#1 of 40 #1 crime movie of 1986
1986 · Comedy, Romance
$93.2M worldwide · 19% of the chart's total
$49.9M US & Canada · 54% $43.3M elsewhere · 46%
Crime box office · 1986
Crime Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing Crime Movies
Legal Eagles (1986) is the highest-grossing crime movie released in 1986, with $93.2M worldwide, ahead of Ruthless People (1986) at $71.6M and Cobra (1986) at $49M. 40 crime films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $480.9M in all, 90% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 87% on 1985, whose releases took $257M. By language, English leads with $408.5M across 34 crime releases.
- 1986 releases with a gross
- 40
- combined worldwide
- $480.9M
- Legal Eagles (1986), the #1
- $93.2M
- vs 1985
- +87%
#1 of 40 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Crime Hits of 1986?
Legal Eagles (1986) leads with $93.2M, 19% of the total. The top 5 together took $277.5M, 58% of what all 40 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 Crime Release of 1986, 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 1986.
- 1 Jun 20, 1986 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $43.3M Worldwide: $93.2M
- 2 Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $71.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.6M
- 3 May 23, 1986 US and Canada: $49M Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $49M
- 4 Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $38.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.5M
- 5 Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: $66 Worldwide: $25.1M
- 6
Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $21.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.5M - 7
Feb 7, 1986 US and Canada: $20.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.6M - 8
Jun 6, 1986 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M - 9
Aug 15, 1986 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M - 10
Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.3M - 11
Apr 18, 1986 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 12
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: $3.1K Worldwide: $8.6M - 13
Apr 18, 1986 US and Canada: $8.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.5M - 14
Nov 7, 1986 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: $463 Worldwide: $8.4M - 15
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $7.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.6M - 16
Sep 24, 1986 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 17
May 2, 1986 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M - 18
Jan 10, 1986 US and Canada: $6.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.6M - 19
Aug 8, 1986 US and Canada: $6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6M - 20
Jun 13, 1986 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 21
Nov 7, 1986 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 22
Jul 25, 1986 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M - 23
Aug 2, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5M - 24
Apr 11, 1986 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.9M - 25
May 2, 1986 US and Canada: $4.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7M - 26
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M - 27
May 9, 1986 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 28
Apr 18, 1986 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: $77 Worldwide: $2.3M - 29
Aug 29, 1986 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 30
May 30, 1986 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 31
Sep 20, 1986 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $93.5K Worldwide: $1.5M - 32
Apr 25, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 33
Apr 23, 1986 US and Canada: $926K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $926K - 34
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)Sep 24, 1986 US and Canada: $609.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $609.9K
Sep 24, 1986 · English · Thriller, Horror, Drama $609.9K worldwide - 35
Feb 21, 1986 US and Canada: $502.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $502.2K - 36
Nov 13, 1986 US and Canada: $36.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.8K - 37
Mar 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6K - 38
Apr 25, 1986 US and Canada: $5.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1K - 39
Mar 12, 1986 US and Canada: $2.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7K - 40
Aug 13, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?
Of the top 10, Ruthless People (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Legal Eagles (1986) made 46% of its gross abroad. Across all 40 films, $432.5M (90%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Legal Eagles (1986) $93.2M $49.9M US & Canada · 54% $43.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 Ruthless People (1986) $71.6M $71.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Cobra (1986) $49M $49M US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Running Scared (1986) $38.5M $38.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Morning After (1986) $25.1M $25.1M US & Canada · 100% $66 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Tough Guys (1986) $21.5M $21.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 F/X (1986) $20.6M $20.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Raw Deal (1986) $16.2M $16.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Armed and Dangerous (1986) $15.9M $15.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 No Mercy (1986) $12.3M $12.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 40 films reached $100M. 30 films, 75% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $480.9M total.
76% 24%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 10 films, 25% of the list $364M · 76% of the gross
- Under $10M 30 films, 75% of the list $116.9M · 24% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $225.3M from 5 films, led by Legal Eagles (1986). March was the quietest month ($22.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Black Moon Rising (1986) $6.6M Black Moon Rising (1986)
- February Feb F/X (1986) $28.7M F/X (1986)
- March Mar Trouble in Mind (1986) $22.3K Trouble in Mind (1986)
- April Apr Murphy’s Law (1986) $27.9M Murphy’s Law (1986)
- May May Cobra (1986) $65M Cobra (1986)
- June Jun Legal Eagles (1986) $225.3M Legal Eagles (1986)
- July Jul Out of Bounds (1986) $5.1M Out of Bounds (1986)
- August Aug Armed and Dangerous (1986) $40.4M Armed and Dangerous (1986)
- September Sep The Name of the Rose (1986) $9.3M The Name of the Rose (1986)
- October Oct Tough Guys (1986) $21.5M Tough Guys (1986)
- November Nov Something Wild (1986) $13.6M Something Wild (1986)
- December Dec The Morning After (1986) $37.5M The Morning After (1986)
Last 10 years
How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1984 earned the most: $664.2M from 23 films, led by Beverly Hills Cop (1984). 1986 took $480.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 7 films | 7 | $42.2M | – | The Gauntlet (1977) $26.4M |
| 1978 9 films · +259% | 9 | $151.3M | +259% | Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) $49.6M |
| 1979 12 films · −13% | 12 | $132M | −13% | Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M |
| 1980 15 films · +183% | 15 | $373M | +183% | The Blues Brothers (1980) $115.2M |
| 1981 23 films · −34% | 23 | $247.4M | −34% | Sharky's Machine (1981) $35.6M |
| 1982 19 films · −4% | 19 | $236.6M | −4% | 48 Hrs. (1982) $78.9M |
| 1983 24 films · +46% | 24 | $344.3M | +46% | Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M |
| 1984 23 films · +93% | 23 | $664.2M | +93% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| 1985 21 films · −61% | 21 | $257M | −61% | Fletch (1985) $59.6M |
| 1986 40 films · +87% | 40 | $480.9M | +87% | Legal Eagles (1986) $93.2M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Crime Movies Speak in 1986?
