#1 of 58 #1 thriller movie of 1988
1988 · Action, Adventure
$189M worldwide · 19% of the chart's total
$53.7M US & Canada · 28% $135.3M elsewhere · 72%
Thriller box office · 1988
Thriller Box Office 1988: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
Rambo III (1988) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1988, with $189M worldwide, ahead of Die Hard (1988) at $143.7M and Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M. 58 thriller films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $995.3M in all, 76% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 40% on 1987, whose releases took $1.7B. By language, English leads with $901.1M across 51 thriller releases.
- 1988 releases with a gross
- 58
- combined worldwide
- $995.3M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 1987
- −40%
#1 of 58 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1988?
Rambo III (1988) leads with $189M, 19% of the total. The top 5 together took $509.3M, 51% of what all 58 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 $49.4M A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)$49.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0% -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Thriller Release of 1988, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 58. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1988.
- 1 May 25, 1988 US and Canada: $53.7M Rest of the world: $135.3M Worldwide: $189M
- 2 Jul 15, 1988 US and Canada: $85.9M Rest of the world: $57.8M Worldwide: $143.7M
- 3 Jul 20, 1988 US and Canada: $38.4M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $81.6M
- 4 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)Aug 19, 1988 US and Canada: $49.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.4M
Aug 19, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $49.4M worldwide - 5 Aug 12, 1988 US and Canada: $45.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $45.7M
- 6
Dec 2, 1988 US and Canada: $41.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.3M - 7
Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $37.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.9M - 8
Jun 17, 1988 US and Canada: $35M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35M - 9
Feb 12, 1988 US and Canada: $29.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.3M - 10
Aug 23, 1988 US and Canada: $25.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.8M - 11
Jun 10, 1988 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 12
Feb 12, 1988 US and Canada: $20.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.3M - 13
Feb 5, 1988 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6M - 14
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)May 13, 1988 US and Canada: $19.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.2M May 13, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $19.2M worldwide - 15
Apr 1, 1988 US and Canada: $18.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.9M - 16
Apr 22, 1988 US and Canada: $18.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.9M - 17
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M Oct 21, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $17.8M worldwide - 18
Feb 26, 1988 US and Canada: $17.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.6M - 19
Mar 11, 1988 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M - 20
Jun 10, 1988 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1M - 21
Nov 4, 1988 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $2.6K Worldwide: $13.5M - 22
Mar 18, 1988 US and Canada: $12.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.7M - 23
Dec 23, 1988 US and Canada: $12.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.1M - 24
May 6, 1988 US and Canada: $10.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.1M - 25
Sep 15, 1988 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M - 26
Apr 8, 1988 US and Canada: $9.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.8M - 27
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $8M Rest of the world: $688 Worldwide: $8M - 28
Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $915 Worldwide: $7.3M - 29
Mar 11, 1988 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 30
Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M - 31
Aug 26, 1988 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M - 32
Apr 29, 1988 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 33
Apr 29, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 34
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 35
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 36
Feb 5, 1988 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 37
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 38
May 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M - 39
Mar 18, 1988 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 40
Apr 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 41
May 13, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 42
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 43
Sep 2, 1988 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $550 Worldwide: $1.1M - 44
Apr 15, 1988 US and Canada: $960K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $960K - 45
Dec 2, 1988 US and Canada: $940.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $940.2K - 46
Apr 20, 1988 US and Canada: $807.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $807.9K - 47
Sep 29, 1988 US and Canada: $747K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $747K - 48
Sep 15, 1988 US and Canada: $657.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $657.2K - 49
Mar 4, 1988 US and Canada: $459.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $459.8K - 50
Mar 4, 1988 US and Canada: $345.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $345.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1988?
Of the top 10, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Rambo III (1988) made 72% of its gross abroad. Across all 58 films, $759M (76%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Rambo III (1988) $189M $53.7M US & Canada · 28% $135.3M elsewhere · 72%
- 2 Die Hard (1988) $143.7M $85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
- 3 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
- 4 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $49.4M $49.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Young Guns (1988) $45.7M $45.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Tequila Sunrise (1988) $41.3M $41.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Dead Pool (1988) $37.9M $37.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Red Heat (1988) $35M $35M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Shoot to Kill (1988) $29.3M $29.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Betrayed (1988) $25.8M $25.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 58 films crossed $100M and took $332.7M between them, 33% of the total. 34 films, 59% of the list, earned under $10M.
33% 58% 9%
- $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 2 films, 3% of the list $332.7M · 33% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 22 films, 38% of the list $576.7M · 58% of the gross
- Under $10M 34 films, 59% of the list $85.9M · 9% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1988 Earned the Most?
July releases took the most, $275.8M from 5 films, led by Die Hard (1988). November was the quietest month ($13.5M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb Shoot to Kill (1988) $89M Shoot to Kill (1988)
- March Mar Masquerade (1988) $38.3M Masquerade (1988)
- April Apr The Seventh Sign (1988) $59.9M The Seventh Sign (1988)
- May May Rambo III (1988) $221.8M Rambo III (1988)
- June Jun Red Heat (1988) $69.4M Red Heat (1988)
- July Jul Die Hard (1988) $275.8M Die Hard (1988)
- August Aug A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $126.1M A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- September Sep Criminal Law (1988) $27.4M Criminal Law (1988)
- October Oct Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) $19.7M Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
- November Nov They Live (1988) $13.5M They Live (1988)
- December Dec Tequila Sunrise (1988) $54.3M Tequila Sunrise (1988)
Last 10 years
How Does 1988 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $1.7B from 65 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987). 1988 took $995.3M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 18 films | 18 | $452.1M | – | 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 |
| 1988 58 films · −40% | 58 | $995.3M | −40% | Rambo III (1988) $189M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1988?
English-language thriller films took $901.1M across 51 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Dutch-language thriller films ($98K) and Russian-language thriller films ($25.4K).
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 1988: 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 58 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1988?
Rambo III (1988) leads with $189M worldwide, $53.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Die Hard (1988) at $143.7M and Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1988 earn?
58 thriller films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $995.3M in all, or $17.2M per film on average. 1987 releases took $1.7B.
How many thriller movies released in 1988 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Rambo III (1988) with $189M.
How is the 1988 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 1988. 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 1988 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.