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War box office · 2012

War Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing War Movies

Battleship (2012) is the highest-grossing war movie released in 2012, with $303M worldwide, ahead of Lincoln (2012) at $275.3M and Red Tails (2012) at $50.4M. 17 war films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $760.8M in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 143% on 2011, whose releases took $313.2M. By language, English leads with $649.4M across 6 war releases.

2012 releases with a gross
17
combined worldwide
$760.8M
films crossed $100M
2
vs 2011
+143%
Battleship (2012) movie poster #1 of 17
#1 war movie of 2012

Battleship (2012)

2012 · Action, Adventure

$303M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total

$65.4M US & Canada · 22% $237.6M elsewhere · 78%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest War Hits of 2012?

Battleship (2012) leads with $303M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $702.2M, 92% of what all 17 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Battleship (2012) movie poster Number 1
    $303M Battleship (2012)
    $65.4M US & Canada · 22% $237.6M elsewhere · 78%
  2. Lincoln (2012) movie poster Number 2
    $275.3M Lincoln (2012)
    $182.2M US & Canada · 66% $93.1M elsewhere · 34%
  3. Red Tails (2012) movie poster Number 3
    $50.4M Red Tails (2012)
    $49.9M US & Canada · 99% $489.1K elsewhere · <1%
  4. Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) movie poster Number 4
    $37.7M Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)
    $32.4K US & Canada · <1% $37.7M elsewhere · 100%
  5. Conquest 1453 (2012) movie poster Number 5
    $35.8M Conquest 1453 (2012)
    $35.7K US & Canada · <1% $35.8M elsewhere · 100%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every War Release of 2012, 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 2012.

  1. 1 Battleship (2012) movie poster
    Battleship (2012) May 18, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $303M worldwide
    May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $65.4M Rest of the world: $237.6M Worldwide: $303M
  2. 2 Lincoln (2012) movie poster
    Lincoln (2012) Nov 9, 2012 · English · Biography, Drama, History $275.3M worldwide
    Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $182.2M Rest of the world: $93.1M Worldwide: $275.3M
  3. 3 Red Tails (2012) movie poster
    Red Tails (2012) Jan 20, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $50.4M worldwide
    Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $489.1K Worldwide: $50.4M
  4. 4 Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) movie poster
    Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) Aug 25, 2012 · Japanese · History, War, Adventure $37.7M worldwide
    Aug 25, 2012 US and Canada: $32.4K Rest of the world: $37.7M Worldwide: $37.7M
  5. 5 Conquest 1453 (2012) movie poster
    Conquest 1453 (2012) Feb 16, 2012 · Turkish · Adventure, War, Action $35.8M worldwide
    Feb 16, 2012 US and Canada: $35.7K Rest of the world: $35.8M Worldwide: $35.8M
  6. 6 The Front Line (2012) movie poster
    The Front Line (2012) Jan 20, 2012 · English · Drama, War $20.6M worldwide
    Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $11K Rest of the world: $20.6M Worldwide: $20.6M
  7. 7 My Way (2012) movie poster
    My Way (2012) Apr 20, 2012 · Italian · Action, Drama, History $16.7M worldwide
    Apr 20, 2012 US and Canada: $70.2K Rest of the world: $16.6M Worldwide: $16.7M
  8. 8 This Life (2012) movie poster
    This Life (2012) Mar 1, 2012 · Danish · Drama, War $9.4M worldwide
    Mar 1, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.4M
  9. 9 White Tiger (2012) movie poster
    White Tiger (2012) May 3, 2012 · Russian · War, Fantasy, Action $3.4M worldwide
    May 3, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4M
  10. 10 Special Forces (2012) movie poster
    Special Forces (2012) Oct 12, 2012 · French · Action, Drama, War $3.4M worldwide
    Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $10.8K Rest of the world: $3.4M Worldwide: $3.4M
  11. 11 The Rotterdam Bombing (2012) movie poster
    The Rotterdam Bombing (2012) Dec 19, 2012 · Dutch · Drama, Romance, War $1.8M worldwide
    Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M
  12. 12 Hans Kloss: More Than Death at Stake (2012) movie poster
    Hans Kloss: More Than Death at Stake (2012) Mar 16, 2012 · Polish · Action, War $1.3M worldwide
    Mar 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M
  13. 13 Free Men (2012) movie poster
    Free Men (2012) Mar 16, 2012 · French · Drama, War $1.2M worldwide
    Mar 16, 2012 US and Canada: $53.8K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.2M
  14. 14 Code Geass: Akito the Exiled 1: The Wyvern Arrives (2012) movie poster
    Code Geass: Akito the Exiled 1: The Wyvern Arrives (2012) Aug 4, 2012 · Japanese · War, Animation, Action $447.6K worldwide
    Aug 4, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $447.6K
  15. 15 An Enemy to Die For (2012) movie poster
    An Enemy to Die For (2012) Mar 16, 2012 · Swedish · History, Thriller, War $278.1K worldwide
    Mar 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $278.1K
  16. 16 Foodfight! (2012) movie poster
    Foodfight! (2012) Jun 15, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $120.1K worldwide
    Jun 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $120.1K
  17. 17 Happy New Year (2012) movie poster
    Happy New Year (2012) Dec 7, 2012 · English · Drama, War $14.9K worldwide
    Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.9K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 2012?

