#1 of 694 #1 drama movie of 2008
2008 · Action, Drama
$1B worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$535M US & Canada · 53% $477.6M elsewhere · 47%
Drama box office · 2008
Drama Box Office 2008: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Dark Knight (2008) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 2008, with $1B worldwide, ahead of Sex and the City (2008) at $418.8M and Twilight (2008) at $408.5M. 694 drama films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $10.6B in all, 40% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 26 crossed $100 million. That is up 39% on 2007, whose releases took $7.6B. By language, English leads with $8.1B across 269 drama releases.
- 2008 releases with a gross
- 694
- combined worldwide
- $10.6B
- films crossed $100M
- 26
- vs 2007
- +39%
#1 of 694 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 2008?
The Dark Knight (2008) leads with $1B, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $2.6B, 24% of what all 694 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 $335.8M The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)$127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Drama Release of 2008, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 694. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2008.
- 1 Jul 18, 2008 US and Canada: $535M Rest of the world: $477.6M Worldwide: $1B
- 2 May 30, 2008 US and Canada: $152.6M Rest of the world: $266.1M Worldwide: $418.8M
- 3 Nov 21, 2008 US and Canada: $194M Rest of the world: $214.6M Worldwide: $408.5M
- 4 Nov 12, 2008 US and Canada: $141.3M Rest of the world: $237.1M Worldwide: $378.4M
- 5 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $127.5M Rest of the world: $208.3M Worldwide: $335.8M
Dec 25, 2008 · English · Drama, Mystery, Fantasy $335.8M worldwide - 6
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $148.1M Rest of the world: $121.9M Worldwide: $270M - 7
Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $94.8M Rest of the world: $175M Worldwide: $269.8M - 8
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $143.2M Rest of the world: $112.6M Worldwide: $255.7M - 9
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)Oct 24, 2008 US and Canada: $90.6M Rest of the world: $162.3M Worldwide: $252.9M Oct 24, 2008 · English · Drama, Comedy, Romance $252.9M worldwide - 10
Jan 17, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $245.1M - 11
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $79.4M Rest of the world: $153.7M Worldwide: $233.1M Dec 12, 2008 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller $233.1M worldwide - 12
Nov 14, 2008 US and Canada: $49.6M Rest of the world: $162.2M Worldwide: $211.8M - 13
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)Jun 6, 2008 US and Canada: $100M Rest of the world: $104.3M Worldwide: $204.3M Jun 6, 2008 · English · Action, Drama, Comedy $204.3M worldwide - 14
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $83.1M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $201.5M - 15
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $99.8M Worldwide: $169.7M - 16
Nov 26, 2008 US and Canada: $120.1M Rest of the world: $44M Worldwide: $164.1M - 17
Sep 12, 2008 US and Canada: $60.4M Rest of the world: $103.4M Worldwide: $163.7M - 18
Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $64.5M Rest of the world: $98.9M Worldwide: $163.4M - 19
Mar 28, 2008 US and Canada: $81.2M Rest of the world: $78.6M Worldwide: $159.8M - 20
Feb 22, 2008 US and Canada: $72.3M Rest of the world: $79.8M Worldwide: $152M - 21
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $58M Rest of the world: $93M Worldwide: $151M - 22
Oct 3, 2008 US and Canada: $94.5M Rest of the world: $54.8M Worldwide: $149.3M - 23
Oct 10, 2008 US and Canada: $39.4M Rest of the world: $76.5M Worldwide: $115.9M - 24
Oct 24, 2008 US and Canada: $35.7M Rest of the world: $77.7M Worldwide: $113.4M - 25
Dec 10, 2008 US and Canada: $34.2M Rest of the world: $74.7M Worldwide: $108.9M - 26
Apr 18, 2008 US and Canada: $63.2M Rest of the world: $42.7M Worldwide: $105.8M - 27
Aug 15, 2008 US and Canada: $23.2M Rest of the world: $73.2M Worldwide: $96.4M - 28
Oct 17, 2008 US and Canada: $40.7M Rest of the world: $46.4M Worldwide: $87.1M - 29
Sep 26, 2008 US and Canada: $41.9M Rest of the world: $42.5M Worldwide: $84.4M - 30
May 30, 2008 US and Canada: $52.6M Rest of the world: $29.8M Worldwide: $82.4M - 31
Sep 12, 2008 US and Canada: $40.1M Rest of the world: $39.4M Worldwide: $79.5M - 32
Feb 29, 2008 US and Canada: $26.8M Rest of the world: $51.4M Worldwide: $78.2M - 33
Dec 26, 2008 US and Canada: $22.9M Rest of the world: $53.1M Worldwide: $76M - 34
The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)Jul 25, 2008 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $48.4M Worldwide: $69.4M Jul 25, 2008 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery $69.4M worldwide - 35
Apr 11, 2008 US and Canada: $26.4M Rest of the world: $40.1M Worldwide: $66.5M - 36
Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $30.1M Rest of the world: $34.8M Worldwide: $64.8M - 37
Feb 1, 2008 US and Canada: $31.4M Rest of the world: $26.6M Worldwide: $58M - 38
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $32.2M Rest of the world: $23.7M Worldwide: $56M - 39
Oct 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $54.8M - 40
Nov 26, 2008 US and Canada: $31.8M Rest of the world: $22.8M Worldwide: $54.7M - 41
Jan 25, 2008 US and Canada: $28.7M Rest of the world: $24.2M Worldwide: $52.9M - 42
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $33.4M Rest of the world: $18.3M Worldwide: $51.7M - 43
Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $45.6M Rest of the world: $5.9M Worldwide: $51.5M - 44
Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: $22.6M Worldwide: $51.3M - 45
Sep 12, 2008 US and Canada: $26.9M Rest of the world: $23.1M Worldwide: $50M - 46
Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $207.4K Rest of the world: $49.3M Worldwide: $49.5M - 47
Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $45.5M - 48
Feb 8, 2008 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: $37.4M Worldwide: $45.2M - 49
Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: $26.2M Rest of the world: $18.5M Worldwide: $44.7M - 50
Sep 19, 2008 US and Canada: $39.3M Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $44.7M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2008?
