#1 of 88 #1 history movie of 2016
2016 · Action, Biography
$303.7M worldwide · 17% of the chart's total
$12.4M US & Canada · 4% $291.3M elsewhere · 96%
History box office · 2016
History Box Office 2016: Highest-Grossing History Movies
Dangal (2016) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 2016, with $303.7M worldwide, ahead of Assassin's Creed (2016) at $240.7M and Hidden Figures (2016) at $236M. 88 history films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $1.8B in all, 29% of it from the US & Canada. 6 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 66% on 2015, whose releases took $1.1B. By language, English leads with $1.2B across 41 history releases.
- 2016 releases with a gross
- 88
- combined worldwide
- $1.8B
- films crossed $100M
- 6
- vs 2015
- +66%
#1 of 88 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of 2016?
Dangal (2016) leads with $303.7M, 17% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.1B, 63% of what all 88 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 2016, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 88. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2016.
- 1 Dec 21, 2016 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $291.3M Worldwide: $303.7M
- 2 Dec 21, 2016 US and Canada: $54.6M Rest of the world: $186M Worldwide: $240.7M
- 3 Dec 25, 2016 US and Canada: $169.6M Rest of the world: $66.4M Worldwide: $236M
- 4 Nov 4, 2016 US and Canada: $67.2M Rest of the world: $113.4M Worldwide: $180.6M
- 5 Jan 22, 2016 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: $154.4M Worldwide: $157M
- 6
Nov 23, 2016 US and Canada: $40.1M Rest of the world: $79.4M Worldwide: $119.5M - 7
Aug 19, 2016 US and Canada: $26.4M Rest of the world: $67.7M Worldwide: $94.1M - 8
Dec 21, 2016 US and Canada: $31.9M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $52.2M - 9
Jan 29, 2016 US and Canada: $27.6M Rest of the world: $24.5M Worldwide: $52.1M - 10
Feb 26, 2016 US and Canada: $15.8M Rest of the world: $30.4M Worldwide: $46.2M - 11
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016)Nov 11, 2016 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $29.2M Worldwide: $30.9M
Nov 11, 2016 · English · Drama, History, Comedy $30.9M worldwide - 12
Dec 22, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.2M - 13
Jun 24, 2016 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: $4.2M Worldwide: $25M - 14
Feb 24, 2016 US and Canada: $125.6K Rest of the world: $23.7M Worldwide: $23.9M - 15
Dec 23, 2016 US and Canada: $7.1M Rest of the world: $16.7M Worldwide: $23.8M - 16
Oct 7, 2016 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: $917.6K Worldwide: $16.8M - 17
Fueled: The Man They Called “Pirate” (2016)Dec 11, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.8M
Dec 11, 2016 · Japanese · History, Drama $15.8M worldwide - 18
Jul 6, 2016 US and Canada: $97.5K Rest of the world: $14.7M Worldwide: $14.8M - 19
Nov 4, 2016 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: $5.2M Worldwide: $13M - 20
Jan 22, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3M - 21
Sep 30, 2016 US and Canada: $4.1M Rest of the world: $3.9M Worldwide: $8M - 22
Feb 17, 2016 US and Canada: $56.6K Rest of the world: $7.8M Worldwide: $7.8M - 23
Sep 9, 2016 US and Canada: $34K Rest of the world: $7M Worldwide: $7M - 24
Oct 7, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7M - 25
Oct 15, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.5M - 26
Mar 11, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4M - 27
Apr 22, 2016 US and Canada: $118.9K Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $5.5M - 28
Aug 12, 2016 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $5.1M - 29
Apr 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5M - 30
Aug 3, 2016 US and Canada: $29.3K Rest of the world: $4.1M Worldwide: $4.1M - 31
Dec 16, 2016 US and Canada: $939.1K Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $3.9M - 32
Apr 15, 2016 US and Canada: $15.7K Rest of the world: $3.6M Worldwide: $3.6M - 33
Feb 17, 2016 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $1.9M Worldwide: $3.2M - 34
Apr 13, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2M - 35
Dec 9, 2016 US and Canada: $435.3K Rest of the world: $2.7M Worldwide: $3.2M - 36
Sep 17, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1M - 37
Dec 22, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 38
1898: Our Last Men in the Philippines (2016)Nov 24, 2016 US and Canada: $2.8K Rest of the world: $2M Worldwide: $2M
Nov 24, 2016 · Spanish · Drama, History, War $2M worldwide - 39
Apr 22, 2016 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $743.1K Worldwide: $1.8M - 40
Aug 12, 2016 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $365.9K Worldwide: $1.6M - 41
Sep 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 42
Sep 9, 2016 US and Canada: $37.8K Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $1.3M - 43
Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur (2016)Nov 11, 2016 US and Canada: $700.7K Rest of the world: $556.1K Worldwide: $1.3M
Nov 11, 2016 · Punjabi · Action, History, Adventure $1.3M worldwide - 44
May 18, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 45
Apr 1, 2016 US and Canada: $307K Rest of the world: $701.1K Worldwide: $1M - 46
A Tale of Love and Darkness (2016)Aug 19, 2016 US and Canada: $572.2K Rest of the world: $152.7K Worldwide: $724.9K
Aug 19, 2016 · Hebrew · Biography, Drama, History $724.9K worldwide - 47
Oct 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $687K - 48
Sep 26, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $598.9K - 49
Apr 1, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $566.6K - 50
Mar 26, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $536K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2016?
