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Mystery box office · 1997

Mystery Box Office 1997: Highest-Grossing Mystery Movies

Scream 2 (1997) is the highest-grossing mystery movie released in 1997, with $172.4M worldwide, ahead of Contact (1997) at $171.1M and The Devil's Advocate (1997) at $152.9M. 16 mystery films released in 1997 report a worldwide gross, $1.2B in all, 61% of it from the US & Canada. 7 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 50% on 1996, whose releases took $805.2M. By language, English leads with $1.2B across 15 mystery releases.

1997 releases with a gross
16
combined worldwide
$1.2B
films crossed $100M
7
vs 1996
+50%
Scream 2 (1997) movie poster #1 of 16
#1 mystery movie of 1997

Scream 2 (1997)

1997 · Mystery, Thriller

$172.4M worldwide · 14% of the chart's total

$101.4M US & Canada · 59% $71M elsewhere · 41%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Mystery Hits of 1997?

Scream 2 (1997) leads with $172.4M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $759.6M, 63% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Scream 2 (1997) movie poster Number 1
    $172.4M Scream 2 (1997)
    $101.4M US & Canada · 59% $71M elsewhere · 41%
  2. Contact (1997) movie poster Number 2
    $171.1M Contact (1997)
    $100.9M US & Canada · 59% $70.2M elsewhere · 41%
  3. The Devil's Advocate (1997) movie poster Number 3
    $152.9M The Devil's Advocate (1997)
    $60.9M US & Canada · 40% $92M elsewhere · 60%
  4. Conspiracy Theory (1997) movie poster Number 4
    $137M Conspiracy Theory (1997)
    $76M US & Canada · 55% $61M elsewhere · 45%
  5. L.A. Confidential (1997) movie poster Number 5
    $126.2M L.A. Confidential (1997)
    $64.6M US & Canada · 51% $61.6M elsewhere · 49%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Mystery Release of 1997, 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 1997.

  1. 1 Scream 2 (1997) movie poster
    Scream 2 (1997) Dec 12, 1997 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $172.4M worldwide
    Dec 12, 1997 US and Canada: $101.4M Rest of the world: $71M Worldwide: $172.4M
  2. 2 Contact (1997) movie poster
    Contact (1997) Jul 11, 1997 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery $171.1M worldwide
    Jul 11, 1997 US and Canada: $100.9M Rest of the world: $70.2M Worldwide: $171.1M
  3. 3 The Devil's Advocate (1997) movie poster
    The Devil's Advocate (1997) Oct 17, 1997 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $152.9M worldwide
    Oct 17, 1997 US and Canada: $60.9M Rest of the world: $92M Worldwide: $152.9M
  4. 4 Conspiracy Theory (1997) movie poster
    Conspiracy Theory (1997) Aug 8, 1997 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Romance $137M worldwide
    Aug 8, 1997 US and Canada: $76M Rest of the world: $61M Worldwide: $137M
  5. 5 L.A. Confidential (1997) movie poster
    L.A. Confidential (1997) Sep 19, 1997 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $126.2M worldwide
    Sep 19, 1997 US and Canada: $64.6M Rest of the world: $61.6M Worldwide: $126.2M
  6. 6 I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) movie poster
    I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) Oct 17, 1997 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $125.6M worldwide
    Oct 17, 1997 US and Canada: $72.6M Rest of the world: $53M Worldwide: $125.6M
  7. 7 The Game (1997) movie poster
    The Game (1997) Sep 12, 1997 · English · Action, Adventure, Mystery $109.4M worldwide
    Sep 12, 1997 US and Canada: $48.3M Rest of the world: $61.1M Worldwide: $109.4M
  8. 8 Kiss the Girls (1997) movie poster
    Kiss the Girls (1997) Oct 3, 1997 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $60.5M worldwide
    Oct 3, 1997 US and Canada: $60.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.5M
  9. 9 Amistad (1997) movie poster
    Amistad (1997) Dec 10, 1997 · English · Drama, History, Mystery $44.2M worldwide
    Dec 10, 1997 US and Canada: $44.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.2M
  10. 10 Event Horizon (1997) movie poster
    Event Horizon (1997) Aug 15, 1997 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Mystery $26.7M worldwide
    Aug 15, 1997 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: $4K Worldwide: $26.7M
  11. 11 Murder at 1600 (1997) movie poster
    Murder at 1600 (1997) Apr 18, 1997 · English · Action, Drama, Mystery $25.8M worldwide
    Apr 18, 1997 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.8M
  12. 12 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) movie poster
    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) Nov 21, 1997 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $25.1M worldwide
    Nov 21, 1997 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.1M
  13. 13 That Darn Cat (1997) movie poster
    That Darn Cat (1997) Feb 14, 1997 · English · Action, Mystery, Comedy $18.3M worldwide
    Feb 14, 1997 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.3M
  14. 14 Switchback (1997) movie poster
    Switchback (1997) Oct 31, 1997 · English · Mystery, Thriller $6.5M worldwide
    Oct 31, 1997 US and Canada: $6.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5M
  15. 15 Lost Highway (1997) movie poster
    Lost Highway (1997) Feb 21, 1997 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $3.8M worldwide
    Feb 21, 1997 US and Canada: $3.7M Rest of the world: $120.1K Worldwide: $3.8M
  16. 16 Cure (1997) movie poster
    Cure (1997) Nov 6, 1997 · Japanese · Crime, Mystery, Thriller $234.8K worldwide
    Nov 6, 1997 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $234.8K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1997?

