#1 of 91 #1 comedy movie of 1990
1990 · Drama, Mystery
$505.7M worldwide · 14% of the chart's total
$217.6M US & Canada · 43% $288.1M elsewhere · 57%
Comedy box office · 1990
Comedy Box Office 1990: Highest-Grossing Comedy Movies
Ghost (1990) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in 1990, with $505.7M worldwide, ahead of Home Alone (1990) at $476.7M and Pretty Woman (1990) at $463.4M. 91 comedy films released in 1990 report a worldwide gross, $3.5B in all, 63% of it from the US & Canada. 9 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 13% on 1989, whose releases took $3.1B. By language, English leads with $3.4B across 74 comedy releases.
- 1990 releases with a gross
- 91
- combined worldwide
- $3.5B
- films crossed $100M
- 9
- vs 1989
- +13%
#1 of 91 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of 1990?
Ghost (1990) leads with $505.7M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.9B, 54% of what all 91 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 1990, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 91. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1990.
- 1 Jul 13, 1990 US and Canada: $217.6M Rest of the world: $288.1M Worldwide: $505.7M
- 2 Nov 16, 1990 US and Canada: $285.8M Rest of the world: $190.9M Worldwide: $476.7M
- 3 Mar 23, 1990 US and Canada: $178.4M Rest of the world: $285M Worldwide: $463.4M
- 4 Back to the Future Part III (1990)May 25, 1990 US and Canada: $88.3M Rest of the world: $156.8M Worldwide: $245.1M
May 25, 1990 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $245.1M worldwide - 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)Mar 30, 1990 US and Canada: $135.4M Rest of the world: $66.7M Worldwide: $202.1M Mar 30, 1990 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $202.1M worldwide
- 6
Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $91.5M Rest of the world: $110.5M Worldwide: $202M - 7
Jun 15, 1990 US and Canada: $103.7M Rest of the world: $59M Worldwide: $162.7M - 8
Jun 8, 1990 US and Canada: $80.8M Rest of the world: $72.7M Worldwide: $153.5M - 9
May 18, 1990 US and Canada: $71M Rest of the world: $67.7M Worldwide: $138.7M - 10
Jul 27, 1990 US and Canada: $53.5M Rest of the world: $18.8M Worldwide: $72.3M - 11
Nov 21, 1990 US and Canada: $71.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.6M - 12
Jul 18, 1990 US and Canada: $53.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $53.2M - 13
Jun 15, 1990 US and Canada: $41.5M Rest of the world: $843 Worldwide: $41.5M - 14
Mar 9, 1990 US and Canada: $39.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.4M - 15
Sep 12, 1990 US and Canada: $39.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.1M - 16
Dec 14, 1990 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.4M - 17
Aug 10, 1990 US and Canada: $31.1M Rest of the world: $2.4M Worldwide: $33.5M - 18
May 18, 1990 US and Canada: $27.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.6M - 19
Mar 9, 1990 US and Canada: $26.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.4M - 20
Jun 29, 1990 US and Canada: $24.7M Rest of the world: $714K Worldwide: $25.4M - 21
Apr 6, 1990 US and Canada: $25M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25M - 22
Aug 17, 1990 US and Canada: $23.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.6M - 23
Jul 20, 1990 US and Canada: $21.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.5M - 24
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)Jul 11, 1990 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M Jul 11, 1990 · English · Action, Adventure, Comedy $21.4M worldwide - 25
Feb 16, 1990 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21M - 26
Jul 6, 1990 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 27
Aug 17, 1990 US and Canada: $20M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20M - 28
Jun 22, 1990 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 29
DuckTales: The Movie – Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990)Aug 3, 1990 US and Canada: $18.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.1M Aug 3, 1990 · English · Family, Fantasy, Adventure $18.1M worldwide - 30
Jan 19, 1990 US and Canada: $16.7M Rest of the world: $4.1K Worldwide: $16.7M - 31
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)May 4, 1990 US and Canada: $16.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.3M May 4, 1990 · English · Thriller, Fantasy, Horror $16.3M worldwide - 32
Aug 24, 1990 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M - 33
Apr 6, 1990 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M - 34
Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.7M - 35
Oct 12, 1990 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 36
Apr 27, 1990 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 37
Jul 13, 1990 US and Canada: $15.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.3M - 38
Apr 13, 1990 US and Canada: $13.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.2M - 39
Aug 22, 1990 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.5M - 40
Mar 30, 1990 US and Canada: $11.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.4M - 41
Mar 16, 1990 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M - 42
Aug 24, 1990 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $2.8K Worldwide: $10.4M - 43
Aug 10, 1990 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M - 44
Apr 20, 1990 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 45
Jan 12, 1990 US and Canada: $8.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.5M - 46
Apr 6, 1990 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: $312 Worldwide: $8.3M - 47
Sep 21, 1990 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.1M - 48
Dec 25, 1990 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M - 49
Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M - 50
Feb 2, 1990 US and Canada: $6.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1990?
