Breaking the Waves (1996)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $4,040,691 | Details |
| International Box Office | $31,437 | |
| Worldwide Box Office | $4,072,128 | |
| Domestic Physical Disc Sales | ||
| Blu-ray Sales (estimated) | $483,397 | |
| Total | $483,397 | |
| Further financial details... | ||
Synopsis
In a small and religious coastal town, a simple, devoutly religious Scottish woman, Bess McNeill, finds a partner in an oil rig worker from Norway, Jan Nyman. However, the relationship grows strained when Nyman breaks his neck in a horrific work accident on the rig and becomes paralyzed. Unable to perform sexually and suffering mentally from the accident as well, Jan convinces Bess to have sex with other men, which she comes to believe is God’s work.
Metrics
| Legs: | 21.72 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 99.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $10,082,311 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 13th, 1996 (Wide) by October Films |
| International Releases: | February 19th, 2021 (Wide), released as Рассекая волны (Russia (CIS))
July 1st, 2022 (Limited), released as Rompiendo las olas (Spain) August 4th, 2023 (Limited) (4K Restoration) (United Kingdom) July 10th, 2024 (Limited), released as Breaking the Waves (브레이킹 더 웨이브) (South Korea) June 23rd, 2025 (Limited), released as Le Onde del Destino (Re-release) (Italy) |
| Video Release: | April 15th, 2014 by Criterion |
| MPA Rating: | R for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some violence |
| Running Time: | 156 minutes |
| Subgenre: | Erotic Drama |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production Countries: | Denmark |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1996 | 42 | $60,426 | 9 | $6,714 | $110,741 | 2 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 30 | $150,216 | +149% | 26 | $5,778 | $283,383 | 3 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 24 | $112,158 | -25% | 25 | $4,486 | $440,914 | 4 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 27 | $69,993 | -38% | 18 | $3,889 | $541,519 | 5 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 27 | $128,200 | +83% | 40 | $3,205 | $706,386 | 6 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 34 | $135,585 | +6% | 45 | $3,013 | $929,773 | 7 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 30 | $179,520 | +32% | 47 | $3,820 | $1,328,006 | 8 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 30 | $179,716 | n/c | 53 | $3,391 | $1,647,907 | 9 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 35 | $185,055 | +3% | 51 | $3,629 | $1,907,339 | 10 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 35 | $158,465 | -14% | 54 | $2,935 | $2,123,247 | 11 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 32 | $171,593 | +8% | 59 | $2,908 | $2,365,249 | 12 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 32 | $166,470 | -3% | 68 | $2,448 | $2,596,897 | 13 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 38 | $186,003 | +12% | 77 | $2,416 | $2,854,107 | 14 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 36 | $143,845 | -23% | 78 | $1,844 | $3,053,347 | 15 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 37 | $110,134 | -23% | 65 | $1,694 | $3,213,778 | 16 |
| Mar 7, 1997 | 37 | $96,476 | -12% | 75 | $1,286 | $3,369,303 | 17 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 41 | $93,850 | -3% | 77 | $1,219 | $3,387,427 | 18 |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 39 | $94,550 | +1% | 70 | $1,351 | $3,628,302 | 19 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 48 | $65,392 | -31% | 53 | $1,234 | $3,720,841 | 20 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 49 | $69,266 | +6% | 54 | $1,283 | $3,818,138 | 21 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 49 | $60,441 | -13% | 53 | $1,140 | $3,895,487 | 22 |
| Apr 18, 1997 | 56 | $38,299 | -37% | 44 | $870 | $3,955,041 | 23 |
| May 2, 1997 | 59 | $27,872 | 26 | $1,072 | $4,040,691 | 25 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1996 | 37 | $82,852 | 9 | $9,206 | $133,167 | 3 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 29 | $195,589 | +136% | 26 | $7,523 | $328,756 | 4 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 24 | $142,770 | -27% | 25 | $5,711 | $471,526 | 5 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 26 | $106,660 | -25% | 18 | $5,926 | $578,186 | 6 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 28 | $216,002 | +103% | 40 | $5,400 | $794,188 | 7 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 33 | $354,298 | +64% | 45 | $7,873 | $1,148,486 | 8 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 25 | $319,705 | -10% | 47 | $6,802 | $1,468,191 | 9 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 30 | $254,093 | -21% | 53 | $4,794 | $1,722,284 | 10 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 35 | $242,498 | -5% | 51 | $4,755 | $1,964,782 | 11 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 34 | $228,874 | -6% | 54 | $4,238 | $2,193,656 | 12 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 32 | $236,771 | +3% | 59 | $4,013 | $2,430,427 | 13 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 31 | $237,677 | n/c | 68 | $3,495 | $2,668,104 | 14 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 36 | $241,398 | +2% | 77 | $3,135 | $2,909,502 | 15 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 35 | $194,142 | -20% | 78 | $2,489 | $3,103,644 | 16 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 36 | $169,183 | -13% | 65 | $2,603 | $3,272,827 | 17 |
| Mar 7, 1997 | 52 | $20,750 | -88% | 75 | $277 | $3,293,577 | 18 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 33 | $240,175 | +1,057% | 77 | $3,119 | $3,533,752 | 19 |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 42 | $121,697 | -49% | 70 | $1,739 | $3,655,449 | 20 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 48 | $93,423 | -23% | 53 | $1,763 | $3,748,872 | 21 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 52 | $86,174 | -8% | 54 | $1,596 | $3,835,046 | 22 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 49 | $81,696 | -5% | 53 | $1,541 | $3,916,742 | 23 |
Synopsis
In a small and religious coastal town, a simple, devoutly religious Scottish woman, Bess McNeill, finds a partner in an oil rig worker from Norway, Jan Nyman. However, the relationship grows strained when Nyman breaks his neck in a horrific work accident on the rig and becomes paralyzed. Unable to perform sexually and suffering mentally from the accident as well, Jan convinces Bess to have sex with other men, which she comes to believe is God’s work.
