#1 of 25 #1 English-language movie of 1956
1956 · History, Drama
$65.5M worldwide · 44% of the chart's total
$65.5M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
English box office · 1956
English Box Office 1956: Highest-Grossing English Movies
The Ten Commandments (1956) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1956, with $65.5M worldwide, ahead of Around the World in 80 Days (1956) at $42M and Giant (1956) at $32.9M. 25 English-language films released in 1956 report a worldwide gross, $149.5M in all, 94% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 56% on 1955, whose releases took $95.8M. By genre, Drama leads with $98.5M across 19 English releases.
- 1956 releases with a gross
- 25
- combined worldwide
- $149.5M
- The Ten Commandments (1956), the #1
- $65.5M
- vs 1955
- +56%
#1 of 25 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1956?
The Ten Commandments (1956) leads with $65.5M, 44% of the total. The top 5 together took $149.3M, almost all of what the 25 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 1956, 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 1956.
- 1 Oct 5, 1956 US and Canada: $65.5M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $65.5M
- 2 Oct 17, 1956 US and Canada: $42M Rest of the world: $9.5K Worldwide: $42M
- 3 Nov 24, 1956 US and Canada: $32.9M Rest of the world: $1.2K Worldwide: $32.9M
- 4 Nov 29, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.9M
- 5 Feb 20, 1956 US and Canada: $23.2K Rest of the world: $27.1K Worldwide: $50.3K
- 6
Sep 1, 1956 US and Canada: $41.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.8K - 7
Aug 21, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.9K - 8
Mar 28, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.4K - 9
Dec 25, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.2K - 10
Jun 1, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.2K - 11
Jul 3, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.5K - 12
May 31, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3K - 13
Apr 19, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.7K - 14
Apr 30, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.2K - 15
Feb 5, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K - 16
May 1, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K - 17
May 29, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 18
Feb 16, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 19
May 26, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 20
Jun 1, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $798 - 21
Sep 17, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $426 - 22
Jun 6, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $380 - 23
Mar 21, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365 - 24
Jun 27, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $353 - 25
Dec 29, 1956 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1956?
Of the top 10, On the Bowery (1956) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Ladykillers (1956) made 54% of its gross abroad. Across all 25 films, $140.4M (94%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M $65.5M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Around the World in 80 Days (1956) $42M $42M US & Canada · 100% $9.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Giant (1956) $32.9M $32.9M US & Canada · 100% $1.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) $8.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 The Ladykillers (1956) $50.3K $23.2K US & Canada · 46% $27.1K elsewhere · 54%
- 6 On the Bowery (1956) $41.8K $41.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 War and Peace (1956) $24.9K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 The Conqueror (1956) $15.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Written on the Wind (1956) $14.2K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) $10.2K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1956 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 25 films reached $100M. 22 films, 88% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $149.5M total.
94%
- $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 3 films, 12% of the list $140.4M · 94% of the gross
- Under $10M 22 films, 88% of the list $9.1M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1956 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $107.5M from 2 films, led by The Ten Commandments (1956). July was the quietest month ($9.5K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb The Ladykillers (1956) $55.1K The Ladykillers (1956)
- March Mar The Conqueror (1956) $15.8K The Conqueror (1956)
- April Apr While the City Sleeps (1956) $11.9K While the City Sleeps (1956)
- May May The Mountain (1956) $15.5K The Mountain (1956)
- June Jun The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) $11.7K The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
- July Jul Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) $9.5K Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
- August Aug War and Peace (1956) $24.9K War and Peace (1956)
- September Sep On the Bowery (1956) $42.2K On the Bowery (1956)
- October Oct The Ten Commandments (1956) $107.5M The Ten Commandments (1956)
- November Nov Giant (1956) $41.8M Giant (1956)
- December Dec Written on the Wind (1956) $14.2K Written on the Wind (1956)
Last 10 years
How Does 1956 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1953 earned the most: $150.9M from 25 films, led by Peter Pan (1953). 1956 took $149.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 16 films | 16 | $1.4M | – | 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 |
| 1953 25 films · +291% | 25 | $150.9M | +291% | Peter Pan (1953) $87.4M |
| 1954 30 films · −53% | 30 | $70.6M | −53% | Rear Window (1954) $37.9M |
| 1955 19 films · +36% | 19 | $95.8M | +36% | Lady and the Tramp (1955) $93.9M |
| 1956 25 films · +56% | 25 | $149.5M | +56% | The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1956?
Drama took $98.5M across 19 films, 66% of the total, ahead of History ($65.5M) and Comedy ($51M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
1956 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $98.5M19 films · #1 The Ten Commandments (1956) -
History $65.5M3 films · #1 The Ten Commandments (1956) -
Comedy $51M5 films · #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956) -
Romance $42.1M8 films · #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956) -
Adventure $42M6 films · #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956) -
Family $42M1 film · #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956) -
Western $32.9M4 films · #1 Giant (1956) -
Crime $60.2K3 films · #1 The Ladykillers (1956) -
Documentary $41.8K1 film · #1 On the Bowery (1956) -
War $41.8K3 films · #1 War and Peace (1956)
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 1956: 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 25 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1956?
The Ten Commandments (1956) leads with $65.5M worldwide, $65.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Around the World in 80 Days (1956) at $42M and Giant (1956) at $32.9M.
How much did English-language movies released in 1956 earn?
25 English-language films released in 1956 report a worldwide gross, $149.5M in all, or $6M per film on average. 1955 releases took $95.8M.
How many English-language movies released in 1956 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Ten Commandments (1956), earned $65.5M.
How is the 1956 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 1956. 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 1956 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.