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English box office · December 2003

English Box Office, December 2003: Top-Grossing Releases

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in December 2003, with $1.1B worldwide, ahead of The Last Samurai (2003) at $454.6M and Something's Gotta Give (2003) at $265.3M. 28 English-language films released in December 2003 report a worldwide gross, $3.1B in all, 42% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 9 crossed $100 million. That is up 64% on November 2003, whose releases took $1.9B. By genre, Adventure leads with $1.8B across 5 English releases.

December 2003 releases with a gross
28
combined worldwide
$3.1B
films crossed $100M
9
vs November 2003
+64%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of December 2003?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B, 36% of the total. The top 5 together took $2.2B, 71% of what all 28 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) movie poster Number 1
    $1.1B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
    $381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
  2. The Last Samurai (2003) movie poster Number 2
    $454.6M The Last Samurai (2003)
    $111.1M US & Canada · 24% $343.5M elsewhere · 76%
  3. Something's Gotta Give (2003) movie poster Number 3
    $265.3M Something's Gotta Give (2003)
    $124.7M US & Canada · 47% $140.6M elsewhere · 53%
  4. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) movie poster Number 4
    $190.5M Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
    $138.6M US & Canada · 73% $51.9M elsewhere · 27%
  5. Cold Mountain (2003) movie poster Number 5
    $173M Cold Mountain (2003)
    $95.6M US & Canada · 55% $77.4M elsewhere · 45%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of December 2003, 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 2003.

