#1 of 5 #1 action movie of May 1990
1990 · Action, Comedy
$138.7M worldwide · 87% of the chart's total
$71M US & Canada · 51% $67.7M elsewhere · 49%
Action box office · May 1990
Action Box Office, May 1990: Top-Grossing Releases
Bird on a Wire (1990) is the highest-grossing action movie released in May 1990, with $138.7M worldwide, ahead of Fire Birds (1990) at $14.8M and Short Time (1990) at $4M. 5 action films released in May 1990 report a worldwide gross, $159.9M in all, 58% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. By language, English leads with $145.2M across 3 action releases.
- May 1990 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $159.9M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- earned in the US & Canada
- 58%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Action Hits of May 1990?
Bird on a Wire (1990) leads with $138.7M, 87% of the total. The top 5 together took $159.9M, 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 May 1990, 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 May 1990.
- 1 May 18, 1990 US and Canada: $71M Rest of the world: $67.7M Worldwide: $138.7M
- 2 May 25, 1990 US and Canada: $14.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8M
- 3 May 4, 1990 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4M
- 4 May 11, 1990 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M
- 5 Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990)May 9, 1990 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.4K
May 9, 1990 · Telugu · Comedy, Action, Romance $8.4K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in May 1990?
Of the top 5, Fire Birds (1990) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Bird on a Wire (1990) made 49% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $92.2M (58%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 5 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Bird on a Wire (1990) $138.7M $71M US & Canada · 51% $67.7M elsewhere · 49%
- 2 Fire Birds (1990) $14.8M $14.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Short Time (1990) $4M $4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Class of 1999 (1990) $2.5M $2.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) $8.4K No US & Canada figure reported
By release week
Which Week of May 1990 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 20 (May 13–19) took $138.7M, led by Bird on a Wire (1990). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 29–May 5 Short Time (1990) $4M Short Time (1990)
- Week 19 Wk 19 May 6–12 Class of 1999 (1990) $2.5M Class of 1999 (1990)
- Week 20 Wk 20 May 13–19 Bird on a Wire (1990) $138.7M Bird on a Wire (1990)
- Week 21 Wk 21 May 20–26 Fire Birds (1990) $14.8M Fire Birds (1990)
- Week 22 Wk 22 May 27–Jun 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does May 1990 Compare With May in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, May 1983 earned the most: $550.8M from 5 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). May 1990 took $159.9M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1981 1 film | 1 | $17.4M | – | Outland (1981) $17.4M |
| May 1982 4 films · +481% | 4 | $101M | +481% | Conan the Barbarian (1982) $68.9M |
| May 1983 5 films · +446% | 5 | $550.8M | +446% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| May 1984 3 films · −35% | 3 | $358.8M | −35% | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M |
| May 1985 6 films · +10% | 6 | $393.7M | +10% | Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $300.4M |
| May 1986 6 films · +7% | 6 | $422.3M | +7% | Top Gun (1986) $357.3M |
| May 1987 5 films · −27% | 5 | $308.5M | −27% | Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M |
| May 1988 8 films · +61% | 8 | $498.2M | +61% | Crocodile Dundee II (1988) $239.6M |
| May 1989 5 films · +6% | 5 | $525.7M | +6% | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) $474.2M |
| May 1990 5 films · −70% | 5 | $159.9M | −70% | Bird on a Wire (1990) $138.7M |
Archive
Action Box Office in 1990, Month by Month
The months of 1990 with their totals: June leads with $781.2M, led by Total Recall (1990).
- January $16.7M #1 Ski Patrol (1990)
- February $85.5M #1 Hard to Kill (1990)
- March $414.5M #1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
- April No grosses
- May $159.9M #1 Bird on a Wire (1990)
- June $781.2M #1 Total Recall (1990)
- July $286.5M #1 Die Hard 2 (1990)
- August $149.4M #1 Darkman (1990)
- September $31.3M #1 Death Warrant (1990)
- October $111.5M #1 Marked for Death (1990)
- November $57.7M #1 Predator 2 (1990)
- December $360.5M #1 Kindergarten Cop (1990)
FAQ
Action Box Office May 1990: 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 May 1990?
Bird on a Wire (1990) leads with $138.7M worldwide, $71M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Fire Birds (1990) at $14.8M and Short Time (1990) at $4M.
How much did action movies released in May 1990 earn?
5 action films released in May 1990 report a worldwide gross, $159.9M in all, or $32M per film on average.
How many action movies released in May 1990 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Bird on a Wire (1990) with $138.7M.
How is the May 1990 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 May 1990. 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 May 1990 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.