#1 of 3 #1 romance movie of December 1989
1989 · Drama, Fantasy
$74.1M worldwide · 77% of the chart's total
$43.9M US & Canada · 59% $30.3M elsewhere · 41%
Romance box office · December 1989
Romance Box Office, December 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Always (1989) is the highest-grossing romance movie released in December 1989, with $74.1M worldwide, ahead of The Wizard (1989) at $14.3M and Enemies, a Love Story (1989) at $7.8M. 3 romance films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $96.2M in all, 69% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 43% on November 1989, whose releases took $169M.
- December 1989 releases with a gross
- 3
- combined worldwide
- $96.2M
- Always (1989), the #1
- $74.1M
- vs November 1989
- −43%
#1 of 3 Top 3
What Were the Biggest Romance Hits of December 1989?
Always (1989) leads with $74.1M, 77% of the total. The top 3 together took $96.2M, almost all of what the 3 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Romance Release of December 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 December 1989.
- 1 Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $43.9M Rest of the world: $30.3M Worldwide: $74.1M
- 2 Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.3M
- 3 Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.8M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1989?
Of the top 3, The Wizard (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Always (1989) made 41% of its gross abroad. Across all 3 films, $65.9M (69%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Always (1989) $74.1M $43.9M US & Canada · 59% $30.3M elsewhere · 41%
- 2 The Wizard (1989) $14.3M $14.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Enemies, a Love Story (1989) $7.8M $7.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 17–23) took $74.1M, led by Always (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 26–Dec 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 3–9 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 10–16 The Wizard (1989) $22M The Wizard (1989)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 17–23 Always (1989) $74.1M Always (1989)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 24–30 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1989 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1985 earned the most: $358.5M from 4 films, led by Out of Africa (1985). December 1989 took $96.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1980 5 films | 5 | $141M | – | Popeye (1980) $49.8M |
| December 1981 5 films · −33% | 5 | $94.1M | −33% | Absence of Malice (1981) $40.7M |
| December 1982 4 films · +176% | 4 | $259.8M | +176% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| December 1983 3 films · −86% | 3 | $36M | −86% | Two of a Kind (1983) $23.6M |
| December 1984 4 films · +131% | 4 | $83.1M | +131% | Starman (1984) $28.7M |
| December 1985 4 films · +332% | 4 | $358.5M | +332% | Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M |
| December 1986 3 films · −90% | 3 | $37.5M | −90% | The Morning After (1986) $25.1M |
| December 1987 4 films · +369% | 4 | $175.7M | +369% | Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M |
| December 1988 9 films · +68% | 9 | $295.5M | +68% | Working Girl (1988) $103M |
| December 1989 3 films · −67% | 3 | $96.2M | −67% | Always (1989) $74.1M |
Archive
Romance Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: October leads with $338.5M, led by Look Who's Talking (1989).
- January No grosses
- February $41.2M #1 Cousins (1989)
- March $50.3M #1 Skin Deep (1989)
- April $28.5M #1 Say Anything... (1989)
- May $14M #1 Listen to Me (1989)
- June No grosses
- July $100.2M #1 When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
- August $6.3M #1 Shirley Valentine (1989)
- September $114.6M #1 Sea of Love (1989)
- October $338.5M #1 Look Who's Talking (1989)
- November $169M #1 Steel Magnolias (1989)
- December $96.2M #1 Always (1989)
FAQ
Romance Box Office December 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 3 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing romance movie in December 1989?
Always (1989) leads with $74.1M worldwide, $43.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Wizard (1989) at $14.3M and Enemies, a Love Story (1989) at $7.8M.
How much did romance movies released in December 1989 earn?
3 romance films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $96.2M in all, or $32.1M per film on average. November 1989 releases took $169M.
How many romance movies released in December 1989 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Always (1989), earned $74.1M.
How is the December 1989 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 December 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 December 1989 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.