#1 of 74 #1 sci-fi movie of 2020
2020 · Action, Sci-Fi
$365.3M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total
$58.5M US & Canada · 16% $306.8M elsewhere · 84%
Sci-Fi box office · 2020
Sci-Fi Box Office 2020: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Tenet (2020) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 2020, with $365.3M worldwide, ahead of The Invisible Man (2020) at $144.5M and The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020) at $68M. 74 sci-fi films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $912.4M in all, 22% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 91% on 2019, whose releases took $10.3B. By language, English leads with $710.5M across 46 sci-fi releases.
- 2020 releases with a gross
- 74
- combined worldwide
- $912.4M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 2019
- −91%
#1 of 74 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 2020?
Tenet (2020) leads with $365.3M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $692.2M, 76% of what all 74 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 2020, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 74. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2020.
- 1 Sep 3, 2020 US and Canada: $58.5M Rest of the world: $306.8M Worldwide: $365.3M
- 2 Feb 28, 2020 US and Canada: $70.4M Rest of the world: $74.1M Worldwide: $144.5M
- 3 The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)Dec 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $68M
Dec 24, 2020 · Chinese · Drama, Fantasy, Action $68M worldwide - 4 Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020)Nov 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $65.2M
Nov 20, 2020 · Japanese · Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi $65.2M worldwide - 5 Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: $23.9M Rest of the world: $25.3M Worldwide: $49.2M
- 6
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2020)Feb 14, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $43.1M
Feb 14, 2020 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $43.1M worldwide - 7
Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $23.6M Worldwide: $40.9M - 8
Mar 13, 2020 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: $27.3M Worldwide: $39.9M - 9
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020)Feb 26, 2020 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: $16.7M Worldwide: $30M Feb 26, 2020 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $30M worldwide - 10
Jun 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.4M - 11
Jan 31, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.9M - 12
Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $2.8M Worldwide: $6.3M - 13
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020)Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.7M Aug 28, 2020 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $5.7M worldwide - 14
Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (2020)Jan 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5M Jan 17, 2020 · Japanese · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation $5M worldwide - 15
Oct 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 16
Nov 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 17
Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger VS Lupinranger VS Patranger (2020)Feb 8, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2M Feb 8, 2020 · Japanese · Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $2.2M worldwide - 18
Oct 23, 2020 US and Canada: $636.7K Rest of the world: $847.1K Worldwide: $1.5M - 19
Aug 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 20
Jun 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 21
Mar 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 22
Oct 16, 2020 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 23
Jan 24, 2020 US and Canada: $765.6K Rest of the world: $265.1K Worldwide: $1M - 24
Oct 2, 2020 US and Canada: $752.9K Rest of the world: $158.3K Worldwide: $911.2K - 25
Jan 25, 2020 US and Canada: $752.9K Rest of the world: $158.3K Worldwide: $911.2K - 26
Feb 26, 2020 US and Canada: $543 Rest of the world: $881.5K Worldwide: $882K - 27
Nov 6, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $759.4K - 28
Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector (2020)Mar 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $757.1K Mar 27, 2020 · Japanese · Animation, Action, Sci-Fi $757.1K worldwide - 29
Jan 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $609.3K - 30
Nov 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $596.4K - 31
Mar 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $487.6K - 32
Apr 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $387.7K - 33
Jul 28, 2020 US and Canada: $115.7K Rest of the world: $267.4K Worldwide: $383.1K - 34
Aug 14, 2020 US and Canada: $18.9K Rest of the world: $335.2K Worldwide: $354K - 35
Oct 30, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $343.4K - 36
Oct 2, 2020 US and Canada: $301.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $301.2K - 37
Jul 10, 2020 US and Canada: $139.6K Rest of the world: $103.7K Worldwide: $243.3K - 38
Jun 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $237.3K - 39
Nov 2, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $222.9K - 40
Dec 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $170.6K - 41
Jul 30, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $139K - 42
Mar 6, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $125.6K - 43
Nov 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $99.9K - 44
Jul 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $92.1K - 45
Max Winslow and The House of Secrets (2020)May 29, 2020 US and Canada: $31.3K Rest of the world: $58.3K Worldwide: $89.5K May 29, 2020 · English · Family, Sci-Fi, Thriller $89.5K worldwide - 46
Dec 11, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $70K - 47
The Adventure of A.R.I.: My Robot Friend (2020)Mar 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $60K Mar 10, 2020 · English · Family, Sci-Fi $60K worldwide - 48
Sep 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $55.9K - 49
Jan 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.9K - 50
Ben 10 vs. the Universe: The Movie (2020)Oct 2, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.7K Oct 2, 2020 · English · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure $50.7K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2020?