  1. 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) movie poster
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Dec 17, 2003 · Action, Adventure $1.1B worldwide
    Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $381.9M Rest of the world: $756.7M Worldwide: $1.1B
  2. 2 The Last Samurai (2003) movie poster
    The Last Samurai (2003) Dec 5, 2003 · Action, Adventure $454.6M worldwide
    Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $111.1M Rest of the world: $343.5M Worldwide: $454.6M
  3. 3 Something's Gotta Give (2003) movie poster
    Something's Gotta Give (2003) Dec 12, 2003 · Comedy, Romance $265.3M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2003 US and Canada: $124.7M Rest of the world: $140.6M Worldwide: $265.3M
  4. 4 Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) movie poster
    Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) Dec 25, 2003 · Comedy, Family $190.5M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $138.6M Rest of the world: $51.9M Worldwide: $190.5M
  5. 5 Cold Mountain (2003) movie poster
    Cold Mountain (2003) Dec 25, 2003 · Drama, Romance $173M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $95.6M Rest of the world: $77.4M Worldwide: $173M
  6. 6 Mona Lisa Smile (2003) movie poster
    Mona Lisa Smile (2003) Dec 19, 2003 · Drama, Romance $141.3M worldwide
    Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $63.9M Rest of the world: $77.5M Worldwide: $141.3M
  7. 7 Big Fish (2003) movie poster
    Big Fish (2003) Dec 10, 2003 · Adventure, Drama $123.2M worldwide
    Dec 10, 2003 US and Canada: $66.8M Rest of the world: $56.4M Worldwide: $123.2M
  8. 8 Peter Pan (2003) movie poster
    Peter Pan (2003) Dec 25, 2003 · Adventure, Fantasy $122M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $48.5M Rest of the world: $73.5M Worldwide: $122M
  9. 9 Paycheck (2003) movie poster
    Paycheck (2003) Dec 25, 2003 · Action, Sci-Fi $117.2M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $53.8M Rest of the world: $63.5M Worldwide: $117.2M
  10. 10 The Butterfly (2003) movie poster
    The Butterfly (2003) Dec 19, 2003 · Drama, Comedy $96.8M worldwide
    Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $57.9M Rest of the world: $38.9M Worldwide: $96.8M
  11. 11 Calendar Girls (2003) movie poster
    Calendar Girls (2003) Dec 19, 2003 · Drama, Comedy $93.4M worldwide
    Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $31M Rest of the world: $62.4M Worldwide: $93.4M
  12. 12 Stuck on You (2003) movie poster
    Stuck on You (2003) Dec 12, 2003 · Comedy $65.8M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2003 US and Canada: $33.8M Rest of the world: $32M Worldwide: $65.8M
  13. 13 Monster (2003) movie poster
    Monster (2003) Dec 24, 2003 · Biography, Drama $58.5M worldwide
    Dec 24, 2003 US and Canada: $34.5M Rest of the world: $24M Worldwide: $58.5M
  14. 14 Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) movie poster
    Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) Dec 12, 2003 · Biography, Drama $33M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2003 US and Canada: $11.7M Rest of the world: $21.4M Worldwide: $33M
  15. 15 Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003) movie poster
    Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003) Dec 12, 2003 · Drama, Comedy $22M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2003 US and Canada: $21.9M Rest of the world: $39.8K Worldwide: $22M
  16. 16 House of Sand and Fog (2003) movie poster
    House of Sand and Fog (2003) Dec 19, 2003 · Drama $16.8M worldwide
    Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: $3.7M Worldwide: $16.8M
  17. 17 The Young Black Stallion (2003) movie poster
    The Young Black Stallion (2003) Dec 25, 2003 · Adventure, Drama $9.6M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $6.8M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $9.6M
  18. 18 The Company (2003) movie poster
    The Company (2003) Dec 25, 2003 · Drama, Romance $6.4M worldwide
    Dec 25, 2003 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: $4.1M Worldwide: $6.4M
  19. 19 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) movie poster
    The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) Dec 19, 2003 · War, Documentary $5M worldwide
    Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $840.3K Worldwide: $5M
  20. 20 Japanese Story (2003) movie poster
    Japanese Story (2003) Dec 31, 2003 · Drama, Romance $4.1M worldwide
    Dec 31, 2003 US and Canada: $647.1K Rest of the world: $3.5M Worldwide: $4.1M
  21. 21 The Statement (2003) movie poster
    The Statement (2003) Dec 12, 2003 · Drama, Thriller $1.1M worldwide
    Dec 12, 2003 US and Canada: $765.6K Rest of the world: $314.2K Worldwide: $1.1M
  22. 22 Belly of the Beast (2003) movie poster
    Belly of the Beast (2003) Dec 30, 2003 · Thriller, Action $255K worldwide
    Dec 30, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $255K
  23. 23 Blind Horizon (2003) movie poster
    Blind Horizon (2003) Dec 14, 2003 · Thriller $202.7K worldwide
    Dec 14, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $202.7K
  24. 24 Evilenko (2003) movie poster
    Evilenko (2003) Dec 7, 2003 · Thriller, Drama $87.8K worldwide
    Dec 7, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $87.8K
  25. 25 What Alice Found (2003) movie poster
    What Alice Found (2003) Dec 5, 2003 · Drama, Crime $67.4K worldwide
    Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $67.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $67.4K
  26. 26 Power Trip (2003) movie poster
    Power Trip (2003) Dec 17, 2003 · Documentary $39.4K worldwide
    Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $39.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.4K
  27. 27 Devil’s Pond (2003) movie poster
    Devil’s Pond (2003) Dec 16, 2003 · Drama, Thriller $15K worldwide
    Dec 16, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15K
  28. 28 Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003) movie poster
    Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003) Dec 4, 2003 · Comedy $4.2K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2003 US and Canada: $4.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.2K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 2003?

Of the top 10, Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) earned the biggest share at home (73% in the US & Canada), while The Last Samurai (2003) made 76% of its gross abroad. Across all 28 films, $1.3B (42%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B
    $381.9M US & Canada · 34% $756.7M elsewhere · 66%
  2. 2 The Last Samurai (2003) $454.6M
    $111.1M US & Canada · 24% $343.5M elsewhere · 76%
  3. 3 Something's Gotta Give (2003) $265.3M
    $124.7M US & Canada · 47% $140.6M elsewhere · 53%
  4. 4 Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) $190.5M
    $138.6M US & Canada · 73% $51.9M elsewhere · 27%
  5. 5 Cold Mountain (2003) $173M
    $95.6M US & Canada · 55% $77.4M elsewhere · 45%
  6. 6 Mona Lisa Smile (2003) $141.3M
    $63.9M US & Canada · 45% $77.5M elsewhere · 55%
  7. 7 Big Fish (2003) $123.2M
    $66.8M US & Canada · 54% $56.4M elsewhere · 46%
  8. 8 Peter Pan (2003) $122M
    $48.5M US & Canada · 40% $73.5M elsewhere · 60%
  9. 9 Paycheck (2003) $117.2M
    $53.8M US & Canada · 46% $63.5M elsewhere · 54%
  10. 10 The Butterfly (2003) $96.8M
    $57.9M US & Canada · 60% $38.9M elsewhere · 40%
Gross bands

