#1 of 540 #1 English-language movie of 2008
2008 · Action, Drama
$1B worldwide · 5% of the chart's total
$535M US & Canada · 53% $477.6M elsewhere · 47%
English box office · 2008
English Box Office 2008: Highest-Grossing English Movies
The Dark Knight (2008) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 2008, with $1B worldwide, ahead of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) at $786.6M and Mamma Mia! (2008) at $703.2M. 540 English-language films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $20B in all, 45% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 55 crossed $100 million. That is down 2% on 2007, whose releases took $20.5B. By genre, Action leads with $9B across 69 English releases.
- 2008 releases with a gross
- 540
- combined worldwide
- $20B
- films crossed $100M
- 55
- vs 2007
- −2%
#1 of 540 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 2008?
The Dark Knight (2008) leads with $1B, 5% of the total. The top 5 together took $3.8B, 19% of what all 540 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 $786.6M Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)$317.1M US & Canada · 40% $469.5M elsewhere · 60% -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every English Release of 2008, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 540. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2008.
- 1 Jul 18, 2008 US and Canada: $535M Rest of the world: $477.6M Worldwide: $1B
- 2 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) May 22, 2008 · Action, Adventure $786.6M worldwideMay 22, 2008 US and Canada: $317.1M Rest of the world: $469.5M Worldwide: $786.6M
- 3 Jul 18, 2008 US and Canada: $144.3M Rest of the world: $558.9M Worldwide: $703.2M
- 4 Jun 6, 2008 US and Canada: $216.1M Rest of the world: $416.3M Worldwide: $632.4M
- 5 Jul 2, 2008 US and Canada: $227.9M Rest of the world: $401.5M Worldwide: $629.4M
- 6
Nov 7, 2008 US and Canada: $180M Rest of the world: $423.9M Worldwide: $603.9M - 7
Nov 14, 2008 US and Canada: $168.4M Rest of the world: $421.2M Worldwide: $589.6M - 8
May 2, 2008 US and Canada: $319M Rest of the world: $266.8M Worldwide: $585.8M - 9
Jun 27, 2008 US and Canada: $223.8M Rest of the world: $303.6M Worldwide: $527.4M - 10
May 16, 2008 US and Canada: $141.6M Rest of the world: $278M Worldwide: $419.7M - 11
Nov 21, 2008 US and Canada: $194M Rest of the world: $214.6M Worldwide: $408.5M - 12
Aug 1, 2008 US and Canada: $102.5M Rest of the world: $301M Worldwide: $403.4M - 13
Nov 12, 2008 US and Canada: $141.3M Rest of the world: $237.1M Worldwide: $378.4M - 14
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $127.5M Rest of the world: $208.3M Worldwide: $335.8M - 15
Nov 21, 2008 US and Canada: $114.1M Rest of the world: $195.9M Worldwide: $310M - 16
Mar 14, 2008 US and Canada: $154.5M Rest of the world: $144M Worldwide: $298.6M - 17
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $148.1M Rest of the world: $121.9M Worldwide: $270M - 18
Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $94.8M Rest of the world: $175M Worldwide: $269.8M - 19
Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $134.8M Rest of the world: $130M Worldwide: $264.8M - 20
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $143.2M Rest of the world: $112.6M Worldwide: $255.7M - 21
Oct 24, 2008 US and Canada: $90.6M Rest of the world: $162.3M Worldwide: $252.9M - 22
Jul 11, 2008 US and Canada: $101.7M Rest of the world: $142.5M Worldwide: $244.2M - 23
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $79.4M Rest of the world: $153.7M Worldwide: $233.1M - 24
Jun 20, 2008 US and Canada: $130.3M Rest of the world: $100.4M Worldwide: $230.7M - 25
