#1 of 4 #1 movie of April 1953
1953 · Horror
$23.8M worldwide · 100% of the chart's total
$23.8M US & Canada · 100% $319 elsewhere · <1%
Box office · April 1953
April 1953 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing April Releases
House of Wax (1953) is the highest-grossing movie released in April 1953, with $23.8M worldwide, ahead of The Wages of Fear (1953) at $22.3K and Shane (1953) at $21.4K. 4 films released in April 1953 report a worldwide gross, $23.8M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada.
- April 1953 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $23.8M
- House of Wax (1953), the #1
- $23.8M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 100%
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Hits of April 1953?
House of Wax (1953) leads with $23.8M, 100% of the total. The top 4 together took $23.8M, almost all of what the 4 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Release of April 1953, 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 April 1953.
- 1 Apr 25, 1953 US and Canada: $23.8M Rest of the world: $319 Worldwide: $23.8M
- 2 Apr 15, 1953 US and Canada: $21.2K Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $22.3K
- 3 Apr 23, 1953 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.4K
- 4 Apr 1, 1953 US and Canada: $10.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in April 1953?
Of the top 4, Glen or Glenda (1953) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Wages of Fear (1953) made 5% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $23.8M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 4 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 House of Wax (1953) $23.8M $23.8M US & Canada · 100% $319 elsewhere · <1%
- 2 The Wages of Fear (1953) $22.3K $21.2K US & Canada · 95% $1.1K elsewhere · 5%
- 3 Shane (1953) $21.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Glen or Glenda (1953) $10.2K $10.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of April 1953 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 17 (Apr 19–25) took $23.8M, led by House of Wax (1953). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 14 Wk 14 Mar 29–Apr 4 Glen or Glenda (1953) $10.2K Glen or Glenda (1953)
- Week 15 Wk 15 Apr 5–11 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 16 Wk 16 Apr 12–18 The Wages of Fear (1953) $22.3K The Wages of Fear (1953)
- Week 17 Wk 17 Apr 19–25 House of Wax (1953) $23.8M House of Wax (1953)
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 26–May 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does April 1953 Compare With April in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, April 1953 earned the most: $23.8M from 4 films, led by House of Wax (1953).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1944 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| April 1945 1 film | 1 | $169 | – | Blithe Spirit (1945) $169 |
| April 1946 2 films · +23634% | 2 | $40.1K | +23634% | Shoeshine (1946) $34.7K |
| April 1947 2 films · +228% | 2 | $131.5K | +228% | Odd Man Out (1947) $65.8K |
| April 1948 2 films · −64% | 2 | $48K | −64% | Drunken Angel (1948) $47K |
| April 1949 1 film · −69% | 1 | $14.8K | −69% | High Diving Hare (1949) $14.8K |
| April 1950 2 films · −96% | 2 | $577 | −96% | Stage Fright (1950) $511 |
| April 1951 2 films · +26009% | 2 | $150.6K | +26009% | The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) $140.7K |
| April 1952 4 films · +1308% | 4 | $2.1M | +1308% | Singin' in the Rain (1952) $2.1M |
| April 1953 4 films · +1022% | 4 | $23.8M | +1022% | House of Wax (1953) $23.8M |
Archive
Box Office in 1953, Month by Month
The months of 1953 with their totals: February leads with $87.7M, led by Peter Pan (1953).
- January $2K #1 The Bad and the Beautiful (1953)
- February $87.7M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- March $25K #1 Ugetsu (1953)
- April $23.8M #1 House of Wax (1953)
- May $11.1K #1 Julius Caesar (1953)
- June $3.4M #1 Dangerous When Wet (1953)
- July $55.3K #1 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
- August $317.8K #1 I Vitelloni (1953)
- September $36.1M #1 The Robe (1953)
- October $178.3K #1 Little Fugitive (1953)
- November $5.1M #1 Father of Four (1953)
- December No grosses
FAQ
Box Office April 1953: 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 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in April 1953?
House of Wax (1953) leads with $23.8M worldwide, $23.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Wages of Fear (1953) at $22.3K and Shane (1953) at $21.4K.
How much did movies released in April 1953 earn?
4 films released in April 1953 report a worldwide gross, $23.8M in all, or $6M per film on average.
How many movies released in April 1953 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, House of Wax (1953), earned $23.8M.
How is the April 1953 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 April 1953. 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.
How often is the April 1953 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.