#1 of 46 #1 crime movie of 1991
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
1991 · Thriller, Crime
$272.7M worldwide · 16% of the chart's total
$130.7M US & Canada · 48% $142M elsewhere · 52%
Crime box office · 1991
Crime Box Office 1991: Highest-Grossing Crime Movies
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is the highest-grossing crime movie released in 1991, with $272.7M worldwide, ahead of JFK (1991) at $205.4M and Cape Fear (1991) at $182.3M. 46 crime films released in 1991 report a worldwide gross, $1.7B in all, 68% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 18% on 1990, whose releases took $2.1B. By language, English leads with $1.7B across 41 crime releases.
- 1991 releases with a gross
- 46
- combined worldwide
- $1.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs 1990
- −18%
#1 of 46 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Crime Hits of 1991?
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) leads with $272.7M, 16% of the total. The top 5 together took $899.7M, 53% of what all 46 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 Crime Release of 1991, 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 1991.
- 1 Feb 13, 1991 US and Canada: $130.7M Rest of the world: $142M Worldwide: $272.7M
- 2 Dec 20, 1991 US and Canada: $70.4M Rest of the world: $135M Worldwide: $205.4M
- 3 Nov 13, 1991 US and Canada: $79.1M Rest of the world: $103.2M Worldwide: $182.3M
- 4 May 24, 1991 US and Canada: $77.9M Rest of the world: $74.5M Worldwide: $152.4M
- 5 Jun 28, 1991 US and Canada: $86.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $86.9M
- 6
Jul 12, 1991 US and Canada: $43.2M Rest of the world: $40.3M Worldwide: $83.5M - 7
Mar 8, 1991 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: $39.7M Worldwide: $65.6M - 8
Dec 13, 1991 US and Canada: $59.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $59.5M - 9
Jul 12, 1991 US and Canada: $57.5M Rest of the world: $28.6K Worldwide: $57.5M - 10
Dec 20, 1991 US and Canada: $49.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.1M - 11
Mar 8, 1991 US and Canada: $47.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.6M - 12
May 24, 1991 US and Canada: $45.4M Rest of the world: $113K Worldwide: $45.5M - 13
Dec 25, 1991 US and Canada: $33.2M Rest of the world: $7.7M Worldwide: $41M - 14
Apr 12, 1991 US and Canada: $39.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.7M - 15
Aug 9, 1991 US and Canada: $30.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.1M - 16
Aug 9, 1991 US and Canada: $22.6M Rest of the world: $2.3M Worldwide: $24.9M - 17
Jan 11, 1991 US and Canada: $24.1M Rest of the world: $193K Worldwide: $24.3M - 18
Apr 26, 1991 US and Canada: $23.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.6M - 19
Oct 4, 1991 US and Canada: $21.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.8M - 20
May 10, 1991 US and Canada: $21.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.1M - 21
Jul 26, 1991 US and Canada: $20.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.2M - 22
Nov 1, 1991 US and Canada: $15.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.6M - 23
Apr 26, 1991 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 24
Mar 15, 1991 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M - 25
May 3, 1991 US and Canada: $11.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.3M - 26
Jul 26, 1991 US and Canada: $11.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.1M - 27
May 3, 1991 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.4M - 28
May 17, 1991 US and Canada: $9.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.2M - 29
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)Aug 23, 1991 US and Canada: $7.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.4M
Aug 23, 1991 · English · Action, Drama, Thriller $7.4M worldwide - 30
Aug 21, 1991 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: $292 Worldwide: $6.2M - 31
Apr 12, 1991 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M - 32
Mar 8, 1991 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: $633 Worldwide: $5M - 33
May 1, 1991 US and Canada: $4.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7M - 34
Oct 9, 1991 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M - 35
Dec 5, 1991 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7M - 36
Dec 27, 1991 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M - 37
Aug 23, 1991 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 38
Feb 23, 1991 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 39
Nov 30, 1991 US and Canada: $384.8K Rest of the world: $2.1K Worldwide: $386.8K - 40
Sep 27, 1991 US and Canada: $221.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $221.3K - 41
Jul 27, 1991 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $117.4K - 42
Aug 28, 1991 US and Canada: $115.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $115.1K - 43
Oct 4, 1991 US and Canada: $88.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $88.7K - 44
Nov 20, 1991 US and Canada: $31.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.8K - 45
Sep 13, 1991 US and Canada: $8.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.8K - 46
Nov 5, 1991 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.5K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1991?
