#1 of 17 #1 sci-fi movie of 1983
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
1983 · Action, Adventure
$482.5M worldwide · 62% of the chart's total
$316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
Sci-Fi box office · 1983
Sci-Fi Box Office 1983: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 1983, with $482.5M worldwide, ahead of Superman III (1983) at $80.3M and WarGames (1983) at $79.6M. 17 sci-fi films released in 1983 report a worldwide gross, $781.3M in all, 76% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 3.3 times the total of 1982, whose releases took $234.5M. By language, English leads with $771.1M across 16 sci-fi releases.
- 1983 releases with a gross
- 17
- combined worldwide
- $781.3M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1982
- ×3.3
#1 of 17 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 1983?
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) leads with $482.5M, 62% of the total. The top 5 together took $714M, 91% 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 $482.5M Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)$316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Sci-Fi Release of 1983, 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 1983.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)May 25, 1983 US and Canada: $316.6M Rest of the world: $165.9M Worldwide: $482.5M
May 25, 1983 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $482.5M worldwide - 2 Jun 17, 1983 US and Canada: $60M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $80.3M
- 3 Jun 3, 1983 US and Canada: $79.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.6M
- 4 May 13, 1983 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.3M
- 5 Jun 24, 1983 US and Canada: $29.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.5M
- 6
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)May 20, 1983 US and Canada: $16.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.5M May 20, 1983 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi $16.5M worldwide - 7
Jun 3, 1983 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.4M - 8
Sep 30, 1983 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.2M - 9
Aug 26, 1983 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6M - 10
Sep 2, 1983 US and Canada: $6.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.7M - 11
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983)Aug 19, 1983 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M Aug 19, 1983 · English · Fantasy, Sci-Fi $5.3M worldwide - 12
Aug 12, 1983 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 13
Feb 4, 1983 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: $8K Worldwide: $2.1M - 14
Nov 4, 1983 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 15
Sep 2, 1983 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 16
Sep 16, 1983 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 17
Feb 20, 1983 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $153
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1983?
Of the top 10, WarGames (1983) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) made 34% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $595.1M (76%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M $316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
- 2 Superman III (1983) $80.3M $60M US & Canada · 75% $20.3M elsewhere · 25%
- 3 WarGames (1983) $79.6M $79.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Blue Thunder (1983) $42.3M $42.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) $29.5M $29.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983) $16.5M $16.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Man with Two Brains (1983) $10.4M $10.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Brainstorm (1983) $10.2M $10.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Strange Brew (1983) $8.6M $8.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Nightmares (1983) $6.7M $6.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1983 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 17 films crossed $100M and took $482.5M between them, 62% of the total. 9 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.
62% 34%
- $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 1 film, 6% of the list $482.5M · 62% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 7 films, 41% of the list $268.6M · 34% of the gross
- Under $10M 9 films, 53% of the list $30.2M · 4% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1983 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $541.3M from 3 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). November was the quietest month ($2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb Videodrome (1983) $2.1M Videodrome (1983)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $541.3M Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- June Jun Superman III (1983) $199.6M Superman III (1983)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Strange Brew (1983) $16.3M Strange Brew (1983)
- September Sep Brainstorm (1983) $20M Brainstorm (1983)
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov Testament (1983) $2M Testament (1983)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1983 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $1.1B from 4 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1983 took $781.3M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 5 films | 5 | $560.7K | – | The Terminal Man (1974) $551.9K |
| 1975 3 films · +595% | 3 | $3.9M | +595% | Bug (1975) $3.6M |
| 1976 3 films · +5% | 3 | $4.1M | +5% | Robot Taekwon V (1976) $3.9M |
| 1977 4 films · +26431% | 4 | $1.1B | +26431% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 5 films · −68% | 5 | $341.8M | −68% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 12 films · +46% | 12 | $500.5M | +46% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 9 films · +29% | 9 | $645.6M | +29% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 8 films · −44% | 8 | $362.6M | −44% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 16 films · −35% | 16 | $234.5M | −35% | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) $79.8M |
| 1983 17 films · +233% | 17 | $781.3M | +233% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
Archive
Sci-Fi Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1933 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $15.1B, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
2020s 7 years · $37.1B
- 2026 so far $5.9B #1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- 2025 $4.9B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $6.9B #1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- 2023 $4.7B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.5B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $6.2B #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 2020 $912.4M #1 Tenet (2020)
2010s 10 years · $87.8B
- 2019 $10.3B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $15.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $11.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $8.4B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $10.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $9.7B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $8.6B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $5.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $4.8B #1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- 2010 $3.9B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $31B
- 2009 $7.9B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $3.2B #1 Iron Man (2008)
- 2007 $2.5B #1 Transformers (2007)
- 2006 $1.6B #1 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- 2005 $3.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $2.5B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $3.4B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $3B #1 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- 2001 $2.3B #1 The Mummy Returns (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 X-Men (2000)
1990s 10 years · $12.5B
- 1999 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $1.9B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $2.7B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $1.5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $918.9M #1 Waterworld (1995)
- 1994 $555.9M #1 Stargate (1994)
- 1993 $199.7M #1 Demolition Man (1993)
- 1992 $456.9M #1 Alien 3 (1992)
- 1991 $819.7M #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $995.3M #1 Total Recall (1990)
1980s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1989 $1B #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- 1988 $139.1M #1 Alien Nation (1988)
- 1987 $360.5M #1 Predator (1987)
- 1986 $504.9M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $654.3M #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $693.3M #1 Ghostbusters (1984)
- 1983 $781.3M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $234.5M #1 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- 1981 $362.6M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $645.6M #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $2B
- 1979 $500.5M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $341.8M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $4.1M #1 Robot Taekwon V (1976)
- 1975 $3.9M #1 Bug (1975)
- 1974 $560.7K #1 The Terminal Man (1974)
- 1973 $27.2M #1 Sleeper (1973)
- 1972 $9.3M #1 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- 1971 $42.1M #1 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- 1970 $19M #1 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
1960s 8 years · $33.1M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $32.6M #1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $36.5K #1 The Face of Another (1966)
- 1965 $180.7K #1 Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)
- 1964 $492 #1 Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
- 1961 $90 #1 Mothra (1961)
- 1960 $5.9K #1 The Time Machine (1960)
1950s 9 years · $696.6K
- 1959 $12.1K #1 On the Beach (1959)
- 1958 $16.3K #1 Hare-Way to the Stars (1958)
- 1957 $30K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $3.7K #1 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- 1955 $291 #1 Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
- 1954 $594.6K #1 Godzilla (1954)
- 1953 $15K #1 Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
- 1952 $15K #1 Water, Water Every Hare (1952)
- 1951 $9.6K #1 The Man in the White Suit (1951)
1940s 1 year · $14.8K
FAQ
Sci-Fi Box Office 1983: 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 sci-fi movie in 1983?
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) leads with $482.5M worldwide, $316.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Superman III (1983) at $80.3M and WarGames (1983) at $79.6M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 1983 earn?
17 sci-fi films released in 1983 report a worldwide gross, $781.3M in all, or $46M per film on average. 1982 releases took $234.5M.
How many sci-fi movies released in 1983 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) with $482.5M.
How is the 1983 sci-fi 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 1983. 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 1983 sci-fi 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.