#1 of 5 #1 thriller movie of December 1993
1993 · Drama, Mystery
$195.3M worldwide · 97% of the chart's total
$100.8M US & Canada · 52% $94.5M elsewhere · 48%
Thriller box office · December 1993
Thriller Box Office, December 1993: Top-Grossing Releases
The Pelican Brief (1993) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in December 1993, with $195.3M worldwide, ahead of Ghost in the Machine (1993) at $5.1M and Bank Robber (1993) at $115.8K. 5 thriller films released in December 1993 report a worldwide gross, $200.6M in all, 53% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 35% on November 1993, whose releases took $148.9M. By language, English leads with $200.5M across 4 thriller releases.
- December 1993 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $200.6M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs November 1993
- +35%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of December 1993?
The Pelican Brief (1993) leads with $195.3M, 97% of the total. The top 5 together took $200.6M, almost all of what the 5 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 Thriller Release of December 1993, 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 December 1993.
- 1 Dec 17, 1993 US and Canada: $100.8M Rest of the world: $94.5M Worldwide: $195.3M
- 2 Dec 20, 1993 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M
- 3 Dec 3, 1993 US and Canada: $115.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $115.8K
- 4 Dec 25, 1993 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.3K
- 5 Dec 3, 1993 US and Canada: $8.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1993?
Of the top 5, Ghost in the Machine (1993) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Pelican Brief (1993) made 48% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $106M (53%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 5 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Pelican Brief (1993) $195.3M $100.8M US & Canada · 52% $94.5M elsewhere · 48%
- 2 Ghost in the Machine (1993) $5.1M $5.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Bank Robber (1993) $115.8K $115.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Manichitrathazhu (1993) $82.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 The Hawk (1993) $8.9K $8.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1993 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 12–18) took $195.3M, led by The Pelican Brief (1993). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 28–Dec 4 Bank Robber (1993) $124.7K Bank Robber (1993)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 5–11 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 12–18 The Pelican Brief (1993) $195.3M The Pelican Brief (1993)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 19–25 Ghost in the Machine (1993) $5.2M Ghost in the Machine (1993)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 26–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1993 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1990 earned the most: $396.9M from 5 films, led by Kindergarten Cop (1990). December 1993 took $200.6M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1984 4 films | 4 | $380.7M | – | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 2 films · −91% | 2 | $34.4M | −91% | Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) $19.7M |
| December 1986 1 film · −27% | 1 | $25.1M | −27% | The Morning After (1986) $25.1M |
| December 1987 2 films · +131% | 2 | $58.2M | +131% | Throw Momma from the Train (1987) $57.9M |
| December 1988 3 films · −7% | 3 | $54.3M | −7% | Tequila Sunrise (1988) $41.3M |
| December 1989 4 films · +323% | 4 | $229.9M | +323% | The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M |
| December 1990 5 films · +73% | 5 | $396.9M | +73% | Kindergarten Cop (1990) $202M |
| December 1991 4 films · −9% | 4 | $362.6M | −9% | JFK (1991) $205.4M |
| December 1992 3 films · −29% | 3 | $258.5M | −29% | A Few Good Men (1992) $243.2M |
| December 1993 5 films · −22% | 5 | $200.6M | −22% | The Pelican Brief (1993) $195.3M |
Archive
Thriller Box Office in 1993, Month by Month
The months of 1993 with their totals: August leads with $474.2M, led by The Fugitive (1993).
- January $101M #1 Alive (1993)
- February $204.2M #1 Sommersby (1993)
- March $30M #1 Point of No Return (1993)
- April $36M #1 The Crush (1993)
- May $371.3M #1 Cliffhanger (1993)
- June $293.2M #1 The Firm (1993)
- July $284.2M #1 In the Line of Fire (1993)
- August $474.2M #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- September $113M #1 The Good Son (1993)
- October $83.5M #1 Malice (1993)
- November $148.9M #1 A Perfect World (1993)
- December $200.6M #1 The Pelican Brief (1993)
FAQ
Thriller Box Office December 1993: 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 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in December 1993?
The Pelican Brief (1993) leads with $195.3M worldwide, $100.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Ghost in the Machine (1993) at $5.1M and Bank Robber (1993) at $115.8K.
How much did thriller movies released in December 1993 earn?
5 thriller films released in December 1993 report a worldwide gross, $200.6M in all, or $40.1M per film on average. November 1993 releases took $148.9M.
How many thriller movies released in December 1993 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Pelican Brief (1993) with $195.3M.
How is the December 1993 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 December 1993. 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 December 1993 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.