#1 of 21 #1 English-language movie of 1952
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
1952 · Drama, Romance
$36M worldwide · 93% of the chart's total
$36M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
English box office · 1952
English Box Office 1952: Highest-Grossing English Movies
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1952, with $36M worldwide, ahead of Singin' in the Rain (1952) at $2.1M and Les Miserables (1952) at $280.5K. 21 English-language films released in 1952 report a worldwide gross, $38.6M in all, 98% of it from the US & Canada. That is 8.7 times the total of 1951, whose releases took $4.4M. By genre, Romance leads with $38.5M across 10 English releases.
- 1952 releases with a gross
- 21
- combined worldwide
- $38.6M
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), the #1
- $36M
- vs 1951
- ×8.7
#1 of 21 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1952?
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) leads with $36M, 93% of the total. The top 5 together took $38.4M, almost all of what the 21 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 English Release of 1952, 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 1952.
- 1 May 1, 1952 US and Canada: $36M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36M
- 2 Apr 11, 1952 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: $211.9K Worldwide: $2.1M
- 3 Aug 14, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $280.5K
- 4 Mar 21, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $46.3K
- 5 Aug 7, 1952 US and Canada: $24.5K Rest of the world: $283 Worldwide: $24.8K
- 6
Nov 15, 1952 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K - 7
Sep 20, 1952 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K - 8
Apr 19, 1952 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K - 9
Feb 2, 1952 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K - 10
Jun 13, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.9K - 11
Oct 23, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3K - 12
Mar 14, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2K - 13
Jan 23, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2K - 14
Apr 2, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K - 15
Sep 19, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K - 16
Dec 23, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2K - 17
Aug 18, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $953 - 18
Dec 5, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $439 - 19
Sep 2, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $265 - 20
Mar 6, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $63 - 21
Jul 29, 1952 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1952?
Of the top 10, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Singin' in the Rain (1952) made 10% of its gross abroad. Across all 21 films, $38M (98%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M $36M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Singin' in the Rain (1952) $2.1M $1.9M US & Canada · 90% $211.9K elsewhere · 10%
- 3 Les Miserables (1952) $280.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 The African Queen (1952) $46.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Sudden Fear (1952) $24.8K $24.5K US & Canada · 99% $283 elsewhere · 1%
- 6 Rabbit’s Kin (1952) $14.8K $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Rabbit Seasoning (1952) $14.8K $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Water, Water Every Hare (1952) $14.8K $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Feed the Kitty (1952) $14.8K $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Pat and Mike (1952) $11.9K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1952 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 21 films reached $100M. 20 films, 95% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $38.6M total.
93%
- $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 1 film, 5% of the list $36M · 93% of the gross
- Under $10M 20 films, 95% of the list $2.6M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1952 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $36M from 1 film, led by The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). July was the quietest month ($47). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Bend of the River (1952) $5.2K Bend of the River (1952)
- February Feb Feed the Kitty (1952) $14.8K Feed the Kitty (1952)
- March Mar The African Queen (1952) $51.6K The African Queen (1952)
- April Apr Singin' in the Rain (1952) $2.1M Singin' in the Rain (1952)
- May May The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- June Jun Pat and Mike (1952) $11.9K Pat and Mike (1952)
- July Jul Affair in Trinidad (1952) $47 Affair in Trinidad (1952)
- August Aug Les Miserables (1952) $306.3K Les Miserables (1952)
- September Sep Rabbit Seasoning (1952) $18.5K Rabbit Seasoning (1952)
- October Oct Limelight (1952) $9.3K Limelight (1952)
- November Nov Rabbit’s Kin (1952) $14.8K Rabbit’s Kin (1952)
- December Dec Moulin Rouge (1952) $3.6K Moulin Rouge (1952)
Last 10 years
How Does 1952 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1950 earned the most: $97.5M from 16 films, led by Cinderella (1950). 1952 took $38.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 6 films | 6 | $6M | – | 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 |
| 1952 21 films · +770% | 21 | $38.6M | +770% | The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1952?
Romance took $38.5M across 10 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Drama ($36.4M) and Family ($36M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
1952 English Box Office by Genre
-
Romance $38.5M10 films · #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) -
Drama $36.4M11 films · #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) -
Family $36M2 films · #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) -
Comedy $2.2M8 films · #1 Singin' in the Rain (1952) -
Musical $2.1M1 film · #1 Singin' in the Rain (1952) -
Adventure $335.6K4 films · #1 Les Miserables (1952) -
History $280.5K1 film · #1 Les Miserables (1952) -
Animation $59K4 films · #1 Rabbit’s Kin (1952) -
War $50.7K3 films · #1 The African Queen (1952) -
Thriller $25.8K3 films · #1 Sudden Fear (1952)
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
- 2019 $28.7B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $28.3B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $27.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $27.3B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $27.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $24.6B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $26B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $26B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $24.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $21B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $170.2B
- 2009 $23B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $20B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $20.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $17.7B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $16.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $15.9B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $17.1B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $13.9B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $13.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $12.2B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $84.5B
- 1999 $12.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $10B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $11.8B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $8.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $7.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $6.3B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $5.5B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $5.9B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.5B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $33.4B
- 1989 $6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.3B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $3.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.3B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.5B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.2B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $9.6B
- 1979 $2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $1.5B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $624.6M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $955.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $694.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $928.9M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $369.2M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $182.9M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $346.9M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.4B
- 1969 $244.6M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $147.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $342.7M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $28.1M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $227.4M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1964 $241M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $75.1M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $49.6M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $952.7K #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- 1960 $42.4M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $770.2M
- 1959 $126.4M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $5.1M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $31.3M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $149.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $70.6M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $150.9M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.6M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.4M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.5M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $662.1M
- 1949 $1.7M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $707.7K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $1.4M #1 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- 1946 $96.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $117.4K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $2M #1 Reunion in France (1942)
- 1941 $4.2M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $527.8M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $217.4M
- 1939 $26.3M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $27.1K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $4.6M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $602.9K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $37.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $588.1K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $40K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $299 #1 Transgression (1931)
- 1930 $1.2K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
1920s 4 years · $718.5K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
English Box Office 1952: 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 21 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1952?
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) leads with $36M worldwide, $36M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Singin' in the Rain (1952) at $2.1M and Les Miserables (1952) at $280.5K.
How much did English-language movies released in 1952 earn?
21 English-language films released in 1952 report a worldwide gross, $38.6M in all, or $1.8M per film on average. 1951 releases took $4.4M.
How many English-language movies released in 1952 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), earned $36M.
How is the 1952 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 1952. 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 1952 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.