2002 in film

Events

• May - The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski wins the "Palme d'Or" at the Cannes Film Festival.
• Amélie from Montmartre directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet wins the 2002 Cesar Award for Best Film, Best Director, Best Music, and Best Art Direction.

Top Grossing Films of the Year in the U.S.

Please note that these are the top grossing films that were first released in 2002; because they may have made most of their income in a later year, they are probably not the top grossing films for calendar year 2002.

1. Spider-Man (Sony) $403,706,375
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (New Line) $339,789,881
3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Fox) $302,191,252
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Warner Bros) $261,988,482
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (IFC) $241,438,208
6. Signs, starring Mel Gibson (Disney) $227,966,634
7. Austin Powers in Goldmember, starring Mike Myers (New Line) $213,307,889
8. Men in Black II, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (Sony) $190,418,803
9. Ice Age (Fox) $176,387,405
10. Chicago (Miramax) $170,687,518

24 films grossed over $100 million. Seven films grossed over $200 million, a new record.

Academy Awards

• Best Picture: Chicago - Loop Films, Miramax Films, Producers Circle
• Best Actor: Adrien Brody - The Pianist
• Best Actress: Nicole Kidman - The Hours

Births

Deaths

• January 13 - Ted Demme, 38, director
• February 15 - Kevin Smith, 38, television actor
• February 21 - John Thaw, 60, actor
• February 22 - Chuck Jones, 89, animator
• February 27 - Spike Milligan, 83, comedian
• March 27 - Milton Berle, 93, comedian
• March 27 - Dudley Moore, 66, actor/comedian
• March 27 - Billy Wilder, 95, filmmaker
• April 9 - John Agar, 81, actor
• April 16 - Robert Urich, 55, television actor
• April 22 - Linda Lovelace, 53, porn star (Deep Throat)
• June 5 - Dee Dee Ramone, 49, bassist/songwriter
• June 29 - Rosemary Clooney, 74, singer/actress
• July 5 - Katy Jurado, 78, Mexican actress
• July 6 - John Frankenheimer, 72, director
• July 9 - Rod Steiger, 77, actor
• July 23 - Leo McKern, 82, actor
• August 16 - Jeff Corey, 88, actor, television director
• August 18 - Dean Reisner, 83, screenwriter
• September 7 - Katrin Cartlidge, 41, actress
• September 11 - Kim Hunter, 79, actress
• September 14 LaWanda Page, 81, actress
• September 16 - James Gregory, 90, actor
• October 2 - Bruce Paltrow, 58, director
• October 10 - Teresa Graves, 54, actress
• October 25 - Richard Harris, 72, actor
• November 3 - Jonathan Harris, 87, television actor
• November 18 - James Coburn, 74, actor
• December 3 - Glenn Quinn, 32, television actor

Other Movies Released

• Laurel Canyon
• Orange County
• Snow Dogs
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• The Mothman Prophecies
• A Walk To Remember
• Collateral Damage
• Crossroads
• John Q.
• Return to Never Land
• Dragonfly
• Queen of the Damned
• 40 Days and 40 Nights
• We Were Soldiers
• All About the Benjamins
• The Time Machine
• Resident Evil
• Showtime
• Blade II
• (20th anniversary re-release) 3/22
• Clockstoppers
• Panic Room
• The Rookie
• High Crimes
• National Lampoon's Van Wilder
• Big Fat Liar
• Changing Lanes
• The Sweetest Thing
• Space Station 3-D (IMAX)
• Murder by Numbers
• The Scorpion King
• The New Guy
• Unfaithful
• About a Boy
• Enough
• Insomnia
• The Sum of All Fears
• Undercover Brother
• Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
• Bad Company
• Scooby-Doo
• The Bourne Identity
• Windtalkers
• Lilo & Stitch
• Minority Report
• Mr. Deeds
• Like Mike
• The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
• Reign of Fire
• Road to Perdition
• Stuart Little 2
• Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat
• The Master of Disguise
• Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams
• Blood Work
• XXX
• Blue Crush
• One Hour Photo
• City by the Sea
• SwimFan
• 24 Hour Party People
• Barbershop
• The Banger Sisters
• Sweet Home Alabama
• The Tuxedo
• Red Dragon
• Bowling for Columbine
• Brown Sugar
• The Transporter
• The Ring
• Frida
• Ghost Ship
• I Spy
• The Santa Clause 2
• 8 Mile
• Friday After Next
• Eight Crazy Nights
• Treasure Planet
• Analyze That
• Adaptation
• Drumline
• The Hot Chick
• Maid in Manhattan
• Star Trek: Nemesis
• Two Weeks Notice
• The Wild Thornberrys
• Gangs of New York
• Catch Me If You Can
• Parlez-moi d'amour (Speak to Me of Love )
• Ken Park
• Hop - written and directed by Dominique Standaert, mainly black and white.
• Igby Goes Down - Kieran Culkin and Claire Danes
• Bloody Sunday

Referenced By