How much of the 1996 Sci-Fi box office came from the US and Canada?

$699.7M of the $1.5B total, or 46%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 1 film of the 17 report no domestic figure.

Sci-Fi box office · 1996

Sci-Fi Box Office 1996: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies

Independence Day (1996) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 1996, with $817.4M worldwide, ahead of The Nutty Professor (1996) at $274M and Star Trek: First Contact (1996) at $146M. 17 sci-fi films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $1.5B in all, 46% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 67% on 1995, whose releases took $918.9M. By language, English leads with $1.5B across 13 sci-fi releases.

1996 releases with a gross: 17
combined worldwide: $1.5B
films crossed $100M: 4
vs 1995: +67%

#1 of 17

#1 sci-fi movie of 1996

Independence Day (1996)

1996 · Action, Adventure

$817.4M worldwide · 53% of the chart's total

$306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%

Top 5

What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 1996?

Independence Day (1996) leads with $817.4M, 53% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.4B, 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

$817.4M Independence Day (1996)
$306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%
Number 2

$274M The Nutty Professor (1996)
$128.8M US & Canada · 47% $145.1M elsewhere · 53%
Number 3

$146M Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
$92M US & Canada · 63% $54M elsewhere · 37%
Number 4

$101.4M Mars Attacks! (1996)
$37.8M US & Canada · 37% $63.6M elsewhere · 63%
Number 5

$60.2M Chain Reaction (1996)
$21.2M US & Canada · 35% $39M elsewhere · 65%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Sci-Fi 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
Independence Day (1996) Jul 3, 1996 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $817.4M worldwide

Jul 3, 1996 US and Canada: $306.2M Rest of the world: $511.2M Worldwide: $817.4M
2
The Nutty Professor (1996) Jun 28, 1996 · English · Sci-Fi, Comedy, Romance $274M worldwide

Jun 28, 1996 US and Canada: $128.8M Rest of the world: $145.1M Worldwide: $274M
3
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) Nov 22, 1996 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $146M worldwide

Nov 22, 1996 US and Canada: $92M Rest of the world: $54M Worldwide: $146M
4
Mars Attacks! (1996) Dec 13, 1996 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $101.4M worldwide

Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: $63.6M Worldwide: $101.4M
5
Chain Reaction (1996) Aug 2, 1996 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Drama $60.2M worldwide

Aug 2, 1996 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $39M Worldwide: $60.2M
6
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) Aug 23, 1996 · English · Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror $49.6M worldwide

Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $27.7M Rest of the world: $22M Worldwide: $49.6M
7
Escape from L.A. (1996) Aug 9, 1996 · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $25.5M worldwide

Aug 9, 1996 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M
8
Multiplicity (1996) Jul 17, 1996 · English · Sci-Fi, Comedy, Romance $21.1M worldwide

Jul 17, 1996 US and Canada: $21.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.1M
9
The Arrival (1996) May 31, 1996 · Sci-Fi, Thriller $14.1M worldwide

May 31, 1996 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M
10
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) Mar 8, 1996 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror $9.3M worldwide

Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $9.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.3M
11
Solo (1996) Aug 23, 1996 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure $5.1M worldwide

Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M
12
Barb Wire (1996) May 3, 1996 · English · Action, Sci-Fi $3.8M worldwide

May 3, 1996 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
13
Unforgettable (1996) Feb 23, 1996 · English · Sci-Fi, Thriller, Mystery $2.8M worldwide

Feb 23, 1996 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M
14
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996) Jan 12, 1996 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $2.4M worldwide

Jan 12, 1996 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M
15
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996) Apr 19, 1996 · English · Sci-Fi, Comedy $1M worldwide

Apr 19, 1996 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M
16
Ghost in the Shell (1996) Mar 29, 1996 · Japanese · Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery $968.1K worldwide

Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $889.1K Rest of the world: $79K Worldwide: $968.1K
17
Swallowtail Butterfly (1996) Sep 4, 1996 · Japanese · Crime, Sci-Fi, Music $147.7K worldwide

Sep 4, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $147.7K

US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1996?

