#1 of 1,074 Highest-grossing war movie ever
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
2016 · Action, Adventure
$1.1B worldwide
$533.5M US & Canada · 50% $525.1M elsewhere · 50%
War box office · All time
Highest-Grossing War Movies of All Time
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) is the highest-grossing war movie in our database, with $1.1B worldwide, ahead of The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) at $902.5M and Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) at $870.3M. 1,074 war films in our database report a worldwide gross, $27.2B in all, 38% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 69 crossed $100 million. By language, English leads with $19.2B across 525 war releases.
- films with a reported gross
- 1,074
- combined worldwide
- $27.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 69
- earned in the US & Canada
- 38%
#1 of 1,074 Top 5
What Are the Highest-Grossing War Movies Ever?
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) leads with $1.1B, $156.1M ahead of The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021). The top 5 were released between 2015 and 2021 and took $4.3B together; 3 earned more than half of their gross outside the US & Canada.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5 $661.5M The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)$281.7M US & Canada · 43% $379.7M elsewhere · 57%
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
All 1,074 War Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 1,074. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)Dec 16, 2016 US and Canada: $533.5M Rest of the world: $525.1M Worldwide: $1.1B
Dec 16, 2016 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.1B worldwide - 2 Sep 30, 2021 US and Canada: $342.4K Rest of the world: $902.2M Worldwide: $902.5M
- 3 Jul 28, 2017 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: $867.6M Worldwide: $870.3M
- 4 Jun 2, 2017 US and Canada: $412.8M Rest of the world: $411.1M Worldwide: $824M
- 5 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)Nov 20, 2015 US and Canada: $281.7M Rest of the world: $379.7M Worldwide: $661.5M Nov 20, 2015 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $661.5M worldwide
- 6
Feb 23, 2018 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: $577.8M Worldwide: $579.3M - 7
Dec 25, 2014 US and Canada: $350.2M Rest of the world: $197.5M Worldwide: $547.7M - 8
Jul 21, 2017 US and Canada: $189.7M Rest of the world: $344M Worldwide: $533.7M - 9
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)Jul 14, 2017 US and Canada: $146.9M Rest of the world: $343.8M Worldwide: $490.7M Jul 14, 2017 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $490.7M worldwide - 10
Jul 24, 1998 US and Canada: $217M Rest of the world: $265.3M Worldwide: $482.4M - 11
Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: $372.8K Rest of the world: $461M Worldwide: $461.4M - 12
Mar 9, 2007 US and Canada: $210.6M Rest of the world: $245.5M Worldwide: $456.1M - 13
Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $111.1M Rest of the world: $343.5M Worldwide: $454.6M - 14
May 25, 2001 US and Canada: $198.5M Rest of the world: $250.7M Worldwide: $449.2M - 15
Dec 25, 2019 US and Canada: $159.2M Rest of the world: $286.8M Worldwide: $446.1M - 16
Aug 15, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $422.8M - 17
Jan 17, 1940 US and Canada: $200.9M Rest of the world: $201.5M Worldwide: $402.4M - 18
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)Nov 17, 2023 US and Canada: $166.4M Rest of the world: $197.6M Worldwide: $364M Nov 17, 2023 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $364M worldwide - 19
Mar 7, 2014 US and Canada: $106.6M Rest of the world: $231M Worldwide: $337.6M - 20
Dec 15, 1993 US and Canada: $96.9M Rest of the world: $225.3M Worldwide: $322.2M - 21
Aug 21, 2009 US and Canada: $120.5M Rest of the world: $200.9M Worldwide: $321.5M - 22
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $65.4M Rest of the world: $237.6M Worldwide: $303M - 23