English-language crime films took $408.5M across 34 films, 85% of the total, ahead of French-language crime films ($6M) and Cantonese-language crime films ($5M).
Archive
Crime Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2013 leads with $6.1B, led by Despicable Me 2 (2013).
2020s 7 years · $16.4B
2010s 10 years · $37.4B
- 2019 $4.9B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Skyscraper (2018)
- 2017 $3.8B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $3.9B #1 Zootopia (2016)
- 2015 $4.1B #1 Furious 7 (2015)
- 2014 $2.1B #1 22 Jump Street (2014)
- 2013 $6.1B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $4.9B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- 2011 $1.7B #1 Fast Five (2011)
- 2010 $2.2B #1 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2010)
2000s 10 years · $28.4B
- 2009 $3.2B #1 Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- 2008 $3.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $3.4B #1 Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
- 2006 $2.5B #1 The Departed (2006)
- 2005 $2.7B #1 Batman Begins (2005)
- 2004 $2.1B #1 Ocean's Twelve (2004)
- 2003 $3.1B #1 Bad Boys II (2003)
- 2002 $2.6B #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $3.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $2B #1 Charlie's Angels (2000)
1990s 10 years · $19.3B
- 1999 $2.5B #1 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
- 1998 $1.7B #1 Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
- 1997 $2.1B #1 Face/Off (1997)
- 1996 $1.8B #1 Ransom (1996)
- 1995 $2.5B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $1.9B #1 The Mask (1994)
- 1993 $1.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $1.7B #1 Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
- 1991 $1.7B #1 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- 1990 $2.1B #1 Home Alone (1990)
1980s 10 years · $6.5B
- 1989 $1.6B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $1.2B #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $1.1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $480.9M #1 Legal Eagles (1986)
- 1985 $257M #1 Fletch (1985)
- 1984 $664.2M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $344.3M #1 Sudden Impact (1983)
- 1982 $236.6M #1 48 Hrs. (1982)
- 1981 $247.4M #1 Sharky's Machine (1981)
- 1980 $373M #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.6B
- 1979 $132M #1 Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
- 1978 $151.3M #1 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- 1977 $42.2M #1 The Gauntlet (1977)
- 1976 $192.9M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $145.7M #1 Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- 1974 $199.1M #1 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- 1973 $281.5M #1 The Sting (1973)
- 1972 $250.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $140.3M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $20.4M #1 Joe (1970)
1960s 10 years · $174M
- 1969 $102.7M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $6.5M #1 The War Wagon (1967)
- 1966 $143.5K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $186.8K #1 Pierrot le Fou (1965)
- 1964 $10.9M #1 The Pink Panther (1964)
- 1963 $46.4M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $2.5M #1 Copacabana Palace (1962)
- 1961 $3.8K #1 Accattone (1961)
- 1960 $1M #1 Breathless (1960)
1950s 10 years · $13.7M
- 1959 $27.6K #1 The Law (1959)
- 1958 $2.7M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $3.7K #1 12 Angry Men (1957)
- 1956 $76.3K #1 The Ladykillers (1956)
- 1955 $1.5M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $6.4M #1 An Inspector Calls (1954)
- 1953 $7.5K #1 The Big Heat (1953)
- 1952 $8.9K #1 Deadline - U.S.A. (1952)
- 1951 $1.9M #1 The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
- 1950 $994.2K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 7 years · $667K
1930s 7 years · $3.3M
FAQ
Crime Box Office 1986: 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 40 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing crime movie in 1986?
Legal Eagles (1986) leads with $93.2M worldwide, $49.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Ruthless People (1986) at $71.6M and Cobra (1986) at $49M.
How much did crime movies released in 1986 earn?
40 crime films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $480.9M in all, or $12M per film on average. 1985 releases took $257M.
How many crime movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Legal Eagles (1986), earned $93.2M.
How is the 1986 crime 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 1986. 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 1986 crime 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.