#1 of 30 #1 horror movie of 1990
1990 · Sci-Fi, Drama
$61.5M worldwide · 14% of the chart's total
$61.5M US & Canada · 100% $373 elsewhere · <1%
Horror box office · 1990
Horror Box Office 1990: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
Flatliners (1990) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1990, with $61.5M worldwide, ahead of Predator 2 (1990) at $57.1M and Arachnophobia (1990) at $53.2M. 30 horror films released in 1990 report a worldwide gross, $450.5M in all, 90% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 110% on 1989, whose releases took $214.3M. By language, English leads with $406.4M across 27 horror releases.
- 1990 releases with a gross
- 30
- combined worldwide
- $450.5M
- Flatliners (1990), the #1
- $61.5M
- vs 1989
- +110%
#1 of 30 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1990?
Flatliners (1990) leads with $61.5M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $252.3M, 56% 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 1990, 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 1990.
- 1 Aug 10, 1990 US and Canada: $61.5M Rest of the world: $373 Worldwide: $61.5M
- 2 Nov 21, 1990 US and Canada: $30.7M Rest of the world: $26.5M Worldwide: $57.1M
- 3 Jul 18, 1990 US and Canada: $53.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $53.2M
- 4 Jun 15, 1990 US and Canada: $41.5M Rest of the world: $843 Worldwide: $41.5M
- 5 Aug 17, 1990 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: $12.9M Worldwide: $39M
- 6
Nov 9, 1990 US and Canada: $28.5M Rest of the world: $7.3M Worldwide: $35.8M - 7
Nov 2, 1990 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.1M - 8
Apr 6, 1990 US and Canada: $22.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.4M - 9
Apr 27, 1990 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17M - 10
Jan 19, 1990 US and Canada: $16.7M Rest of the world: $4.1K Worldwide: $16.7M - 11
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)May 4, 1990 US and Canada: $16.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.3M
May 4, 1990 · English · Thriller, Fantasy, Horror $16.3M worldwide - 12
Oct 26, 1990 US and Canada: $11.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.6M - 13
Aug 24, 1990 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $2.8K Worldwide: $10.4M - 14
Feb 16, 1990 US and Canada: $8.9M Rest of the world: $607.3K Worldwide: $9.5M - 15
Oct 19, 1990 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 16
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)Jan 12, 1990 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M Jan 12, 1990 · English · Thriller, Horror $5.8M worldwide - 17
Jan 26, 1990 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M - 18
Apr 20, 1990 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M - 19
May 11, 1990 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M - 20
Mar 23, 1990 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.2M - 21
Jan 19, 1990 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 22
Feb 9, 1990 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M - 23
Sep 14, 1990 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 24
Sep 7, 1990 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 25
1990 US and Canada: $577.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $577.7K - 26
Nov 8, 1990 US and Canada: $485.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $485.8K - 27
Nov 2, 1990 US and Canada: $334.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $334.7K - 28
Jun 1, 1990 US and Canada: $205.1K Rest of the world: $3.4K Worldwide: $208.5K - 29
Aug 28, 1990 US and Canada: $17K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17K - 30
Oct 12, 1990 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1990?
Of the top 10, Arachnophobia (1990) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Predator 2 (1990) made 46% of its gross abroad. Across all 30 films, $403.2M (90%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Flatliners (1990) $61.5M $61.5M US & Canada · 100% $373 elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Predator 2 (1990) $57.1M $30.7M US & Canada · 54% $26.5M elsewhere · 46%
- 3 Arachnophobia (1990) $53.2M $53.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) $41.5M $41.5M US & Canada · 100% $843 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 The Exorcist III (1990) $39M $26.1M US & Canada · 67% $12.9M elsewhere · 33%
- 6 Child’s Play 2 (1990) $35.8M $28.5M US & Canada · 80% $7.3M elsewhere · 20%
- 7 Jacob's Ladder (1990) $26.1M $26.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The First Power (1990) $22.4M $22.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Guardian (1990) $17M $17M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Tremors (1990) $16.7M $16.7M US & Canada · 100% $4.1K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1990 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 30 films reached $100M. 17 films, 57% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $450.5M 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 13 films, 43% of the list $408.6M · 91% of the gross
- Under $10M 17 films, 57% of the list $41.9M · 9% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1990 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $119.8M from 5 films, led by Predator 2 (1990). March was the quietest month ($2.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Tremors (1990) $29M Tremors (1990)
- February Feb Nightbreed (1990) $11M Nightbreed (1990)
- March Mar Def by Temptation (1990) $2.2M Def by Temptation (1990)
- April Apr The First Power (1990) $43.8M The First Power (1990)
- May May Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) $18.8M Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
- June Jun Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) $41.7M Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
- July Jul Arachnophobia (1990) $53.2M Arachnophobia (1990)
- August Aug Flatliners (1990) $110.9M Flatliners (1990)
- September Sep Repossessed (1990) $2.6M Repossessed (1990)
- October Oct Graveyard Shift (1990) $17.4M Graveyard Shift (1990)
- November Nov Predator 2 (1990) $119.8M Predator 2 (1990)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1990 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1990 earned the most: $450.5M from 30 films, led by Flatliners (1990).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 23 films | 23 | $209.9M | – | 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 |
| 1989 24 films · −25% | 24 | $214.3M | −25% | Pet Sematary (1989) $57.5M |
| 1990 30 films · +110% | 30 | $450.5M | +110% | Flatliners (1990) $61.5M |
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 1990: 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 1990?
Flatliners (1990) leads with $61.5M worldwide, $61.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Predator 2 (1990) at $57.1M and Arachnophobia (1990) at $53.2M.
How much did horror movies released in 1990 earn?
30 horror films released in 1990 report a worldwide gross, $450.5M in all, or $15M per film on average. 1989 releases took $214.3M.
How many horror movies released in 1990 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Flatliners (1990), earned $61.5M.
How is the 1990 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 1990. 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 1990 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.