#1 of 38 #1 thriller movie of 1986
1986 · Action, Sci-Fi
$131.1M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total
$85.2M US & Canada · 65% $45.9M elsewhere · 35%
Thriller box office · 1986
Thriller Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
Aliens (1986) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1986, with $131.1M worldwide, ahead of The Fly (1986) at $60.6M and Cobra (1986) at $49M. 38 thriller films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $571.7M in all, 88% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 37% on 1985, whose releases took $908.2M. By language, English leads with $517.3M across 35 thriller releases.
- 1986 releases with a gross
- 38
- combined worldwide
- $571.7M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1985
- −37%
#1 of 38 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1986?
Aliens (1986) leads with $131.1M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $309.1M, 54% of what all 38 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 Thriller Release of 1986, 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 1986.
- 1 Jul 18, 1986 US and Canada: $85.2M Rest of the world: $45.9M Worldwide: $131.1M
- 2 Aug 15, 1986 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $20.2M Worldwide: $60.6M
- 3 May 23, 1986 US and Canada: $49M Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $49M
- 4 Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $38.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.5M
- 5 Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.8M
- 6
Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: $66 Worldwide: $25.1M - 7
Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $24.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.2M - 8
Feb 7, 1986 US and Canada: $20.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.6M - 9
Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986)Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.5M Rest of the world: $743 Worldwide: $19.5M
Aug 1, 1986 · English · Thriller, Horror $19.5M worldwide - 10
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M - 11
Jun 6, 1986 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M - 12
Nov 26, 1986 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.3M - 13
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.4M - 14
Apr 18, 1986 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 15
Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M - 16
Sep 19, 1986 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: $121.3K Worldwide: $8.7M - 17
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: $3.1K Worldwide: $8.6M - 18
Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7M - 19
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $7.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.6M - 20
Sep 24, 1986 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 21
Jan 10, 1986 US and Canada: $6.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.6M - 22
Feb 21, 1986 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 23
Nov 7, 1986 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 24
Jul 25, 1986 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.1M - 25
Sep 12, 1986 US and Canada: $4.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7M - 26
Jun 13, 1986 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.9M - 27
Nov 21, 1986 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 28
Aug 29, 1986 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.4M - 29
Aug 29, 1986 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M - 30
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M - 31
May 9, 1986 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 32
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 33
Feb 26, 1986 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 34
Apr 25, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 35
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)Sep 24, 1986 US and Canada: $609.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $609.9K Sep 24, 1986 · English · Thriller, Horror, Drama $609.9K worldwide - 36
Feb 21, 1986 US and Canada: $502.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $502.2K - 37
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $279.4K Rest of the world: $6.7K Worldwide: $286.1K - 38
Mar 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?
Of the top 10, Running Scared (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Aliens (1986) made 35% of its gross abroad. Across all 38 films, $505.5M (88%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Aliens (1986) $131.1M $85.2M US & Canada · 65% $45.9M elsewhere · 35%
- 2 The Fly (1986) $60.6M $40.5M US & Canada · 67% $20.2M elsewhere · 33%
- 3 Cobra (1986) $49M $49M US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Running Scared (1986) $38.5M $38.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) $29.8M $29.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Morning After (1986) $25.1M $25.1M US & Canada · 100% $66 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Iron Eagle (1986) $24.2M $24.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 F/X (1986) $20.6M $20.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986) $19.5M $19.5M US & Canada · 100% $743 elsewhere · <1%
- 10 The Delta Force (1986) $17.8M $17.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 38 films crossed $100M and took $131.1M between them, 23% of the total. 25 films, 66% of the list, earned under $10M.
