#1 of 129 #1 English-language movie of 1983
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
1983 · Action, Adventure
$482.5M worldwide · 18% of the chart's total
$316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
English box office · 1983
English Box Office 1983: Highest-Grossing English Movies
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1983, with $482.5M worldwide, ahead of Terms of Endearment (1983) at $108.4M and Flashdance (1983) at $92.9M. 129 English-language films released in 1983 report a worldwide gross, $2.6B in all, 90% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 18% on 1982, whose releases took $2.2B. By genre, Thriller leads with $1.2B across 28 English releases.
- 1983 releases with a gross
- 129
- combined worldwide
- $2.6B
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 1982
- +18%
#1 of 129 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1983?
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) leads with $482.5M, 18% of the total. The top 5 together took $862.2M, 33% of what all 129 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $482.5M Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)$316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every English Release of 1983, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 129. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1983.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) May 25, 1983 · Action, Adventure $482.5M worldwideMay 25, 1983 US and Canada: $316.6M Rest of the world: $165.9M Worldwide: $482.5M
- 2 Nov 23, 1983 US and Canada: $108.4M Rest of the world: $260 Worldwide: $108.4M
- 3 Apr 15, 1983 US and Canada: $92.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $92.9M
- 4 Jun 8, 1983 US and Canada: $90.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $90.4M
- 5 Jul 22, 1983 US and Canada: $45.5M Rest of the world: $42.5M Worldwide: $88M
- 6
Jun 17, 1983 US and Canada: $60M Rest of the world: $20.3M Worldwide: $80.3M - 7
Jun 3, 1983 US and Canada: $79.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.6M - 8
Jun 10, 1983 US and Canada: $67.9M Rest of the world: $23.7K Worldwide: $67.9M - 9
Dec 9, 1983 US and Canada: $67.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $67.6M - 10
Dec 1, 1983 US and Canada: $46M Rest of the world: $20.5M Worldwide: $66.4M - 11
Aug 19, 1983 US and Canada: $64.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $64.8M - 12
Aug 5, 1983 US and Canada: $63.5M Rest of the world: $573 Worldwide: $63.5M - 13
Jul 29, 1983 US and Canada: $61.4M Rest of the world: $299 Worldwide: $61.4M - 14
Sep 28, 1983 US and Canada: $56.4M Rest of the world: $133 Worldwide: $56.4M - 15
Oct 7, 1983 US and Canada: $55.4M Rest of the world: $344 Worldwide: $55.4M - 16
Feb 25, 1983 US and Canada: $52.8M Rest of the world: $530 Worldwide: $52.8M - 17
May 13, 1983 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.3M - 18
Dec 14, 1983 US and Canada: $35.6M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $35.6M - 19
Jun 3, 1983 US and Canada: $34.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.7M - 20
Jun 24, 1983 US and Canada: $33.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.8M - 21
Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $30.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.5M - 22
Oct 7, 1983 US and Canada: $29.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.6M - 23
Jun 24, 1983 US and Canada: $29.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.5M - 24
Aug 19, 1983 US and Canada: $29.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.3M - 25
Mar 18, 1983 US and Canada: $28.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.4M - 26
Mar 25, 1983 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: $17.8K Worldwide: $25.9M - 27
Mar 25, 1983 US and Canada: $24.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1M - 28
Jul 22, 1983 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.7M - 29
Oct 21, 1983 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $213 Worldwide: $21.2M - 30
Aug 12, 1983 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.2M - 31
Dec 9, 1983 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $27.9K Worldwide: $21M - 32
Nov 18, 1983 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: $14.5K Worldwide: $20.8M - 33
Oct 21, 1983 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.8M - 34
Mar 25, 1983 US and Canada: $17.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.6M - 35
Apr 29, 1983 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $548 Worldwide: $17.3M - 36
Oct 21, 1983 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.2M - 37
Jul 29, 1983 US and Canada: $16.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.9M - 38
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983) May 20, 1983 · Adventure, Sci-Fi $16.5M worldwideMay 20, 1983 US and Canada: $16.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.5M - 39
Oct 28, 1983 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M - 40
Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $16.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.1M - 41
Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M - 42
Mar 31, 1983 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: $20.1K Worldwide: $14.9M - 43
Sep 21, 1983 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.6M - 44
Jul 29, 1983 US and Canada: $14M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14M - 45
Sep 16, 1983 US and Canada: $13.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.2M - 46
Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 47
Jul 1, 1983 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 48
Apr 15, 1983 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.2M - 49
Mar 25, 1983 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: $406 Worldwide: $12M - 50
Sep 16, 1983 US and Canada: $11.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.9M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1983?
