#1 of 16 #1 mystery movie of 1989
1989 · Mystery, Thriller
$49.1M worldwide · 25% of the chart's total
$36.6M US & Canada · 75% $12.5M elsewhere · 25%
Mystery box office · 1989
Mystery Box Office 1989: Highest-Grossing Mystery Movies
The 'Burbs (1989) is the highest-grossing mystery movie released in 1989, with $49.1M worldwide, ahead of Fletch Lives (1989) at $39.5M and Mississippi Burning (1989) at $34.6M. 16 mystery films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $195.4M in all, 91% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 57% on 1988, whose releases took $456.1M. By language, English leads with $178.3M across 13 mystery releases.
- 1989 releases with a gross
- 16
- combined worldwide
- $195.4M
- The 'Burbs (1989), the #1
- $49.1M
- vs 1988
- −57%
#1 of 16 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Mystery Hits of 1989?
The 'Burbs (1989) leads with $49.1M, 25% of the total. The top 5 together took $157.6M, 81% of what all 16 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 Mystery Release of 1989, 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 1989.
- 1 Feb 17, 1989 US and Canada: $36.6M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $49.1M
- 2 Mar 17, 1989 US and Canada: $35.2M Rest of the world: $4.3M Worldwide: $39.5M
- 3 Jan 27, 1989 US and Canada: $34.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.6M
- 4 Feb 3, 1989 US and Canada: $18.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.7M
- 5 Mar 17, 1989 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.7M
- 6
Feb 3, 1989 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M - 7
Aug 30, 1989 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M - 8
Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M - 9
Jan 13, 1989 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 10
Feb 17, 1989 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 11
Jan 13, 1989 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M - 12
Jan 27, 1989 US and Canada: $870.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $870.5K - 13
Jul 15, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $579K - 14
Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989)Oct 11, 1989 US and Canada: $192.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $192.6K
Oct 11, 1989 · English · Comedy, Mystery, Horror $192.6K worldwide - 15
Nov 29, 1989 US and Canada: $59.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $59.4K - 16
May 13, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $118
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1989?
Of the top 10, Mississippi Burning (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The 'Burbs (1989) made 25% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $178.1M (91%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The 'Burbs (1989) $49.1M $36.6M US & Canada · 75% $12.5M elsewhere · 25%
- 2 Fletch Lives (1989) $39.5M $35.2M US & Canada · 89% $4.3M elsewhere · 11%
- 3 Mississippi Burning (1989) $34.6M $34.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Her Alibi (1989) $18.7M $18.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Leviathan (1989) $15.7M $15.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Who's Harry Crumb? (1989) $11M $11M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Relentless (1989) $7M $7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Music Box (1989) $6.3M $6.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The January Man (1989) $4.6M $4.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Mighty Quinn (1989) $4.6M $4.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 16 films reached $100M. 10 films, 63% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $195.4M total.
86% 14%
- $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 6 films, 38% of the list $168.5M · 86% of the gross
- Under $10M 10 films, 63% of the list $26.9M · 14% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1989 Earned the Most?
February releases took the most, $83.3M from 4 films, led by The 'Burbs (1989). May was the quietest month ($118). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Mississippi Burning (1989) $42.9M Mississippi Burning (1989)
- February Feb The 'Burbs (1989) $83.3M The 'Burbs (1989)
- March Mar Fletch Lives (1989) $55.2M Fletch Lives (1989)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Society (1989) $118 Society (1989)
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul Patlabor: The Movie (1989) $579K Patlabor: The Movie (1989)
- August Aug Relentless (1989) $7M Relentless (1989)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989) $192.6K Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989)
- November Nov Ten Little Indians (1989) $59.4K Ten Little Indians (1989)
- December Dec Music Box (1989) $6.3M Music Box (1989)
Last 10 years
How Does 1989 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1988 earned the most: $456.1M from 19 films, led by Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). 1989 took $195.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 8 films | 8 | $122.9M | – | Dressed to Kill (1980) $31.9M |
| 1981 16 films · −16% | 16 | $103M | −16% | The Great Muppet Caper (1981) $31.2M |
| 1982 12 films · +6% | 12 | $109.4M | +6% | The Thing (1982) $20.8M |
| 1983 12 films · −13% | 12 | $95.5M | −13% | Psycho II (1983) $34.7M |
| 1984 8 films · +10% | 8 | $104.6M | +10% | Tightrope (1984) $48.1M |
| 1985 13 films · +118% | 13 | $227.7M | +118% | Fletch (1985) $59.6M |
| 1986 9 films · −20% | 9 | $182M | −20% | The Golden Child (1986) $79.8M |
| 1987 12 films · −20% | 12 | $145.3M | −20% | No Way Out (1987) $35.5M |
| 1988 19 films · +214% | 19 | $456.1M | +214% | Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) $329.8M |
| 1989 16 films · −57% | 16 | $195.4M | −57% | The 'Burbs (1989) $49.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Mystery Movies Speak in 1989?
