Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
War box office · 2002

War Box Office 2002: Highest-Grossing War Movies

The Pianist (2002) is the highest-grossing war movie released in 2002, with $120.1M worldwide, ahead of We Were Soldiers (2002) at $115.4M and Windtalkers (2002) at $77.6M. 18 war films released in 2002 report a worldwide gross, $463.2M in all, 54% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 48% on 2001, whose releases took $893.6M. By language, English leads with $410.8M across 13 war releases.

2002 releases with a gross
18
combined worldwide
$463.2M
films crossed $100M
2
vs 2001
−48%
The Pianist (2002) movie poster #1 of 18
#1 war movie of 2002

The Pianist (2002)

2002 · Biography, Drama

$120.1M worldwide · 26% of the chart's total

$32.6M US & Canada · 27% $87.5M elsewhere · 73%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest War Hits of 2002?

The Pianist (2002) leads with $120.1M, 26% of the total. The top 5 together took $391.8M, 85% of what all 18 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Pianist (2002) movie poster Number 1
    $120.1M The Pianist (2002)
    $32.6M US & Canada · 27% $87.5M elsewhere · 73%
  2. We Were Soldiers (2002) movie poster Number 2
    $115.4M We Were Soldiers (2002)
    $78.1M US & Canada · 68% $37.3M elsewhere · 32%
  3. Windtalkers (2002) movie poster Number 3
    $77.6M Windtalkers (2002)
    $40.9M US & Canada · 53% $36.7M elsewhere · 47%
  4. Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002) movie poster Number 4
    $46.4M Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002)
    $45.3M US & Canada · 98% $1.1M elsewhere · 2%
  5. Hart's War (2002) movie poster Number 5
    $32.3M Hart's War (2002)
    $19.1M US & Canada · 59% $13.2M elsewhere · 41%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every War Release of 2002, 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 2002.

  1. 1 The Pianist (2002) movie poster
    The Pianist (2002) Dec 27, 2002 · English · Biography, Drama, War $120.1M worldwide
    Dec 27, 2002 US and Canada: $32.6M Rest of the world: $87.5M Worldwide: $120.1M
  2. 2 We Were Soldiers (2002) movie poster
    We Were Soldiers (2002) Mar 1, 2002 · English · Action, History, War $115.4M worldwide
    Mar 1, 2002 US and Canada: $78.1M Rest of the world: $37.3M Worldwide: $115.4M
  3. 3 Windtalkers (2002) movie poster
    Windtalkers (2002) Jun 14, 2002 · English · Action, History, Romance $77.6M worldwide
    Jun 14, 2002 US and Canada: $40.9M Rest of the world: $36.7M Worldwide: $77.6M
  4. 4 Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002) movie poster
    Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002) Sep 20, 2002 · Adventure, Biography, Drama $46.4M worldwide
    Sep 20, 2002 US and Canada: $45.3M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $46.4M
  5. 5 Hart's War (2002) movie poster
    Hart's War (2002) Feb 15, 2002 · English · Drama, War $32.3M worldwide
    Feb 15, 2002 US and Canada: $19.1M Rest of the world: $13.2M Worldwide: $32.3M
  6. 6 The Four Feathers (2002) movie poster
    The Four Feathers (2002) Sep 20, 2002 · English · Adventure, Drama, War $29.9M worldwide
    Sep 20, 2002 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: $11.6M Worldwide: $29.9M
  7. 7 The Quiet American (2002) movie poster
    The Quiet American (2002) Nov 22, 2002 · English · Drama, Thriller, Romance $27.7M worldwide
    Nov 22, 2002 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: $14.7M Worldwide: $27.7M
  8. 8 Ararat (2002) movie poster
    Ararat (2002) Nov 15, 2002 · English · Drama, War $2.7M worldwide
    Nov 15, 2002 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $2.7M
  9. 9 The Coast Guard (2002) movie poster
    The Coast Guard (2002) Nov 14, 2002 · Korean · Drama, War $2.4M worldwide
    Nov 14, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M
  10. 10 Deathwatch (2002) movie poster
    Deathwatch (2002) Oct 6, 2002 · English · Horror, Drama, War $2.3M worldwide
    Oct 6, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M
  11. 11 Bloody Sunday (2002) movie poster
    Bloody Sunday (2002) Oct 4, 2002 · English · Drama, History, War $1.8M worldwide
    Oct 4, 2002 US and Canada: $773.2K Rest of the world: $985.5K Worldwide: $1.8M
  12. 12 Safe Conduct (2002) movie poster
    Safe Conduct (2002) Oct 11, 2002 · French · Biography, Drama, History $1.7M worldwide
    Oct 11, 2002 US and Canada: $25.4K Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $1.7M
  13. 13 The Lady and the Duke (2002) movie poster
    The Lady and the Duke (2002) May 10, 2002 · French · Drama, History, War $1.1M worldwide
    May 10, 2002 US and Canada: $331.1K Rest of the world: $797.1K Worldwide: $1.1M
  14. 14 Warriors (2002) movie poster
    Warriors (2002) Mar 22, 2002 · Spanish · War, Drama $733.7K worldwide
    Mar 22, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $733.7K
  15. 15 Max (2002) movie poster
    Max (2002) Dec 27, 2002 · English · Drama, War $660.8K worldwide
    Dec 27, 2002 US and Canada: $539.9K Rest of the world: $120.9K Worldwide: $660.8K
  16. 16 Invincible (2002) movie poster
    Invincible (2002) Sep 20, 2002 · English · Drama, War $180.6K worldwide
    Sep 20, 2002 US and Canada: $82K Rest of the world: $98.7K Worldwide: $180.6K
  17. 17 All the Queen's Men (2002) movie poster
    All the Queen's Men (2002) Oct 25, 2002 · English · Action, Drama, Comedy $121.3K worldwide
    Oct 25, 2002 US and Canada: $23.7K Rest of the world: $97.6K Worldwide: $121.3K
  18. 18 War Photographer (2002) movie poster
    War Photographer (2002) Jun 19, 2002 · English · War, Documentary $86.9K worldwide
    Jun 19, 2002 US and Canada: $61K Rest of the world: $25.8K Worldwide: $86.9K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 2002?

