#1 of 46 #1 sci-fi movie of 2008
2008 · Action, Adventure
$585.8M worldwide · 19% of the chart's total
$319M US & Canada · 54% $266.8M elsewhere · 46%
Sci-Fi box office · 2008
Sci-Fi Box Office 2008: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Iron Man (2008) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 2008, with $585.8M worldwide, ahead of WALL-E (2008) at $527.4M and The Incredible Hulk (2008) at $264.8M. 46 sci-fi films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $3.2B in all, 42% of it from the US & Canada. 8 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 25% on 2007, whose releases took $2.5B. By language, English leads with $3B across 26 sci-fi releases.
- 2008 releases with a gross
- 46
- combined worldwide
- $3.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 8
- vs 2007
- +25%
#1 of 46 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 2008?
Iron Man (2008) leads with $585.8M, 19% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.9B, 59% of what all 46 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 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Sci-Fi Release of 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 2008.
- 1 May 2, 2008 US and Canada: $319M Rest of the world: $266.8M Worldwide: $585.8M
- 2 Jun 27, 2008 US and Canada: $223.8M Rest of the world: $303.6M Worldwide: $527.4M
- 3 Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $134.8M Rest of the world: $130M Worldwide: $264.8M
- 4 Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)Jul 11, 2008 US and Canada: $101.7M Rest of the world: $142.5M Worldwide: $244.2M
Jul 11, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $244.2M worldwide - 5 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $79.4M Rest of the world: $153.7M Worldwide: $233.1M Dec 12, 2008 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller $233.1M worldwide
- 6
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $80.2M Rest of the world: $145M Worldwide: $225.1M - 7
Jan 18, 2008 US and Canada: $80M Rest of the world: $92.3M Worldwide: $172.4M - 8
Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $64.5M Rest of the world: $98.9M Worldwide: $163.4M - 9
Aug 22, 2008 US and Canada: $36.3M Rest of the world: $39.7M Worldwide: $76M - 10
Aug 29, 2008 US and Canada: $22.5M Rest of the world: $49.6M Worldwide: $72.1M - 11
Mar 28, 2008 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: $45.7M Worldwide: $71.6M - 12
The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)Jul 25, 2008 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $48.4M Worldwide: $69.4M Jul 25, 2008 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery $69.4M worldwide - 13
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)Aug 15, 2008 US and Canada: $35.2M Rest of the world: $33.1M Worldwide: $68.3M Aug 15, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $68.3M worldwide - 14
Jul 18, 2008 US and Canada: $30.1M Rest of the world: $35M Worldwide: $65.1M - 15
Jul 11, 2008 US and Canada: $11.8M Rest of the world: $39.5M Worldwide: $51.3M - 16
Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $207.4K Rest of the world: $49.3M Worldwide: $49.5M - 17
Oct 10, 2008 US and Canada: $31.7M Rest of the world: $9.6M Worldwide: $41.3M - 18
Death Note: L Change the WorLd (2008)Feb 7, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.3M
Feb 7, 2008 · Japanese · Thriller, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $35.3M worldwide - 19
Mar 14, 2008 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: $11.5M Worldwide: $22.5M - 20
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22.2M - 21
Oct 10, 2008 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: $10.1M Worldwide: $17.9M - 22
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2008)Feb 22, 2008 US and Canada: $107.8K Rest of the world: $16.4M Worldwide: $16.5M Feb 22, 2008 · Japanese · Action, Sci-Fi, Drama $16.5M worldwide - 23
Sep 13, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.3M - 24
Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World (2008)Aug 9, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8M Aug 9, 2008 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action $8M worldwide - 25
May 31, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.2M - 26
Farewell Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown (2008)Oct 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.1M Oct 4, 2008 · Japanese · Adventure, Sci-Fi, History $7.1M worldwide - 27
Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka (2008)Apr 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.9M Apr 12, 2008 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $6.9M worldwide - 28
Aug 2, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.8M - 29
Feb 15, 2008 US and Canada: $959K Rest of the world: $4.6M Worldwide: $5.5M - 30
May 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M - 31
Feb 22, 2008 US and Canada: $251.2K Rest of the world: $789.2K Worldwide: $1M - 32
Dec 11, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $945.8K - 33
Oct 2, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $783.5K - 34
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: $514.1K Worldwide: $553.2K - 35
Jul 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $489.8K - 36
Jan 2, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $476.9K - 37
Tomica Hero: Rescue Force Explosive Movie: Rescue the Mach Train! (2008)Dec 20, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $450.9K Dec 20, 2008 · Japanese · Family, Action, Adventure $450.9K worldwide - 38
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008)Jul 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $415.1K Jul 19, 2008 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $415.1K worldwide - 39
Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)Feb 13, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $403.1K Feb 13, 2008 · Japanese · Horror, Sci-Fi, Animation $403.1K worldwide - 40
Nov 7, 2008 US and Canada: $146.8K Rest of the world: $41.4K Worldwide: $188.1K - 41
Oct 9, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $176.6K - 42
May 22, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $151.8K - 43
Oct 31, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $74.4K - 44
Apr 7, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $30.8K - 45
Jun 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.8K - 46
Jun 9, 2008 US and Canada: $4.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2008?
