#1 of 5 #1 thriller movie of July 1988
1988 · Action, Thriller
$143.7M worldwide · 52% of the chart's total
$85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
Thriller box office · July 1988
Thriller Box Office, July 1988: Top-Grossing Releases
Die Hard (1988) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in July 1988, with $143.7M worldwide, ahead of Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and The Dead Pool (1988) at $37.9M. 5 thriller films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $275.8M in all, 63% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 4 times the total of June 1988, whose releases took $69.4M. By language, English leads with $275.8M across 5 thriller releases.
- July 1988 releases with a gross
- 5
- combined worldwide
- $275.8M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs June 1988
- ×4
#1 of 5 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of July 1988?
Die Hard (1988) leads with $143.7M, 52% of the total. The top 5 together took $275.8M, almost all of what the 5 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 July 1988, 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 July 1988.
- 1 Jul 15, 1988 US and Canada: $85.9M Rest of the world: $57.8M Worldwide: $143.7M
- 2 Jul 20, 1988 US and Canada: $38.4M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $81.6M
- 3 Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $37.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.9M
- 4 Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $915 Worldwide: $7.3M
- 5 Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in July 1988?
Of the top 5, The Dead Pool (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Midnight Run (1988) made 53% of its gross abroad. Across all 5 films, $174.8M (63%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Die Hard (1988) $143.7M $85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
- 2 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
- 3 The Dead Pool (1988) $37.9M $37.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Phantasm II (1988) $7.3M $7.3M US & Canada · 100% $915 elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Monkey Shines (1988) $5.3M $5.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of July 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 29 (Jul 10–16) took $181.6M, led by Die Hard (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 27 Wk 27 Jun 26–Jul 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 28 Wk 28 Jul 3–9 Phantasm II (1988) $7.3M Phantasm II (1988)
- Week 29 Wk 29 Jul 10–16 Die Hard (1988) $181.6M Die Hard (1988)
- Week 30 Wk 30 Jul 17–23 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M Midnight Run (1988)
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 24–30 Monkey Shines (1988) $5.3M Monkey Shines (1988)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Jul 31–Aug 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does July 1988 Compare With July in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, July 1988 earned the most: $275.8M from 5 films, led by Die Hard (1988).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1979 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| July 1980 3 films | 3 | $46.9M | – | Dressed to Kill (1980) $31.9M |
| July 1981 3 films · −14% | 3 | $40.2M | −14% | Eye of the Needle (1981) $17.6M |
| July 1982 2 films · −83% | 2 | $6.7M | −83% | Forced Vengeance (1982) $6.7M |
| July 1983 1 film · +1217% | 1 | $88M | +1217% | Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M |
| July 1984 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| July 1985 3 films | 3 | $49.9M | – | Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) $36.2M |
| July 1986 2 films · +173% | 2 | $136.2M | +173% | Aliens (1986) $131.1M |
| July 1987 6 films · +21% | 6 | $164.6M | +21% | Jaws: The Revenge (1987) $51.9M |
| July 1988 5 films · +68% | 5 | $275.8M | +68% | Die Hard (1988) $143.7M |
Archive
Thriller Box Office in 1988, Month by Month
The months of 1988 with their totals: July leads with $275.8M, led by Die Hard (1988).
- January No grosses
- February $89M #1 Shoot to Kill (1988)
- March $38.3M #1 Masquerade (1988)
- April $59.9M #1 The Seventh Sign (1988)
- May $221.8M #1 Rambo III (1988)
- June $69.4M #1 Red Heat (1988)
- July $275.8M #1 Die Hard (1988)
- August $126.1M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- September $27.4M #1 Criminal Law (1988)
- October $19.7M #1 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
- November $13.5M #1 They Live (1988)
- December $54.3M #1 Tequila Sunrise (1988)
FAQ
Thriller Box Office July 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 5 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in July 1988?
Die Hard (1988) leads with $143.7M worldwide, $85.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and The Dead Pool (1988) at $37.9M.
How much did thriller movies released in July 1988 earn?
5 thriller films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $275.8M in all, or $55.2M per film on average. June 1988 releases took $69.4M.
How many thriller movies released in July 1988 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Die Hard (1988) with $143.7M.
How is the July 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 July 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 July 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.