Of the top 10, Marley & Me (2008) earned the biggest share at home (56% in the US & Canada), while 10,000 BC (2008) made 65% of its gross abroad. Across all 694 films, $4.3B (40%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Dark Knight (2008) $1B $535M US & Canada · 53% $477.6M elsewhere · 47%
- 2 Sex and the City (2008) $418.8M $152.6M US & Canada · 36% $266.1M elsewhere · 64%
- 3 Twilight (2008) $408.5M $194M US & Canada · 47% $214.6M elsewhere · 53%
- 4 Slumdog Millionaire (2008) $378.4M $141.3M US & Canada · 37% $237.1M elsewhere · 63%
- 5 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M $127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 6 Gran Torino (2008) $270M $148.1M US & Canada · 55% $121.9M elsewhere · 45%
- 7 10,000 BC (2008) $269.8M $94.8M US & Canada · 35% $175M elsewhere · 65%
- 8 Marley & Me (2008) $255.7M $143.2M US & Canada · 56% $112.6M elsewhere · 44%
- 9 High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) $252.9M $90.6M US & Canada · 36% $162.3M elsewhere · 64%
- 10 Welcome to the Sticks (2008) $245.1M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
26 of 694 films crossed $100M and took $6.4B between them, 60% of the total. 555 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M.
10% 51% 32%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $1B · 10% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 25 films, 4% of the list $5.4B · 51% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 113 films, 16% of the list $3.4B · 32% of the gross
- Under $10M 555 films, 80% of the list $775.6M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2008 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $2.2B from 61 films, led by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). August was the quietest month ($365.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Welcome to the Sticks (2008) $503.9M Welcome to the Sticks (2008)
- February Feb Vantage Point (2008) $697.1M Vantage Point (2008)
- March Mar 10,000 BC (2008) $812.3M 10,000 BC (2008)
- April Apr Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) $400M Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
- May May Sex and the City (2008) $582.6M Sex and the City (2008)
- June Jun You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008) $495.1M You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)
- July Jul The Dark Knight (2008) $1.2B The Dark Knight (2008)
- August Aug Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) $365.7M Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
- September Sep Burn After Reading (2008) $762.7M Burn After Reading (2008)
- October Oct High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) $1.2B High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
- November Nov Twilight (2008) $1.4B Twilight (2008)
- December Dec The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $2.2B The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Last 10 years
How Does 2008 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2008 earned the most: $10.6B from 694 films, led by The Dark Knight (2008).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 192 films | 192 | $5.2B | – | The Sixth Sense (1999) $672.8M |
| 2000 235 films · +11% | 235 | $5.8B | +11% | Gladiator (2000) $465.5M |
| 2001 314 films · −21% | 314 | $4.6B | −21% | Pearl Harbor (2001) $449.2M |
| 2002 397 films · +14% | 397 | $5.2B | +14% | Signs (2002) $408.2M |
| 2003 384 films · −5% | 384 | $5B | −5% | Bruce Almighty (2003) $484.6M |
| 2004 430 films · +28% | 430 | $6.4B | +28% | The Passion of the Christ (2004) $610.1M |
| 2005 472 films · +27% | 472 | $8.1B | +27% | War of the Worlds (2005) $603.9M |
| 2006 595 films · −7% | 595 | $7.5B | −7% | The Devil Wears Prada (2006) $326.7M |
| 2007 737 films · +2% | 737 | $7.6B | +2% | I Am Legend (2007) $585.4M |
| 2008 694 films · +39% | 694 | $10.6B | +39% | The Dark Knight (2008) $1B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 2008?
English-language drama films took $8.1B across 269 films, 77% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language drama films ($626.9M) and French-language drama films ($491.7M).
2008 Drama Box Office by Language
- English $8.1B269 films · #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
-
Chinese $626.9M24 films · #1 Sex and the City (2008) -
French $491.7M63 films · #1 Welcome to the Sticks (2008) -
Japanese $226.5M22 films · #1 Suspect X (2008) -
Korean $161M32 films · #1 Scandal Makers (2008) -
Hindi $115.1M26 films · #1 Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (2008) -
Spanish $68.4M46 films · #1 Tear This Heart Out (2008) -
German $63.9M19 films · #1 The Counterfeiters (2008) -
Russian $61.8M13 films · #1 Admiral (2008) -
Italian $45.7M21 films · #1 My Brother Is an Only Child (2008)
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 2008: 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 694 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 2008?
The Dark Knight (2008) leads with $1B worldwide, $535M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Sex and the City (2008) at $418.8M and Twilight (2008) at $408.5M.
How much did drama movies released in 2008 earn?
694 drama films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $10.6B in all, or $15.3M per film on average. 2007 releases took $7.6B.
How many drama movies released in 2008 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Dark Knight (2008). 26 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2008 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 2008. 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 2008 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.