#1 of 30 #1 movie of October 1996
1996 · Drama, Thriller
$165.6M worldwide · 34% of the chart's total
$53.3M US & Canada · 32% $112.3M elsewhere · 68%
Box office · October 1996
October 1996 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing October Releases
Sleepers (1996) is the highest-grossing movie released in October 1996, with $165.6M worldwide, ahead of The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) at $89.5M and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) at $38.6M. 30 films released in October 1996 report a worldwide gross, $489.5M in all, 61% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 31% on September 1996, whose releases took $373.8M. By genre, Drama leads with $433.9M across 19 releases.
- October 1996 releases with a gross
- 30
- combined worldwide
- $489.5M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs September 1996
- +31%
#1 of 30 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of October 1996?
Sleepers (1996) leads with $165.6M, 34% of the total. The top 5 together took $351.2M, 72% of what all 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 October 1996, 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 October 1996.
- 1 Oct 18, 1996 US and Canada: $53.3M Rest of the world: $112.3M Worldwide: $165.6M
- 2 Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $33.4M Rest of the world: $56M Worldwide: $89.5M
- 3 Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: $554 Worldwide: $38.6M
- 4 Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: $8.7M Worldwide: $34.6M
- 5 Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $23M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23M
- 6
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: $8M Worldwide: $22.5M - 7
Oct 25, 1996 US and Canada: $21.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.3M - 8
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M - 9
Oct 25, 1996 US and Canada: $15.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.3M - 10
Oct 25, 1996 US and Canada: $12.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.8M - 11
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $11.1M Rest of the world: $44K Worldwide: $11.1M - 12
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: $6.5M Worldwide: $9.1M - 13
Oct 16, 1996 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 14
Oct 18, 1996 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 15
Oct 10, 1996 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.2M - 16
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $230 Worldwide: $3.8M - 17
Oct 25, 1996 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M - 18
Oct 9, 1996 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 19
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 20
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $749.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $749.7K - 21
Oct 18, 1996 US and Canada: $409.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $409.1K - 22
Oct 1, 1996 US and Canada: $300.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $300.6K - 23
Oct 18, 1996 US and Canada: $44.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.1K - 24
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $42.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.1K - 25
Oct 31, 1996 US and Canada: $33.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.4K - 26
Oct 1, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.1K - 27
Oct 30, 1996 US and Canada: $25.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.8K - 28
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $22.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.7K - 29
Oct 3, 1996 US and Canada: $5.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8K - 30
Oct 4, 1996 US and Canada: $3.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in October 1996?
Of the top 10, D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Sleepers (1996) made 68% of its gross abroad. Across all 30 films, $297.8M (61%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Sleepers (1996) $165.6M $53.3M US & Canada · 32% $112.3M elsewhere · 68%
- 2 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) $89.5M $33.4M US & Canada · 37% $56M elsewhere · 63%
- 3 The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) $38.6M $38.6M US & Canada · 100% $554 elsewhere · <1%
- 4 That Thing You Do! (1996) $34.6M $25.9M US & Canada · 75% $8.7M elsewhere · 25%
- 5 D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996) $23M $23M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Chamber (1996) $22.5M $14.6M US & Canada · 65% $8M elsewhere · 35%
- 7 High School High (1996) $21.3M $21.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Glimmer Man (1996) $20.4M $20.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Thinner (1996) $15.3M $15.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Associate (1996) $12.8M $12.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many October 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 30 films crossed $100M and took $165.6M between them, 34% of the total. 19 films, 63% of the list, earned under $10M.
34% 59%
- $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 1 film, 3% of the list $165.6M · 34% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 10 films, 33% of the list $289.1M · 59% of the gross
- Under $10M 19 films, 63% of the list $34.7M · 7% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of October 1996 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 42 (Oct 13–19) took $176.4M, led by Sleepers (1996). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 29–Oct 5 That Thing You Do! (1996) $91.2M That Thing You Do! (1996)
- Week 41 Wk 41 Oct 6–12 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) $169.6M The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
- Week 42 Wk 42 Oct 13–19 Sleepers (1996) $176.4M Sleepers (1996)
- Week 43 Wk 43 Oct 20–26 High School High (1996) $52.3M High School High (1996)
- Week 44 Wk 44 Oct 27–Nov 2 Man with a Plan (1996) $59.2K Man with a Plan (1996)
Earlier years
How Does October 1996 Compare With October in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, October 1994 earned the most: $666.7M from 22 films, led by Pulp Fiction (1994). October 1996 took $489.5M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1987 28 films | 28 | $165.1M | – | Like Father Like Son (1987) $34.4M |
| October 1988 26 films · −2% | 26 | $161.6M | −2% | Alien Nation (1988) $32.2M |
| October 1989 28 films · +192% | 28 | $471.8M | +192% | Look Who's Talking (1989) $297M |
| October 1990 27 films · −47% | 27 | $248.9M | −47% | Marked for Death (1990) $58M |
| October 1991 33 films · −26% | 33 | $185.3M | −26% | Curly Sue (1991) $33.7M |
| October 1992 22 films · +114% | 22 | $396.7M | +114% | Under Siege (1992) $156.6M |
| October 1993 28 films · +39% | 28 | $552.2M | +39% | Cool Runnings (1993) $154.9M |
| October 1994 22 films · +21% | 22 | $666.7M | +21% | Pulp Fiction (1994) $213.9M |
| October 1995 27 films · −34% | 27 | $438.2M | −34% | Get Shorty (1995) $115.1M |
| October 1996 30 films · +12% | 30 | $489.5M | +12% | Sleepers (1996) $165.6M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in October 1996?
Drama took $433.9M across 19 films, 89% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($351.5M) and Crime ($309.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $459M across 25 films, 94% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language films ($9.1M) and French-language films ($1.4M).
October 1996 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $433.9M19 films · #1 Sleepers (1996) -
Thriller $351.5M7 films · #1 Sleepers (1996) -
Crime $309.7M7 films · #1 Sleepers (1996) -
Action $132.8M3 films · #1 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) -
Comedy $117.7M12 films · #1 That Thing You Do! (1996) -
Mystery $89.5M1 film · #1 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) -
Adventure $38.6M1 film · #1 The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) -
Music $34.6M1 film · #1 That Thing You Do! (1996) -
Romance $26M5 films · #1 High School High (1996) -
Family $23M1 film · #1 D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
Archive
Box Office in 1996, Month by Month
The months of 1996 with their totals: November leads with $1.7B, led by 101 Dalmatians (1996).
- January $226.1M #1 Mr. Holland's Opus (1996)
- February $375.4M #1 Broken Arrow (1996)
- March $659.1M #1 The Birdcage (1996)
- April $486.9M #1 Primal Fear (1996)
- May $1.2B #1 Twister (1996)
- June $1.4B #1 The Rock (1996)
- July $1.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- August $420.9M #1 Chain Reaction (1996)
- September $373.8M #1 The First Wives Club (1996)
- October $489.5M #1 Sleepers (1996)
- November $1.7B #1 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- December $1.3B #1 Jerry Maguire (1996)
FAQ
Box Office October 1996: 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 October 1996?
Sleepers (1996) leads with $165.6M worldwide, $53.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) at $89.5M and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) at $38.6M.
How much did movies released in October 1996 earn?
30 films released in October 1996 report a worldwide gross, $489.5M in all, or $16.3M per film on average. September 1996 releases took $373.8M.
How many movies released in October 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Sleepers (1996) with $165.6M.
How is the October 1996 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 October 1996. 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 October 1996 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.