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)May 22, 1985 US and Canada: $150.4M Rest of the world: $150M Worldwide: $300.4M May 22, 1985 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $300.4M worldwide - 24
Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $182.2M Rest of the world: $93.1M Worldwide: $275.3M - 25
Sep 19, 2025 US and Canada: $410.9K Rest of the world: $273.7M Worldwide: $274.1M - 26
Nov 28, 2014 US and Canada: $91.1M Rest of the world: $142.4M Worldwide: $233.6M - 27
Nov 15, 1996 US and Canada: $78.7M Rest of the world: $153.3M Worldwide: $232M - 28
Oct 23, 1998 US and Canada: $57.6M Rest of the world: $172.5M Worldwide: $230.1M - 29
Jun 23, 2004 US and Canada: $119.2M Rest of the world: $103.3M Worldwide: $222.4M - 30
Nov 22, 2023 US and Canada: $61.5M Rest of the world: $160.9M Worldwide: $222.4M - 31
Oct 10, 2014 US and Canada: $56.3M Rest of the world: $160.8M Worldwide: $217.1M - 32
Jun 28, 2000 US and Canada: $113.3M Rest of the world: $102M Worldwide: $215.3M - 33
May 24, 1995 US and Canada: $75.6M Rest of the world: $137.6M Worldwide: $213.2M - 34
Oct 17, 2014 US and Canada: $85.8M Rest of the world: $126M Worldwide: $211.8M - 35
Nov 14, 2008 US and Canada: $49.6M Rest of the world: $162.2M Worldwide: $211.8M - 36
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)Nov 14, 2003 US and Canada: $93.9M Rest of the world: $117.7M Worldwide: $211.6M Nov 14, 2003 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $211.6M worldwide - 37
Jul 7, 2004 US and Canada: $51.9M Rest of the world: $151.7M Worldwide: $203.6M - 38
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $83.1M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $201.5M - 39
Aug 13, 2008 US and Canada: $110.5M Rest of the world: $85.2M Worldwide: $195.7M - 40
Nov 4, 2016 US and Canada: $67.2M Rest of the world: $113.4M Worldwide: $180.6M - 41
Dec 25, 2011 US and Canada: $79.9M Rest of the world: $97.7M Worldwide: $177.6M - 42
Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $95.6M Rest of the world: $77.4M Worldwide: $173M - 43
Dec 28, 2001 US and Canada: $108.6M Rest of the world: $64.4M Worldwide: $173M - 44
Dec 25, 2014 US and Canada: $115.6M Rest of the world: $45.8M Worldwide: $161.5M - 45
Dec 20, 1989 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $91M Worldwide: $161M - 46
Jan 13, 1995 US and Canada: $66.6M Rest of the world: $94M Worldwide: $160.6M - 47
Dec 27, 2013 US and Canada: $125.1M Rest of the world: $29.7M Worldwide: $154.8M - 48
Nov 22, 2017 US and Canada: $56.5M Rest of the world: $94.4M Worldwide: $150.8M - 49
Jun 18, 1999 US and Canada: $102.7M Rest of the world: $47M Worldwide: $149.7M - 50
Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $138.5M Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $138.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Biggest War Movies Make Their Money?
Of the top 10, American Sniper (2014) earned the biggest share at home (64% in the US & Canada), while The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 1,074 films, $10.3B (38%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) $1.1B $533.5M US & Canada · 50% $525.1M elsewhere · 50%
- 2 The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) $902.5M $342.4K US & Canada · <1% $902.2M elsewhere · 100%
- 3 Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) $870.3M $2.7M US & Canada · <1% $867.6M elsewhere · 100%
- 4 Wonder Woman (2017) $824M $412.8M US & Canada · 50% $411.1M elsewhere · 50%
- 5 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) $661.5M $281.7M US & Canada · 43% $379.7M elsewhere · 57%
- 6 Operation Red Sea (2018) $579.3M $1.5M US & Canada · <1% $577.8M elsewhere · 100%
- 7 American Sniper (2014) $547.7M $350.2M US & Canada · 64% $197.5M elsewhere · 36%
- 8 Dunkirk (2017) $533.7M $189.7M US & Canada · 36% $344M elsewhere · 64%
- 9 War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) $490.7M $146.9M US & Canada · 30% $343.8M elsewhere · 70%
- 10 Saving Private Ryan (1998) $482.4M $217M US & Canada · 45% $265.3M elsewhere · 55%
Gross bands
How Many War Movies Crossed $100 Million?
