#1 of 14 #1 mystery movie of 1990
1990 · Drama, Mystery
$505.7M worldwide · 58% of the chart's total
$217.6M US & Canada · 43% $288.1M elsewhere · 57%
Mystery box office · 1990
Mystery Box Office 1990: Highest-Grossing Mystery Movies
Ghost (1990) is the highest-grossing mystery movie released in 1990, with $505.7M worldwide, ahead of Presumed Innocent (1990) at $221.3M and The Exorcist III (1990) at $39M. 14 mystery films released in 1990 report a worldwide gross, $868.2M in all, 50% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 4.4 times the total of 1989, whose releases took $195.4M. By language, English leads with $840.8M across 12 mystery releases.
- 1990 releases with a gross
- 14
- combined worldwide
- $868.2M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 1989
- ×4.4
#1 of 14 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Mystery Hits of 1990?
Ghost (1990) leads with $505.7M, 58% of the total. The top 5 together took $809.2M, 93% of what all 14 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 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 Jul 13, 1990 US and Canada: $217.6M Rest of the world: $288.1M Worldwide: $505.7M
- 2 Jul 27, 1990 US and Canada: $86.3M Rest of the world: $135M Worldwide: $221.3M
- 3 Aug 17, 1990 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: $12.9M Worldwide: $39M
- 4 Nov 2, 1990 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.1M
- 5 Apr 27, 1990 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17M
- 6
Sep 14, 1990 US and Canada: $16.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.9M - 7
Oct 17, 1990 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 8
Aug 24, 1990 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $2.8K Worldwide: $10.4M - 9
Aug 10, 1990 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M - 10
Aug 24, 1990 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7M - 11
Jan 19, 1990 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 12
Mar 9, 1990 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 13
1990 US and Canada: $577.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $577.7K - 14
Sep 14, 1990 US and Canada: $8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1990?
Of the top 10, Jacob's Ladder (1990) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Presumed Innocent (1990) made 61% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $432.2M (50%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Ghost (1990) $505.7M $217.6M US & Canada · 43% $288.1M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 Presumed Innocent (1990) $221.3M $86.3M US & Canada · 39% $135M elsewhere · 61%
- 3 The Exorcist III (1990) $39M $26.1M US & Canada · 67% $12.9M elsewhere · 33%
- 4 Jacob's Ladder (1990) $26.1M $26.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Guardian (1990) $17M $17M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Death Warrant (1990) $16.9M $16.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Reversal of Fortune (1990) $15.4M $15.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Witches (1990) $10.4M $10.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 The Two Jakes (1990) $10M $10M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 After Dark, My Sweet (1990) $2.7M $2.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1990 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 14 films crossed $100M and took $727M between them, 84% of the total. 5 films, 36% of the list, earned under $10M.
58% 25% 16%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, 7% of the list $505.7M · 58% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 1 film, 7% of the list $221.3M · 25% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 7 films, 50% of the list $134.8M · 16% of the gross
- Under $10M 5 films, 36% of the list $6.3M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1990 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $727M from 2 films, led by Ghost (1990). March was the quietest month ($1.4M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Brain Dead (1990) $2.2M Brain Dead (1990)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Love at Large (1990) $1.4M Love at Large (1990)
- April Apr The Guardian (1990) $17M The Guardian (1990)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul Ghost (1990) $727M Ghost (1990)
- August Aug The Exorcist III (1990) $62.1M The Exorcist III (1990)
- September Sep Death Warrant (1990) $16.9M Death Warrant (1990)
- October Oct Reversal of Fortune (1990) $15.4M Reversal of Fortune (1990)
- November Nov Jacob's Ladder (1990) $26.1M Jacob's Ladder (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: $868.2M from 14 films, led by Ghost (1990).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 16 films | 16 | $103M | – | 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 |
| 1990 14 films · +344% | 14 | $868.2M | +344% | Ghost (1990) $505.7M |
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 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 14 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing mystery movie in 1990?
Ghost (1990) leads with $505.7M worldwide, $217.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Presumed Innocent (1990) at $221.3M and The Exorcist III (1990) at $39M.
How much did mystery movies released in 1990 earn?
14 mystery films released in 1990 report a worldwide gross, $868.2M in all, or $62M per film on average. 1989 releases took $195.4M.
How many mystery movies released in 1990 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Ghost (1990) with $505.7M.
How is the 1990 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 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 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.