#1 of 6 #1 music movie of September 1988
1988 · Comedy, Music
$5.5M worldwide · 30% of the chart's total
$5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Music box office · September 1988
Music Box Office, September 1988: Top-Grossing Releases
Heartbreak Hotel (1988) is the highest-grossing music movie released in September 1988, with $5.5M worldwide, ahead of Imagine: John Lennon (1988) at $3.8M and Tougher Than Leather (1988) at $3.6M. 6 music films released in September 1988 report a worldwide gross, $18.7M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $18.7M across 6 music releases.
- September 1988 releases with a gross
- 6
- combined worldwide
- $18.7M
- Heartbreak Hotel (1988), the #1
- $5.5M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 99%
#1 of 6 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Music Hits of September 1988?
Heartbreak Hotel (1988) leads with $5.5M, 30% of the total. The top 5 together took $17.9M, 96% of what all 6 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 September 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 September 1988.
- 1 Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M
- 2 Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $296 Worldwide: $3.8M
- 3 Sep 26, 1988 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M
- 4 Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: $12.8K Worldwide: $2.8M
- 5 Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $10.6K Worldwide: $2.2M
- 6
Sep 11, 1988 US and Canada: $693.6K Rest of the world: $78.2K Worldwide: $771.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1988?
Of the top 6, Heartbreak Hotel (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) made 10% of its gross abroad. Across all 6 films, $18.6M (99%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $5.5M $5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Imagine: John Lennon (1988) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% $296 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Tougher Than Leather (1988) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Running on Empty (1988) $2.8M $2.8M US & Canada · 100% $12.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Bird (1988) $2.2M $2.2M US & Canada · 100% $10.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) $771.7K $693.6K US & Canada · 90% $78.2K elsewhere · 10%
By release week
Which Week of September 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 40 (Sep 25–Oct 1) took $15M, led by Heartbreak Hotel (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 28–Sep 3 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 4–10 Running on Empty (1988) $2.8M Running on Empty (1988)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 11–17 Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) $771.7K Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 18–24 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 25–Oct 1 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $15M Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
Earlier years
How Does September 1988 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1984 earned the most: $54M from 2 films, led by Amadeus (1984). September 1988 took $18.7M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1979 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1980 1 film | 1 | $5.3M | – | Divine Madness (1980) $5.3M |
| September 1981 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1982 2 films | 2 | $3.4M | – | Yes, Giorgio (1982) $2.3M |
| September 1983 1 film · +41% | 1 | $4.8M | +41% | Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) $4.8M |
| September 1984 2 films · +1027% | 2 | $54M | +1027% | Amadeus (1984) $52.3M |
| September 1985 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1986 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1987 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| September 1988 6 films | 6 | $18.7M | – | Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $5.5M |
Archive
Music Box Office in 1988, Month by Month
The months of 1988 with their totals: December leads with $57M, led by Beaches (1988).
- January No grosses
- February $15.1M #1 Satisfaction (1988)
- March No grosses
- April No grosses
- May $1.1M #1 The Music Teacher (1988)
- June $386.7K #1 The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)
- July $8.9M #1 Salsa (1988)
- August No grosses
- September $18.7M #1 Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
- October $4.4M #1 Madame Sousatzka (1988)
- November $8.6M #1 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
- December $57M #1 Beaches (1988)
FAQ
Music Box Office September 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 6 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing music movie in September 1988?
Heartbreak Hotel (1988) leads with $5.5M worldwide, $5.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Imagine: John Lennon (1988) at $3.8M and Tougher Than Leather (1988) at $3.6M.
How much did music movies released in September 1988 earn?
6 music films released in September 1988 report a worldwide gross, $18.7M in all, or $3.1M per film on average.
How many music movies released in September 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Heartbreak Hotel (1988), earned $5.5M.
How is the September 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 September 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 September 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.