Of the top 10, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while JFK (1991) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 46 films, $1.1B (68%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Silence of the Lambs (1991) $272.7M $130.7M US & Canada · 48% $142M elsewhere · 52%
- 2 JFK (1991) $205.4M $70.4M US & Canada · 34% $135M elsewhere · 66%
- 3 Cape Fear (1991) $182.3M $79.1M US & Canada · 43% $103.2M elsewhere · 57%
- 4 Backdraft (1991) $152.4M $77.9M US & Canada · 51% $74.5M elsewhere · 49%
- 5 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) $86.9M $86.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Point Break (1991) $83.5M $43.2M US & Canada · 52% $40.3M elsewhere · 48%
- 7 The Hard Way (1991) $65.6M $25.9M US & Canada · 39% $39.7M elsewhere · 61%
- 8 The Last Boy Scout (1991) $59.5M $59.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Boyz n the Hood (1991) $57.5M $57.5M US & Canada · 100% $28.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Bugsy (1991) $49.1M $49.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1991 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 46 films crossed $100M and took $812.8M between them, 48% of the total. 19 films, 41% of the list, earned under $10M.
48% 49%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 4 films, 9% of the list $812.8M · 48% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 23 films, 50% of the list $819.8M · 49% of the gross
- Under $10M 19 films, 41% of the list $50.6M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1991 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $360.4M from 6 films, led by JFK (1991). September was the quietest month ($230.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Lionheart (1991) $24.3M Lionheart (1991)
- February Feb The Silence of the Lambs (1991) $274.2M The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- March Mar The Hard Way (1991) $132.3M The Hard Way (1991)
- April Apr Out for Justice (1991) $83.8M Out for Justice (1991)
- May May Backdraft (1991) $254.4M Backdraft (1991)
- June Jun The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) $86.9M The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
- July Jul Point Break (1991) $172.6M Point Break (1991)
- August Aug Double Impact (1991) $71M Double Impact (1991)
- September Sep Under Suspicion (1991) $230.1K Under Suspicion (1991)
- October Oct Ricochet (1991) $24.8M Ricochet (1991)
- November Nov Cape Fear (1991) $198.3M Cape Fear (1991)
- December Dec JFK (1991) $360.4M JFK (1991)
Last 10 years
How Does 1991 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1990 earned the most: $2.1B from 55 films, led by Home Alone (1990). 1991 took $1.7B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 19 films | 19 | $236.6M | – | 48 Hrs. (1982) $78.9M |
| 1983 24 films · +46% | 24 | $344.3M | +46% | Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M |
| 1984 23 films · +93% | 23 | $664.2M | +93% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| 1985 21 films · −61% | 21 | $257M | −61% | Fletch (1985) $59.6M |
| 1986 40 films · +87% | 40 | $480.9M | +87% | Legal Eagles (1986) $93.2M |
| 1987 55 films · +123% | 55 | $1.1B | +123% | Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M |
| 1988 49 films · +13% | 49 | $1.2B | +13% | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) $329.8M |
| 1989 43 films · +29% | 43 | $1.6B | +29% | Batman (1989) $411.6M |
| 1990 55 films · +31% | 55 | $2.1B | +31% | Home Alone (1990) $476.7M |
| 1991 46 films · −18% | 46 | $1.7B | −18% | The Silence of the Lambs (1991) $272.7M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Crime Movies Speak in 1991?
