1996 Weekend Box Office Records
This chart shows the highest-grossing weekends at the domestic box office for 1996.
| Rank | Date | Movie | Weekend Gross | Theaters | Per-Theater Average | Total Gross | Days in Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 5, 1996 | Independence Day | $50,228,264 | 2,882 | $17,428 | $96,102,252 | 5 |
| 2 | May 24, 1996 | Mission: Impossible | $45,436,830 | 3,012 | $15,085 | $63,531,648 | 5 |
| 3 | May 10, 1996 | Twister | $41,059,405 | 2,414 | $17,009 | $41,059,405 | 3 |
| 4 | May 24, 1996 | Twister | $37,966,706 | 2,808 | $13,521 | $144,969,158 | 17 |
| 5 | May 17, 1996 | Twister | $37,093,440 | 2,785 | $13,319 | $95,075,524 | 10 |
| 6 | Jul 12, 1996 | Independence Day | $35,242,709 | 2,908 | $12,119 | $160,312,716 | 12 |
| 7 | Nov 8, 1996 | Ransom | $34,216,088 | 2,676 | $12,786 | $34,216,088 | 3 |
| 8 | Nov 29, 1996 | 101 Dalmatians | $33,504,025 | 2,794 | $11,991 | $45,073,479 | 5 |
| 9 | Nov 22, 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | $30,716,131 | 2,812 | $10,923 | $30,716,131 | 3 |
| 10 | Nov 15, 1996 | Space Jam | $27,528,529 | 2,650 | $10,388 | $27,528,529 | 3 |
| 11 | Jul 5, 1996 | The Nutty Professor | $25,817,900 | 2,138 | $12,076 | $59,816,315 | 10 |
| 12 | Nov 29, 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | $25,484,402 | 2,812 | $9,063 | $60,850,689 | 10 |
| 13 | Jun 28, 1996 | The Nutty Professor | $25,411,725 | 2,115 | $12,015 | $25,411,725 | 3 |
| 14 | Jun 7, 1996 | The Rock | $25,069,525 | 2,392 | $10,481 | $25,069,525 | 3 |
| 15 | Jun 21, 1996 | Eraser | $24,566,446 | 2,410 | $10,194 | $24,566,446 | 3 |
| 16 | Jul 5, 1996 | Phenomenon | $24,517,121 | 1,637 | $14,977 | $24,517,121 | 3 |
| 17 | Nov 15, 1996 | Ransom | $22,374,113 | 2,757 | $8,115 | $67,143,873 | 10 |
| 18 | May 31, 1996 | Mission: Impossible | $21,629,362 | 3,012 | $7,181 | $107,154,708 | 12 |
| 19 | Jul 19, 1996 | Independence Day | $21,274,817 | 2,972 | $7,158 | $199,004,369 | 19 |
| 20 | Jun 21, 1996 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | $21,037,414 | 2,778 | $7,573 | $21,037,414 | 3 |
| 21 | Dec 20, 1996 | Beavis and Butt-Head Do Ameri… | $20,114,233 | 2,190 | $9,185 | $20,114,233 | 3 |
| 22 | Jun 14, 1996 | The Cable Guy | $19,806,226 | 2,657 | $7,454 | $19,806,226 | 3 |
| 23 | Sep 20, 1996 | The First Wives Club | $18,913,411 | 1,922 | $9,840 | $18,913,411 | 3 |
| 24 | Jun 14, 1996 | The Rock | $18,513,415 | 2,415 | $7,666 | $56,068,139 | 10 |
| 25 | Mar 8, 1996 | The Birdcage | $18,275,828 | 1,950 | $9,372 | $18,275,828 | 3 |
| 26 | Nov 29, 1996 | Space Jam | $17,440,268 | 2,650 | $6,581 | $67,444,322 | 17 |
| 27 | Dec 27, 1996 | Michael | $17,435,711 | 2,141 | $8,144 | $27,629,196 | 5 |
| 28 | Nov 29, 1996 | Ransom | $17,303,789 | 2,588 | $6,686 | $105,093,059 | 24 |
| 29 | Nov 29, 1996 | Jingle All the Way | $17,251,448 | 2,404 | $7,176 | $30,849,962 | 10 |
| 30 | Jun 28, 1996 | Eraser | $17,165,544 | 2,556 | $6,716 | $53,589,320 | 10 |
| 31 | May 31, 1996 | Twister | $17,112,505 | 2,808 | $6,094 | $168,873,442 | 24 |
