#1 of 4 #1 sci-fi movie of August 1996
1996 · Action, Sci-Fi
$60.2M worldwide · 43% of the chart's total
$21.2M US & Canada · 35% $39M elsewhere · 65%
Sci-Fi box office · August 1996
Sci-Fi Box Office, August 1996: Top-Grossing Releases
Chain Reaction (1996) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in August 1996, with $60.2M worldwide, ahead of The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) at $49.6M and Escape from L.A. (1996) at $25.5M. 4 sci-fi films released in August 1996 report a worldwide gross, $140.4M in all, 57% of it from the US & Canada.
- August 1996 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $140.4M
- Chain Reaction (1996), the #1
- $60.2M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 57%
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of August 1996?
Chain Reaction (1996) leads with $60.2M, 43% of the total. The top 4 together took $140.4M, almost all of what the 4 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Sci-Fi Release of August 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 August 1996.
- 1 Aug 2, 1996 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $39M Worldwide: $60.2M
- 2 Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $27.7M Rest of the world: $22M Worldwide: $49.6M
- 3 Aug 9, 1996 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M
- 4 Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1996?
Of the top 4, 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 4 films, $79.5M (57%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Chain Reaction (1996) $60.2M $21.2M US & Canada · 35% $39M elsewhere · 65%
- 2 The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) $49.6M $27.7M US & Canada · 56% $22M elsewhere · 44%
- 3 Escape from L.A. (1996) $25.5M $25.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Solo (1996) $5.1M $5.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of August 1996 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 31 (Jul 28–Aug 3) took $60.2M, led by Chain Reaction (1996). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 28–Aug 3 Chain Reaction (1996) $60.2M Chain Reaction (1996)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 4–10 Escape from L.A. (1996) $25.5M Escape from L.A. (1996)
- Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 11–17 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 18–24 The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) $54.7M The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 25–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does August 1996 Compare With August in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, August 1995 earned the most: $149M from 3 films, led by Mortal Kombat (1995). August 1996 took $140.4M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1987 1 film | 1 | $17.3M | – | Masters of the Universe (1987) $17.3M |
| August 1988 3 films · −13% | 3 | $15.1M | −13% | The Blob (1988) $8.2M |
| August 1989 2 films · +539% | 2 | $96.3M | +539% | The Abyss (1989) $90.5M |
| August 1990 2 films · +15% | 2 | $110.4M | +15% | Flatliners (1990) $61.5M |
| August 1991 1 film · −100% | 1 | $3K | −100% | Aditya 369 (1991) $3K |
| August 1992 1 film · +37275% | 1 | $1.1M | +37275% | Freddie as F.R.O.7. (1992) $1.1M |
| August 1993 2 films · +624% | 2 | $8.1M | +624% | The Meteor Man (1993) $8M |
| August 1994 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| August 1995 3 films | 3 | $149M | – | Mortal Kombat (1995) $122.2M |
| August 1996 4 films · −6% | 4 | $140.4M | −6% | Chain Reaction (1996) $60.2M |
Archive
Sci-Fi Box Office in 1996, Month by Month
The months of 1996 with their totals: July leads with $838.5M, led by Independence Day (1996).
- January $2.4M #1 Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996)
- February $2.8M #1 Unforgettable (1996)
- March $10.3M #1 Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
- April $1M #1 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
- May $17.9M #1 The Arrival (1996)
- June $274M #1 The Nutty Professor (1996)
- July $838.5M #1 Independence Day (1996)
- August $140.4M #1 Chain Reaction (1996)
- September $147.7K #1 Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)
- October No grosses
- November $146M #1 Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
- December $101.4M #1 Mars Attacks! (1996)
FAQ
Sci-Fi Box Office August 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 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in August 1996?
Chain Reaction (1996) leads with $60.2M worldwide, $21.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) at $49.6M and Escape from L.A. (1996) at $25.5M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in August 1996 earn?
4 sci-fi films released in August 1996 report a worldwide gross, $140.4M in all, or $35.1M per film on average.
How many sci-fi movies released in August 1996 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Chain Reaction (1996), earned $60.2M.
How is the August 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 August 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 August 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.