1983 Top-Grossing Movies (Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 1983. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 1983. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 1982 will most likely earn money in 1982 and 1983.

To see the top movies released in 1983 (ranked by their total cumulative gross across all years), click the “Released in 1983” button below.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.

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Show Actuals Released in 1983

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Rank	Movie	Release Date	Distributor	Genre	1983 Gross Infl. adj.	Tickets Sold
1	Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of t…	May 25, 1983	20th Century Fox	Adventure	$946,674,945	79,153,423
2	Tootsie	Dec 17, 1982		Comedy	$517,515,727	43,270,545
3	Flashdance	Apr 15, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Drama	$343,474,395	28,718,594
4	Trading Places	Jun 8, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Comedy	$343,233,016	28,698,412
5	WarGames	Jun 3, 1983	MGM	Thriller/Suspense	$282,612,283	23,629,789
6	Octopussy	Jun 10, 1983	MGM	Action	$257,804,444	21,555,555
7	Mr. Mom	Jul 22, 1983	20th Century Fox	Comedy	$246,034,286	20,571,428
8	Staying Alive	Jul 15, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Drama	$242,394,930	20,267,134
9	Risky Business	Aug 5, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$241,257,033	20,171,992
10	National Lampoon’s Vacation	Jul 29, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$233,125,079	19,492,063
11	Superman III	Jun 17, 1983	Warner Bros.	Adventure	$227,622,048	19,031,943
12	Never Say Never Again	Oct 7, 1983	Warner Bros.	Action	$202,935,074	16,967,815
13	Gandhi	Dec 8, 1982	Sony Pictures	Drama	$195,322,849	16,331,341
14	48 Hrs.	Dec 8, 1982	Paramount Pictures	Action	$194,761,606	16,284,415
15	Jaws 3-D	Jul 22, 1983	Universal	Horror	$172,820,310	14,449,858
16	The Big Chill	Sep 28, 1983	Sony Pictures	Comedy	$166,066,198	13,885,133
17	Terms of Endearment	Nov 23, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Drama	$163,145,775	13,640,951
18	Blue Thunder	May 13, 1983	Sony Pictures	Action	$160,656,417	13,432,810
19	Sudden Impact	Dec 9, 1983	Warner Bros.	Action	$158,906,935	13,286,533
20	The Verdict	Dec 8, 1982	20th Century Fox	Drama	$142,774,266	11,937,647
21	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial	Jun 11, 1982	Universal	Adventure	$141,843,018	11,859,784
22	Porky's II: The Next Day	Jun 24, 1983	20th Century Fox	Comedy	$128,178,039	10,717,227
23	Psycho II	Jun 3, 1983	Universal	Horror	$121,498,413	10,158,730
24	Snow White and the Seven Dwar…	Dec 21, 1937	Walt Disney	Musical	$114,288,150	9,555,865
25	Twilight Zone: The Movie	Jun 24, 1983	Warner Bros.	Horror	$112,006,349	9,365,079
26	Easy Money	Aug 19, 1983	Orion Pictures	Comedy	$111,284,064	9,304,687
27	High Road to China	Mar 18, 1983	Warner Bros.	Adventure	$107,892,333	9,021,098
28	The Outsiders	Mar 25, 1983	Warner Bros.	Drama	$97,569,479	8,157,983
29	Spring Break	Mar 25, 1983	Sony Pictures	Comedy	$91,395,913	7,641,798
30	Sophie's Choice	Dec 10, 1982	Universal	Drama	$90,708,236	7,584,300
31	My Tutor	Mar 4, 1983	Crown	Comedy	$85,758,895	7,170,476
32	Scarface	Dec 9, 1983	Universal	Drama	$82,699,326	6,914,659
33	Class	Jul 22, 1983	Orion Pictures	Comedy	$82,268,812	6,878,663
34	Cujo	Aug 12, 1983	Warner Bros.	Horror	$80,326,215	6,716,238
35	The Dead Zone	Oct 21, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Thriller/Suspense	$78,844,876	6,592,380
36	Breathless	May 13, 1983	Orion Pictures	Action	$75,594,801	6,320,635
37	Yentl	Nov 18, 1983	MGM/UA Classics	Musical	$70,920,408	5,929,800
