#1 of 52 #1 action movie of 1987
1987 · Action, Thriller
$300M worldwide · 29% of the chart's total
$153.7M US & Canada · 51% $146.3M elsewhere · 49%
Action box office · 1987
Action Box Office 1987: Highest-Grossing Action Movies
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 1987, with $300M worldwide, ahead of Lethal Weapon (1987) at $120.2M and Predator (1987) at $98.3M. 52 action films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $1B in all, 75% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 4% on 1986, whose releases took $1.1B. By language, English leads with $1B across 48 action releases.
- 1987 releases with a gross
- 52
- combined worldwide
- $1B
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 1986
- −4%
#1 of 52 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 1987?
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) leads with $300M, 29% of the total. The top 5 together took $635.3M, 61% of what all 52 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Action Release of 1987, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 52. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1987.
- 1 May 20, 1987 US and Canada: $153.7M Rest of the world: $146.3M Worldwide: $300M
- 2 Mar 6, 1987 US and Canada: $65.2M Rest of the world: $55M Worldwide: $120.2M
- 3 Jun 12, 1987 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $38.5M Worldwide: $98.3M
- 4 Aug 5, 1987 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $65.7M
- 5 Jul 31, 1987 US and Canada: $51.2M Rest of the world: $35K Worldwide: $51.2M
- 6
Jun 26, 1987 US and Canada: $46.4M Rest of the world: $3.8M Worldwide: $50.2M - 7
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)Feb 27, 1987 US and Canada: $44.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.8M
Feb 27, 1987 · English · Action, Thriller, Fantasy $44.8M worldwide - 8
Nov 13, 1987 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $38.1M - 9
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $35.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.5M - 10
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)Jul 24, 1987 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: $14.6M Worldwide: $30.3M Jul 24, 1987 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $30.3M worldwide - 11
Jul 1, 1987 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.9M - 12
Dec 9, 1987 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: $425 Worldwide: $22.2M - 13
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 14
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $769 Worldwide: $17.3M - 15
Feb 13, 1987 US and Canada: $16.1M Rest of the world: $350 Worldwide: $16.1M - 16
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $13.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.8M - 17
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12M - 18
Apr 24, 1987 US and Canada: $11.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.3M - 19
Jan 16, 1987 US and Canada: $7.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.6M - 20
Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M - 21
Jan 9, 1987 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.1M - 22
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.7M - 23
Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 24
Feb 20, 1987 US and Canada: $4.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.5M - 25
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M - 26
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4M - 27
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 28
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $3.8M - 29
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M - 30
Oct 3, 1987 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $321 Worldwide: $3.4M - 31
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 32
Mar 13, 1987 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M - 33
Jul 10, 1987 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.2M - 34
Sep 11, 1987 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 35
Sep 4, 1987 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 36
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 37
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $873.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $873.9K - 38
Jul 17, 1987 US and Canada: $847.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $847.5K - 39
Mar 20, 1987 US and Canada: $800K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $800K - 40
Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $562.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $562.2K - 41
Feb 27, 1987 US and Canada: $411K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $411K - 42
Oct 1, 1987 US and Canada: $323.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $323.9K - 43
Nov 28, 1987 US and Canada: $295K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $295K - 44
Nov 28, 1987 US and Canada: $295K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $295K - 45
Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $285.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $285.9K - 46
Nov 12, 1987 US and Canada: $226.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $226.9K - 47
Jun 26, 1987 US and Canada: $210.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $210.2K - 48
Oct 23, 1987 US and Canada: $200.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $200.7K - 49
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $159.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.7K - 50
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $25K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?
Of the top 10, Stakeout (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) made 49% of its gross abroad. Across all 52 films, $790.3M (75%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M $153.7M US & Canada · 51% $146.3M elsewhere · 49%
- 2 Lethal Weapon (1987) $120.2M $65.2M US & Canada · 54% $55M elsewhere · 46%
- 3 Predator (1987) $98.3M $59.7M US & Canada · 61% $38.5M elsewhere · 39%
- 4 Stakeout (1987) $65.7M $65.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Living Daylights (1987) $51.2M $51.2M US & Canada · 100% $35K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Full Metal Jacket (1987) $50.2M $46.4M US & Canada · 92% $3.8M elsewhere · 8%
- 7 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) $44.8M $44.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Running Man (1987) $38.1M $38.1M US & Canada · 100% $1.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 No Way Out (1987) $35.5M $35.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) $30.3M $15.7M US & Canada · 52% $14.6M elsewhere · 48%
Gross bands
How Many 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 52 films crossed $100M and took $420.2M between them, 40% of the total. 34 films, 65% of the list, earned under $10M.
