#1 of 22 #1 romance movie of December 2008
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
2008 · Drama, Mystery
$335.8M worldwide · 30% of the chart's total
$127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
Romance box office · December 2008
Romance Box Office, December 2008: Top-Grossing Releases
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) is the highest-grossing romance movie released in December 2008, with $335.8M worldwide, ahead of Marley & Me (2008) at $255.7M and Yes Man (2008) at $223.2M. 22 romance films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $1.1B in all, 41% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 7% on November 2008, whose releases took $1.2B. By language, English leads with $940.6M across 11 romance releases.
- December 2008 releases with a gross
- 22
- combined worldwide
- $1.1B
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs November 2008
- −7%
#1 of 22 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Romance Hits of December 2008?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) leads with $335.8M, 30% of the total. The top 5 together took $999.7M, 89% of what all 22 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $335.8M The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)$127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Romance 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 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $127.5M Rest of the world: $208.3M Worldwide: $335.8M
Dec 25, 2008 · English · Drama, Mystery, Fantasy $335.8M worldwide - 2 Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $143.2M Rest of the world: $112.6M Worldwide: $255.7M
- 3 Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $97.7M Rest of the world: $125.6M Worldwide: $223.2M
- 4 Dec 10, 2008 US and Canada: $34.2M Rest of the world: $74.7M Worldwide: $108.9M
- 5 Dec 26, 2008 US and Canada: $22.9M Rest of the world: $53.1M Worldwide: $76M
- 6
Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $45.5M - 7
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: $17.7M Worldwide: $32.6M - 8
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.1M - 9
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: $688.1K Worldwide: $8.9M - 10
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $7.5M Rest of the world: $15.8K Worldwide: $7.5M - 11
How Much Does the Trojan Horse Weigh? (2008)Dec 26, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.6M
Dec 26, 2008 · Polish · Comedy, Romance $3.6M worldwide - 12
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M - 13
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 14
Dec 24, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $732.1K - 15
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $694.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $694.8K - 16
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $469.1K - 17
Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $278.3K - 18
Dec 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $125.8K - 19
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $112.3K - 20
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $49.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.5K - 21
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.3K - 22
Dec 7, 2008 US and Canada: $8.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2008?
Of the top 10, Nothing Like the Holidays (2008) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Revolutionary Road (2008) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 22 films, $456.8M (41%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M $127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 2 Marley & Me (2008) $255.7M $143.2M US & Canada · 56% $112.6M elsewhere · 44%
- 3 Yes Man (2008) $223.2M $97.7M US & Canada · 44% $125.6M elsewhere · 56%
- 4 The Reader (2008) $108.9M $34.2M US & Canada · 31% $74.7M elsewhere · 69%
- 5 Revolutionary Road (2008) $76M $22.9M US & Canada · 30% $53.1M elsewhere · 70%
- 6 If You Are the One (2008) $45.5M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Last Chance Harvey (2008) $32.6M $14.9M US & Canada · 46% $17.7M elsewhere · 54%
- 8 Hipsters (2008) $17.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Cadillac Records (2008) $8.9M $8.2M US & Canada · 92% $688.1K elsewhere · 8%
- 10 Nothing Like the Holidays (2008) $7.5M $7.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.8K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many December 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 22 films crossed $100M and took $923.7M between them, 82% of the total. 14 films, 64% of the list, earned under $10M.
82% 15%
- $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, 18% of the list $923.7M · 82% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 18% of the list $171.2M · 15% of the gross
- Under $10M 14 films, 64% of the list $26.5M · 2% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 2008 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 52 (Dec 21–27) took $721.6M, led by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Cadillac Records (2008) $10.8M Cadillac Records (2008)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 The Reader (2008) $117.1M The Reader (2008)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 Yes Man (2008) $271.9M Yes Man (2008)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $721.6M The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 2008 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2005 earned the most: $1.3B from 18 films, led by King Kong (2005). December 2008 took $1.1B.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1999 10 films | 10 | $462.4M | – | The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) $138M |
| December 2000 12 films · +116% | 12 | $1B | +116% | What Women Want (2000) $374.1M |
| December 2001 17 films · −56% | 17 | $439.6M | −56% | Vanilla Sky (2001) $203.4M |
| December 2002 11 films · +14% | 11 | $500.4M | +14% | Two Weeks Notice (2002) $199M |
| December 2003 16 films · +81% | 16 | $904.8M | +81% | Something's Gotta Give (2003) $265.3M |
| December 2004 12 films · +2% | 12 | $922M | +2% | Meet the Fockers (2004) $522.7M |
| December 2005 18 films · +42% | 18 | $1.3B | +42% | King Kong (2005) $556.9M |
| December 2006 26 films · −62% | 26 | $492.9M | −62% | The Holiday (2006) $205.2M |
| December 2007 17 films · +12% | 17 | $551.4M | +12% | P.S. I Love You (2007) $156.8M |
| December 2008 22 films · +103% | 22 | $1.1B | +103% | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Romance Movies Speak in December 2008?
English-language romance films took $940.6M across 11 films, 84% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language romance films ($45.5M) and Russian-language romance films ($17.1M).
December 2008 Romance Box Office by Language
- English $940.6M11 films · #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
-
Chinese $45.5M1 film · #1 If You Are the One (2008) -
Russian $17.1M1 film · #1 Hipsters (2008) - Polish $3.6M1 film · #1 How Much Does the Trojan Horse Weigh? (2008)
-
Dutch $2.8M1 film · #1 Moscow, Belgium (2008) -
Hindi $1.2M1 film · #1 Dil Kabaddi (2008) -
Korean $772.4K2 films · #1 Romantic Island (2008) -
Portuguese $469.1K1 film · #1 Between Sheets (2008) - Tamil $278.3K1 film · #1 Silambattam (2008)
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Greek $125.8K1 film · #1 Well Kept Secrets: Athanasia (2008)
Archive
Romance Box Office in 2008, Month by Month
The months of 2008 with their totals: November leads with $1.2B, led by Twilight (2008).
- January $493.6M #1 Welcome to the Sticks (2008)
- February $541.1M #1 Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
- March $112.9M #1 Meet the Browns (2008)
- April $447.7M #1 The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
- May $761.1M #1 Sex and the City (2008)
- June $614.6M #1 WALL-E (2008)
- July $814.4M #1 Mamma Mia! (2008)
- August $290.1M #1 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
- September $239.2M #1 Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
- October $640.3M #1 High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
- November $1.2B #1 Twilight (2008)
- December $1.1B #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
FAQ
Romance 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 22 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing romance movie in December 2008?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) leads with $335.8M worldwide, $127.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Marley & Me (2008) at $255.7M and Yes Man (2008) at $223.2M.
How much did romance movies released in December 2008 earn?
22 romance films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $1.1B in all, or $51M per film on average. November 2008 releases took $1.2B.
How many romance movies released in December 2008 made $1 billion?
None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) with $335.8M.
How is the December 2008 romance 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 romance 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.