#1 of 10 #1 comedy movie of December 1989
1989 · Thriller, Comedy
$160.2M worldwide · 32% of the chart's total
$86.9M US & Canada · 54% $73.3M elsewhere · 46%
Comedy box office · December 1989
Comedy Box Office, December 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
The War of the Roses (1989) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in December 1989, with $160.2M worldwide, ahead of Driving Miss Daisy (1989) at $145.8M and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) at $74.5M. 10 comedy films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $507.5M in all, 78% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 4% on November 1989, whose releases took $529.7M. By language, English leads with $495.3M across 9 comedy releases.
- December 1989 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $507.5M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs November 1989
- −4%
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of December 1989?
The War of the Roses (1989) leads with $160.2M, 32% of the total. The top 5 together took $459.3M, 90% of what all 10 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 $74.5M National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)$74.5M US & Canada · 100% $26.2K elsewhere · <1% -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Comedy Release of December 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 December 1989.
- 1 Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $86.9M Rest of the world: $73.3M Worldwide: $160.2M
- 2 Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $106.6M Rest of the world: $39.2M Worldwide: $145.8M
- 3 Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $74.5M Rest of the world: $26.2K Worldwide: $74.5M
- 4 Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $63.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.4M
- 5 Dec 8, 1989 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M
- 6
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.3M - 7
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.2M - 8
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 9
Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.8M - 10
Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1989?
Of the top 10, Tango & Cash (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The War of the Roses (1989) made 46% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $395M (78%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M $86.9M US & Canada · 54% $73.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $145.8M $106.6M US & Canada · 73% $39.2M elsewhere · 27%
- 3 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) $74.5M $74.5M US & Canada · 100% $26.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Tango & Cash (1989) $63.4M $63.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 She-Devil (1989) $15.4M $15.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Wizard (1989) $14.3M $14.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Family Business (1989) $12.2M $12.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 We're No Angels (1989) $10.6M $10.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Enemies, a Love Story (1989) $7.8M $7.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Lemon Sisters (1989) $3.5M $3.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many December 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 10 films crossed $100M and took $306M between them, 60% of the total. 2 films, 20% of the list, earned under $10M.
60% 38%
- $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 2 films, 20% of the list $306M · 60% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 60% of the list $190.3M · 38% of the gross
- Under $10M 2 films, 20% of the list $11.2M · 2% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 48 (Nov 26–Dec 2) took $238.2M, led by The War of the Roses (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 26–Dec 2 The War of the Roses (1989) $238.2M The War of the Roses (1989)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 3–9 She-Devil (1989) $15.4M She-Devil (1989)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 10–16 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $190.6M Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 17–23 Tango & Cash (1989) $63.4M Tango & Cash (1989)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 24–30 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1989 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1988 earned the most: $535.8M from 8 films, led by Twins (1988). December 1989 took $507.5M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1980 7 films | 7 | $391.3M | – | 9 to 5 (1980) $103.3M |
| December 1981 5 films · −85% | 5 | $58.5M | −85% | Neighbors (1981) $29.9M |
| December 1982 8 films · +578% | 8 | $396.5M | +578% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| December 1983 4 films · −84% | 4 | $63.8M | −84% | Two of a Kind (1983) $23.6M |
| December 1984 7 films · +626% | 7 | $463.1M | +626% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 7 films · −52% | 7 | $220M | −52% | The Jewel of the Nile (1985) $96.8M |
| December 1986 7 films · −2% | 7 | $216.6M | −2% | The Golden Child (1986) $79.8M |
| December 1987 8 films · +63% | 8 | $353.8M | +63% | Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M |
| December 1988 8 films · +51% | 8 | $535.8M | +51% | Twins (1988) $216.6M |
| December 1989 10 films · −5% | 10 | $507.5M | −5% | The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: November leads with $529.7M, led by Back to the Future Part II (1989).
- January $46.2M #1 Three Fugitives (1989)
- February $144.5M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- March $122.2M #1 Fletch Lives (1989)
- April $207.3M #1 K-9 (1989)
- May $70M #1 See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
- June $478.5M #1 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- July $435.7M #1 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- August $221.9M #1 Parenthood (1989)
- September $3M #1 Erik the Viking (1989)
- October $358.5M #1 Look Who's Talking (1989)
- November $529.7M #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- December $507.5M #1 The War of the Roses (1989)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office December 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 10 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in December 1989?
The War of the Roses (1989) leads with $160.2M worldwide, $86.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Driving Miss Daisy (1989) at $145.8M and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) at $74.5M.
How much did comedy movies released in December 1989 earn?
10 comedy films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $507.5M in all, or $50.8M per film on average. November 1989 releases took $529.7M.
How many comedy movies released in December 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by The War of the Roses (1989) with $160.2M.
How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.