#1 of 31 #1 comedy movie of May 2012
2012 · Action, Sci-Fi
$654.2M worldwide · 34% of the chart's total
$179M US & Canada · 27% $475.2M elsewhere · 73%
Comedy box office · May 2012
Comedy Box Office, May 2012: Top-Grossing Releases
Men in Black III (2012) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in May 2012, with $654.2M worldwide, ahead of The Intouchables (2012) at $426.6M and Dark Shadows (2012) at $245.5M. 31 comedy films released in May 2012 report a worldwide gross, $1.9B in all, 25% of it from the US & Canada. 5 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 190% on April 2012, whose releases took $658M. By language, English leads with $1.4B across 15 comedy releases.
- May 2012 releases with a gross
- 31
- combined worldwide
- $1.9B
- films crossed $100M
- 5
- vs April 2012
- +190%
#1 of 31 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of May 2012?
Men in Black III (2012) leads with $654.2M, 34% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.7B, 87% of what all 31 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 2012, 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 2012.
- 1 May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $179M Rest of the world: $475.2M Worldwide: $654.2M
- 2 May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: $416.4M Worldwide: $426.6M
- 3 May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $79.7M Rest of the world: $165.8M Worldwide: $245.5M
- 4 May 16, 2012 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $119.7M Worldwide: $179.4M
- 5 May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $46.4M Rest of the world: $104.1M Worldwide: $150.5M
- 6
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 - 7
May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $45.5M Rest of the world: $22.8M Worldwide: $68.3M - 8
May 17, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.4M - 9
May 5, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.2M - 10
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: $7.8M Worldwide: $9.6M - 11
May 30, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.2M - 12
May 6, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.6M - 13
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $532K Rest of the world: $7M Worldwide: $7.5M - 14
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $15.4K Rest of the world: $6.8M Worldwide: $6.8M - 15
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $4.7M - 16
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: $716.8K Worldwide: $1.7M - 17
May 10, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 18
May 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 19
May 10, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $857.7K - 20
May 9, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $701.4K - 21
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $122.6K Rest of the world: $271.3K Worldwide: $393.9K - 22
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $285.1K - 23
May 9, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $283.2K - 24
Nobody Else But You (Poupoupidou) (2012)May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $43K Rest of the world: $107.1K Worldwide: $150.2K
May 11, 2012 · French · Mystery, Comedy, Crime $150.2K worldwide - 25
May 1, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $147.9K - 26
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $6.3K Rest of the world: $126.5K Worldwide: $132.8K - 27
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $110.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $110.3K - 28
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $30.9K Rest of the world: $10.7K Worldwide: $41.6K - 29
May 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12K - 30
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $8.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6K - 31
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $5.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in May 2012?
Of the top 10, Moonrise Kingdom (2012) earned the biggest share at home (67% in the US & Canada), while The Intouchables (2012) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 31 films, $468M (25%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Men in Black III (2012) $654.2M $179M US & Canada · 27% $475.2M elsewhere · 73%
- 2 The Intouchables (2012) $426.6M $10.2M US & Canada · 2% $416.4M elsewhere · 98%
- 3 Dark Shadows (2012) $245.5M $79.7M US & Canada · 32% $165.8M elsewhere · 68%
- 4 The Dictator (2012) $179.4M $59.7M US & Canada · 33% $119.7M elsewhere · 67%
- 5 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) $150.5M $46.4M US & Canada · 31% $104.1M elsewhere · 69%
- 6 What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) $84.4M $41.2M US & Canada · 49% $43.2M elsewhere · 51%
- 7 Moonrise Kingdom (2012) $68.3M $45.5M US & Canada · 67% $22.8M elsewhere · 33%
- 8 All About My Wife (2012) $29.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Space Brothers (2012) $19.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Hysteria (2012) $9.6M $1.8M US & Canada · 19% $7.8M elsewhere · 81%
Gross bands
How Many May 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
5 of 31 films crossed $100M and took $1.7B between them, 87% of the total. 22 films, 71% of the list, earned under $10M.
