#1 of 16 #1 drama movie of 1948
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
1948 · Adventure, Drama
$5M worldwide · 81% of the chart's total
$5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Drama box office · 1948
Drama Box Office 1948: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1948, with $5M worldwide, ahead of Bicycle Thieves (1948) at $459K and The Fallen Idol (1948) at $373.2K. 16 drama films released in 1948 report a worldwide gross, $6.2M in all, 94% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 44% on 1947, whose releases took $11.1M. By language, English leads with $661.8K across 11 drama releases.
- 1948 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $6.2M
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), the #1
- $5M
- vs 1947
- −44%
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1948?
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) leads with $5M, 81% of the total. The top 5 together took $6.1M, 99% of what all 16 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 Drama Release of 1948, 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 1948.
- 1 Jan 24, 1948 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M
- 2 Jul 21, 1948 US and Canada: $371.1K Rest of the world: $87.9K Worldwide: $459K
- 3 Aug 31, 1948 US and Canada: $341.1K Rest of the world: $32.1K Worldwide: $373.2K
- 4 Jul 22, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $184.3K
- 5 Jan 8, 1948 US and Canada: $49.5K Rest of the world: $23K Worldwide: $72.5K
- 6
Apr 27, 1948 US and Canada: $46.8K Rest of the world: $215 Worldwide: $47K - 7
Sep 17, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.5K - 8
Jul 9, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.2K - 9
Sep 25, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.6K - 10
Sep 22, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.5K - 11
Sep 2, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7K - 12
Apr 28, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $953 - 13
Aug 20, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $157 - 14
Sep 29, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $126 - 15
Jan 16, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $122 - 16
Feb 16, 1948 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $44
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1948?
Of the top 10, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Brighton Rock (1948) made 32% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $5.8M (94%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) $5M $5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Bicycle Thieves (1948) $459K $371.1K US & Canada · 81% $87.9K elsewhere · 19%
- 3 The Fallen Idol (1948) $373.2K $341.1K US & Canada · 91% $32.1K elsewhere · 9%
- 4 The Red Shoes (1948) $184.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Brighton Rock (1948) $72.5K $49.5K US & Canada · 68% $23K elsewhere · 32%
- 6 Drunken Angel (1948) $47K $46.8K US & Canada · 100% $215 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Red River (1948) $14.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Germany, Year Zero (1948) $12.2K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Rope (1948) $11.6K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Road House (1948) $4.5K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1948 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 16 films reached $100M. 16 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $6.2M total.
100%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- Under $10M 16 films, 100% of the list $6.2M · 100% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1948 Earned the Most?
January releases took the most, $5.1M from 3 films, led by The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). February was the quietest month ($44). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) $5.1M The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- February Feb The Bishop's Wife (1948) $44 The Bishop's Wife (1948)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Drunken Angel (1948) $48K Drunken Angel (1948)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul Bicycle Thieves (1948) $655.4K Bicycle Thieves (1948)
- August Aug The Fallen Idol (1948) $373.3K The Fallen Idol (1948)
- September Sep Red River (1948) $32.3K Red River (1948)
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1948 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1940 earned the most: $404.9M from 9 films, led by Gone with the Wind (1940). 1948 took $6.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 8 films | 8 | $1.1M | – | Wuthering Heights (1939) $624.6K |
| 1940 9 films · +36990% | 9 | $404.9M | +36990% | Gone with the Wind (1940) $402.4M |
| 1941 6 films · −100% | 6 | $1.8M | −100% | Citizen Kane (1941) $1.7M |
| 1942 9 films · +14637% | 9 | $270.1M | +14637% | Bambi (1942) $267.4M |
| 1943 4 films · −98% | 4 | $4.9M | −98% | Casablanca (1943) $4.7M |
| 1944 11 films · −98% | 11 | $102.5K | −98% | Henry V (1944) $62.6K |
| 1945 9 films · +21398% | 9 | $22M | +21398% | The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) $21.3M |
| 1946 15 films · +148% | 15 | $54.6M | +148% | The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) $23.7M |
| 1947 16 films · −80% | 16 | $11.1M | −80% | It's a Wonderful Life (1947) $10.6M |
| 1948 16 films · −44% | 16 | $6.2M | −44% | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) $5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1948?
English-language drama films took $661.8K across 11 films, 11% of the total, ahead of Italian-language drama films ($460.6K) and Japanese-language drama films ($47K).
Archive
Drama Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $13.9B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $50.1B
2010s 10 years · $113.6B
- 2019 $13.9B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $12.7B #1 Black Panther (2018)
- 2017 $12.5B #1 Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
- 2016 $11.1B #1 The Jungle Book (2016)
- 2015 $11.6B #1 Inside Out (2015)
- 2014 $10.3B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $12.1B #1 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- 2011 $7.8B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $9.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $70.7B
- 2009 $9.9B #1 2012 (2009)
- 2008 $10.6B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $7.6B #1 I Am Legend (2007)
- 2006 $7.5B #1 The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
- 2005 $8.1B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.4B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $5B #1 Bruce Almighty (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $4.6B #1 Pearl Harbor (2001)
- 2000 $5.8B #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $42.3B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.9B #1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- 1997 $5.9B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $4.5B #1 Twister (1996)
- 1995 $4.8B #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $4.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $4.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $2.9B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $2.4B #1 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- 1990 $2.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $14.2B
- 1989 $2B #1 Dead Poets Society (1989)
- 1988 $2.1B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $1.4B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $1.5B #1 Rocky IV (1985)
- 1984 $1.4B #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.1B #1 Terms of Endearment (1983)
- 1982 $1.3B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $889.5M #1 On Golden Pond (1981)
- 1980 $674.6M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 10 years · $5B
- 1979 $919.3M #1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
- 1978 $585M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $832.1M #1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- 1976 $378.6M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $303.6M #1 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- 1974 $439.5M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $869.6M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $337M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $133.4M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $229.2M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $865.1M
- 1969 $164M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $59.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $166.8M #1 The Graduate (1967)
- 1966 $29.7M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $272.6M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $74.9M #1 My Fair Lady (1964)
- 1963 $63.5M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $6M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $6.5M #1 Mother and a Guest (1961)
- 1960 $21.9M #1 The Apartment (1960)
1950s 10 years · $438.7M
- 1959 $75M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $3.3M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $32.5M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $119.9M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $32.7M #1 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- 1953 $36.8M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $36.5M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.5M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $1.5M #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $775.9M
- 1949 $164.2K #1 Stray Dog (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $11.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $54.6M #1 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $102.5K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $4.9M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $270.1M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.8M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $404.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $2.8M
- 1939 $1.1M #1 Wuthering Heights (1939)
- 1938 $47.4K #1 Port of Shadows (1938)
- 1937 $19.3K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $536.4K #1 Modern Times (1936)
- 1935 $516K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $13.2K #1 L’Atalante (1934)
- 1933 $451.3K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $47.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $46.6K #1 M (1931)
- 1930 $5.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 8 years · $10.4M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $40.9K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $161.5K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $720.7K #1 Flesh and the Devil (1926)
- 1925 $82.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1923 $12.9K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
Drama Box Office 1948: 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 16 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1948?
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) leads with $5M worldwide, $5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Bicycle Thieves (1948) at $459K and The Fallen Idol (1948) at $373.2K.
How much did drama movies released in 1948 earn?
16 drama films released in 1948 report a worldwide gross, $6.2M in all, or $387.2K per film on average. 1947 releases took $11.1M.
How many drama movies released in 1948 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), earned $5M.
How is the 1948 drama 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 1948. 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 1948 drama 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.