#1 of 65 #1 thriller movie of 1987
1987 · Drama, Thriller
$320.1M worldwide · 19% of the chart's total
$156.6M US & Canada · 49% $163.5M elsewhere · 51%
Thriller box office · 1987
Thriller Box Office 1987: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
Fatal Attraction (1987) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1987, with $320.1M worldwide, ahead of Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) at $300M and Lethal Weapon (1987) at $120.2M. 65 thriller films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $1.7B in all, 74% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 190% on 1986, whose releases took $571.7M. By language, English leads with $1.5B across 57 thriller releases.
- 1987 releases with a gross
- 65
- combined worldwide
- $1.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs 1986
- +190%
#1 of 65 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1987?
Fatal Attraction (1987) leads with $320.1M, 19% of the total. The top 5 together took $914.9M, 55% of what all 65 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 1987, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 65. 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 Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $156.6M Rest of the world: $163.5M Worldwide: $320.1M
- 2 May 20, 1987 US and Canada: $153.7M Rest of the world: $146.3M Worldwide: $300M
- 3 Mar 6, 1987 US and Canada: $65.2M Rest of the world: $55M Worldwide: $120.2M
- 4 Jun 12, 1987 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $38.5M Worldwide: $98.3M
- 5 Jun 3, 1987 US and Canada: $76.3M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $76.3M
- 6
Aug 5, 1987 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $65.7M - 7
Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $57.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $57.9M - 8
Jul 17, 1987 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: $31.1M Worldwide: $51.9M - 9
Jul 31, 1987 US and Canada: $51.2M Rest of the world: $35K Worldwide: $51.2M - 10
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)Feb 27, 1987 US and Canada: $44.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.8M
Feb 27, 1987 · English · Action, Thriller, Fantasy $44.8M worldwide - 11
Nov 13, 1987 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $38.1M - 12
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $35.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.5M - 13
Jul 31, 1987 US and Canada: $32.3M Rest of the world: $220.9K Worldwide: $32.5M - 14
Jul 1, 1987 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.9M - 15
Feb 6, 1987 US and Canada: $25.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.2M - 16
Apr 17, 1987 US and Canada: $18.5M Rest of the world: $3.1M Worldwide: $21.6M - 17
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 18
Oct 23, 1987 US and Canada: $18.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.8M - 19
Jun 10, 1987 US and Canada: $18.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.8M - 20
Aug 21, 1987 US and Canada: $17.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.7M - 21
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $769 Worldwide: $17.3M - 22
Mar 6, 1987 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: $322 Worldwide: $17.2M - 23
Nov 20, 1987 US and Canada: $15.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.2M - 24
Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: $15.5K Worldwide: $14.6M - 25
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $13.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.8M - 26
Jan 16, 1987 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.6M - 27
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.4M - 28
Apr 24, 1987 US and Canada: $11.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.3M - 29
Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.3M - 30
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $9.7M Rest of the world: $245 Worldwide: $9.7M - 31
Mar 13, 1987 US and Canada: $7.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.4M - 32
Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M - 33
Nov 6, 1987 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M - 34
Jan 9, 1987 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.1M - 35
Mar 13, 1987 US and Canada: $5.9M Rest of the world: $9.2K Worldwide: $5.9M - 36
Oct 7, 1987 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.4M - 37
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M - 38
Oct 3, 1987 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $321 Worldwide: $3.4M - 39
Nov 10, 1987 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 40
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 41
Oct 23, 1987 US and Canada: $2.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.9M - 42
Mar 13, 1987 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M - 43
Oct 16, 1987 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7M - 44
Oct 14, 1987 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M - 45
Jun 5, 1987 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M - 46
Feb 6, 1987 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 47
Jul 10, 1987 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.2M - 48
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 49
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 50
Sep 11, 1987 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?
Of the top 10, Stakeout (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Jaws: The Revenge (1987) made 60% of its gross abroad. Across all 65 films, $1.2B (74%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M $156.6M US & Canada · 49% $163.5M elsewhere · 51%
- 2 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M $153.7M US & Canada · 51% $146.3M elsewhere · 49%
- 3 Lethal Weapon (1987) $120.2M $65.2M US & Canada · 54% $55M elsewhere · 46%
- 4 Predator (1987) $98.3M $59.7M US & Canada · 61% $38.5M elsewhere · 39%
- 5 The Untouchables (1987) $76.3M $76.3M US & Canada · 100% $1.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Stakeout (1987) $65.7M $65.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Throw Momma from the Train (1987) $57.9M $57.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Jaws: The Revenge (1987) $51.9M $20.8M US & Canada · 40% $31.1M elsewhere · 60%
- 9 The Living Daylights (1987) $51.2M $51.2M US & Canada · 100% $35K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) $44.8M $44.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 65 films crossed $100M and took $740.3M between them, 45% of the total. 36 films, 55% of the list, earned under $10M.
45% 50%
- $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, 5% of the list $740.3M · 45% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 26 films, 40% of the list $824.6M · 50% of the gross
- Under $10M 36 films, 55% of the list $93.1M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?
September releases took the most, $364.9M from 10 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987). January was the quietest month ($18.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Bedroom Window (1987) $18.7M The Bedroom Window (1987)
- February Feb A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) $72.5M A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- March Mar Lethal Weapon (1987) $154.6M Lethal Weapon (1987)
- April Apr Project X (1987) $32.9M Project X (1987)
- May May Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $303M Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- June Jun Predator (1987) $196.8M Predator (1987)
- July Jul Jaws: The Revenge (1987) $164.6M Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
- August Aug Stakeout (1987) $164.4M Stakeout (1987)
- September Sep Fatal Attraction (1987) $364.9M Fatal Attraction (1987)
- October Oct Suspect (1987) $56.1M Suspect (1987)
- November Nov The Running Man (1987) $71.2M The Running Man (1987)
- December Dec Throw Momma from the Train (1987) $58.2M Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Last 10 years
How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $1.7B from 65 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 14 films | 14 | $674.5M | – | 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 |
| 1987 65 films · +190% | 65 | $1.7B | +190% | Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1987?
English-language thriller films took $1.5B across 57 films, 89% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language thriller films ($76.4M) and Turkish-language thriller films ($12.3K).
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 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 65 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1987?
Fatal Attraction (1987) leads with $320.1M worldwide, $156.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) at $300M and Lethal Weapon (1987) at $120.2M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1987 earn?
65 thriller films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $1.7B in all, or $25.5M per film on average. 1986 releases took $571.7M.
How many thriller movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by Fatal Attraction (1987) with $320.1M.
How is the 1987 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 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 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.