| 32 | Dec 13, 1996 | Jerry Maguire | $17,084,296 | 2,531 | $6,750 | $17,084,296 | 3 |
| 33 | Nov 22, 1996 | Space Jam | $16,216,845 | 2,650 | $6,120 | $48,276,000 | 10 |
| 34 | Mar 15, 1996 | The Birdcage | $16,034,306 | 2,236 | $7,171 | $41,336,832 | 10 |
| 35 | Feb 9, 1996 | Broken Arrow | $15,583,510 | 2,388 | $6,526 | $15,583,510 | 3 |
| 36 | Sep 27, 1996 | The First Wives Club | $15,314,530 | 2,312 | $6,624 | $41,784,740 | 10 |
| 37 | May 31, 1996 | Dragonheart | $15,027,150 | 2,130 | $7,055 | $15,027,150 | 3 |
| 38 | Jul 26, 1996 | A Time to Kill | $14,823,159 | 2,123 | $6,982 | $19,628,271 | 5 |
| 39 | Jun 7, 1996 | Mission: Impossible | $14,662,192 | 3,012 | $4,868 | $130,823,989 | 19 |
| 40 | Jun 21, 1996 | The Rock | $14,398,854 | 2,426 | $5,935 | $80,705,508 | 17 |
| 41 | Jun 28, 1996 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | $14,310,376 | 2,778 | $5,151 | $47,106,326 | 10 |
| 42 | Dec 27, 1996 | Jerry Maguire | $14,024,111 | 2,531 | $5,541 | $60,351,092 | 17 |
| 43 | Dec 6, 1996 | 101 Dalmatians | $13,944,053 | 2,812 | $4,959 | $63,690,609 | 12 |
| 44 | Jul 26, 1996 | Independence Day | $13,799,097 | 2,977 | $4,635 | $223,114,893 | 26 |
| 45 | Jul 5, 1996 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | $13,763,017 | 2,835 | $4,855 | $65,096,195 | 17 |
| 46 | Jan 5, 1996 | 12 Monkeys | $13,620,705 | 1,533 | $8,885 | $13,984,094 | 12 |
| 47 | Feb 16, 1996 | Broken Arrow | $13,459,777 | 2,392 | $5,627 | $33,810,468 | 10 |
| 48 | Mar 22, 1996 | The Birdcage | $13,294,404 | 2,236 | $5,946 | $60,601,672 | 17 |
| 49 | Jul 5, 1996 | Eraser | $13,269,318 | 2,556 | $5,191 | $70,872,789 | 17 |
| 50 | Aug 2, 1996 | A Time to Kill | $13,262,934 | 2,253 | $5,887 | $41,499,943 | 12 |
| 51 | Nov 22, 1996 | Ransom | $13,185,106 | 2,768 | $4,763 | $85,745,878 | 17 |
| 52 | Dec 20, 1996 | Jerry Maguire | $13,125,660 | 2,531 | $5,186 | $36,287,093 | 10 |
| 53 | Jul 12, 1996 | Phenomenon | $12,975,141 | 1,973 | $6,576 | $46,333,342 | 10 |
| 54 | Jul 12, 1996 | Courage Under Fire | $12,501,586 | 1,986 | $6,295 | $12,501,586 | 3 |
| 55 | Jun 28, 1996 | Striptease | $12,322,069 | 1,970 | $6,255 | $12,322,069 | 3 |
| 56 | Oct 18, 1996 | Sleepers | $12,305,745 | 1,915 | $6,426 | $12,305,745 | 3 |
| 57 | Nov 15, 1996 | The Mirror Has Two Faces | $12,210,868 | 2,489 | $4,906 | $12,210,868 | 3 |
| 58 | Jul 12, 1996 | The Nutty Professor | $12,207,690 | 2,178 | $5,605 | $80,222,245 | 17 |
| 59 | Nov 22, 1996 | Jingle All the Way | $12,112,267 | 2,401 | $5,045 | $12,112,267 | 3 |
| 60 | Mar 15, 1996 | Executive Decision | $12,069,780 | 2,232 | $5,408 | $12,069,780 | 3 |
| 61 | Jun 7, 1996 | Twister | $11,917,390 | 2,808 | $4,244 | $187,288,498 | 31 |
| 62 | Jan 12, 1996 | 12 Monkeys | $11,501,150 | 1,582 | $7,270 | $30,663,394 | 19 |
| 63 | Dec 27, 1996 | 101 Dalmatians | $11,384,660 | 2,901 | $3,924 | $104,111,652 | 33 |
| 64 | Aug 9, 1996 | Jack | $11,191,496 | 1,710 | $6,545 | $11,191,496 | 3 |
| 65 | Nov 1, 1996 | Romeo+Juliet | $11,133,231 | 1,276 | $8,725 | $11,133,231 | 3 |
| 66 | Mar 1, 1996 | Up Close & Personal | $11,101,955 | 1,506 | $7,372 | $11,101,955 | 3 |
