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English box office · December 1983

English Box Office, December 1983: Top-Grossing Releases

Sudden Impact (1983) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in December 1983, with $67.6M worldwide, ahead of Scarface (1983) at $66.4M and Silkwood (1983) at $35.6M. 15 English-language films released in December 1983 report a worldwide gross, $289.8M in all, 93% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 80% on November 1983, whose releases took $161.1M. By genre, Action leads with $182.2M across 6 English releases.

December 1983 releases with a gross
15
combined worldwide
$289.8M
Sudden Impact (1983), the #1
$67.6M
vs November 1983
+80%
Sudden Impact (1983) movie poster #1 of 15
#1 English-language movie of December 1983

Sudden Impact (1983)

1983 · Action, Thriller

$67.6M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total

$67.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of December 1983?

Sudden Impact (1983) leads with $67.6M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $221.3M, 76% of what all 15 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Sudden Impact (1983) movie poster Number 1
    $67.6M Sudden Impact (1983)
    $67.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. Scarface (1983) movie poster Number 2
    $66.4M Scarface (1983)
    $46M US & Canada · 69% $20.5M elsewhere · 31%
  3. Silkwood (1983) movie poster Number 3
    $35.6M Silkwood (1983)
    $35.6M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
  4. Uncommon Valor (1983) movie poster Number 4
    $30.5M Uncommon Valor (1983)
    $30.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Christine (1983) movie poster Number 5
    $21M Christine (1983)
    $21M US & Canada · 100% $27.9K elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of December 1983, 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 December 1983.

  1. 1 Sudden Impact (1983) movie poster
    Sudden Impact (1983) Dec 9, 1983 · Action, Thriller $67.6M worldwide
    Dec 9, 1983 US and Canada: $67.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $67.6M
  2. 2 Scarface (1983) movie poster
    Scarface (1983) Dec 1, 1983 · Drama, Action $66.4M worldwide
    Dec 1, 1983 US and Canada: $46M Rest of the world: $20.5M Worldwide: $66.4M
  3. 3 Silkwood (1983) movie poster
    Silkwood (1983) Dec 14, 1983 · Biography, Drama $35.6M worldwide
    Dec 14, 1983 US and Canada: $35.6M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $35.6M
  4. 4 Uncommon Valor (1983) movie poster
    Uncommon Valor (1983) Dec 16, 1983 · Action, Drama $30.5M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $30.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.5M
  5. 5 Christine (1983) movie poster
    Christine (1983) Dec 9, 1983 · Horror $21M worldwide
    Dec 9, 1983 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $27.9K Worldwide: $21M
  6. 6 D.C. Cab (1983) movie poster
    D.C. Cab (1983) Dec 16, 1983 · Action, Comedy $16.1M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $16.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.1M
  7. 7 Gorky Park (1983) movie poster
    Gorky Park (1983) Dec 16, 1983 · Drama, Mystery $15.9M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M
  8. 8 To Be or Not to Be (1983) movie poster
    To Be or Not to Be (1983) Dec 16, 1983 · Comedy $13M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
  9. 9 The Man Who Loved Women (1983) movie poster
    The Man Who Loved Women (1983) Dec 18, 1983 · Romance, Drama $11M worldwide
    Dec 18, 1983 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M
  10. 10 The Dresser (1983) movie poster
    The Dresser (1983) Dec 6, 1983 · Drama $5.3M worldwide
    Dec 6, 1983 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M
  11. 11 The Keep (1983) movie poster
    The Keep (1983) Dec 16, 1983 · Action, Drama $4.2M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1983 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $836 Worldwide: $4.2M
  12. 12 Misunderstood (1983) movie poster
    Misunderstood (1983) Dec 10, 1983 · Drama $1.5M worldwide
    Dec 10, 1983 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M
  13. 13 Sahara (1983) movie poster
    Sahara (1983) Dec 1, 1983 · Drama, Action $1.4M worldwide
    Dec 1, 1983 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M
  14. 14 Slayground (1983) movie poster
    Slayground (1983) Dec 1, 1983 · Thriller, Action $108.1K worldwide
    Dec 1, 1983 US and Canada: $108.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $108.1K
  15. 15 BMX Bandits (1983) movie poster
    BMX Bandits (1983) Dec 29, 1983 · Adventure, Drama $328 worldwide
    Dec 29, 1983 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $328
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 1983?

