#1 of 35 #1 horror movie of 1988
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
1988 · Thriller, Horror
$49.4M worldwide · 17% of the chart's total
$49.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Horror box office · 1988
Horror Box Office 1988: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1988, with $49.4M worldwide, ahead of Child’s Play (1988) at $44.2M and The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) at $19.6M. 35 horror films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $284.7M in all, 96% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 13% on 1987, whose releases took $325.5M. By language, English leads with $284.6M across 34 horror releases.
- 1988 releases with a gross
- 35
- combined worldwide
- $284.7M
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), the #1
- $49.4M
- vs 1987
- −13%
#1 of 35 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1988?
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) leads with $49.4M, 17% of the total. The top 5 together took $151.2M, 53% of what all 35 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $49.4M A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)$49.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Horror Release of 1988, 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 1988.
- 1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)Aug 19, 1988 US and Canada: $49.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.4M
Aug 19, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $49.4M worldwide - 2 Nov 9, 1988 US and Canada: $33.2M Rest of the world: $11M Worldwide: $44.2M
- 3 Feb 5, 1988 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6M
- 4 Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)May 13, 1988 US and Canada: $19.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.2M May 13, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $19.2M worldwide
- 5 Apr 1, 1988 US and Canada: $18.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.9M
- 6
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M Oct 21, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $17.8M worldwide - 7
Jun 10, 1988 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M - 8
Nov 4, 1988 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $2.6K Worldwide: $13.5M - 9
Dec 23, 1988 US and Canada: $12.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.1M - 10
Apr 8, 1988 US and Canada: $9.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.8M - 11
Jan 15, 1988 US and Canada: $9.2M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $9.2M - 12
Aug 5, 1988 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: $848 Worldwide: $8.2M - 13
Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $915 Worldwide: $7.3M - 14
Apr 22, 1988 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M - 15
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6M - 16
Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M - 17
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $4.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.4M - 18
Apr 29, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 19
Apr 7, 1988 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M - 20
Dec 9, 1988 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M - 21
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 22
Apr 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 23
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 24
Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 25
Dec 2, 1988 US and Canada: $940.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $940.2K - 26
Jun 17, 1988 US and Canada: $808.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $808.1K - 27
May 13, 1988 US and Canada: $671.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $671.4K - 28
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $657.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $657.4K - 29
Mar 4, 1988 US and Canada: $345.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $345.7K - 30
Sep 10, 1988 US and Canada: $241.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $241.3K - 31
My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1988)May 6, 1988 US and Canada: $174.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $174.4K May 6, 1988 · English · Horror, Comedy, Romance $174.4K worldwide - 32
Feb 11, 1988 US and Canada: $98K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $98K - 33
May 26, 1988 US and Canada: $75K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $75K - 34
Mar 4, 1988 US and Canada: $40.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.4K - 35
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)May 27, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K May 27, 1988 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy $1.4K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1988?
Of the top 10, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Child’s Play (1988) made 25% of its gross abroad. Across all 35 films, $273.7M (96%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $49.4M $49.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Child’s Play (1988) $44.2M $33.2M US & Canada · 75% $11M elsewhere · 25%
- 3 The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) $19.6M $19.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) $19.2M $19.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Seventh Sign (1988) $18.9M $18.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) $17.8M $17.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Poltergeist III (1988) $14.1M $14.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 They Live (1988) $13.5M $13.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) $12.1M $12.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Bad Dreams (1988) $9.8M $9.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 35 films reached $100M. 26 films, 74% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $284.7M total.
73% 27%
- $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 9 films, 26% of the list $208.6M · 73% of the gross
- Under $10M 26 films, 74% of the list $76M · 27% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1988 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $57.6M from 2 films, led by Child’s Play (1988). March was the quietest month ($386.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Return of the Living Dead II (1988) $9.2M Return of the Living Dead II (1988)
- February Feb The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) $19.7M The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
- March Mar Prison (1988) $386.1K Prison (1988)
- April Apr The Seventh Sign (1988) $43.5M The Seventh Sign (1988)
- May May Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) $20.1M Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
- June Jun Poltergeist III (1988) $14.9M Poltergeist III (1988)
- July Jul Phantasm II (1988) $12.6M Phantasm II (1988)
- August Aug A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $57.6M A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- September Sep Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) $7.8M Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
- October Oct Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) $25.2M Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
- November Nov Child’s Play (1988) $57.6M Child’s Play (1988)
- December Dec Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) $16M Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Last 10 years
How Does 1988 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $325.5M from 27 films, led by The Witches of Eastwick (1987). 1988 took $284.7M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 12 films | 12 | $279.6M | – | 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 |
| 1987 27 films · +24% | 27 | $325.5M | +24% | The Witches of Eastwick (1987) $63.8M |
| 1988 35 films · −13% | 35 | $284.7M | −13% | A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $49.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 1988?
English-language horror films took $284.6M across 34 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Dutch-language horror films ($98K).
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 1988: 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 35 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1988?
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) leads with $49.4M worldwide, $49.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Child’s Play (1988) at $44.2M and The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) at $19.6M.
How much did horror movies released in 1988 earn?
35 horror films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $284.7M in all, or $8.1M per film on average. 1987 releases took $325.5M.
How many horror movies released in 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), earned $49.4M.
How is the 1988 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 1988. 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 1988 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.