#1 of 17 #1 mystery movie of 1996
1996 · Action, Drama
$242.3M worldwide · 30% of the chart's total
$101.3M US & Canada · 42% $141M elsewhere · 58%
Mystery box office · 1996
Mystery Box Office 1996: Highest-Grossing Mystery Movies
Eraser (1996) is the highest-grossing mystery movie released in 1996, with $242.3M worldwide, ahead of Scream (1996) at $173M and Primal Fear (1996) at $102.6M. 17 mystery films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $805.2M in all, 56% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 17% on 1995, whose releases took $974.6M. By language, English leads with $803.7M across 14 mystery releases.
- 1996 releases with a gross
- 17
- combined worldwide
- $805.2M
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs 1995
- −17%
#1 of 17 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Mystery Hits of 1996?
Eraser (1996) leads with $242.3M, 30% of the total. The top 5 together took $708.3M, 88% of what all 17 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 Mystery 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 Jun 21, 1996 US and Canada: $101.3M Rest of the world: $141M Worldwide: $242.3M
- 2 Dec 20, 1996 US and Canada: $103M Rest of the world: $70M Worldwide: $173M
- 3 Apr 3, 1996 US and Canada: $56.1M Rest of the world: $46.5M Worldwide: $102.6M
- 4 Apr 12, 1996 US and Canada: $59M Rest of the world: $41.8M Worldwide: $100.9M
- 5 Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $33.4M Rest of the world: $56M Worldwide: $89.5M
- 6
Feb 16, 1996 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 7
Sep 27, 1996 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M - 8
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $17.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.1M - 9
Jun 21, 1996 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $12.6K Worldwide: $12.4M - 10
Apr 26, 1996 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.5M - 11
Feb 23, 1996 US and Canada: $8.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.8M - 12
May 17, 1996 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 13
Feb 23, 1996 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M - 14
Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $889.1K Rest of the world: $79K Worldwide: $968.1K - 15
Jun 26, 1996 US and Canada: $532.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $532.6K - 16
Sep 9, 1996 US and Canada: $12.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.5K - 17
Three Lives and Only One Death (1996)May 15, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $378
May 15, 1996 · French · Mystery, Fantasy, Crime $378 worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1996?
Of the top 10, City Hall (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) made 63% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $449.8M (56%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Eraser (1996) $242.3M $101.3M US & Canada · 42% $141M elsewhere · 58%
- 2 Scream (1996) $173M $103M US & Canada · 60% $70M elsewhere · 40%
- 3 Primal Fear (1996) $102.6M $56.1M US & Canada · 55% $46.5M elsewhere · 45%
- 4 Courage Under Fire (1996) $100.9M $59M US & Canada · 59% $41.8M elsewhere · 41%
- 5 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) $89.5M $33.4M US & Canada · 37% $56M elsewhere · 63%
- 6 City Hall (1996) $20.3M $20.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Extreme Measures (1996) $17.4M $17.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Diabolique (1996) $17.1M $17.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Lone Star (1996) $12.4M $12.4M US & Canada · 100% $12.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Mulholland Falls (1996) $11.5M $11.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 17 films crossed $100M and took $618.8M between them, 77% of the total. 7 films, 41% of the list, earned under $10M.
77% 21%
- $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 4 films, 24% of the list $618.8M · 77% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 35% of the list $168.2M · 21% of the gross
- Under $10M 7 films, 41% of the list $18.1M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1996 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $255.2M from 3 films, led by Eraser (1996). May was the quietest month ($5M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb City Hall (1996) $32M City Hall (1996)
- March Mar Diabolique (1996) $18.1M Diabolique (1996)
- April Apr Primal Fear (1996) $215M Primal Fear (1996)
- May May Heaven’s Prisoners (1996) $5M Heaven’s Prisoners (1996)
- June Jun Eraser (1996) $255.2M Eraser (1996)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Extreme Measures (1996) $17.4M Extreme Measures (1996)
- October Oct The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) $89.5M The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Scream (1996) $173M Scream (1996)
Last 10 years
How Does 1996 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1995 earned the most: $974.6M from 16 films, led by Seven (1995). 1996 took $805.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 12 films | 12 | $145.3M | – | No Way Out (1987) $35.5M |
| 1988 19 films · +214% | 19 | $456.1M | +214% | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) $329.8M |
| 1989 16 films · −57% | 16 | $195.4M | −57% | The 'Burbs (1989) $49.1M |
| 1990 14 films · +344% | 14 | $868.2M | +344% | Ghost (1990) $505.7M |
| 1991 19 films · −39% | 19 | $525.9M | −39% | JFK (1991) $205.4M |
| 1992 19 films · +57% | 19 | $825.1M | +57% | Basic Instinct (1992) $352.9M |
| 1993 16 films · +17% | 16 | $964.2M | +17% | The Fugitive (1993) $368.9M |
| 1994 15 films · −66% | 15 | $329.6M | −66% | The Client (1994) $117.6M |
| 1995 16 films · +196% | 16 | $974.6M | +196% | Seven (1995) $329M |
| 1996 17 films · −17% | 17 | $805.2M | −17% | Eraser (1996) $242.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Mystery Movies Speak in 1996?
