#1 of 23 #1 movie of March 1996
1996 · Comedy
$185.3M worldwide · 28% of the chart's total
$124.1M US & Canada · 67% $61.2M elsewhere · 33%
Box office · March 1996
March 1996 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing March Releases
The Birdcage (1996) is the highest-grossing movie released in March 1996, with $185.3M worldwide, ahead of Executive Decision (1996) at $122M and Up Close & Personal (1996) at $100.7M. 23 films released in March 1996 report a worldwide gross, $659.1M in all, 65% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 76% on February 1996, whose releases took $375.4M. By genre, Comedy leads with $336.7M across 12 releases.
- March 1996 releases with a gross
- 23
- combined worldwide
- $659.1M
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs February 1996
- +76%
#1 of 23 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of March 1996?
The Birdcage (1996) leads with $185.3M, 28% of the total. The top 5 together took $506.5M, 77% of what all 23 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 March 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 March 1996.
- 1 Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $124.1M Rest of the world: $61.2M Worldwide: $185.3M
- 2 Mar 15, 1996 US and Canada: $56.6M Rest of the world: $65.4M Worldwide: $122M
- 3 Mar 1, 1996 US and Canada: $51.1M Rest of the world: $49.6M Worldwide: $100.7M
- 4 Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $24.6M Rest of the world: $36M Worldwide: $60.6M
- 5 Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $30.4M Rest of the world: $7.6M Worldwide: $38M
- 6
Mar 1, 1996 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: $11.8M Worldwide: $37.6M - 7
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996)Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $32.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.8M
Mar 8, 1996 · English · Family, Drama $32.8M worldwide - 8
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $17.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.1M - 9
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M - 10
Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $10.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.1M - 11
Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $9.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.3M - 12
Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6M - 13
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.9M - 14
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: $863 Worldwide: $4.6M - 15
Mar 15, 1996 US and Canada: $4.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.4M - 16
Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 17
Mar 22, 1996 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 18
Mar 8, 1996 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $643 Worldwide: $1.1M - 19
Mar 1, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $983.5K - 20
Mar 29, 1996 US and Canada: $889.1K Rest of the world: $79K Worldwide: $968.1K - 21
Mar 15, 1996 US and Canada: $790.1K Rest of the world: $131.8K Worldwide: $921.9K - 22
Mar 1, 1996 US and Canada: $78.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $78.1K - 23
Mar 4, 1996 US and Canada: $35.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.5K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in March 1996?
Of the top 10, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Fargo (1996) made 59% of its gross abroad. Across all 23 films, $426.3M (65%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Birdcage (1996) $185.3M $124.1M US & Canada · 67% $61.2M elsewhere · 33%
- 2 Executive Decision (1996) $122M $56.6M US & Canada · 46% $65.4M elsewhere · 54%
- 3 Up Close & Personal (1996) $100.7M $51.1M US & Canada · 51% $49.6M elsewhere · 49%
- 4 Fargo (1996) $60.6M $24.6M US & Canada · 41% $36M elsewhere · 59%
- 5 Sgt. Bilko (1996) $38M $30.4M US & Canada · 80% $7.6M elsewhere · 20%
- 6 Down Periscope (1996) $37.6M $25.8M US & Canada · 69% $11.8M elsewhere · 31%
- 7 Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) $32.8M $32.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Diabolique (1996) $17.1M $17.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Flirting with Disaster (1996) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 A Family Thing (1996) $10.1M $10.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many March 1996 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 23 films crossed $100M and took $407.9M between them, 62% of the total. 13 films, 57% of the list, earned under $10M.
62% 32%
- $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 3 films, 13% of the list $407.9M · 62% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 7 films, 30% of the list $210.8M · 32% of the gross
- Under $10M 13 films, 57% of the list $40.3M · 6% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of March 1996 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 10 (Mar 3–9) took $291.5M, led by The Birdcage (1996). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 9 Wk 9 Feb 25–Mar 2 Up Close & Personal (1996) $139.3M Up Close & Personal (1996)
- Week 10 Wk 10 Mar 3–9 The Birdcage (1996) $291.5M The Birdcage (1996)
- Week 11 Wk 11 Mar 10–16 Executive Decision (1996) $127.3M Executive Decision (1996)
- Week 12 Wk 12 Mar 17–23 Diabolique (1996) $43.3M Diabolique (1996)
- Week 13 Wk 13 Mar 24–30 Sgt. Bilko (1996) $57.7M Sgt. Bilko (1996)
- Week 14 Wk 14 Mar 31–Apr 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does March 1996 Compare With March in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, March 1990 earned the most: $1B from 24 films, led by Pretty Woman (1990). March 1996 took $659.1M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1987 19 films | 19 | $274.8M | – | Lethal Weapon (1987) $120.2M |
| March 1988 26 films · +3% | 26 | $284.1M | +3% | Beetlejuice (1988) $74.9M |
| March 1989 24 films · −31% | 24 | $196.1M | −31% | Fletch Lives (1989) $39.5M |
| March 1990 24 films · +418% | 24 | $1B | +418% | Pretty Woman (1990) $463.4M |
| March 1991 26 films · −68% | 26 | $322.1M | −68% | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) $78.7M |
| March 1992 17 films · +102% | 17 | $652M | +102% | Basic Instinct (1992) $352.9M |
| March 1993 15 films · −69% | 15 | $200.8M | −69% | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993) $42.3M |
| March 1994 19 films · +172% | 19 | $546.9M | +172% | Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) $245.7M |
| March 1995 21 films · −24% | 21 | $416.4M | −24% | Outbreak (1995) $189.9M |
| March 1996 23 films · +58% | 23 | $659.1M | +58% | The Birdcage (1996) $185.3M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in March 1996?
Comedy took $336.7M across 12 films, 51% of the total, ahead of Drama ($218.8M) and Thriller ($200.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $656.1M across 20 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language films ($1.1M) and Japanese-language films ($968.1K).
March 1996 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $336.7M12 films · #1 The Birdcage (1996) -
Drama $218.8M12 films · #1 Up Close & Personal (1996) -
Thriller $200.6M4 films · #1 Executive Decision (1996) -
Adventure $165.3M4 films · #1 Executive Decision (1996) -
Action $122.9M2 films · #1 Executive Decision (1996) -
Romance $111.8M4 films · #1 Up Close & Personal (1996) -
Crime $60.6M1 film · #1 Fargo (1996) -
Family $45.8M3 films · #1 Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) -
Horror $26.4M2 films · #1 Diabolique (1996) -
Mystery $18.1M2 films · #1 Diabolique (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 March 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 23 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in March 1996?
The Birdcage (1996) leads with $185.3M worldwide, $124.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Executive Decision (1996) at $122M and Up Close & Personal (1996) at $100.7M.
How much did movies released in March 1996 earn?
23 films released in March 1996 report a worldwide gross, $659.1M in all, or $28.7M per film on average. February 1996 releases took $375.4M.
How many movies released in March 1996 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by The Birdcage (1996) with $185.3M.
How is the March 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 March 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 March 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.