Of the top 10, The Invisible Man (2020) earned the biggest share at home (49% in the US & Canada), while Tenet (2020) made 84% of its gross abroad. Across all 74 films, $204M (22%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Tenet (2020) $365.3M $58.5M US & Canada · 16% $306.8M elsewhere · 84%
- 2 The Invisible Man (2020) $144.5M $70.4M US & Canada · 49% $74.1M elsewhere · 51%
- 3 The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020) $68M No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020) $65.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 The New Mutants (2020) $49.2M $23.9M US & Canada · 49% $25.3M elsewhere · 51%
- 6 A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2020) $43.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Underwater (2020) $40.9M $17.3M US & Canada · 42% $23.6M elsewhere · 58%
- 8 Bloodshot (2020) $39.9M $12.6M US & Canada · 32% $27.3M elsewhere · 68%
- 9 My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2020) $30M $13.3M US & Canada · 44% $16.7M elsewhere · 56%
- 10 #Alive (2020) $13.4M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2020 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 74 films crossed $100M and took $509.8M between them, 56% of the total. 64 films, 86% of the list, earned under $10M.
56% 38%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 2 films, 3% of the list $509.8M · 56% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 8 films, 11% of the list $349.7M · 38% of the gross
- Under $10M 64 films, 86% of the list $53M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2020 Earned the Most?
September releases took the most, $365.4M from 5 films, led by Tenet (2020). May was the quietest month ($104.4K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Underwater (2020) $56.4M Underwater (2020)
- February Feb The Invisible Man (2020) $220.7M The Invisible Man (2020)
- March Mar Bloodshot (2020) $42.4M Bloodshot (2020)
- April Apr Sea Fever (2020) $404.8K Sea Fever (2020)
- May May Max Winslow and The House of Secrets (2020) $104.4K Max Winslow and The House of Secrets (2020)
- June Jun #Alive (2020) $14.9M #Alive (2020)
- July Jul Gundala (2020) $902.2K Gundala (2020)
- August Aug The New Mutants (2020) $62.9M The New Mutants (2020)
- September Sep Tenet (2020) $365.4M Tenet (2020)
- October Oct Terra Willy (2020) $8.6M Terra Willy (2020)
- November Nov Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020) $71.3M Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020)
- December Dec The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020) $68.3M The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)
Last 10 years
How Does 2020 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $15.1B from 106 films, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018). 2020 took $912.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 46 films | 46 | $4.8B | – | Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) $1.1B |
| 2012 49 films · +17% | 49 | $5.6B | +17% | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
| 2013 60 films · +53% | 60 | $8.6B | +53% | Iron Man 3 (2013) $1.2B |
| 2014 61 films · +13% | 61 | $9.7B | +13% | Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014) $1.1B |
| 2015 84 films · +5% | 84 | $10.2B | +5% | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) $2.1B |
| 2016 98 films · −17% | 98 | $8.4B | −17% | Captain America: Civil War (2016) $1.2B |
| 2017 88 films · +32% | 88 | $11.1B | +32% | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) $1.3B |
| 2018 106 films · +36% | 106 | $15.1B | +36% | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) $2.1B |
| 2019 103 films · −32% | 103 | $10.3B | −32% | Avengers: Endgame (2019) $2.8B |
| 2020 74 films · −91% | 74 | $912.4M | −91% | Tenet (2020) $365.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 2020?
English-language sci-fi films took $710.5M across 46 films, 78% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($111.9M) and Chinese-language sci-fi films ($68M).
2020 Sci-Fi Box Office by Language
- English $710.5M46 films · #1 Tenet (2020)
- Japanese $111.9M9 films · #1 Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020)
- Chinese $68M1 film · #1 The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020)
-
Korean $13.4M1 film · #1 #Alive (2020) -
French $4.5M2 films · #1 Terra Willy (2020) -
Russian $2.4M6 films · #1 Cosmoball (2020) -
Spanish $1.1M1 film · #1 The Platform (2020) -
Indonesian $383.1K1 film · #1 Gundala (2020) -
Arabic $139K1 film · #1 The Washing Machine (2020) -
Telugu $51.9K1 film · #1 Disco Raja (2020)
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 2020: 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 74 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 2020?
Tenet (2020) leads with $365.3M worldwide, $58.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Invisible Man (2020) at $144.5M and The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020) at $68M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 2020 earn?
74 sci-fi films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $912.4M in all, or $12.3M per film on average. 2019 releases took $10.3B.
How many sci-fi movies released in 2020 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Tenet (2020) with $365.3M.
How is the 2020 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 2020. 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 2020 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.