#1 of 110 #1 comedy movie of 1989
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
1989 · Adventure, Sci-Fi
$332.9M worldwide · 11% of the chart's total
$119.4M US & Canada · 36% $213.5M elsewhere · 64%
Comedy box office · 1989
Comedy Box Office 1989: Highest-Grossing Comedy Movies
Back to the Future Part II (1989) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in 1989, with $332.9M worldwide, ahead of Look Who's Talking (1989) at $297M and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) at $227.9M. 110 comedy films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $3.1B in all, 72% of it from the US & Canada. 8 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 5% on 1988, whose releases took $3B. By language, English leads with $3B across 98 comedy releases.
- 1989 releases with a gross
- 110
- combined worldwide
- $3.1B
- films crossed $100M
- 8
- vs 1988
- +5%
#1 of 110 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of 1989?
Back to the Future Part II (1989) leads with $332.9M, 11% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.3B, 41% of what all 110 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 Comedy Release of 1989, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 110. 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 Back to the Future Part II (1989)Nov 22, 1989 US and Canada: $119.4M Rest of the world: $213.5M Worldwide: $332.9M
Nov 22, 1989 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $332.9M worldwide - 2 Oct 13, 1989 US and Canada: $140.1M Rest of the world: $156.9M Worldwide: $297M
- 3 Jul 7, 1989 US and Canada: $147.3M Rest of the world: $80.6M Worldwide: $227.9M
- 4 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)Jun 23, 1989 US and Canada: $130.7M Rest of the world: $92M Worldwide: $222.7M Jun 23, 1989 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $222.7M worldwide
- 5 Jun 16, 1989 US and Canada: $112.5M Rest of the world: $102.9M Worldwide: $215.4M
- 6
Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $86.9M Rest of the world: $73.3M Worldwide: $160.2M - 7
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $106.6M Rest of the world: $39.2M Worldwide: $145.8M - 8
Aug 2, 1989 US and Canada: $100M Rest of the world: $26.3M Worldwide: $126.3M - 9
Nov 22, 1989 US and Canada: $84.6M Rest of the world: $12.1M Worldwide: $96.8M - 10
Jul 12, 1989 US and Canada: $93.1M Rest of the world: $157.6K Worldwide: $93.3M - 11
Aug 16, 1989 US and Canada: $66.8M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $79.3M - 12
Apr 28, 1989 US and Canada: $43.2M Rest of the world: $35M Worldwide: $78.2M - 13
Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $74.5M Rest of the world: $26.2K Worldwide: $74.5M - 14
Jul 28, 1989 US and Canada: $71.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.1M - 15
Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $63.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.4M - 16
Nov 17, 1989 US and Canada: $60.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.9M - 17
Apr 7, 1989 US and Canada: $49.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.8M - 18
Feb 17, 1989 US and Canada: $36.6M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $49.1M - 19
May 12, 1989 US and Canada: $46.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.9M - 20
Jan 27, 1989 US and Canada: $40.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.6M - 21
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)Feb 17, 1989 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $25.9K Worldwide: $40.5M Feb 17, 1989 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $40.5M worldwide - 22
Mar 17, 1989 US and Canada: $35.2M Rest of the world: $4.3M Worldwide: $39.5M - 23
Jun 30, 1989 US and Canada: $27.5M Rest of the world: $9.8M Worldwide: $37.3M - 24
Jul 5, 1989 US and Canada: $30.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.2M - 25
Apr 7, 1989 US and Canada: $28.9M Rest of the world: $16.9K Worldwide: $28.9M - 26
Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $22.1M Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $27.5M - 27
Feb 10, 1989 US and Canada: $22M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22M - 28
Apr 4, 1989 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: $733.8K Worldwide: $21.5M - 29
Mar 3, 1989 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 30
Feb 3, 1989 US and Canada: $18.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.7M - 31
Oct 13, 1989 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.3M - 32
Oct 27, 1989 US and Canada: $16.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.6M - 33
Mar 10, 1989 US and Canada: $16.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.3M - 34
Dec 8, 1989 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 35
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.3M - 36
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.2M - 37
May 26, 1989 US and Canada: $12.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.1M - 38
Apr 14, 1989 US and Canada: $12.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.1M - 39
Oct 20, 1989 US and Canada: $11.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.6M - 40
Mar 10, 1989 US and Canada: $11.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.6M - 41
Feb 3, 1989 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M - 42
Mar 10, 1989 US and Canada: $10.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.8M - 43
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 44
Mar 24, 1989 US and Canada: $8.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.5M - 45
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989)Mar 10, 1989 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.1M Mar 10, 1989 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $8.1M worldwide - 46
Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.8M - 47
Apr 14, 1989 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7M - 48
Jul 21, 1989 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M - 49
Jul 21, 1989 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.2M - 50
Aug 30, 1989 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.1M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1989?
