How much of the 1986 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$2.8B of the $3.3B total, or 84%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 4 films of the 178 report no domestic figure.

English box office · 1986

English Box Office 1986: Highest-Grossing English Movies

Q: What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1986?

Top Gun (1986) leads with $357.3M worldwide, $180.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Crocodile Dundee (1986) at $328.2M and Platoon (1986) at $138.5M.

Q: How many English-language movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?

None. 6 films crossed $100 million, led by Top Gun (1986) with $357.3M.

Q: How is the 1986 English 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.

Q: How often is the 1986 English 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.

Top Gun (1986) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1986, with $357.3M worldwide, ahead of Crocodile Dundee (1986) at $328.2M and Platoon (1986) at $138.5M. 178 English-language films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $3.3B in all, 84% of it from the US & Canada. 6 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 5% on 1985, whose releases took $3.5B. By genre, Comedy leads with $1.8B across 79 English releases.

1986 releases with a gross: 178
combined worldwide: $3.3B
films crossed $100M: 6
vs 1985: −5%

#1 of 178

#1 English-language movie of 1986

Top Gun (1986)

1986 · Action, Drama

$357.3M worldwide · 11% of the chart's total

$180.3M US & Canada · 50% $177M elsewhere · 50%

Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1986?

Top Gun (1986) leads with $357.3M, 11% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.1B, 32% of what all 178 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

Number 1

$357.3M Top Gun (1986)
$180.3M US & Canada · 50% $177M elsewhere · 50%
Number 2

$328.2M Crocodile Dundee (1986)
$174.8M US & Canada · 53% $153.4M elsewhere · 47%
Number 3

$138.5M Platoon (1986)
$138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
Number 4

$131.1M Aliens (1986)
$85.2M US & Canada · 65% $45.9M elsewhere · 35%
Number 5

$115.1M The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
$115.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of 1986, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1 to 50 of 178. 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
Top Gun (1986) May 16, 1986 · Action, Drama $357.3M worldwide

May 16, 1986 US and Canada: $180.3M Rest of the world: $177M Worldwide: $357.3M
2
Crocodile Dundee (1986) Sep 26, 1986 · Adventure, Comedy $328.2M worldwide

Sep 26, 1986 US and Canada: $174.8M Rest of the world: $153.4M Worldwide: $328.2M
3
Platoon (1986) Dec 19, 1986 · Drama, War $138.5M worldwide

Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $138.5M Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $138.5M
4
Aliens (1986) Jul 18, 1986 · Action, Sci-Fi $131.1M worldwide

Jul 18, 1986 US and Canada: $85.2M Rest of the world: $45.9M Worldwide: $131.1M
5
The Karate Kid Part II (1986) Jun 20, 1986 · Action, Sport $115.1M worldwide

Jun 20, 1986 US and Canada: $115.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $115.1M
6
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Nov 26, 1986 · Adventure, Sci-Fi $109.7M worldwide

Nov 26, 1986 US and Canada: $109.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $109.7M
7
Legal Eagles (1986) Jun 20, 1986 · Comedy, Romance $93.2M worldwide

Jun 20, 1986 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $43.3M Worldwide: $93.2M
8
An American Tail (1986) Nov 21, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $84.5M worldwide

Nov 21, 1986 US and Canada: $47.5M Rest of the world: $37.1M Worldwide: $84.5M
9
The Golden Child (1986) Dec 12, 1986 · Action, Adventure $79.8M worldwide

Dec 12, 1986 US and Canada: $79.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.8M
10
Ruthless People (1986) Jun 27, 1986 · Comedy, Crime $71.6M worldwide

Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $71.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.6M
11
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Jun 11, 1986 · Comedy $70.7M worldwide

Jun 11, 1986 US and Canada: $70.1M Rest of the world: $604.1K Worldwide: $70.7M
12
Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) Jan 31, 1986 · Comedy $62.1M worldwide

Jan 31, 1986 US and Canada: $62.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $62.1M
13
The Fly (1986) Aug 15, 1986 · Sci-Fi, Thriller $60.6M worldwide

Aug 15, 1986 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $20.2M Worldwide: $60.6M
14
The Money Pit (1986) Mar 26, 1986 · Comedy $55M worldwide

Mar 26, 1986 US and Canada: $37.5M Rest of the world: $17.5M Worldwide: $55M
15
The Color of Money (1986) Oct 17, 1986 · Drama, Sport $52.3M worldwide

Oct 17, 1986 US and Canada: $52.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.3M
16
Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) Mar 21, 1986 · Comedy $43.6M worldwide

Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $43.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.6M
17
Heartbreak Ridge (1986) Dec 5, 1986 · Action, Drama $42.7M worldwide

Dec 5, 1986 US and Canada: $42.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.7M
18
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) Oct 10, 1986 · Drama, Fantasy $41.4M worldwide

Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $41.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.4M
19
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) May 23, 1986 · Horror $41M worldwide

May 23, 1986 US and Canada: $41M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $41M
20
Pretty in Pink (1986) Feb 28, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $40.5M worldwide

Feb 28, 1986 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $9K Worldwide: $40.5M
21
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Feb 1, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $40.1M worldwide

Feb 1, 1986 US and Canada: $40.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1M
22
Three Amigos! (1986) Dec 12, 1986 · Comedy, Western $39.2M worldwide

Dec 12, 1986 US and Canada: $39.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.2M
23
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) Dec 19, 1986 · Sci-Fi, Horror $39.1M worldwide

Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $39M Rest of the world: $32.3K Worldwide: $39.1M
24
About Last Night... (1986) Jul 2, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $38.7M worldwide

Jul 2, 1986 US and Canada: $38.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.7M
25
The Great Mouse Detective (1986) Jul 2, 1986 · Adventure, Mystery $38.6M worldwide

Jul 2, 1986 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.6M
26
Running Scared (1986) Jun 27, 1986 · Action, Thriller $38.5M worldwide

Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $38.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.5M
27
Howard the Duck (1986) Aug 1, 1986 · Action, Adventure $38M worldwide

Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $16.3M Rest of the world: $21.7M Worldwide: $38M
28
Gung Ho (1986) Mar 14, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $36.6M worldwide

Mar 14, 1986 US and Canada: $36.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.6M
29
Nothing in Common (1986) Jul 30, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $32.3M worldwide

Jul 30, 1986 US and Canada: $32.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.3M
30
Children of a Lesser God (1986) Oct 3, 1986 · Drama, Romance $31.9M worldwide

Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $31.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.9M
31
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) Oct 10, 1986 · Thriller, Comedy $29.8M worldwide

Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.8M
32
Hoosiers (1986) Nov 14, 1986 · Drama, Sport $28.6M worldwide

Nov 14, 1986 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.6M
33
Soul Man (1986) Oct 24, 1986 · Comedy, Romance $27.8M worldwide

Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $27.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.8M
34
Wildcats (1986) Feb 14, 1986 · Sport, Comedy $26.3M worldwide

Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $26.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.3M
35
Heartburn (1986) Jul 25, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $25.3M worldwide

Jul 25, 1986 US and Canada: $25.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.3M
36
The Morning After (1986) Dec 25, 1986 · Thriller, Crime $25.1M worldwide

Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: $66 Worldwide: $25.1M
37
Iron Eagle (1986) Jan 17, 1986 · Action, Thriller $24.2M worldwide

Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $24.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.2M
38
Tough Guys (1986) Oct 3, 1986 · Comedy, Crime $21.5M worldwide

Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $21.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.5M
39
A Room with a View (1986) Apr 1, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $21.1M worldwide

Apr 1, 1986 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $95.4K Worldwide: $21.1M
40
F/X (1986) Feb 7, 1986 · Action, Thriller $20.6M worldwide

Feb 7, 1986 US and Canada: $20.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.6M
41
Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986) Aug 1, 1986 · Thriller, Horror $19.5M worldwide

Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.5M Rest of the world: $743 Worldwide: $19.5M
42
House (1986) Feb 28, 1986 · Fantasy, Horror $19.4M worldwide

Feb 28, 1986 US and Canada: $19.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.4M
43
Flight of the Navigator (1986) Aug 1, 1986 · Adventure, Sci-Fi $18.6M worldwide

Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $18.6M
44
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) May 2, 1986 · Drama, Comedy $18M worldwide

May 2, 1986 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18M
45
The Delta Force (1986) Feb 14, 1986 · Action, Adventure $17.8M worldwide

Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M
46
The Mission (1986) Oct 31, 1986 · Adventure, Drama $17.5M worldwide

Oct 31, 1986 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: $286.8K Worldwide: $17.5M
47
Legend (1986) Apr 18, 1986 · Adventure, Fantasy $16.8M worldwide

Apr 18, 1986 US and Canada: $15.5M Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $16.8M
48
Raw Deal (1986) Jun 6, 1986 · Action, Thriller $16.2M worldwide

Jun 6, 1986 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M
49
Armed and Dangerous (1986) Aug 15, 1986 · Action, Comedy $15.9M worldwide

Aug 15, 1986 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M
50
Youngblood (1986) Jan 31, 1986 · Drama, Sport $15.4M worldwide

Jan 31, 1986 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M

US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?