English-language mystery films took $178.3M across 13 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language mystery films ($579K).
Archive
Mystery Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $4B, led by Fast X (2023).
2020s 7 years · $14.2B
2010s 10 years · $24.4B
- 2019 $2.9B #1 Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
- 2018 $2.8B #1 The Nun (2018)
- 2017 $3B #1 Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
- 2016 $2.3B #1 Now You See Me 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.2B #1 Tomorrowland (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 Gone Girl (2014)
- 2013 $2.3B #1 Gravity (2013)
- 2012 $1.4B #1 The Bourne Legacy (2012)
- 2011 $3.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $3.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
2000s 10 years · $24.3B
- 2009 $3.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- 2008 $1.8B #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- 2007 $3.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $2.7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $2.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $3.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- 2003 $1.1B #1 The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 2002 $2.2B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $2.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $10.4B
- 1999 $3.1B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $810M #1 The X Files (1998)
- 1997 $1.2B #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $805.2M #1 Eraser (1996)
- 1995 $974.6M #1 Seven (1995)
- 1994 $329.6M #1 The Client (1994)
- 1993 $964.2M #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $825.1M #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $525.9M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $868.2M #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1989 $195.4M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- 1988 $456.1M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $145.3M #1 No Way Out (1987)
- 1986 $182M #1 The Golden Child (1986)
- 1985 $227.7M #1 Fletch (1985)
- 1984 $104.6M #1 Tightrope (1984)
- 1983 $95.5M #1 Psycho II (1983)
- 1982 $109.4M #1 The Thing (1982)
- 1981 $103M #1 The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- 1980 $122.9M #1 Dressed to Kill (1980)
1970s 10 years · $524.6M
- 1979 $106.8M #1 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
- 1978 $142.2M #1 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- 1977 $47.4M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $2.3M #1 The Tenant (1976)
- 1975 $74.2M #1 The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
- 1974 $93.3M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $55.8M #1 Magnum Force (1973)
- 1972 $232.4K #1 Solaris (1972)
- 1971 $2.5M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $19.9K #1 The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
1960s 9 years · $48.7M
- 1968 $558.4K #1 Bullitt (1968)
- 1967 $38.8K #1 In the Heat of the Night (1967)
- 1966 $139.5K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $80K #1 Alphaville (1965)
- 1964 $12.4M #1 A Shot in the Dark (1964)
- 1963 $294.2K #1 Charade (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $1.2K #1 The Naked Edge (1961)
- 1960 $32.3M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 8 years · $53.7M
1940s 10 years · $3.6M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $13.6K #1 Rope (1948)
- 1947 $43.5K #1 Great Expectations (1947)
- 1946 $109.7K #1 The Killers (1946)
- 1945 $31.1K #1 Spellbound (1945)
- 1944 $24.8K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $36.1K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $15.6K #1 Keeper of the Flame (1942)
- 1941 $1.8M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 6 years · $3.3M
FAQ
Mystery Box Office 1989: 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 16 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing mystery movie in 1989?
The 'Burbs (1989) leads with $49.1M worldwide, $36.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Fletch Lives (1989) at $39.5M and Mississippi Burning (1989) at $34.6M.
How much did mystery movies released in 1989 earn?
16 mystery films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $195.4M in all, or $12.2M per film on average. 1988 releases took $456.1M.
How many mystery movies released in 1989 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The 'Burbs (1989), earned $49.1M.
How is the 1989 mystery 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 1989. 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 1989 mystery 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.