#1 of 9 #1 music movie of 1996
1996 · Drama, Music
$106.3M worldwide · 58% of the chart's total
$82.6M US & Canada · 78% $23.7M elsewhere · 22%
Music box office · 1996
Music Box Office 1996: Highest-Grossing Music Movies
Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) is the highest-grossing music movie released in 1996, with $106.3M worldwide, ahead of Shine (1996) at $36M and That Thing You Do! (1996) at $34.6M. 9 music films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $183.2M in all, 80% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 120.5 times the total of 1995, whose releases took $1.5M. By language, English leads with $178.3M across 6 music releases.
- 1996 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $183.2M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1995
- ×120.5
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Music Hits of 1996?
Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) leads with $106.3M, 58% of the total. The top 5 together took $182.8M, almost all of what the 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 Music Release of 1996, 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 1996.
- 1 Jan 19, 1996 US and Canada: $82.6M Rest of the world: $23.7M Worldwide: $106.3M
- 2 Nov 20, 1996 US and Canada: $35.9M Rest of the world: $106.8K Worldwide: $36M
- 3 Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: $8.7M Worldwide: $34.6M
- 4 Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $498.2K Rest of the world: $4.1M Worldwide: $4.6M
- 5 Aug 16, 1996 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $499 Worldwide: $1.4M
- 6
Dec 18, 1996 US and Canada: $181.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $181.9K - 7
Sep 4, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $147.7K - 8
Mar 4, 1996 US and Canada: $35.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.5K - 9
Jan 17, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.8K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1996?
Of the top 9, Beyond Silence (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Whisper of the Heart (1996) made 89% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $146.4M (80%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 9 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) $106.3M $82.6M US & Canada · 78% $23.7M elsewhere · 22%
- 2 Shine (1996) $36M $35.9M US & Canada · 100% $106.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 That Thing You Do! (1996) $34.6M $25.9M US & Canada · 75% $8.7M elsewhere · 25%
- 4 Whisper of the Heart (1996) $4.6M $498.2K US & Canada · 11% $4.1M elsewhere · 89%
- 5 Kansas City (1996) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% $499 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Beyond Silence (1996) $181.9K $181.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Swallowtail Butterfly (1996) $147.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Cosi (1996) $35.5K $35.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Cremaster 1 (1996) $8.8K No US & Canada figure reported
By release month
Which Month of 1996 Earned the Most?
January releases took the most, $106.3M from 2 films, led by Mr. Holland's Opus (1996). March was the quietest month ($35.5K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) $106.3M Mr. Holland's Opus (1996)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Cosi (1996) $35.5K Cosi (1996)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Kansas City (1996) $1.4M Kansas City (1996)
- September Sep Swallowtail Butterfly (1996) $147.7K Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)
- October Oct That Thing You Do! (1996) $34.6M That Thing You Do! (1996)
- November Nov Shine (1996) $36M Shine (1996)
- December Dec Whisper of the Heart (1996) $4.8M Whisper of the Heart (1996)
Last 10 years
How Does 1996 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1992 earned the most: $858.7M from 12 films, led by The Bodyguard (1992). 1996 took $183.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 10 films | 10 | $83.6M | – | La Bamba (1987) $54.2M |
| 1988 18 films · +36% | 18 | $114.1M | +36% | Beaches (1988) $57M |
| 1989 5 films · −63% | 5 | $42.4M | −63% | The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) $18.4M |
| 1990 7 films · +483% | 7 | $247.1M | +483% | Dick Tracy (1990) $162.7M |
| 1991 13 films · −47% | 13 | $131.6M | −47% | The Doors (1991) $34.5M |
| 1992 12 films · +553% | 12 | $858.7M | +553% | The Bodyguard (1992) $411M |
| 1993 12 films · −79% | 12 | $180.1M | −79% | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) $57.3M |
| 1994 8 films · −83% | 8 | $31.3M | −83% | The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) $11.3M |
| 1995 5 films · −95% | 5 | $1.5M | −95% | Georgia (1995) $1.1M |
| 1996 9 films · +11948% | 9 | $183.2M | +11948% | Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) $106.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Music Movies Speak in 1996?
English-language music films took $178.3M across 6 films, 97% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language music films ($4.7M) and German-language music films ($181.9K).
