#1 of 60 #1 sci-fi movie of 2009
2009 · Action, Adventure
$2.9B worldwide · 37% of the chart's total
$785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
Sci-Fi box office · 2009
Sci-Fi Box Office 2009: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Avatar (2009) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 2009, with $2.9B worldwide, ahead of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) at $836.3M and 2012 (2009) at $791.2M. 60 sci-fi films released in 2009 report a worldwide gross, $7.9B in all, 37% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 14 crossed $100 million. That is up 150% on 2008, whose releases took $3.2B. By language, English leads with $7.6B across 37 sci-fi releases.
- 2009 releases with a gross
- 60
- combined worldwide
- $7.9B
- films crossed $100M
- 14
- vs 2008
- +150%
#1 of 60 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 2009?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B, 37% of the total. The top 5 together took $5.3B, 67% of what all 60 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 $836.3M Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)$402.1M US & Canada · 48% $434.2M elsewhere · 52% -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Sci-Fi Release of 2009, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 60. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2009.
- 1 Dec 18, 2009 US and Canada: $785.2M Rest of the world: $2.1B Worldwide: $2.9B
- 2 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)Jun 24, 2009 US and Canada: $402.1M Rest of the world: $434.2M Worldwide: $836.3M
Jun 24, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $836.3M worldwide - 3 Nov 13, 2009 US and Canada: $166.1M Rest of the world: $625.1M Worldwide: $791.2M
- 4 May 7, 2009 US and Canada: $257.7M Rest of the world: $128M Worldwide: $385.7M
- 5 Mar 27, 2009 US and Canada: $198.4M Rest of the world: $183.2M Worldwide: $381.5M
- 6
May 1, 2009 US and Canada: $179.9M Rest of the world: $193.2M Worldwide: $373.1M - 7
May 21, 2009 US and Canada: $125.3M Rest of the world: $246M Worldwide: $371.4M - 8
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)Aug 7, 2009 US and Canada: $150.2M Rest of the world: $152.3M Worldwide: $302.5M Aug 7, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $302.5M worldwide - 9
Aug 14, 2009 US and Canada: $115.6M Rest of the world: $95.2M Worldwide: $210.9M - 10
Mar 6, 2009 US and Canada: $107.5M Rest of the world: $77.9M Worldwide: $185.4M - 11
Mar 20, 2009 US and Canada: $80M Rest of the world: $103.7M Worldwide: $183.7M - 12
Sep 25, 2009 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: $83.9M Worldwide: $122.4M - 13
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)Mar 13, 2009 US and Canada: $67.2M Rest of the world: $39.2M Worldwide: $106.4M Mar 13, 2009 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller $106.4M worldwide - 14
Nov 20, 2009 US and Canada: $42.2M Rest of the world: $63.5M Worldwide: $105.6M - 15
Jun 5, 2009 US and Canada: $49.4M Rest of the world: $19.3M Worldwide: $68.8M - 16
Jul 31, 2009 US and Canada: $25.2M Rest of the world: $32.7M Worldwide: $57.9M - 17
Apr 10, 2009 US and Canada: $9.4M Rest of the world: $46.4M Worldwide: $55.7M - 18
Feb 6, 2009 US and Canada: $31.8M Rest of the world: $17M Worldwide: $48.9M - 19
Sep 9, 2009 US and Canada: $31.7M Rest of the world: $16.7M Worldwide: $48.4M - 20
20th Century Boys 3: Redemption (2009)Aug 19, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.4M
Aug 19, 2009 · Japanese · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Mystery $48.4M worldwide - 21
Sep 4, 2009 US and Canada: $20.5M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $40.8M - 22
Oct 23, 2009 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $39.9M - 23
Nov 6, 2009 US and Canada: $15.1M Rest of the world: $18.3M Worldwide: $33.3M - 24
20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope (2009)Jan 30, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.5M Jan 30, 2009 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Mystery, Adventure $29.5M worldwide - 25
Dec 28, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21M - 26
Sep 25, 2009 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: $10.3M Worldwide: $20.6M - 27
Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker (2009)Aug 8, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.4M Aug 8, 2009 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $19.4M worldwide - 28
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)Feb 27, 2009 US and Canada: $8.7M Rest of the world: $4M Worldwide: $12.8M Feb 27, 2009 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $12.8M worldwide - 29
Jun 12, 2009 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: $4.7M Worldwide: $9.8M - 30
Super Kamen Rider Den-O & Decade NEO Generations: The Onigashima Warship (2009)May 1, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5M May 1, 2009 · Japanese · Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure $7.5M worldwide - 31
Jan 23, 2009 US and Canada: $166K Rest of the world: $6.9M Worldwide: $7M - 32
Jul 3, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.6M - 33
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends The Movie (2009)Dec 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.2M Dec 12, 2009 · Japanese · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action $6.2M worldwide - 34
Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (2009)Nov 21, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.8M Nov 21, 2009 · Japanese · Animation, Sci-Fi, Romance $4.8M worldwide - 35
Space Battleship Yamato Resurrection (2009)Dec 12, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3M Dec 12, 2009 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure $4.3M worldwide - 36
Sep 11, 2009 US and Canada: $3.6K Rest of the world: $3.6M Worldwide: $3.6M - 37
Engine Sentai Go-Onger vs. Gekiranger (2009)Jan 24, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4M Jan 24, 2009 · Japanese · Fantasy, Family, Adventure $3.4M worldwide - 38
The Return of Musketeers or the Treasure of Cardinal Mazarini (2009)Feb 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M
Feb 5, 2009 · Russian · Adventure, Sci-Fi $2.8M worldwide - 39
Apr 24, 2009 US and Canada: $6.8K Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $2.1M - 40
Dec 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 41
Oct 7, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 42
Mar 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 43
Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009)Oct 2, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $844.4K Oct 2, 2009 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $844.4K worldwide - 44
The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations (2009)Jan 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $708.2K Jan 9, 2009 · English · Drama, Sci-Fi, Crime $708.2K worldwide - 45
Nov 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $502.2K - 46
Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg (2009)Aug 13, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $437.3K
Aug 13, 2009 · Cantonese · Action, Romance, Comedy $437.3K worldwide - 47
Sep 22, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $325.1K - 48
First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009)May 13, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $292.4K May 13, 2009 · Russian · Action, Animation, Sci-Fi $292.4K worldwide - 49
Feb 19, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $283.9K - 50
May 26, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $220.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2009?
