#1 of 11 #1 romance movie of September 1988
1988 · Drama, Romance
$13.5M worldwide · 25% of the chart's total
$12.4M US & Canada · 92% $1.1M elsewhere · 8%
Romance box office · September 1988
Romance Box Office, September 1988: Top-Grossing Releases
Cinema Paradiso (1988) is the highest-grossing romance movie released in September 1988, with $13.5M worldwide, ahead of Moon Over Parador (1988) at $11.4M and Criminal Law (1988) at $10M. 11 romance films released in September 1988 report a worldwide gross, $54.8M in all, 98% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 7% on August 1988, whose releases took $58.8M. By language, English leads with $33.2M across 9 romance releases.
- September 1988 releases with a gross
- 11
- combined worldwide
- $54.8M
- Cinema Paradiso (1988), the #1
- $13.5M
- vs August 1988
- −7%
#1 of 11 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Romance Hits of September 1988?
Cinema Paradiso (1988) leads with $13.5M, 25% of the total. The top 5 together took $46.8M, 85% of what all 11 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 Romance 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 29, 1988 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $13.5M
- 2 Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $11.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.4M
- 3 Sep 15, 1988 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M
- 4 Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $8M Rest of the world: $688 Worldwide: $8M
- 5 Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
- 6
Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: $12.8K Worldwide: $2.8M - 7
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 8
Sep 2, 1988 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $550 Worldwide: $1.1M - 9
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $657.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $657.4K - 10
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $540K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $540K - 11
Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $401.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $401.4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1988?
Of the top 10, Moon Over Parador (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Cinema Paradiso (1988) made 8% of its gross abroad. Across all 11 films, $53.7M (98%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Cinema Paradiso (1988) $13.5M $12.4M US & Canada · 92% $1.1M elsewhere · 8%
- 2 Moon Over Parador (1988) $11.4M $11.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Criminal Law (1988) $10M $10M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Dead Ringers (1988) $8M $8M US & Canada · 100% $688 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Sweet Hearts Dance (1988) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Running on Empty (1988) $2.8M $2.8M US & Canada · 100% $12.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Kansas (1988) $2.4M $2.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Miracle Mile (1988) $1.1M $1.1M US & Canada · 100% $550 elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Spellbinder (1988) $657.4K $657.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Buster (1988) $540K $540K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many September 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 11 films reached $100M. 9 films, 82% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $54.8M total.
46% 54%
- $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, 18% of the list $24.9M · 46% of the gross
- Under $10M 9 films, 82% of the list $29.8M · 54% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of September 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 39 (Sep 18–24) took $14.9M, led by Dead Ringers (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 28–Sep 3 Miracle Mile (1988) $1.1M Miracle Mile (1988)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 4–10 Moon Over Parador (1988) $14.7M Moon Over Parador (1988)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 11–17 Criminal Law (1988) $10.5M Criminal Law (1988)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 18–24 Dead Ringers (1988) $14.9M Dead Ringers (1988)
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 25–Oct 1 Cinema Paradiso (1988) $13.5M Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Earlier years
How Does September 1988 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1988 earned the most: $54.8M from 11 films, led by Cinema Paradiso (1988).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1979 2 films | 2 | $3.7M | – | Hanover Street (1979) $3M |
| September 1980 2 films · +182% | 2 | $10.4M | +182% | Stardust Memories (1980) $10.4M |
| September 1981 2 films · +50% | 2 | $15.6M | +50% | Continental Divide (1981) $15.6M |
| September 1982 2 films · −85% | 2 | $2.3M | −85% | Yes, Giorgio (1982) $2.3M |
| September 1983 1 film · −100% | 1 | $273 | −100% | Man of Flowers (1983) $273 |
| September 1984 6 films · +19626432% | 6 | $53.6M | +19626432% | All of Me (1984) $36.4M |
| September 1985 4 films · −70% | 4 | $16.2M | −70% | Plenty (1985) $6.1M |
| September 1986 1 film · −99% | 1 | $124.1K | −99% | Sherman's March (1986) $124.1K |
| September 1987 8 films · +41764% | 8 | $52M | +41764% | The Princess Bride (1987) $31M |
| September 1988 11 films · +5% | 11 | $54.8M | +5% | Cinema Paradiso (1988) $13.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Romance Movies Speak in September 1988?
English-language romance films took $33.2M across 9 films, 61% of the total, ahead of Italian-language romance films ($13.5M).
Archive
Romance Box Office in 1988, Month by Month
The months of 1988 with their totals: June leads with $491.6M, led by Coming to America (1988).
- January $18.1M #1 For Keeps? (1988)
- February $51.1M #1 She's Having a Baby (1988)
- March $24.3M #1 Masquerade (1988)
- April $16.3M #1 Casual Sex? (1988)
- May $62.8M #1 Willow (1988)
- June $491.6M #1 Coming to America (1988)
- July $216.8M #1 Cocktail (1988)
- August $58.8M #1 Married to the Mob (1988)
- September $54.8M #1 Cinema Paradiso (1988)
- October $40.1M #1 Punchline (1988)
- November $49.5M #1 Cocoon: The Return (1988)
- December $295.5M #1 Working Girl (1988)
FAQ
Romance 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 11 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing romance movie in September 1988?
Cinema Paradiso (1988) leads with $13.5M worldwide, $12.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Moon Over Parador (1988) at $11.4M and Criminal Law (1988) at $10M.
How much did romance movies released in September 1988 earn?
11 romance films released in September 1988 report a worldwide gross, $54.8M in all, or $5M per film on average. August 1988 releases took $58.8M.
How many romance movies released in September 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Cinema Paradiso (1988), earned $13.5M.
How is the September 1988 romance 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 romance 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.