#1 of 7 #1 fantasy movie of December 2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2003 · Action, Adventure
$1.1B worldwide · 81% of the chart's total
$381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
Fantasy box office · December 2003
Fantasy Box Office, December 2003: Top-Grossing Releases
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is the highest-grossing fantasy movie released in December 2003, with $1.1B worldwide, ahead of Big Fish (2003) at $123.2M and Peter Pan (2003) at $122M. 7 fantasy films released in December 2003 report a worldwide gross, $1.4B in all, 35% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 3 crossed $100 million. That is 3.1 times the total of November 2003, whose releases took $456.9M. By language, English leads with $1.4B across 3 fantasy releases.
- December 2003 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $1.4B
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs November 2003
- ×3.1
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Fantasy Hits of December 2003?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B, 81% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.4B, almost all of what the 7 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $1.1B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)$381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Fantasy Release of December 2003, 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 December 2003.
- 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $381.9M Rest of the world: $756.7M Worldwide: $1.1B
Dec 17, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Fantasy $1.1B worldwide - 2 Dec 10, 2003 US and Canada: $66.8M Rest of the world: $56.4M Worldwide: $123.2M
- 3 Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $48.5M Rest of the world: $73.5M Worldwide: $122M
- 4 Dec 13, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.7M
- 5 Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003)Dec 20, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7M
Dec 20, 2003 · Japanese · Fantasy, Adventure, Animation $6.7M worldwide - 6
Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M - 7
Dec 3, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $64.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2003?
Of the top 7, Big Fish (2003) earned the biggest share at home (54% in the US & Canada), while The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $497.2M (35%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 7 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B $381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Big Fish (2003) $123.2M $66.8M US & Canada · 54% $56.4M elsewhere · 46%
- 3 Peter Pan (2003) $122M $48.5M US & Canada · 40% $73.5M elsewhere · 60%
- 4 Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) $10.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Inuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003) $6.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 The 3 Wise Men (2003) $2.8M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Raining Cats and Frogs (2003) $64.9K No US & Canada figure reported
By release week
Which Week of December 2003 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 14–20) took $1.1B, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Raining Cats and Frogs (2003) $64.9K Raining Cats and Frogs (2003)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 Big Fish (2003) $134M Big Fish (2003)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 Peter Pan (2003) $122M Peter Pan (2003)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 2003 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2003 earned the most: $1.4B from 7 films, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1994 1 film | 1 | $167.8K | – | Sailor Moon S the Movie: Hearts in Ice (1994) $167.8K |
| December 1995 3 films · +158308% | 3 | $265.9M | +158308% | Jumanji (1995) $262.8M |
| December 1996 2 films · −17% | 2 | $221.1M | −17% | Michael (1996) $119.7M |
| December 1997 2 films · −85% | 2 | $33.3M | −85% | The Borrowers (1997) $22.6M |
| December 1998 3 films · +157% | 3 | $85.5M | +157% | Mighty Joe Young (1998) $50.6M |
| December 1999 4 films · +692% | 4 | $676.6M | +692% | Stuart Little (1999) $300.1M |
| December 2000 5 films · +35% | 5 | $916.5M | +35% | What Women Want (2000) $374.1M |
| December 2001 9 films · +8% | 9 | $987.8M | +8% | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M |
| December 2002 4 films · −83% | 4 | $167.2M | −83% | The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) $60.7M |
| December 2003 7 films · +740% | 7 | $1.4B | +740% | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
Archive
Fantasy Box Office in 2003, Month by Month
The months of 2003 with their totals: December leads with $1.4B, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).
- January $24.3M #1 The Guru (2003)
- February $179.8M #1 Daredevil (2003)
- March $103.8M #1 Dreamcatcher (2003)
- April $17.5M #1 Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master (2003)
- May $485.9M #1 Bruce Almighty (2003)
- June No grosses
- July $1.1B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- August $195.1M #1 Freaky Friday (2003)
- September $98.5M #1 Underworld (2003)
- October $295.9M #1 Brother Bear (2003)
- November $456.9M #1 Elf (2003)
- December $1.4B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
FAQ
Fantasy Box Office December 2003: 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 7 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing fantasy movie in December 2003?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B worldwide, $381.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Big Fish (2003) at $123.2M and Peter Pan (2003) at $122M.
How much did fantasy movies released in December 2003 earn?
7 fantasy films released in December 2003 report a worldwide gross, $1.4B in all, or $200.6M per film on average. November 2003 releases took $456.9M.
How many fantasy movies released in December 2003 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). 3 crossed $100 million.
How is the December 2003 fantasy 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 December 2003. 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 December 2003 fantasy 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.