#1 of 5 #1 biography movie of 1989
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
1989 · Biography, Drama
$161M worldwide · 76% of the chart's total
$70M US & Canada · 43% $91M elsewhere · 57%
Biography box office · 1989
Biography Box Office 1989: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 1989, with $161M worldwide, ahead of Blaze (1989) at $19.1M and My Left Foot (1989) at $14.7M. 5 biography films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $212.2M in all, 57% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 23% on 1988, whose releases took $172.8M. By language, English leads with $212.2M across 5 biography releases.
- 1989 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $212.2M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1988
- +23%
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 1989?
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) leads with $161M, 76% of the total. The top 5 together took $212.2M, 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 Biography Release of 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 1989.
- 1 Dec 20, 1989 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $91M Worldwide: $161M
- 2 Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $19.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.1M
- 3 Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
- 4 Jun 30, 1989 US and Canada: $13.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.7M
- 5 Oct 20, 1989 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1989?
Of the top 5, Blaze (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Born on the Fourth of July (1989) made 57% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $121.2M (57%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M $70M US & Canada · 43% $91M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 Blaze (1989) $19.1M $19.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 My Left Foot (1989) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Great Balls of Fire! (1989) $13.7M $13.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Fat Man and Little Boy (1989) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1989 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $180.1M from 2 films, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989). October was the quietest month ($3.6M). 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 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Great Balls of Fire! (1989) $13.7M Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Fat Man and Little Boy (1989) $3.6M Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)
- November Nov My Left Foot (1989) $14.7M My Left Foot (1989)
- December Dec Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $180.1M Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Last 10 years
How Does 1989 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $254.3M from 4 films, led by Out of Africa (1985). 1989 took $212.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 5 films | 5 | $135.5M | – | 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 |
| 1988 6 films · +63% | 6 | $172.8M | +63% | Good Morning, Vietnam (1988) $123.9M |
| 1989 5 films · +23% | 5 | $212.2M | +23% | Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M |
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 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 biography movie in 1989?
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) leads with $161M worldwide, $70M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Blaze (1989) at $19.1M and My Left Foot (1989) at $14.7M.
How much did biography movies released in 1989 earn?
5 biography films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $212.2M in all, or $42.4M per film on average. 1988 releases took $172.8M.
How many biography movies released in 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) with $161M.
How is the 1989 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 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 1989 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.