Of the top 10, Flashdance (1983) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Jaws 3-D (1983) made 48% of its gross abroad. Across all 129 films, $2.4B (90%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M $316.6M US & Canada · 66% $165.9M elsewhere · 34%
- 2 Terms of Endearment (1983) $108.4M $108.4M US & Canada · 100% $260 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Flashdance (1983) $92.9M $92.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Trading Places (1983) $90.4M $90.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M $45.5M US & Canada · 52% $42.5M elsewhere · 48%
- 6 Superman III (1983) $80.3M $60M US & Canada · 75% $20.3M elsewhere · 25%
- 7 WarGames (1983) $79.6M $79.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Octopussy (1983) $67.9M $67.9M US & Canada · 100% $23.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M $67.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Scarface (1983) $66.4M $46M US & Canada · 69% $20.5M elsewhere · 31%
Gross bands
How Many 1983 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 129 films crossed $100M and took $590.9M between them, 23% of the total. 69 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.
23% 70%
- $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, 2% of the list $590.9M · 23% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 58 films, 45% of the list $1.8B · 70% of the gross
- Under $10M 69 films, 53% of the list $205.4M · 8% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1983 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $557.8M from 6 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). January was the quietest month ($24.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The House on Sorority Row (1983) $24.2M The House on Sorority Row (1983)
- February Feb Gandhi (1983) $94.9M Gandhi (1983)
- March Mar High Road to China (1983) $157.3M High Road to China (1983)
- April Apr Flashdance (1983) $144.7M Flashdance (1983)
- May May Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $557.8M Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- June Jun Trading Places (1983) $430.7M Trading Places (1983)
- July Jul Jaws 3-D (1983) $226.8M Jaws 3-D (1983)
- August Aug Mr. Mom (1983) $226.6M Mr. Mom (1983)
- September Sep The Big Chill (1983) $118.4M The Big Chill (1983)
- October Oct Never Say Never Again (1983) $181.9M Never Say Never Again (1983)
- November Nov Terms of Endearment (1983) $161.1M Terms of Endearment (1983)
- December Dec Sudden Impact (1983) $289.8M Sudden Impact (1983)
Last 10 years
How Does 1983 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1983 earned the most: $2.6B from 129 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 38 films | 38 | $694.9M | – | Blazing Saddles (1974) $119.6M |
| 1975 31 films · +37% | 31 | $955.1M | +37% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 33 films · −35% | 33 | $624.6M | −35% | A Star Is Born (1976) $80M |
| 1977 53 films · +235% | 53 | $2.1B | +235% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 67 films · −29% | 67 | $1.5B | −29% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
| 1979 79 films · +31% | 79 | $2B | +31% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 101 films · +18% | 101 | $2.3B | +18% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 114 films · −10% | 114 | $2.1B | −10% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 125 films · +7% | 125 | $2.2B | +7% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| 1983 129 films · +18% | 129 | $2.6B | +18% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1983?
Thriller took $1.2B across 28 films, 44% of the total, ahead of Action ($1B) and Drama ($1B). A film counts once for each of its genres.
1983 English Box Office by Genre
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Thriller $1.2B28 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) -
Action $1B26 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) -
Drama $1B66 films · #1 Terms of Endearment (1983) -
Adventure $990M21 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) -
Comedy $917.8M44 films · #1 Terms of Endearment (1983) -
Sci-Fi $771.1M16 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) -
Fantasy $670.8M12 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) -
Romance $506.7M27 films · #1 Terms of Endearment (1983) -
Crime $344.3M22 films · #1 Sudden Impact (1983) -
Horror $230.6M14 films · #1 Jaws 3-D (1983)
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 1983: 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 129 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1983?
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) leads with $482.5M worldwide, $316.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Terms of Endearment (1983) at $108.4M and Flashdance (1983) at $92.9M.
How much did English-language movies released in 1983 earn?
129 English-language films released in 1983 report a worldwide gross, $2.6B in all, or $20.3M per film on average. 1982 releases took $2.2B.
How many English-language movies released in 1983 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) with $482.5M.
How is the 1983 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 1983. 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 1983 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.