#1 of 10 #1 drama movie of December 1989
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
1989 · Biography, Drama
$161M worldwide · 37% of the chart's total
$70M US & Canada · 43% $91M elsewhere · 57%
Drama box office · December 1989
Drama Box Office, December 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in December 1989, with $161M worldwide, ahead of Driving Miss Daisy (1989) at $145.8M and Always (1989) at $74.1M. 10 drama films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $441M in all, 64% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 85% on November 1989, whose releases took $238.8M. By language, English leads with $428.8M across 9 drama releases.
- December 1989 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $441M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs November 1989
- +85%
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of December 1989?
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) leads with $161M, 37% of the total. The top 5 together took $414.3M, 94% 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 Drama Release of December 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 December 1989.
- 1 Dec 20, 1989 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $91M Worldwide: $161M
- 2 Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $106.6M Rest of the world: $39.2M Worldwide: $145.8M
- 3 Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $43.9M Rest of the world: $30.3M Worldwide: $74.1M
- 4 Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $19.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.1M
- 5 Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.3M
- 6
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.2M - 7
Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.8M - 8
Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M - 9
Dec 8, 1989 US and Canada: $408.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $408.8K - 10
Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $13.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1989?
Of the top 10, Blaze (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Born on the Fourth of July (1989) made 57% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $280.5M (64%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M $70M US & Canada · 43% $91M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $145.8M $106.6M US & Canada · 73% $39.2M elsewhere · 27%
- 3 Always (1989) $74.1M $43.9M US & Canada · 59% $30.3M elsewhere · 41%
- 4 Blaze (1989) $19.1M $19.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Wizard (1989) $14.3M $14.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Family Business (1989) $12.2M $12.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Enemies, a Love Story (1989) $7.8M $7.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Music Box (1989) $6.3M $6.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Triumph of the Spirit (1989) $408.8K $408.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Red Surf (1989) $13.1K $13.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many December 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 10 films crossed $100M and took $306.8M between them, 70% of the total. 4 films, 40% of the list, earned under $10M.
70% 27%
- $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 2 films, 20% of the list $306.8M · 70% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 40% of the list $119.7M · 27% of the gross
- Under $10M 4 films, 40% of the list $14.4M · 3% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 17–23) took $241.4M, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 26–Dec 2 Red Surf (1989) $13.1K Red Surf (1989)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 3–9 Triumph of the Spirit (1989) $408.8K Triumph of the Spirit (1989)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 10–16 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $199.2M Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 17–23 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $241.4M Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 24–30 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1989 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1988 earned the most: $590.8M from 11 films, led by Rain Man (1988). December 1989 took $441M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1980 3 films | 3 | $47.2M | – | The Jazz Singer (1980) $27.1M |
| December 1981 11 films · +566% | 11 | $314.5M | +566% | On Golden Pond (1981) $119.3M |
| December 1982 10 films · +26% | 10 | $394.9M | +26% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| December 1983 9 films · −58% | 9 | $167.6M | −58% | Scarface (1983) $66.4M |
| December 1984 9 films · +155% | 9 | $427.4M | +155% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 9 films · −7% | 9 | $398.8M | −7% | Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M |
| December 1986 6 films · −51% | 6 | $194.9M | −51% | Platoon (1986) $138.5M |
| December 1987 11 films · +34% | 11 | $262M | +34% | Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M |
| December 1988 11 films · +126% | 11 | $590.8M | +126% | Rain Man (1988) $354.8M |
| December 1989 10 films · −25% | 10 | $441M | −25% | Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M |
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 December 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 10 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in December 1989?
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) leads with $161M worldwide, $70M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Driving Miss Daisy (1989) at $145.8M and Always (1989) at $74.1M.
How much did drama movies released in December 1989 earn?
10 drama films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $441M in all, or $44.1M per film on average. November 1989 releases took $238.8M.
How many drama movies released in December 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) with $161M.
How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.