#1 of 8 #1 war movie of 1986
1986 · Drama, War
$138.5M worldwide · 61% of the chart's total
$138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
War box office · 1986
War Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing War Movies
Platoon (1986) is the highest-grossing war movie released in 1986, with $138.5M worldwide, ahead of Heartbreak Ridge (1986) at $42.7M and Iron Eagle (1986) at $24.2M. 8 war films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $226.5M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 35% on 1985, whose releases took $351.1M. By language, English leads with $226M across 7 war releases.
- 1986 releases with a gross
- 8
- combined worldwide
- $226.5M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1985
- −35%
#1 of 8 Top 5
What Were the Biggest War Hits of 1986?
Platoon (1986) leads with $138.5M, 61% of the total. The top 5 together took $225.7M, almost all of what the 8 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 War Release of 1986, 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 1986.
- 1 Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $138.5M Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $138.5M
- 2 Dec 5, 1986 US and Canada: $42.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.7M
- 3 Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $24.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.2M
- 4 Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M
- 5 Apr 1, 1986 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.5M
- 6
Feb 6, 1986 US and Canada: $512.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $512.4K - 7
Nov 14, 1986 US and Canada: $278.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $278.6K - 8
Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $5.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?
Of the top 8, Heartbreak Ridge (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Platoon (1986) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $226.5M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Platoon (1986) $138.5M $138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Heartbreak Ridge (1986) $42.7M $42.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Iron Eagle (1986) $24.2M $24.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Delta Force (1986) $17.8M $17.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 P.O.W. The Escape (1986) $2.5M $2.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Assault (1986) $512.4K $512.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) $278.6K $278.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 When the Wind Blows (1986) $5.3K $5.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $181.3M from 2 films, led by Platoon (1986). October was the quietest month ($5.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Iron Eagle (1986) $24.2M Iron Eagle (1986)
- February Feb The Delta Force (1986) $18.3M The Delta Force (1986)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr P.O.W. The Escape (1986) $2.5M P.O.W. The Escape (1986)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct When the Wind Blows (1986) $5.3K When the Wind Blows (1986)
- November Nov Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) $278.6K Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)
- December Dec Platoon (1986) $181.3M Platoon (1986)
Last 10 years
How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $351.1M from 7 films, led by Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). 1986 took $226.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 3 films | 3 | $51.8M | – | A Bridge Too Far (1977) $50.8M |
| 1978 4 films · +72% | 4 | $89M | +72% | The Deer Hunter (1978) $49.1M |
| 1979 9 films · +156% | 9 | $228.1M | +156% | Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M |
| 1980 6 films · −64% | 6 | $81.3M | −64% | Private Benjamin (1980) $69.8M |
| 1981 8 films · +61% | 8 | $131M | +61% | Stripes (1981) $85.3M |
| 1982 4 films · −62% | 4 | $49.8M | −62% | Some Kind of Hero (1982) $23.7M |
| 1983 8 films · +64% | 8 | $81.7M | +64% | Uncommon Valor (1983) $30.5M |
| 1984 7 films · −1% | 7 | $80.6M | −1% | Missing in Action (1984) $22.8M |
| 1985 7 films · +335% | 7 | $351.1M | +335% | Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $300.4M |
| 1986 8 films · −35% | 8 | $226.5M | −35% | Platoon (1986) $138.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest War Movies Speak in 1986?
English-language war films took $226M across 7 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Dutch-language war films ($512.4K).
Archive
War Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2017 leads with $3.3B, led by Wolf Warrior 2 (2017).