Of the top 10, Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002) earned the biggest share at home (98% in the US & Canada), while The Pianist (2002) made 73% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $250.7M (54%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 The Pianist (2002) $120.1M
    $32.6M US & Canada · 27% $87.5M elsewhere · 73%
  2. 2 We Were Soldiers (2002) $115.4M
    $78.1M US & Canada · 68% $37.3M elsewhere · 32%
  3. 3 Windtalkers (2002) $77.6M
    $40.9M US & Canada · 53% $36.7M elsewhere · 47%
  4. 4 Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002) $46.4M
    $45.3M US & Canada · 98% $1.1M elsewhere · 2%
  5. 5 Hart's War (2002) $32.3M
    $19.1M US & Canada · 59% $13.2M elsewhere · 41%
  6. 6 The Four Feathers (2002) $29.9M
    $18.3M US & Canada · 61% $11.6M elsewhere · 39%
  7. 7 The Quiet American (2002) $27.7M
    $13M US & Canada · 47% $14.7M elsewhere · 53%
  8. 8 Ararat (2002) $2.7M
    $1.6M US & Canada · 57% $1.2M elsewhere · 43%
  9. 9 The Coast Guard (2002) $2.4M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Deathwatch (2002) $2.3M
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 2002 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 18 films crossed $100M and took $235.5M between them, 51% of the total. 11 films, 61% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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, 11% of the list $235.5M · 51% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 28% of the list $213.9M · 46% of the gross
  • Under $10M 11 films, 61% of the list $13.8M · 3% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 2002 Earned the Most?

December releases took the most, $120.8M from 2 films, led by The Pianist (2002). May was the quietest month ($1.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb Hart's War (2002) $32.3M Hart's War (2002)
  3. March Mar We Were Soldiers (2002) $116.1M We Were Soldiers (2002)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May The Lady and the Duke (2002) $1.1M The Lady and the Duke (2002)
  6. June Jun Windtalkers (2002) $77.7M Windtalkers (2002)
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  9. September Sep Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002) $76.5M Lawrence of Arabia (re-release) (2002)
  10. October Oct Deathwatch (2002) $5.9M Deathwatch (2002)
  11. November Nov The Quiet American (2002) $32.9M The Quiet American (2002)
  12. December Dec The Pianist (2002) $120.8M The Pianist (2002)
Last 10 years

How Does 2002 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 2001 earned the most: $893.6M from 18 films, led by Pearl Harbor (2001). 2002 took $463.2M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1993 7 films 7 $494.5M – Schindler's List (1993) $322.2M
1994 4 films · −96% 4 $20M −96% The War (1994) $16.9M
1995 12 films · +2242% 12 $469.1M +2242% Braveheart (1995) $213.2M
1996 7 films · −26% 7 $345M −26% The English Patient (1996) $232M
1997 6 films · −60% 6 $139.5M −60% Seven Years in Tibet (1997) $131.5M
1998 5 films · +411% 5 $713.1M +411% Saving Private Ryan (1998) $482.4M
1999 13 films · −37% 13 $451.1M −37% The General's Daughter (1999) $149.7M
2000 14 films · −4% 14 $433.4M −4% The Patriot (2000) $215.3M
2001 18 films · +106% 18 $893.6M +106% Pearl Harbor (2001) $449.2M
2002 18 films · −48% 18 $463.2M −48% The Pianist (2002) $120.1M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest War Movies Speak in 2002?

English-language war films took $410.8M across 13 films, 89% of the total, ahead of French-language war films ($2.8M) and Korean-language war films ($2.4M).

2002 War Box Office by Language

  1. English $410.8M
    13 films · #1 The Pianist (2002)
  2. French $2.8M
    2 films · #1 Safe Conduct (2002)
  3. Korean $2.4M
    1 film · #1 The Coast Guard (2002)
  4. Spanish $733.7K
    1 film · #1 Warriors (2002)
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
2010s 10 years · $11.4B
2000s 10 years · $6.8B
1990s 10 years · $2.9B
1980s 10 years · $1.4B
1970s 8 years · $492.9M
1960s 9 years · $173.6M
1950s 8 years · $125.1M
1940s 7 years · $446.1M
1930s 5 years · $119.7K
1920s 3 years · $9.3M
FAQ

War Box Office 2002: 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 18 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing war movie in 2002?

The Pianist (2002) leads with $120.1M worldwide, $32.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come We Were Soldiers (2002) at $115.4M and Windtalkers (2002) at $77.6M.

How much did war movies released in 2002 earn?

18 war films released in 2002 report a worldwide gross, $463.2M in all, or $25.7M per film on average. 2001 releases took $893.6M.

How many war movies released in 2002 made $1 billion?

None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by The Pianist (2002) with $120.1M.

How much of the 2002 War box office came from the US and Canada?

$250.7M of the $463.2M total, or 54%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 3 films of the 18 report no domestic figure.

How is the 2002 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, and grouped by their release date in 2002. 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 2002 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.