#1 of 13 #1 drama movie of September 1989
1989 · Crime, Drama
$110.9M worldwide · 84% of the chart's total
$58.6M US & Canada · 53% $52.3M elsewhere · 47%
Drama box office · September 1989
Drama Box Office, September 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Sea of Love (1989) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in September 1989, with $110.9M worldwide, ahead of Johnny Handsome (1989) at $7.2M and A Dry White Season (1989) at $3.8M. 13 drama films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $132.4M in all, 60% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 53% on August 1989, whose releases took $283.9M. By language, English leads with $132M across 9 drama releases.
- September 1989 releases with a gross
- 13
- combined worldwide
- $132.4M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs August 1989
- −53%
#1 of 13 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of September 1989?
Sea of Love (1989) leads with $110.9M, 84% of the total. The top 5 together took $129M, 97% 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 September 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 September 1989.
- 1 Sep 15, 1989 US and Canada: $58.6M Rest of the world: $52.3M Worldwide: $110.9M
- 2 Sep 29, 1989 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M
- 3 Sep 20, 1989 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
- 4 Sep 13, 1989 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M
- 5 Sep 7, 1989 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M
- 6
Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 7
Sep 10, 1989 US and Canada: $938.1K Rest of the world: $497 Worldwide: $938.6K - 8
Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $618.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $618.2K - 9
Sep 12, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $143.2K - 10
Sep 15, 1989 US and Canada: $117.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $117.5K - 11
Sep 21, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77.6K - 12
Sep 8, 1989 US and Canada: $76.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $76.6K - 13
Sep 6, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1989?
Of the top 10, Johnny Handsome (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Sea of Love (1989) made 47% of its gross abroad. Across all 13 films, $79.8M (60%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Sea of Love (1989) $110.9M $58.6M US & Canada · 53% $52.3M elsewhere · 47%
- 2 Johnny Handsome (1989) $7.2M $7.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 A Dry White Season (1989) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Old Gringo (1989) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 In Country (1989) $3.5M $3.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Courage Mountain (1989) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Sweetie (1989) $938.6K $938.1K US & Canada · 100% $497 elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Cage (1989) $618.2K $618.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 A City of Sadness (1989) $143.2K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 The Big Picture (1989) $117.5K $117.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many September 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 13 films crossed $100M and took $110.9M between them, 84% of the total. 12 films, 92% of the list, earned under $10M.
84% 16%
- $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 1 film, 8% of the list $110.9M · 84% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- Under $10M 12 films, 92% of the list $21.5M · 16% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of September 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 37 (Sep 10–16) took $115.7M, led by Sea of Love (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 27–Sep 2 Courage Mountain (1989) $2M Courage Mountain (1989)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Sep 3–9 In Country (1989) $3.6M In Country (1989)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 10–16 Sea of Love (1989) $115.7M Sea of Love (1989)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 17–23 A Dry White Season (1989) $3.8M A Dry White Season (1989)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 24–30 Johnny Handsome (1989) $7.2M Johnny Handsome (1989)
Earlier years
How Does September 1989 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1987 earned the most: $374.9M from 19 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987). September 1989 took $132.4M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1980 8 films | 8 | $97.3M | – | Ordinary People (1980) $54.8M |
| September 1981 6 films · −39% | 6 | $59.4M | −39% | Only When I Laugh (1981) $25.5M |
| September 1982 6 films · −86% | 6 | $8.3M | −86% | The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982) $2.3M |
| September 1983 10 films · +1036% | 10 | $94.7M | +1036% | The Big Chill (1983) $56.4M |
| September 1984 12 films · +12% | 12 | $106.2M | +12% | Amadeus (1984) $52.3M |
| September 1985 8 films · −66% | 8 | $36.5M | −66% | Agnes of God (1985) $25.6M |
| September 1986 7 films · −30% | 7 | $25.6M | −30% | Blue Velvet (1986) $8.7M |
| September 1987 19 films · +1362% | 19 | $374.9M | +1362% | Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M |
| September 1988 23 films · −69% | 23 | $116.6M | −69% | Gorillas in the Mist (1988) $61.1M |
| September 1989 13 films · +13% | 13 | $132.4M | +13% | Sea of Love (1989) $110.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in September 1989?
English-language drama films took $132M across 9 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language drama films ($220.8K) and French-language drama films ($1.6K).
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 September 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 September 1989?
Sea of Love (1989) leads with $110.9M worldwide, $58.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Johnny Handsome (1989) at $7.2M and A Dry White Season (1989) at $3.8M.
How much did drama movies released in September 1989 earn?
13 drama films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $132.4M in all, or $10.2M per film on average. August 1989 releases took $283.9M.
How many drama movies released in September 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Sea of Love (1989) with $110.9M.
How is the September 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 September 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 September 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.