23% 58% 20%
- $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 1 film, 3% of the list $131.1M · 23% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 12 films, 32% of the list $329.1M · 58% of the gross
- Under $10M 25 films, 66% of the list $111.6M · 20% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $136.2M from 2 films, led by Aliens (1986). March was the quietest month ($2.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Iron Eagle (1986) $38.5M Iron Eagle (1986)
- February Feb F/X (1986) $54.1M F/X (1986)
- March Mar Nomads (1986) $2.6M Nomads (1986)
- April Apr Murphy’s Law (1986) $11.3M Murphy’s Law (1986)
- May May Cobra (1986) $51.4M Cobra (1986)
- June Jun Running Scared (1986) $58.6M Running Scared (1986)
- July Jul Aliens (1986) $136.2M Aliens (1986)
- August Aug The Fly (1986) $111M The Fly (1986)
- September Sep Blue Velvet (1986) $21.1M Blue Velvet (1986)
- October Oct Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) $38.8M Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
- November Nov The Mosquito Coast (1986) $23M The Mosquito Coast (1986)
- December Dec The Morning After (1986) $25.1M The Morning After (1986)
Last 10 years
How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1983 earned the most: $1.2B from 30 films, led by Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). 1986 took $571.7M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 10 films | 10 | $161.1M | – | The Deep (1977) $47.3M |
| 1978 14 films · +319% | 14 | $674.5M | +319% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| 1979 18 films · −33% | 18 | $452.1M | −33% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 21 films · −36% | 21 | $291.5M | −36% | The Shining (1980) $48M |
| 1981 36 films · +36% | 36 | $397.1M | +36% | For Your Eyes Only (1981) $54.8M |
| 1982 32 films · +53% | 32 | $608M | +53% | First Blood (1982) $125.2M |
| 1983 30 films · +96% | 30 | $1.2B | +96% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| 1984 33 films · −31% | 33 | $822.8M | −31% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| 1985 45 films · +10% | 45 | $908.2M | +10% | Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $300.4M |
| 1986 38 films · −37% | 38 | $571.7M | −37% | Aliens (1986) $131.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1986?
English-language thriller films took $517.3M across 35 films, 90% of the total, ahead of French-language thriller films ($5.1M) and Spanish-language thriller films ($286.1K).
Archive
Thriller Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2015 leads with $12.8B, led by Jurassic World (2015).
2020s 7 years · $38.5B
- 2026 so far $2.6B #1 Project Hail Mary (2026)
- 2025 $7.7B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $5.7B #1 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
- 2023 $7.9B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.1B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $5.5B #1 No Time to Die (2021)
- 2020 $2B #1 Bad Boys for Life (2020)
2010s 10 years · $93.9B
- 2019 $8.6B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $10B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $10.2B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $7.6B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $12.8B #1 Jurassic World (2015)
- 2014 $8.5B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $10.5B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $5B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $8.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $67.5B
- 2009 $8.6B #1 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- 2008 $8.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $8.8B #1 Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- 2006 $7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $5.8B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.7B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $6.6B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Die Another Day (2002)
- 2001 $5.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $5B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $36B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.2B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $5.1B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $3.9B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $2.9B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $2.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $2.3B #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $2.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $3B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $9.2B
- 1989 $1.8B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $995.3M #1 Rambo III (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $571.7M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $908.2M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $822.8M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $608M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $397.1M #1 For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- 1980 $291.5M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.5B
- 1979 $452.1M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $674.5M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $161.1M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $200.3M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $589.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $352.9M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $509M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $334.9M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $141.7M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $120.3M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $273.6M
- 1969 $24.3M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $43.9M #1 You Only Live Twice (1967)
- 1966 $47.4K #1 Blow-Up (1966)
- 1965 $114.9M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $34.5M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $16.6M #1 Dr. No (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $69.7K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $32.7M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 10 years · $52.7M
- 1959 $215.4K #1 North by Northwest (1959)
- 1958 $10.7M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $27.4K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $18.2K #1 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
- 1955 $2.3M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $38.5M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $46.2K #1 The Wages of Fear (1953)
- 1952 $26K #1 Sudden Fear (1952)
- 1951 $52K #1 Strangers on a Train (1951)
- 1950 $816.7K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $12.3M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $464.6K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $79K #1 Odd Man Out (1947)
- 1946 $10M #1 Cloak and Dagger (1946)
- 1945 $94.2K #1 Dead of Night (1945)
- 1944 $23.6K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $37K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $47.5K #1 Went the Day Well? (1942)
- 1941 $19 #1 Suspicion (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 7 years · $195.5K
FAQ
Thriller Box Office 1986: 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 38 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1986?
Aliens (1986) leads with $131.1M worldwide, $85.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Fly (1986) at $60.6M and Cobra (1986) at $49M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1986 earn?
38 thriller films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $571.7M in all, or $15M per film on average. 1985 releases took $908.2M.
How many thriller movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Aliens (1986) with $131.1M.
How is the 1986 thriller 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 1986. 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 1986 thriller 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.