#1 of 24 #1 sci-fi movie of 1989
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
1989 · Adventure, Sci-Fi
$332.9M worldwide · 32% of the chart's total
$119.4M US & Canada · 36% $213.5M elsewhere · 64%
Sci-Fi box office · 1989
Sci-Fi Box Office 1989: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies
Back to the Future Part II (1989) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 1989, with $332.9M worldwide, ahead of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) at $222.7M and Ghostbusters II (1989) at $215.4M. 24 sci-fi films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $1B in all, 56% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 7.5 times the total of 1988, whose releases took $139.1M. By language, English leads with $1B across 20 sci-fi releases.
- 1989 releases with a gross
- 24
- combined worldwide
- $1B
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs 1988
- ×7.5
#1 of 24 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 1989?
Back to the Future Part II (1989) leads with $332.9M, 32% of the total. The top 5 together took $913.7M, 88% of what all 24 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 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 1989.
- 1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)Nov 22, 1989 US and Canada: $119.4M Rest of the world: $213.5M Worldwide: $332.9M
Nov 22, 1989 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $332.9M worldwide - 2 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)Jun 23, 1989 US and Canada: $130.7M Rest of the world: $92M Worldwide: $222.7M Jun 23, 1989 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $222.7M worldwide
- 3 Jun 16, 1989 US and Canada: $112.5M Rest of the world: $102.9M Worldwide: $215.4M
- 4 Aug 9, 1989 US and Canada: $55M Rest of the world: $35.5M Worldwide: $90.5M
- 5 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)Jun 9, 1989 US and Canada: $52.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.2M Jun 9, 1989 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $52.2M worldwide
- 6
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)Feb 17, 1989 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $25.9K Worldwide: $40.5M Feb 17, 1989 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy $40.5M worldwide - 7
Feb 10, 1989 US and Canada: $20M Rest of the world: $18.9M Worldwide: $38.9M - 8
Mar 17, 1989 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.7M - 9
Apr 7, 1989 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.2M - 10
Jan 13, 1989 US and Canada: $8.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.1M - 11
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 12
May 12, 1989 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.9M - 13
Nov 10, 1989 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 14
Oct 1, 1989 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 15
Oct 19, 1989 US and Canada: $882.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $882.3K - 16
Jan 20, 1989 US and Canada: $858.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $858.6K - 17
Jul 15, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $579K - 18
Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (1989)Mar 11, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $521.9K
Mar 11, 1989 · Japanese · Animation, Fantasy, Adventure $521.9K worldwide - 19
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)Nov 24, 1989 US and Canada: $363.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $363.6K Nov 24, 1989 · English · Sci-Fi, Action, Horror $363.6K worldwide - 20
The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)May 12, 1989 US and Canada: $192.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $192.8K May 12, 1989 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $192.8K worldwide - 21
Mobile Suit SD Gundam’s Counterattack (1989)Jul 15, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $150K Jul 15, 1989 · Japanese · Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action $150K worldwide - 22
Oct 1, 1989 US and Canada: $129.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $129.8K - 23
May 11, 1989 US and Canada: $50.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.4K - 24
May 18, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $536
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1989?
Of the top 10, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Back to the Future Part II (1989) made 64% of its gross abroad. Across all 24 films, $579.7M (56%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Back to the Future Part II (1989) $332.9M $119.4M US & Canada · 36% $213.5M elsewhere · 64%
- 2 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) $222.7M $130.7M US & Canada · 59% $92M elsewhere · 41%
- 3 Ghostbusters II (1989) $215.4M $112.5M US & Canada · 52% $102.9M elsewhere · 48%
- 4 The Abyss (1989) $90.5M $55M US & Canada · 61% $35.5M elsewhere · 39%
- 5 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) $52.2M $52.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) $40.5M $40.5M US & Canada · 100% $25.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 The Fly II (1989) $38.9M $20M US & Canada · 51% $18.9M elsewhere · 49%
- 8 Leviathan (1989) $15.7M $15.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Cyborg (1989) $10.2M $10.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 DeepStar Six (1989) $8.1M $8.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 24 films crossed $100M and took $771M between them, 74% of the total. 15 films, 63% of the list, earned under $10M.
74% 24%
- $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 3 films, 13% of the list $771M · 74% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 25% of the list $248M · 24% of the gross
- Under $10M 15 films, 63% of the list $24.8M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1989 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $490.3M from 3 films, led by Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989). July was the quietest month ($729K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan DeepStar Six (1989) $9M DeepStar Six (1989)
- February Feb Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) $79.4M Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
- March Mar Leviathan (1989) $16.2M Leviathan (1989)
- April Apr Cyborg (1989) $10.2M Cyborg (1989)
- May May Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) $4.2M Earth Girls Are Easy (1989)
- June Jun Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) $490.3M Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- July Jul Patlabor: The Movie (1989) $729K Patlabor: The Movie (1989)
- August Aug The Abyss (1989) $96.3M The Abyss (1989)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Robot Jox (1989) $2.3M Robot Jox (1989)
- November Nov Back to the Future Part II (1989) $335.1M Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1989 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1989 earned the most: $1B from 24 films, led by Back to the Future Part II (1989).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 9 films | 9 | $645.6M | – | 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 |
| 1988 19 films · −61% | 19 | $139.1M | −61% | Alien Nation (1988) $32.2M |
| 1989 24 films · +650% | 24 | $1B | +650% | Back to the Future Part II (1989) $332.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Sci-Fi Movies Speak in 1989?
English-language sci-fi films took $1B across 20 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language sci-fi films ($1.3M).
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 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 24 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 1989?
Back to the Future Part II (1989) leads with $332.9M worldwide, $119.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) at $222.7M and Ghostbusters II (1989) at $215.4M.
How much did sci-fi movies released in 1989 earn?
24 sci-fi films released in 1989 report a worldwide gross, $1B in all, or $43.5M per film on average. 1988 releases took $139.1M.
How many sci-fi movies released in 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by Back to the Future Part II (1989) with $332.9M.
How is the 1989 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 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 1989 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.