Of the top 10, Kiss the Girls (1997) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Devil's Advocate (1997) made 60% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $735.6M (61%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Scream 2 (1997) $172.4M
    $101.4M US & Canada · 59% $71M elsewhere · 41%
  2. 2 Contact (1997) $171.1M
    $100.9M US & Canada · 59% $70.2M elsewhere · 41%
  3. 3 The Devil's Advocate (1997) $152.9M
    $60.9M US & Canada · 40% $92M elsewhere · 60%
  4. 4 Conspiracy Theory (1997) $137M
    $76M US & Canada · 55% $61M elsewhere · 45%
  5. 5 L.A. Confidential (1997) $126.2M
    $64.6M US & Canada · 51% $61.6M elsewhere · 49%
  6. 6 I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) $125.6M
    $72.6M US & Canada · 58% $53M elsewhere · 42%
  7. 7 The Game (1997) $109.4M
    $48.3M US & Canada · 44% $61.1M elsewhere · 56%
  8. 8 Kiss the Girls (1997) $60.5M
    $60.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Amistad (1997) $44.2M
    $44.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Event Horizon (1997) $26.7M
    $26.7M US & Canada · 100% $4K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands

How Many 1997 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

7 of 16 films crossed $100M and took $994.6M between them, 82% of the total. 3 films, 19% 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 7 films, 44% of the list $994.6M · 82% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 6 films, 38% of the list $200.6M · 17% of the gross
  • Under $10M 3 films, 19% of the list $10.6M · <1% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1997 Earned the Most?

October releases took the most, $345.6M from 4 films, led by The Devil's Advocate (1997). February was the quietest month ($22.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb That Darn Cat (1997) $22.1M That Darn Cat (1997)
  3. March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  4. April Apr Murder at 1600 (1997) $25.8M Murder at 1600 (1997)
  5. May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul Contact (1997) $171.1M Contact (1997)
  8. August Aug Conspiracy Theory (1997) $163.7M Conspiracy Theory (1997)
  9. September Sep L.A. Confidential (1997) $235.6M L.A. Confidential (1997)
  10. October Oct The Devil's Advocate (1997) $345.6M The Devil's Advocate (1997)
  11. November Nov Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) $25.3M Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
  12. December Dec Scream 2 (1997) $216.6M Scream 2 (1997)
Last 10 years

How Does 1997 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1997 earned the most: $1.2B from 16 films, led by Scream 2 (1997).

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1988 19 films 19 $456.1M – 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
1997 16 films · +50% 16 $1.2B +50% Scream 2 (1997) $172.4M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Mystery Movies Speak in 1997?

English-language mystery films took $1.2B across 15 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language mystery films ($234.8K).

1997 Mystery Box Office by Language

  1. English $1.2B
    15 films · #1 Scream 2 (1997)
  2. Japanese $234.8K
    1 film · #1 Cure (1997)
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
2000s 10 years · $24.3B
1990s 10 years · $10.4B
1980s 10 years · $1.7B
1970s 10 years · $524.6M
1960s 9 years · $48.7M
1950s 8 years · $53.7M
1940s 10 years · $3.6M
1930s 6 years · $3.3M
1920s 2 years · $84K
FAQ

Mystery Box Office 1997: 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 mystery movie in 1997?

Scream 2 (1997) leads with $172.4M worldwide, $101.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Contact (1997) at $171.1M and The Devil's Advocate (1997) at $152.9M.

How much did mystery movies released in 1997 earn?

16 mystery films released in 1997 report a worldwide gross, $1.2B in all, or $75.4M per film on average. 1996 releases took $805.2M.

How many mystery movies released in 1997 made $1 billion?

None. 7 films crossed $100 million, led by Scream 2 (1997) with $172.4M.

How much of the 1997 Mystery box office came from the US and Canada?

$735.6M of the $1.2B total, or 61%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 1 film of the 16 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1997 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 1997. 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 1997 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.