#1 of 43 #1 English-language movie of December 2008
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
2008 · Drama, Mystery
$335.8M worldwide · 14% of the chart's total
$127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
English box office · December 2008
English Box Office, December 2008: Top-Grossing Releases
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in December 2008, with $335.8M worldwide, ahead of Gran Torino (2008) at $270M and Marley & Me (2008) at $255.7M. 43 English-language films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $2.4B in all, 47% of it from the US & Canada. 8 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 12% on November 2008, whose releases took $2.7B. By genre, Drama leads with $1.8B across 32 English releases.
- December 2008 releases with a gross
- 43
- combined worldwide
- $2.4B
- films crossed $100M
- 8
- vs November 2008
- −12%
#1 of 43 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of December 2008?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) leads with $335.8M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.3B, 56% of what all 43 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $335.8M The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)$127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every English Release of December 2008, 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 2008.
- 1 Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $127.5M Rest of the world: $208.3M Worldwide: $335.8M
- 2 Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $148.1M Rest of the world: $121.9M Worldwide: $270M
- 3 Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $143.2M Rest of the world: $112.6M Worldwide: $255.7M
- 4 Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $79.4M Rest of the world: $153.7M Worldwide: $233.1M
- 5 Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $97.7M Rest of the world: $125.6M Worldwide: $223.2M
- 6
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $110.1M Rest of the world: $102.8M Worldwide: $212.9M - 7
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $83.1M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $201.5M - 8
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $99.8M Worldwide: $169.7M - 9
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: $50.9M Rest of the world: $36.1M Worldwide: $87M - 10
Dec 26, 2008 US and Canada: $22.9M Rest of the world: $53.1M Worldwide: $76M - 11
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $33.4M Rest of the world: $18.3M Worldwide: $51.7M - 12
Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: $22.6M Worldwide: $51.3M - 13
Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: $26.2M Rest of the world: $18.5M Worldwide: $44.7M - 14
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $19.8M Rest of the world: $19.4M Worldwide: $39.2M - 15
Dec 25, 2008 US and Canada: $14.9M Rest of the world: $17.7M Worldwide: $32.6M - 16
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: $8.8M Worldwide: $27.4M - 17
Dec 1, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.4M - 18
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $10.2M - 19
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: $688.1K Worldwide: $8.9M - 20
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $7.5M Rest of the world: $15.8K Worldwide: $7.5M - 21
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M - 22
Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 23
Dec 31, 2008 US and Canada: $27.3K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.6M - 24
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 25
Dec 10, 2008 US and Canada: $865.7K Rest of the world: $327.3K Worldwide: $1.2M - 26
Dec 24, 2008 US and Canada: $141.1K Rest of the world: $575.2K Worldwide: $716.4K - 27
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $694.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $694.8K - 28
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $540.4K Rest of the world: $10.4K Worldwide: $550.8K - 29
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $498.1K - 30
Dec 17, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $409.8K - 31
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $347K - 32
Dec 15, 2008 US and Canada: $288.3K Rest of the world: $21.4K Worldwide: $309.7K - 33
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $112.3K - 34
Dec 10, 2008 US and Canada: $89.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $89.5K - 35
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.3K - 36
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $54.8K - 37
Dec 5, 2008 US and Canada: $49.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.5K - 38
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $44.9K - 39
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $16.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.8K - 40
Unstable Fables: Goldilocks and the Three Bears (2008) Dec 16, 2008 · Animation, Family $10.1K worldwideDec 16, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.1K - 41
Dec 7, 2008 US and Canada: $8.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6K - 42
Dec 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.2K - 43
Dec 12, 2008 US and Canada: $3.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 2008?
