#1 of 66 #1 thriller movie of 1996
1996 · Action, Adventure
$817.4M worldwide · 16% of the chart's total
$306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%
Thriller box office · 1996
Thriller Box Office 1996: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
Independence Day (1996) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1996, with $817.4M worldwide, ahead of Twister (1996) at $494.6M and Mission: Impossible (1996) at $457.7M. 66 thriller films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $5B in all, 49% of it from the US & Canada. 17 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 27% on 1995, whose releases took $3.9B. By language, English leads with $4.9B across 57 thriller releases.
- 1996 releases with a gross
- 66
- combined worldwide
- $5B
- films crossed $100M
- 17
- vs 1995
- +27%
#1 of 66 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1996?
Independence Day (1996) leads with $817.4M, 16% of the total. The top 5 together took $2.4B, 49% of what all 66 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
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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 1996, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 66. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1996.
- 1 Jul 3, 1996 US and Canada: $306.2M Rest of the world: $511.2M Worldwide: $817.4M
- 2 May 10, 1996 US and Canada: $241.8M Rest of the world: $252.8M Worldwide: $494.6M
- 3 May 22, 1996 US and Canada: $181M Rest of the world: $276.7M Worldwide: $457.7M
- 4 Jun 7, 1996 US and Canada: $134.1M Rest of the world: $201M Worldwide: $335.1M
- 5 Nov 8, 1996 US and Canada: $136.5M Rest of the world: $173M Worldwide: $309.5M
- 6
Jun 21, 1996 US and Canada: $101.3M Rest of the world: $141M Worldwide: $242.3M - 7
Dec 20, 1996 US and Canada: $103M Rest of the world: $70M Worldwide: $173M - 8
Oct 18, 1996 US and Canada: $53.3M Rest of the world: $112.3M Worldwide: $165.6M - 9
Dec 6, 1996 US and Canada: $33M Rest of the world: $126.2M Worldwide: $159.2M - 10
Jul 24, 1996 US and Canada: $108.8M Rest of the world: $43.5M Worldwide: $152.3M - 11
Feb 9, 1996 US and Canada: $70.8M Rest of the world: $79.5M Worldwide: $150.3M - 12
Nov 22, 1996 US and Canada: $92M Rest of the world: $54M Worldwide: $146M - 13
Mar 15, 1996 US and Canada: $56.6M Rest of the world: $65.4M Worldwide: $122M - 14
Jun 28, 1996 US and Canada: $33.1M Rest of the world: $80.2M Worldwide: $113.3M - 15
Jun 14, 1996 US and Canada: $60.2M Rest of the world: $42.6M Worldwide: $102.8M - 16
Apr 3, 1996 US and Canada: $56.1M Rest of the world: $46.5M Worldwide: $102.6M - 17
Dec 13, 1996 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: $63.6M Worldwide: $101.4M - 18
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $33.4M Rest of the world: $56M Worldwide: $89.5M - 19
Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $24.6M Rest of the world: $36M Worldwide: $60.6M - 20
Aug 2, 1996 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $39M Worldwide: $60.2M - 21
Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $27.7M Rest of the world: $22M Worldwide: $49.6M - 22
Sep 20, 1996 US and Canada: $18.1M Rest of the world: $29.2M Worldwide: $47.3M - 23
Nov 6, 1996 US and Canada: $36.5M Rest of the world: $5.1M Worldwide: $41.6M - 24
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: $554 Worldwide: $38.6M
Oct 11, 1996 · English · Adventure, Drama, Thriller $38.6M worldwide - 25
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)Apr 4, 1996 US and Canada: $34.8M Rest of the world: $832K Worldwide: $35.6M Apr 4, 1996 · English · Romance, Thriller, Comedy $35.6M worldwide - 26
Feb 23, 1996 US and Canada: $32.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.4M - 27
Jan 12, 1996 US and Canada: $26.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.9M - 28
Jan 19, 1996 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: $2.9K Worldwide: $25.8M - 29
Aug 9, 1996 US and Canada: $25.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.5M - 30
May 3, 1996 US and Canada: $24.8M Rest of the world: $5.9K Worldwide: $24.8M - 31
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: $8M Worldwide: $22.5M - 32
Apr 12, 1996 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.8M - 33
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M - 34
Feb 16, 1996 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 35
Aug 16, 1996 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.6M - 36
Sep 27, 1996 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M - 37
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $17.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.1M - 38
Apr 19, 1996 US and Canada: $14.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8M - 39
Sep 13, 1996 US and Canada: $14.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.5M - 40
May 31, 1996 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M - 41
Feb 23, 1996 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $6.7M Worldwide: $12.4M - 42
Apr 26, 1996 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.5M - 43
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $11.1M Rest of the world: $44K Worldwide: $11.1M - 44
Sep 27, 1996 US and Canada: $11.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.1M - 45
Sep 13, 1996 US and Canada: $8.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.5M - 46
Aug 23, 1996 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M - 47
May 17, 1996 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 48
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $230 Worldwide: $3.8M - 49
May 10, 1996 US and Canada: $3.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.7M - 50
Aug 30, 1996 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1996?
