"The Rugrats Movie" Box Office

Big Money For Little Babies

In a recent Long Island Newsday article about the film, Bob Heisler reveals a simple recipe for a successful film:

The simple steps: Stick to your game plan, use popular stars, and if Disney plans to open its movie Thanksgiving weekend, open your movie the week before.

Presto: In 10 days, "The Rugrats Movie" has earned nearly $60 million, more than twice what it cost to produce.

According to Reuters, The Rugrats Movie was the #1 movie during its first week of release, making $28 million for its first weekend, topping another premiere, Enemy Of The State.

However, for its 2nd week in release (week ending 11/29/98), it conceded its top spot to Disney's A Bug's Life, which earned $46.5 million in its first week. Rugrats came in second, making a healthy $27.6 million, garnering almost $56 million after 2 weeks of release.

Keep in mind that the totals are for the US & Canada combined. In Canada alone, the film was #2 for its first week of release, with box office sales of C$1,193,738 (US$775,929, with C$1 worth about US$.65); Enemy Of The State was first at C$2,362,460 (US$1,535,599). For its 2nd week, it slipped to 4th, with its box office of C$653,250 (US$424,612); A Bug's Life was first at C$1.391,249 (US$904,311).

The other film to star E.G. Daily, Babe -- Pig In The City, didn't do so well. For info on that film, see below.

Considering that the film costs $25 million to make, The Rugrats Movie is now in the black, as a result of its first weekend alone.

Here's where The Rugrats Movie placed in the top ten for US / Canada combined and Canada alone:

US / Canada Combined:

(Source : Exhibitor Relations Company, via
St. Petersburg Times & USA Today;
Week Ending: Ranking: Earnings: Grand Total:
11/22/98 1 $28 million $28 million
11/29/98 2 $27.6 million $55.6 million
12/6/98 4 $8 million $63.6 million
12/13/98 5 $4.5 million $68.1 million
12/20/98 7 $3 million $71.1 million

Canada Alone: (C$1 = US$.66(app.))

(Source: Canoe)
Week Ending: Ranking: Earnings (C$): Earnings (US$): Grand Total (C$): Grand Total (US$):
11/22/98 2 $1,193,738 $775,929 $1,193,738 $775,929
11/29/98 4 $653,250 $424,612 $1,846,988 $1,200,542
12/6/98 5 $372,124 $241,880 $2,219,112 $1,442,422
12/13/98 7 $217,254 $141,215 $2,436,366 $1,583,638
12/20/98 10 $127,872 $83,117 $2,564,238 $1,666,755

On the rankings for the week ending 12/27/98, The Rugrats Movie left the top10 on both charts, never to return.

In Exhibitor Relation's list for 1998's top 50 movies (USA Today, 12/28/98), The Rugrats Movie was ranked #17, with $82 million earned for US / Canada combined. This list covers only movies released during 1998.

In Variety's list of the top 250 films of 1998 (1/11/99), The Rugrats Movie was ranked #19, with US$86,430,992 as the given gross. This list includes films released in 1997 that were still playing in theaters in 1998.

In January 1999, The Rugrats Movie earned a total of US$91 million, surpassing Antz as the greatest non-Disney animated hit.As of 2/22/99, the film has earned US$97 million, even though it was in second run at the time.

Rugrats To Disney -- "Eat My Dust"

On 3/20/99, the film surpassed the US$100 million mark, earning US$100,130,568. The Rugrats Movie is the first non-Disney animated feature to earn more than US$100 million.

(Special thanks to Quentin R.)

Video Box Office

Here are the figures for The Rugrats Movie video in the US:

                          VHS Rental:

                             VHS Sales:

      DVD Sales:

VSDA:

(Source: Video Software Dealers Association)
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in US$ Grand Total in US$
4/4/99 5 $3.09 million $3.09 million
4/11/99 7 $2.45 million $5.55 million

(Left the top 10: 4/18/99)

Billboard®:

(Source: Billboard®)

Never entered top 10

General:

(Source: Billboard®)
Billboard Cover Date Ranking
4/17/99 20
4/24/99 3
5/1/99 5
5/8/99 2
5/15/99 2
5/22/99 2
5/29/99 5
6/5/99 7
6/12/99 7
6/19/99 9

(Left the top 10: 6/26/99)

Kids (issued bi-weekly):

(Source: Billboard®)
Billboard Cover Date Ranking
4/17/99 9
5/1/99 8
5/15/99 3
5/29/99 2
6/12/99 2
6/26/99 1
7/10/99 3
7/24/99 1
8/7/99 4
8/21/99 10
9/4/99 4
9/18/99 8
10/2/99 8

(Left the top 10: 10/16/99)

(Source: DVD Insider)
Week Ending Ranking
4/4/99 4

(Left the top 10 effective 4/11/99)

Foreign Box Office

Here are the box office figures for countries outside of the US:

Britain & Ireland :(UK£1=US$1.62(app.))

