#1 of 1,740 Highest-grossing history movie ever
2026 · Biography, Drama
$1B worldwide
$372.3M US & Canada · 36% $656.4M elsewhere · 64%
History box office
History Box Office: Highest-Grossing History Movies of All Time & 2026 So Far
Michael (2026) is the highest-grossing history movie in our database, with $1B worldwide, ahead of Oppenheimer (2023) ($975.8M) and Full River Red (2023) ($670.5M). 1,740 history films report a worldwide gross, $29.1B in all, 34% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 68 crossed $100 million. In 2026 so far, Michael (2026) leads with $1B; 27 releases took $1.1B, up 16% on the same days of 2025 ($970M).
- history films with a gross
- 1,740
- combined worldwide, all time
- $29.1B
- from 2026 releases so far
- $1.1B
- vs the same days of 2025
- +16%
#1 of 1,740 All-time records
What Are the 10 Highest-Grossing History Movies Ever?
Michael (2026) leads with $1B, $52.9M ahead of Oppenheimer (2023). The top 10 took $6B together, 21% of what all 1,740 films earned. 6 of them came out in 2016 or later.
- 1 Apr 24, 2026 US and Canada: $372.3M Rest of the world: $656.4M Worldwide: $1B
- 2
Jul 21, 2023 US and Canada: $330.1M Rest of the world: $645.7M Worldwide: $975.8M - 3
Mar 17, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $670.5M - 4
Feb 25, 2004 US and Canada: $370.8M Rest of the world: $239.3M Worldwide: $610.1M - 5
Jul 21, 2017 US and Canada: $189.7M Rest of the world: $344M Worldwide: $533.7M - 6
May 5, 2000 US and Canada: $187.7M Rest of the world: $277.8M Worldwide: $465.5M - 7
Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $111.1M Rest of the world: $343.5M Worldwide: $454.6M - 8
Oct 1, 2019 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: $447.7M Worldwide: $450.1M - 9
Aug 15, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $422.8M - 10
Nov 26, 2010 US and Canada: $138.8M Rest of the world: $275.7M Worldwide: $414.5M
2026 so far
What Are the Biggest History Hits of 2026 So Far?
Michael (2026) leads with $1B, 91% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.1B, 97% of what all 27 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
By release month
Which Month of 2026 Was Best for History Movies?
April releases took the most, $1B from 5 films, led by Michael (2026). June was the quietest month ($153.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Dead Man's Wire (2026) $4.4M Dead Man's Wire (2026)
- February Feb Palestine 36 (2026) $2.8M Palestine 36 (2026)
- March Mar Saipan (2026) $2.4M Saipan (2026)
- April Apr Michael (2026) $1B Michael (2026)
- May May Pressure (2026) $41.5M Pressure (2026)
- June Jun Underland (2026) $153.7K Underland (2026)
- July Jul The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026) $7.1M The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026)
- August Aug The Brink of War (2026) $5.1M The Brink of War (2026)
- September Sep The Uprising (2026) $13.4M The Uprising (2026)
- October Oct California Schemin' (2026) $1.5M California Schemin' (2026)
- November Nov No reported grosses – so far No reported grosses
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing History Movies?
2023 releases earned the most: $2.8B from 80 films, led by Oppenheimer (2023). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 80 films | 80 | $2.8B | Oppenheimer (2023) $975.8M |
| 2016 88 films | 88 | $1.8B | Dangal (2016) $303.7M |
| 2019 120 films | 120 | $1.8B | My People, My Country (2019) $450.1M |
| 2017 100 films | 100 | $1.7B | Dunkirk (2017) $533.7M |
| 2018 90 films | 90 | $1.2B | Green Book (2018) $321.8M |
| 2004 35 films | 35 | $1.2B | The Passion of the Christ (2004) $610.1M |
| 2012 44 films | 44 | $1.2B | Lincoln (2012) $275.3M |
| 2025 49 films | 49 | $1.1B | Dead to Rights (2025) $422.8M |
| 2026 27 films | 27 | $1.1B so far | Michael (2026) $1B |
| 2015 81 films | 81 | $1.1B | Everest (2015) $203.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest History Movies Speak?
English-language history films took $19.4B across 757 films, 67% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language history films ($3.5B) and Korean-language history films ($1.1B).
-
English $19.4B757 films · #1 Michael (2026) -
Chinese $3.5B64 films · #1 Full River Red (2023) -
Korean $1.1B46 films · #1 12.12: The Day (2023) -
Japanese $779.5M65 films · #1 The Wind Rises (2013) - Aramaic $610.1M1 film · #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
-
Hindi $603.7M40 films · #1 Dangal (2016) -
French $552.8M134 films · #1 The Count of Monte-Cristo (2024) -
Russian $322.9M64 films · #1 The Execution (2024) -
Spanish $242.2M73 films · #1 The Untouchables (1987) -
German $221.1M52 films · #1 Downfall (2005)
Archive
History Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $2.8B, led by Oppenheimer (2023).