Of the top 10, Iron Man (2008) earned the biggest share at home (54% in the US & Canada), while Babylon A.D. (2008) made 69% of its gross abroad. Across all 46 films, $1.3B (42%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Iron Man (2008) $585.8M $319M US & Canada · 54% $266.8M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 WALL-E (2008) $527.4M $223.8M US & Canada · 42% $303.6M elsewhere · 58%
- 3 The Incredible Hulk (2008) $264.8M $134.8M US & Canada · 51% $130M elsewhere · 49%
- 4 Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) $244.2M $101.7M US & Canada · 42% $142.5M elsewhere · 58%
- 5 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) $233.1M $79.4M US & Canada · 34% $153.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 6 Jumper (2008) $225.1M $80.2M US & Canada · 36% $145M elsewhere · 64%
- 7 Cloverfield (2008) $172.4M $80M US & Canada · 46% $92.3M elsewhere · 54%
- 8 The Happening (2008) $163.4M $64.5M US & Canada · 39% $98.9M elsewhere · 61%
- 9 Death Race (2008) $76M $36.3M US & Canada · 48% $39.7M elsewhere · 52%
- 10 Babylon A.D. (2008) $72.1M $22.5M US & Canada · 31% $49.6M elsewhere · 69%
Gross bands
How Many 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
8 of 46 films crossed $100M and took $2.4B between them, 77% of the total. 24 films, 52% of the list, earned under $10M.
35% 41% 22%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 2 films, 4% of the list $1.1B · 35% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 6 films, 13% of the list $1.3B · 41% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 14 films, 30% of the list $679M · 22% of the gross
- Under $10M 24 films, 52% of the list $57.4M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2008 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $955.6M from 5 films, led by WALL-E (2008). November was the quietest month ($188.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Cloverfield (2008) $172.9M Cloverfield (2008)
- February Feb Jumper (2008) $283.9M Jumper (2008)
- March Mar Superhero Movie (2008) $143.6M Superhero Movie (2008)
- April Apr Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka (2008) $6.9M Kamen Rider Den-O & Kiva: Climax Deka (2008)
- May May Iron Man (2008) $595.4M Iron Man (2008)
- June Jun WALL-E (2008) $955.6M WALL-E (2008)
- July Jul Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) $430.9M Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
- August Aug Death Race (2008) $230.2M Death Race (2008)
- September Sep Superior Ultra 8 Brothers (2008) $8.3M Superior Ultra 8 Brothers (2008)
- October Oct Quarantine (2008) $67.4M Quarantine (2008)
- November Nov Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008) $188.1K Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)
- December Dec The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) $257.3M The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
Last 10 years
How Does 2008 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2003 earned the most: $3.4B from 34 films, led by The Matrix Reloaded (2003). 2008 took $3.2B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 25 films | 25 | $2.3B | – | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $1B |
| 2000 20 films · −42% | 20 | $1.3B | −42% | X-Men (2000) $296.3M |
| 2001 27 films · +72% | 27 | $2.3B | +72% | The Mummy Returns (2001) $443.3M |
| 2002 43 films · +32% | 43 | $3B | +32% | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) $653.8M |
| 2003 34 films · +12% | 34 | $3.4B | +12% | The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $741.8M |
| 2004 33 films · −27% | 33 | $2.5B | −27% | Spider-Man 2 (2004) $784.6M |
| 2005 37 films · +33% | 37 | $3.3B | +33% | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $905.6M |
| 2006 40 films · −52% | 40 | $1.6B | −52% | X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) $460.4M |
| 2007 37 films · +59% | 37 | $2.5B | +59% | Transformers (2007) $709.7M |
| 2008 46 films · +25% | 46 | $3.2B | +25% | Iron Man (2008) $585.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 2008?
English-language sci-fi films took $3B across 26 films, 95% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($96.5M) and Chinese-language sci-fi films ($51.8M).
2008 Sci-Fi Box Office by Language
- English $3B26 films · #1 Iron Man (2008)
- Japanese $96.5M11 films · #1 Death Note: L Change the WorLd (2008)
-
Chinese $51.8M2 films · #1 CJ7 (2008) -
Turkish $22.2M1 film · #1 A.R.O.G (2008) -
Malay $945.8K1 film · #1 Cicakman 2: Planet Hitam (2008) -
French $679.3K3 films · #1 Dante 01 (2008) -
Spanish $553.2K1 film · #1 Timecrimes (2008) -
Korean $151.8K1 film · #1 Frivolous Wife (2008)
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 · $36.6B
- 2026 so far $5.4B #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 · $13.6B
- 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 $1.3B #1 Jurassic Park (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 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 46 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 2008?
Iron Man (2008) leads with $585.8M worldwide, $319M of it in the US & Canada. Next come WALL-E (2008) at $527.4M and The Incredible Hulk (2008) at $264.8M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 2008 earn?
46 sci-fi films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $3.2B in all, or $68.5M per film on average. 2007 releases took $2.5B.
How many sci-fi movies released in 2008 made $1 billion?
None. 8 films crossed $100 million, led by Iron Man (2008) with $585.8M.
How is the 2008 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 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 2008 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.