38	The Dark Crystal	Dec 17, 1982	Universal	Adventure	$70,423,252	5,888,231
39	An Officer and a Gentleman	Jul 28, 1982		Drama	$67,918,034	5,678,765
40	Max Dugan Returns	Mar 25, 1983	20th Century Fox	Comedy	$66,876,219	5,591,657
41	All the Right Moves	Oct 21, 1983	20th Century Fox	Drama	$65,305,397	5,460,317
42	Best Friends	Dec 17, 1982	Warner Bros.	Romantic Comedy	$64,390,328	5,383,806
43	Valley Girl	Apr 29, 1983	Atlantic	Romantic Comedy	$63,786,667	5,333,333
44	The Toy	Dec 10, 1982	Sony Pictures	Comedy	$63,087,842	5,274,903
45	Krull	Jul 29, 1983	Sony Pictures	Adventure	$62,721,505	5,244,273
46	Spacehunter: Adventures in th…	May 20, 1983	Sony Pictures	Adventure	$62,565,095	5,231,195
47	A Christmas Story	Nov 18, 1983	MGM	Comedy	$61,675,844	5,156,843
48	Richard Pryor Here and Now	Oct 28, 1983	Sony Pictures	Concert/Performance	$61,344,457	5,129,135
49	Still Smokin	May 6, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Comedy	$59,014,057	4,934,285
50	Monty Python's The Meaning of…	Mar 31, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$56,684,902	4,739,540
51	Two of a Kind	Dec 16, 1983	20th Century Fox	Romantic Comedy	$56,021,183	4,684,045
52	The Man From Snowy River	Nov 3, 1982	20th Century Fox	Western	$53,599,522	4,481,565
53	Private School	Jul 29, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$53,343,650	4,460,171
54	The Survivors	Jun 22, 1983	Sony Pictures	Comedy	$53,155,556	4,444,444
55	Uncommon Valor	Dec 16, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Action	$53,075,298	4,437,733
56	Christine	Dec 9, 1983	Sony Pictures	Horror	$52,096,503	4,355,894
57	The Right Stuff	Oct 21, 1983	Warner Bros.	Drama	$52,019,891	4,349,489
58	The Entity	Feb 4, 1983	20th Century Fox	Horror	$50,412,569	4,215,097
59	The Rescuers	Jun 22, 1977		Adventure	$49,576,133	4,145,161
60	Stroker Ace	Jul 1, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$49,358,730	4,126,984
61	Lone Wolf McQuade	Apr 15, 1983	Orion Pictures	Western	$46,445,153	3,883,373
62	Zelig	Jul 15, 1983	Orion Pictures	Comedy	$44,797,285	3,745,592
63	The Lords of Discipline	Feb 18, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Thriller/Suspense	$44,502,746	3,720,965
64	The Smurfs and the Magic Flute	Oct 7, 1983	Atlantic	Adventure	$42,654,372	3,566,419
65	D.C. Cab	Dec 16, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$41,489,961	3,469,060
66	Deal of the Century	Nov 4, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$39,486,984	3,301,587
67	Doctor Detroit	May 6, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$39,486,984	3,301,587
68	The Man with Two Brains	Jun 3, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$39,310,196	3,286,805
69	Revenge of the Ninja	Sep 7, 1983	Cannon	Action	$39,204,607	3,277,977
70	The Year of Living Dangerously	Jan 21, 1983	MGM	Drama	$39,025,955	3,263,039
71	Educating Rita	Sep 21, 1983	Sony Pictures	Drama	$39,023,893	3,262,867
72	Lovesick	Feb 18, 1983	Warner Bros.	Romantic Comedy	$38,513,546	3,220,196
73	The Black Stallion Returns	Mar 25, 1983	MGM/UA Classics	Adventure	$37,405,105	3,127,517
74	Without a Trace	Feb 4, 1983	20th Century Fox	Drama	$36,571,258	3,057,797
75	Hercules	Aug 26, 1983	Cannon	Adventure	$35,943,236	3,005,287
76	Bad Boys	Mar 25, 1983	Universal	Drama	$34,930,794	2,920,634
77	The Sword in the Stone	Dec 25, 1963		Adventure	$34,671,000	2,898,913
78	Brainstorm	Sep 30, 1983	MGM	Thriller/Suspense	$33,871,669	2,832,079
79	Deathstalker	Sep 2, 1983	New World	Action	$33,756,379	2,822,439
80	Kiss Me Goodbye	Dec 22, 1982	20th Century Fox	Romantic Comedy	$33,469,866	2,798,483
81	Tender Mercies	Mar 4, 1983	Universal	Drama	$32,057,068	2,680,356
82	The House on Sorority Row	Jan 21, 1983	Artists Releasing…	Horror	$31,075,622	2,598,296
