#1 of 576 #1 English-language movie of 2012
2012 · Action, Adventure
$1.5B worldwide · 6% of the chart's total
$623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
English box office · 2012
English Box Office 2012: Highest-Grossing English Movies
The Avengers (2012) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 2012, with $1.5B worldwide, ahead of The Dark Knight Rises (2012) at $1.1B and Skyfall (2012) at $1.1B. 576 English-language films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $26B in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $1 billion and 59 crossed $100 million. That is up 7% on 2011, whose releases took $24.2B. By genre, Adventure leads with $14.7B across 42 English releases.
- 2012 releases with a gross
- 576
- combined worldwide
- $26B
- films crossed $100M
- 59
- vs 2011
- +7%
#1 of 576 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B, 6% of the total. The top 5 together took $5.6B, 22% of what all 576 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every English Release of 2012, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 576. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2012.
- 1 May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $623.4M Rest of the world: $897.2M Worldwide: $1.5B
- 2 Jul 20, 2012 US and Canada: $448.1M Rest of the world: $666.8M Worldwide: $1.1B
- 3 Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $304.4M Rest of the world: $804.2M Worldwide: $1.1B
- 4 Dec 14, 2012 US and Canada: $303M Rest of the world: $714.1M Worldwide: $1B
- 5 Jul 13, 2012 US and Canada: $161.3M Rest of the world: $715.9M Worldwide: $877.2M
- 6
Nov 16, 2012 US and Canada: $292.3M Rest of the world: $556.3M Worldwide: $848.6M - 7
Jul 3, 2012 US and Canada: $262.8M Rest of the world: $495.9M Worldwide: $758.7M - 8
Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $216.4M Rest of the world: $530.5M Worldwide: $746.9M - 9
Mar 23, 2012 US and Canada: $408M Rest of the world: $287.2M Worldwide: $695.2M - 10
May 25, 2012 US and Canada: $179M Rest of the world: $475.2M Worldwide: $654.2M - 11
Nov 21, 2012 US and Canada: $125M Rest of the world: $484M Worldwide: $609M - 12
Jun 29, 2012 US and Canada: $218.8M Rest of the world: $330.6M Worldwide: $549.4M - 13
Jun 22, 2012 US and Canada: $237.3M Rest of the world: $301.7M Worldwide: $539M - 14
Nov 2, 2012 US and Canada: $189.4M Rest of the world: $281.8M Worldwide: $471.2M - 15
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $149.3M Rest of the world: $293.5M Worldwide: $442.8M - 16
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $162.8M Rest of the world: $263.3M Worldwide: $426.1M - 17
Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $126.5M Rest of the world: $276.9M Worldwide: $403.4M - 18
Jun 1, 2012 US and Canada: $155.3M Rest of the world: $241.3M Worldwide: $396.6M - 19
Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: $139.9M Rest of the world: $236.3M Worldwide: $376.2M - 20
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $148.4M Rest of the world: $210.1M Worldwide: $358.5M - 21
Mar 1, 2012 US and Canada: $214.5M Rest of the world: $134.8M Worldwide: $349.3M - 22
Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $103.9M Rest of the world: $231.4M Worldwide: $335.3M - 23
Aug 17, 2012 US and Canada: $85M Rest of the world: $229.9M Worldwide: $315M - 24
Nov 21, 2012 US and Canada: $103.4M Rest of the world: $203.5M Worldwide: $306.9M - 25
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $65.4M Rest of the world: $237.6M Worldwide: $303M - 26
Mar 30, 2012 US and Canada: $83.7M Rest of the world: $218.3M Worldwide: $302M - 27
Mar 9, 2012 US and Canada: $73.1M Rest of the world: $211.1M Worldwide: $284.1M - 28
Aug 10, 2012 US and Canada: $113.2M Rest of the world: $162.9M Worldwide: $276.1M - 29
Nov 9, 2012 US and Canada: $182.2M Rest of the world: $93.1M Worldwide: $275.3M - 30
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $79.7M Rest of the world: $165.8M Worldwide: $245.5M - 31
Sep 14, 2012 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: $197.8M Worldwide: $240.2M - 32
Nov 16, 2012 US and Canada: $132.1M Rest of the world: $104.3M Worldwide: $236.4M - 33
Apr 6, 2012 US and Canada: $57M Rest of the world: $178M Worldwide: $235M - 34
Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $136M Rest of the world: $96.3M Worldwide: $232.3M - 35
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $80.1M Rest of the world: $138.3M Worldwide: $218.3M - 36
Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $126.4M Rest of the world: $81.7M Worldwide: $208.1M - 37
Mar 16, 2012 US and Canada: $138.4M Rest of the world: $63.1M Worldwide: $201.6M - 38
Aug 3, 2012 US and Canada: $58.9M Rest of the world: $139.6M Worldwide: $198.5M - 39
Dec 21, 2012 US and Canada: $19M Rest of the world: $179.1M Worldwide: $198.1M - 40
Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $125M Rest of the world: $71.1M Worldwide: $196.1M - 41
May 16, 2012 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $119.7M Worldwide: $179.4M - 42
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $66.5M Rest of the world: $110M Worldwide: $176.5M - 43
Jun 29, 2012 US and Canada: $113.8M Rest of the world: $53.5M Worldwide: $167.3M - 44
Jan 20, 2012 US and Canada: $62.3M Rest of the world: $97.8M Worldwide: $160.1M - 45
Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: $54.8M Rest of the world: $101.7M Worldwide: $156.5M - 46
May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $46.4M Rest of the world: $104.1M Worldwide: $150.5M - 47
Oct 18, 2012 US and Canada: $53.9M Rest of the world: $88.9M Worldwide: $142.8M - 48
Jul 27, 2012 US and Canada: $35.1M Rest of the world: $105.4M Worldwide: $140.5M - 49
Dec 19, 2012 US and Canada: $95.7M Rest of the world: $37.1M Worldwide: $132.8M - 50
Feb 17, 2012 US and Canada: $51.8M Rest of the world: $80.8M Worldwide: $132.6M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2012?