69 of 1,074 films crossed $100M and took $19.6B between them, 72% of the total. 823 films, 77% of the list, earned under $10M.
18% 50% 23%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $1.1B · 4% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 7 films, <1% of the list $4.9B · 18% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 61 films, 6% of the list $13.7B · 50% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 182 films, 17% of the list $6.4B · 23% of the gross
- Under $10M 823 films, 77% of the list $1.2B · 5% of the gross
By decade
Which Decade's War Movies Earned the Most?
Films released in the 2010s lead with $11.4B from 369 titles, led by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Each column links to the decade's biggest year.
- 1930s 1930s Peak year 1933 Duck Soup (1933) $119.7K Duck Soup (1933)
- 1940s 1940s Peak year 1940 Gone with the Wind (1940) $446.1M Gone with the Wind (1940)
- 1950s 1950s Peak year 1959 Ben-Hur (1959) $125.1M Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1960s 1960s Peak year 1965 Doctor Zhivago (1965) $173.6M Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1970s 1970s Peak year 1979 Apocalypse Now (1979) $492.9M Apocalypse Now (1979)
- 1980s 1980s Peak year 1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $1.4B Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1990s 1990s Peak year 1998 Saving Private Ryan (1998) $2.9B Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- 2000s 2000s Peak year 2008 300 (2007) $6.8B 300 (2007)
- 2010s 2010s Peak year 2017 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) $11.4B Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- 2020s 2020s Peak year 2021 The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) $3.5B The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing War Movies?
2017 releases earned the most: $3.3B from 52 films, led by Wolf Warrior 2 (2017). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 52 films | 52 | $3.3B | Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) $870.3M |
| 2014 37 films | 37 | $1.9B | American Sniper (2014) $547.7M |
| 2016 33 films | 33 | $1.6B | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) $1.1B |
| 2008 41 films | 41 | $1B | Australia (2008) $211.8M |
| 2021 28 films | 28 | $1B | The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) $902.5M |
| 2019 65 films | 65 | $1B | 1917 (2019) $446.1M |
| 2007 37 films | 37 | $945M | 300 (2007) $456.1M |
| 2015 38 films | 38 | $920.3M | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) $661.5M |
| 2001 18 films | 18 | $893.6M | Pearl Harbor (2001) $449.2M |
| 2003 20 films | 20 | $889.6M | The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest War Movies Speak?
English-language war films took $19.2B across 525 films, 70% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language war films ($4.2B) and Japanese-language war films ($536.6M).
All-Time War Box Office by Language
- English $19.2B525 films · #1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
-
Chinese $4.2B39 films · #1 The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) -
Japanese $536.6M42 films · #1 The Wind Rises (2013) -
Korean $510.3M18 films · #1 The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) -
Russian $254.4M47 films · #1 Stalingrad (2014) -
French $210.1M63 films · #1 A Very Long Engagement (2004) -
German $193.3M37 films · #1 Downfall (2005) -
Spanish $160.6M21 films · #1 Pan's Labyrinth (2006) -
Turkish $77.4M18 films · #1 Conquest 1453 (2012) -
Hindi $71.6M15 films · #1 Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019)
Archive
War Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2017 leads with $3.3B, led by Wolf Warrior 2 (2017).
