#1 of 5 #1 movie of May 1954
1954 · Mystery, Thriller
$45.3K worldwide · 54% of the chart's total
$24.8K US & Canada · 55% $20.5K elsewhere · 45%
Box office · May 1954
May 1954 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing May Releases
Dial M for Murder (1954) is the highest-grossing movie released in May 1954, with $45.3K worldwide, ahead of Johnny Guitar (1954) at $19.8K and Anatahan (1954) at $8.2K. 5 films released in May 1954 report a worldwide gross, $84.4K in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. By genre, Thriller leads with $49.6K across 2 releases.
- May 1954 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $84.4K
- Dial M for Murder (1954), the #1
- $45.3K
- earned in the US & Canada
- 39%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of May 1954?
Dial M for Murder (1954) leads with $45.3K, 54% of the total. The top 5 together took $84.4K, almost all of what the 5 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 Release of May 1954, 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 May 1954.
- 1 May 28, 1954 US and Canada: $24.8K Rest of the world: $20.5K Worldwide: $45.3K
- 2 May 5, 1954 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.8K
- 3 May 17, 1954 US and Canada: $8.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2K
- 4 May 1, 1954 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.8K
- 5 May 27, 1954 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3K
By release week
Which Week of May 1954 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 22 (May 23–29) took $49.6K, led by Dial M for Murder (1954). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 25–May 1 Three Coins in the Fountain (1954) $6.8K Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
- Week 19 Wk 19 May 2–8 Johnny Guitar (1954) $19.8K Johnny Guitar (1954)
- Week 20 Wk 20 May 9–15 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 21 Wk 21 May 16–22 Anatahan (1954) $8.2K Anatahan (1954)
- Week 22 Wk 22 May 23–29 Dial M for Murder (1954) $49.6K Dial M for Murder (1954)
- Week 23 Wk 23 May 30–Jun 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does May 1954 Compare With May in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, May 1952 earned the most: $36M from 2 films, led by The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). May 1954 took $84.4K.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1945 1 film | 1 | $9.6K | – | Conflict (1945) $9.6K |
| May 1946 2 films · +57% | 2 | $15.1K | +57% | Hair-Raising Hare (1946) $14.8K |
| May 1947 3 films · +317% | 3 | $63.1K | +317% | Great Expectations (1947) $33.4K |
| May 1948 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| May 1949 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| May 1950 3 films | 3 | $821.2K | – | Shadow on the Wall (1950) $769K |
| May 1951 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| May 1952 2 films | 2 | $36M | – | The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M |
| May 1953 2 films · −100% | 2 | $11.1K | −100% | Julius Caesar (1953) $10.8K |
| May 1954 5 films · +661% | 5 | $84.4K | +661% | Dial M for Murder (1954) $45.3K |
Archive
Box Office in 1954, Month by Month
The months of 1954 with their totals: September leads with $38M, led by Rear Window (1954).
- January $15K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- February $4.9K #1 The Far Country (1954)
- March $6.3M #1 An Inspector Calls (1954)
- April $114.6K #1 High School (1954)
- May $84.4K #1 Dial M for Murder (1954)
- June $21.8M #1 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- July $3.8K #1 On the Waterfront (1954)
- August $15K #1 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
- September $38M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- October $7.9M #1 A Star Is Born (1954)
- November $15.2K #1 The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)
- December $42.8K #1 Vera Cruz (1954)
FAQ
Box Office May 1954: 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 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in May 1954?
Dial M for Murder (1954) leads with $45.3K worldwide, $24.8K of it in the US & Canada. Next come Johnny Guitar (1954) at $19.8K and Anatahan (1954) at $8.2K.
How much did movies released in May 1954 earn?
5 films released in May 1954 report a worldwide gross, $84.4K in all, or $16.9K per film on average.
How many movies released in May 1954 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Dial M for Murder (1954), earned $45.3K.
How is the May 1954 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 May 1954. 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 May 1954 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.