#1 of 27 #1 drama movie of 1956
1956 · History, Drama
$65.5M worldwide · 55% of the chart's total
$65.5M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
Drama box office · 1956
Drama Box Office 1956: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Ten Commandments (1956) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1956, with $65.5M worldwide, ahead of Giant (1956) at $32.9M and The King and I (1956) at $21.3M. 27 drama films released in 1956 report a worldwide gross, $119.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 25% on 1955, whose releases took $95.8M. By language, English leads with $98.5M across 19 drama releases.
- 1956 releases with a gross
- 27
- combined worldwide
- $119.9M
- The Ten Commandments (1956), the #1
- $65.5M
- vs 1955
- +25%
#1 of 27 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1956?
The Ten Commandments (1956) leads with $65.5M, 55% of the total. The top 5 together took $119.8M, almost all of what the 27 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Drama Release of 1956, 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 1956.
- 1 Oct 5, 1956 US and Canada: $65.5M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $65.5M
- 2 Nov 24, 1956 US and Canada: $32.9M Rest of the world: $1.2K Worldwide: $32.9M
- 3 Jun 29, 1956 US and Canada: $21.3M Rest of the world: $21.1K Worldwide: $21.3M
- 4 May 3, 1956 US and Canada: $34.6K Rest of the world: $14.4K Worldwide: $49K
- 5 Sep 1, 1956 US and Canada: $41.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.8K
- 6
Jan 21, 1956 US and Canada: $20K Rest of the world: $13.7K Worldwide: $33.8K - 7
Aug 21, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.9K - 8
Aug 24, 1956 US and Canada: $15.6K Rest of the world: $566 Worldwide: $16.2K - 9
Mar 28, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.4K - 10
Dec 25, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.2K - 11
Jun 1, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.2K - 12
Jul 3, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.5K - 13
May 31, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3K - 14
Apr 19, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.7K - 15
Mar 18, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5K - 16
Sep 12, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.6K - 17
Nov 21, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.4K - 18
Feb 5, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K - 19
May 1, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K - 20
May 29, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 21
May 26, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 22
Sep 17, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $426 - 23
Sep 21, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $384 - 24
Jun 6, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $380 - 25
Mar 21, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365 - 26
Jun 27, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $353 - 27
Dec 29, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1956?
Of the top 10, On the Bowery (1956) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Burmese Harp (1956) made 41% of its gross abroad. Across all 27 films, $119.8M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M $65.5M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Giant (1956) $32.9M $32.9M US & Canada · 100% $1.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The King and I (1956) $21.3M $21.3M US & Canada · 100% $21.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 The Red Balloon (1956) $49K $34.6K US & Canada · 71% $14.4K elsewhere · 29%
- 5 On the Bowery (1956) $41.8K $41.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Burmese Harp (1956) $33.8K $20K US & Canada · 59% $13.7K elsewhere · 41%
- 7 War and Peace (1956) $24.9K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Bob le Flambeur (1956) $16.2K $15.6K US & Canada · 96% $566 elsewhere · 4%
- 9 The Conqueror (1956) $15.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Written on the Wind (1956) $14.2K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1956 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 27 films reached $100M. 24 films, 89% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $119.9M 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 3 films, 11% of the list $119.7M · 100% of the gross
- Under $10M 24 films, 89% of the list $262.2K · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1956 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $65.5M from 1 film, led by The Ten Commandments (1956). February was the quietest month ($3.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Burmese Harp (1956) $33.8K The Burmese Harp (1956)
- February Feb Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) $3.7K Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- March Mar The Conqueror (1956) $23.3K The Conqueror (1956)
- April Apr While the City Sleeps (1956) $7.7K While the City Sleeps (1956)
- May May The Red Balloon (1956) $64.5K The Red Balloon (1956)
- June Jun The King and I (1956) $21.3M The King and I (1956)
- July Jul Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) $9.5K Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
- August Aug War and Peace (1956) $41K War and Peace (1956)
- September Sep On the Bowery (1956) $48.2K On the Bowery (1956)
- October Oct The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M The Ten Commandments (1956)
- November Nov Giant (1956) $32.9M Giant (1956)
- December Dec Written on the Wind (1956) $14.2K Written on the Wind (1956)
Last 10 years
How Does 1956 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1956 earned the most: $119.9M from 27 films, led by The Ten Commandments (1956).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 16 films | 16 | $11.1M | – | 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 |
| 1953 18 films · +1% | 18 | $36.8M | +1% | The Robe (1953) $36M |
| 1954 26 films · −11% | 26 | $32.7M | −11% | The Caine Mutiny (1954) $21.8M |
| 1955 22 films · +193% | 22 | $95.8M | +193% | Lady and the Tramp (1955) $93.9M |
| 1956 27 films · +25% | 27 | $119.9M | +25% | The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1956?
English-language drama films took $98.5M across 19 films, 82% of the total, ahead of French-language drama films ($71.1K) and Japanese-language drama films ($46.7K).
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 1956: 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 27 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1956?
The Ten Commandments (1956) leads with $65.5M worldwide, $65.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Giant (1956) at $32.9M and The King and I (1956) at $21.3M.
How much did drama movies released in 1956 earn?
27 drama films released in 1956 report a worldwide gross, $119.9M in all, or $4.4M per film on average. 1955 releases took $95.8M.
How many drama movies released in 1956 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Ten Commandments (1956), earned $65.5M.
How is the 1956 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 1956. 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 1956 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.