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English box office · December 1986

English Box Office, December 1986: Top-Grossing Releases

Platoon (1986) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in December 1986, with $138.5M worldwide, ahead of The Golden Child (1986) at $79.8M and Heartbreak Ridge (1986) at $42.7M. 12 English-language films released in December 1986 report a worldwide gross, $386.3M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 38% on November 1986, whose releases took $279.8M. By genre, Comedy leads with $216.6M across 6 English releases.

December 1986 releases with a gross
12
combined worldwide
$386.3M
film crossed $100M
1
vs November 1986
+38%
Platoon (1986) movie poster #1 of 12
#1 English-language movie of December 1986

Platoon (1986)

1986 · Drama, War

$138.5M worldwide · 36% of the chart's total

$138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of December 1986?

Platoon (1986) leads with $138.5M, 36% of the total. The top 5 together took $339.4M, 88% of what all 12 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Platoon (1986) movie poster Number 1
    $138.5M Platoon (1986)
    $138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
  2. The Golden Child (1986) movie poster Number 2
    $79.8M The Golden Child (1986)
    $79.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. Heartbreak Ridge (1986) movie poster Number 3
    $42.7M Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
    $42.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. Three Amigos! (1986) movie poster Number 4
    $39.2M Three Amigos! (1986)
    $39.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) movie poster Number 5
    $39.1M Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
    $39M US & Canada · 100% $32.3K elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of December 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 December 1986.

  1. 1 Platoon (1986) movie poster
    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
  2. 2 The Golden Child (1986) movie poster
    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
  3. 3 Heartbreak Ridge (1986) movie poster
    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
  4. 4 Three Amigos! (1986) movie poster
    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
  5. 5 Little Shop of Horrors (1986) movie poster
    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
  6. 6 The Morning After (1986) movie poster
    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
  7. 7 Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) movie poster
    Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) Dec 25, 1986 · Comedy $12M worldwide
    Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12M
  8. 8 King Kong Lives (1986) movie poster
    King Kong Lives (1986) Dec 19, 1986 · Action, Adventure $4.7M worldwide
    Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $4.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7M
  9. 9 Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) movie poster
    Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) Dec 17, 1986 · Mystery, Comedy $3.8M worldwide
    Dec 17, 1986 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
  10. 10 Native Son (1986) movie poster
    Native Son (1986) Dec 24, 1986 · Drama $1.3M worldwide
    Dec 24, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M
  11. 11 Windrider (1986) movie poster
    Windrider (1986) Dec 25, 1986 · Romance, Drama $19.4K worldwide
    Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $19.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.4K
  12. 12 Duet for One (1986) movie poster
    Duet for One (1986) Dec 25, 1986 · Drama $8.7K worldwide
    Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $8.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.7K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 1986?

Of the top 10, The Golden Child (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Little Shop of Horrors (1986) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $386.2M (100%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Platoon (1986) $138.5M
    $138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
  2. 2 The Golden Child (1986) $79.8M
    $79.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 Heartbreak Ridge (1986) $42.7M
    $42.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 Three Amigos! (1986) $39.2M
    $39.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Little Shop of Horrors (1986) $39.1M
    $39M US & Canada · 100% $32.3K elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 The Morning After (1986) $25.1M
    $25.1M US & Canada · 100% $66 elsewhere · <1%
  7. 7 Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) $12M
    $12M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 King Kong Lives (1986) $4.7M
    $4.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) $3.8M
    $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Native Son (1986) $1.3M
    $1.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many December 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 12 films crossed $100M and took $138.5M between them, 36% of the total. 5 films, 42% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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 1 film, 8% of the list $138.5M · 36% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 6 films, 50% of the list $238M · 62% of the gross
  • Under $10M 5 films, 42% of the list $9.8M · 3% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of December 1986 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 51 (Dec 14–20) took $186.1M, led by Platoon (1986). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Heartbreak Ridge (1986) $42.7M Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 The Golden Child (1986) $119.1M The Golden Child (1986)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 Platoon (1986) $186.1M Platoon (1986)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 The Morning After (1986) $38.4M The Morning After (1986)
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years

How Does December 1986 Compare With December in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, December 1984 earned the most: $578.5M from 15 films, led by Beverly Hills Cop (1984). December 1986 took $386.3M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 1977 5 films 5 $295M – Saturday Night Fever (1977) $237.1M
December 1978 8 films · −33% 8 $197.7M −33% Every Which Way But Loose (1978) $85.2M
December 1979 12 films · +184% 12 $561.8M +184% Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $106.3M
December 1980 10 films · −17% 10 $467.4M −17% 9 to 5 (1980) $103.3M
December 1981 13 films · −19% 13 $379.6M −19% On Golden Pond (1981) $119.3M
December 1982 13 films · +27% 13 $483.3M +27% Tootsie (1982) $177.2M
December 1983 15 films · −40% 15 $289.8M −40% Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M
December 1984 15 films · +100% 15 $578.5M +100% Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M
December 1985 11 films · ±0% 11 $578.3M ±0% Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M
December 1986 12 films · −33% 12 $386.3M −33% Platoon (1986) $138.5M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in December 1986?

Comedy took $216.6M across 6 films, 56% of the total, ahead of Drama ($182.6M) and War ($181.3M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

December 1986 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Comedy $216.6M
    6 films · #1 The Golden Child (1986)
  2. Drama $182.6M
    5 films · #1 Platoon (1986)
  3. War $181.3M
    2 films · #1 Platoon (1986)
  4. Action $131M
    4 films · #1 The Golden Child (1986)
  5. Mystery $108.7M
    3 films · #1 The Golden Child (1986)
  6. Adventure $88.3M
    3 films · #1 The Golden Child (1986)
  7. Fantasy $79.8M
    1 film · #1 The Golden Child (1986)
  8. Western $39.2M
    1 film · #1 Three Amigos! (1986)
  9. Horror $39.1M
    1 film · #1 Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
  10. Musical $39.1M
    1 film · #1 Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Archive

English Box Office in 1986, Month by Month

The months of 1986 with their totals: June leads with $441.6M, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986).

FAQ

English Box Office December 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 12 films as the chart.

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

Platoon (1986) leads with $138.5M worldwide, $138.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Golden Child (1986) at $79.8M and Heartbreak Ridge (1986) at $42.7M.

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

12 English-language films released in December 1986 report a worldwide gross, $386.3M in all, or $32.2M per film on average. November 1986 releases took $279.8M.

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

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Platoon (1986) with $138.5M.

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

$386.2M of the $386.3M total, or 100%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 0 films of the 12 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.