Of the top 10, The Tale of Despereaux (2008) earned the biggest share at home (59% in the US & Canada), while Revolutionary Road (2008) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 43 films, $1.1B (47%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M $127.5M US & Canada · 38% $208.3M elsewhere · 62%
- 2 Gran Torino (2008) $270M $148.1M US & Canada · 55% $121.9M elsewhere · 45%
- 3 Marley & Me (2008) $255.7M $143.2M US & Canada · 56% $112.6M elsewhere · 44%
- 4 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) $233.1M $79.4M US & Canada · 34% $153.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 5 Yes Man (2008) $223.2M $97.7M US & Canada · 44% $125.6M elsewhere · 56%
- 6 Bedtime Stories (2008) $212.9M $110.1M US & Canada · 52% $102.8M elsewhere · 48%
- 7 Valkyrie (2008) $201.5M $83.1M US & Canada · 41% $118.5M elsewhere · 59%
- 8 Seven Pounds (2008) $169.7M $70M US & Canada · 41% $99.8M elsewhere · 59%
- 9 The Tale of Despereaux (2008) $87M $50.9M US & Canada · 59% $36.1M elsewhere · 41%
- 10 Revolutionary Road (2008) $76M $22.9M US & Canada · 30% $53.1M elsewhere · 70%
Gross bands
How Many December 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
8 of 43 films crossed $100M and took $1.9B between them, 80% of the total. 25 films, 58% of the list, earned under $10M.
80% 18%
- $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 8 films, 19% of the list $1.9B · 80% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 10 films, 23% of the list $432.3M · 18% of the gross
- Under $10M 25 films, 58% of the list $28.5M · 1% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 2008 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 52 (Dec 21–27) took $1.2B, led by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Frost/Nixon (2008) $61.8M Frost/Nixon (2008)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 Gran Torino (2008) $566.4M Gran Torino (2008)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 Yes Man (2008) $527.5M Yes Man (2008)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $1.2B The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 Defiance (2008) $52.8M Defiance (2008)
Earlier years
How Does December 2008 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 2007 earned the most: $3.2B from 34 films, led by I Am Legend (2007). December 2008 took $2.4B.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1999 37 films | 37 | $1.6B | – | 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 |
| December 2004 33 films · −40% | 33 | $1.9B | −40% | Meet the Fockers (2004) $522.7M |
| December 2005 33 films · +48% | 33 | $2.8B | +48% | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) $745M |
| December 2006 49 films · −1% | 49 | $2.8B | −1% | Night at the Museum (2006) $574.5M |
| December 2007 34 films · +17% | 34 | $3.2B | +17% | I Am Legend (2007) $585.4M |
| December 2008 43 films · −27% | 43 | $2.4B | −27% | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) $335.8M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in December 2008?
Drama took $1.8B across 32 films, 77% of the total, ahead of Romance ($940.6M) and Comedy ($789.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
December 2008 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $1.8B32 films · #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) -
Romance $940.6M11 films · #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) -
Comedy $789.6M12 films · #1 Marley & Me (2008) -
Fantasy $687.9M6 films · #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) -
Family $556.3M5 films · #1 Marley & Me (2008) -
Thriller $536.7M9 films · #1 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) -
Mystery $387.5M2 films · #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) -
History $289.1M4 films · #1 Valkyrie (2008) -
War $252.9M3 films · #1 Valkyrie (2008) -
Sci-Fi $233.1M1 film · #1 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
Archive
English Box Office in 2008, Month by Month
The months of 2008 with their totals: July leads with $3.1B, led by The Dark Knight (2008).
- January $610.2M #1 Cloverfield (2008)
- February $1.2B #1 Jumper (2008)
- March $1.2B #1 Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
- April $787.8M #1 The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
- May $2.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- June $2.1B #1 Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- July $3.1B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- August $1.4B #1 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
- September $893.2M #1 Eagle Eye (2008)
- October $1.3B #1 High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
- November $2.7B #1 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
- December $2.4B #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
FAQ
English Box Office December 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 43 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in December 2008?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) leads with $335.8M worldwide, $127.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Gran Torino (2008) at $270M and Marley & Me (2008) at $255.7M.
How much did English-language movies released in December 2008 earn?
43 English-language films released in December 2008 report a worldwide gross, $2.4B in all, or $55M per film on average. November 2008 releases took $2.7B.
How many English-language movies released in December 2008 made $1 billion?
None. 8 films crossed $100 million, led by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) with $335.8M.
How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.