#1 of 4 #1 biography movie of 1987
1987 · Biography, Drama
$54.2M worldwide · 51% of the chart's total
$54.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.2K elsewhere · <1%
Biography box office · 1987
Biography Box Office 1987: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
La Bamba (1987) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 1987, with $54.2M worldwide, ahead of The Last Emperor (1987) at $44M and Cry Freedom (1987) at $5.9M. 4 biography films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $105.8M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is 30 times the total of 1986, whose releases took $3.5M.
- 1987 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $105.8M
- La Bamba (1987), the #1
- $54.2M
- vs 1986
- ×30
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 1987?
La Bamba (1987) leads with $54.2M, 51% of the total. The top 4 together took $105.8M, almost all of what the 4 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Biography Release of 1987, 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 1987.
- 1 Jul 24, 1987 US and Canada: $54.2M Rest of the world: $3.2K Worldwide: $54.2M
- 2 Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $44M Rest of the world: $47.3K Worldwide: $44M
- 3 Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $5.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.9M
- 4 May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $18.2K Worldwide: $1.7M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?
Of the top 4, Cry Freedom (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Prick Up Your Ears (1987) made 1% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $105.8M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 La Bamba (1987) $54.2M $54.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 The Last Emperor (1987) $44M $44M US & Canada · 100% $47.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Cry Freedom (1987) $5.9M $5.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Prick Up Your Ears (1987) $1.7M $1.7M US & Canada · 99% $18.2K elsewhere · 1%
By release month
Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $54.2M from 1 film, led by La Bamba (1987). May was the quietest month ($1.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Prick Up Your Ears (1987) $1.7M Prick Up Your Ears (1987)
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul La Bamba (1987) $54.2M La Bamba (1987)
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov Cry Freedom (1987) $5.9M Cry Freedom (1987)
- December Dec The Last Emperor (1987) $44M The Last Emperor (1987)
Last 10 years
How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $254.3M from 4 films, led by Out of Africa (1985). 1987 took $105.8M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 2 films | 2 | $49.4M | – | Midnight Express (1978) $35M |
| 1979 1 film · −13% | 1 | $43M | −13% | Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M |
| 1980 5 films · +215% | 5 | $135.5M | +215% | Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) $67.2M |
| 1981 4 films · −55% | 4 | $61.5M | −55% | Reds (1981) $40.4M |
| 1982 2 films · +19% | 2 | $73.3M | +19% | Chariots of Fire (1982) $59.3M |
| 1983 6 films · +77% | 6 | $129.6M | +77% | Gandhi (1983) $52.8M |
| 1984 1 film · −98% | 1 | $2.9M | −98% | Phar Lap (1984) $2.9M |
| 1985 4 films · +8735% | 4 | $254.3M | +8735% | Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M |
| 1986 4 films · −99% | 4 | $3.5M | −99% | Sid and Nancy (1986) $2.9M |
| 1987 4 films · +2900% | 4 | $105.8M | +2900% | La Bamba (1987) $54.2M |
Archive
Biography Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1929 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2.3B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2020s 7 years · $4.7B
2010s 10 years · $13.3B
- 2019 $1.3B #1 Ford v Ferrari (2019)
- 2018 $2.3B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $1.6B #1 The Greatest Showman (2017)
- 2016 $1.6B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 American Sniper (2014)
- 2013 $2.1B #1 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- 2012 $511.3M #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $319.8M #1 The Iron Lady (2011)
- 2010 $341.2M #1 The Social Network (2010)
2000s 10 years · $5.9B
- 2009 $1B #1 The Blind Side (2009)
- 2008 $330.9M #1 The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- 2007 $638.4M #1 Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
- 2006 $775.2M #1 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- 2005 $671M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $683.8M #1 The Aviator (2004)
- 2003 $165.3M #1 Monster (2003)
- 2002 $674.3M #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $541.6M #1 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
- 2000 $385.6M #1 Erin Brockovich (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.7B
- 1999 $347.4M #1 The Hurricane (1999)
- 1998 $301.1M #1 Patch Adams (1998)
- 1997 $214.7M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $219.4M #1 Evita (1996)
- 1995 $385.1M #1 Braveheart (1995)
- 1994 $52.6M #1 Wyatt Earp (1994)
- 1993 $652.9M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $106.3M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $291.7M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $102.9M #1 Goodfellas (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.2B
- 1989 $212.2M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 1988 $172.8M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- 1987 $105.8M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $3.5M #1 Sid and Nancy (1986)
- 1985 $254.3M #1 Out of Africa (1985)
- 1984 $2.9M #1 Phar Lap (1984)
- 1983 $129.6M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $73.3M #1 Chariots of Fire (1982)
- 1981 $61.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $135.5M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 8 years · $358M
1960s 7 years · $271.4M
1950s 2 years · $21.4M
1940s 1 year · $3K
1930s 1 year · $4.9K
1920s 1 year · $22.7K
FAQ
Biography 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 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing biography movie in 1987?
La Bamba (1987) leads with $54.2M worldwide, $54.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Last Emperor (1987) at $44M and Cry Freedom (1987) at $5.9M.
How much did biography movies released in 1987 earn?
4 biography films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $105.8M in all, or $26.5M per film on average. 1986 releases took $3.5M.
How many biography movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, La Bamba (1987), earned $54.2M.
How is the 1987 biography 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 biography 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.