#1 of 8 #1 romance movie of December 1990
1990 · Drama, Fantasy
$86M worldwide · 46% of the chart's total
$56.4M US & Canada · 66% $29.7M elsewhere · 34%
Romance box office · December 1990
Romance Box Office, December 1990: Top-Grossing Releases
Edward Scissorhands (1990) is the highest-grossing romance movie released in December 1990, with $86M worldwide, ahead of Mermaids (1990) at $35.4M and The Russia House (1990) at $23M. 8 romance films released in December 1990 report a worldwide gross, $186.2M in all, 82% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $177.1M across 6 romance releases.
- December 1990 releases with a gross
- 8
- combined worldwide
- $186.2M
- Edward Scissorhands (1990), the #1
- $86M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 82%
#1 of 8 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Romance Hits of December 1990?
Edward Scissorhands (1990) leads with $86M, 46% of the total. The top 5 together took $169.8M, 91% of what all 8 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 December 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 December 1990.
- 1 Dec 7, 1990 US and Canada: $56.4M Rest of the world: $29.7M Worldwide: $86M
- 2 Dec 14, 1990 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.4M
- 3 Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $23M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23M
- 4 Dec 21, 1990 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.7M
- 5 Dec 11, 1990 US and Canada: $9.2M Rest of the world: $402.3K Worldwide: $9.6M
- 6
Dec 25, 1990 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M - 7
Dec 1, 1990 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: $2K Worldwide: $5.8M - 8
Dec 15, 1990 US and Canada: $146.3K Rest of the world: $3.1M Worldwide: $3.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1990?
Of the top 8, Mermaids (1990) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Days of Being Wild (1990) made 96% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $153M (82%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Edward Scissorhands (1990) $86M $56.4M US & Canada · 66% $29.7M elsewhere · 34%
- 2 Mermaids (1990) $35.4M $35.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Russia House (1990) $23M $23M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) $15.7M $15.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Havana (1990) $9.6M $9.2M US & Canada · 96% $402.3K elsewhere · 4%
- 6 Alice (1990) $7.3M $7.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) $5.8M $5.8M US & Canada · 100% $2K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Days of Being Wild (1990) $3.3M $146.3K US & Canada · 4% $3.1M elsewhere · 96%
By release week
Which Week of December 1990 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 49 (Dec 2–8) took $86M, led by Edward Scissorhands (1990). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 25–Dec 1 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) $5.8M Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 2–8 Edward Scissorhands (1990) $86M Edward Scissorhands (1990)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 9–15 Mermaids (1990) $48.3M Mermaids (1990)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 16–22 The Russia House (1990) $38.7M The Russia House (1990)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 23–29 Alice (1990) $7.3M Alice (1990)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 30–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1990 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 1990 took $186.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1981 5 films | 5 | $94.1M | – | 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 |
| December 1990 8 films · +94% | 8 | $186.2M | +94% | Edward Scissorhands (1990) $86M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Romance Movies Speak in December 1990?
English-language romance films took $177.1M across 6 films, 95% of the total, ahead of French-language romance films ($5.8M) and Cantonese-language romance films ($3.3M).
Archive
Romance Box Office in 1990, Month by Month
The months of 1990 with their totals: March leads with $544M, led by Pretty Woman (1990).
- January No grosses
- February $43.3M #1 Stella (1990)
- March $544M #1 Pretty Woman (1990)
- April $13M #1 Wild Orchid (1990)
- May $4.1M #1 Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)
- June $340.5M #1 Dick Tracy (1990)
- July $505.7M #1 Ghost (1990)
- August $36M #1 Mo' Better Blues (1990)
- September $11.9M #1 Funny About Love (1990)
- October $58.3M #1 Quigley Down Under (1990)
- November $71.6M #1 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990)
- December $186.2M #1 Edward Scissorhands (1990)
FAQ
Romance Box Office December 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 8 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing romance movie in December 1990?
Edward Scissorhands (1990) leads with $86M worldwide, $56.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Mermaids (1990) at $35.4M and The Russia House (1990) at $23M.
How much did romance movies released in December 1990 earn?
8 romance films released in December 1990 report a worldwide gross, $186.2M in all, or $23.3M per film on average.
How many romance movies released in December 1990 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Edward Scissorhands (1990), earned $86M.
How is the December 1990 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 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 December 1990 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.