34% 52% 11%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 3% of the list $654.2M · 34% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 4 films, 13% of the list $1B · 52% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 13% of the list $201.3M · 11% of the gross
- Under $10M 22 films, 71% of the list $52M · 3% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of May 2012 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 21 (May 20–26) took $1.1B, led by Men in Black III (2012). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 29–May 5 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) $178.5M The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
- Week 19 Wk 19 May 6–12 Dark Shadows (2012) $269.8M Dark Shadows (2012)
- Week 20 Wk 20 May 13–19 The Dictator (2012) $303.9M The Dictator (2012)
- Week 21 Wk 21 May 20–26 Men in Black III (2012) $1.1B Men in Black III (2012)
- Week 22 Wk 22 May 27–Jun 2 Runway Cop (2012) $8.2M Runway Cop (2012)
Earlier years
How Does May 2012 Compare With May in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, May 2011 earned the most: $1.9B from 20 films, led by Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011). May 2012 took $1.9B.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2003 21 films | 21 | $1.7B | – | Finding Nemo (2003) $941.6M |
| May 2004 22 films · −36% | 22 | $1.1B | −36% | Shrek 2 (2004) $932.5M |
| May 2005 30 films · −10% | 30 | $985.3M | −10% | Madagascar (2005) $542.1M |
| May 2006 20 films · −56% | 20 | $434.3M | −56% | Over the Hedge (2006) $339.8M |
| May 2007 29 films · +108% | 29 | $903.6M | +108% | Shrek the Third (2007) $808.3M |
| May 2008 22 films · −13% | 22 | $782.7M | −13% | Sex and the City (2008) $418.8M |
| May 2009 21 films · +81% | 21 | $1.4B | +81% | Up (2009) $735.1M |
| May 2010 35 films · −12% | 35 | $1.2B | −12% | Shrek Forever After (2010) $752.6M |
| May 2011 20 films · +54% | 20 | $1.9B | +54% | Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) $665.7M |
| May 2012 31 films · ±0% | 31 | $1.9B | ±0% | Men in Black III (2012) $654.2M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Comedy Movies Speak in May 2012?
English-language comedy films took $1.4B across 15 films, 73% of the total, ahead of French-language comedy films ($427M) and Korean-language comedy films ($37.6M).
May 2012 Comedy Box Office by Language
- English $1.4B15 films · #1 Men in Black III (2012)
- French $427M4 films · #1 The Intouchables (2012)
-
Korean $37.6M2 films · #1 All About My Wife (2012) -
Japanese $19.2M1 film · #1 Space Brothers (2012) -
German $10.1M3 films · #1 Hanni & Nanni 2 (2012) -
Arabic $7.5M1 film · #1 Where Do We Go Now? (2012) -
Greek $147.9K1 film · #1 Poker Face (2012) -
Spanish $110.3K1 film · #1 The Perfect Family (2012) -
Tamil $41.6K1 film · #1 Kalakalappu (2012)
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 2012, Month by Month
The months of 2012 with their totals: June leads with $2.4B, led by Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012).
- January $226.8M #1 Always: Sunset on Third Street ’64 (2012)
- February $280M #1 This Means War (2012)
- March $723.9M #1 21 Jump Street (2012)
- April $658M #1 American Reunion (2012)
- May $1.9B #1 Men in Black III (2012)
- June $2.4B #1 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- July $1B #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- August $660.1M #1 Hope Springs (2012)
- September $645.1M #1 Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- October $350.6M #1 Frankenweenie (2012)
- November $849.4M #1 Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
- December $491.3M #1 Parental Guidance (2012)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office May 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 31 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in May 2012?
Men in Black III (2012) leads with $654.2M worldwide, $179M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Intouchables (2012) at $426.6M and Dark Shadows (2012) at $245.5M.
How much did comedy movies released in May 2012 earn?
31 comedy films released in May 2012 report a worldwide gross, $1.9B in all, or $61.6M per film on average. April 2012 releases took $658M.
How many comedy movies released in May 2012 made $1 billion?
None. 5 films crossed $100 million, led by Men in Black III (2012) with $654.2M.
How is the May 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 May 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 May 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.