2020s 7 years · $3.5B
- 2026 so far $119.7M #1 Young Washington (2026)
- 2025 $872.4M #1 Dead to Rights (2025)
- 2024 $75.6M #1 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
- 2023 $793.9M #1 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
- 2022 $161.4M #1 Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022)
- 2021 $1B #1 The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
- 2020 $479M #1 The Eight Hundred (2020)
2010s 10 years · $11.4B
- 2019 $1B #1 1917 (2019)
- 2018 $755.1M #1 Operation Red Sea (2018)
- 2017 $3.3B #1 Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
- 2016 $1.6B #1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- 2015 $920.3M #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)
- 2014 $1.9B #1 American Sniper (2014)
- 2013 $412.3M #1 Lone Survivor (2013)
- 2012 $760.8M #1 Battleship (2012)
- 2011 $313.2M #1 War Horse (2011)
- 2010 $309.1M #1 Dear John (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6.8B
- 2009 $651.8M #1 Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- 2008 $1B #1 Australia (2008)
- 2007 $945M #1 300 (2007)
- 2006 $358.6M #1 Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
- 2005 $446.9M #1 Jarhead (2005)
- 2004 $680.7M #1 Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- 2003 $889.6M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
- 2002 $463.2M #1 The Pianist (2002)
- 2001 $893.6M #1 Pearl Harbor (2001)
- 2000 $433.4M #1 The Patriot (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.9B
- 1999 $451.1M #1 The General's Daughter (1999)
- 1998 $713.1M #1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- 1997 $139.5M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $345M #1 The English Patient (1996)
- 1995 $469.1M #1 Braveheart (1995)
- 1994 $20M #1 The War (1994)
- 1993 $494.5M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $122.6M #1 The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
- 1991 $48.4M #1 For the Boys (1991)
- 1990 $54.6M #1 Memphis Belle (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.4B
- 1989 $199.1M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 1988 $151.6M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- 1987 $92.3M #1 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- 1986 $226.5M #1 Platoon (1986)
- 1985 $351.1M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $80.6M #1 Missing in Action (1984)
- 1983 $81.7M #1 Uncommon Valor (1983)
- 1982 $49.8M #1 Some Kind of Hero (1982)
- 1981 $131M #1 Stripes (1981)
- 1980 $81.3M #1 Private Benjamin (1980)
1970s 8 years · $492.9M
- 1979 $228.1M #1 Apocalypse Now (1979)
- 1978 $89M #1 The Deer Hunter (1978)
- 1977 $51.8M #1 A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- 1975 $20.4M #1 Love and Death (1975)
- 1974 $32K #1 Hearts and Minds (1974)
- 1972 $20.8K #1 Chinese Glory (1972)
- 1971 $9.4K #1 Liberation: The Last Assault (1971)
- 1970 $103.6M #1 Patton (1970)
1960s 9 years · $173.6M
- 1969 $8M #1 Where Eagles Dare (1969)
- 1968 $3.6M #1 Hell in the Pacific (1968)
- 1967 $8.1K #1 Far from Vietnam (1967)
- 1966 $1M #1 The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- 1965 $112.7M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1963 $230.6K #1 The Great Escape (1963)
- 1962 $46M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $32.8K #1 The Guns of Navarone (1961)
- 1960 $1.9M #1 Spartacus (1960)
1950s 8 years · $125.1M
- 1959 $74.4M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $561.3K #1 South Pacific (1958)
- 1957 $27.3M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $75.5K #1 The Burmese Harp (1956)
- 1955 $789.5K #1 The Dam Busters (1955)
- 1954 $21.8M #1 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- 1953 $36.4K #1 From Here to Eternity (1953)
- 1952 $101.2K #1 The African Queen (1952)
1940s 7 years · $446.1M
1930s 5 years · $119.7K
FAQ
War Box Office All Time: 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 1,074 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing war movie of all time?
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) leads with $1.1B worldwide, $533.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) at $902.5M and Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) at $870.3M.
How much have war movies earned at the box office?
1,074 war films in our database report a worldwide gross, $27.2B in all, or $25.4M per film on average.
How many war movies have made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). 69 crossed $100 million.
How is the all-time war 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. 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 all-time war 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.