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $80.2M Rest of the world: $145M Worldwide: $225.1M - 26
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $97.7M Rest of the world: $125.6M Worldwide: $223.2M - 27
May 9, 2008 US and Canada: $80.3M Rest of the world: $139.1M Worldwide: $219.4M - 28
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $110.1M Rest of the world: $102.8M Worldwide: $212.9M - 29
Jun 6, 2008 US and Canada: $100M Rest of the world: $104.3M Worldwide: $204.3M - 30
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $83.1M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $201.5M - 31
Aug 13, 2008 US and Canada: $110.5M Rest of the world: $85.2M Worldwide: $195.7M - 32
Sep 26, 2008 US and Canada: $101.4M Rest of the world: $77.3M Worldwide: $178.8M - 33
Jan 18, 2008 US and Canada: $80M Rest of the world: $92.3M Worldwide: $172.4M - 34
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $99.8M Worldwide: $169.7M - 35
Jul 11, 2008 US and Canada: $76M Rest of the world: $92.3M Worldwide: $168.3M - 36
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $71.2M Rest of the world: $93M Worldwide: $164.2M - 37
Nov 26, 2008 US and Canada: $120.1M Rest of the world: $44M Worldwide: $164.1M - 38
Sep 12, 2008 US and Canada: $60.4M Rest of the world: $103.4M Worldwide: $163.7M - 39
Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $64.5M Rest of the world: $98.9M Worldwide: $163.4M - 40
Jan 18, 2008 US and Canada: $76.8M Rest of the world: $85.8M Worldwide: $162.7M - 41
Mar 28, 2008 US and Canada: $81.2M Rest of the world: $78.6M Worldwide: $159.8M - 42
Feb 22, 2008 US and Canada: $72.3M Rest of the world: $79.8M Worldwide: $152M - 43
Feb 14, 2008 US and Canada: $58M Rest of the world: $93M Worldwide: $151M - 44
Oct 3, 2008 US and Canada: $94.5M Rest of the world: $54.8M Worldwide: $149.3M - 45
Apr 18, 2008 US and Canada: $52.1M Rest of the world: $76.7M Worldwide: $128.8M - 46
Jul 25, 2008 US and Canada: $100.5M Rest of the world: $27.6M Worldwide: $128.1M - 47
Oct 10, 2008 US and Canada: $39.4M Rest of the world: $76.5M Worldwide: $115.9M - 48
Oct 24, 2008 US and Canada: $56.7M Rest of the world: $57.1M Worldwide: $113.9M - 49
Oct 24, 2008 US and Canada: $35.7M Rest of the world: $77.7M Worldwide: $113.4M - 50
Feb 8, 2008 US and Canada: $70.2M Rest of the world: $41M Worldwide: $111.2M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2008?
Of the top 10, Iron Man (2008) earned the biggest share at home (54% in the US & Canada), while Mamma Mia! (2008) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 540 films, $9B (45%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Dark Knight (2008) $1B $535M US & Canada · 53% $477.6M elsewhere · 47%
- 2 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $786.6M $317.1M US & Canada · 40% $469.5M elsewhere · 60%
- 3 Mamma Mia! (2008) $703.2M $144.3M US & Canada · 21% $558.9M elsewhere · 79%
- 4 Kung Fu Panda (2008) $632.4M $216.1M US & Canada · 34% $416.3M elsewhere · 66%
- 5 Hancock (2008) $629.4M $227.9M US & Canada · 36% $401.5M elsewhere · 64%
- 6 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) $603.9M $180M US & Canada · 30% $423.9M elsewhere · 70%
- 7 Quantum of Solace (2008) $589.6M $168.4M US & Canada · 29% $421.2M elsewhere · 71%
- 8 Iron Man (2008) $585.8M $319M US & Canada · 54% $266.8M elsewhere · 46%
- 9 WALL-E (2008) $527.4M $223.8M US & Canada · 42% $303.6M elsewhere · 58%
- 10 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) $419.7M $141.6M US & Canada · 34% $278M elsewhere · 66%
Gross bands
How Many 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
55 of 540 films crossed $100M and took $15.5B between them, 77% of the total. 379 films, 70% of the list, earned under $10M.
