#1 of 27 #1 English-language movie of October 1987
1987 · Fantasy, Comedy
$34.4M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total
$34.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
English box office · October 1987
English Box Office, October 1987: Top-Grossing Releases
Like Father Like Son (1987) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in October 1987, with $34.4M worldwide, ahead of Baby Boom (1987) at $26.7M and Prince of Darkness (1987) at $14.2M. 27 English-language films released in October 1987 report a worldwide gross, $146.4M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 65% on September 1987, whose releases took $423.2M. By genre, Comedy leads with $88.1M across 10 English releases.
- October 1987 releases with a gross
- 27
- combined worldwide
- $146.4M
- Like Father Like Son (1987), the #1
- $34.4M
- vs September 1987
- −65%
#1 of 27 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of October 1987?
Like Father Like Son (1987) leads with $34.4M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $97.6M, 67% of what all 27 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 English Release of October 1987, 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 October 1987.
- 1 Oct 2, 1987 US and Canada: $34.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.4M
- 2 Oct 7, 1987 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.7M
- 3 Oct 23, 1987 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: $87 Worldwide: $14.2M
- 4 Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12M
- 5 Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.3M
- 6
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $9.7M Rest of the world: $245 Worldwide: $9.7M - 7
Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.7M - 8
Oct 7, 1987 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.4M - 9
Oct 2, 1987 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.4M - 10
Oct 3, 1987 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $321 Worldwide: $3.4M - 11
Oct 16, 1987 US and Canada: $3.2M Rest of the world: $206 Worldwide: $3.2M - 12
Oct 23, 1987 US and Canada: $2.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.9M - 13
Oct 16, 1987 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7M - 14
Oct 14, 1987 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M - 15
Oct 16, 1987 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 16
Oct 8, 1987 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 17
Oct 14, 1987 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 18
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 19
Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 20
Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $719.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $719.3K - 21
Oct 2, 1987 US and Canada: $406.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $406.9K - 22
Oct 1, 1987 US and Canada: $323.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $323.9K - 23
Oct 15, 1987 US and Canada: $213.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $213.9K - 24
Oct 23, 1987 US and Canada: $200.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $200.7K - 25
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $125.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $125.4K - 26
Oct 30, 1987 US and Canada: $125.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $125.4K - 27
Oct 2, 1987 US and Canada: $21.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in October 1987?
Of the top 10, Like Father Like Son (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Near Dark (1987) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 27 films, $146.4M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Like Father Like Son (1987) $34.4M $34.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Baby Boom (1987) $26.7M $26.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Prince of Darkness (1987) $14.2M $14.2M US & Canada · 100% $87 elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Fatal Beauty (1987) $12M $12M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) $10.3M $10.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Hidden (1987) $9.7M $9.7M US & Canada · 100% $245 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Surrender (1987) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Sicilian (1987) $5.4M $5.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Big Shots (1987) $3.4M $3.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Near Dark (1987) $3.4M $3.4M US & Canada · 100% $321 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many October 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 27 films reached $100M. 22 films, 81% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $146.4M total.
67% 33%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 5 films, 19% of the list $97.6M · 67% of the gross
- Under $10M 22 films, 81% of the list $48.8M · 33% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of October 1987 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 41 (Oct 4–10) took $51.6M, led by Baby Boom (1987). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 27–Oct 3 Like Father Like Son (1987) $41.9M Like Father Like Son (1987)
- Week 41 Wk 41 Oct 4–10 Baby Boom (1987) $51.6M Baby Boom (1987)
- Week 42 Wk 42 Oct 11–17 Barfly (1987) $12.4M Barfly (1987)
- Week 43 Wk 43 Oct 18–24 Prince of Darkness (1987) $17.3M Prince of Darkness (1987)
- Week 44 Wk 44 Oct 25–31 Fatal Beauty (1987) $23.2M Fatal Beauty (1987)
Earlier years
How Does October 1987 Compare With October in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, October 1986 earned the most: $242.4M from 15 films, led by The Color of Money (1986). October 1987 took $146.4M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1978 5 films | 5 | $112.3M | – | Halloween (1978) $47.2M |
| October 1979 7 films · −33% | 7 | $75.1M | −33% | ...and justice for all. (1979) $33.3M |
| October 1980 9 films · −14% | 9 | $64.7M | −14% | The Elephant Man (1980) $26M |
| October 1981 11 films · +26% | 11 | $81.3M | +26% | The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) $26.9M |
| October 1982 14 films · +125% | 14 | $182.8M | +125% | First Blood (1982) $125.2M |
| October 1983 10 films · ±0% | 10 | $181.9M | ±0% | Never Say Never Again (1983) $55.4M |
| October 1984 16 films · +16% | 16 | $211.1M | +16% | The Terminator (1984) $78.4M |
| October 1985 11 films · −56% | 11 | $92.1M | −56% | Jagged Edge (1985) $40.5M |
| October 1986 15 films · +163% | 15 | $242.4M | +163% | The Color of Money (1986) $52.3M |
| October 1987 27 films · −40% | 27 | $146.4M | −40% | Like Father Like Son (1987) $34.4M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in October 1987?
Comedy took $88.1M across 10 films, 60% of the total, ahead of Drama ($61.8M) and Romance ($45.2M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
October 1987 English Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $88.1M10 films · #1 Like Father Like Son (1987) -
Drama $61.8M14 films · #1 Baby Boom (1987) -
Romance $45.2M8 films · #1 Baby Boom (1987) -
Thriller $37.4M8 films · #1 Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) -
Fantasy $34.4M1 film · #1 Like Father Like Son (1987) -
Horror $30M5 films · #1 Prince of Darkness (1987) -
Crime $28.1M7 films · #1 Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) -
Action $15.9M4 films · #1 Fatal Beauty (1987) -
Sci-Fi $10.1M2 films · #1 The Hidden (1987) -
Adventure $3.4M1 film · #1 Big Shots (1987)
Archive
English Box Office in 1987, Month by Month
The months of 1987 with their totals: August leads with $472.5M, led by Dirty Dancing (1987).
- January $146.4M #1 Outrageous Fortune (1987)
- February $180.5M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- March $271.9M #1 Lethal Weapon (1987)
- April $154.8M #1 The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)
- May $389.2M #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- June $416.4M #1 Predator (1987)
- July $330.2M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- August $472.5M #1 Dirty Dancing (1987)
- September $423.2M #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- October $146.4M #1 Like Father Like Son (1987)
- November $343.2M #1 3 Men and a Baby (1987)
- December $465.8M #1 Moonstruck (1987)
FAQ
English Box Office October 1987: 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 27 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in October 1987?
Like Father Like Son (1987) leads with $34.4M worldwide, $34.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Baby Boom (1987) at $26.7M and Prince of Darkness (1987) at $14.2M.
How much did English-language movies released in October 1987 earn?
27 English-language films released in October 1987 report a worldwide gross, $146.4M in all, or $5.4M per film on average. September 1987 releases took $423.2M.
How many English-language movies released in October 1987 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Like Father Like Son (1987), earned $34.4M.
How is the October 1987 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 October 1987. 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 October 1987 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.