#1 of 5 #1 action movie of July 1988
1988 · Action, Thriller
$143.7M worldwide · 51% of the chart's total
$85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
Action box office · July 1988
Action Box Office, July 1988: Top-Grossing Releases
Die Hard (1988) is the highest-grossing action movie released in July 1988, with $143.7M worldwide, ahead of Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and The Dead Pool (1988) at $37.9M. 5 action films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $280.2M in all, 60% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. By language, English leads with $270.5M across 4 action releases.
- July 1988 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $280.2M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- earned in the US & Canada
- 60%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of July 1988?
Die Hard (1988) leads with $143.7M, 51% of the total. The top 5 together took $280.2M, almost all of what the 5 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 July 1988, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in July 1988.
- 1 Jul 15, 1988 US and Canada: $85.9M Rest of the world: $57.8M Worldwide: $143.7M
- 2 Jul 20, 1988 US and Canada: $38.4M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $81.6M
- 3 Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $37.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.9M
- 4 Jul 9, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.7M
- 5 Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $915 Worldwide: $7.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in July 1988?
Of the top 5, The Dead Pool (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Midnight Run (1988) made 53% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $169.5M (60%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 5 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Die Hard (1988) $143.7M $85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
- 2 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
- 3 The Dead Pool (1988) $37.9M $37.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988) $9.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Phantasm II (1988) $7.3M $7.3M US & Canada · 100% $915 elsewhere · <1%
By release week
Which Week of July 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 29 (Jul 10–16) took $181.6M, led by Die Hard (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 27 Wk 27 Jun 26–Jul 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 28 Wk 28 Jul 3–9 Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988) $17M Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988)
- Week 29 Wk 29 Jul 10–16 Die Hard (1988) $181.6M Die Hard (1988)
- Week 30 Wk 30 Jul 17–23 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M Midnight Run (1988)
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 24–30 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 32 Wk 32 Jul 31–Aug 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does July 1988 Compare With July in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, July 1988 earned the most: $280.2M from 5 films, led by Die Hard (1988).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1979 1 film | 1 | $791.6K | – | City on Fire (1979) $791.6K |
| July 1980 3 films · +6103% | 3 | $49.1M | +6103% | Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) $41.7M |
| July 1981 1 film · −49% | 1 | $25.3M | −49% | Escape from New York (1981) $25.3M |
| July 1982 2 films · −62% | 2 | $9.6M | −62% | Forced Vengeance (1982) $6.7M |
| July 1983 2 films · +210% | 2 | $29.9M | +210% | Krull (1983) $16.9M |
| July 1984 1 film · −4% | 1 | $28.7M | −4% | The Last Starfighter (1984) $28.7M |
| July 1985 5 films · +247% | 5 | $99.8M | +247% | Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) $36.2M |
| July 1986 4 films · +55% | 4 | $154.7M | +55% | Aliens (1986) $131.1M |
| July 1987 5 films · −29% | 5 | $110.5M | −29% | The Living Daylights (1987) $51.2M |
| July 1988 5 films · +154% | 5 | $280.2M | +154% | Die Hard (1988) $143.7M |
Archive
Action Box Office in 1988, Month by Month
The months of 1988 with their totals: May leads with $498.2M, led by Crocodile Dundee II (1988).
- January $6.2M #1 Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)
- February $49.8M #1 Shoot to Kill (1988)
- March $7.4M #1 Off Limits (1988)
- April $31.9M #1 Above the Law (1988)
- May $498.2M #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- June $55.3M #1 Red Heat (1988)
- July $280.2M #1 Die Hard (1988)
- August $58.7M #1 Young Guns (1988)
- September $8.8M #1 Tougher Than Leather (1988)
- October $37.8M #1 Alien Nation (1988)
- November $13.5M #1 They Live (1988)
- December $133.1M #1 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
FAQ
Action Box Office July 1988: 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 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing action movie in July 1988?
Die Hard (1988) leads with $143.7M worldwide, $85.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and The Dead Pool (1988) at $37.9M.
How much did action movies released in July 1988 earn?
5 action films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $280.2M in all, or $56M per film on average.
How many action movies released in July 1988 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Die Hard (1988) with $143.7M.
How is the July 1988 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 July 1988. 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 July 1988 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.