83	They Call Me Bruce	Nov 12, 1982	Artists Releasing…	Comedy	$30,779,607	2,573,545
84	Silkwood	Dec 14, 1983	20th Century Fox	Drama	$30,153,913	2,521,230
85	Never Cry Wolf	Oct 7, 1983	Walt Disney	Drama	$28,397,699	2,374,389
86	10 to Midnight	Mar 11, 1983	Cannon	Thriller/Suspense	$27,244,470	2,277,965
87	Gorky Park	Dec 16, 1983	Orion Pictures	Drama	$26,826,060	2,242,981
88	To Be or Not to Be	Dec 16, 1983	20th Century Fox	Comedy	$26,769,901	2,238,286
89	The Adventures of Bob & Doug …	Aug 19, 1983	MGM	Comedy	$26,713,013	2,233,529
90	Smokey and the Bandit III	Aug 12, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$26,577,778	2,222,222
91	The Man Who Loved Women	Dec 16, 1983	Sony Pictures	Comedy	$25,598,884	2,140,374
92	Nightmares	Sep 2, 1983	Universal	Horror	$25,327,407	2,117,676
93	The Golden Seal	Aug 19, 1983	Samuel Goldwyn Fi…	Adventure	$25,096,522	2,098,371
94	The Osterman Weekend	Oct 21, 1983	20th Century Fox	Thriller/Suspense	$24,679,365	2,063,492
95	The Sting II	Feb 18, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$24,098,724	2,014,943
96	Amityville 3-D	Nov 18, 1983	Orion Pictures	Horror	$24,045,808	2,010,519
97	Chained Heat	May 27, 1983	Jensen Farley Pic…	Drama	$23,350,412	1,952,375
98	Local Hero	Feb 18, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$21,897,670	1,830,908
99	Under Fire	Oct 21, 1983	Orion Pictures	Drama	$21,628,202	1,808,378
100	Something Wicked This Way Com…	Apr 29, 1983	Walt Disney	Horror	$21,475,175	1,795,583
101	The Star Chamber	Aug 5, 1983	20th Century Fox	Thriller/Suspense	$21,262,222	1,777,777
102	A Night in Heaven	Nov 18, 1983	20th Century Fox	Drama	$21,124,257	1,766,242
103	Metalstorm: The Destruction o…	Aug 19, 1983	Universal	Adventure	$20,127,294	1,682,884
104	Romantic Comedy	Oct 7, 1983	MGM/UA Classics	Romantic Comedy	$19,517,725	1,631,916
105	Vigilante	Mar 4, 1983	Artists Releasing…	Action	$19,333,010	1,616,472
106	Fanny och Alexander	Jun 17, 1983	Embassy	Drama	$18,875,310	1,578,203
107	The Honorary Consul	Sep 30, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Thriller/Suspense	$18,224,762	1,523,809
108	The Hunger	Apr 29, 1983	MGM	Horror	$18,224,762	1,523,809
109	Eddie and the Cruisers	Sep 23, 1983	Embassy	Drama	$17,788,495	1,487,332
110	Rear Window	Sep 1, 1954		Thriller/Suspense	$17,487,289	1,462,147
111	Airplane II: The Sequel	Dec 10, 1982		Comedy	$17,138,919	1,433,020
112	Peter Pan	Feb 5, 1953	RKO Radio Pictures	Adventure	$16,692,967	1,395,733
113	Trenchcoat	Mar 11, 1983	Walt Disney	Comedy	$16,342,622	1,366,440
114	Yellowbeard	Jun 24, 1983	Orion Pictures	Comedy	$16,326,349	1,365,079
115	First Blood	Oct 22, 1982	Orion Pictures	Action	$15,283,263	1,277,864
116	Joysticks	Jan 1, 1983		Comedy	$15,005,054	1,254,603
117	La traviata	Apr 22, 1983	Universal	Musical	$13,645,790	1,140,952
118	Curse of the Pink Panther	Aug 12, 1983	MGM/UA Classics	Comedy	$12,811,673	1,071,210
119	Let’s Spend the Night Together	Feb 11, 1983	Embassy	Concert/Performance	$12,463,311	1,042,082
120	The Keep	Dec 16, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Horror	$12,100,331	1,011,733
121	Yor: Hunter From the Future	Aug 19, 1983	Sony Pictures	Action	$10,669,835	892,126
122	The King of Comedy	Feb 18, 1983	20th Century Fox	Black Comedy	$9,629,668	805,156
123	Le retour de Martin Guerre	Jun 3, 1983	European Internat…	Drama	$9,578,939	800,914
124	Rumble Fish	Oct 7, 1983	Universal	Drama	$9,492,063	793,650
125	Tough Enough	Jan 1, 1983	20th Century Fox	Drama	$9,240,417	772,610
126	The Evil Dead	Apr 15, 1983	New Line	Horror	$9,112,381	761,904
127	Table for Five	Feb 18, 1983	Warner Bros.	Drama	$9,112,381	761,904
128	The Man Who Wasn’t There	Aug 12, 1983	USA Films	Comedy	$8,791,568	735,080
