#1 of 49 #1 sci-fi movie of 2012
2012 · Action, Adventure
$1.5B worldwide · 27% of the chart's total
$623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
Sci-Fi box office · 2012
Sci-Fi Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
The Avengers (2012) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 2012, with $1.5B worldwide, ahead of The Hunger Games (2012) at $695.2M and Men in Black III (2012) at $654.2M. 49 sci-fi films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $5.6B in all, 35% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 12 crossed $100 million. That is up 17% on 2011, whose releases took $4.8B. By language, English leads with $5.5B across 33 sci-fi releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 49
- combined worldwide
- $5.6B
- films crossed $100M
- 12
- vs 2011
- +17%
#1 of 49 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B, 27% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.6B, 64% of what all 49 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 2012, 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 2012.
- 1 May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $623.4M Rest of the world: $897.2M Worldwide: $1.5B
- 2 Mar 23, 2012 US and Canada: $408M Rest of the world: $287.2M Worldwide: $695.2M
- 3 May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $179M Rest of the world: $475.2M Worldwide: $654.2M
- 4 Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $126.5M Rest of the world: $276.9M Worldwide: $403.4M
- 5 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $103.9M Rest of the world: $231.4M Worldwide: $335.3M
Feb 10, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $335.3M worldwide - 6
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $65.4M Rest of the world: $237.6M Worldwide: $303M - 7
Mar 9, 2012 US and Canada: $73.1M Rest of the world: $211.1M Worldwide: $284.1M - 8
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)Sep 14, 2012 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: $197.8M Worldwide: $240.2M Sep 14, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $240.2M worldwide - 9
Aug 3, 2012 US and Canada: $58.9M Rest of the world: $139.6M Worldwide: $198.5M - 10
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $66.5M Rest of the world: $110M Worldwide: $176.5M - 11
Oct 26, 2012 US and Canada: $27.1M Rest of the world: $103.4M Worldwide: $130.5M - 12
Feb 3, 2012 US and Canada: $64.6M Rest of the world: $62.1M Worldwide: $126.6M - 13
Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: $35.3M Rest of the world: $50.3M Worldwide: $85.6M - 14
Apr 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $74.3M - 15
Apr 13, 2012 US and Canada: $42.1M Rest of the world: $28M Worldwide: $70M - 16
Jul 27, 2012 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: $32.9M Worldwide: $68.3M - 17
Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $60.8M - 18
Sep 21, 2012 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $27.6M Worldwide: $41M - 19
Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Wars (2012)Apr 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.8M
Apr 21, 2012 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure $34.8M worldwide - 20
Apr 13, 2012 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: $18.6M Worldwide: $32.9M - 21
Kamen Rider Fourze The Movie: It’s Space Time, Everybody! (2012)Aug 4, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19M Aug 4, 2012 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $19M worldwide - 22
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $7.1M Rest of the world: $4.6M Worldwide: $11.7M Jun 22, 2012 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Comedy $11.7M worldwide - 23
Jul 25, 2012 US and Canada: $122.1K Rest of the world: $10M Worldwide: $10.1M - 24
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2012)Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $177.8K Rest of the world: $7.4M Worldwide: $7.6M Jan 20, 2012 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $7.6M worldwide - 25
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie (2012)Jan 21, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7M Jan 21, 2012 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $6.7M worldwide - 26
Mar 24, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.2M - 27
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: The Movie 2nd A’s (2012)Jul 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5M Jul 14, 2012 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Animation, Drama $5M worldwide - 28
Aug 17, 2012 US and Canada: $3.3M Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $4.8M - 29
Nov 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.7M - 30
Sep 7, 2012 US and Canada: $353.5K Rest of the world: $3.9M Worldwide: $4.2M - 31
Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike (2012)Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $3.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.3M Oct 12, 2012 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery $3.3M worldwide - 32
Aug 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M - 33
Library War: The Wings Of Revolution (2012)Jun 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M Jun 15, 2012 · Japanese · Romance, Sci-Fi, Action $2.1M worldwide - 34
Oct 17, 2012 US and Canada: $641.1K Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $2M - 35
Nov 2, 2012 US and Canada: $30.7K Rest of the world: $1.6M Worldwide: $1.6M - 36
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)Nov 30, 2012 US and Canada: $5.5K Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $1.4M Nov 30, 2012 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $1.4M worldwide - 37
Jun 2, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $846.3K - 38
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $594.4K - 39
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled 1: The Wyvern Arrives (2012)Aug 4, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $447.6K Aug 4, 2012 · Japanese · War, Animation, Action $447.6K worldwide - 40
Jun 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $266.5K - 41
Starship Troopers: Invasion (2012)Aug 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $193.4K Aug 28, 2012 · English · Action, Animation, Sci-Fi $193.4K worldwide - 42
Felix, Net i Nika oraz teoretycznie możliwa katastrofa (2012)Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $192.5K
Sep 28, 2012 · Polish · Family, Sci-Fi, Adventure $192.5K worldwide - 43
Apr 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $190K - 44
Mar 2, 2012 US and Canada: $180.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $180.1K - 45
May 1, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $151.1K - 46
Jan 13, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $145.7K - 47
Aug 29, 2012 US and Canada: $21K Rest of the world: $59.9K Worldwide: $80.8K - 48
Mar 23, 2012 US and Canada: $17.8K Rest of the world: $53.1K Worldwide: $70.9K - 49
Mar 2, 2012 US and Canada: $2.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2012?