| 67 | Oct 4, 1996 | The First Wives Club | $11,017,356 | 2,312 | $4,765 | $58,491,416 | 17 |
| 68 | Aug 2, 1996 | Independence Day | $10,996,314 | 2,788 | $3,944 | $247,874,121 | 33 |
| 69 | Jun 28, 1996 | The Rock | $10,982,954 | 2,409 | $4,559 | $98,298,361 | 24 |
| 70 | Aug 9, 1996 | A Time to Kill | $10,755,168 | 2,313 | $4,650 | $59,189,197 | 19 |
| 71 | Feb 2, 1996 | Black Sheep | $10,593,609 | 2,045 | $5,180 | $10,593,609 | 3 |
| 72 | May 24, 1996 | Spy Hard | $10,448,420 | 2,286 | $4,571 | $10,448,420 | 3 |
| 73 | Jun 21, 1996 | The Cable Guy | $10,321,903 | 2,657 | $3,885 | $40,643,476 | 10 |
| 74 | Oct 11, 1996 | The Ghost and the Darkness | $10,321,400 | 2,142 | $4,819 | $10,321,400 | 3 |
| 75 | Jan 19, 1996 | From Dusk Till Dawn | $10,240,805 | 2,004 | $5,110 | $10,240,805 | 3 |
| 76 | Dec 27, 1996 | Beavis and Butt-Head Do Ameri… | $10,211,248 | 2,379 | $4,292 | $41,121,487 | 10 |
| 77 | Oct 11, 1996 | The First Wives Club | $10,192,126 | 2,406 | $4,236 | $73,128,149 | 24 |
| 78 | Oct 11, 1996 | The Long Kiss Goodnight | $10,183,230 | 2,247 | $4,532 | $10,183,230 | 3 |
| 79 | Aug 16, 1996 | Tin Cup | $10,128,834 | 2,012 | $5,034 | $10,128,834 | 3 |
| 80 | Feb 16, 1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | $10,112,833 | 2,070 | $4,885 | $10,112,833 | 3 |
| 81 | Feb 16, 1996 | Happy Gilmore | $10,112,005 | 2,022 | $5,001 | $10,112,005 | 3 |
| 82 | Mar 29, 1996 | The Birdcage | $10,106,414 | 2,236 | $4,520 | $74,627,943 | 24 |
| 83 | Dec 6, 1996 | Daylight | $10,015,875 | 2,175 | $4,605 | $10,015,875 | 3 |
| 84 | Apr 5, 1996 | Primal Fear | $9,871,222 | 1,983 | $4,978 | $11,892,480 | 3 |
| 85 | Feb 23, 1996 | Rumble in the Bronx | $9,858,380 | 1,736 | $5,679 | $9,858,380 | 3 |
| 86 | Aug 30, 1996 | The Crow: City of Angels | $9,785,111 | 2,423 | $4,038 | $9,785,111 | 3 |
| 87 | Mar 22, 1996 | Executive Decision | $9,776,225 | 2,289 | $4,271 | $26,047,638 | 10 |
| 88 | Jan 12, 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Ce… | $9,632,409 | 1,010 | $9,537 | $9,632,409 | 3 |
| 89 | Oct 25, 1996 | Sleepers | $9,605,059 | 2,080 | $4,618 | $26,351,436 | 10 |
| 90 | Jul 5, 1996 | The Rock | $9,392,802 | 2,137 | $4,395 | $110,306,972 | 31 |
| 91 | Dec 13, 1996 | Mars Attacks! | $9,384,272 | 1,955 | $4,800 | $9,384,272 | 3 |
| 92 | Apr 5, 1996 | A Thin Line Between Love & Ha… | $9,310,414 | 1,131 | $8,232 | $11,934,706 | 5 |
| 93 | Jan 19, 1996 | Mr. Holland’s Opus | $9,257,334 | 1,409 | $6,570 | $9,257,334 | 24 |
| 94 | Apr 5, 1996 | The Birdcage | $9,219,443 | 2,236 | $4,123 | $87,604,273 | 31 |
| 95 | Aug 23, 1996 | The Island of Dr. Moreau | $9,101,987 | 2,035 | $4,473 | $9,101,987 | 3 |
| 96 | Dec 27, 1996 | Scream | $9,075,667 | 1,450 | $6,259 | $21,253,204 | 10 |
| 97 | Nov 8, 1996 | Romeo+Juliet | $9,026,448 | 1,950 | $4,629 | $23,538,658 | 10 |
| 98 | Aug 30, 1996 | Tin Cup | $8,978,243 | 2,102 | $4,271 | $36,915,817 | 17 |
| 99 | Dec 13, 1996 | 101 Dalmatians | $8,932,970 | 2,841 | $3,144 | $75,575,864 | 19 |
| 100 | Aug 9, 1996 | Escape from L.A. | $8,912,557 | 2,312 | $3,855 | $8,912,557 | 3 |