#1 of 30 #1 movie of 1959
1959 · Adventure, Drama
$74.4M worldwide · 59% of the chart's total
$74.4M US & Canada · 100% $6.7K elsewhere · <1%
Box office · 1959
1959 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1959
Ben-Hur (1959) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1959, with $74.4M worldwide, ahead of Sleeping Beauty (1959) at $51.6M and The 400 Blows (1959) at $214.1K. 30 films released in 1959 report a worldwide gross, $127.1M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. That is 9.1 times the total of 1958, whose releases took $13.9M. By genre, Drama leads with $74.9M across 18 releases.
- 1959 releases with a gross
- 30
- combined worldwide
- $127.1M
- Ben-Hur (1959), the #1
- $74.4M
- vs 1958
- ×9.1
#1 of 30 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1959?
Ben-Hur (1959) leads with $74.4M, 59% of the total. The top 5 together took $126.7M, almost all of what the 30 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 1959, 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 1959.
- 1 Nov 18, 1959 US and Canada: $74.4M Rest of the world: $6.7K Worldwide: $74.4M
- 2 Jan 29, 1959 US and Canada: $51.6M Rest of the world: $485 Worldwide: $51.6M
- 3 May 4, 1959 US and Canada: $509 Rest of the world: $213.6K Worldwide: $214.1K
- 4 Mar 29, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $208.8K
- 5 Aug 6, 1959 US and Canada: $66.7K Rest of the world: $131.2K Worldwide: $197.9K
- 6
May 8, 1959 US and Canada: $96.4K Rest of the world: $43.5K Worldwide: $139.9K - 7
Aug 23, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $75.4K - 8
Apr 4, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $27.8K - 9
Nov 18, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.5K - 10
Jan 25, 1959 US and Canada: $17.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4K - 11
Aug 26, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.4K - 12
Oct 27, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.1K - 13
Sep 2, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.7K - 14
Dec 17, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.3K - 15
Oct 7, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.3K - 16
Sep 1, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.2K - 17
May 15, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.9K - 18
Sep 15, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.6K - 19
Dec 16, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5K - 20
Mar 5, 1959 US and Canada: $4.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7K - 21
Jan 21, 1959 US and Canada: $4.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7K - 22
Sep 15, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K - 23
Nov 11, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7K - 24
Oct 16, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5K - 25
Oct 1, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 26
Jul 22, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $812 - 27
Mar 18, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365 - 28
Apr 9, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $248 - 29
Jul 1, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $194 - 30
Dec 30, 1959 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $114
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1959?
Of the top 10, The Law (1959) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The 400 Blows (1959) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 30 films, $126.2M (99%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Ben-Hur (1959) $74.4M $74.4M US & Canada · 100% $6.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Sleeping Beauty (1959) $51.6M $51.6M US & Canada · 100% $485 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The 400 Blows (1959) $214.1K $509 US & Canada · <1% $213.6K elsewhere · 100%
- 4 Some Like It Hot (1959) $208.8K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 North by Northwest (1959) $197.9K $66.7K US & Canada · 34% $131.2K elsewhere · 66%
- 6 Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) $139.9K $96.4K US & Canada · 69% $43.5K elsewhere · 31%
- 7 Jazz on a Summer’s Day (1959) $75.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Rio Bravo (1959) $27.8K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 A Summer Place (1959) $21.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 The Law (1959) $17.4K $17.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1959 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 30 films reached $100M. 28 films, 93% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $127.1M total.