Virgin List (measured by number of theaters showing the film):

(Source: UK Film Review & Virgin Net Movies (Screen International))
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in UK£ (app.) Earnings in US$ (app.) Accumulative in UK£ Accumulative in US$ (app.)
4/1/99 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a
4/8/99 2 n/a n/a UK£1.97million US$3.152million
4/15/99 1 UK£3.13million US$5,070,600 UK£5.10million US$8.16million
4/22/99 1 UK£3.79million US$6,139,800 UK£8.89million US$14,401,800
4/29/99 1 UK£1.70million US$2,754,000 UK£10.59million US$17,155,800
5/6/99 1 UK£610,000 US$988,200 UK£11.20million US$18,144,000
5/13/99                                                          (Info not available, as I was on vacation)
5/20/99 2 UK£870,000 (2 week period) US$1,409,400 (2 week period) UK£12.07million US$19,553,400
5/27/99 2 UK£150,000 US$243,000 UK£12.22million US$19,796,400
6/4/99 4 UK£120,000 US$194,400 UK£12.34million US$19,990,800
6/11/99 6 UK£450,000 US$729,000 UK£12.79million US$20,719,800
6/18/99 8 UK£100,000 US$162,000 UK£12.89million US$20,881,800
6/25/99 9 UK£50,000 US$81,000 UK£12.94million US$20,962,800
7/2/99 9 UK£50,000 US$81,000 UK£12.99million US$21,012,800

(Left the top 10 7/9/99)

Variety List (measured by monetary ticket sales):

(Source: Variety)
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in UK£ (app.) Earnings in US$ Accumulative in UK£ (app.) Accumulative in US$
4/1/99 1 UK£3,691,799 US$5,980,714 UK£3,691,799 US$5,980,714
4/8/99 1 UK£3,879,843 US$6,285,346 UK£7,571,642 US$12,266,060
4/15/99 1 UK£2,245,820 US$3,638,228 UK£9,807,462 US$15,904,288
4/22/99 2 UK£905,514 US$1,475,988 UK£10,728,565 US$17,380,276
4/29/99 6 UK£538,904 US$873,024 UK£11,267,469 US$18,253,300
5/6/99 7 UK£387,807 US$628,247 UK£11,655,276 US$18,881,547
5/13/99 9 UK£244,398 US$395,925 UK£11,899,674 US$19,277,472
5/20/99                                                  (Off the Top Ten these 2 weeks)
5/27/99
6/3/99 5 UK£405,849 US$657,475 UK£12,626,950 US$20,455,659
6/10/99 7 UK£184,882 US$299,509 UK£12,811,832 US$20,755,168
6/17/99 10 UK£78,341 US$126,912 UK£12,890,173 US$20,882,080

(Left the top 10 6/24/99)

A.C. Nielsen / EDI Top 15 Films In UK For 1999 (to date):

(Source: Variety; 4/26/99 & 7/26/99)
As of: Ranking Accumulative in UK£ (app.) Accumulative in US$
4/26/99 3 UK£8,667,909 US$17,042,013
7/26/99 5 UK£12,642,904 US$20,481,504

Australia:(A$1=US$.63 (app.))

(Source: Australian Movie Guide)
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in A$ Earnings in US$ Approx. Accumulative in A$ Approx. Accumulative in US$
3/28/99 (in previews) 4 A$550,000 US$346,500 A$550,000 US$346,500
4/4/99 1 A$2,170,000 US$1,367,100 A$2,720,000 US$1,713,600
4/11/99 2 A$2.44million US$1,537,200 A$6.76million US$4,258,800
4/18/99 2 A$1.57million US$989,100 A$10.11million US$6,369,300
4/25/99 9 A$490,000 US$308,700 A$10.60million US$6,678,000
5/2/99 9 A$130,000 US$81,900 A$10.73million US$6,759,900

(Left the top 10 5/9/99)

France: (1FF=US$.17 (app.); US$1=6FF)

Metro Paris:

(Source:  Premiere France & Allocine)
Week Ending Ranking Tickets Sold
This Week 		Total
Tickets Sold
4/6/99 6 40,926 40,926
4/13/99 8 24,110 65,036
4/20/99 6 35,872 100,908
4/27/99 5 36,363 137,271
5/5/99 9 14,702 151,973
5/12/99 n/a 3419 155,392
5/19/99 13 6428 161,820
5/26/99 n/a 3505 165,325
6/1/99 >15 523 165,848

(Left the top 15 5/26/99(?))

