#1 of 24 #1 drama movie of 1957
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
1957 · Adventure, Drama
$27.2M worldwide · 84% of the chart's total
$27.2M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
Drama box office · 1957
Drama Box Office 1957: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1957, with $27.2M worldwide, ahead of An Affair to Remember (1957) at $3.9M and Nights of Cabiria (1957) at $799.9K. 24 drama films released in 1957 report a worldwide gross, $32.5M in all, 98% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 73% on 1956, whose releases took $119.9M. By language, English leads with $31.2M across 18 drama releases.
- 1957 releases with a gross
- 24
- combined worldwide
- $32.5M
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), the #1
- $27.2M
- vs 1956
- −73%
#1 of 24 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1957?
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) leads with $27.2M, 84% of the total. The top 5 together took $32.4M, almost all of what the 24 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 1957, 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 1957.
- 1 Dec 14, 1957 US and Canada: $27.2M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $27.2M
- 2 Jul 19, 1957 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: $24K Worldwide: $3.9M
- 3 May 11, 1957 US and Canada: $766.5K Rest of the world: $33.4K Worldwide: $799.9K
- 4 Feb 22, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $441.2K
- 5 Jan 15, 1957 US and Canada: $46.8K Rest of the world: $14.3K Worldwide: $61.1K
- 6
Oct 12, 1957 US and Canada: $17.9K Rest of the world: $14.6K Worldwide: $32.5K - 7
Jul 3, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.4K - 8
Dec 14, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19K - 9
May 3, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.6K - 10
Nov 21, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.8K - 11
Dec 25, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.3K - 12
Jun 27, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8K - 13
Oct 2, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.5K - 14
Feb 23, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.5K - 15
Apr 30, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.5K - 16
Apr 19, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.9K - 17
Apr 1, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K - 18
Jun 30, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $718 - 19
Nov 8, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $573 - 20
Jan 26, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $494 - 21
Aug 3, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $315 - 22
Jun 1, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $196 - 23
Dec 25, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91 - 24
Jul 11, 1957 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1957?
Of the top 10, The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Cranes Are Flying (1957) made 45% of its gross abroad. Across all 24 films, $31.9M (98%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) $27.2M $27.2M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 An Affair to Remember (1957) $3.9M $3.9M US & Canada · 99% $24K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Nights of Cabiria (1957) $799.9K $766.5K US & Canada · 96% $33.4K elsewhere · 4%
- 4 Naya Daur (1957) $441.2K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Throne of Blood (1957) $61.1K $46.8K US & Canada · 77% $14.3K elsewhere · 23%
- 6 The Cranes Are Flying (1957) $32.5K $17.9K US & Canada · 55% $14.6K elsewhere · 45%
- 7 Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957) $21.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 A Farewell to Arms (1957) $19K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 He Who Must Die (1957) $14.6K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 The Tarnished Angels (1957) $9.8K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1957 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 24 films reached $100M. 23 films, 96% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $32.5M total.
84% 16%
- $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, 4% of the list $27.2M · 84% of the gross
- Under $10M 23 films, 96% of the list $5.3M · 16% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1957 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $27.2M from 4 films, led by The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). August was the quietest month ($315). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Throne of Blood (1957) $61.6K Throne of Blood (1957)
- February Feb Naya Daur (1957) $445.6K Naya Daur (1957)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Tokyo Twilight (1957) $11.3K Tokyo Twilight (1957)
- May May Nights of Cabiria (1957) $814.5K Nights of Cabiria (1957)
- June Jun Sweet Smell of Success (1957) $8.9K Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
- July Jul An Affair to Remember (1957) $3.9M An Affair to Remember (1957)
- August Aug Band of Angels (1957) $315 Band of Angels (1957)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The Cranes Are Flying (1957) $39.1K The Cranes Are Flying (1957)
- November Nov The Tarnished Angels (1957) $10.4K The Tarnished Angels (1957)
- December Dec The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) $27.2M The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Last 10 years
How Does 1957 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1956 earned the most: $119.9M from 27 films, led by The Ten Commandments (1956). 1957 took $32.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 16 films | 16 | $6.2M | – | 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 |
| 1957 24 films · −73% | 24 | $32.5M | −73% | The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) $27.2M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1957?
English-language drama films took $31.2M across 18 films, 96% of the total, ahead of Italian-language drama films ($799.9K) and Hindi-language drama films ($441.2K).
1957 Drama Box Office by Language
-
English $31.2M18 films · #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) -
Italian $799.9K1 film · #1 Nights of Cabiria (1957) -
Hindi $441.2K1 film · #1 Naya Daur (1957) -
Japanese $65.6K2 films · #1 Throne of Blood (1957) -
Russian $32.5K1 film · #1 The Cranes Are Flying (1957) -
French $14.6K1 film · #1 He Who Must Die (1957)
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 1957: 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 24 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1957?
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) leads with $27.2M worldwide, $27.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come An Affair to Remember (1957) at $3.9M and Nights of Cabiria (1957) at $799.9K.
How much did drama movies released in 1957 earn?
24 drama films released in 1957 report a worldwide gross, $32.5M in all, or $1.4M per film on average. 1956 releases took $119.9M.
How many drama movies released in 1957 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), earned $27.2M.
How is the 1957 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 1957. 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 1957 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.