#1 of 27 #1 sci-fi movie of 1987
1987 · Action, Adventure
$98.3M worldwide · 27% of the chart's total
$59.7M US & Canada · 61% $38.5M elsewhere · 39%
Sci-Fi box office · 1987
Sci-Fi Box Office 1987: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Predator (1987) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 1987, with $98.3M worldwide, ahead of *batteries not included (1987) at $65.1M and The Running Man (1987) at $38.1M. 27 sci-fi films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $360.5M in all, 75% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 29% on 1986, whose releases took $504.9M. By language, English leads with $261.4M across 19 sci-fi releases.
- 1987 releases with a gross
- 27
- combined worldwide
- $360.5M
- Predator (1987), the #1
- $98.3M
- vs 1986
- −29%
#1 of 27 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 1987?
Predator (1987) leads with $98.3M, 27% of the total. The top 5 together took $269.9M, 75% of what all 27 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 Sci-Fi Release of 1987, 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 1987.
- 1 Jun 12, 1987 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $38.5M Worldwide: $98.3M
- 2 Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $32.9M Rest of the world: $32.1M Worldwide: $65.1M
- 3 Nov 13, 1987 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $38.1M
- 4 Jun 24, 1987 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $977 Worldwide: $38.1M
- 5 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)Jul 24, 1987 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: $14.6M Worldwide: $30.3M
Jul 24, 1987 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $30.3M worldwide - 6
Jul 1, 1987 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.9M - 7
Apr 17, 1987 US and Canada: $18.5M Rest of the world: $3.1M Worldwide: $21.6M - 8
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $769 Worldwide: $17.3M - 9
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $9.7M Rest of the world: $245 Worldwide: $9.7M - 10
Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 11
Jan 9, 1987 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 12
Nov 20, 1987 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 13
Sep 11, 1987 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 14
Apr 3, 1987 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 15
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $873.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $873.9K - 16
Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $562.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $562.2K - 17
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $548.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $548.7K - 18
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $548.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $548.7K - 19
Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $370.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $370.7K - 20
Oct 1, 1987 US and Canada: $323.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $323.9K - 21
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $159.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.7K - 22
Feb 1, 1987 US and Canada: $65K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $65K - 23
Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise (1987)Mar 14, 1987 US and Canada: $55.6K Rest of the world: $5.1K Worldwide: $60.6K
Mar 14, 1987 · Japanese · Animation, Sci-Fi $60.6K worldwide - 24
Dec 3, 1987 US and Canada: $12.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.7K - 25
Jul 21, 1987 US and Canada: $10.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6K - 26
Dec 13, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5K - 27
Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds (1987)Sep 2, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $70 Sep 2, 1987 · English · Sci-Fi, Adventure $70 worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?
Of the top 10, Innerspace (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while *batteries not included (1987) made 49% of its gross abroad. Across all 27 films, $272.2M (75%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Predator (1987) $98.3M $59.7M US & Canada · 61% $38.5M elsewhere · 39%
- 2 *batteries not included (1987) $65.1M $32.9M US & Canada · 51% $32.1M elsewhere · 49%
- 3 The Running Man (1987) $38.1M $38.1M US & Canada · 100% $1.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Spaceballs (1987) $38.1M $38.1M US & Canada · 100% $977 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) $30.3M $15.7M US & Canada · 52% $14.6M elsewhere · 48%
- 6 Innerspace (1987) $25.9M $25.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Project X (1987) $21.6M $18.5M US & Canada · 86% $3.1M elsewhere · 14%
- 8 Masters of the Universe (1987) $17.3M $17.3M US & Canada · 100% $769 elsewhere · <1%
- 9 The Hidden (1987) $9.7M $9.7M US & Canada · 100% $245 elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Leonard Part 6 (1987) $4.6M $4.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 27 films reached $100M. 19 films, 70% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $360.5M total.
