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Music box office · 1987

Music Box Office 1987: Highest-Grossing Music Movies

La Bamba (1987) is the highest-grossing music movie released in 1987, with $54.2M worldwide, ahead of Light of Day (1987) at $10.5M and Who's That Girl (1987) at $7.3M. 10 music films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $83.6M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 142% on 1986, whose releases took $34.6M. By language, English leads with $76.3M across 8 music releases.

1987 releases with a gross
10
combined worldwide
$83.6M
La Bamba (1987), the #1
$54.2M
vs 1986
+142%
La Bamba (1987) movie poster #1 of 10
#1 music movie of 1987

La Bamba (1987)

1987 · Biography, Drama

$54.2M worldwide · 65% of the chart's total

$54.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.2K elsewhere · <1%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Music Hits of 1987?

La Bamba (1987) leads with $54.2M, 65% of the total. The top 5 together took $81.8M, 98% of what all 10 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. La Bamba (1987) movie poster Number 1
    $54.2M La Bamba (1987)
    $54.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.2K elsewhere · <1%
  2. Light of Day (1987) movie poster Number 2
    $10.5M Light of Day (1987)
    $10.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. Who's That Girl (1987) movie poster Number 3
    $7.3M Who's That Girl (1987)
    $7.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) movie poster Number 4
    $6.8M The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
    $6.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Sign 'o' the Times (1987) movie poster Number 5
    $3M Sign 'o' the Times (1987)
    $3M US & Canada · 100% $900 elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Music 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. 1 La Bamba (1987) movie poster
    La Bamba (1987) Jul 24, 1987 · English · Biography, Drama, Music $54.2M worldwide
    Jul 24, 1987 US and Canada: $54.2M Rest of the world: $3.2K Worldwide: $54.2M
  2. 2 Light of Day (1987) movie poster
    Light of Day (1987) Feb 6, 1987 · English · Drama, Music $10.5M worldwide
    Feb 6, 1987 US and Canada: $10.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.5M
  3. 3 Who's That Girl (1987) movie poster
    Who's That Girl (1987) Aug 7, 1987 · Comedy, Romance, Music $7.3M worldwide
    Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M
  4. 4 The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) movie poster
    The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) May 9, 1987 · English · Comedy, Music, Family $6.8M worldwide
    May 9, 1987 US and Canada: $6.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.8M
  5. 5 Sign 'o' the Times (1987) movie poster
    Sign 'o' the Times (1987) Nov 20, 1987 · English · Music, Documentary $3M worldwide
    Nov 20, 1987 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: $900 Worldwide: $3M
  6. 6 Aria (1987) movie poster
    Aria (1987) May 19, 1987 · English · Music, Drama, Comedy $1M worldwide
    May 19, 1987 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M
  7. 7 Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll (1987) movie poster
    Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll (1987) Oct 9, 1987 · English · Documentary, Music $719.3K worldwide
    Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $719.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $719.3K
  8. 8 Assa (1987) movie poster
    Assa (1987) Nov 1, 1987 · Russian · Drama, Music, Romance $67.2K worldwide
    Nov 1, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $67.2K
  9. 9 Candy Mountain (1987) movie poster
    Candy Mountain (1987) Aug 9, 1987 · English · Music, Drama $7.1K worldwide
    Aug 9, 1987 US and Canada: $7.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.1K
  10. 10 Miami Connection (1987) movie poster
    Miami Connection (1987) Aug 18, 1987 · English · Action, Music, Crime $2.2K worldwide
    Aug 18, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?

Of the top 10, Light of Day (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Sign 'o' the Times (1987) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $83.6M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 La Bamba (1987) $54.2M
    $54.2M US & Canada · 100% $3.2K elsewhere · <1%
  2. 2 Light of Day (1987) $10.5M
    $10.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 Who's That Girl (1987) $7.3M
    $7.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) $6.8M
    $6.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Sign 'o' the Times (1987) $3M
    $3M US & Canada · 100% $900 elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 Aria (1987) $1M
    $1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll (1987) $719.3K
    $719.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Assa (1987) $67.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 Candy Mountain (1987) $7.1K
    $7.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Miami Connection (1987) $2.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 10 films reached $100M. 8 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $83.6M total.

  • $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 2 films, 20% of the list $64.7M · 77% of the gross
  • Under $10M 8 films, 80% of the list $18.9M · 23% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?

July releases took the most, $54.2M from 1 film, led by La Bamba (1987). October was the quietest month ($719.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb Light of Day (1987) $10.5M Light of Day (1987)
  3. March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) $7.8M The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul La Bamba (1987) $54.2M La Bamba (1987)
  8. August Aug Who's That Girl (1987) $7.3M Who's That Girl (1987)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll (1987) $719.3K Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll (1987)
  11. November Nov Sign 'o' the Times (1987) $3.1M Sign 'o' the Times (1987)
  12. December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years

How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1984 earned the most: $360.2M from 17 films, led by Footloose (1984). 1987 took $83.6M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1978 7 films 7 $69M – Up in Smoke (1978) $44.4M
1979 7 films · +17% 7 $80.8M +17% All That Jazz (1979) $37.8M
1980 13 films · +225% 13 $262.6M +225% The Blues Brothers (1980) $115.2M
1981 5 films · −92% 5 $20.3M −92% The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981) $14.9M
1982 13 films · +362% 13 $93.7M +362% Victor Victoria (1982) $28.2M
1983 7 films · +101% 7 $188.2M +101% Flashdance (1983) $92.9M
1984 17 films · +91% 17 $360.2M +91% Footloose (1984) $80M
1985 8 films · −80% 8 $73.7M −80% The Last Dragon (1985) $25.8M
1986 8 films · −53% 8 $34.6M −53% Disorder (1986) $10.3M
1987 10 films · +142% 10 $83.6M +142% La Bamba (1987) $54.2M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Music Movies Speak in 1987?

English-language music films took $76.3M across 8 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Russian-language music films ($67.2K).

1987 Music Box Office by Language

  1. English $76.3M
    8 films · #1 La Bamba (1987)
  2. Russian $67.2K
    1 film · #1 Assa (1987)
Archive

Music Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1925 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

2020s 7 years · $2.9B
2010s 10 years · $7B
2000s 10 years · $6B
1990s 10 years · $2.2B
1980s 10 years · $1.3B
1970s 10 years · $686.3M
1960s 8 years · $3.8M
1950s 10 years · $4.1M
1940s 4 years · $514.2K
1930s 3 years · $951.7K
1920s 1 year · $4.4K
FAQ

Music 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 music movie in 1987?

La Bamba (1987) leads with $54.2M worldwide, $54.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Light of Day (1987) at $10.5M and Who's That Girl (1987) at $7.3M.

How much did music movies released in 1987 earn?

10 music films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $83.6M in all, or $8.4M per film on average. 1986 releases took $34.6M.

How many music movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, La Bamba (1987), earned $54.2M.

How much of the 1987 Music box office came from the US and Canada?

$83.6M of the $83.6M total, or 100%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 2 films of the 10 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1987 music 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 music 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.