99%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 2 films, 7% of the list $126M · 99% of the gross
- Under $10M 28 films, 93% of the list $1M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1959 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $74.5M from 3 films, led by Ben-Hur (1959). July was the quietest month ($1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Sleeping Beauty (1959) $51.6M Sleeping Beauty (1959)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Some Like It Hot (1959) $213.8K Some Like It Hot (1959)
- April Apr Rio Bravo (1959) $28K Rio Bravo (1959)
- May May The 400 Blows (1959) $362.9K The 400 Blows (1959)
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) $1K Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
- August Aug North by Northwest (1959) $289.7K North by Northwest (1959)
- September Sep Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case (1959) $34.4K Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case (1959)
- October Oct Solomon and Sheba (1959) $30K Solomon and Sheba (1959)
- November Nov Ben-Hur (1959) $74.5M Ben-Hur (1959)
- December Dec On the Beach (1959) $18.9K On the Beach (1959)
Last 10 years
How Does 1959 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1956 earned the most: $162.1M from 34 films, led by The Ten Commandments (1956). 1959 took $127.1M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 22 films | 22 | $97.2M | – | Cinderella (1950) $96.4M |
| 1951 22 films · −95% | 22 | $4.8M | −95% | Ace in the Hole (1951) $2.3M |
| 1952 31 films · +714% | 31 | $38.8M | +714% | The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M |
| 1953 36 films · +296% | 36 | $153.5M | +296% | Peter Pan (1953) $87.4M |
| 1954 41 films · −52% | 41 | $74.4M | −52% | Rear Window (1954) $37.9M |
| 1955 34 films · +30% | 34 | $96.9M | +30% | Lady and the Tramp (1955) $93.9M |
| 1956 34 films · +67% | 34 | $162.1M | +67% | The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M |
| 1957 37 films · −80% | 37 | $32.7M | −80% | The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) $27.2M |
| 1958 29 films · −57% | 29 | $13.9M | −57% | Vertigo (1958) $8M |
| 1959 30 films · +812% | 30 | $127.1M | +812% | Ben-Hur (1959) $74.4M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1959?
Drama took $74.9M across 18 films, 59% of the total, ahead of Adventure ($74.6M) and History ($74.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $126.4M across 19 films, 99% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($396.1K) and German-language films ($9.3K).
1959 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $74.9M18 films · #1 Ben-Hur (1959) -
Adventure $74.6M5 films · #1 Ben-Hur (1959) -
History $74.6M3 films · #1 Ben-Hur (1959) -
War $74.4M1 film · #1 Ben-Hur (1959) -
Romance $52M11 films · #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959) -
Animation $51.6M1 film · #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959) -
Family $51.6M1 film · #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959) -
Fantasy $51.6M1 film · #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959) -
Musical $51.6M1 film · #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959) -
Comedy $231.6K6 films · #1 Some Like It Hot (1959)
Archive
Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $134.1B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $34.2B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $34B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $30.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $31.3B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $30.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $28.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $26.5B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $201.3B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $21.2B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $20.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $19.7B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $19.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $15.8B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $16B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $14B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
- 1999 $13.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $11.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $12.7B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.9B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $9.5B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $8.5B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $7.1B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $6.3B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $6.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $36B
- 1989 $6.1B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.9B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $4B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.7B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.7B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.5B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
- 1979 $2.2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $2B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $784.1M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $1.1B #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $803.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $989.4M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $371.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $206M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $450M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
- 1969 $247.4M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $144M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $441.4M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $29.9M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $387.9M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $240.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $12.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
- 1959 $127.1M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $162.1M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $153.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.2M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
- 1949 $1.8M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $12.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $92.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22.1M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $132K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6.2M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $268.3M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $214M
- 1939 $26.7M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $32.8K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $164.8K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $51.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $135.8K #1 Drácula (1931)
- 1930 $6.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 9 years · $10M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $67.1K #1 Battleship Potemkin (1926)
- 1925 $87.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1924 $198.9K #1 The Epic of Everest (1924)
- 1923 $13.2K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ
Box Office 1959: 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 30 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1959?
Ben-Hur (1959) leads with $74.4M worldwide, $74.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Sleeping Beauty (1959) at $51.6M and The 400 Blows (1959) at $214.1K.
How much did movies released in 1959 earn?
30 films released in 1959 report a worldwide gross, $127.1M in all, or $4.2M per film on average. 1958 releases took $13.9M.
How many movies released in 1959 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Ben-Hur (1959), earned $74.4M.
How is the 1959 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 1959. 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 1959 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.