Of the top 10, Problem Child (1990) earned the biggest share at home (74% in the US & Canada), while Back to the Future Part III (1990) made 64% of its gross abroad. Across all 91 films, $2.2B (63%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Ghost (1990) $505.7M $217.6M US & Canada · 43% $288.1M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 Home Alone (1990) $476.7M $285.8M US & Canada · 60% $190.9M elsewhere · 40%
- 3 Pretty Woman (1990) $463.4M $178.4M US & Canada · 38% $285M elsewhere · 62%
- 4 Back to the Future Part III (1990) $245.1M $88.3M US & Canada · 36% $156.8M elsewhere · 64%
- 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) $202.1M $135.4M US & Canada · 67% $66.7M elsewhere · 33%
- 6 Kindergarten Cop (1990) $202M $91.5M US & Canada · 45% $110.5M elsewhere · 55%
- 7 Dick Tracy (1990) $162.7M $103.7M US & Canada · 64% $59M elsewhere · 36%
- 8 Another 48 Hrs. (1990) $153.5M $80.8M US & Canada · 53% $72.7M elsewhere · 47%
- 9 Bird on a Wire (1990) $138.7M $71M US & Canada · 51% $67.7M elsewhere · 49%
- 10 Problem Child (1990) $72.3M $53.5M US & Canada · 74% $18.8M elsewhere · 26%
Gross bands
How Many 1990 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
9 of 91 films crossed $100M and took $2.5B between them, 72% of the total. 48 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.
14% 58% 24%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 1% of the list $505.7M · 14% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 8 films, 9% of the list $2B · 58% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 34 films, 37% of the list $850.7M · 24% of the gross
- Under $10M 48 films, 53% of the list $122.4M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1990 Earned the Most?
March releases took the most, $761.9M from 10 films, led by Pretty Woman (1990). October was the quietest month ($22.1M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Tremors (1990) $29.7M Tremors (1990)
- February Feb Madhouse (1990) $40.9M Madhouse (1990)
- March Mar Pretty Woman (1990) $761.9M Pretty Woman (1990)
- April Apr Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) $94.9M Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
- May May Back to the Future Part III (1990) $435.8M Back to the Future Part III (1990)
- June Jun Dick Tracy (1990) $403.9M Dick Tracy (1990)
- July Jul Ghost (1990) $709.6M Ghost (1990)
- August Aug Air America (1990) $147.7M Air America (1990)
- September Sep Postcards from the Edge (1990) $52.4M Postcards from the Edge (1990)
- October Oct Mr. Destiny (1990) $22.1M Mr. Destiny (1990)
- November Nov Home Alone (1990) $550.9M Home Alone (1990)
- December Dec Kindergarten Cop (1990) $273.2M Kindergarten Cop (1990)
Last 10 years
How Does 1990 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1990 earned the most: $3.5B from 91 films, led by Ghost (1990).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 42 films | 42 | $752.2M | – | 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 |
| 1990 91 films · +13% | 91 | $3.5B | +13% | Ghost (1990) $505.7M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Comedy Movies Speak in 1990?
English-language comedy films took $3.4B across 74 films, 97% of the total, ahead of French-language comedy films ($10.7M) and Spanish-language comedy films ($4.1M).
1990 Comedy Box Office by Language
- English $3.4B74 films · #1 Ghost (1990)
-
French $10.7M5 films · #1 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) -
Spanish $4.1M1 film · #1 Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990) -
German $2.3M1 film · #1 The Nasty Girl (1990) -
Italian $23.2K1 film · #1 The Voice of the Moon (1990) -
Czech $20.4K1 film · #1 Larks on a String (1969) -
Telugu $8.4K1 film · #1 Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) - Malayalam $6.1K1 film · #1 Dr. Pasupathy (1990)
-
Russian $2.8K1 film · #1 Taxi Blues (1990)
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 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 91 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in 1990?
Ghost (1990) leads with $505.7M worldwide, $217.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Home Alone (1990) at $476.7M and Pretty Woman (1990) at $463.4M.
How much did comedy movies released in 1990 earn?
91 comedy films released in 1990 report a worldwide gross, $3.5B in all, or $38.7M per film on average. 1989 releases took $3.1B.
How many comedy movies released in 1990 made $1 billion?
None. 9 films crossed $100 million, led by Ghost (1990) with $505.7M.
How is the 1990 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 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 1990 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.