Of the top 10, A Time to Kill (1996) earned the biggest share at home (71% in the US & Canada), while Daylight (1996) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 66 films, $2.4B (49%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Independence Day (1996) $817.4M $306.2M US & Canada · 37% $511.2M elsewhere · 63%
- 2 Twister (1996) $494.6M $241.8M US & Canada · 49% $252.8M elsewhere · 51%
- 3 Mission: Impossible (1996) $457.7M $181M US & Canada · 40% $276.7M elsewhere · 60%
- 4 The Rock (1996) $335.1M $134.1M US & Canada · 40% $201M elsewhere · 60%
- 5 Ransom (1996) $309.5M $136.5M US & Canada · 44% $173M elsewhere · 56%
- 6 Eraser (1996) $242.3M $101.3M US & Canada · 42% $141M elsewhere · 58%
- 7 Scream (1996) $173M $103M US & Canada · 60% $70M elsewhere · 40%
- 8 Sleepers (1996) $165.6M $53.3M US & Canada · 32% $112.3M elsewhere · 68%
- 9 Daylight (1996) $159.2M $33M US & Canada · 21% $126.2M elsewhere · 79%
- 10 A Time to Kill (1996) $152.3M $108.8M US & Canada · 71% $43.5M elsewhere · 29%
Gross bands
How Many 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
17 of 66 films crossed $100M and took $4.1B between them, 83% of the total. 22 films, 33% of the list, earned under $10M.
16% 67% 16%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 2% of the list $817.4M · 16% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 16 films, 24% of the list $3.3B · 67% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 27 films, 41% of the list $785.1M · 16% of the gross
- Under $10M 22 films, 33% of the list $40.3M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1996 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $999.9M from 7 films, led by Twister (1996). January was the quietest month ($56.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Eye for an Eye (1996) $56.1M Eye for an Eye (1996)
- February Feb Broken Arrow (1996) $218.2M Broken Arrow (1996)
- March Mar Executive Decision (1996) $200.6M Executive Decision (1996)
- April Apr Primal Fear (1996) $185.5M Primal Fear (1996)
- May May Twister (1996) $999.9M Twister (1996)
- June Jun The Rock (1996) $793.5M The Rock (1996)
- July Jul Independence Day (1996) $969.7M Independence Day (1996)
- August Aug Chain Reaction (1996) $164.6M Chain Reaction (1996)
- September Sep Last Man Standing (1996) $100M Last Man Standing (1996)
- October Oct Sleepers (1996) $351.5M Sleepers (1996)
- November Nov Ransom (1996) $497.3M Ransom (1996)
- December Dec Scream (1996) $433.6M Scream (1996)
Last 10 years
How Does 1996 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1996 earned the most: $5B from 66 films, led by Independence Day (1996).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 65 films | 65 | $1.7B | – | Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M |
| 1988 58 films · −40% | 58 | $995.3M | −40% | Rambo III (1988) $189M |
| 1989 51 films · +81% | 51 | $1.8B | +81% | Batman (1989) $411.6M |
| 1990 63 films · +64% | 63 | $3B | +64% | Ghost (1990) $505.7M |
| 1991 53 films · −24% | 53 | $2.2B | −24% | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) $517.8M |
| 1992 58 films · +1% | 58 | $2.3B | +1% | Basic Instinct (1992) $352.9M |
| 1993 52 films · +3% | 52 | $2.3B | +3% | The Fugitive (1993) $368.9M |
| 1994 52 films · +23% | 52 | $2.9B | +23% | True Lies (1994) $378.9M |
| 1995 63 films · +36% | 63 | $3.9B | +36% | Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) $366.1M |
| 1996 66 films · +27% | 66 | $5B | +27% | Independence Day (1996) $817.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1996?
English-language thriller films took $4.9B across 57 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language thriller films ($968.1K) and Turkish-language thriller films ($39.6K).
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 1996: 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 66 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1996?
Independence Day (1996) leads with $817.4M worldwide, $306.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Twister (1996) at $494.6M and Mission: Impossible (1996) at $457.7M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1996 earn?
66 thriller films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $5B in all, or $75.3M per film on average. 1995 releases took $3.9B.
How many thriller movies released in 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 17 films crossed $100 million, led by Independence Day (1996) with $817.4M.
How is the 1996 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 1996. 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 1996 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.