Of the top 10, Red Tails (2012) earned the biggest share at home (99% in the US & Canada), while The Front Line (2012) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $297.7M (39%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Battleship (2012) $303M
    $65.4M US & Canada · 22% $237.6M elsewhere · 78%
  2. 2 Lincoln (2012) $275.3M
    $182.2M US & Canada · 66% $93.1M elsewhere · 34%
  3. 3 Red Tails (2012) $50.4M
    $49.9M US & Canada · 99% $489.1K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) $37.7M
    $32.4K US & Canada · <1% $37.7M elsewhere · 100%
  5. 5 Conquest 1453 (2012) $35.8M
    $35.7K US & Canada · <1% $35.8M elsewhere · 100%
  6. 6 The Front Line (2012) $20.6M
    $11K US & Canada · <1% $20.6M elsewhere · 100%
  7. 7 My Way (2012) $16.7M
    $70.2K US & Canada · <1% $16.6M elsewhere · 100%
  8. 8 This Life (2012) $9.4M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 White Tiger (2012) $3.4M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Special Forces (2012) $3.4M
    $10.8K US & Canada · <1% $3.4M elsewhere · 100%
Gross bands

How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 17 films crossed $100M and took $578.3M between them, 76% of the total. 10 films, 59% 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, 12% of the list $578.3M · 76% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 29% of the list $161.1M · 21% of the gross
  • Under $10M 10 films, 59% of the list $21.3M · 3% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?

May releases took the most, $306.5M from 2 films, led by Battleship (2012). June was the quietest month ($120.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Red Tails (2012) $71M Red Tails (2012)
  2. February Feb Conquest 1453 (2012) $35.8M Conquest 1453 (2012)
  3. March Mar This Life (2012) $12.1M This Life (2012)
  4. April Apr My Way (2012) $16.7M My Way (2012)
  5. May May Battleship (2012) $306.5M Battleship (2012)
  6. June Jun Foodfight! (2012) $120.1K Foodfight! (2012)
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) $38.1M Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct Special Forces (2012) $3.4M Special Forces (2012)
  11. November Nov Lincoln (2012) $275.3M Lincoln (2012)
  12. December Dec The Rotterdam Bombing (2012) $1.8M The Rotterdam Bombing (2012)
Last 10 years

How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 2008 earned the most: $1B from 41 films, led by Australia (2008). 2012 took $760.8M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
2003 20 films 20 $889.6M – The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M
2004 30 films · −23% 30 $680.7M −23% Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) $222.4M
2005 31 films · −34% 31 $446.9M −34% Jarhead (2005) $97.1M
2006 28 films · −20% 28 $358.6M −20% Pan's Labyrinth (2006) $83.9M
2007 37 films · +164% 37 $945M +164% 300 (2007) $456.1M
2008 41 films · +9% 41 $1B +9% Australia (2008) $211.8M
2009 27 films · −37% 27 $651.8M −37% Inglourious Basterds (2009) $321.5M
2010 24 films · −53% 24 $309.1M −53% Dear John (2010) $115M
2011 34 films · +1% 34 $313.2M +1% War Horse (2011) $177.6M
2012 17 films · +143% 17 $760.8M +143% Battleship (2012) $303M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest War Movies Speak in 2012?

English-language war films took $649.4M across 6 films, 85% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language war films ($38.1M) and Turkish-language war films ($35.8M).

2012 War Box Office by Language

  1. English $649.4M
    6 films · #1 Battleship (2012)
  2. Japanese $38.1M
    2 films · #1 Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)
  3. Turkish $35.8M
    1 film · #1 Conquest 1453 (2012)
  4. Italian $16.7M
    1 film · #1 My Way (2012)
  5. Danish $9.4M
    1 film · #1 This Life (2012)
  6. French $4.6M
    2 films · #1 Special Forces (2012)
  7. Russian $3.4M
    1 film · #1 White Tiger (2012)
  8. Dutch $1.8M
    1 film · #1 The Rotterdam Bombing (2012)
  9. Polish $1.3M
    1 film · #1 Hans Kloss: More Than Death at Stake (2012)
  10. Swedish $278.1K
    1 film · #1 An Enemy to Die For (2012)
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 2012: 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 war movie in 2012?

Battleship (2012) leads with $303M worldwide, $65.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Lincoln (2012) at $275.3M and Red Tails (2012) at $50.4M.

How much did war movies released in 2012 earn?

17 war films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $760.8M in all, or $44.8M per film on average. 2011 releases took $313.2M.

How many war movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?

None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Battleship (2012) with $303M.

How much of the 2012 War box office came from the US and Canada?

$297.7M of the $760.8M total, or 39%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 8 films of the 17 report no domestic figure.

How is the 2012 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 2012. 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 2012 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.