English-language crime films took $1.7B across 41 films, 98% of the total, ahead of French-language crime films ($5M) and Spanish-language crime films ($1.4M).
Archive
Crime Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2013 leads with $6.1B, led by Despicable Me 2 (2013).
2020s 7 years · $16.4B
2010s 10 years · $37.4B
- 2019 $4.9B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Skyscraper (2018)
- 2017 $3.8B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $3.9B #1 Zootopia (2016)
- 2015 $4.1B #1 Furious 7 (2015)
- 2014 $2.1B #1 22 Jump Street (2014)
- 2013 $6.1B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $4.9B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- 2011 $1.7B #1 Fast Five (2011)
- 2010 $2.2B #1 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2010)
2000s 10 years · $28.4B
- 2009 $3.2B #1 Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- 2008 $3.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $3.4B #1 Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
- 2006 $2.5B #1 The Departed (2006)
- 2005 $2.7B #1 Batman Begins (2005)
- 2004 $2.1B #1 Ocean's Twelve (2004)
- 2003 $3.1B #1 Bad Boys II (2003)
- 2002 $2.6B #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $3.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $2B #1 Charlie's Angels (2000)
1990s 10 years · $19.3B
- 1999 $2.5B #1 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
- 1998 $1.7B #1 Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
- 1997 $2.1B #1 Face/Off (1997)
- 1996 $1.8B #1 Ransom (1996)
- 1995 $2.5B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $1.9B #1 The Mask (1994)
- 1993 $1.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $1.7B #1 Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
- 1991 $1.7B #1 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- 1990 $2.1B #1 Home Alone (1990)
1980s 10 years · $6.5B
- 1989 $1.6B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $1.2B #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $1.1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $480.9M #1 Legal Eagles (1986)
- 1985 $257M #1 Fletch (1985)
- 1984 $664.2M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $344.3M #1 Sudden Impact (1983)
- 1982 $236.6M #1 48 Hrs. (1982)
- 1981 $247.4M #1 Sharky's Machine (1981)
- 1980 $373M #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.6B
- 1979 $132M #1 Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
- 1978 $151.3M #1 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- 1977 $42.2M #1 The Gauntlet (1977)
- 1976 $192.9M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $145.7M #1 Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- 1974 $199.1M #1 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- 1973 $281.5M #1 The Sting (1973)
- 1972 $250.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $140.3M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $20.4M #1 Joe (1970)
1960s 10 years · $174M
- 1969 $102.7M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $6.5M #1 The War Wagon (1967)
- 1966 $143.5K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $186.8K #1 Pierrot le Fou (1965)
- 1964 $10.9M #1 The Pink Panther (1964)
- 1963 $46.4M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $2.5M #1 Copacabana Palace (1962)
- 1961 $3.8K #1 Accattone (1961)
- 1960 $1M #1 Breathless (1960)
1950s 10 years · $13.7M
- 1959 $27.6K #1 The Law (1959)
- 1958 $2.7M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $3.7K #1 12 Angry Men (1957)
- 1956 $76.3K #1 The Ladykillers (1956)
- 1955 $1.5M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $6.4M #1 An Inspector Calls (1954)
- 1953 $7.5K #1 The Big Heat (1953)
- 1952 $8.9K #1 Deadline - U.S.A. (1952)
- 1951 $1.9M #1 The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
- 1950 $994.2K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 7 years · $667K
1930s 7 years · $3.3M
FAQ
Crime Box Office 1991: 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 46 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing crime movie in 1991?
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) leads with $272.7M worldwide, $130.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come JFK (1991) at $205.4M and Cape Fear (1991) at $182.3M.
How much did crime movies released in 1991 earn?
46 crime films released in 1991 report a worldwide gross, $1.7B in all, or $36.6M per film on average. 1990 releases took $2.1B.
How many crime movies released in 1991 made $1 billion?
None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by The Silence of the Lambs (1991) with $272.7M.
How is the 1991 crime 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 1991. 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 1991 crime 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.