#1 of 10 #1 history movie of 1987
1987 · Drama, History
$76.3M worldwide · 49% of the chart's total
$76.3M US & Canada · 100% $1.9K elsewhere · <1%
History box office · 1987
History Box Office 1987: Highest-Grossing History Movies
The Untouchables (1987) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 1987, with $76.3M worldwide, ahead of The Last Emperor (1987) at $44M and Empire of the Sun (1987) at $22.2M. 10 history films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $157.2M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is 6.7 times the total of 1986, whose releases took $23.6M. By language, English leads with $80.7M across 8 history releases.
- 1987 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $157.2M
- The Untouchables (1987), the #1
- $76.3M
- vs 1986
- ×6.7
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of 1987?
The Untouchables (1987) leads with $76.3M, 49% of the total. The top 5 together took $153.7M, 98% 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 History Release of 1987, 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 1987.
- 1 Jun 3, 1987 US and Canada: $76.3M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $76.3M
- 2 Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $44M Rest of the world: $47.3K Worldwide: $44M
- 3 Dec 9, 1987 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: $425 Worldwide: $22.2M
- 4 Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $5.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.9M
- 5 May 5, 1987 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M
- 6
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 7
Oct 8, 1987 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 8
May 13, 1987 US and Canada: $183.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.7K - 9
Sep 10, 1987 US and Canada: $33.8K Rest of the world: $735 Worldwide: $34.5K - 10
Jan 23, 1987 US and Canada: $6.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?
Of the top 10, Cry Freedom (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Lighthorsemen (1987) made 2% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $157.1M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Untouchables (1987) $76.3M $76.3M US & Canada · 100% $1.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 The Last Emperor (1987) $44M $44M US & Canada · 100% $47.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Empire of the Sun (1987) $22.2M $22.2M US & Canada · 100% $425 elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Cry Freedom (1987) $5.9M $5.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Gardens of Stone (1987) $5.3M $5.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Matewan (1987) $1.7M $1.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Vincent (1987) $1.6M $1.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Good Morning, Babylon (1987) $183.7K $183.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Lighthorsemen (1987) $34.5K $33.8K US & Canada · 98% $735 elsewhere · 2%
- 10 Sweet Country (1987) $6.6K $6.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 10 films reached $100M. 7 films, 70% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $157.2M total.
91% 9%
- $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 3 films, 30% of the list $142.5M · 91% of the gross
- Under $10M 7 films, 70% of the list $14.6M · 9% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $76.3M from 1 film, led by The Untouchables (1987). January was the quietest month ($6.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Sweet Country (1987) $6.6K Sweet Country (1987)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Gardens of Stone (1987) $5.4M Gardens of Stone (1987)
- June Jun The Untouchables (1987) $76.3M The Untouchables (1987)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Matewan (1987) $1.7M Matewan (1987)
- September Sep The Lighthorsemen (1987) $34.5K The Lighthorsemen (1987)
- October Oct Vincent (1987) $1.6M Vincent (1987)
- November Nov Cry Freedom (1987) $5.9M Cry Freedom (1987)
- December Dec The Last Emperor (1987) $66.3M The Last Emperor (1987)
Last 10 years
How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $157.2M from 10 films, led by The Untouchables (1987).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 6 films | 6 | $15.9M | – | 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 |
| 1987 10 films · +566% | 10 | $157.2M | +566% | The Untouchables (1987) $76.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest History Movies Speak in 1987?
English-language history films took $80.7M across 8 films, 51% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language history films ($76.3M) and Italian-language history films ($183.7K).
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 1987: 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 history movie in 1987?
The Untouchables (1987) leads with $76.3M worldwide, $76.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Last Emperor (1987) at $44M and Empire of the Sun (1987) at $22.2M.
How much did history movies released in 1987 earn?
10 history films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $157.2M in all, or $15.7M per film on average. 1986 releases took $23.6M.
How many history movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Untouchables (1987), earned $76.3M.
How is the 1987 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 1987. 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 1987 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.