#1 of 30 #1 thriller movie of 1983
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
1983 · Action, Adventure
$482.5M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total
$316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
Thriller box office · 1983
Thriller Box Office 1983: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1983, with $482.5M worldwide, ahead of Jaws 3-D (1983) at $88M and WarGames (1983) at $79.6M. 30 thriller films released in 1983 report a worldwide gross, $1.2B in all, 83% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 96% on 1982, whose releases took $608M. By language, English leads with $1.2B across 28 thriller releases.
- 1983 releases with a gross
- 30
- combined worldwide
- $1.2B
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1982
- +96%
#1 of 30 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1983?
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) leads with $482.5M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $785.6M, 66% of what all 30 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $482.5M Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)$316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Thriller Release of 1983, 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 1983.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)May 25, 1983 US and Canada: $316.6M Rest of the world: $165.9M Worldwide: $482.5M
May 25, 1983 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $482.5M worldwide - 2 Jul 22, 1983 US and Canada: $45.5M Rest of the world: $42.5M Worldwide: $88M
- 3 Jun 3, 1983 US and Canada: $79.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.6M
- 4 Jun 10, 1983 US and Canada: $67.9M Rest of the world: $23.7K Worldwide: $67.9M
- 5 Dec 9, 1983 US and Canada: $67.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $67.6M
- 6
Oct 7, 1983 US and Canada: $55.4M Rest of the world: $344 Worldwide: $55.4M - 7
May 13, 1983 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.3M - 8
Dec 14, 1983 US and Canada: $35.6M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $35.6M - 9
Jun 3, 1983 US and Canada: $34.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.7M - 10
Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $30.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.5M - 11
Jun 24, 1983 US and Canada: $29.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.5M - 12
Aug 12, 1983 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.2M - 13
Oct 21, 1983 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.8M - 14
May 13, 1983 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.9M - 15
Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M - 16
Sep 16, 1983 US and Canada: $13.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.2M - 17
Apr 15, 1983 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.2M - 18
Feb 18, 1983 US and Canada: $11.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.8M - 19
The House on Sorority Row (1983)Jan 21, 1983 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M Jan 21, 1983 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $10.6M worldwide - 20
Sep 30, 1983 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.2M - 21
Mar 25, 1983 US and Canada: $9.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.2M - 22
Mar 11, 1983 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 23
Oct 14, 1983 US and Canada: $6.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5M - 24
May 27, 1983 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.1M - 25
Aug 5, 1983 US and Canada: $5.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6M - 26
Feb 18, 1983 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $2.5M - 27
Feb 4, 1983 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: $8K Worldwide: $2.1M - 28
Sep 23, 1983 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 29
Mar 23, 1983 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 30
Dec 1, 1983 US and Canada: $108.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $108.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1983?
Of the top 10, WarGames (1983) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Jaws 3-D (1983) made 48% of its gross abroad. Across all 30 films, $983.5M (83%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M $316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
- 2 Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M $45.5M US & Canada · 52% $42.5M elsewhere · 48%
- 3 WarGames (1983) $79.6M $79.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Octopussy (1983) $67.9M $67.9M US & Canada · 100% $23.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M $67.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Never Say Never Again (1983) $55.4M $55.4M US & Canada · 100% $344 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Blue Thunder (1983) $42.3M $42.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Silkwood (1983) $35.6M $35.6M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Psycho II (1983) $34.7M $34.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Uncommon Valor (1983) $30.5M $30.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1983 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 30 films crossed $100M and took $482.5M between them, 40% of the total. 10 films, 33% of the list, earned under $10M.
