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 $330 #1 The Major and the Minor (1942)
- 1941 $31K #1 The Lady Eve (1941)
- 1940 $123.3M #1 Pinocchio (1940)
1930s 10 years · $27.9M
- 1939 $26.1M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $18K #1 Bringing Up Baby (1938)
- 1937 $19.3K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $35K #1 Top Hat (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 2012: 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 457 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in 2012?
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) leads with $877.2M worldwide, $161.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) at $746.9M and Men in Black III (2012) at $654.2M.
How much did comedy movies released in 2012 earn?
457 comedy films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $10.2B in all, or $22.4M per film on average. 2011 releases took $9.8B.
How many comedy movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
None. 23 films crossed $100 million, led by Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) with $877.2M.
How is the 2012 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 2012. 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 2012 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.