Of the top 10, Sudden Impact (1983) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Scarface (1983) made 31% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $269.3M (93%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M
    $67.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. 2 Scarface (1983) $66.4M
    $46M US & Canada · 69% $20.5M elsewhere · 31%
  3. 3 Silkwood (1983) $35.6M
    $35.6M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Uncommon Valor (1983) $30.5M
    $30.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Christine (1983) $21M
    $21M US & Canada · 100% $27.9K elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 D.C. Cab (1983) $16.1M
    $16.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Gorky Park (1983) $15.9M
    $15.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 To Be or Not to Be (1983) $13M
    $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 The Man Who Loved Women (1983) $11M
    $11M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 The Dresser (1983) $5.3M
    $5.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many December 1983 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 15 films reached $100M. 6 films, 40% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $289.8M 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 9 films, 60% of the list $277.2M · 96% of the gross
  • Under $10M 6 films, 40% of the list $12.6M · 4% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of December 1983 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 51 (Dec 11–17) took $115.4M, led by Silkwood (1983). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 27–Dec 3 Scarface (1983) $68M Scarface (1983)
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 4–10 Sudden Impact (1983) $95.5M Sudden Impact (1983)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 11–17 Silkwood (1983) $115.4M Silkwood (1983)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 18–24 The Man Who Loved Women (1983) $11M The Man Who Loved Women (1983)
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 25–31 BMX Bandits (1983) $328 BMX Bandits (1983)
Earlier years

How Does December 1983 Compare With December in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, December 1979 earned the most: $561.8M from 12 films, led by Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). December 1983 took $289.8M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 1974 6 films 6 $289.8M – The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M
December 1975 5 films · −74% 5 $75.2M −74% Dog Day Afternoon (1975) $50M
December 1976 6 films · +251% 6 $263.8M +251% A Star Is Born (1976) $80M
December 1977 5 films · +12% 5 $295M +12% Saturday Night Fever (1977) $237.1M
December 1978 8 films · −33% 8 $197.7M −33% Every Which Way But Loose (1978) $85.2M
December 1979 12 films · +184% 12 $561.8M +184% Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $106.3M
December 1980 10 films · −17% 10 $467.4M −17% 9 to 5 (1980) $103.3M
December 1981 13 films · −19% 13 $379.6M −19% On Golden Pond (1981) $119.3M
December 1982 13 films · +27% 13 $483.3M +27% Tootsie (1982) $177.2M
December 1983 15 films · −40% 15 $289.8M −40% Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in December 1983?

Action took $182.2M across 6 films, 63% of the total, ahead of Drama ($167.6M) and Crime ($150.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

December 1983 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Action $182.2M
    6 films · #1 Sudden Impact (1983)
  2. Drama $167.6M
    9 films · #1 Scarface (1983)
  3. Crime $150.1M
    5 films · #1 Sudden Impact (1983)
  4. Thriller $149.7M
    5 films · #1 Sudden Impact (1983)
  5. Comedy $40.1M
    3 films · #1 D.C. Cab (1983)
  6. Biography $35.6M
    1 film · #1 Silkwood (1983)
  7. War $30.5M
    1 film · #1 Uncommon Valor (1983)
  8. Horror $21M
    1 film · #1 Christine (1983)
  9. Mystery $15.9M
    1 film · #1 Gorky Park (1983)
  10. Romance $12.4M
    2 films · #1 The Man Who Loved Women (1983)
Archive

English Box Office in 1983, Month by Month

The months of 1983 with their totals: May leads with $557.8M, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

FAQ

English Box Office December 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 15 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in December 1983?

Sudden Impact (1983) leads with $67.6M worldwide, $67.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Scarface (1983) at $66.4M and Silkwood (1983) at $35.6M.

How much did English-language movies released in December 1983 earn?

15 English-language films released in December 1983 report a worldwide gross, $289.8M in all, or $19.3M per film on average. November 1983 releases took $161.1M.

How many English-language movies released in December 1983 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Sudden Impact (1983), earned $67.6M.

How much of the December 1983 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$269.3M of the $289.8M total, or 93%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 1 film of the 15 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.