#1 of 16 #1 drama movie of 1951
1951 · Drama
$2.3M worldwide · 51% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Drama box office · 1951
Drama Box Office 1951: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
Ace in the Hole (1951) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1951, with $2.3M worldwide, ahead of The Girl on the Bridge (1951) at $1.7M and Rashomon (1951) at $139.8K. 16 drama films released in 1951 report a worldwide gross, $4.5M in all, 41% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 198% on 1950, whose releases took $1.5M. By language, English leads with $4.2M across 9 drama releases.
- 1951 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $4.5M
- Ace in the Hole (1951), the #1
- $2.3M
- vs 1950
- +198%
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1951?
Ace in the Hole (1951) leads with $2.3M, 51% of the total. The top 5 together took $4.3M, 95% 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 1951, 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 1951.
- 1 Jun 14, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M
- 2 Dec 1, 1951 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $302 Worldwide: $1.7M
- 3 Dec 26, 1951 US and Canada: $46.8K Rest of the world: $93K Worldwide: $139.8K
- 4 Dec 25, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $101.5K
- 5 Sep 19, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $54.7K
- 6
Sep 10, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $53.4K - 7
Feb 7, 1951 US and Canada: $47K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47K - 8
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)Oct 15, 1951 US and Canada: $17.4K Rest of the world: $14.4K Worldwide: $31.8K
Oct 15, 1951 · English · Drama, Mystery, Fantasy $31.8K worldwide - 9
Nov 27, 1951 US and Canada: $29K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29K - 10
Aug 14, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.2K - 11
Oct 1, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.6K - 12
Apr 27, 1951 US and Canada: $9.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9K - 13
Sep 20, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $852 - 14
Sep 20, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $651 - 15
Dec 17, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $435 - 16
Jul 17, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $236
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1951?
Of the top 10, Diary of a Country Priest (1951) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Rashomon (1951) made 67% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $1.9M (41%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 2 The Girl on the Bridge (1951) $1.7M $1.7M US & Canada · 100% $302 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Rashomon (1951) $139.8K $46.8K US & Canada · 33% $93K elsewhere · 67%
- 4 Quo Vadis (1951) $101.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) $54.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 The River (1951) $53.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Diary of a Country Priest (1951) $47K $47K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) $31.8K $17.4K US & Canada · 55% $14.4K elsewhere · 45%
- 9 Othello (1951) $29K $29K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 A Place in the Sun (1951) $18.2K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1951 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 $4.5M 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 $4.5M · 100% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1951 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $2.3M from 1 film, led by Ace in the Hole (1951). July was the quietest month ($236). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb Diary of a Country Priest (1951) $47K Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Olivia (1951) $9.9K Olivia (1951)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.3M Ace in the Hole (1951)
- July Jul Show Boat (1951) $236 Show Boat (1951)
- August Aug A Place in the Sun (1951) $18.2K A Place in the Sun (1951)
- September Sep A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) $109.6K A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
- October Oct Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) $49.4K Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
- November Nov Othello (1951) $29K Othello (1951)
- December Dec The Girl on the Bridge (1951) $2M The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
Last 10 years
How Does 1951 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1942 earned the most: $270.1M from 9 films, led by Bambi (1942). 1951 took $4.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 9 films | 9 | $270.1M | – | 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 |
| 1949 10 films · −97% | 10 | $164.2K | −97% | Stray Dog (1949) $47K |
| 1950 14 films · +822% | 14 | $1.5M | +822% | Shadow on the Wall (1950) $769K |
| 1951 16 films · +198% | 16 | $4.5M | +198% | Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1951?
English-language drama films took $4.2M across 9 films, 93% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language drama films ($139.8K) and French-language drama films ($57.8K).
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 1951: 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 1951?
Ace in the Hole (1951) leads with $2.3M worldwide. Next come The Girl on the Bridge (1951) at $1.7M and Rashomon (1951) at $139.8K.
How much did drama movies released in 1951 earn?
16 drama films released in 1951 report a worldwide gross, $4.5M in all, or $282.1K per film on average. 1950 releases took $1.5M.
How many drama movies released in 1951 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Ace in the Hole (1951), earned $2.3M.
How is the 1951 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 1951. 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 1951 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.