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History box office · 2002

History Box Office 2002: Highest-Grossing History Movies

Gangs of New York (2002) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 2002, with $193.8M worldwide, ahead of We Were Soldiers (2002) at $115.4M and Windtalkers (2002) at $77.6M. 16 history films released in 2002 report a worldwide gross, $630M in all, 44% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 6.1 times the total of 2001, whose releases took $103.7M. By language, English leads with $528.5M across 7 history releases.

2002 releases with a gross
16
combined worldwide
$630M
films crossed $100M
2
vs 2001
×6.1
Gangs of New York (2002) movie poster #1 of 16
#1 history movie of 2002

Gangs of New York (2002)

2002 · Drama, History

$193.8M worldwide · 31% of the chart's total

$77.8M US & Canada · 40% $116M elsewhere · 60%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest History Hits of 2002?

Gangs of New York (2002) leads with $193.8M, 31% of the total. The top 5 together took $523.3M, 83% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Gangs of New York (2002) movie poster Number 1
    $193.8M Gangs of New York (2002)
    $77.8M US & Canada · 40% $116M elsewhere · 60%
  2. We Were Soldiers (2002) movie poster Number 2
    $115.4M We Were Soldiers (2002)
    $78.1M US & Canada · 68% $37.3M elsewhere · 32%
  3. Windtalkers (2002) movie poster Number 3
    $77.6M Windtalkers (2002)
    $40.9M US & Canada · 53% $36.7M elsewhere · 47%
  4. Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002) movie poster Number 4
    $70.8M Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002)
    $11.3M US & Canada · 16% $59.5M elsewhere · 84%
  5. K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) movie poster Number 5
    $65.7M K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
    $35.2M US & Canada · 54% $30.5M elsewhere · 46%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every History Release of 2002, 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 2002.

  1. 1 Gangs of New York (2002) movie poster
    Gangs of New York (2002) Dec 20, 2002 · English · Drama, History, Crime $193.8M worldwide
    Dec 20, 2002 US and Canada: $77.8M Rest of the world: $116M Worldwide: $193.8M
  2. 2 We Were Soldiers (2002) movie poster
    We Were Soldiers (2002) Mar 1, 2002 · English · Action, History, War $115.4M worldwide
    Mar 1, 2002 US and Canada: $78.1M Rest of the world: $37.3M Worldwide: $115.4M
  3. 3 Windtalkers (2002) movie poster
    Windtalkers (2002) Jun 14, 2002 · English · Action, History, Romance $77.6M worldwide
    Jun 14, 2002 US and Canada: $40.9M Rest of the world: $36.7M Worldwide: $77.6M
  4. 4 Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002) movie poster
    Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002) Jan 11, 2002 · Action, History, Mystery $70.8M worldwide
    Jan 11, 2002 US and Canada: $11.3M Rest of the world: $59.5M Worldwide: $70.8M
  5. 5 K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) movie poster
    K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) Jul 19, 2002 · English · Drama, History, Thriller $65.7M worldwide
    Jul 19, 2002 US and Canada: $35.2M Rest of the world: $30.5M Worldwide: $65.7M
  6. 6 Bowling for Columbine (2002) movie poster
    Bowling for Columbine (2002) Oct 11, 2002 · English · History, Documentary $58M worldwide
    Oct 11, 2002 US and Canada: $21.6M Rest of the world: $36.4M Worldwide: $58M
  7. 7 Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) movie poster
    Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) Nov 29, 2002 · English · Adventure, Drama, History $16.2M worldwide
    Nov 29, 2002 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: $10M Worldwide: $16.2M
  8. 8 Mad Love (2002) movie poster
    Mad Love (2002) Aug 30, 2002 · Biography, Drama, History $9.3M worldwide
    Aug 30, 2002 US and Canada: $280K Rest of the world: $9M Worldwide: $9.3M
  9. 9 Russian Ark (2002) movie poster
    Russian Ark (2002) Nov 29, 2002 · Russian · Drama, History, Fantasy $8.7M worldwide
    Nov 29, 2002 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: $5.6M Worldwide: $8.7M
  10. 10 Twin Sisters (2002) movie poster
    Twin Sisters (2002) Dec 12, 2002 · Dutch · Drama, History, Romance $5.9M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2002 US and Canada: $1.6K Rest of the world: $5.9M Worldwide: $5.9M
  11. 11 When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002) movie poster
    When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002) Nov 4, 2002 · Japanese · Action, Drama, History $2.5M worldwide
    Nov 4, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M
  12. 12 Bloody Sunday (2002) movie poster
    Bloody Sunday (2002) Oct 4, 2002 · English · Drama, History, War $1.8M worldwide
    Oct 4, 2002 US and Canada: $773.2K Rest of the world: $985.5K Worldwide: $1.8M
  13. 13 Safe Conduct (2002) movie poster
    Safe Conduct (2002) Oct 11, 2002 · French · Biography, Drama, History $1.7M worldwide
    Oct 11, 2002 US and Canada: $25.4K Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $1.7M
  14. 14 Corto Maltese: The Secret Court of the Arcane (2002) movie poster
    Corto Maltese: The Secret Court of the Arcane (2002) Aug 6, 2002 · French · Animation, History, Drama $1.3M worldwide
    Aug 6, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M
  15. 15 The Lady and the Duke (2002) movie poster
    The Lady and the Duke (2002) May 10, 2002 · French · Drama, History, War $1.1M worldwide
    May 10, 2002 US and Canada: $331.1K Rest of the world: $797.1K Worldwide: $1.1M
  16. 16 The Life of Aleksis Kivi (2002) movie poster
    The Life of Aleksis Kivi (2002) Jan 18, 2002 · Finnish · History, Drama $191.4K worldwide
    Jan 18, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $191.4K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 2002?

