Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Family box office · 1986

Family Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing Family Movies

The Karate Kid Part II (1986) is the highest-grossing family movie released in 1986, with $115.1M worldwide, ahead of An American Tail (1986) at $84.5M and Short Circuit (1986) at $40.7M. 17 family films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $349.6M in all, 89% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 42% on 1985, whose releases took $247M. By language, English leads with $294.2M across 13 family releases.

1986 releases with a gross
17
combined worldwide
$349.6M
film crossed $100M
1
vs 1985
+42%
The Karate Kid Part II (1986) movie poster #1 of 17
#1 family movie of 1986

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

1986 · Action, Sport

$115.1M worldwide · 33% of the chart's total

$115.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Family Hits of 1986?

The Karate Kid Part II (1986) leads with $115.1M, 33% of the total. The top 5 together took $297.5M, 85% of what all 17 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Karate Kid Part II (1986) movie poster Number 1
    $115.1M The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
    $115.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. An American Tail (1986) movie poster Number 2
    $84.5M An American Tail (1986)
    $47.5M US & Canada · 56% $37.1M elsewhere · 44%
  3. Short Circuit (1986) movie poster Number 3
    $40.7M Short Circuit (1986)
    $40.7M US & Canada · 100% $542 elsewhere · <1%
  4. The Great Mouse Detective (1986) movie poster Number 4
    $38.6M The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
    $38.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Flight of the Navigator (1986) movie poster Number 5
    $18.6M Flight of the Navigator (1986)
    $18.6M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Family 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. 1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986) movie poster
    The Karate Kid Part II (1986) Jun 20, 1986 · English · Action, Sport, Romance $115.1M worldwide
    Jun 20, 1986 US and Canada: $115.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $115.1M
  2. 2 An American Tail (1986) movie poster
    An American Tail (1986) Nov 21, 1986 · English · Drama, Comedy, Animation $84.5M worldwide
    Nov 21, 1986 US and Canada: $47.5M Rest of the world: $37.1M Worldwide: $84.5M
  3. 3 Short Circuit (1986) movie poster
    Short Circuit (1986) May 9, 1986 · Sci-Fi, Comedy, Family $40.7M worldwide
    May 9, 1986 US and Canada: $40.7M Rest of the world: $542 Worldwide: $40.7M
  4. 4 The Great Mouse Detective (1986) movie poster
    The Great Mouse Detective (1986) Jul 2, 1986 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Animation $38.6M worldwide
    Jul 2, 1986 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.6M
  5. 5 Flight of the Navigator (1986) movie poster
    Flight of the Navigator (1986) Aug 1, 1986 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Family $18.6M worldwide
    Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $18.6M
  6. 6 Labyrinth (1986) movie poster
    Labyrinth (1986) Jun 27, 1986 · Adventure, Fantasy, Family $14.7M worldwide
    Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $13.7M Rest of the world: $1M Worldwide: $14.7M
  7. 7 SpaceCamp (1986) movie poster
    SpaceCamp (1986) Jun 6, 1986 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Family $9.7M worldwide
    Jun 6, 1986 US and Canada: $9.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.7M
  8. 8 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) movie poster
    Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) Mar 21, 1986 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy $8.5M worldwide
    Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $8.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.5M
  9. 9 My Little Pony: The Movie (1986) movie poster
    My Little Pony: The Movie (1986) Jun 6, 1986 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation $6M worldwide
    Jun 6, 1986 US and Canada: $6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6M
  10. 10 The Transformers: The Movie (1986) movie poster
    The Transformers: The Movie (1986) Aug 8, 1986 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $5.9M worldwide
    Aug 8, 1986 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: $12.9K Worldwide: $5.9M
  11. 11 Heathcliff: The Movie (1986) movie poster
    Heathcliff: The Movie (1986) Jan 17, 1986 · English · Comedy, Family, Animation $2.6M worldwide
    Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M
  12. 12 Pirates (1986) movie poster
    Pirates (1986) Jul 18, 1986 · English · Adventure, Comedy, Family $1.6M worldwide
    Jul 18, 1986 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M
  13. 13 GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986) movie poster
    GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986) Mar 21, 1986 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $1.3M worldwide
    Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M
  14. 14 The Adventures of the American Rabbit (1986) movie poster
    The Adventures of the American Rabbit (1986) Jan 17, 1986 · English · Fantasy, Animation, Family $1.3M worldwide
    Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M
  15. 15 Desert Bloom (1986) movie poster
    Desert Bloom (1986) Jan 22, 1986 · English · Family, Drama $416.4K worldwide
    Jan 22, 1986 US and Canada: $416.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $416.4K
  16. 16 The Secret of the Snow Queen (1986) movie poster
    The Secret of the Snow Queen (1986) Jun 5, 1986 · Russian · Fantasy, Family $18.8K worldwide
    Jun 5, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.8K
  17. 17 Swati Muthyam (1986) movie poster
    Swati Muthyam (1986) Mar 13, 1986 · Telugu · Family, Drama $2.9K worldwide
    Mar 13, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?