2020s 7 years · $3.5B
- 2026 so far $119.7M #1 Young Washington (2026)
- 2025 $872.4M #1 Dead to Rights (2025)
- 2024 $75.6M #1 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
- 2023 $793.9M #1 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
- 2022 $161.4M #1 Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022)
- 2021 $1B #1 The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)
- 2020 $479M #1 The Eight Hundred (2020)
2010s 10 years · $11.4B
- 2019 $1B #1 1917 (2019)
- 2018 $755.1M #1 Operation Red Sea (2018)
- 2017 $3.3B #1 Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
- 2016 $1.6B #1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- 2015 $920.3M #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)
- 2014 $1.9B #1 American Sniper (2014)
- 2013 $412.3M #1 Lone Survivor (2013)
- 2012 $760.8M #1 Battleship (2012)
- 2011 $313.2M #1 War Horse (2011)
- 2010 $309.1M #1 Dear John (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6.8B
- 2009 $651.8M #1 Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- 2008 $1B #1 Australia (2008)
- 2007 $945M #1 300 (2007)
- 2006 $358.6M #1 Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
- 2005 $446.9M #1 Jarhead (2005)
- 2004 $680.7M #1 Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- 2003 $889.6M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
- 2002 $463.2M #1 The Pianist (2002)
- 2001 $893.6M #1 Pearl Harbor (2001)
- 2000 $433.4M #1 The Patriot (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.9B
- 1999 $451.1M #1 The General's Daughter (1999)
- 1998 $713.1M #1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- 1997 $139.5M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $345M #1 The English Patient (1996)
- 1995 $469.1M #1 Braveheart (1995)
- 1994 $20M #1 The War (1994)
- 1993 $494.5M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $122.6M #1 The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
- 1991 $48.4M #1 For the Boys (1991)
- 1990 $54.6M #1 Memphis Belle (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.4B
- 1989 $199.1M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 1988 $151.6M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- 1987 $92.3M #1 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
- 1986 $226.5M #1 Platoon (1986)
- 1985 $351.1M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $80.6M #1 Missing in Action (1984)
- 1983 $81.7M #1 Uncommon Valor (1983)
- 1982 $49.8M #1 Some Kind of Hero (1982)
- 1981 $131M #1 Stripes (1981)
- 1980 $81.3M #1 Private Benjamin (1980)
1970s 8 years · $492.9M
- 1979 $228.1M #1 Apocalypse Now (1979)
- 1978 $89M #1 The Deer Hunter (1978)
- 1977 $51.8M #1 A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- 1975 $20.4M #1 Love and Death (1975)
- 1974 $32K #1 Hearts and Minds (1974)
- 1972 $20.8K #1 Chinese Glory (1972)
- 1971 $9.4K #1 Liberation: The Last Assault (1971)
- 1970 $103.6M #1 Patton (1970)
1960s 9 years · $173.6M
- 1969 $8M #1 Where Eagles Dare (1969)
- 1968 $3.6M #1 Hell in the Pacific (1968)
- 1967 $8.1K #1 Far from Vietnam (1967)
- 1966 $1M #1 The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- 1965 $112.7M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1963 $230.6K #1 The Great Escape (1963)
- 1962 $46M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $32.8K #1 The Guns of Navarone (1961)
- 1960 $1.9M #1 Spartacus (1960)
1950s 8 years · $125.1M
- 1959 $74.4M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $561.3K #1 South Pacific (1958)
- 1957 $27.3M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $75.5K #1 The Burmese Harp (1956)
- 1955 $789.5K #1 The Dam Busters (1955)
- 1954 $21.8M #1 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- 1953 $36.4K #1 From Here to Eternity (1953)
- 1952 $101.2K #1 The African Queen (1952)
1940s 7 years · $446.1M
1930s 5 years · $119.7K
FAQ
War Box Office 1986: 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 8 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing war movie in 1986?
Platoon (1986) leads with $138.5M worldwide, $138.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Heartbreak Ridge (1986) at $42.7M and Iron Eagle (1986) at $24.2M.
How much did war movies released in 1986 earn?
8 war films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $226.5M in all, or $28.3M per film on average. 1985 releases took $351.1M.
How many war movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Platoon (1986) with $138.5M.
How is the 1986 war 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 1986. 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 1986 war 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.