Archive
Music Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1925 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2020s 7 years · $2.9B
2010s 10 years · $7B
- 2019 $543.5M #1 Rocketman (2019)
- 2018 $2B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $531.2M #1 Baby Driver (2017)
- 2016 $803.5M #1 Sing (2016)
- 2015 $1B #1 Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
- 2014 $508.5M #1 Step Up: All In (2014)
- 2013 $495.1M #1 Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
- 2012 $467.2M #1 Step Up Revolution (2012)
- 2011 $339.1M #1 Happy Feet Two (2011)
- 2010 $319.4M #1 Step Up 3-D (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6B
- 2009 $1.2B #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- 2008 $374M #1 Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
- 2007 $831.5M #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 2006 $723.7M #1 Happy Feet (2006)
- 2005 $716.9M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $536.3M #1 Home on the Range (2004)
- 2003 $411.4M #1 School of Rock (2003)
- 2002 $487.1M #1 8 Mile (2002)
- 2001 $251.1M #1 Save the Last Dance (2001)
- 2000 $539.5M #1 Coyote Ugly (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.2B
- 1999 $80.7M #1 Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- 1998 $197.7M #1 The Wedding Singer (1998)
- 1997 $309.7M #1 The Full Monty (1997)
- 1996 $183.2M #1 Mr. Holland's Opus (1996)
- 1995 $1.5M #1 Georgia (1995)
- 1994 $31.3M #1 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
- 1993 $180.1M #1 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
- 1992 $858.7M #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $131.6M #1 The Doors (1991)
- 1990 $247.1M #1 Dick Tracy (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.3B
- 1989 $42.4M #1 The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
- 1988 $114.1M #1 Beaches (1988)
- 1987 $83.6M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $34.6M #1 Disorder (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Last Dragon (1985)
- 1984 $360.2M #1 Footloose (1984)
- 1983 $188.2M #1 Flashdance (1983)
- 1982 $93.7M #1 Victor Victoria (1982)
- 1981 $20.3M #1 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
- 1980 $262.6M #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $686.3M
- 1979 $80.8M #1 All That Jazz (1979)
- 1978 $69M #1 Up in Smoke (1978)
- 1977 $254M #1 Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- 1976 $80M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $10M #1 Nashville (1975)
- 1974 $102.6K #1 A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
- 1973 $204.1K #1 Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
- 1972 $671.2K #1 Elvis on Tour (1972)
- 1971 $1.6K #1 The Music Lovers (1971)
- 1970 $191.4M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 8 years · $3.8M
- 1968 $1.4M #1 Elvis: The ’68 Comeback Special (1968)
- 1967 $4.4K #1 Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
- 1966 $5K #1 A Well Paid Walk (1966)
- 1965 $1.4K #1 Orgy of the Dead (1965)
- 1964 $2.4M #1 A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
- 1963 $1.4K #1 Summer Holiday (1963)
- 1962 $9.9K #1 Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962)
- 1961 $1.6K #1 Too Late Blues (1961)
1950s 10 years · $4.1M
- 1959 $75.4K #1 Jazz on a Summer’s Day (1959)
- 1958 $502.3K #1 South Pacific (1958)
- 1957 $20.2K #1 Silk Stockings (1957)
- 1956 $1.5K #1 Carousel (1956)
- 1955 $43.8K #1 Oklahoma! (1955)
- 1954 $7.6K #1 There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954)
- 1953 $3.3M #1 Dangerous When Wet (1953)
- 1952 $9.3K #1 Limelight (1952)
- 1951 $141K #1 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
- 1950 $14.8K #1 Rabbit of Seville (1950)
1940s 4 years · $514.2K
1930s 3 years · $951.7K
1920s 1 year · $4.4K
FAQ
Music Box Office 1996: 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 music movie in 1996?
Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) leads with $106.3M worldwide, $82.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Shine (1996) at $36M and That Thing You Do! (1996) at $34.6M.
How much did music movies released in 1996 earn?
9 music films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $183.2M in all, or $20.4M per film on average. 1995 releases took $1.5M.
How many music movies released in 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Mr. Holland's Opus (1996) with $106.3M.
How is the 1996 music 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 1996. 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 1996 music 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.