#1 of 36 #1 movie of 1961
1961 · Western
$6.4M worldwide · 48% of the chart's total
No US & Canada figure reported
Box office · 1961
1961 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1961
The Taste of Violence (1961) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1961, with $6.4M worldwide, ahead of Mother and a Guest (1961) at $3.7M and Seong Chun-hyang (1961) at $799K. 36 films released in 1961 report a worldwide gross, $13.2M in all, 11% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 86% on 1960, whose releases took $94.9M. By genre, Drama leads with $6.5M across 28 releases.
- 1961 releases with a gross
- 36
- combined worldwide
- $13.2M
- The Taste of Violence (1961), the #1
- $6.4M
- vs 1960
- −86%
#1 of 36 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1961?
The Taste of Violence (1961) leads with $6.4M, 48% of the total. The top 5 together took $11.8M, 89% of what all 36 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 1961, 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 1961.
- 1 Aug 10, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4M
- 2 Aug 26, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7M
- 3 Jan 28, 1961 US and Canada: $799K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $799K
- 4 Oct 5, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $600.7K
- 5 Jun 15, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $350K
- 6
Dec 18, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $245K - 7
May 25, 1961 US and Canada: $207.9K Rest of the world: $15.2K Worldwide: $223.1K - 8
Apr 19, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $217.4K - 9
Jul 1, 1961 US and Canada: $209.8K Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $210.9K - 10
Mar 3, 1961 US and Canada: $104K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $104K - 11
Jan 24, 1961 US and Canada: $39.2K Rest of the world: $57.6K Worldwide: $96.8K - 12
Dec 19, 1961 US and Canada: $71.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.6K - 13
Sep 13, 1961 US and Canada: $46.8K Rest of the world: $21.4K Worldwide: $68.2K - 14
Jul 13, 1961 US and Canada: $30.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.9K - 15
Dec 15, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $30.2K - 16
Jun 22, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $20.6K - 17
May 17, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.3K - 18
Dec 18, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.2K - 19
Dec 18, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.2K - 20
Sep 25, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.1K - 21
Dec 25, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.7K - 22
May 24, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.9K - 23
Feb 9, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2K - 24
Sep 14, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.6K - 25
Jul 1, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4K - 26
Aug 31, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K - 27
Nov 1, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6K - 28
Jun 28, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 29
Mar 30, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $580 - 30
Mar 20, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $339 - 31
Dec 19, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $250 - 32
Feb 1, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $217 - 33
Dec 16, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $146 - 34
Mar 29, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $143 - 35
Jul 30, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90 - 36
Nov 22, 1961 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1961?
Of the top 10, Seong Chun-hyang (1961) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Last Year at Marienbad (1961) made 7% of its gross abroad. Across all 36 films, $1.5M (11%) came from the US & Canada. 6 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Taste of Violence (1961) $6.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 2 Mother and a Guest (1961) $3.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 Seong Chun-hyang (1961) $799K $799K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) $600.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) $350K No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Klearhos, Marina and the short one (1961) $245K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Last Year at Marienbad (1961) $223.1K $207.9K US & Canada · 93% $15.2K elsewhere · 7%
- 8 La Dolce Vita (1961) $217.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 A Woman Is a Woman (1961) $210.9K $209.8K US & Canada · 99% $1.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Lola (1961) $104K $104K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1961 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 36 films reached $100M. 36 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $13.2M total.