Of the top 10, The Karate Kid Part II (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while An American Tail (1986) made 44% of its gross abroad. Across all 17 films, $311.5M (89%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986) $115.1M
    $115.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. 2 An American Tail (1986) $84.5M
    $47.5M US & Canada · 56% $37.1M elsewhere · 44%
  3. 3 Short Circuit (1986) $40.7M
    $40.7M US & Canada · 100% $542 elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 The Great Mouse Detective (1986) $38.6M
    $38.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Flight of the Navigator (1986) $18.6M
    $18.6M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 Labyrinth (1986) $14.7M
    $13.7M US & Canada · 93% $1M elsewhere · 7%
  7. 7 SpaceCamp (1986) $9.7M
    $9.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) $8.5M
    $8.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 My Little Pony: The Movie (1986) $6M
    $6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 The Transformers: The Movie (1986) $5.9M
    $5.8M US & Canada · 100% $12.9K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands

How Many 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 17 films crossed $100M and took $115.1M between them, 33% of the total. 11 films, 65% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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, 6% of the list $115.1M · 33% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 29% of the list $197.2M · 56% of the gross
  • Under $10M 11 films, 65% of the list $37.4M · 11% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?

June releases took the most, $145.5M from 5 films, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986). January was the quietest month ($4.3M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Heathcliff: The Movie (1986) $4.3M Heathcliff: The Movie (1986)
  2. February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  3. March Mar Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) $9.9M Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May Short Circuit (1986) $40.7M Short Circuit (1986)
  6. June Jun The Karate Kid Part II (1986) $145.5M The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
  7. July Jul The Great Mouse Detective (1986) $40.3M The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
  8. August Aug Flight of the Navigator (1986) $24.4M Flight of the Navigator (1986)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  11. November Nov An American Tail (1986) $84.5M An American Tail (1986)
  12. December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years

How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1986 earned the most: $349.6M from 17 films, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986).

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1977 9 films 9 $206.1M – The Rescuers (1977) $71.2M
1978 4 films · −75% 4 $51.5M −75% The Wiz (1978) $21M
1979 3 films · +143% 3 $125.2M +143% The Muppet Movie (1979) $66.5M
1980 5 films · −26% 5 $92.5M −26% Popeye (1980) $49.8M
1981 8 films · +83% 8 $169.1M +83% The Fox and the Hound (1981) $63.5M
1982 7 films · −19% 7 $136.9M −19% Annie (1982) $57.1M
1983 5 films · −56% 5 $60.1M −56% A Christmas Story (1983) $20.8M
1984 6 films · +105% 6 $123.3M +105% The Karate Kid (1984) $91.1M
1985 16 films · +100% 16 $247M +100% The Goonies (1985) $64.5M
1986 17 films · +42% 17 $349.6M +42% The Karate Kid Part II (1986) $115.1M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Family Movies Speak in 1986?

English-language family films took $294.2M across 13 films, 84% of the total, ahead of Russian-language family films ($18.8K) and Telugu-language family films ($2.9K).

1986 Family Box Office by Language

  1. English $294.2M
    13 films · #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
  2. Russian $18.8K
    1 film · #1 The Secret of the Snow Queen (1986)
  3. Telugu $2.9K
    1 film · #1 Swati Muthyam (1986)
Archive

Family Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1938 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $9.1B, led by The Lion King (2019).

2020s 7 years · $22.3B
2010s 10 years · $62.9B
2000s 10 years · $44.3B
1990s 10 years · $14.6B
1980s 10 years · $3.1B
1970s 9 years · $811.6M
1960s 9 years · $657.6M
1950s 9 years · $412.6M
1940s 8 years · $438.2M
1930s 2 years · $210.7M
FAQ

Family 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 17 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing family movie in 1986?

The Karate Kid Part II (1986) leads with $115.1M worldwide, $115.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come An American Tail (1986) at $84.5M and Short Circuit (1986) at $40.7M.

How much did family movies released in 1986 earn?

17 family films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $349.6M in all, or $20.6M per film on average. 1985 releases took $247M.

How many family movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986) with $115.1M.

How much of the 1986 Family box office came from the US and Canada?

$311.5M of the $349.6M total, or 89%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 2 films of the 17 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1986 family 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 family 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.