93%
- $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 8 films, 30% of the list $334.7M · 93% of the gross
- Under $10M 19 films, 70% of the list $25.8M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $136.4M from 2 films, led by Predator (1987). March was the quietest month ($60.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Kindred (1987) $2.4M The Kindred (1987)
- February Feb Nice Girls Don’t Explode (1987) $65K Nice Girls Don’t Explode (1987)
- March Mar Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise (1987) $60.6K Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise (1987)
- April Apr Project X (1987) $23.2M Project X (1987)
- May May Gor (1987) $159.7K Gor (1987)
- June Jun Predator (1987) $136.4M Predator (1987)
- July Jul Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) $56.2M Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
- August Aug Masters of the Universe (1987) $17.3M Masters of the Universe (1987)
- September Sep The Curse (1987) $3.9M The Curse (1987)
- October Oct The Hidden (1987) $10.1M The Hidden (1987)
- November Nov The Running Man (1987) $40.7M The Running Man (1987)
- December Dec *batteries not included (1987) $70.1M *batteries not included (1987)
Last 10 years
How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1983 earned the most: $781.3M from 17 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). 1987 took $360.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 5 films | 5 | $341.8M | – | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 12 films · +46% | 12 | $500.5M | +46% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 9 films · +29% | 9 | $645.6M | +29% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 8 films · −44% | 8 | $362.6M | −44% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 16 films · −35% | 16 | $234.5M | −35% | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) $79.8M |
| 1983 17 films · +233% | 17 | $781.3M | +233% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| 1984 22 films · −11% | 22 | $693.3M | −11% | Ghostbusters (1984) $296.6M |
| 1985 26 films · −6% | 26 | $654.3M | −6% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
| 1986 26 films · −23% | 26 | $504.9M | −23% | Aliens (1986) $131.1M |
| 1987 27 films · −29% | 27 | $360.5M | −29% | Predator (1987) $98.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 1987?
English-language sci-fi films took $261.4M across 19 films, 72% of the total, ahead of Swedish-language sci-fi films ($873.9K) and French-language sci-fi films ($370.7K).
Archive
Sci-Fi Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1933 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $15.1B, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
2020s 7 years · $37.1B
- 2026 so far $5.9B #1 Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
- 2025 $4.9B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $6.9B #1 Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- 2023 $4.7B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.5B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $6.2B #1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- 2020 $912.4M #1 Tenet (2020)
2010s 10 years · $87.8B
- 2019 $10.3B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $15.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $11.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $8.4B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $10.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $9.7B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $8.6B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $5.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $4.8B #1 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- 2010 $3.9B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $31B
- 2009 $7.9B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $3.2B #1 Iron Man (2008)
- 2007 $2.5B #1 Transformers (2007)
- 2006 $1.6B #1 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- 2005 $3.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $2.5B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $3.4B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $3B #1 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- 2001 $2.3B #1 The Mummy Returns (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 X-Men (2000)
1990s 10 years · $12.5B
- 1999 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $1.9B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $2.7B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $1.5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $918.9M #1 Waterworld (1995)
- 1994 $555.9M #1 Stargate (1994)
- 1993 $199.7M #1 Demolition Man (1993)
- 1992 $456.9M #1 Alien 3 (1992)
- 1991 $819.7M #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $995.3M #1 Total Recall (1990)
1980s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1989 $1B #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- 1988 $139.1M #1 Alien Nation (1988)
- 1987 $360.5M #1 Predator (1987)
- 1986 $504.9M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $654.3M #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $693.3M #1 Ghostbusters (1984)
- 1983 $781.3M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $234.5M #1 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- 1981 $362.6M #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $645.6M #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $2B
- 1979 $500.5M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $341.8M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $1.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $4.1M #1 Robot Taekwon V (1976)
- 1975 $3.9M #1 Bug (1975)
- 1974 $560.7K #1 The Terminal Man (1974)
- 1973 $27.2M #1 Sleeper (1973)
- 1972 $9.3M #1 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- 1971 $42.1M #1 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- 1970 $19M #1 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
1960s 8 years · $33.1M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $32.6M #1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $36.5K #1 The Face of Another (1966)
- 1965 $180.7K #1 Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)
- 1964 $492 #1 Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
- 1961 $90 #1 Mothra (1961)
- 1960 $5.9K #1 The Time Machine (1960)
1950s 9 years · $696.6K
- 1959 $12.1K #1 On the Beach (1959)
- 1958 $16.3K #1 Hare-Way to the Stars (1958)
- 1957 $30K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $3.7K #1 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- 1955 $291 #1 Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
- 1954 $594.6K #1 Godzilla (1954)
- 1953 $15K #1 Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
- 1952 $15K #1 Water, Water Every Hare (1952)
- 1951 $9.6K #1 The Man in the White Suit (1951)
1940s 1 year · $14.8K
FAQ
Sci-Fi Box Office 1987: 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 27 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 1987?
Predator (1987) leads with $98.3M worldwide, $59.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come *batteries not included (1987) at $65.1M and The Running Man (1987) at $38.1M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 1987 earn?
27 sci-fi films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $360.5M in all, or $13.4M per film on average. 1986 releases took $504.9M.
How many sci-fi movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Predator (1987), earned $98.3M.
How is the 1987 sci-fi 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 1987. 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 1987 sci-fi 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.