#1 of 18 #1 music movie of 1988
1988 · Drama, Comedy
$57M worldwide · 50% of the chart's total
$57M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Music box office · 1988
Music Box Office 1988: Highest-Grossing Music Movies
Beaches (1988) is the highest-grossing music movie released in 1988, with $57M worldwide, ahead of Salsa (1988) at $8.9M and U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) at $8.6M. 18 music films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $114.1M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 36% on 1987, whose releases took $83.6M. By language, English leads with $113.1M across 17 music releases.
- 1988 releases with a gross
- 18
- combined worldwide
- $114.1M
- Beaches (1988), the #1
- $57M
- vs 1987
- +36%
#1 of 18 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Music Hits of 1988?
Beaches (1988) leads with $57M, 50% of the total. The top 5 together took $89.5M, 78% of what all 18 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 Music 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 Dec 21, 1988 US and Canada: $57M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $57M
- 2 Jul 9, 1988 US and Canada: $8.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.9M
- 3 Nov 3, 1988 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6M
- 4 Feb 12, 1988 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.3M
- 5 Feb 26, 1988 US and Canada: $6.7M Rest of the world: $8.5K Worldwide: $6.7M
- 6
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M - 7
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $296 Worldwide: $3.8M - 8
Sep 26, 1988 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M - 9
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 10
Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: $12.8K Worldwide: $2.8M - 11
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $10.6K Worldwide: $2.2M - 12
May 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 13
Sep 11, 1988 US and Canada: $693.6K Rest of the world: $78.2K Worldwide: $771.7K - 14
Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988)Oct 25, 1988 US and Canada: $518.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $518.9K
Oct 25, 1988 · English · Documentary, Music $518.9K worldwide - 15
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)Jun 17, 1988 US and Canada: $373.7K Rest of the world: $16 Worldwide: $373.8K Jun 17, 1988 · English · Documentary, Music $373.8K worldwide - 16
Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $343.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $343.8K - 17
Feb 1, 1988 US and Canada: $136.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $136.6K - 18
Jun 1, 1988 US and Canada: $13K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1988?
Of the top 10, Beaches (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Running on Empty (1988) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $114M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Beaches (1988) $57M $57M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Salsa (1988) $8.9M $8.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) $8.6M $8.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Satisfaction (1988) $8.3M $8.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Hairspray (1988) $6.7M $6.7M US & Canada · 100% $8.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $5.5M $5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Imagine: John Lennon (1988) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% $296 elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Tougher Than Leather (1988) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Madame Sousatzka (1988) $3.5M $3.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Running on Empty (1988) $2.8M $2.8M US & Canada · 100% $12.8K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 18 films reached $100M. 17 films, 94% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $114.1M total.
50% 50%
- $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 1 film, 6% of the list $57M · 50% of the gross
- Under $10M 17 films, 94% of the list $57.1M · 50% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1988 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $57M from 1 film, led by Beaches (1988). June was the quietest month ($386.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb Satisfaction (1988) $15.1M Satisfaction (1988)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May The Music Teacher (1988) $1.1M The Music Teacher (1988)
- June Jun The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) $386.7K The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)
- July Jul Salsa (1988) $8.9M Salsa (1988)
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $18.7M Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
- October Oct Madame Sousatzka (1988) $4.4M Madame Sousatzka (1988)
- November Nov U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) $8.6M U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
- December Dec Beaches (1988) $57M Beaches (1988)
Last 10 years
How Does 1988 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1984 earned the most: $360.2M from 17 films, led by Footloose (1984). 1988 took $114.1M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 7 films | 7 | $80.8M | – | 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 |
| 1988 18 films · +36% | 18 | $114.1M | +36% | Beaches (1988) $57M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Music Movies Speak in 1988?
English-language music films took $113.1M across 17 films, 99% of the total, ahead of French-language music films ($1.1M).