Of the top 10, The Karate Kid Part II (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Top Gun (1986) made 50% of its gross abroad. Across all 178 films, $2.8B (84%) came from the US & Canada.

1 Top Gun (1986) $357.3M
$180.3M US & Canada · 50% $177M elsewhere · 50%
2 Crocodile Dundee (1986) $328.2M
$174.8M US & Canada · 53% $153.4M elsewhere · 47%
3 Platoon (1986) $138.5M
$138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
4 Aliens (1986) $131.1M
$85.2M US & Canada · 65% $45.9M elsewhere · 35%
5 The Karate Kid Part II (1986) $115.1M
$115.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
6 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) $109.7M
$109.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
7 Legal Eagles (1986) $93.2M
$49.9M US & Canada · 54% $43.3M elsewhere · 46%
8 An American Tail (1986) $84.5M
$47.5M US & Canada · 56% $37.1M elsewhere · 44%
9 The Golden Child (1986) $79.8M
$79.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
10 Ruthless People (1986) $71.6M
$71.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

Gross bands

How Many 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

6 of 178 films crossed $100M and took $1.2B between them, 36% of the total. 117 films, 66% of the list, earned under $10M.

36% 54% 11%

$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 6 films, 3% of the list $1.2B · 36% of the gross
$10M to $100M 55 films, 31% of the list $1.8B · 54% of the gross
Under $10M 117 films, 66% of the list $358.7M · 11% of the gross

By release month

Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?

June releases took the most, $441.6M from 13 films, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986). April was the quietest month ($111.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

Last 10 years

How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $3.5B from 166 films, led by Back to the Future (1985). 1986 took $3.3B.

Year	Films	Worldwide	Change	Biggest film
1977 53 films	53	$2.1B	–	Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M
1978 67 films · −29%	67	$1.5B	−29%	Grease (1978) $396.3M
1979 79 films · +31%	79	$2B	+31%	Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
1980 101 films · +18%	101	$2.3B	+18%	Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
1981 114 films · −10%	114	$2.1B	−10%	Superman II (1981) $216.4M
1982 125 films · +7%	125	$2.2B	+7%	Tootsie (1982) $177.2M
1983 129 films · +18%	129	$2.6B	+18%	Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M
1984 151 films · +29%	151	$3.4B	+29%	Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M
1985 166 films · +4%	166	$3.5B	+4%	Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M
1986 178 films · −5%	178	$3.3B	−5%	Top Gun (1986) $357.3M

By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1986?

Comedy took $1.8B across 79 films, 56% of the total, ahead of Drama ($1.3B) and Romance ($1.1B). A film counts once for each of its genres.

1986 English Box Office by Genre

Comedy $1.8B
79 films · #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
Drama $1.3B
78 films · #1 Top Gun (1986)
Romance $1.1B
40 films · #1 Top Gun (1986)
Action $1B
43 films · #1 Top Gun (1986)
Adventure $772.2M
29 films · #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
Thriller $517.3M
35 films · #1 Aliens (1986)
Sci-Fi $464.1M
24 films · #1 Aliens (1986)
Crime $408.5M
34 films · #1 Legal Eagles (1986)
Family $294.2M
13 films · #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
Horror $257.5M
29 films · #1 The Fly (1986)

English Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $28.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).

2020s 7 years · $105.1B

2010s 10 years · $261B

2000s 10 years · $170.2B

1990s 10 years · $84.5B

1980s 10 years · $33.4B

1970s 10 years · $9.6B

1960s 10 years · $1.4B

1950s 10 years · $770.2M

1940s 10 years · $662.1M

1930s 10 years · $217.4M

1920s 4 years · $718.5K

1910s 1 year · $160

1919 $160 #1 The Sentimental Bloke (1919)

FAQ

English 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 178 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1986?

Top Gun (1986) leads with $357.3M worldwide, $180.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Crocodile Dundee (1986) at $328.2M and Platoon (1986) at $138.5M.

How much did English-language movies released in 1986 earn?

178 English-language films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $3.3B in all, or $18.6M per film on average. 1985 releases took $3.5B.

How many English-language movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?

None. 6 films crossed $100 million, led by Top Gun (1986) with $357.3M.

How is the 1986 English 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.

How often is the 1986 English 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.