Of the top 10, Star Trek (2009) earned the biggest share at home (67% in the US & Canada), while 2012 (2009) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 60 films, $2.9B (37%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Avatar (2009) $2.9B $785.2M US & Canada · 27% $2.1B elsewhere · 73%
- 2 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) $836.3M $402.1M US & Canada · 48% $434.2M elsewhere · 52%
- 3 2012 (2009) $791.2M $166.1M US & Canada · 21% $625.1M elsewhere · 79%
- 4 Star Trek (2009) $385.7M $257.7M US & Canada · 67% $128M elsewhere · 33%
- 5 Monsters vs Aliens (2009) $381.5M $198.4M US & Canada · 52% $183.2M elsewhere · 48%
- 6 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) $373.1M $179.9M US & Canada · 48% $193.2M elsewhere · 52%
- 7 Terminator Salvation (2009) $371.4M $125.3M US & Canada · 34% $246M elsewhere · 66%
- 8 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) $302.5M $150.2M US & Canada · 50% $152.3M elsewhere · 50%
- 9 District 9 (2009) $210.9M $115.6M US & Canada · 55% $95.2M elsewhere · 45%
- 10 Watchmen (2009) $185.4M $107.5M US & Canada · 58% $77.9M elsewhere · 42%
Gross bands
How Many 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
14 of 60 films crossed $100M and took $7.3B between them, 92% of the total. 32 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.
37% 21% 35%
- $1B or more 1 film, 2% of the list $2.9B · 37% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 2 films, 3% of the list $1.6B · 21% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 11 films, 18% of the list $2.7B · 35% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 14 films, 23% of the list $545.4M · 7% of the gross
- Under $10M 32 films, 53% of the list $66.7M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2009 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $3B from 5 films, led by Avatar (2009). January was the quietest month ($40.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan 20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope (2009) $40.7M 20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope (2009)
- February Feb Push (2009) $64.9M Push (2009)
- March Mar Monsters vs Aliens (2009) $858.1M Monsters vs Aliens (2009)
- April Apr Dragonball: Evolution (2009) $58.1M Dragonball: Evolution (2009)
- May May Star Trek (2009) $1.1B Star Trek (2009)
- June Jun Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) $914.8M Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- July Jul Aliens in the Attic (2009) $64.5M Aliens in the Attic (2009)
- August Aug G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) $581.8M G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
- September Sep Surrogates (2009) $236.2M Surrogates (2009)
- October Oct Astro Boy (2009) $42.1M Astro Boy (2009)
- November Nov 2012 (2009) $935.5M 2012 (2009)
- December Dec Avatar (2009) $3B Avatar (2009)
Last 10 years
How Does 2009 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2009 earned the most: $7.9B from 60 films, led by Avatar (2009).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 20 films | 20 | $1.3B | – | 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 |
| 2009 60 films · +150% | 60 | $7.9B | +150% | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 2009?
English-language sci-fi films took $7.6B across 37 films, 96% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($130.2M) and French-language sci-fi films ($48.5M).
2009 Sci-Fi Box Office by Language
- English $7.6B37 films · #1 Avatar (2009)
- Japanese $130.2M9 films · #1 20th Century Boys 3: Redemption (2009)
-
French $48.5M2 films · #1 9 (2009) - Russian $24.4M4 films · #1 Black Lightning (2009)
-
Chinese $1.7M1 film · #1 The Treasure Hunter (2009) -
Swedish $1.5M2 films · #1 Kenny Begins (2009) -
German $1.4M1 film · #1 Lippels Traum (2009) - Cantonese $437.3K1 film · #1 Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg (2009)
-
Spanish $1.7K1 film · #1 Panic Attack! (2009)
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 2009: 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 60 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 2009?
Avatar (2009) leads with $2.9B worldwide, $785.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) at $836.3M and 2012 (2009) at $791.2M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 2009 earn?
60 sci-fi films released in 2009 report a worldwide gross, $7.9B in all, or $131.5M per film on average. 2008 releases took $3.2B.
How many sci-fi movies released in 2009 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Avatar (2009). 14 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2009 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 2009. 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 2009 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.