Of the top 10, When Harry Met Sally... (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Back to the Future Part II (1989) made 64% of its gross abroad. Across all 110 films, $2.2B (72%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Back to the Future Part II (1989) $332.9M $119.4M US & Canada · 36% $213.5M elsewhere · 64%
- 2 Look Who's Talking (1989) $297M $140.1M US & Canada · 47% $156.9M elsewhere · 53%
- 3 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) $227.9M $147.3M US & Canada · 65% $80.6M elsewhere · 35%
- 4 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) $222.7M $130.7M US & Canada · 59% $92M elsewhere · 41%
- 5 Ghostbusters II (1989) $215.4M $112.5M US & Canada · 52% $102.9M elsewhere · 48%
- 6 The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M $86.9M US & Canada · 54% $73.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 7 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $145.8M $106.6M US & Canada · 73% $39.2M elsewhere · 27%
- 8 Parenthood (1989) $126.3M $100M US & Canada · 79% $26.3M elsewhere · 21%
- 9 Steel Magnolias (1989) $96.8M $84.6M US & Canada · 87% $12.1M elsewhere · 13%
- 10 When Harry Met Sally... (1989) $93.3M $93.1M US & Canada · 100% $157.6K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
8 of 110 films crossed $100M and took $1.7B between them, 55% of the total. 67 films, 61% of the list, earned under $10M.
55% 40%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 8 films, 7% of the list $1.7B · 55% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 35 films, 32% of the list $1.3B · 40% of the gross
- Under $10M 67 films, 61% of the list $134.6M · 4% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1989 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $529.7M from 9 films, led by Back to the Future Part II (1989). September was the quietest month ($3M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Three Fugitives (1989) $46.2M Three Fugitives (1989)
- February Feb The 'Burbs (1989) $144.5M The 'Burbs (1989)
- March Mar Fletch Lives (1989) $122.2M Fletch Lives (1989)
- April Apr K-9 (1989) $207.3M K-9 (1989)
- May May See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) $70M See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
- June Jun Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) $478.5M Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- July Jul Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) $435.7M Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- August Aug Parenthood (1989) $221.9M Parenthood (1989)
- September Sep Erik the Viking (1989) $3M Erik the Viking (1989)
- October Oct Look Who's Talking (1989) $358.5M Look Who's Talking (1989)
- November Nov Back to the Future Part II (1989) $529.7M Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- December Dec The War of the Roses (1989) $507.5M The War of the Roses (1989)
Last 10 years
How Does 1989 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1989 earned the most: $3.1B from 110 films, led by Back to the Future Part II (1989).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 54 films | 54 | $1.1B | – | The Blues Brothers (1980) $115.2M |
| 1981 42 films · −34% | 42 | $752.2M | −34% | Arthur (1981) $95.5M |
| 1982 55 films · +42% | 55 | $1.1B | +42% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| 1983 49 films · −8% | 49 | $979.6M | −8% | Terms of Endearment (1983) $108.4M |
| 1984 76 films · +90% | 76 | $1.9B | +90% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| 1985 72 films · −19% | 72 | $1.5B | −19% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
| 1986 93 films · +33% | 93 | $2B | +33% | Crocodile Dundee (1986) $328.2M |
| 1987 108 films · +6% | 108 | $2.1B | +6% | Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M |
| 1988 101 films · +40% | 101 | $3B | +40% | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) $329.8M |
| 1989 110 films · +5% | 110 | $3.1B | +5% | Back to the Future Part II (1989) $332.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Comedy Movies Speak in 1989?
English-language comedy films took $3B across 98 films, 96% of the total, ahead of French-language comedy films ($3.4M) and Italian-language comedy films ($1.2M).
