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Drama box office · 1952

Drama Box Office 1952: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1952, with $36M worldwide, ahead of Les Miserables (1952) at $280.5K and Umberto D. (1952) at $72.4K. 20 drama films released in 1952 report a worldwide gross, $36.5M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. That is 8.1 times the total of 1951, whose releases took $4.5M. By language, English leads with $36.4M across 11 drama releases.

1952 releases with a gross
20
combined worldwide
$36.5M
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), the #1
$36M
vs 1951
×8.1
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1952?

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) leads with $36M, 99% of the total. The top 5 together took $36.4M, almost all of what the 20 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) movie poster Number 1
    $36M The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
    $36M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. Les Miserables (1952) movie poster Number 2
    $280.5K Les Miserables (1952)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  3. Umberto D. (1952) movie poster Number 3
    $72.4K Umberto D. (1952)
    $71.8K US & Canada · 99% $617 elsewhere · <1%
  4. The African Queen (1952) movie poster Number 4
    $46.3K The African Queen (1952)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. Forbidden Games (1952) movie poster Number 5
    $33.9K Forbidden Games (1952)
    $33.3K US & Canada · 98% $613 elsewhere · 2%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Drama Release of 1952, 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 1952.

  1. 1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) movie poster
    The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) May 1, 1952 · English · Drama, Romance, Family $36M worldwide
    May 1, 1952 US and Canada: $36M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36M
  2. 2 Les Miserables (1952) movie poster
    Les Miserables (1952) Aug 14, 1952 · English · Adventure, History, Drama $280.5K worldwide
    Aug 14, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $280.5K
  3. 3 Umberto D. (1952) movie poster
    Umberto D. (1952) Jan 20, 1952 · Italian · Drama $72.4K worldwide
    Jan 20, 1952 US and Canada: $71.8K Rest of the world: $617 Worldwide: $72.4K
  4. 4 The African Queen (1952) movie poster
    The African Queen (1952) Mar 21, 1952 · English · Adventure, Drama, Romance $46.3K worldwide
    Mar 21, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $46.3K
  5. 5 Forbidden Games (1952) movie poster
    Forbidden Games (1952) May 9, 1952 · French · Drama, War $33.9K worldwide
    May 9, 1952 US and Canada: $33.3K Rest of the world: $613 Worldwide: $33.9K
  6. 6 The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) movie poster
    The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) Sep 17, 1952 · Adventure, Drama, Romance $16.6K worldwide
    Sep 17, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.6K
  7. 7 Europe ’51 (1952) movie poster
    Europe ’51 (1952) Sep 12, 1952 · Italian · Drama $9.4K worldwide
    Sep 12, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.4K
  8. 8 Limelight (1952) movie poster
    Limelight (1952) Oct 23, 1952 · English · Drama, Romance, Music $9.3K worldwide
    Oct 23, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3K
  9. 9 The Life of Oharu (1952) movie poster
    The Life of Oharu (1952) Apr 17, 1952 · Japanese · Drama $6.9K worldwide
    Apr 17, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.9K
  10. 10 Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) movie poster
    Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) Mar 14, 1952 · English · Drama, Crime $5.2K worldwide
    Mar 14, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2K
  11. 11 Macao (1952) movie poster
    Macao (1952) Apr 2, 1952 · English · Adventure, Crime, Drama $3.5K worldwide
    Apr 2, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K
  12. 12 One Minute to Zero (1952) movie poster
    One Minute to Zero (1952) Sep 19, 1952 · English · Drama, Romance, War $3.5K worldwide
    Sep 19, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K
  13. 13 Moulin Rouge (1952) movie poster
    Moulin Rouge (1952) Dec 23, 1952 · English · Drama $3.2K worldwide
    Dec 23, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2K
  14. 14 A Woman Without Love (1952) movie poster
    A Woman Without Love (1952) Jul 30, 1952 · Spanish · Drama, Romance $2.2K worldwide
    Jul 30, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2K
  15. 15 Le Plaisir (1952) movie poster
    Le Plaisir (1952) Feb 29, 1952 · French · Drama, Comedy, Romance $2.1K worldwide
    Feb 29, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1K
  16. 16 Fear and Desire (1952) movie poster
    Fear and Desire (1952) Aug 18, 1952 · English · War, Drama, Thriller $953 worldwide
    Aug 18, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $953
  17. 17 The Golden Coach (1952) movie poster
    The Golden Coach (1952) Dec 5, 1952 · English · Comedy, Romance, Drama $439 worldwide
    Dec 5, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $439
  18. 18 High Noon (1952) movie poster
    High Noon (1952) Jul 30, 1952 · Action, Drama, Thriller $217 worldwide
    Jul 30, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $217
  19. 19 La laguna negra (1952) movie poster
    La laguna negra (1952) Dec 29, 1952 · Spanish · Drama, Crime $118 worldwide
    Dec 29, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $118
  20. 20 Rancho Notorious (1952) movie poster
    Rancho Notorious (1952) Mar 6, 1952 · English · Western, Drama $63 worldwide
    Mar 6, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $63
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1952?

