#1 of 10 #1 crime movie of September 1987
1987 · Action, Drama
$19.7M worldwide · 45% of the chart's total
$19.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Crime box office · September 1987
Crime Box Office, September 1987: Top-Grossing Releases
The Principal (1987) is the highest-grossing crime movie released in September 1987, with $19.7M worldwide, ahead of The Pick-up Artist (1987) at $13.3M and Best Seller (1987) at $4.3M. 10 crime films released in September 1987 report a worldwide gross, $44.3M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 65% on August 1987, whose releases took $126.3M. By language, English leads with $44.3M across 10 crime releases.
- September 1987 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $44.3M
- The Principal (1987), the #1
- $19.7M
- vs August 1987
- −65%
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Crime Hits of September 1987?
The Principal (1987) leads with $19.7M, 45% of the total. The top 5 together took $40.1M, 91% 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 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Crime Release of September 1987, 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 September 1987.
- 1 Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M
- 2 Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.3M
- 3 Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M
- 4 Sep 11, 1987 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M
- 5 Sep 4, 1987 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M
- 6
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 7
Sep 11, 1987 US and Canada: $969.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $969.2K - 8
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $858.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $858.3K - 9
Sep 1, 1987 US and Canada: $796.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $796.4K - 10
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $252.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $252.4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1987?
Of the top 10, The Principal (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Orphans (1987) made 0% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $44.3M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Principal (1987) $19.7M $19.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 The Pick-up Artist (1987) $13.3M $13.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Best Seller (1987) $4.3M $4.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 A Prayer for the Dying (1987) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Penitentiary III (1987) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 China Girl (1987) $1.3M $1.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Five Corners (1987) $969.2K $969.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Tough Guys Don’t Dance (1987) $858.3K $858.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Rampage (1987) $796.4K $796.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Orphans (1987) $252.4K $252.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many September 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 10 films reached $100M. 8 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $44.3M total.
75% 25%
- $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 2 films, 20% of the list $33M · 75% of the gross
- Under $10M 8 films, 80% of the list $11.2M · 25% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of September 1987 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 38 (Sep 13–19) took $34.1M, led by The Principal (1987). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 30–Sep 5 Penitentiary III (1987) $2.2M Penitentiary III (1987)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 6–12 A Prayer for the Dying (1987) $2.4M A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 13–19 The Principal (1987) $34.1M The Principal (1987)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 20–26 Best Seller (1987) $5.5M Best Seller (1987)
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 27–Oct 3 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does September 1987 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1987 earned the most: $44.3M from 10 films, led by The Principal (1987).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1978 1 film | 1 | $14.6M | – | Death on the Nile (1978) $14.6M |
| September 1979 4 films · −27% | 4 | $10.6M | −27% | The Onion Field (1979) $9.9M |
| September 1980 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1981 3 films | 3 | $12.9M | – | True Confessions (1981) $12.9M |
| September 1982 1 film · −100% | 1 | $42.9K | −100% | Hammett (1982) $42.9K |
| September 1983 1 film · +30585% | 1 | $13.2M | +30585% | Revenge of the Ninja (1983) $13.2M |
| September 1984 2 films · −63% | 2 | $4.9M | −63% | Exterminator 2 (1984) $3.7M |
| September 1985 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1986 3 films | 3 | $9.3M | – | The Name of the Rose (1986) $7.2M |
| September 1987 10 films · +376% | 10 | $44.3M | +376% | The Principal (1987) $19.7M |
Archive
Crime Box Office in 1987, Month by Month
The months of 1987 with their totals: May leads with $305.9M, led by Beverly Hills Cop II (1987).
- January $25.9M #1 The Bedroom Window (1987)
- February $25.2M #1 Black Widow (1987)
- March $169.6M #1 Lethal Weapon (1987)
- April $39.4M #1 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)
- May $305.9M #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- June $161.9M #1 The Untouchables (1987)
- July $2.2M #1 The Squeeze (1987)
- August $126.3M #1 Stakeout (1987)
- September $44.3M #1 The Principal (1987)
- October $46.9M #1 Suspect (1987)
- November $23.3M #1 Less Than Zero (1987)
- December $101.8M #1 Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
FAQ
Crime Box Office September 1987: 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 crime movie in September 1987?
The Principal (1987) leads with $19.7M worldwide, $19.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Pick-up Artist (1987) at $13.3M and Best Seller (1987) at $4.3M.
How much did crime movies released in September 1987 earn?
10 crime films released in September 1987 report a worldwide gross, $44.3M in all, or $4.4M per film on average. August 1987 releases took $126.3M.
How many crime movies released in September 1987 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Principal (1987), earned $19.7M.
How is the September 1987 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 September 1987. 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 September 1987 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.