Of the top 10, Hidden Figures (2016) earned the biggest share at home (72% in the US & Canada), while Ip Man 3 (2016) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 88 films, $516.8M (29%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Dangal (2016) $303.7M $12.4M US & Canada · 4% $291.3M elsewhere · 96%
- 2 Assassin's Creed (2016) $240.7M $54.6M US & Canada · 23% $186M elsewhere · 77%
- 3 Hidden Figures (2016) $236M $169.6M US & Canada · 72% $66.4M elsewhere · 28%
- 4 Hacksaw Ridge (2016) $180.6M $67.2M US & Canada · 37% $113.4M elsewhere · 63%
- 5 Ip Man 3 (2016) $157M $2.7M US & Canada · 2% $154.4M elsewhere · 98%
- 6 Allied (2016) $119.5M $40.1M US & Canada · 34% $79.4M elsewhere · 66%
- 7 Ben-Hur (2016) $94.1M $26.4M US & Canada · 28% $67.7M elsewhere · 72%
- 8 Patriots Day (2016) $52.2M $31.9M US & Canada · 61% $20.3M elsewhere · 39%
- 9 The Finest Hours (2016) $52.1M $27.6M US & Canada · 53% $24.5M elsewhere · 47%
- 10 Eddie the Eagle (2016) $46.2M $15.8M US & Canada · 34% $30.4M elsewhere · 66%
Gross bands
How Many 2016 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
6 of 88 films crossed $100M and took $1.2B between them, 69% of the total. 69 films, 78% of the list, earned under $10M.
69% 24%
- $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 6 films, 7% of the list $1.2B · 69% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 13 films, 15% of the list $437.7M · 24% of the gross
- Under $10M 69 films, 78% of the list $112.1M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2016 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $910.4M from 11 films, led by Dangal (2016). May was the quietest month ($1.4M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Ip Man 3 (2016) $218.9M Ip Man 3 (2016)
- February Feb Eddie the Eagle (2016) $81.2M Eddie the Eagle (2016)
- March Mar Admiral (2016) $7M Admiral (2016)
- April Apr Tale of Tales (2016) $21.1M Tale of Tales (2016)
- May May Fanny’s Journey (2016) $1.4M Fanny’s Journey (2016)
- June Jun Free State of Jones (2016) $25.1M Free State of Jones (2016)
- July Jul Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River (2016) $15.1M Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River (2016)
- August Aug Ben-Hur (2016) $105.7M Ben-Hur (2016)
- September Sep Denial (2016) $21.9M Denial (2016)
- October Oct The Birth of a Nation (2016) $32.1M The Birth of a Nation (2016)
- November Nov Hacksaw Ridge (2016) $347.3M Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
- December Dec Dangal (2016) $910.4M Dangal (2016)
Last 10 years
How Does 2016 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2016 earned the most: $1.8B from 88 films, led by Dangal (2016).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 47 films | 47 | $426.8M | – | Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) $75.8M |
| 2008 46 films · +121% | 46 | $943.6M | +121% | Australia (2008) $211.8M |
| 2009 40 films · −32% | 40 | $638.5M | −32% | Public Enemies (2009) $214.1M |
| 2010 51 films · +38% | 51 | $881.6M | +38% | The King's Speech (2010) $414.5M |
| 2011 57 films · −53% | 57 | $413.7M | −53% | Beginning of the Great Revival (2011) $58.3M |
| 2012 44 films · +183% | 44 | $1.2B | +183% | Lincoln (2012) $275.3M |
| 2013 53 films · −17% | 53 | $969.9M | −17% | American Hustle (2013) $251.2M |
| 2014 68 films · −46% | 68 | $528.3M | −46% | Unbroken (2014) $161.5M |
| 2015 81 films · +104% | 81 | $1.1B | +104% | Everest (2015) $203.4M |
| 2016 88 films · +66% | 88 | $1.8B | +66% | Dangal (2016) $303.7M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest History Movies Speak in 2016?
English-language history films took $1.2B across 41 films, 65% of the total, ahead of Hindi-language history films ($314.9M) and Chinese-language history films ($162.1M).
2016 History Box Office by Language
- English $1.2B41 films · #1 Assassin's Creed (2016)
- Hindi $314.9M4 films · #1 Dangal (2016)
-
Chinese $162.1M3 films · #1 Ip Man 3 (2016) -
Korean $60.8M6 films · #1 Spirits’ Homecoming (2016) -
Russian $35.6M2 films · #1 Viking (2016) - Japanese $16.2M2 films · #1 Fueled: The Man They Called “Pirate” (2016)
- Spanish $12.3M6 films · #1 Neruda (2016)
-
Polish $7M2 films · #1 Hatred (2016) -
Dutch $6.5M2 films · #1 Admiral (2016) -
German $3.8M2 films · #1 Land of Mine (2016)
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 2016: 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 88 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing history movie in 2016?
Dangal (2016) leads with $303.7M worldwide, $12.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Assassin's Creed (2016) at $240.7M and Hidden Figures (2016) at $236M.
How much did history movies released in 2016 earn?
88 history films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $1.8B in all, or $20.3M per film on average. 2015 releases took $1.1B.
How many history movies released in 2016 made $1 billion?
None. 6 films crossed $100 million, led by Dangal (2016) with $303.7M.
How is the 2016 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 2016. 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 2016 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.