#1 of 17 #1 thriller movie of December 2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
2008 · Sci-Fi, Drama
$233.1M worldwide · 41% of the chart's total
$79.4M US & Canada · 34% $153.7M elsewhere · 66%
Thriller box office · December 2008
Thriller Box Office, December 2008: Top-Grossing Releases
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in December 2008, with $233.1M worldwide, ahead of Valkyrie (2008) at $201.5M and Defiance (2008) at $51.3M. 17 thriller films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $569.2M in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 51% on November 2008, whose releases took $1.2B. By language, English leads with $536.7M across 9 thriller releases.
- December 2008 releases with a gross
- 17
- combined worldwide
- $569.2M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs November 2008
- −51%
#1 of 17 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of December 2008?
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) leads with $233.1M, 41% of the total. The top 5 together took $542.1M, 95% of what all 17 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 2008, 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 2008.
- 1 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $79.4M Rest of the world: $153.7M Worldwide: $233.1M
Dec 12, 2008 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller $233.1M worldwide - 2 Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $83.1M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $201.5M
- 3 Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: $22.6M Worldwide: $51.3M
- 4 Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $19.8M Rest of the world: $19.4M Worldwide: $39.2M
- 5 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008)Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: $10.4K Rest of the world: $17.1M Worldwide: $17.1M
Dec 17, 2008 · French · Action, Thriller, Adventure $17.1M worldwide - 6
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $10.2M - 7
Dec 3, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.5M - 8
Dec 23, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.9M - 9
Dec 11, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9M - 10
Dec 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $895.8K - 11
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $592.5K - 12
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: $514.1K Worldwide: $553.2K - 13
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $540.4K Rest of the world: $10.4K Worldwide: $550.8K - 14
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $498.1K - 15
Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $409.8K - 16
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $60.3K - 17
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $16.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.8K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2008?
Of the top 10, Punisher: War Zone (2008) earned the biggest share at home (79% in the US & Canada), while The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $219.6M (39%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) $233.1M $79.4M US & Canada · 34% $153.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Valkyrie (2008) $201.5M $83.1M US & Canada · 41% $118.5M elsewhere · 59%
- 3 Defiance (2008) $51.3M $28.6M US & Canada · 56% $22.6M elsewhere · 44%
- 4 The Spirit (2008) $39.2M $19.8M US & Canada · 51% $19.4M elsewhere · 49%
- 5 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) $17.1M $10.4K US & Canada · <1% $17.1M elsewhere · 100%
- 6 Punisher: War Zone (2008) $10.2M $8.1M US & Canada · 79% $2.1M elsewhere · 21%
- 7 Anything for Her (2008) $6.5M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Lady Cop & Papa Crook (2008) $3.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 The Silent Army (2008) $2.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Histeria (2008) $895.8K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many December 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 17 films crossed $100M and took $434.6M between them, 76% of the total. 11 films, 65% of the list, earned under $10M.
76% 21%
- $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, 12% of the list $434.6M · 76% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 24% of the list $117.7M · 21% of the gross
- Under $10M 11 films, 65% of the list $16.9M · 3% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 2008 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 52 (Dec 21–27) took $244.6M, led by Valkyrie (2008). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Punisher: War Zone (2008) $17.3M Punisher: War Zone (2008)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) $237.1M The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) $19M The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 Valkyrie (2008) $244.6M Valkyrie (2008)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 Defiance (2008) $51.3M Defiance (2008)
Earlier years
How Does December 2008 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2007 earned the most: $1.5B from 16 films, led by I Am Legend (2007). December 2008 took $569.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1999 4 films | 4 | $184.5M | – | The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) $138M |
| December 2000 8 films · +224% | 8 | $598.6M | +224% | Vertical Limit (2000) $215.7M |
| December 2001 8 films · +13% | 8 | $676.8M | +13% | Ocean's Eleven (2001) $450.7M |
| December 2002 9 films · −78% | 9 | $147.8M | −78% | Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) $67.3M |
| December 2003 6 films · −20% | 6 | $118.9M | −20% | Paycheck (2003) $117.2M |
| December 2004 9 films · +382% | 9 | $573.2M | +382% | Ocean's Twelve (2004) $362.7M |
| December 2005 13 films · −27% | 13 | $416.6M | −27% | Munich (2005) $131M |
| December 2006 20 films · +77% | 20 | $737.6M | +77% | Blood Diamond (2006) $171.7M |
| December 2007 16 films · +104% | 16 | $1.5B | +104% | I Am Legend (2007) $585.4M |
| December 2008 17 films · −62% | 17 | $569.2M | −62% | The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) $233.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in December 2008?
English-language thriller films took $536.7M across 9 films, 94% of the total, ahead of French-language thriller films ($23.6M) and Cantonese-language thriller films ($3.9M).
December 2008 Thriller Box Office by Language
- English $536.7M9 films · #1 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
- French $23.6M2 films · #1 The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008)
-
Cantonese $3.9M1 film · #1 Lady Cop & Papa Crook (2008) -
Dutch $2.9M1 film · #1 The Silent Army (2008) -
Malay $895.8K1 film · #1 Histeria (2008) -
Danish $592.5K1 film · #1 Fear Me Not (2008) -
Spanish $553.2K1 film · #1 Timecrimes (2008) -
Tamil $60.3K1 film · #1 Thiruvannamalai (2008)
Archive
Thriller Box Office in 2008, Month by Month
The months of 2008 with their totals: May leads with $1.5B, led by Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
- January $460.7M #1 Cloverfield (2008)
- February $647.3M #1 Jumper (2008)
- March $239.9M #1 Superhero Movie (2008)
- April $216.6M #1 Street Kings (2008)
- May $1.5B #1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- June $501.4M #1 The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- July $1.3B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- August $853.9M #1 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
- September $415.2M #1 Eagle Eye (2008)
- October $584.8M #1 Body of Lies (2008)
- November $1.2B #1 Quantum of Solace (2008)
- December $569.2M #1 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
FAQ
Thriller Box Office December 2008: 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 17 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in December 2008?
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) leads with $233.1M worldwide, $79.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Valkyrie (2008) at $201.5M and Defiance (2008) at $51.3M.
How much did thriller movies released in December 2008 earn?
17 thriller films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $569.2M in all, or $33.5M per film on average. November 2008 releases took $1.2B.
How many thriller movies released in December 2008 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) with $233.1M.
How is the December 2008 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 2008. 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 2008 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.