129	Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence	Aug 26, 1983	Universal	Drama	$8,757,606	732,241
130	Man, Woman and Child	Apr 1, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Drama	$8,732,698	730,158
131	Videodrome	Feb 4, 1983	Universal	Horror	$8,050,937	673,155
132	Who Dares Wins	Sep 16, 1983	MGM/UA Classics	Action	$8,004,456	669,268
133	Screwballs	Apr 1, 1983		Comedy	$7,904,990	660,952
134	Six Weeks	Dec 17, 1982	Universal	Drama	$7,093,081	593,066
135	Mortuary	Sep 2, 1983	Artists Releasing…	Horror	$6,540,935	546,900
136	Nate and Hayes	Nov 18, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Adventure	$6,238,268	521,594
137	Testament	Nov 4, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Drama	$5,836,184	487,975
138	Lianna	Jan 18, 1983			$5,695,238	476,190
139	Star 80	Nov 10, 1983	Warner Bros.	Drama	$5,476,879	457,933
140	Strange Invaders	Sep 16, 1983	Orion Pictures	Thriller/Suspense	$5,172,427	432,477
141	Exposed	Apr 22, 1983	MGM/UA Classics	Drama	$5,133,623	429,232
142	Baby It's You	Mar 4, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Comedy	$4,983,231	416,658
143	Eddie Macon's Run	Mar 25, 1983	Universal	Action	$4,935,873	412,698
144	Losin' It	Apr 8, 1983		Comedy	$4,731,380	395,600
145	Turkey Shoot	Sep 2, 1983	New World	Action	$4,683,980	391,637
146	The Lonely Lady	Sep 30, 1983	Universal	Drama	$4,644,353	388,323
147	Running Brave	Nov 4, 1983	Walt Disney	Drama	$4,573,637	382,411
148	Pieces	Sep 23, 1983	Film Ventures Int…	Horror	$4,549,911	380,427
149	Get Crazy	Aug 5, 1983			$4,436,074	370,909
150	Possession	Oct 14, 1983	Limelight Interna…	Horror	$4,227,909	353,504
151	Of Unknown Origin	Nov 23, 1983	Warner Bros.	Horror	$4,102,356	343,006
152	Getting It On	Jan 1, 1983		Comedy	$3,703,477	309,655
153	Trail of the Pink Panther	Dec 17, 1982		Comedy	$3,639,056	304,268
154	The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez	Aug 19, 1983	Embassy	Western	$3,451,314	288,571
155	Heat and Dust	Sep 15, 1983	Universal	Drama	$3,428,674	286,678
156	Stryker	Sep 2, 1983	New World	Action	$3,368,088	281,612
157	Fire and Ice	Aug 26, 1983	20th Century Fox	Adventure	$2,888,940	241,550
158	Vertigo	May 9, 1958		Thriller/Suspense	$2,782,898	232,683
159	The Pirates of Penzance	Feb 18, 1983	Universal	Musical	$2,636,884	220,475
160	Lonely Hearts	Sep 2, 1983	Samuel Goldwyn Fi…	Drama	$2,595,259	216,994
161	Honkytonk Man	Dec 15, 1982		Comedy	$2,291,597	191,605
162	The Wicked Lady	Oct 28, 1983	Cannon	Drama	$2,237,500	187,081
163	Daniel	Aug 26, 1983	Paramount Pictures	Drama	$1,837,922	153,672
164	Experience Preferred	Nov 4, 1983	Samuel Goldwyn Fi…	Drama	$1,673,234	139,902
165	Deadly Force	Jul 15, 1983	Embassy	Action	$1,117,466	93,433
166	The Dresser	Dec 6, 1983	Sony Pictures	Drama	$1,020,473	85,323
167	Young Warriors	Aug 26, 1983	Cannon	Action	$905,672	75,725
168	Puberty Blues	Jul 15, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$899,848	75,238
169	Going Berserk	Oct 28, 1983	Universal	Comedy	$892,064	74,587
170	Cross Creek	Sep 21, 1983	Universal	Drama	$782,032	65,387
171	Independence Day	Jan 21, 1983	Warner Bros.	Drama	$575,075	48,083
172	Leidenschaftliche Blümchen	Sep 9, 1983	Atlantic	Comedy	$498,888	41,713
173	Last Plane Out	Sep 23, 1983	New World		$438,438	36,658
174	Cross Country	Nov 18, 1983	New World	Thriller/Suspense	$432,382	36,152
175	Hanna K.	Sep 30, 1983	Universal	Drama	$417,651	34,920
176	The Prey	Oct 7, 1983	New World	Horror	$188,615	15,770
177	Frances	Dec 17, 1982		Drama	$182,863	15,289
178	Blue Skies Again	Apr 29, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$176,943	14,794
179	Better Late Than Never	Apr 15, 1983	Warner Bros.	Comedy	$91,746	7,671