#1 of 5 #1 action movie of September 1989
1989 · Action, Thriller
$134.2M worldwide · 87% of the chart's total
$46.2M US & Canada · 34% $88M elsewhere · 66%
Action box office · September 1989
Action Box Office, September 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Black Rain (1989) is the highest-grossing action movie released in September 1989, with $134.2M worldwide, ahead of Kickboxer (1989) at $14.7M and Old Gringo (1989) at $3.6M. 5 action films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $154.9M in all, 43% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 21% on August 1989, whose releases took $128.2M. By language, English leads with $154.9M across 5 action releases.
- September 1989 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $154.9M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs August 1989
- +21%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of September 1989?
Black Rain (1989) leads with $134.2M, 87% of the total. The top 5 together took $154.9M, 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 September 1989, 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 September 1989.
- 1 Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $46.2M Rest of the world: $88M Worldwide: $134.2M
- 2 Sep 8, 1989 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
- 3 Sep 13, 1989 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M
- 4 Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M
- 5 Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $618.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $618.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1989?
Of the top 5, Kickboxer (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Black Rain (1989) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $66.9M (43%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Black Rain (1989) $134.2M $46.2M US & Canada · 34% $88M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Kickboxer (1989) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Old Gringo (1989) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Bloodfist (1989) $1.8M $1.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Cage (1989) $618.2K $618.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of September 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 38 (Sep 17–23) took $136M, led by Black Rain (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 27–Sep 2 Cage (1989) $618.2K Cage (1989)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Sep 3–9 Kickboxer (1989) $14.7M Kickboxer (1989)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 10–16 Old Gringo (1989) $3.6M Old Gringo (1989)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 17–23 Black Rain (1989) $136M Black Rain (1989)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 24–30 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does September 1989 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1989 earned the most: $154.9M from 5 films, led by Black Rain (1989).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1980 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1981 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1982 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1983 2 films | 2 | $14.9M | – | Revenge of the Ninja (1983) $13.2M |
| September 1984 3 films · +64% | 3 | $24.5M | +64% | The Evil That Men Do (1984) $13.1M |
| September 1985 3 films · −24% | 3 | $18.5M | −24% | Invasion U.S.A. (1985) $17.5M |
| September 1986 1 film · −75% | 1 | $4.7M | −75% | Avenging Force (1986) $4.7M |
| September 1987 5 films · +492% | 5 | $27.7M | +492% | The Principal (1987) $19.7M |
| September 1988 5 films · −68% | 5 | $8.8M | −68% | Tougher Than Leather (1988) $3.6M |
| September 1989 5 films · +1655% | 5 | $154.9M | +1655% | Black Rain (1989) $134.2M |
Archive
Action Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: May leads with $525.7M, led by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
- January $56.3M #1 Three Fugitives (1989)
- February $8.9M #1 The Mighty Quinn (1989)
- March $18.3M #1 Dead Bang (1989)
- April $99.2M #1 K-9 (1989)
- May $525.7M #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- June $331.7M #1 Ghostbusters II (1989)
- July $384.9M #1 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- August $128.2M #1 The Abyss (1989)
- September $154.9M #1 Black Rain (1989)
- October $40.3M #1 An Innocent Man (1989)
- November $11.5M #1 Henry V (1989)
- December $63.4M #1 Tango & Cash (1989)
FAQ
Action Box Office September 1989: 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 September 1989?
Black Rain (1989) leads with $134.2M worldwide, $46.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Kickboxer (1989) at $14.7M and Old Gringo (1989) at $3.6M.
How much did action movies released in September 1989 earn?
5 action films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $154.9M in all, or $31M per film on average. August 1989 releases took $128.2M.
How many action movies released in September 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Black Rain (1989) with $134.2M.
How is the September 1989 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 September 1989. 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 September 1989 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.