#1 of 79 #1 sci-fi movie of 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
2021 · Action, Adventure
$1.9B worldwide · 31% of the chart's total
$814.9M US & Canada · 42% $1.1B elsewhere · 58%
Sci-Fi box office · 2021
Sci-Fi Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 2021, with $1.9B worldwide, ahead of Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) at $506.8M and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) at $470.1M. 79 sci-fi films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $6.2B in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 11 crossed $100 million. That is 6.8 times the total of 2020, whose releases took $912.4M. By language, English leads with $5.9B across 48 sci-fi releases.
- 2021 releases with a gross
- 79
- combined worldwide
- $6.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 11
- vs 2020
- ×6.8
#1 of 79 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 2021?
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) leads with $1.9B, 31% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.7B, 60% of what all 79 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 $432.2M Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)$224.5M US & Canada · 52% $207.7M elsewhere · 48% -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Sci-Fi Release of 2021, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 79. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2021.
- 1 Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: $814.9M Rest of the world: $1.1B Worldwide: $1.9B
- 2 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)Oct 1, 2021 US and Canada: $213.6M Rest of the world: $293.3M Worldwide: $506.8M
Oct 1, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $506.8M worldwide - 3 Mar 31, 2021 US and Canada: $100.9M Rest of the world: $369.2M Worldwide: $470.1M
- 4 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)Sep 3, 2021 US and Canada: $224.5M Rest of the world: $207.7M Worldwide: $432.2M Sep 3, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $432.2M worldwide
- 5 Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: $108.9M Rest of the world: $301.8M Worldwide: $410.7M
- 6
Nov 5, 2021 US and Canada: $164.9M Rest of the world: $237.2M Worldwide: $402.1M - 7
Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: $183.7M Rest of the world: $196.1M Worldwide: $379.8M - 8
Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $121.6M Rest of the world: $209.9M Worldwide: $331.5M - 9
May 28, 2021 US and Canada: $160.1M Rest of the world: $137.3M Worldwide: $297.4M - 10
Aug 6, 2021 US and Canada: $55.8M Rest of the world: $112.9M Worldwide: $168.7M - 11
Dec 22, 2021 US and Canada: $37.7M Rest of the world: $119.7M Worldwide: $157.4M - 12
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $810.7K Rest of the world: $93.1M Worldwide: $93.9M
Aug 13, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Sci-Fi, Drama $93.9M worldwide - 13
Apr 23, 2021 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: $42.1M Worldwide: $84.4M - 14
Boonie Bears: The Wild Life (2021)Feb 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.1M
Feb 12, 2021 · Chinese · Comedy, Adventure, Sci-Fi $78.1M worldwide - 15
Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: $44.5M Rest of the world: $32.5M Worldwide: $77M - 16
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)Jul 16, 2021 US and Canada: $25.3M Rest of the world: $40.5M Worldwide: $65.8M Jul 16, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $65.8M worldwide - 17
Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: $23M Rest of the world: $37.7M Worldwide: $60.7M - 18
My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: $34.7M Worldwide: $46.9M Oct 29, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $46.9M worldwide - 19
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)Nov 24, 2021 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: $24.9M Worldwide: $41.9M Nov 24, 2021 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery $41.9M worldwide - 20
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)Jul 23, 2021 US and Canada: $28.3M Rest of the world: $11.8M Worldwide: $40.1M Jul 23, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $40.1M worldwide - 21
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: $13.2M Worldwide: $26.5M - 22
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021)Jun 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.7M Jun 11, 2021 · Japanese · Action, Drama, Animation $18.7M worldwide - 23
Aug 20, 2021 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $16.4M - 24
Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.4M - 25
Apr 14, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.6M - 26
Mar 4, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.2M - 27
Apr 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.8M - 28
The Laws of the Universe: The Age of Elohim (2021)Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: $15.8K Rest of the world: $5.9M Worldwide: $5.9M Oct 22, 2021 · Japanese · Animation, Fantasy, Sci-Fi $5.9M worldwide - 29
Apr 9, 2021 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $4.3M - 30
Kamen Rider Saber + Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger: Super Hero Chronicles (2021)Jul 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.2M Jul 22, 2021 · Japanese · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi $4.2M worldwide - 31
Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations (2021)Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3M Dec 17, 2021 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Drama, Action $3M worldwide - 32
Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M - 33
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 34
Aug 4, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 35
Sep 24, 2021 US and Canada: $275.2K Rest of the world: $815.5K Worldwide: $1.1M - 36
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 37
Dec 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $831.6K - 38
Dec 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $791.9K - 39
Jan 15, 2021 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: $724.7K Worldwide: $725.9K - 40
Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $675K - 41
Dec 26, 2021 US and Canada: $52.7K Rest of the world: $536.1K Worldwide: $588.7K - 42
Nov 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $565.8K - 43
Nov 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $565.6K - 44
Sep 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $391.7K - 45
Aug 20, 2021 US and Canada: $71.3K Rest of the world: $295.3K Worldwide: $366.7K - 46
Mar 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $349.8K - 47
May 18, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $342.2K - 48
Aug 27, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $328.9K - 49
Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $188.2K - 50
Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: $126.1K Rest of the world: $51.1K Worldwide: $177.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2021?