Nationwide:

(Source: Allocine & Variety)
Week Ending Ranking Tickets Sold
This Week 		Total
Tickets Sold 		Earnings in FF Earnings in US$ Approx. Accumulative in FF Approx. Accumulative in US$
4/6/99 8 125,082 125,082 4,414,659FF US$750,492 4,414,659FF US$750,492
4/13/99 4 194,363 319,445 7,088,529FF US$1,205,050 11,503,188FF US$1,955,542
4/20/99 4 234,178 553,623 8,711,424FF US$1,451,904 20,444,676FF US$3,407,446
4/27/99 3 149,855 703,478 5,394,780FF US$899,130 25,839,456FF US$4,306,576
5/5/99 10 58,220 761,788 2,095,920FF US$349,320 27,935,376FF US$4,655,896
5/12/99 n/a 36,487 798,275 (Monetary figures not available after 5/5/99, as Variety only lists figures for the top 10 movies)
5/19/99 11 46,210 844,485
5/26/99 n/a 35,206 879,691
6/1/99 13 13,041 892,732

(Left the top 15 6/8/99)

Italy:

Rome:

(Source: Controlcine)
Week Ending Ranking Tickets Sold
This Week 		Total
Tickets Sold
4/4/99 12 24,904 24,904
4/11/99 16 16,212 41,116

(Left the top 20: 4/18/99)


Nationwide:

(Source: Medusa)
Week Ending Ranking Tickets Sold
This Week 		Total
Tickets Sold
4/4/99 11 181,388 181,388
4/11/99 16 143,077 324,465

(Left the top 20: 4/18/99)

Mexico: (N$1 (Peso) = US$.10 (app.); US$1 = N$10)

(Source: Variety)
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in N$ Earnings in US$ Approx. Accumulative in N$ Approx. Accumulative in US$
4/1/99 1 N$18,134,620 US$1,813,462 N$18,134,620 US$1,813,462
4/8/99 2 N$10,226,080 US$1,022,608 N$27,515,550 US$2,751,555
4/15/99 2 N$4,779,280 US$477,928 N$32,584,470 US$3,258,447
4/22/99 3 N$3,237,220 US$323,722 N$36,522,430 US$3,652,243
4/29/99 2 N$4,125,390 US$412,539 N$40,845,250 US$4,084,525

(Left the top 10 5/7/99)

Norway:

(Source: Filmweb)
Week Ending Ranking
4/1/99 3
4/8/99 3
4/15/99 9
4/22/99 6
4/29/99 10
5/6/99 9

(Left the top 10 5/13/99)

Denmark:

(Source: EON Film)
Week Ending Ranking # of Tickets Sold
4/1/99 4 12,025
4/8/99 7 5768
4/15/99 7 3898
4/22/99 8 3374
4/29/99 10 1216

(Left the top 10 5/6/99)

Germany: (DM1 = US$.53)

A.C. Nielsen / EDI List:

(Source:  A.C. Nielsen / EDI, via S & L Movie Data)
Week Ending Ranking Tickets Sold
This Week 		Total
Tickets Sold
5/21/99 4 92,549 92,549
5/28/99 9 43,566 156,254
6/2/99 10 13,526 181,495

(Left the top 10 6/9/99)

Variety List:

(Source: Variety)
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in DM Earnings in US$ Approx. Accumulative in DM Approx. Accumulative in US$
5/16/99 6 DM1,092,706 US$579,134 DM1,092,706 US$579,134
5/23/99 9 DM516,489 US$273,739 DM1,609,194 US$852,873

(Left the top 10 6/2/99)

Spain: (1 peseta (pta) = US$.006; US$1 = 163 ptas):

(Source: Variety)
Week Ending Ranking Earnings in ptas Earnings in US$ Approx. Accumulative in ptas Approx. Accumulative in US$
6/27/99 ??? 56,189,360ptas US$344,720 56,189,360ptas US$344,720
7/4/99 3 95,764,945ptas US$587,515 151,954,305ptas US$932,235
7/11/99 6 63,147,993ptas US$387,411 215,102,298ptas US$1,319,646
7/18/99 6 43,909,429ptas US$269,383 259,011,727ptas US$1,589,029
7/25/99 7 33,557,136ptas US$205,872 292,617,763ptas US$1,795,201

(Left the top 10 8/1/99)

Russia (Direct-To-Video; legal sales only):

(Source: Videoguide (Top 10))
Week Ending Ranking
9/5/99 2
9/12/99 9

(Left the top 10 9/19/99)

South Africa:

(Source: Movies For Africa)
Week Ending Ranking
9/26/99 7
10/3/99 10

Foreign Total:(all countries except US & Canada; in US$)

(Source: Variety)
Week Ending Earnings in US$
3/23/99 US$163,036
4/6/99 US$18,596,844

(Earnings after 4/6/99 are unknown, as The Rugrats Movie left Variety's domestic (US & Canada) list after 4/13/99, as the film is no longer seen in theaters.)

Worldwide Total: (all countries including US & Canada; in US$)

(Source: Variety)
Week Ending Earnings in US$
3/23/99 US$100,350,994
4/6/99 US$119,076,243

(The Rugrats Movie left Variety's list after 4/13/99, as the film is no longer seen in theaters.)

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