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English box office · 1951

English Box Office 1951: Highest-Grossing English Movies

Ace in the Hole (1951) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1951, with $2.3M worldwide, ahead of The Girl on the Bridge (1951) at $1.7M and The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) at $140.7K. 15 English-language films released in 1951 report a worldwide gross, $4.4M in all, 43% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 95% on 1950, whose releases took $97.5M. By genre, Drama leads with $4.2M across 9 English releases.

1951 releases with a gross
15
combined worldwide
$4.4M
Ace in the Hole (1951), the #1
$2.3M
vs 1950
−95%
Ace in the Hole (1951) movie poster #1 of 15
#1 English-language movie of 1951

Ace in the Hole (1951)

1951 · Drama

$2.3M worldwide · 52% of the chart's total

No US & Canada figure reported
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1951?

Ace in the Hole (1951) leads with $2.3M, 52% of the total. The top 5 together took $4.3M, 96% of what all 15 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Ace in the Hole (1951) movie poster Number 1
    $2.3M Ace in the Hole (1951)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  2. The Girl on the Bridge (1951) movie poster Number 2
    $1.7M The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
    $1.7M US & Canada · 100% $302 elsewhere · <1%
  3. The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) movie poster Number 3
    $140.7K The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
    $91.9K US & Canada · 65% $48.8K elsewhere · 35%
  4. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) movie poster Number 4
    $54.7K A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. The River (1951) movie poster Number 5
    $53.4K The River (1951)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of 1951, 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 1951.

  1. 1 Ace in the Hole (1951) movie poster
    Ace in the Hole (1951) Jun 14, 1951 · Drama $2.3M worldwide
    Jun 14, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M
  2. 2 The Girl on the Bridge (1951) movie poster
    The Girl on the Bridge (1951) Dec 1, 1951 · Drama, Crime $1.7M worldwide
    Dec 1, 1951 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $302 Worldwide: $1.7M
  3. 3 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) movie poster
    The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) Apr 1, 1951 · Music, Fantasy $140.7K worldwide
    Apr 1, 1951 US and Canada: $91.9K Rest of the world: $48.8K Worldwide: $140.7K
  4. 4 A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) movie poster
    A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Sep 19, 1951 · Drama $54.7K worldwide
    Sep 19, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $54.7K
  5. 5 The River (1951) movie poster
    The River (1951) Sep 10, 1951 · Drama, Romance $53.4K worldwide
    Sep 10, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $53.4K
  6. 6 Strangers on a Train (1951) movie poster
    Strangers on a Train (1951) Jun 30, 1951 · Thriller, Crime $52K worldwide
    Jun 30, 1951 US and Canada: $26.6K Rest of the world: $25.4K Worldwide: $52K
  7. 7 The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) movie poster
    The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) Oct 15, 1951 · Comedy, Crime $32.2K worldwide
    Oct 15, 1951 US and Canada: $16.4K Rest of the world: $15.9K Worldwide: $32.2K
  8. 8 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) movie poster
    Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) Oct 15, 1951 · Drama, Mystery $31.8K worldwide
    Oct 15, 1951 US and Canada: $17.4K Rest of the world: $14.4K Worldwide: $31.8K
  9. 9 Othello (1951) movie poster
    Othello (1951) Nov 27, 1951 · Drama $29K worldwide
    Nov 27, 1951 US and Canada: $29K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29K
  10. 10 Lovelorn Leghorn (1951) movie poster
    Lovelorn Leghorn (1951) Sep 8, 1951 · Animation, Comedy $14.8K worldwide
    Sep 8, 1951 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K
  11. 11 The Man in the White Suit (1951) movie poster
    The Man in the White Suit (1951) Aug 7, 1951 · Sci-Fi, Comedy $8.9K worldwide
    Aug 7, 1951 US and Canada: $8.7K Rest of the world: $215 Worldwide: $8.9K
  12. 12 Alice in Wonderland (1951) movie poster
    Alice in Wonderland (1951) Sep 14, 1951 · Adventure, Fantasy $1.2K worldwide
    Sep 14, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K
  13. 13 The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) movie poster
    The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Sep 20, 1951 · Sci-Fi, Drama $651 worldwide
    Sep 20, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $651
  14. 14 Miracle in Milan (1951) movie poster
    Miracle in Milan (1951) Dec 17, 1951 · Drama, Fantasy $435 worldwide
    Dec 17, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $435
  15. 15 Show Boat (1951) movie poster
    Show Boat (1951) Jul 17, 1951 · Romance, Drama $236 worldwide
    Jul 17, 1951 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $236
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1951?