Of the top 10, A Quiet Place Part II (2021) earned the biggest share at home (54% in the US & Canada), while Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 79 films, $2.4B (39%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $1.9B $814.9M US & Canada · 42% $1.1B elsewhere · 58%
- 2 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $506.8M $213.6M US & Canada · 42% $293.3M elsewhere · 58%
- 3 Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) $470.1M $100.9M US & Canada · 21% $369.2M elsewhere · 79%
- 4 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) $432.2M $224.5M US & Canada · 52% $207.7M elsewhere · 48%
- 5 Dune: Part One (2021) $410.7M $108.9M US & Canada · 27% $301.8M elsewhere · 73%
- 6 Eternals (2021) $402.1M $164.9M US & Canada · 41% $237.2M elsewhere · 59%
- 7 Black Widow (2021) $379.8M $183.7M US & Canada · 48% $196.1M elsewhere · 52%
- 8 Free Guy (2021) $331.5M $121.6M US & Canada · 37% $209.9M elsewhere · 63%
- 9 A Quiet Place Part II (2021) $297.4M $160.1M US & Canada · 54% $137.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 10 The Suicide Squad (2021) $168.7M $55.8M US & Canada · 33% $112.9M elsewhere · 67%
Gross bands
How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
11 of 79 films crossed $100M and took $5.5B between them, 88% of the total. 55 films, 70% of the list, earned under $10M.
31% 8% 49% 11%
- $1B or more 1 film, 1% of the list $1.9B · 31% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 1% of the list $506.8M · 8% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 9 films, 11% of the list $3B · 49% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 13 films, 16% of the list $664.9M · 11% of the gross
- Under $10M 55 films, 70% of the list $56.5M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $2.1B from 8 films, led by Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). January was the quietest month ($860.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Venus (2021) $860.3K Venus (2021)
- February Feb Boonie Bears: The Wild Life (2021) $78.3M Boonie Bears: The Wild Life (2021)
- March Mar Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) $507M Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- April Apr Mortal Kombat (2021) $105.1M Mortal Kombat (2021)
- May May A Quiet Place Part II (2021) $297.7M A Quiet Place Part II (2021)
- June Jun Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021) $18.9M Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021)
- July Jul Black Widow (2021) $581.9M Black Widow (2021)
- August Aug Free Guy (2021) $612.4M Free Guy (2021)
- September Sep Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) $434.1M Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
- October Oct Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $1B Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- November Nov Eternals (2021) $445.2M Eternals (2021)
- December Dec Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $2.1B Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Last 10 years
How Does 2021 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $15.1B from 106 films, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018). 2021 took $6.2B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 49 films | 49 | $5.6B | – | 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 |
| 2021 79 films · +579% | 79 | $6.2B | +579% | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) $1.9B |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 2021?
English-language sci-fi films took $5.9B across 48 films, 95% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($194M) and Chinese-language sci-fi films ($87.9M).
2021 Sci-Fi Box Office by Language
- English $5.9B48 films · #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Japanese $194M12 films · #1 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
- Chinese $87.9M4 films · #1 Boonie Bears: The Wild Life (2021)
-
Russian $7.2M1 film · #1 Couple From The Future (2021) -
Korean $6.8M2 films · #1 Seobok (2021) -
German $1.5M3 films · #1 I'm Your Man (2021) -
Arabic $1.1M1 film · #1 The Humans and the Mongoose (2021) -
French $675K1 film · #1 Meander (2021) -
Tamil $565.8K1 film · #1 Maanaadu (2021) -
Romanian $391.7K1 film · #1 Snow, Tea and Love (2021)
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 2021: 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 79 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 2021?
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) leads with $1.9B worldwide, $814.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) at $506.8M and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) at $470.1M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 2021 earn?
79 sci-fi films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $6.2B in all, or $78.5M per film on average. 2020 releases took $912.4M.
How many sci-fi movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). 11 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.