Of the top 10, We Were Soldiers (2002) earned the biggest share at home (68% in the US & Canada), while Twin Sisters (2002) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $275.5M (44%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Gangs of New York (2002) $193.8M
    $77.8M US & Canada · 40% $116M elsewhere · 60%
  2. 2 We Were Soldiers (2002) $115.4M
    $78.1M US & Canada · 68% $37.3M elsewhere · 32%
  3. 3 Windtalkers (2002) $77.6M
    $40.9M US & Canada · 53% $36.7M elsewhere · 47%
  4. 4 Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002) $70.8M
    $11.3M US & Canada · 16% $59.5M elsewhere · 84%
  5. 5 K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) $65.7M
    $35.2M US & Canada · 54% $30.5M elsewhere · 46%
  6. 6 Bowling for Columbine (2002) $58M
    $21.6M US & Canada · 37% $36.4M elsewhere · 63%
  7. 7 Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) $16.2M
    $6.2M US & Canada · 38% $10M elsewhere · 62%
  8. 8 Mad Love (2002) $9.3M
    $280K US & Canada · 3% $9M elsewhere · 97%
  9. 9 Russian Ark (2002) $8.7M
    $3M US & Canada · 35% $5.6M elsewhere · 65%
  10. 10 Twin Sisters (2002) $5.9M
    $1.6K US & Canada · <1% $5.9M elsewhere · 100%
Gross bands

How Many 2002 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 16 films crossed $100M and took $309.1M between them, 49% of the total. 9 films, 56% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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 2 films, 13% of the list $309.1M · 49% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 31% of the list $288.3M · 46% of the gross
  • Under $10M 9 films, 56% of the list $32.5M · 5% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 2002 Earned the Most?

December releases took the most, $199.7M from 2 films, led by Gangs of New York (2002). May was the quietest month ($1.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002) $71M Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002)
  2. February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  3. March Mar We Were Soldiers (2002) $115.4M We Were Soldiers (2002)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May The Lady and the Duke (2002) $1.1M The Lady and the Duke (2002)
  6. June Jun Windtalkers (2002) $77.6M Windtalkers (2002)
  7. July Jul K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) $65.7M K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
  8. August Aug Mad Love (2002) $10.6M Mad Love (2002)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct Bowling for Columbine (2002) $61.5M Bowling for Columbine (2002)
  11. November Nov Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) $27.4M Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
  12. December Dec Gangs of New York (2002) $199.7M Gangs of New York (2002)
Last 10 years

How Does 2002 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1995 earned the most: $980.4M from 13 films, led by Apollo 13 (1995). 2002 took $630M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1993 7 films 7 $420M – Schindler's List (1993) $322.2M
1994 12 films · −87% 12 $52.8M −87% Quiz Show (1994) $24.8M
1995 13 films · +1756% 13 $980.4M +1756% Apollo 13 (1995) $355.2M
1996 11 films · −96% 11 $40.4M −96% Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) $13.3M
1997 12 films · +414% 12 $207.8M +414% Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $131.5M
1998 9 films · +70% 9 $353.8M +70% The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) $183M
1999 9 films · −48% 9 $183.1M −48% Anna and the King (1999) $114M
2000 16 films · +209% 16 $565.8M +209% Gladiator (2000) $465.5M
2001 9 films · −82% 9 $103.7M −82% Enemy at the Gates (2001) $97M
2002 16 films · +507% 16 $630M +507% Gangs of New York (2002) $193.8M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest History Movies Speak in 2002?

English-language history films took $528.5M across 7 films, 84% of the total, ahead of Russian-language history films ($8.7M) and Dutch-language history films ($5.9M).

2002 History Box Office by Language

  1. English $528.5M
    7 films · #1 Gangs of New York (2002)
  2. Russian $8.7M
    1 film · #1 Russian Ark (2002)
  3. Dutch $5.9M
    1 film · #1 Twin Sisters (2002)
  4. French $4.1M
    3 films · #1 Safe Conduct (2002)
  5. Japanese $2.5M
    1 film · #1 When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002)
  6. Finnish $191.4K
    1 film · #1 The Life of Aleksis Kivi (2002)
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
2000s 10 years · $6.7B
1990s 10 years · $2.6B
1980s 10 years · $628.2M
1970s 9 years · $171.8M
1960s 10 years · $108.7M
1950s 9 years · $177.5M
1940s 5 years · $402.5M
1930s 4 years · $29.1K
1920s 3 years · $124.9K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ

History Box Office 2002: 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 16 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing history movie in 2002?

Gangs of New York (2002) leads with $193.8M worldwide, $77.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come We Were Soldiers (2002) at $115.4M and Windtalkers (2002) at $77.6M.

How much did history movies released in 2002 earn?

16 history films released in 2002 report a worldwide gross, $630M in all, or $39.4M per film on average. 2001 releases took $103.7M.

How many history movies released in 2002 made $1 billion?

None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Gangs of New York (2002) with $193.8M.

How much of the 2002 History box office came from the US and Canada?

$275.5M of the $630M total, or 44%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 3 films of the 16 report no domestic figure.

How is the 2002 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 2002. 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 2002 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.