Of the top 10, Othello (1951) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) made 49% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $1.9M (43%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.3M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  2. 2 The Girl on the Bridge (1951) $1.7M
    $1.7M US & Canada · 100% $302 elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) $140.7K
    $91.9K US & Canada · 65% $48.8K elsewhere · 35%
  4. 4 A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) $54.7K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. 5 The River (1951) $53.4K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 Strangers on a Train (1951) $52K
    $26.6K US & Canada · 51% $25.4K elsewhere · 49%
  7. 7 The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) $32.2K
    $16.4K US & Canada · 51% $15.9K elsewhere · 49%
  8. 8 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) $31.8K
    $17.4K US & Canada · 55% $14.4K elsewhere · 45%
  9. 9 Othello (1951) $29K
    $29K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Lovelorn Leghorn (1951) $14.8K
    $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1951 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 15 films reached $100M. 15 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $4.4M total.

  • $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • Under $10M 15 films, 100% of the list $4.4M · 100% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1951 Earned the Most?

June releases took the most, $2.4M from 2 films, led by Ace in the Hole (1951). July was the quietest month ($236). 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 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  3. March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  4. April Apr The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) $140.7K The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
  5. May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  6. June Jun Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.4M Ace in the Hole (1951)
  7. July Jul Show Boat (1951) $236 Show Boat (1951)
  8. August Aug The Man in the White Suit (1951) $8.9K The Man in the White Suit (1951)
  9. September Sep A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) $124.7K A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
  10. October Oct The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) $64K The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
  11. November Nov Othello (1951) $29K Othello (1951)
  12. December Dec The Girl on the Bridge (1951) $1.7M The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
Last 10 years

How Does 1951 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1950 earned the most: $97.5M from 16 films, led by Cinderella (1950). 1951 took $4.4M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1942 14 films 14 $2M – Reunion in France (1942) $1.9M
1943 6 films · +207% 6 $6M +207% Casablanca (1943) $4.7M
1944 13 films · −98% 13 $117.4K −98% Henry V (1944) $62.6K
1945 14 films · +18667% 14 $22M +18667% The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) $21.3M
1946 20 films · +336% 20 $96.2M +336% Song of the South (1946) $37.5M
1947 16 films · −99% 16 $1.4M −99% The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) $956.6K
1948 17 films · −49% 17 $707.7K −49% The Fallen Idol (1948) $373.2K
1949 16 films · +144% 16 $1.7M +144% The Third Man (1949) $1.4M
1950 16 films · +5549% 16 $97.5M +5549% Cinderella (1950) $96.4M
1951 15 films · −95% 15 $4.4M −95% Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.3M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1951?

Drama took $4.2M across 9 films, 94% of the total, ahead of Romance ($1.9M) and Crime ($1.8M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

1951 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Drama $4.2M
    9 films · #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
  2. Romance $1.9M
    5 films · #1 The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
  3. Crime $1.8M
    3 films · #1 The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
  4. Fantasy $174.2K
    4 films · #1 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
  5. Music $141K
    2 films · #1 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
  6. Comedy $56.4K
    4 films · #1 The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
  7. Thriller $52K
    1 film · #1 Strangers on a Train (1951)
  8. Mystery $31.8K
    1 film · #1 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
  9. Animation $16K
    2 films · #1 Lovelorn Leghorn (1951)
  10. Family $16K
    2 films · #1 Lovelorn Leghorn (1951)
Archive

English Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $28.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).

2020s 7 years · $105.1B
2010s 10 years · $261B
2000s 10 years · $170.2B
1990s 10 years · $84.5B
1980s 10 years · $33.4B
1970s 10 years · $9.6B
1960s 10 years · $1.4B
1950s 10 years · $770.2M
1940s 10 years · $662.1M
1930s 10 years · $217.4M
1920s 4 years · $718.5K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ

English Box Office 1951: 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 15 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1951?

Ace in the Hole (1951) leads with $2.3M worldwide. Next come The Girl on the Bridge (1951) at $1.7M and The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) at $140.7K.

How much did English-language movies released in 1951 earn?

15 English-language films released in 1951 report a worldwide gross, $4.4M in all, or $295.3K per film on average. 1950 releases took $97.5M.

How many English-language movies released in 1951 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Ace in the Hole (1951), earned $2.3M.

How much of the 1951 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$1.9M of the $4.4M total, or 43%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 7 films of the 15 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1951 English 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 1951. 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.

How often is the 1951 English 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.