Of the top 10, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Forbidden Games (1952) made 2% of its gross abroad. Across all 20 films, $36.1M (99%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M
    $36M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. 2 Les Miserables (1952) $280.5K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  3. 3 Umberto D. (1952) $72.4K
    $71.8K US & Canada · 99% $617 elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 The African Queen (1952) $46.3K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. 5 Forbidden Games (1952) $33.9K
    $33.3K US & Canada · 98% $613 elsewhere · 2%
  6. 6 The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) $16.6K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  7. 7 Europe ’51 (1952) $9.4K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 Limelight (1952) $9.3K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 The Life of Oharu (1952) $6.9K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) $5.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1952 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 20 films reached $100M. 19 films, 95% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $36.5M total.

  • $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 1 film, 5% of the list $36M · 99% of the gross
  • Under $10M 19 films, 95% of the list $496.8K · 1% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1952 Earned the Most?

May releases took the most, $36M from 2 films, led by The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). February was the quietest month ($2.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Umberto D. (1952) $72.4K Umberto D. (1952)
  2. February Feb Le Plaisir (1952) $2.1K Le Plaisir (1952)
  3. March Mar The African Queen (1952) $51.6K The African Queen (1952)
  4. April Apr The Life of Oharu (1952) $10.5K The Life of Oharu (1952)
  5. May May The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul A Woman Without Love (1952) $2.4K A Woman Without Love (1952)
  8. August Aug Les Miserables (1952) $281.5K Les Miserables (1952)
  9. September Sep The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) $29.5K The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952)
  10. October Oct Limelight (1952) $9.3K Limelight (1952)
  11. November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  12. December Dec Moulin Rouge (1952) $3.7K Moulin Rouge (1952)
Last 10 years

How Does 1952 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1946 earned the most: $54.6M from 15 films, led by The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). 1952 took $36.5M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1943 4 films 4 $4.9M – 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
1952 20 films · +708% 20 $36.5M +708% The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1952?

English-language drama films took $36.4M across 11 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Italian-language drama films ($81.8K) and French-language drama films ($36K).

1952 Drama Box Office by Language

  1. English $36.4M
    11 films · #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
  2. Italian $81.8K
    2 films · #1 Umberto D. (1952)
  3. French $36K
    2 films · #1 Forbidden Games (1952)
  4. Japanese $6.9K
    1 film · #1 The Life of Oharu (1952)
  5. Spanish $2.3K
    2 films · #1 A Woman Without Love (1952)
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
2000s 10 years · $70.7B
1990s 10 years · $42.3B
1980s 10 years · $14.2B
1970s 10 years · $5B
1960s 10 years · $865.1M
1950s 10 years · $438.7M
1940s 10 years · $775.9M
1930s 10 years · $2.8M
1920s 8 years · $10.4M
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ

Drama Box Office 1952: 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 20 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1952?

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) leads with $36M worldwide, $36M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Les Miserables (1952) at $280.5K and Umberto D. (1952) at $72.4K.

How much did drama movies released in 1952 earn?

20 drama films released in 1952 report a worldwide gross, $36.5M in all, or $1.8M per film on average. 1951 releases took $4.5M.

How many drama movies released in 1952 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), earned $36M.

How much of the 1952 Drama box office came from the US and Canada?

$36.1M of the $36.5M total, or 99%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 17 films of the 20 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1952 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 1952. 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 1952 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.