#1 of 7 #1 history movie of 1986
1986 · Adventure, Drama
$17.5M worldwide · 74% of the chart's total
$17.2M US & Canada · 98% $286.8K elsewhere · 2%
History box office · 1986
History Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing History Movies
The Mission (1986) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 1986, with $17.5M worldwide, ahead of Tai-Pan (1986) at $4M and Belizaire the Cajun (1986) at $1.1M. 7 history films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $23.6M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 68% on 1985, whose releases took $73.7M. By language, English leads with $22.8M across 5 history releases.
- 1986 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $23.6M
- The Mission (1986), the #1
- $17.5M
- vs 1985
- −68%
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of 1986?
The Mission (1986) leads with $17.5M, 74% of the total. The top 5 together took $23.4M, 99% of what all 7 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 History 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 Oct 31, 1986 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: $286.8K Worldwide: $17.5M
- 2 Nov 7, 1986 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4M
- 3 Jun 13, 1986 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M
- 4 Feb 6, 1986 US and Canada: $512.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $512.4K
- 5 Feb 7, 1986 US and Canada: $277.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $277.6K
- 6
Sep 5, 1986 US and Canada: $124.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $124.1K - 7
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $3.8K Rest of the world: $26.8K Worldwide: $30.5K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?
Of the top 7, Tai-Pan (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Caravaggio (1986) made 88% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $23.3M (99%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Mission (1986) $17.5M $17.2M US & Canada · 98% $286.8K elsewhere · 2%
- 2 Tai-Pan (1986) $4M $4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Belizaire the Cajun (1986) $1.1M $1.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Assault (1986) $512.4K $512.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Lady Jane (1986) $277.6K $277.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Sherman's March (1986) $124.1K $124.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Caravaggio (1986) $30.5K $3.8K US & Canada · 12% $26.8K elsewhere · 88%
By release month
Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $17.5M from 1 film, led by The Mission (1986). September was the quietest month ($124.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb The Assault (1986) $820.6K The Assault (1986)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Belizaire the Cajun (1986) $1.1M Belizaire the Cajun (1986)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Sherman's March (1986) $124.1K Sherman's March (1986)
- October Oct The Mission (1986) $17.5M The Mission (1986)
- November Nov Tai-Pan (1986) $4M Tai-Pan (1986)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1981 earned the most: $83.5M from 7 films, led by Reds (1981). 1986 took $23.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 2 films | 2 | $50.8M | – | A Bridge Too Far (1977) $50.8M |
| 1978 6 films · −69% | 6 | $15.9M | −69% | American Hot Wax (1978) $7.9M |
| 1979 3 films · −88% | 3 | $1.9M | −88% | Zulu Dawn (1979) $1.9M |
| 1980 2 films · +114% | 2 | $4M | +114% | Kagemusha (1980) $4M |
| 1981 7 films · +1977% | 7 | $83.5M | +1977% | Reds (1981) $40.4M |
| 1982 7 films · −36% | 7 | $53.3M | −36% | Quest for Fire (1982) $21M |
| 1983 3 films · +39% | 3 | $74M | +39% | Gandhi (1983) $52.8M |
| 1984 3 films · −14% | 3 | $63.8M | −14% | Amadeus (1984) $52.3M |
| 1985 10 films · +16% | 10 | $73.7M | +16% | The Killing Fields (1985) $34.7M |
| 1986 7 films · −68% | 7 | $23.6M | −68% | The Mission (1986) $17.5M |
Archive
History Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $2.8B, led by Oppenheimer (2023).
2020s 7 years · $6.8B
2010s 10 years · $11.6B
- 2019 $1.8B #1 My People, My Country (2019)
- 2018 $1.2B #1 Green Book (2018)
- 2017 $1.7B #1 Dunkirk (2017)
- 2016 $1.8B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.1B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $528.3M #1 Unbroken (2014)
- 2013 $969.9M #1 American Hustle (2013)
- 2012 $1.2B #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $413.7M #1 Beginning of the Great Revival (2011)
- 2010 $881.6M #1 The King's Speech (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6.7B
- 2009 $638.5M #1 Public Enemies (2009)
- 2008 $943.6M #1 Australia (2008)
- 2007 $426.8M #1 Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
- 2006 $744.1M #1 World Trade Center (2006)
- 2005 $796.9M #1 Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- 2004 $1.2B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $666.9M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
- 2002 $630M #1 Gangs of New York (2002)
- 2001 $103.7M #1 Enemy at the Gates (2001)
- 2000 $565.8M #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.6B
- 1999 $183.1M #1 Anna and the King (1999)
- 1998 $353.8M #1 The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
- 1997 $207.8M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $40.4M #1 Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
- 1995 $980.4M #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $52.8M #1 Quiz Show (1994)
- 1993 $420M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $58M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $223M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $42.6M #1 Glory (1990)
1980s 10 years · $628.2M
- 1989 $24.8M #1 Henry V (1989)
- 1988 $70.4M #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- 1987 $157.2M #1 The Untouchables (1987)
- 1986 $23.6M #1 The Mission (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Killing Fields (1985)
- 1984 $63.8M #1 Amadeus (1984)
- 1983 $74M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $53.3M #1 Quest for Fire (1982)
- 1981 $83.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $4M #1 Kagemusha (1980)
1970s 9 years · $171.8M
- 1979 $1.9M #1 Zulu Dawn (1979)
- 1978 $15.9M #1 American Hot Wax (1978)
- 1977 $50.8M #1 A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- 1976 $70.8M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $416.1K #1 Barry Lyndon (1975)
- 1974 $103.4K #1 Edvard Munch (1974)
- 1972 $37.8K #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- 1971 $3.1K #1 The Devils (1971)
- 1970 $31.9M #1 Little Big Man (1970)
1960s 10 years · $108.7M
- 1969 $1M #1 Army of Shadows (1969)
- 1968 $20.1K #1 The Lion in Winter (1968)
- 1967 $316 #1 In Cold Blood (1967)
- 1966 $1.1M #1 The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- 1965 $162.9K #1 War and Peace (1965)
- 1964 $149.3K #1 Becket (1964)
- 1963 $58M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $46M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $350K #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- 1960 $1.9M #1 Spartacus (1960)
1950s 9 years · $177.5M
- 1959 $74.6M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $38.4K #1 The Vikings (1958)
- 1957 $68K #1 Throne of Blood (1957)
- 1956 $65.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $911.1K #1 The Dam Busters (1955)
- 1954 $26.6K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- 1953 $36M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $280.5K #1 Les Miserables (1952)
- 1950 $10.9K #1 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
1940s 5 years · $402.5M
1930s 4 years · $29.1K
1920s 3 years · $124.9K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ
History 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 7 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing history movie in 1986?
The Mission (1986) leads with $17.5M worldwide, $17.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Tai-Pan (1986) at $4M and Belizaire the Cajun (1986) at $1.1M.
How much did history movies released in 1986 earn?
7 history films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $23.6M in all, or $3.4M per film on average. 1985 releases took $73.7M.
How many history movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Mission (1986), earned $17.5M.
How is the 1986 history 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 history 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.