Metrics
| Legs: | 21.72 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 99.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $10,082,311 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 13th, 1996 (Wide) by October Films |
| International Releases: | February 19th, 2021 (Wide), released as Рассекая волны (Russia (CIS))
July 1st, 2022 (Limited), released as Rompiendo las olas (Spain) August 4th, 2023 (Limited) (4K Restoration) (United Kingdom) July 10th, 2024 (Limited), released as Breaking the Waves (브레이킹 더 웨이브) (South Korea) June 23rd, 2025 (Limited), released as Le Onde del Destino (Re-release) (Italy) |
| Video Release: | April 15th, 2014 by Criterion |
| MPA Rating: | R for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some violence |
| Running Time: | 156 minutes |
| Subgenre: | Erotic Drama |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production Countries: | Denmark |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1996 | 42 | $60,426 | 9 | $6,714 | $110,741 | 2 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 30 | $150,216 | +149% | 26 | $5,778 | $283,383 | 3 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 24 | $112,158 | -25% | 25 | $4,486 | $440,914 | 4 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 27 | $69,993 | -38% | 18 | $3,889 | $541,519 | 5 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 27 | $128,200 | +83% | 40 | $3,205 | $706,386 | 6 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 34 | $135,585 | +6% | 45 | $3,013 | $929,773 | 7 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 30 | $179,520 | +32% | 47 | $3,820 | $1,328,006 | 8 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 30 | $179,716 | n/c | 53 | $3,391 | $1,647,907 | 9 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 35 | $185,055 | +3% | 51 | $3,629 | $1,907,339 | 10 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 35 | $158,465 | -14% | 54 | $2,935 | $2,123,247 | 11 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 32 | $171,593 | +8% | 59 | $2,908 | $2,365,249 | 12 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 32 | $166,470 | -3% | 68 | $2,448 | $2,596,897 | 13 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 38 | $186,003 | +12% | 77 | $2,416 | $2,854,107 | 14 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 36 | $143,845 | -23% | 78 | $1,844 | $3,053,347 | 15 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 37 | $110,134 | -23% | 65 | $1,694 | $3,213,778 | 16 |
| Mar 7, 1997 | 37 | $96,476 | -12% | 75 | $1,286 | $3,369,303 | 17 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 41 | $93,850 | -3% | 77 | $1,219 | $3,387,427 | 18 |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 39 | $94,550 | +1% | 70 | $1,351 | $3,628,302 | 19 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 48 | $65,392 | -31% | 53 | $1,234 | $3,720,841 | 20 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 49 | $69,266 | +6% | 54 | $1,283 | $3,818,138 | 21 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 49 | $60,441 | -13% | 53 | $1,140 | $3,895,487 | 22 |
| Apr 18, 1997 | 56 | $38,299 | -37% | 44 | $870 | $3,955,041 | 23 |
| May 2, 1997 | 59 | $27,872 | 26 | $1,072 | $4,040,691 | 25 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 1996 | 37 | $82,852 | 9 | $9,206 | $133,167 | 3 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | 29 | $195,589 | +136% | 26 | $7,523 | $328,756 | 4 |
| Dec 6, 1996 | 24 | $142,770 | -27% | 25 | $5,711 | $471,526 | 5 |
| Dec 13, 1996 | 26 | $106,660 | -25% | 18 | $5,926 | $578,186 | 6 |
| Dec 20, 1996 | 28 | $216,002 | +103% | 40 | $5,400 | $794,188 | 7 |
| Dec 27, 1996 | 33 | $354,298 | +64% | 45 | $7,873 | $1,148,486 | 8 |
| Jan 3, 1997 | 25 | $319,705 | -10% | 47 | $6,802 | $1,468,191 | 9 |
| Jan 10, 1997 | 30 | $254,093 | -21% | 53 | $4,794 | $1,722,284 | 10 |
| Jan 17, 1997 | 35 | $242,498 | -5% | 51 | $4,755 | $1,964,782 | 11 |
| Jan 24, 1997 | 34 | $228,874 | -6% | 54 | $4,238 | $2,193,656 | 12 |
| Jan 31, 1997 | 32 | $236,771 | +3% | 59 | $4,013 | $2,430,427 | 13 |
| Feb 7, 1997 | 31 | $237,677 | n/c | 68 | $3,495 | $2,668,104 | 14 |
| Feb 14, 1997 | 36 | $241,398 | +2% | 77 | $3,135 | $2,909,502 | 15 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | 35 | $194,142 | -20% | 78 | $2,489 | $3,103,644 | 16 |
| Feb 28, 1997 | 36 | $169,183 | -13% | 65 | $2,603 | $3,272,827 | 17 |
| Mar 7, 1997 | 52 | $20,750 | -88% | 75 | $277 | $3,293,577 | 18 |
| Mar 14, 1997 | 33 | $240,175 | +1,057% | 77 | $3,119 | $3,533,752 | 19 |
| Mar 21, 1997 | 42 | $121,697 | -49% | 70 | $1,739 | $3,655,449 | 20 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | 48 | $93,423 | -23% | 53 | $1,763 | $3,748,872 | 21 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 52 | $86,174 | -8% | 54 | $1,596 | $3,835,046 | 22 |
| Apr 11, 1997 | 49 | $81,696 | -5% | 53 | $1,541 | $3,916,742 | 23 |