#1 of 10 #1 history movie of 1991
1991 · Biography, Drama
$205.4M worldwide · 92% of the chart's total
$70.4M US & Canada · 34% $135M elsewhere · 66%
History box office · 1991
History Box Office 1991: Highest-Grossing History Movies
JFK (1991) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 1991, with $205.4M worldwide, ahead of Black Robe (1991) at $8.2M and Europa Europa (1991) at $5.6M. 10 history films released in 1991 report a worldwide gross, $223M in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 5.2 times the total of 1990, whose releases took $42.6M. By language, English leads with $214.7M across 5 history releases.
- 1991 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $223M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1990
- ×5.2
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of 1991?
JFK (1991) leads with $205.4M, 92% of the total. The top 5 together took $221.9M, almost all of what the 10 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 History Release of 1991, 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 1991.
- 1 Dec 20, 1991 US and Canada: $70.4M Rest of the world: $135M Worldwide: $205.4M
- 2 Sep 5, 1991 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: $170 Worldwide: $8.2M
- 3 May 9, 1991 US and Canada: $5.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6M
- 4 Mar 3, 1991 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M
- 5 Oct 11, 1991 US and Canada: $789.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $789.1K
- 6
Sep 3, 1991 US and Canada: $699.3K Rest of the world: $7.2K Worldwide: $706.4K - 7
Oct 17, 1991 US and Canada: $272.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $272.9K - 8
Dec 25, 1991 US and Canada: $93.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $93.3K - 9
Aug 22, 1991 US and Canada: $7.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2K - 10
May 9, 1991 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1991?
Of the top 10, Europa Europa (1991) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while JFK (1991) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $88M (39%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 JFK (1991) $205.4M $70.4M US & Canada · 34% $135M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Black Robe (1991) $8.2M $8.2M US & Canada · 100% $170 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Europa Europa (1991) $5.6M $5.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Madame Bovary (1991) $1.9M $1.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Cabeza de Vaca (1991) $789.1K $789.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Edward II (1991) $706.4K $699.3K US & Canada · 99% $7.2K elsewhere · 1%
- 7 Becoming Colette (1991) $272.9K $272.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Inner Circle (1991) $93.3K $93.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Fall of Otrar (1991) $7.2K $7.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Assassin of the Tsar (1991) $2.2K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1991 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 10 films crossed $100M and took $205.4M between them, 92% of the total. 9 films, 90% of the list, earned under $10M.
92%
- $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 1 film, 10% of the list $205.4M · 92% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- Under $10M 9 films, 90% of the list $17.6M · 8% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1991 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $205.5M from 2 films, led by JFK (1991). August was the quietest month ($7.2K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Madame Bovary (1991) $1.9M Madame Bovary (1991)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Europa Europa (1991) $5.6M Europa Europa (1991)
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug The Fall of Otrar (1991) $7.2K The Fall of Otrar (1991)
- September Sep Black Robe (1991) $8.9M Black Robe (1991)
- October Oct Cabeza de Vaca (1991) $1.1M Cabeza de Vaca (1991)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec JFK (1991) $205.5M JFK (1991)
Last 10 years
How Does 1991 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1991 earned the most: $223M from 10 films, led by JFK (1991).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 7 films | 7 | $53.3M | – | Quest for Fire (1982) $21M |
| 1983 3 films · +39% | 3 | $74M | +39% | Gandhi (1983) $52.8M |
| 1984 3 films · −14% | 3 | $63.8M | −14% | Amadeus (1984) $52.3M |
| 1985 10 films · +16% | 10 | $73.7M | +16% | The Killing Fields (1985) $34.7M |
| 1986 7 films · −68% | 7 | $23.6M | −68% | The Mission (1986) $17.5M |
| 1987 10 films · +566% | 10 | $157.2M | +566% | The Untouchables (1987) $76.3M |
| 1988 5 films · −55% | 5 | $70.4M | −55% | Gorillas in the Mist (1988) $61.1M |
| 1989 7 films · −65% | 7 | $24.8M | −65% | Henry V (1989) $10.2M |
| 1990 5 films · +72% | 5 | $42.6M | +72% | Glory (1990) $27M |
| 1991 10 films · +423% | 10 | $223M | +423% | JFK (1991) $205.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest History Movies Speak in 1991?
English-language history films took $214.7M across 5 films, 96% of the total, ahead of German-language history films ($5.6M) and French-language history films ($1.9M).
1991 History Box Office by Language
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
FAQ
History Box Office 1991: 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 10 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing history movie in 1991?
JFK (1991) leads with $205.4M worldwide, $70.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Black Robe (1991) at $8.2M and Europa Europa (1991) at $5.6M.
How much did history movies released in 1991 earn?
10 history films released in 1991 report a worldwide gross, $223M in all, or $22.3M per film on average. 1990 releases took $42.6M.
How many history movies released in 1991 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by JFK (1991) with $205.4M.
How is the 1991 history 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 1991. 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 1991 history 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.