Of the top 10, The Hunger Games (2012) earned the biggest share at home (59% in the US & Canada), while Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) made 82% of its gross abroad. Across all 49 films, $2B (35%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Avengers (2012) $1.5B $623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
- 2 The Hunger Games (2012) $695.2M $408M US & Canada · 59% $287.2M elsewhere · 41%
- 3 Men in Black III (2012) $654.2M $179M US & Canada · 27% $475.2M elsewhere · 73%
- 4 Prometheus (2012) $403.4M $126.5M US & Canada · 31% $276.9M elsewhere · 69%
- 5 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) $335.3M $103.9M US & Canada · 31% $231.4M elsewhere · 69%
- 6 Battleship (2012) $303M $65.4M US & Canada · 22% $237.6M elsewhere · 78%
- 7 John Carter (2012) $284.1M $73.1M US & Canada · 26% $211.1M elsewhere · 74%
- 8 Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) $240.2M $42.3M US & Canada · 18% $197.8M elsewhere · 82%
- 9 Total Recall (2012) $198.5M $58.9M US & Canada · 30% $139.6M elsewhere · 70%
- 10 Looper (2012) $176.5M $66.5M US & Canada · 38% $110M elsewhere · 62%
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
12 of 49 films crossed $100M and took $5.1B between them, 90% of the total. 26 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.
27% 24% 39% 9%
- $1B or more 1 film, 2% of the list $1.5B · 27% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 2 films, 4% of the list $1.3B · 24% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 9 films, 18% of the list $2.2B · 39% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 11 films, 22% of the list $508.5M · 9% of the gross
- Under $10M 26 films, 53% of the list $55.2M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $2.5B from 5 films, led by The Avengers (2012). November was the quietest month ($7.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2012) $14.5M Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2012)
- February Feb Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) $461.9M Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- March Mar The Hunger Games (2012) $985.8M The Hunger Games (2012)
- April Apr Thermae Romae (2012) $212.3M Thermae Romae (2012)
- May May The Avengers (2012) $2.5B The Avengers (2012)
- June Jun Prometheus (2012) $418.2M Prometheus (2012)
- July Jul The Watch (2012) $83.3M The Watch (2012)
- August Aug Total Recall (2012) $225.3M Total Recall (2012)
- September Sep Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) $462.1M Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
- October Oct Cloud Atlas (2012) $282.2M Cloud Atlas (2012)
- November Nov Generation P (2012) $7.6M Generation P (2012)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2009 earned the most: $7.9B from 60 films, led by Avatar (2009). 2012 took $5.6B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 34 films | 34 | $3.4B | – | The Matrix Reloaded (2003) $741.8M |
| 2004 33 films · −27% | 33 | $2.5B | −27% | Spider-Man 2 (2004) $784.6M |
| 2005 36 films · +32% | 36 | $3.3B | +32% | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $905.6M |
| 2006 41 films · −52% | 41 | $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 |
| 2010 48 films · −50% | 48 | $3.9B | −50% | Inception (2010) $839.4M |
| 2011 46 films · +23% | 46 | $4.8B | +23% | Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) $1.1B |
| 2012 49 films · +17% | 49 | $5.6B | +17% | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 2012?
English-language sci-fi films took $5.5B across 33 films, 97% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($159.2M) and Russian-language sci-fi films ($4.7M).
2012 Sci-Fi Box Office by Language
- English $5.5B33 films · #1 The Avengers (2012)
- Japanese $159.2M11 films · #1 Thermae Romae (2012)
-
Russian $4.7M1 film · #1 Generation P (2012) - Polish $192.5K1 film · #1 Felix, Net i Nika oraz teoretycznie możliwa katastrofa (2012)
-
Portuguese $190K1 film · #1 Area Q. (2012) -
French $145.7K1 film · #1 The Divide (2012)
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 2012: 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 49 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B worldwide, $623.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Hunger Games (2012) at $695.2M and Men in Black III (2012) at $654.2M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 2012 earn?
49 sci-fi films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $5.6B in all, or $114.9M per film on average. 2011 releases took $4.8B.
How many sci-fi movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Avengers (2012). 12 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2012 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 2012. 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 2012 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.