#1 of 30 #1 horror movie of 1986
1986 · Sci-Fi, Thriller
$60.6M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total
$40.5M US & Canada · 67% $20.2M elsewhere · 33%
Horror box office · 1986
Horror Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
The Fly (1986) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1986, with $60.6M worldwide, ahead of Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) at $41M and Little Shop of Horrors (1986) at $39.1M. 30 horror films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $262.9M in all, 92% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 41% on 1985, whose releases took $185.9M. By language, English leads with $257.5M across 29 horror releases.
- 1986 releases with a gross
- 30
- combined worldwide
- $262.9M
- The Fly (1986), the #1
- $60.6M
- vs 1985
- +41%
#1 of 30 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1986?
The Fly (1986) leads with $60.6M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $179.6M, 68% of what all 30 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 Horror 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 Aug 15, 1986 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $20.2M Worldwide: $60.6M
- 2 May 23, 1986 US and Canada: $41M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $41M
- 3 Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $39M Rest of the world: $32.3K Worldwide: $39.1M
- 4 Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986)Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.5M Rest of the world: $743 Worldwide: $19.5M
Aug 1, 1986 · English · Thriller, Horror $19.5M worldwide - 5 Feb 28, 1986 US and Canada: $19.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.4M
- 6
Apr 11, 1986 US and Canada: $13.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.2M - 7
Mar 28, 1986 US and Canada: $12.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.9M - 8
Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M - 9
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $8M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $8M - 10
Jul 25, 1986 US and Canada: $7.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.4M - 11
Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M - 12
Jul 18, 1986 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.9M - 13
Jun 6, 1986 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.9M - 14
Nov 21, 1986 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 15
Aug 29, 1986 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M - 16
Apr 13, 1986 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M - 17
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 18
Feb 26, 1986 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 19
Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 20
Nov 30, 1986 US and Canada: $916.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $916.2K - 21
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)Sep 24, 1986 US and Canada: $609.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $609.9K Sep 24, 1986 · English · Thriller, Horror, Drama $609.9K worldwide - 22
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $591.4K Rest of the world: $476 Worldwide: $591.8K - 23
Feb 21, 1986 US and Canada: $502.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $502.2K - 24
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $320.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $320.3K - 25
May 14, 1986 US and Canada: $17.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8K - 26
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $12K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12K - 27
Apr 25, 1986 US and Canada: $5.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1K - 28
May 30, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K - 29
Aug 13, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 30
Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $807
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?
Of the top 10, House (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Fly (1986) made 33% of its gross abroad. Across all 30 films, $242.7M (92%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Fly (1986) $60.6M $40.5M US & Canada · 67% $20.2M elsewhere · 33%
- 2 Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) $41M $41M US & Canada · 100% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Little Shop of Horrors (1986) $39.1M $39M US & Canada · 100% $32.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986) $19.5M $19.5M US & Canada · 100% $743 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 House (1986) $19.4M $19.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Critters (1986) $13.2M $13.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 April Fool's Day (1986) $12.9M $12.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Deadly Friend (1986) $9M $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) $8M $8M US & Canada · 100% $1.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Maximum Overdrive (1986) $7.4M $7.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 30 films reached $100M. 23 films, 77% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $262.9M total.
78% 22%
- $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 7 films, 23% of the list $205.7M · 78% of the gross
- Under $10M 23 films, 77% of the list $57.2M · 22% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $91.7M from 6 films, led by The Fly (1986). September was the quietest month ($609.9K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Troll (1986) $5.5M Troll (1986)
- February Feb House (1986) $22M House (1986)
- March Mar April Fool's Day (1986) $15.2M April Fool's Day (1986)
- April Apr Critters (1986) $15.9M Critters (1986)
- May May Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) $41M Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
- June Jun Invaders from Mars (1986) $4.9M Invaders from Mars (1986)
- July Jul Maximum Overdrive (1986) $12.4M Maximum Overdrive (1986)
- August Aug The Fly (1986) $91.7M The Fly (1986)
- September Sep Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) $609.9K Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
- October Oct Deadly Friend (1986) $10.2M Deadly Friend (1986)
- November Nov The Wraith (1986) $4.4M The Wraith (1986)
- December Dec Little Shop of Horrors (1986) $39.1M Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Last 10 years
How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1984 earned the most: $303.5M from 13 films, led by Gremlins (1984). 1986 took $262.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 7 films | 7 | $45.7M | – | Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) $30.7M |
| 1978 7 films · +526% | 7 | $286.6M | +526% | Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M |
| 1979 12 films · −2% | 12 | $279.6M | −2% | Alien (1979) $109.1M |
| 1980 16 films · −37% | 16 | $175M | −37% | The Shining (1980) $48M |
| 1981 23 films · +20% | 23 | $209.9M | +20% | An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M |
| 1982 22 films · +38% | 22 | $289M | +38% | Poltergeist (1982) $77.2M |
| 1983 15 films · −16% | 15 | $243.8M | −16% | Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M |
| 1984 13 films · +24% | 13 | $303.5M | +24% | Gremlins (1984) $165.4M |
| 1985 17 films · −39% | 17 | $185.9M | −39% | A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) $30M |
| 1986 30 films · +41% | 30 | $262.9M | +41% | The Fly (1986) $60.6M |
Archive
Horror Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $3.7B, led by Venom (2018).
