#1 of 4 #1 thriller movie of December 1989
1989 · Thriller, Comedy
$160.2M worldwide · 70% of the chart's total
$86.9M US & Canada · 54% $73.3M elsewhere · 46%
Thriller box office · December 1989
Thriller Box Office, December 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
The War of the Roses (1989) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in December 1989, with $160.2M worldwide, ahead of Tango & Cash (1989) at $63.4M and Music Box (1989) at $6.3M. 4 thriller films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $229.9M in all, 68% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 96.1 times the total of November 1989, whose releases took $2.4M.
- December 1989 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $229.9M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs November 1989
- ×96.1
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of December 1989?
The War of the Roses (1989) leads with $160.2M, 70% of the total. The top 4 together took $229.9M, almost all of what the 4 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Thriller Release of December 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 December 1989.
- 1 Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $86.9M Rest of the world: $73.3M Worldwide: $160.2M
- 2 Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $63.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.4M
- 3 Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M
- 4 Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $13.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1989?
Of the top 4, Tango & Cash (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The War of the Roses (1989) made 46% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $156.6M (68%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M $86.9M US & Canada · 54% $73.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 Tango & Cash (1989) $63.4M $63.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Music Box (1989) $6.3M $6.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Red Surf (1989) $13.1K $13.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 48 (Nov 26–Dec 2) took $160.2M, led by The War of the Roses (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 26–Dec 2 The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M The War of the Roses (1989)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 3–9 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 10–16 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 17–23 Tango & Cash (1989) $69.7M Tango & Cash (1989)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 24–30 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1989 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1984 earned the most: $380.7M from 4 films, led by Beverly Hills Cop (1984). December 1989 took $229.9M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1980 3 films | 3 | $55.9M | – | Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M |
| December 1981 5 films · +110% | 5 | $117.4M | +110% | Absence of Malice (1981) $40.7M |
| December 1982 1 film · −33% | 1 | $78.9M | −33% | 48 Hrs. (1982) $78.9M |
| December 1983 5 films · +90% | 5 | $149.7M | +90% | Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M |
| December 1984 4 films · +154% | 4 | $380.7M | +154% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 2 films · −91% | 2 | $34.4M | −91% | Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) $19.7M |
| December 1986 1 film · −27% | 1 | $25.1M | −27% | The Morning After (1986) $25.1M |
| December 1987 2 films · +131% | 2 | $58.2M | +131% | Throw Momma from the Train (1987) $57.9M |
| December 1988 3 films · −7% | 3 | $54.3M | −7% | Tequila Sunrise (1988) $41.3M |
| December 1989 4 films · +323% | 4 | $229.9M | +323% | The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M |
Archive
Thriller Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: June leads with $472.8M, led by Batman (1989).
- January $50.9M #1 Mississippi Burning (1989)
- February $57.1M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- March $24.1M #1 Leviathan (1989)
- April $104.4M #1 Pet Sematary (1989)
- May $30.2M #1 Road House (1989)
- June $472.8M #1 Batman (1989)
- July $469.4M #1 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- August $136.6M #1 The Abyss (1989)
- September $162.3M #1 Black Rain (1989)
- October $64.5M #1 An Innocent Man (1989)
- November $2.4M #1 Communion (1989)
- December $229.9M #1 The War of the Roses (1989)
FAQ
Thriller Box Office December 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 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in December 1989?
The War of the Roses (1989) leads with $160.2M worldwide, $86.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Tango & Cash (1989) at $63.4M and Music Box (1989) at $6.3M.
How much did thriller movies released in December 1989 earn?
4 thriller films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $229.9M in all, or $57.5M per film on average. November 1989 releases took $2.4M.
How many thriller movies released in December 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The War of the Roses (1989) with $160.2M.
How is the December 1989 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 December 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 December 1989 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.