How Many December 2003 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

9 of 28 films crossed $100M and took $2.7B between them, 87% of the total. 12 films, 43% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $1B or more 1 film, 4% of the list $1.1B · 36% of the gross
  • $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $100M to $500M 8 films, 29% of the list $1.6B · 51% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 7 films, 25% of the list $386.2M · 12% of the gross
  • Under $10M 12 films, 43% of the list $26.9M · <1% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of December 2003 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 51 (Dec 14–20) took $1.5B, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 The Last Samurai (2003) $454.7M The Last Samurai (2003)
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 Something's Gotta Give (2003) $510.5M Something's Gotta Give (2003)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.5B The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) $677.3M Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 Japanese Story (2003) $4.4M Japanese Story (2003)
Earlier years

How Does December 2003 Compare With December in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, December 1997 earned the most: $3.7B from 20 films, led by Titanic (1997). December 2003 took $3.1B.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 1994 21 films 21 $934.2M – Dumb and Dumber (1994) $247.3M
December 1995 21 films · −22% 21 $724.4M −22% Jumanji (1995) $262.8M
December 1996 18 films · +36% 18 $988.5M +36% Jerry Maguire (1996) $273.6M
December 1997 20 films · +274% 20 $3.7B +274% Titanic (1997) $2.3B
December 1998 19 films · −61% 19 $1.4B −61% Shakespeare in Love (1998) $289.3M
December 1999 37 films · +13% 37 $1.6B +13% Stuart Little (1999) $300.1M
December 2000 28 films · +15% 28 $1.9B +15% Cast Away (2000) $429.6M
December 2001 31 films · +48% 31 $2.8B +48% The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) $888.5M
December 2002 33 films · −39% 33 $1.7B −39% Catch Me If You Can (2002) $352.1M
December 2003 28 films · +88% 28 $3.1B +88% The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in December 2003?

Adventure took $1.8B across 5 films, 59% of the total, ahead of Action ($1.7B) and Fantasy ($1.4B). A film counts once for each of its genres.

December 2003 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Adventure $1.8B
    5 films · #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  2. Action $1.7B
    4 films · #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  3. Fantasy $1.4B
    3 films · #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  4. Drama $1.2B
    17 films · #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
  5. Romance $825.6M
    9 films · #1 Something's Gotta Give (2003)
  6. Comedy $733.8M
    7 films · #1 Something's Gotta Give (2003)
  7. War $632.7M
    3 films · #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
  8. History $454.6M
    1 film · #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
  9. Family $322.2M
    3 films · #1 Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
  10. Thriller $118.9M
    6 films · #1 Paycheck (2003)
Archive

English Box Office in 2003, Month by Month

The months of 2003 with their totals: December leads with $3.1B, led by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

FAQ

English Box Office December 2003: 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 28 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in December 2003?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) leads with $1.1B worldwide, $381.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Last Samurai (2003) at $454.6M and Something's Gotta Give (2003) at $265.3M.

How much did English-language movies released in December 2003 earn?

28 English-language films released in December 2003 report a worldwide gross, $3.1B in all, or $112.1M per film on average. November 2003 releases took $1.9B.

How many English-language movies released in December 2003 made $1 billion?

1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). 9 crossed $100 million.

How much of the December 2003 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$1.3B of the $3.1B total, or 42%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 4 films of the 28 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 2003 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 2003. 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 2003 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.