2020s 7 years · $15.4B
- 2026 so far $2.5B #1 Backrooms (2026)
- 2025 $2.7B #1 The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
- 2024 $2.6B #1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- 2023 $2.7B #1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- 2022 $2.6B #1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 2021 $1.6B #1 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- 2020 $697.4M #1 The Invisible Man (2020)
2010s 10 years · $22.6B
- 2019 $3.1B #1 It: Chapter Two (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $3.5B #1 It (2017)
- 2016 $1.9B #1 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015)
- 2014 $1.4B #1 Annabelle (2014)
- 2013 $2.2B #1 World War Z (2013)
- 2012 $2.7B #1 Prometheus (2012)
- 2011 $1.1B #1 Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- 2010 $1.3B #1 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
2000s 10 years · $12.1B
- 2009 $1.4B #1 The Final Destination (2009)
- 2008 $661.8M #1 Saw V (2008)
- 2007 $1.6B #1 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 2006 $1.2B #1 Saw III (2006)
- 2005 $1.7B #1 Constantine (2005)
- 2004 $1.3B #1 The Grudge (2004)
- 2003 $970.4M #1 Gothika (2003)
- 2002 $1.1B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $712.3M #1 The Others (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1999 $1.3B #1 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- 1998 $929.6M #1 Godzilla (1998)
- 1997 $720.6M #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $357.9M #1 Scream (1996)
- 1995 $283.3M #1 Species (1995)
- 1994 $368.5M #1 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
- 1993 $165M #1 The Good Son (1993)
- 1992 $571M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $285.2M #1 Cape Fear (1991)
- 1990 $450.5M #1 Flatliners (1990)
1980s 10 years · $2.5B
- 1989 $214.3M #1 Pet Sematary (1989)
- 1988 $284.7M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- 1987 $325.5M #1 The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- 1986 $262.9M #1 The Fly (1986)
- 1985 $185.9M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- 1984 $303.5M #1 Gremlins (1984)
- 1983 $243.8M #1 Jaws 3-D (1983)
- 1982 $289M #1 Poltergeist (1982)
- 1981 $209.9M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- 1980 $175M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1979 $279.6M #1 Alien (1979)
- 1978 $286.6M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $45.7M #1 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
- 1976 $149.4M #1 The Omen (1976)
- 1975 $481.8M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $32.1M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $431.3M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $1.6K #1 Images (1972)
- 1971 $2.7M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $40.6K #1 Multiple Maniacs (1970)
1960s 10 years · $33M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $242.2K #1 Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $5.6K #1 Eye of the Devil (1966)
- 1965 $34.7K #1 Repulsion (1965)
- 1964 $1.2K #1 Onibaba (1964)
- 1963 $55.4K #1 The Birds (1963)
- 1962 $4.5K #1 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
- 1961 $30.2K #1 The Innocents (1961)
- 1960 $32.4M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 7 years · $24.4M
1940s 5 years · $42.7K
1930s 6 years · $168.1K
FAQ
Horror 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 30 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1986?
The Fly (1986) leads with $60.6M worldwide, $40.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) at $41M and Little Shop of Horrors (1986) at $39.1M.
How much did horror movies released in 1986 earn?
30 horror films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $262.9M in all, or $8.8M per film on average. 1985 releases took $185.9M.
How many horror movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Fly (1986), earned $60.6M.
How is the 1986 horror 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 horror 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.