#1 of 13 #1 drama movie of November 1989
1989 · Drama, Comedy
$96.8M worldwide · 41% of the chart's total
$84.6M US & Canada · 87% $12.1M elsewhere · 13%
Drama box office · November 1989
Drama Box Office, November 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Steel Magnolias (1989) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in November 1989, with $96.8M worldwide, ahead of Harlem Nights (1989) at $60.9M and Dad (1989) at $27.5M. 13 drama films released in November 1989 report a worldwide gross, $238.8M in all, 93% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 97% on October 1989, whose releases took $121.1M. By language, English leads with $238.8M across 13 drama releases.
- November 1989 releases with a gross
- 13
- combined worldwide
- $238.8M
- Steel Magnolias (1989), the #1
- $96.8M
- vs October 1989
- +97%
#1 of 13 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of November 1989?
Steel Magnolias (1989) leads with $96.8M, 41% of the total. The top 5 together took $218.5M, 91% of what all 13 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 Drama Release of November 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 November 1989.
- 1 Nov 22, 1989 US and Canada: $84.6M Rest of the world: $12.1M Worldwide: $96.8M
- 2 Nov 17, 1989 US and Canada: $60.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.9M
- 3 Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $22.1M Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $27.5M
- 4 Nov 17, 1989 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.6M
- 5 Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
- 6
Nov 8, 1989 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: $112 Worldwide: $10.2M - 7
Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M - 8
Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 9
Nov 17, 1989 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: $33.7K Worldwide: $1.6M - 10
Nov 17, 1989 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 11
Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $862.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $862.6K - 12
Nov 14, 1989 US and Canada: $336.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $336.8K - 13
Nov 3, 1989 US and Canada: $43.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in November 1989?
Of the top 10, Harlem Nights (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Dad (1989) made 20% of its gross abroad. Across all 13 films, $221.3M (93%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Steel Magnolias (1989) $96.8M $84.6M US & Canada · 87% $12.1M elsewhere · 13%
- 2 Harlem Nights (1989) $60.9M $60.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Dad (1989) $27.5M $22.1M US & Canada · 80% $5.4M elsewhere · 20%
- 4 Prancer (1989) $18.6M $18.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 My Left Foot (1989) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Henry V (1989) $10.2M $10.2M US & Canada · 100% $112 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Staying Together (1989) $4.3M $4.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Communion (1989) $1.9M $1.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Mystery Train (1989) $1.6M $1.5M US & Canada · 98% $33.7K elsewhere · 2%
- 10 Valmont (1989) $1.1M $1.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many November 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 13 films reached $100M. 7 films, 54% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $238.8M total.
96%
- $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 6 films, 46% of the list $228.6M · 96% of the gross
- Under $10M 7 films, 54% of the list $10.2M · 4% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of November 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 47 (Nov 19–25) took $96.8M, led by Steel Magnolias (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 44 Wk 44 Oct 29–Nov 4 Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989) $43.7K Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
- Week 45 Wk 45 Nov 5–11 Dad (1989) $59.5M Dad (1989)
- Week 46 Wk 46 Nov 12–18 Harlem Nights (1989) $82.5M Harlem Nights (1989)
- Week 47 Wk 47 Nov 19–25 Steel Magnolias (1989) $96.8M Steel Magnolias (1989)
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 26–Dec 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does November 1989 Compare With November in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, November 1985 earned the most: $403.5M from 12 films, led by Rocky IV (1985). November 1989 took $238.8M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1980 4 films | 4 | $29.6M | – | Raging Bull (1980) $23.4M |
| November 1981 1 film · −50% | 1 | $14.9M | −50% | Ragtime (1981) $14.9M |
| November 1982 6 films · −10% | 6 | $13.4M | −10% | The Last Unicorn (1982) $6.5M |
| November 1983 5 films · +812% | 5 | $122.5M | +812% | Terms of Endearment (1983) $108.4M |
| November 1984 7 films · −40% | 7 | $73.3M | −40% | Missing in Action (1984) $22.8M |
| November 1985 12 films · +450% | 12 | $403.5M | +450% | Rocky IV (1985) $300.5M |
| November 1986 17 films · −58% | 17 | $171.1M | −58% | An American Tail (1986) $84.5M |
| November 1987 17 films · +52% | 17 | $259.5M | +52% | 3 Men and a Baby (1987) $167.8M |
| November 1988 11 films · −29% | 11 | $185M | −29% | The Land Before Time (1988) $84.8M |
| November 1989 13 films · +29% | 13 | $238.8M | +29% | Steel Magnolias (1989) $96.8M |
Archive
Drama Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: December leads with $441M, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989).
- January $37.5M #1 Mississippi Burning (1989)
- February $28.2M #1 Tap (1989)
- March $90.3M #1 Lean on Me (1989)
- April $112.9M #1 Field of Dreams (1989)
- May $24.5M #1 Pink Cadillac (1989)
- June $334.9M #1 Dead Poets Society (1989)
- July $182.8M #1 When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
- August $283.9M #1 Parenthood (1989)
- September $132.4M #1 Sea of Love (1989)
- October $121.1M #1 The Bear (1989)
- November $238.8M #1 Steel Magnolias (1989)
- December $441M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
FAQ
Drama Box Office November 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 13 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in November 1989?
Steel Magnolias (1989) leads with $96.8M worldwide, $84.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Harlem Nights (1989) at $60.9M and Dad (1989) at $27.5M.
How much did drama movies released in November 1989 earn?
13 drama films released in November 1989 report a worldwide gross, $238.8M in all, or $18.4M per film on average. October 1989 releases took $121.1M.
How many drama movies released in November 1989 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Steel Magnolias (1989), earned $96.8M.
How is the November 1989 drama 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 November 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 November 1989 drama 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.