#1 of 28 #1 war movie of 2021
The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
2021 · Drama, War
$902.5M worldwide · 87% of the chart's total
$342.4K US & Canada · <1% $902.2M elsewhere · 100%
War box office · 2021
War Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing War Movies
The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) is the highest-grossing war movie released in 2021, with $902.5M worldwide, ahead of 1921 (2021) at $75.2M and Railway Heroes (2021) at $17.2M. 28 war films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $1B in all, <1% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 116% on 2020, whose releases took $479M. By language, Chinese leads with $994.9M across 3 war releases.
- 2021 releases with a gross
- 28
- combined worldwide
- $1B
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 2020
- +116%
#1 of 28 Top 5
What Were the Biggest War Hits of 2021?
The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) leads with $902.5M, 87% of the total. The top 5 together took $1B, 98% of what all 28 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 War Release of 2021, 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 2021.
- 1 Sep 30, 2021 US and Canada: $342.4K Rest of the world: $902.2M Worldwide: $902.5M
- 2 Jul 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $75.2M
- 3 Nov 19, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.2M
- 4 Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.4M
- 5 Oct 15, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6M
- 6
Oct 28, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2M - 7
Apr 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 8
Nov 18, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M - 9
Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021)Dec 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M
Dec 1, 2021 · Malayalam · History, Action, War $1.8M worldwide - 10
2021 US and Canada: $156.9K Rest of the world: $897.4K Worldwide: $1.1M - 11
The Pilot: A Battle for Survival (2021)Dec 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $952.9K
Dec 2, 2021 · Russian · War, History, Drama $952.9K worldwide - 12
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $813.3K - 13
Dec 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $524.8K - 14
Sep 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $360.9K - 15
Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $180 Rest of the world: $160K Worldwide: $160.2K - 16
May 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $101.4K - 17
Aug 16, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $56.1K - 18
Feb 5, 2021 US and Canada: $52.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.8K - 19
Jun 14, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.1K - 20
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.4K - 21
Nov 5, 2021 US and Canada: $3.7K Rest of the world: $16.5K Worldwide: $20.2K - 22
May 21, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.5K - 23
May 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.5K - 24
Nov 19, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.6K - 25
Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3K - 26
Jul 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.8K - 27
Aug 19, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7K - 28
Sep 14, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $703
Gross bands
How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 28 films crossed $100M and took $902.5M between them, 87% of the total. 24 films, 86% of the list, earned under $10M.
87% 10%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 4% of the list $902.5M · 87% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 3 films, 11% of the list $106.8M · 10% of the gross
- Under $10M 24 films, 86% of the list $23.8M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?
September releases took the most, $902.9M from 3 films, led by The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021). June was the quietest month ($41.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Shadow in the Cloud (2021) $1.1M Shadow in the Cloud (2021)
- February Feb Dara in Jasenovac (2021) $52.8K Dara in Jasenovac (2021)
- March Mar Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021) $837.7K Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021)
- April Apr V2. Escape from Hell (2021) $4.4M V2. Escape from Hell (2021)
- May May The Final Stand (2021) $124.3K The Final Stand (2021)
- June Jun Do Not Hesitate (2021) $41.1K Do Not Hesitate (2021)
- July Jul 1921 (2021) $89.6M 1921 (2021)
- August Aug The East (2021) $218K The East (2021)
- September Sep The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) $902.9M The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
- October Oct The Forgotten Battle (2021) $11.2M The Forgotten Battle (2021)
- November Nov Railway Heroes (2021) $19.5M Railway Heroes (2021)
- December Dec Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021) $3.3M Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021)
Last 10 years
How Does 2021 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2017 earned the most: $3.3B from 52 films, led by Wolf Warrior 2 (2017). 2021 took $1B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 17 films | 17 | $760.8M | – | Battleship (2012) $303M |
| 2013 25 films · −46% | 25 | $412.3M | −46% | Lone Survivor (2013) $154.8M |
| 2014 37 films · +372% | 37 | $1.9B | +372% | American Sniper (2014) $547.7M |
| 2015 38 films · −53% | 38 | $920.3M | −53% | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) $661.5M |
| 2016 33 films · +75% | 33 | $1.6B | +75% | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) $1.1B |
| 2017 52 films · +105% | 52 | $3.3B | +105% | Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) $870.3M |
| 2018 44 films · −77% | 44 | $755.1M | −77% | Operation Red Sea (2018) $579.3M |
| 2019 65 films · +37% | 65 | $1B | +37% | 1917 (2019) $446.1M |
| 2020 26 films · −54% | 26 | $479M | −54% | The Eight Hundred (2020) $461.4M |
| 2021 28 films · +116% | 28 | $1B | +116% | The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) $902.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest War Movies Speak in 2021?
Chinese-language war films took $994.9M across 3 films, 96% of the total, ahead of English-language war films ($16.1M) and Russian-language war films ($7.7M).
2021 War Box Office by Language
-
Chinese $994.9M3 films · #1 The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) -
English $16.1M7 films · #1 The Tomorrow War (2021) - Russian $7.7M4 films · #1 V2. Escape from Hell (2021)
-
Dutch $6.2M3 films · #1 The Forgotten Battle (2021) -
Arabic $5.2M4 films · #1 The Ambush (2021) - Malayalam $1.8M1 film · #1 Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021)
-
Bosnian $813.3K1 film · #1 Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021) -
Slovak $360.9K1 film · #1 The Auschwitz Report (2021) -
Serbian $52.8K1 film · #1 Dara in Jasenovac (2021) -
Hungarian $24.4K1 film · #1 Natural Light (2021)
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 $108.1M #1 Young Washington (2026)
- 2025 $859M #1 Dead to Rights (2025)
- 2024 $75.6M #1 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
- 2023 $788.6M #1 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
- 2022 $161.3M #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 · $6.7B
- 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 $416.8M #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 · $491M
- 1979 $226.2M #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 · $170.4M
- 1969 $8M #1 Where Eagles Dare (1969)
- 1968 $407.5K #1 Journey to Shiloh (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 · $441.9M
1930s 5 years · $119.7K
FAQ
War Box Office 2021: 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 28 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing war movie in 2021?
The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) leads with $902.5M worldwide, $342.4K of it in the US & Canada. Next come 1921 (2021) at $75.2M and Railway Heroes (2021) at $17.2M.
How much did war movies released in 2021 earn?
28 war films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $1B in all, or $36.9M per film on average. 2020 releases took $479M.
How many war movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021) with $902.5M.
How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.