100%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- Under $10M 36 films, 100% of the list $13.2M · 100% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1961 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $10.1M from 3 films, led by The Taste of Violence (1961). November was the quietest month ($1.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Seong Chun-hyang (1961) $895.8K Seong Chun-hyang (1961)
- February Feb Girl with a Suitcase (1961) $5.5K Girl with a Suitcase (1961)
- March Mar Lola (1961) $105K Lola (1961)
- April Apr La Dolce Vita (1961) $217.4K La Dolce Vita (1961)
- May May Last Year at Marienbad (1961) $245.3K Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
- June Jun The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) $371.8K The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- July Jul A Woman Is a Woman (1961) $246.3K A Woman Is a Woman (1961)
- August Aug The Taste of Violence (1961) $10.1M The Taste of Violence (1961)
- September Sep Yojimbo (1961) $80.9K Yojimbo (1961)
- October Oct Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) $600.7K Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- November Nov Too Late Blues (1961) $1.7K Too Late Blues (1961)
- December Dec Klearhos, Marina and the short one (1961) $377.3K Klearhos, Marina and the short one (1961)
Last 10 years
How Does 1961 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1956 earned the most: $171M from 35 films, led by The Ten Commandments (1956). 1961 took $13.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 31 films | 31 | $38.8M | – | The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) $36M |
| 1953 37 films · +304% | 37 | $156.8M | +304% | Peter Pan (1953) $87.4M |
| 1954 41 films · −53% | 41 | $74.4M | −53% | Rear Window (1954) $37.9M |
| 1955 34 films · +30% | 34 | $96.9M | +30% | Lady and the Tramp (1955) $93.9M |
| 1956 35 films · +76% | 35 | $171M | +76% | The Ten Commandments (1956) $65.5M |
| 1957 37 films · −81% | 37 | $32.7M | −81% | The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) $27.2M |
| 1958 29 films · −57% | 29 | $13.9M | −57% | Vertigo (1958) $8M |
| 1959 30 films · +813% | 30 | $127.2M | +813% | Ben-Hur (1959) $74.4M |
| 1960 39 films · −25% | 39 | $94.9M | −25% | Swiss Family Robinson (1960) $40.4M |
| 1961 36 films · −86% | 36 | $13.2M | −86% | The Taste of Violence (1961) $6.4M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1961?
Drama took $6.5M across 28 films, 49% of the total, ahead of Western ($6.4M) and Romance ($5.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres. French-language films took $6.9M across 5 films, 52% of the total, ahead of Korean-language films ($4.5M) and English-language films ($952.7K).
1961 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $6.5M28 films · #1 Mother and a Guest (1961) -
Western $6.4M4 films · #1 The Taste of Violence (1961) -
Romance $5.7M11 films · #1 Mother and a Guest (1961) -
Comedy $1.4M8 films · #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) -
Adventure $370.7K3 films · #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) -
History $350K1 film · #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) -
Action $88.8K2 films · #1 Yojimbo (1961) -
Thriller $69.7K3 films · #1 Yojimbo (1961) -
War $32.8K2 films · #1 The Guns of Navarone (1961) -
Horror $30.2K1 film · #1 The Innocents (1961)
1961 Box Office by Language
-
French $6.9M5 films · #1 The Taste of Violence (1961) -
Korean $4.5M2 films · #1 Mother and a Guest (1961) -
English $952.7K18 films · #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) -
Italian $526.5K5 films · #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) -
Greek $245K1 film · #1 Klearhos, Marina and the short one (1961) -
Japanese $68.4K3 films · #1 Yojimbo (1961) -
Spanish $16.3K1 film · #1 Viridiana (1961)
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 · $135.4B
2010s 10 years · $325.8B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.9B #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 $15.9B #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 · $91.8B
- 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 $3.6B #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 $1B #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 $147.3M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $447.4M #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 $243M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $13.2M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $814.3M
- 1959 $127.2M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $171M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $156.8M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.9M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $947.6M
- 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 $96.5M #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 $270.2M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $4.2M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $528.2M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $218.2M
- 1939 $26.8M #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 $4.7M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $602.9K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $615.8K #1 Baby Face (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 · $10.7M
- 1929 $89.3K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $725.1K #1 Flesh and the Devil (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 1961: 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 36 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1961?
The Taste of Violence (1961) leads with $6.4M worldwide. Next come Mother and a Guest (1961) at $3.7M and Seong Chun-hyang (1961) at $799K.
How much did movies released in 1961 earn?
36 films released in 1961 report a worldwide gross, $13.2M in all, or $367.6K per film on average. 1960 releases took $94.9M.
How many movies released in 1961 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Taste of Violence (1961), earned $6.4M.
How is the 1961 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 1961. 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 1961 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.