#1 of 6 #1 comedy movie of December 1990
1990 · Action, Thriller
$202M worldwide · 74% of the chart's total
$91.5M US & Canada · 45% $110.5M elsewhere · 55%
Comedy box office · December 1990
Comedy Box Office, December 1990: Top-Grossing Releases
Kindergarten Cop (1990) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in December 1990, with $202M worldwide, ahead of Mermaids (1990) at $35.4M and The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) at $15.7M. 6 comedy films released in December 1990 report a worldwide gross, $273.2M in all, 60% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 50% on November 1990, whose releases took $550.9M. By language, English leads with $267.3M across 5 comedy releases.
- December 1990 releases with a gross
- 6
- combined worldwide
- $273.2M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs November 1990
- −50%
#1 of 6 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of December 1990?
Kindergarten Cop (1990) leads with $202M, 74% of the total. The top 5 together took $267.3M, 98% of what all 6 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 December 1990, 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 1990.
- 1 Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $91.5M Rest of the world: $110.5M Worldwide: $202M
- 2 Dec 14, 1990 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.4M
- 3 Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.7M
- 4 Dec 25, 1990 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M
- 5 Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M
- 6
Dec 1, 1990 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: $2K Worldwide: $5.8M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1990?
Of the top 6, Mermaids (1990) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Kindergarten Cop (1990) made 55% of its gross abroad. Across all 6 films, $162.7M (60%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Kindergarten Cop (1990) $202M $91.5M US & Canada · 45% $110.5M elsewhere · 55%
- 2 Mermaids (1990) $35.4M $35.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) $15.7M $15.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Alice (1990) $7.3M $7.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Almost an Angel (1990) $6.9M $6.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) $5.8M $5.8M US & Canada · 100% $2K elsewhere · <1%
By release week
Which Week of December 1990 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 16–22) took $224.6M, led by Kindergarten Cop (1990). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 25–Dec 1 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) $5.8M Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 2–8 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 9–15 Mermaids (1990) $35.4M Mermaids (1990)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 16–22 Kindergarten Cop (1990) $224.6M Kindergarten Cop (1990)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 23–29 Alice (1990) $7.3M Alice (1990)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 30–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1990 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 1990 took $273.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1981 5 films | 5 | $58.5M | – | 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 |
| December 1990 6 films · −46% | 6 | $273.2M | −46% | Kindergarten Cop (1990) $202M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1990, Month by Month
The months of 1990 with their totals: March leads with $761.9M, led by Pretty Woman (1990).
- January $29.7M #1 Tremors (1990)
- February $40.9M #1 Madhouse (1990)
- March $761.9M #1 Pretty Woman (1990)
- April $94.9M #1 Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
- May $435.8M #1 Back to the Future Part III (1990)
- June $403.9M #1 Dick Tracy (1990)
- July $709.6M #1 Ghost (1990)
- August $147.7M #1 Air America (1990)
- September $52.4M #1 Postcards from the Edge (1990)
- October $22.1M #1 Mr. Destiny (1990)
- November $550.9M #1 Home Alone (1990)
- December $273.2M #1 Kindergarten Cop (1990)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office December 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 6 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in December 1990?
Kindergarten Cop (1990) leads with $202M worldwide, $91.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Mermaids (1990) at $35.4M and The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) at $15.7M.
How much did comedy movies released in December 1990 earn?
6 comedy films released in December 1990 report a worldwide gross, $273.2M in all, or $45.5M per film on average. November 1990 releases took $550.9M.
How many comedy movies released in December 1990 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Kindergarten Cop (1990) with $202M.
How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.