40% 53%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 2 films, 4% of the list $420.2M · 40% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 16 films, 31% of the list $552.5M · 53% of the gross
- Under $10M 34 films, 65% of the list $75.9M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $308.5M from 5 films, led by Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). April was the quietest month ($11.3M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987) $13.6M Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987)
- February Feb A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) $65.8M A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- March Mar Lethal Weapon (1987) $123.8M Lethal Weapon (1987)
- April Apr Extreme Prejudice (1987) $11.3M Extreme Prejudice (1987)
- May May Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $308.5M Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- June Jun Predator (1987) $148.7M Predator (1987)
- July Jul The Living Daylights (1987) $110.5M The Living Daylights (1987)
- August Aug Stakeout (1987) $149.2M Stakeout (1987)
- September Sep The Principal (1987) $27.7M The Principal (1987)
- October Oct Fatal Beauty (1987) $15.9M Fatal Beauty (1987)
- November Nov The Running Man (1987) $46.4M The Running Man (1987)
- December Dec Empire of the Sun (1987) $27.1M Empire of the Sun (1987)
Last 10 years
How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1984 earned the most: $1.4B from 37 films, led by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). 1987 took $1B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 12 films | 12 | $509.4M | – | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 15 films · +3% | 15 | $524.3M | +3% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 20 films · +92% | 20 | $1B | +92% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 18 films · −46% | 18 | $544.5M | −46% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 24 films · +20% | 24 | $653.6M | +20% | First Blood (1982) $125.2M |
| 1983 28 films · +61% | 28 | $1.1B | +61% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| 1984 37 films · +35% | 37 | $1.4B | +35% | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M |
| 1985 46 films · −34% | 46 | $931.7M | −34% | Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $300.4M |
| 1986 47 films · +17% | 47 | $1.1B | +17% | Top Gun (1986) $357.3M |
| 1987 52 films · −4% | 52 | $1B | −4% | Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Action Movies Speak in 1987?
English-language action films took $1B across 48 films, 96% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language action films ($3.6M) and Swedish-language action films ($873.9K).
Archive
Action Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2017 leads with $20.6B, led by Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017).
2020s 7 years · $61.4B
- 2026 so far $6B #1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- 2025 $11.9B #1 Zootopia 2 (2025)
- 2024 $8.7B #1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- 2023 $10B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $11.2B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $10.3B #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 2020 $3.4B #1 The Eight Hundred (2020)
2010s 10 years · $152.6B
- 2019 $16.5B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $19.7B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $20.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $16.5B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $16.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $16.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $12.5B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $13.8B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $10.7B #1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- 2010 $9.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
2000s 10 years · $73.2B
- 2009 $12.5B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $9.7B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $7.5B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
- 2006 $6.7B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $5.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $6.8B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $8.7B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $5.6B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $5.5B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
- 2000 $4.7B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $32.6B
- 1999 $4.4B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $4.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $5.1B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $4.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $3.6B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $2.9B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $1.6B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $2B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $2.1B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $2.5B #1 Total Recall (1990)
1980s 10 years · $10.7B
- 1989 $1.8B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $1.2B #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- 1987 $1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $1.1B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $931.7M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $1.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $1.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $653.6M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $544.5M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $1B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $2.8B
- 1979 $524.3M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $509.4M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $104.8M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $28.9M #1 The Eiger Sanction (1975)
- 1974 $238.7M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $84.1M #1 Magnum Force (1973)
- 1972 $94.5M #1 The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
- 1971 $112.6M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $119.5M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $286.3M
- 1969 $30.7M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.6M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $49.1M #1 You Only Live Twice (1967)
- 1966 $31.4K #1 Django (1966)
- 1965 $115.3M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $24.8M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $62.5M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $88.9K #1 Sanjuro (1962)
- 1961 $88.8K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $13.1K #1 Exodus (1960)
1950s 7 years · $3.2M
1940s 2 years · $2.3M
1930s 2 years · $5.8K
1920s 2 years · $1.8K
FAQ
Action Box Office 1987: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 52 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in 1987?
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) leads with $300M worldwide, $153.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Lethal Weapon (1987) at $120.2M and Predator (1987) at $98.3M.
How much did action movies released in 1987 earn?
52 action films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $1B in all, or $20.2M per film on average. 1986 releases took $1.1B.
How many action movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) with $300M.
How is the 1987 action box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 1987. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the 1987 action box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.