#1 of 4 #1 war movie of December 2003
2003 · Action, Adventure
$454.6M worldwide · 72% of the chart's total
$111.1M US & Canada · 24% $343.5M elsewhere · 76%
War box office · December 2003
War Box Office, December 2003: Top-Grossing Releases
The Last Samurai (2003) is the highest-grossing war movie released in December 2003, with $454.6M worldwide, ahead of Cold Mountain (2003) at $173M and The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) at $5M. 4 war films released in December 2003 report a worldwide gross, $633.3M in all, 33% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion.
- December 2003 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $633.3M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- earned in the US & Canada
- 33%
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest War Hits of December 2003?
The Last Samurai (2003) leads with $454.6M, 72% of the total. The top 4 together took $633.3M, almost all of what the 4 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 $5M The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)$4.2M US & Canada · 83% $840.3K elsewhere · 17% -
Number 4
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every War Release of December 2003, 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 2003.
- 1 Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $111.1M Rest of the world: $343.5M Worldwide: $454.6M
- 2 Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $95.6M Rest of the world: $77.4M Worldwide: $173M
- 3 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $840.3K Worldwide: $5M
Dec 19, 2003 · English · War, Documentary $5M worldwide - 4 Dec 12, 2003 US and Canada: $621.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $621.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2003?
Of the top 4, LOC: Kargil (2003) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Last Samurai (2003) made 76% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $211.6M (33%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M $111.1M US & Canada · 24% $343.5M elsewhere · 76%
- 2 Cold Mountain (2003) $173M $95.6M US & Canada · 55% $77.4M elsewhere · 45%
- 3 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) $5M $4.2M US & Canada · 83% $840.3K elsewhere · 17%
- 4 LOC: Kargil (2003) $621.1K $621.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 2003 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 49 (Nov 30–Dec 6) took $454.6M, led by The Last Samurai (2003). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M The Last Samurai (2003)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 LOC: Kargil (2003) $621.1K LOC: Kargil (2003)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) $5M The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 Cold Mountain (2003) $173M Cold Mountain (2003)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 2003 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2003 earned the most: $633.3M from 4 films, led by The Last Samurai (2003).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1994 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| December 1995 2 films | 2 | $2.8M | – | Richard III (1995) $2.7M |
| December 1996 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| December 1997 1 film | 1 | $5.7M | – | Kundun (1997) $5.7M |
| December 1998 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| December 1999 1 film | 1 | $2.3M | – | Titus (1999) $2.3M |
| December 2000 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| December 2001 6 films | 6 | $186.4M | – | Black Hawk Down (2001) $173M |
| December 2002 2 films · −35% | 2 | $120.8M | −35% | The Pianist (2002) $120.1M |
| December 2003 4 films · +424% | 4 | $633.3M | +424% | The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M |
Archive
War Box Office in 2003, Month by Month
The months of 2003 with their totals: December leads with $633.3M, led by The Last Samurai (2003).
- January $10.5M #1 Amen. (2003)
- February $14.2M #1 Gods and Generals (2003)
- March $1.5M #1 Soldiers of Salamina (2003)
- April No grosses
- May $113.6K #1 The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab Story (2003)
- June $5.8M #1 Spy Sorge (2003)
- July $480.6K #1 The Cuckoo (2003)
- August No grosses
- September $389.5K #1 Yossi & Jagger (2003)
- October $11.7M #1 Beyond Borders (2003)
- November $211.6M #1 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
- December $633.3M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
FAQ
War Box Office December 2003: 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 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing war movie in December 2003?
The Last Samurai (2003) leads with $454.6M worldwide, $111.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Cold Mountain (2003) at $173M and The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) at $5M.
How much did war movies released in December 2003 earn?
4 war films released in December 2003 report a worldwide gross, $633.3M in all, or $158.3M per film on average.
How many war movies released in December 2003 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by The Last Samurai (2003) with $454.6M.
How is the December 2003 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 December 2003. 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 2003 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.