Special Report
Highest Grossing World War II Movies Ever
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On the face of it, the World War II flick “Dunkirk’’ would not be expected to be the must-see summer season movie. The film, about the seaborne rescue of hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers from capture or death at the hands of the German army, is not the usual light, fun summer movie. Yet, Christopher Nolan’s epic from Warner Bros. topped expectations, pulling in $50.5 million in its opening weekend in the United States, according to Box Office Mojo.
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The movie, starring Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance, was estimated to make $40 million in its U.S. opening.
“Dunkirk’’ opened at 3,720 locations and was the top-grossing film for the weekend, ahead of the surprising “Girls Trip,’’ which grossed $30.4 million.
“Dunkirk’’ brought in $105.9 million worldwide, according to online box office data compiler Box Office Mojo. The opening weekend already places “Dunkirk’’ among the top 25 World War II motion pictures of all time, based on data from Box Office Mojo.
The film’s appeal was boosted by critical and viewer acclaim and possibly the fact that Nolan — known the “Batman’’ trilogy and “Inception’’ — insisted the movie be shown in high resolution.
“Dunkirk’’ has done well enough at the box office to break the top 25 highest-grossing motion pictures ever about World War II. It has a ways to go, however, before it breaks into the elite company of the top 10.
Click here to see the 25 top-grossing World War II movies.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
25. Dunkirk
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $50.5 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Year: 2017
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
24. A Bridge Too Far
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $50.8 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Year: 1977
Source: Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
23. Red Tails
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $56.0 million
> Studio: Fox
> Year: 2012
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
22. Memphis Belle
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $57.7 million
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Year: 1990
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Source: Courtesy of Fox
21. Australia
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $61.1 million
> Studio: Fox
> Year: 2008
Source: Courtesy of MGM Distribution Co.
20. Windtalkers
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $62.6 million
> Studio: MGM
> Year: 2002
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Source: Courtesy of Fox
19. The Thin Red Line
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $63.8 million
> Studio: Fox
> Year: 1998
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Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
18. Hacksaw Ridge
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $68.0 million
> Studio: Lionsgate
> Year: 2016
Source: Courtesy of MP Film Management
17. Enemy at the Gates
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $80.7 million
> Studio: Paramount
> Year: 2001
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Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
16. The Monuments Men
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $87.1 million
> Studio: Sony
> Year: 2014
Source: Courtesy of Sony
15. Fury
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $91.9 million
> Studio: Sony
> Year: 2014
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Source: Courtesy of United Artists
14. Valkyrie
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $99.4 million
> Studio: United Artists
> Year: 2008
Source: Courtesy of Weinstein
13. The Imitation Game
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $99.6 million
> Studio: Weinstein
> Year: 2014
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
12. Life is Beautiful
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $101.4 million
> Studio: Miramax
> Year: 1998
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Source: Courtesy of Universal
11. Unbroken
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $126.2 million
> Studio: Universal
> Year: 2014
Source: Courtesy of Universal
10. U-571
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $127.2 million
> Studio: Universal
> Year: 2000
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Source: Courtesy of Weinstein
9. Inglourious Basterds
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $143.4 million
> Studio: Weinstein
> Year: 2009
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
8. The English Patient
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $153.9 million
> Studio: Miramax
> Year: 1996
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
7. Captain America: The First Avenger
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $197.8 million
> Studio: Paramount
> Year: 2011
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Source: Courtesy of Universal
6. Schindler’s List
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $204.4 million
> Studio: Universal
> Year: 1993
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
5. Pearl Harbor
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $311.8 million
> Studio: Buena Vista
> Year: 2001
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Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
4. Patton
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $354.2 million
> Studio: Fox
> Year: 1970
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks
3. Saving Private Ryan
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $406.7 million
> Studio: DreamWorks
> Year: 1998
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
2. The Bridge on the River Kwai
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $483.6 million
> Studio: Columbia
> Year: 1957
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Source: Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Productions
1. Best Years of Our Lives
> U.S. box office gross (inflation-adj.): $489.0 million
> Studio: RKO
> Year: 1946
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