Of the top 10, Escape from L.A. (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Chain Reaction (1996) made 65% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $699.7M (46%) came from the US & Canada.

1 Independence Day (1996) $817.4M
$306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%
2 The Nutty Professor (1996) $274M
$128.8M US & Canada · 47% $145.1M elsewhere · 53%
3 Star Trek: First Contact (1996) $146M
$92M US & Canada · 63% $54M elsewhere · 37%
4 Mars Attacks! (1996) $101.4M
$37.8M US & Canada · 37% $63.6M elsewhere · 63%
5 Chain Reaction (1996) $60.2M
$21.2M US & Canada · 35% $39M elsewhere · 65%
6 The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) $49.6M
$27.7M US & Canada · 56% $22M elsewhere · 44%
7 Escape from L.A. (1996) $25.5M
$25.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
8 Multiplicity (1996) $21.1M
$21.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
9 The Arrival (1996) $14.1M
$14.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
10 Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) $9.3M
$9.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

Gross bands

How Many 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

4 of 17 films crossed $100M and took $1.3B between them, 87% of the total. 8 films, 47% of the list, earned under $10M.

53% 34% 11%

$1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
$500M to $1B 1 film, 6% of the list $817.4M · 53% of the gross
$100M to $500M 3 films, 18% of the list $521.4M · 34% of the gross
$10M to $100M 5 films, 29% of the list $170.5M · 11% of the gross
Under $10M 8 films, 47% of the list $25.6M · 2% of the gross

By release month

Which Month of 1996 Earned the Most?

July releases took the most, $838.5M from 2 films, led by Independence Day (1996). September was the quietest month ($147.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

Last 10 years

How Does 1996 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1996 earned the most: $1.5B from 17 films, led by Independence Day (1996).

Year	Films	Worldwide	Change	Biggest film
1987 27 films	27	$360.5M	–	Predator (1987) $98.3M
1988 19 films · −61%	19	$139.1M	−61%	Alien Nation (1988) $32.2M
1989 24 films · +650%	24	$1B	+650%	Back to the Future Part II (1989) $332.9M
1990 21 films · −5%	21	$995.3M	−5%	Total Recall (1990) $261.3M
1991 18 films · −18%	18	$819.7M	−18%	Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) $517.8M
1992 12 films · −44%	12	$456.9M	−44%	Alien 3 (1992) $159.8M
1993 18 films · −56%	18	$199.7M	−56%	Demolition Man (1993) $58.1M
1994 10 films · +178%	10	$555.9M	+178%	Stargate (1994) $196.6M
1995 15 films · +65%	15	$918.9M	+65%	Waterworld (1995) $264.2M
1996 17 films · +67%	17	$1.5B	+67%	Independence Day (1996) $817.4M

By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 1996?

English-language sci-fi films took $1.5B across 13 films, 97% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($1.1M).

1996 Sci-Fi Box Office by Language

English $1.5B
13 films · #1 Independence Day (1996)
Japanese $1.1M
2 films · #1 Ghost in the Shell (1996)

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

2010s 10 years · $87.8B

2000s 10 years · $31B

1990s 10 years · $12.5B

1980s 10 years · $5.4B

1970s 10 years · $2B

1960s 8 years · $33.1M

1950s 9 years · $696.6K

1940s 1 year · $14.8K

1948 $14.8K #1 Haredevil Hare (1948)

1930s 3 years · $39.9K

FAQ

Sci-Fi 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 sci-fi movie in 1996?

Independence Day (1996) leads with $817.4M worldwide, $306.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Nutty Professor (1996) at $274M and Star Trek: First Contact (1996) at $146M.

How much did sci-fi movies released in 1996 earn?

17 sci-fi films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $1.5B in all, or $90.3M per film on average. 1995 releases took $918.9M.

How many sci-fi movies released in 1996 made $1 billion?

None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by Independence Day (1996) with $817.4M.

How is the 1996 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 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 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.