#1 of 9 #1 history movie of December 2008
2008 · Drama, History
$201.5M worldwide · 54% of the chart's total
$83.1M US & Canada · 41% $118.5M elsewhere · 59%
History box office · December 2008
History Box Office, December 2008: Top-Grossing Releases
Valkyrie (2008) is the highest-grossing history movie released in December 2008, with $201.5M worldwide, ahead of Defiance (2008) at $51.3M and Che (2008) at $34.2M. 9 history films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $372.3M in all, 37% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 68% on November 2008, whose releases took $222M. By language, English leads with $289.1M across 4 history releases.
- December 2008 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $372.3M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs November 2008
- +68%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of December 2008?
Valkyrie (2008) leads with $201.5M, 54% of the total. The top 5 together took $332.2M, 89% of what all 9 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 December 2008, 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 2008.
- 1 Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $83.1M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $201.5M
- 2 Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: $22.6M Worldwide: $51.3M
- 3 Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $748.6K Rest of the world: $33.5M Worldwide: $34.2M
- 4 Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: $8.8M Worldwide: $27.4M
- 5 Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.8M
- 6
Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.4M - 7
Dec 24, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.6M - 8
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: $688.1K Worldwide: $8.9M - 9
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $154.1K Rest of the world: $3M Worldwide: $3.2M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2008?
Of the top 9, Cadillac Records (2008) earned the biggest share at home (92% in the US & Canada), while Che (2008) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $139.4M (37%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 9 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Valkyrie (2008) $201.5M $83.1M US & Canada · 41% $118.5M elsewhere · 59%
- 2 Defiance (2008) $51.3M $28.6M US & Canada · 56% $22.6M elsewhere · 44%
- 3 Che (2008) $34.2M $748.6K US & Canada · 2% $33.5M elsewhere · 98%
- 4 Frost/Nixon (2008) $27.4M $18.6M US & Canada · 68% $8.8M elsewhere · 32%
- 5 Forever Enthralled (2008) $17.8M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Max Manus: Man of War (2008) $15.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Buddenbrooks (2008) $12.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Cadillac Records (2008) $8.9M $8.2M US & Canada · 92% $688.1K elsewhere · 8%
- 9 Hunger (2008) $3.2M $154.1K US & Canada · 5% $3M elsewhere · 95%
By release week
Which Week of December 2008 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 52 (Dec 21–27) took $214.2M, led by Valkyrie (2008). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Frost/Nixon (2008) $57.3M Frost/Nixon (2008)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 Che (2008) $34.2M Che (2008)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 Max Manus: Man of War (2008) $15.4M Max Manus: Man of War (2008)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 Valkyrie (2008) $214.2M Valkyrie (2008)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 Defiance (2008) $51.3M Defiance (2008)
Earlier years
How Does December 2008 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2003 earned the most: $455.2M from 2 films, led by The Last Samurai (2003). December 2008 took $372.3M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1999 1 film | 1 | $114M | – | Anna and the King (1999) $114M |
| December 2000 2 films · −42% | 2 | $66.6M | −42% | Thirteen Days (2000) $66.6M |
| December 2001 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| December 2002 2 films | 2 | $199.7M | – | Gangs of New York (2002) $193.8M |
| December 2003 2 films · +128% | 2 | $455.2M | +128% | The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M |
| December 2004 3 films · −91% | 3 | $38.9M | −91% | Hotel Rwanda (2004) $33.9M |
| December 2005 6 films · +669% | 6 | $299.1M | +669% | Munich (2005) $131M |
| December 2006 6 films · −69% | 6 | $93.2M | −69% | Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) $68.7M |
| December 2007 7 films · −32% | 7 | $63.6M | −32% | The Warlords (2007) $42.9M |
| December 2008 9 films · +486% | 9 | $372.3M | +486% | Valkyrie (2008) $201.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest History Movies Speak in December 2008?
English-language history films took $289.1M across 4 films, 78% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language history films ($17.8M) and Norwegian-language history films ($15.4M).
Archive
History Box Office in 2008, Month by Month
The months of 2008 with their totals: December leads with $372.3M, led by Valkyrie (2008).
- January $5.7M #1 The Kautokeino Rebellion (2008)
- February $123.9M #1 The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- March $3.9M #1 The Red Baron (2008)
- April $2.7M #1 Gentlemen Officers: Save the Emperor (2008)
- May $10.5M #1 Che: Part Two (2008)
- June $1.2M #1 Silent Wedding (2008)
- July No grosses
- August $9.1M #1 Arn: The Kingdom at Road’s End (2008)
- September $64.2M #1 The Duchess (2008)
- October $128.1M #1 Changeling (2008)
- November $222M #1 Australia (2008)
- December $372.3M #1 Valkyrie (2008)
FAQ
History Box Office December 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 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing history movie in December 2008?
Valkyrie (2008) leads with $201.5M worldwide, $83.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Defiance (2008) at $51.3M and Che (2008) at $34.2M.
How much did history movies released in December 2008 earn?
9 history films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $372.3M in all, or $41.4M per film on average. November 2008 releases took $222M.
How many history movies released in December 2008 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Valkyrie (2008) with $201.5M.
How is the December 2008 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 December 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 December 2008 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.