25% 47% 21%
- $1B or more 1 film, <1% of the list $1B · 5% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 8 films, 1% of the list $5.1B · 25% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 46 films, 9% of the list $9.4B · 47% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 106 films, 20% of the list $4.1B · 21% of the gross
- Under $10M 379 films, 70% of the list $418.7M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2008 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $3.1B from 36 films, led by The Dark Knight (2008). January was the quietest month ($610.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Cloverfield (2008) $610.2M Cloverfield (2008)
- February Feb Jumper (2008) $1.2B Jumper (2008)
- March Mar Horton Hears a Who! (2008) $1.2B Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
- April Apr The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) $787.8M The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
- May May Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) $2.4B Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- June Jun Kung Fu Panda (2008) $2.1B Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- July Jul The Dark Knight (2008) $3.1B The Dark Knight (2008)
- August Aug The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) $1.4B The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
- September Sep Eagle Eye (2008) $893.2M Eagle Eye (2008)
- October Oct High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) $1.3B High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
- November Nov Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) $2.7B Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
- December Dec The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $2.4B The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Last 10 years
How Does 2008 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2007 earned the most: $20.5B from 553 films, led by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). 2008 took $20B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 262 films | 262 | $12.9B | – | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $1B |
| 2000 271 films · −6% | 271 | $12.2B | −6% | Mission: Impossible II (2000) $546.4M |
| 2001 301 films · +10% | 301 | $13.4B | +10% | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) $1B |
| 2002 369 films · +4% | 369 | $13.9B | +4% | Spider-Man (2002) $825.8M |
| 2003 344 films · +23% | 344 | $17.1B | +23% | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1.1B |
| 2004 391 films · −7% | 391 | $15.9B | −7% | Shrek 2 (2004) $932.5M |
| 2005 415 films · +4% | 415 | $16.6B | +4% | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) $905.6M |
| 2006 515 films · +7% | 515 | $17.7B | +7% | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) $1.1B |
| 2007 553 films · +16% | 553 | $20.5B | +16% | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) $1B |
| 2008 540 films · −2% | 540 | $20B | −2% | The Dark Knight (2008) $1B |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 2008?
Action took $9B across 69 films, 45% of the total, ahead of Drama ($8.1B) and Thriller ($8B). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2008 English Box Office by Genre
-
Action $9B69 films · #1 The Dark Knight (2008) -
Drama $8.1B269 films · #1 The Dark Knight (2008) -
Thriller $8B130 films · #1 The Dark Knight (2008) -
Comedy $7.3B165 films · #1 Mamma Mia! (2008) -
Adventure $7.2B52 films · #1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) -
Romance $5.8B109 films · #1 Mamma Mia! (2008) -
Family $4.7B38 films · #1 Kung Fu Panda (2008) -
Fantasy $3.7B34 films · #1 Hancock (2008) -
Crime $3.1B75 films · #1 The Dark Knight (2008) -
Sci-Fi $3B26 films · #1 Iron Man (2008)
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 · $104B
2010s 10 years · $261.1B
- 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 $27.4B #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 · $170.3B
- 2009 $23B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $20B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $20.5B #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 $906.4M #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 $143.9M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $336.7M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $28.1M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $227.4M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1964 $238.6M #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 · $757.2M
- 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 $140.6M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $70.6M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $147.7M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.6M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.4M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $96.7M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $651.4M
- 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 $91.9M #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 $102K #1 Went the Day Well? (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.5M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $213.2M
- 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 $1.4M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $37.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $137.1K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $40K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $299 #1 Transgression (1931)
- 1930 $1.2K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
1920s 3 years · $60.4K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
English Box Office 2008: 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 540 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 2008?
The Dark Knight (2008) leads with $1B worldwide, $535M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) at $786.6M and Mamma Mia! (2008) at $703.2M.
How much did English-language movies released in 2008 earn?
540 English-language films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $20B in all, or $37.1M per film on average. 2007 releases took $20.5B.
How many English-language movies released in 2008 made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Dark Knight (2008). 55 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2008 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 2008. 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 2008 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.