#1 of 6 #1 thriller movie of September 1989
1989 · Action, Thriller
$134.2M worldwide · 83% of the chart's total
$46.2M US & Canada · 34% $88M elsewhere · 66%
Thriller box office · September 1989
Thriller Box Office, September 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Black Rain (1989) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in September 1989, with $134.2M worldwide, ahead of Kickboxer (1989) at $14.7M and Johnny Handsome (1989) at $7.2M. 6 thriller films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $162.3M in all, 46% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 19% on August 1989, whose releases took $136.6M. By language, English leads with $162.3M across 6 thriller releases.
- September 1989 releases with a gross
- 6
- combined worldwide
- $162.3M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs August 1989
- +19%
#1 of 6 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of September 1989?
Black Rain (1989) leads with $134.2M, 83% of the total. The top 5 together took $161.7M, almost all of what the 6 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 September 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 September 1989.
- 1 Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $46.2M Rest of the world: $88M Worldwide: $134.2M
- 2 Sep 8, 1989 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
- 3 Sep 29, 1989 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M
- 4 Sep 20, 1989 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
- 5 Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M
- 6
Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $618.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $618.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1989?
Of the top 6, Kickboxer (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Black Rain (1989) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 6 films, $74.3M (46%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Black Rain (1989) $134.2M $46.2M US & Canada · 34% $88M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Kickboxer (1989) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Johnny Handsome (1989) $7.2M $7.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 A Dry White Season (1989) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Bloodfist (1989) $1.8M $1.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Cage (1989) $618.2K $618.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of September 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 38 (Sep 17–23) took $139.7M, led by Black Rain (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 27–Sep 2 Cage (1989) $618.2K Cage (1989)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Sep 3–9 Kickboxer (1989) $14.7M Kickboxer (1989)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 10–16 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 17–23 Black Rain (1989) $139.7M Black Rain (1989)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 24–30 Johnny Handsome (1989) $7.2M Johnny Handsome (1989)
Earlier years
How Does September 1989 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1987 earned the most: $364.9M from 10 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987). September 1989 took $162.3M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1980 1 film | 1 | $59.2K | – | Phobia (1980) $59.2K |
| September 1981 1 film · −34% | 1 | $39K | −34% | The Girl with the Red Hair (1981) $39K |
| September 1982 1 film · +3680% | 1 | $1.5M | +3680% | Endangered Species (1982) $1.5M |
| September 1983 3 films · +1624% | 3 | $25.4M | +1624% | Revenge of the Ninja (1983) $13.2M |
| September 1984 3 films · −8% | 3 | $23.5M | −8% | The Evil That Men Do (1984) $13.1M |
| September 1985 4 films · +22% | 4 | $28.6M | +22% | Invasion U.S.A. (1985) $17.5M |
| September 1986 4 films · −26% | 4 | $21.1M | −26% | Blue Velvet (1986) $8.7M |
| September 1987 10 films · +1628% | 10 | $364.9M | +1628% | Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M |
| September 1988 9 films · −93% | 9 | $27.4M | −93% | Criminal Law (1988) $10M |
| September 1989 6 films · +493% | 6 | $162.3M | +493% | Black Rain (1989) $134.2M |
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 September 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 6 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in September 1989?
Black Rain (1989) leads with $134.2M worldwide, $46.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Kickboxer (1989) at $14.7M and Johnny Handsome (1989) at $7.2M.
How much did thriller movies released in September 1989 earn?
6 thriller films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $162.3M in all, or $27.1M per film on average. August 1989 releases took $136.6M.
How many thriller movies released in September 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Black Rain (1989) with $134.2M.
How is the September 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 September 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 September 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.