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
- 2019 $543.5M #1 Rocketman (2019)
- 2018 $2B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $531.2M #1 Baby Driver (2017)
- 2016 $803.5M #1 Sing (2016)
- 2015 $1B #1 Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
- 2014 $508.5M #1 Step Up: All In (2014)
- 2013 $495.1M #1 Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
- 2012 $467.2M #1 Step Up Revolution (2012)
- 2011 $339.1M #1 Happy Feet Two (2011)
- 2010 $319.4M #1 Step Up 3-D (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6B
- 2009 $1.2B #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- 2008 $374M #1 Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
- 2007 $831.5M #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 2006 $723.7M #1 Happy Feet (2006)
- 2005 $716.9M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $536.3M #1 Home on the Range (2004)
- 2003 $411.4M #1 School of Rock (2003)
- 2002 $487.1M #1 8 Mile (2002)
- 2001 $251.1M #1 Save the Last Dance (2001)
- 2000 $539.5M #1 Coyote Ugly (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.2B
- 1999 $80.7M #1 Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- 1998 $197.7M #1 The Wedding Singer (1998)
- 1997 $309.7M #1 The Full Monty (1997)
- 1996 $183.2M #1 Mr. Holland's Opus (1996)
- 1995 $1.5M #1 Georgia (1995)
- 1994 $31.3M #1 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
- 1993 $180.1M #1 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
- 1992 $858.7M #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $131.6M #1 The Doors (1991)
- 1990 $247.1M #1 Dick Tracy (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.3B
- 1989 $42.4M #1 The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
- 1988 $114.1M #1 Beaches (1988)
- 1987 $83.6M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $34.6M #1 Disorder (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Last Dragon (1985)
- 1984 $360.2M #1 Footloose (1984)
- 1983 $188.2M #1 Flashdance (1983)
- 1982 $93.7M #1 Victor Victoria (1982)
- 1981 $20.3M #1 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
- 1980 $262.6M #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $686.3M
- 1979 $80.8M #1 All That Jazz (1979)
- 1978 $69M #1 Up in Smoke (1978)
- 1977 $254M #1 Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- 1976 $80M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $10M #1 Nashville (1975)
- 1974 $102.6K #1 A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
- 1973 $204.1K #1 Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
- 1972 $671.2K #1 Elvis on Tour (1972)
- 1971 $1.6K #1 The Music Lovers (1971)
- 1970 $191.4M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 8 years · $3.8M
- 1968 $1.4M #1 Elvis: The ’68 Comeback Special (1968)
- 1967 $4.4K #1 Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
- 1966 $5K #1 A Well Paid Walk (1966)
- 1965 $1.4K #1 Orgy of the Dead (1965)
- 1964 $2.4M #1 A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
- 1963 $1.4K #1 Summer Holiday (1963)
- 1962 $9.9K #1 Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962)
- 1961 $1.6K #1 Too Late Blues (1961)
1950s 10 years · $4.1M
- 1959 $75.4K #1 Jazz on a Summer’s Day (1959)
- 1958 $502.3K #1 South Pacific (1958)
- 1957 $20.2K #1 Silk Stockings (1957)
- 1956 $1.5K #1 Carousel (1956)
- 1955 $43.8K #1 Oklahoma! (1955)
- 1954 $7.6K #1 There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954)
- 1953 $3.3M #1 Dangerous When Wet (1953)
- 1952 $9.3K #1 Limelight (1952)
- 1951 $141K #1 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
- 1950 $14.8K #1 Rabbit of Seville (1950)
1940s 4 years · $514.2K
1930s 3 years · $951.7K
1920s 1 year · $4.4K
FAQ
Music 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 18 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing music movie in 1988?
Beaches (1988) leads with $57M worldwide, $57M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Salsa (1988) at $8.9M and U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) at $8.6M.
How much did music movies released in 1988 earn?
18 music films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $114.1M in all, or $6.3M per film on average. 1987 releases took $83.6M.
How many music movies released in 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Beaches (1988), earned $57M.
How is the 1988 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 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 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.