1989 Comedy Box Office by Language
- English $3B98 films · #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
-
French $3.4M2 films · #1 Too Beautiful for You (1989) -
Italian $1.2M1 film · #1 The Icicle Thief (1989) -
Japanese $150K1 film · #1 Mobile Suit SD Gundam’s Counterattack (1989) -
Tamil $7.6K1 film · #1 Rajathi Raja (1989) -
Portuguese $1.4K1 film · #1 Recollections of the Yellow House (1989)
Archive
Comedy Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $16.1B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $40.8B
2010s 10 years · $118B
- 2019 $16.1B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $11.8B #1 Incredibles 2 (2018)
- 2017 $12.9B #1 Despicable Me 3 (2017)
- 2016 $12.4B #1 Finding Dory (2016)
- 2015 $14.3B #1 Minions (2015)
- 2014 $9.3B #1 Big Hero 6 (2014)
- 2013 $10.7B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $10.2B #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- 2011 $9.8B #1 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
- 2010 $10.4B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $79.4B
- 2009 $9.2B #1 Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
- 2008 $9.3B #1 Mamma Mia! (2008)
- 2007 $10.3B #1 Shrek the Third (2007)
- 2006 $8.4B #1 Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
- 2005 $8B #1 Madagascar (2005)
- 2004 $7.5B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $8.1B #1 Finding Nemo (2003)
- 2002 $6.4B #1 Men in Black II (2002)
- 2001 $6.6B #1 Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- 2000 $5.7B #1 What Women Want (2000)
1990s 10 years · $33.7B
- 1999 $5.4B #1 Toy Story 2 (1999)
- 1998 $4.2B #1 There's Something About Mary (1998)
- 1997 $3.6B #1 Men in Black (1997)
- 1996 $3.2B #1 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- 1995 $3B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $3.6B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $2.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $2.1B #1 Sister Act (1992)
- 1991 $2.4B #1 Hook (1991)
- 1990 $3.5B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $17.5B
- 1989 $3.1B #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- 1988 $3B #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $2.1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $2B #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- 1985 $1.5B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $1.9B #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $979.6M #1 Terms of Endearment (1983)
- 1982 $1.1B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $752.2M #1 Arthur (1981)
- 1980 $1.1B #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.2B
- 1979 $823.9M #1 1941 (1979)
- 1978 $568.8M #1 Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- 1977 $509.1M #1 Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
- 1976 $181.6M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $301.6M #1 The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- 1974 $309.1M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $313.5M #1 The Sting (1973)
- 1972 $19.3M #1 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)
- 1971 $10.7M #1 Gentlemen of Fortune (1971)
- 1970 $209.7M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $554.7M
- 1969 $66.3M #1 The Love Bug (1969)
- 1968 $98.4M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $162.1M #1 The Graduate (1967)
- 1966 $177.9K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $364.7K #1 Do Not Disturb (1965)
- 1964 $143.3M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $61.9M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $1.8M #1 Copacabana Palace (1962)
- 1961 $1.4M #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- 1960 $19.1M #1 The Apartment (1960)
1950s 10 years · $162M
- 1959 $231.6K #1 Some Like It Hot (1959)
- 1958 $2.1M #1 Paris Holiday (1958)
- 1957 $46.4K #1 Ali Baba Bunny (1957)
- 1956 $51.1M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $94M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $3.1M #1 White Christmas (1954)
- 1953 $9M #1 Father of Four (1953)
- 1952 $2.2M #1 Singin' in the Rain (1952)
- 1951 $56.4K #1 The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
- 1950 $16K #1 Rabbit of Seville (1950)
1940s 10 years · $188M
- 1949 $217.9K #1 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
- 1948 $29.7K #1 Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948)
- 1947 $1.1M #1 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- 1946 $37.7M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $21.9M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $31.7K #1 What’s Cookin’ Doc? (1944)
- 1943 $1.3M #1 The Marry-Go-Round (1943)
- 1942 $723 #1 The Palm Beach Story (1942)
- 1941 $2.3M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $123.3M #1 Pinocchio (1940)
1930s 10 years · $31.5M
- 1939 $26.1M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $18K #1 Bringing Up Baby (1938)
- 1937 $19.3K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $4.7M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $532K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $43.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $108.6K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $12.2K #1 Fanny (1932)
- 1931 $8.3K #1 Marius (1931)
- 1930 $1K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
FAQ
Comedy 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 110 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in 1989?
Back to the Future Part II (1989) leads with $332.9M worldwide, $119.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Look Who's Talking (1989) at $297M and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) at $227.9M.
How much did comedy movies released in 1989 earn?
110 comedy films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $3.1B in all, or $28.4M per film on average. 1988 releases took $3B.
How many comedy movies released in 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 8 films crossed $100 million, led by Back to the Future Part II (1989) with $332.9M.
How is the 1989 comedy 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 comedy 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.