2020s 7 years · $6.8B
2010s 10 years · $11.6B
- 2019 $1.8B #1 My People, My Country (2019)
- 2018 $1.2B #1 Green Book (2018)
- 2017 $1.7B #1 Dunkirk (2017)
- 2016 $1.8B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.1B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $528.3M #1 Unbroken (2014)
- 2013 $969.9M #1 American Hustle (2013)
- 2012 $1.2B #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $413.7M #1 Beginning of the Great Revival (2011)
- 2010 $881.6M #1 The King's Speech (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6.7B
- 2009 $638.5M #1 Public Enemies (2009)
- 2008 $943.6M #1 Australia (2008)
- 2007 $426.8M #1 Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
- 2006 $744.1M #1 World Trade Center (2006)
- 2005 $796.9M #1 Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- 2004 $1.2B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $666.9M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
- 2002 $630M #1 Gangs of New York (2002)
- 2001 $103.7M #1 Enemy at the Gates (2001)
- 2000 $565.8M #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.6B
- 1999 $183.1M #1 Anna and the King (1999)
- 1998 $353.8M #1 The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
- 1997 $207.8M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $40.4M #1 Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
- 1995 $980.4M #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $52.8M #1 Quiz Show (1994)
- 1993 $420M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $58M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $223M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $42.6M #1 Glory (1990)
1980s 10 years · $628.2M
- 1989 $24.8M #1 Henry V (1989)
- 1988 $70.4M #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- 1987 $157.2M #1 The Untouchables (1987)
- 1986 $23.6M #1 The Mission (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Killing Fields (1985)
- 1984 $63.8M #1 Amadeus (1984)
- 1983 $74M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $53.3M #1 Quest for Fire (1982)
- 1981 $83.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $4M #1 Kagemusha (1980)
1970s 9 years · $171.8M
- 1979 $1.9M #1 Zulu Dawn (1979)
- 1978 $15.9M #1 American Hot Wax (1978)
- 1977 $50.8M #1 A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- 1976 $70.8M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $416.1K #1 Barry Lyndon (1975)
- 1974 $103.4K #1 Edvard Munch (1974)
- 1972 $37.8K #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- 1971 $3.1K #1 The Devils (1971)
- 1970 $31.9M #1 Little Big Man (1970)
1960s 10 years · $108.7M
- 1969 $1M #1 Army of Shadows (1969)
- 1968 $20.1K #1 The Lion in Winter (1968)
- 1967 $316 #1 In Cold Blood (1967)
- 1966 $1.1M #1 The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- 1965 $162.9K #1 War and Peace (1965)
- 1964 $149.3K #1 Becket (1964)
- 1963 $58M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $46M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $350K #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- 1960 $1.9M #1 Spartacus (1960)
1950s 9 years · $177.5M
- 1959 $74.6M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $38.4K #1 The Vikings (1958)
- 1957 $68K #1 Throne of Blood (1957)
- 1956 $65.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $911.1K #1 The Dam Busters (1955)
- 1954 $26.6K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- 1953 $36M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $280.5K #1 Les Miserables (1952)
- 1950 $10.9K #1 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
1940s 5 years · $402.5M
1930s 4 years · $29.1K
1920s 3 years · $124.9K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
Other genres
Compare History With Another Genre
History has 1,740 films with a gross and $29.1B in all; each of these 20 genres has the same all-time and yearly charts to compare with.
FAQ
History Box Office: Questions & Answers
The History charts in short: the all-time #1, 2026's leader, the billion-dollar hits and the biggest year, answered from the same 1,740 films as the charts.
What is the highest-grossing history movie of all time?
Michael (2026) leads with $1B worldwide, $372.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Oppenheimer (2023) ($975.8M) and Full River Red (2023) ($670.5M).
All-time chart What is the highest-grossing history movie of 2026 so far?
Michael (2026) leads 2026 with $1B worldwide, 91% of the $1.1B that its 27 releases report. Films of this year are still earning, so the order can change.
2026 chart How much have history movies earned at the box office?
1,740 history films report a worldwide gross, $29.1B in all, or $16.7M per film on average. $9.8B (34%) came from the US & Canada.
How many history movies have made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide, among them Michael (2026). 68 crossed $100 million.
Which year was the biggest for history movies?
2023 releases earned the most: $2.8B from 80 films, led by Oppenheimer (2023).
2023 chart How are history box office numbers counted?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are records that list seven or more genres.