Of the top 10, The Hunger Games (2012) earned the biggest share at home (59% in the US & Canada), while Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) made 82% of its gross abroad. Across all 576 films, $10.2B (39%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Avengers (2012) $1.5B $623.4M US & Canada · 41% $897.2M elsewhere · 59%
- 2 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) $1.1B $448.1M US & Canada · 40% $666.8M elsewhere · 60%
- 3 Skyfall (2012) $1.1B $304.4M US & Canada · 27% $804.2M elsewhere · 73%
- 4 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $1B $303M US & Canada · 30% $714.1M elsewhere · 70%
- 5 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) $877.2M $161.3M US & Canada · 18% $715.9M elsewhere · 82%
- 6 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012) $848.6M $292.3M US & Canada · 34% $556.3M elsewhere · 66%
- 7 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) $758.7M $262.8M US & Canada · 35% $495.9M elsewhere · 65%
- 8 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) $746.9M $216.4M US & Canada · 29% $530.5M elsewhere · 71%
- 9 The Hunger Games (2012) $695.2M $408M US & Canada · 59% $287.2M elsewhere · 41%
- 10 Men in Black III (2012) $654.2M $179M US & Canada · 27% $475.2M elsewhere · 73%
Gross bands
How Many 2012 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
59 of 576 films crossed $100M and took $21.7B between them, 83% of the total. 425 films, 74% of the list, earned under $10M.
18% 24% 41% 15%
- $1B or more 4 films, <1% of the list $4.8B · 18% of the gross
- $500M to $1B 9 films, 2% of the list $6.3B · 24% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 46 films, 8% of the list $10.6B · 41% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 92 films, 16% of the list $3.9B · 15% of the gross
- Under $10M 425 films, 74% of the list $409.2M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2012 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $4.1B from 53 films, led by Skyfall (2012). January was the quietest month ($566.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Underworld: Awakening (2012) $566.6M Underworld: Awakening (2012)
- February Feb Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) $1.5B Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- March Mar The Hunger Games (2012) $2.1B The Hunger Games (2012)
- April Apr American Reunion (2012) $888.5M American Reunion (2012)
- May May The Avengers (2012) $3.3B The Avengers (2012)
- June Jun Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) $3.3B Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- July Jul The Dark Knight Rises (2012) $3.2B The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- August Aug The Expendables 2 (2012) $1.5B The Expendables 2 (2012)
- September Sep Hotel Transylvania (2012) $1.5B Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- October Oct Taken 2 (2012) $1.4B Taken 2 (2012)
- November Nov Skyfall (2012) $4.1B Skyfall (2012)
- December Dec The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) $2.7B The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Last 10 years
How Does 2012 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2012 earned the most: $26B from 576 films, led by The Avengers (2012).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 344 films | 344 | $17.1B | – | 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 |
| 2009 490 films · +15% | 490 | $23B | +15% | Avatar (2009) $2.9B |
| 2010 465 films · −9% | 465 | $21B | −9% | Toy Story 3 (2010) $1.1B |
| 2011 544 films · +16% | 544 | $24.2B | +16% | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) $1.3B |
| 2012 576 films · +7% | 576 | $26B | +7% | The Avengers (2012) $1.5B |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 2012?
Adventure took $14.7B across 42 films, 56% of the total, ahead of Action ($12.8B) and Thriller ($11.6B). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2012 English Box Office by Genre
-
Adventure $14.7B42 films · #1 The Avengers (2012) -
Action $12.8B78 films · #1 The Avengers (2012) -
Thriller $11.6B127 films · #1 The Avengers (2012) -
Drama $9.7B245 films · #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) -
Comedy $8B171 films · #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) -
Fantasy $6.3B30 films · #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) -
Sci-Fi $5.5B33 films · #1 The Avengers (2012) -
Family $4.5B33 films · #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) -
Crime $4.4B50 films · #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) -
Animation $4.1B25 films · #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
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 2012: 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 576 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 2012?
The Avengers (2012) leads with $1.5B worldwide, $623.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Dark Knight Rises (2012) at $1.1B and Skyfall (2012) at $1.1B.
How much did English-language movies released in 2012 earn?
576 English-language films released in 2012 report a worldwide gross, $26B in all, or $45.2M per film on average. 2011 releases took $24.2B.
How many English-language movies released in 2012 made $1 billion?
4 films crossed $1 billion worldwide: The Avengers (2012), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Skyfall (2012) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). 59 crossed $100 million.
How is the 2012 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 2012. 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 2012 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.