English-language mystery films took $803.7M across 14 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language mystery films ($968.1K) and Persian-language mystery films ($532.6K).
Archive
Mystery Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $4B, led by Fast X (2023).
2020s 7 years · $14.2B
2010s 10 years · $24.4B
- 2019 $2.9B #1 Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
- 2018 $2.8B #1 The Nun (2018)
- 2017 $3B #1 Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
- 2016 $2.3B #1 Now You See Me 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.2B #1 Tomorrowland (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 Gone Girl (2014)
- 2013 $2.3B #1 Gravity (2013)
- 2012 $1.4B #1 The Bourne Legacy (2012)
- 2011 $3.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $3.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
2000s 10 years · $24.3B
- 2009 $3.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- 2008 $1.8B #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- 2007 $3.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $2.7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $2.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $3.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- 2003 $1.1B #1 The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 2002 $2.2B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $2.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $10.4B
- 1999 $3.1B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $810M #1 The X Files (1998)
- 1997 $1.2B #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $805.2M #1 Eraser (1996)
- 1995 $974.6M #1 Seven (1995)
- 1994 $329.6M #1 The Client (1994)
- 1993 $964.2M #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $825.1M #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $525.9M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $868.2M #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1989 $195.4M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- 1988 $456.1M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $145.3M #1 No Way Out (1987)
- 1986 $182M #1 The Golden Child (1986)
- 1985 $227.7M #1 Fletch (1985)
- 1984 $104.6M #1 Tightrope (1984)
- 1983 $95.5M #1 Psycho II (1983)
- 1982 $109.4M #1 The Thing (1982)
- 1981 $103M #1 The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- 1980 $122.9M #1 Dressed to Kill (1980)
1970s 10 years · $524.6M
- 1979 $106.8M #1 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
- 1978 $142.2M #1 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- 1977 $47.4M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $2.3M #1 The Tenant (1976)
- 1975 $74.2M #1 The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
- 1974 $93.3M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $55.8M #1 Magnum Force (1973)
- 1972 $232.4K #1 Solaris (1972)
- 1971 $2.5M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $19.9K #1 The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
1960s 9 years · $48.7M
- 1968 $558.4K #1 Bullitt (1968)
- 1967 $38.8K #1 In the Heat of the Night (1967)
- 1966 $139.5K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $80K #1 Alphaville (1965)
- 1964 $12.4M #1 A Shot in the Dark (1964)
- 1963 $294.2K #1 Charade (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $1.2K #1 The Naked Edge (1961)
- 1960 $32.3M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 8 years · $53.7M
1940s 10 years · $3.6M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $13.6K #1 Rope (1948)
- 1947 $43.5K #1 Great Expectations (1947)
- 1946 $109.7K #1 The Killers (1946)
- 1945 $31.1K #1 Spellbound (1945)
- 1944 $24.8K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $36.1K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $15.6K #1 Keeper of the Flame (1942)
- 1941 $1.8M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 6 years · $3.3M
FAQ
Mystery 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 17 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing mystery movie in 1996?
Eraser (1996) leads with $242.3M worldwide, $101.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Scream (1996) at $173M and Primal Fear (1996) at $102.6M.
How much did mystery movies released in 1996 earn?
17 mystery films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $805.2M in all, or $47.4M per film on average. 1995 releases took $974.6M.
How many mystery movies released in 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by Eraser (1996) with $242.3M.
How is the 1996 mystery 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 mystery 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.