40% 56%
- $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 1 film, 3% of the list $482.5M · 40% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 19 films, 63% of the list $666.9M · 56% of the gross
- Under $10M 10 films, 33% of the list $42.6M · 4% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1983 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $550.8M from 4 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). January was the quietest month ($10.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The House on Sorority Row (1983) $10.6M The House on Sorority Row (1983)
- February Feb The Lords of Discipline (1983) $16.5M The Lords of Discipline (1983)
- March Mar Bad Boys (1983) $17.6M Bad Boys (1983)
- April Apr Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) $12.2M Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
- May May Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $550.8M Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- June Jun WarGames (1983) $211.7M WarGames (1983)
- July Jul Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M Jaws 3-D (1983)
- August Aug Cujo (1983) $26.7M Cujo (1983)
- September Sep Revenge of the Ninja (1983) $25.4M Revenge of the Ninja (1983)
- October Oct Never Say Never Again (1983) $82.7M Never Say Never Again (1983)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Sudden Impact (1983) $149.7M Sudden Impact (1983)
Last 10 years
How Does 1983 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1983 earned the most: $1.2B from 30 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 21 films | 21 | $352.9M | – | The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M |
| 1975 11 films · +67% | 11 | $589.1M | +67% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 13 films · −66% | 13 | $200.3M | −66% | All the President's Men (1976) $70.6M |
| 1977 10 films · −20% | 10 | $161.1M | −20% | The Deep (1977) $47.3M |
| 1978 14 films · +319% | 14 | $674.5M | +319% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 18 films · −33% | 18 | $452.1M | −33% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 21 films · −36% | 21 | $291.5M | −36% | The Shining (1980) $48M |
| 1981 36 films · +36% | 36 | $397.1M | +36% | For Your Eyes Only (1981) $54.8M |
| 1982 32 films · +53% | 32 | $608M | +53% | First Blood (1982) $125.2M |
| 1983 30 films · +96% | 30 | $1.2B | +96% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
Archive
Thriller Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2015 leads with $12.8B, led by Jurassic World (2015).
2020s 7 years · $38.5B
- 2026 so far $2.6B #1 Project Hail Mary (2026)
- 2025 $7.7B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $5.7B #1 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
- 2023 $7.9B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.1B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $5.5B #1 No Time to Die (2021)
- 2020 $2B #1 Bad Boys for Life (2020)
2010s 10 years · $93.9B
- 2019 $8.6B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $10B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $10.2B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $7.6B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $12.8B #1 Jurassic World (2015)
- 2014 $8.5B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $10.5B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $5B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $8.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $67.5B
- 2009 $8.6B #1 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- 2008 $8.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $8.8B #1 Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- 2006 $7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $5.8B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.7B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $6.6B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Die Another Day (2002)
- 2001 $5.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $5B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $36B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.2B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $5.1B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $3.9B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $2.9B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $2.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $2.3B #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $2.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $3B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $9.2B
- 1989 $1.8B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $995.3M #1 Rambo III (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $571.7M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $908.2M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $822.8M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $608M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $397.1M #1 For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- 1980 $291.5M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.5B
- 1979 $452.1M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $674.5M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $161.1M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $200.3M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $589.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $352.9M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $509M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $334.9M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $141.7M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $120.3M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $273.6M
- 1969 $24.3M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $43.9M #1 You Only Live Twice (1967)
- 1966 $47.4K #1 Blow-Up (1966)
- 1965 $114.9M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $34.5M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $16.6M #1 Dr. No (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $69.7K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $32.7M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 10 years · $52.7M
- 1959 $215.4K #1 North by Northwest (1959)
- 1958 $10.7M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $27.4K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $18.2K #1 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
- 1955 $2.3M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $38.5M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $46.2K #1 The Wages of Fear (1953)
- 1952 $26K #1 Sudden Fear (1952)
- 1951 $52K #1 Strangers on a Train (1951)
- 1950 $816.7K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $12.3M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $464.6K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $79K #1 Odd Man Out (1947)
- 1946 $10M #1 Cloak and Dagger (1946)
- 1945 $94.2K #1 Dead of Night (1945)
- 1944 $23.6K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $37K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $47.5K #1 Went the Day Well? (1942)
- 1941 $19 #1 Suspicion (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 7 years · $195.5K
FAQ
Thriller Box Office 1983: 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 30 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1983?
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) leads with $482.5M worldwide, $316.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Jaws 3-D (1983) at $88M and WarGames (1983) at $79.6M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1983 earn?
30 thriller films released in 1983 report a worldwide gross, $1.2B in all, or $39.7M per film on average. 1982 releases took $608M.
How many thriller movies released in 1983 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) with $482.5M.
How is the 1983 thriller 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 1983. 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 1983 thriller 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.