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English box office · December 1987

English Box Office, December 1987: Top-Grossing Releases

Moonstruck (1987) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in December 1987, with $80.6M worldwide, ahead of Broadcast News (1987) at $67.3M and *batteries not included (1987) at $65.1M. 15 English-language films released in December 1987 report a worldwide gross, $465.8M in all, 90% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 36% on November 1987, whose releases took $343.2M. By genre, Comedy leads with $353.8M across 8 English releases.

December 1987 releases with a gross
15
combined worldwide
$465.8M
Moonstruck (1987), the #1
$80.6M
vs November 1987
+36%
Moonstruck (1987) movie poster #1 of 15
#1 English-language movie of December 1987

Moonstruck (1987)

1987 · Drama, Comedy

$80.6M worldwide · 17% of the chart's total

$80.6M US & Canada · 100% $5.9K elsewhere · <1%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of December 1987?

Moonstruck (1987) leads with $80.6M, 17% of the total. The top 5 together took $321.5M, 69% of what all 15 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Moonstruck (1987) movie poster Number 1
    $80.6M Moonstruck (1987)
    $80.6M US & Canada · 100% $5.9K elsewhere · <1%
  2. Broadcast News (1987) movie poster Number 2
    $67.3M Broadcast News (1987)
    $51.2M US & Canada · 76% $16.1M elsewhere · 24%
  3. *batteries not included (1987) movie poster Number 3
    $65.1M *batteries not included (1987)
    $32.9M US & Canada · 51% $32.1M elsewhere · 49%
  4. Throw Momma from the Train (1987) movie poster Number 4
    $57.9M Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    $57.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) movie poster Number 5
    $50.5M Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987)
    $50.5M US & Canada · 100% $634 elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of December 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 December 1987.

  1. 1 Moonstruck (1987) movie poster
    Moonstruck (1987) Dec 18, 1987 · Drama, Comedy $80.6M worldwide
    Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $80.6M Rest of the world: $5.9K Worldwide: $80.6M
  2. 2 Broadcast News (1987) movie poster
    Broadcast News (1987) Dec 16, 1987 · Drama, Comedy $67.3M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1987 US and Canada: $51.2M Rest of the world: $16.1M Worldwide: $67.3M
  3. 3 *batteries not included (1987) movie poster
    *batteries not included (1987) Dec 18, 1987 · Sci-Fi, Fantasy $65.1M worldwide
    Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $32.9M Rest of the world: $32.1M Worldwide: $65.1M
  4. 4 Throw Momma from the Train (1987) movie poster
    Throw Momma from the Train (1987) Dec 11, 1987 · Thriller, Comedy $57.9M worldwide
    Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $57.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $57.9M
  5. 5 Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) movie poster
    Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) Dec 18, 1987 · Comedy, Documentary $50.5M worldwide
    Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $50.5M Rest of the world: $634 Worldwide: $50.5M
  6. 6 The Last Emperor (1987) movie poster
    The Last Emperor (1987) Dec 18, 1987 · Biography, Drama $44M worldwide
    Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $44M Rest of the world: $47.3K Worldwide: $44M
  7. 7 Wall Street (1987) movie poster
    Wall Street (1987) Dec 11, 1987 · Drama, Crime $43.8M worldwide
    Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $43.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.8M
  8. 8 Overboard (1987) movie poster
    Overboard (1987) Dec 16, 1987 · Comedy, Romance $26.7M worldwide
    Dec 16, 1987 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.7M
  9. 9 Empire of the Sun (1987) movie poster
    Empire of the Sun (1987) Dec 9, 1987 · Action, Drama $22.2M worldwide
    Dec 9, 1987 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: $425 Worldwide: $22.2M
  10. 10 Leonard Part 6 (1987) movie poster
    Leonard Part 6 (1987) Dec 18, 1987 · Action, Comedy $4.6M worldwide
    Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M
  11. 11 Cross My Heart (1987) movie poster
    Cross My Heart (1987) Dec 13, 1987 · Romance, Comedy $1M worldwide
    Dec 13, 1987 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M
  12. 12 Little Dorrit (1987) movie poster
    Little Dorrit (1987) Dec 11, 1987 · Drama $1M worldwide
    Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M
  13. 13 September (1987) movie poster
    September (1987) Dec 18, 1987 · Drama $486.4K worldwide
    Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $486.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $486.4K
  14. 14 Cold Steel (1987) movie poster
    Cold Steel (1987) Dec 11, 1987 · Thriller, Action $285.9K worldwide
    Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $285.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $285.9K
  15. 15 The Time Guardian (1987) movie poster
    The Time Guardian (1987) Dec 3, 1987 · Sci-Fi $12.7K worldwide
    Dec 3, 1987 US and Canada: $12.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.7K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in December 1987?

Of the top 10, Throw Momma from the Train (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while *batteries not included (1987) made 49% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $417.5M (90%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M
    $80.6M US & Canada · 100% $5.9K elsewhere · <1%
  2. 2 Broadcast News (1987) $67.3M
    $51.2M US & Canada · 76% $16.1M elsewhere · 24%
  3. 3 *batteries not included (1987) $65.1M
    $32.9M US & Canada · 51% $32.1M elsewhere · 49%
  4. 4 Throw Momma from the Train (1987) $57.9M
    $57.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) $50.5M
    $50.5M US & Canada · 100% $634 elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 The Last Emperor (1987) $44M
    $44M US & Canada · 100% $47.3K elsewhere · <1%
  7. 7 Wall Street (1987) $43.8M
    $43.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Overboard (1987) $26.7M
    $26.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Empire of the Sun (1987) $22.2M
    $22.2M US & Canada · 100% $425 elsewhere · <1%
  10. 10 Leonard Part 6 (1987) $4.6M
    $4.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many December 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 15 films reached $100M. 6 films, 40% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $465.8M total.

  • $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 9 films, 60% of the list $458.3M · 98% of the gross
  • Under $10M 6 films, 40% of the list $7.5M · 2% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of December 1987 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 51 (Dec 13–19) took $340.4M, led by Moonstruck (1987). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 29–Dec 5 The Time Guardian (1987) $12.7K The Time Guardian (1987)
  2. Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 6–12 Throw Momma from the Train (1987) $125.3M Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
  3. Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 13–19 Moonstruck (1987) $340.4M Moonstruck (1987)
  4. Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 20–26 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 27–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years

How Does December 1987 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 1987 took $465.8M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
December 1978 8 films 8 $197.7M – 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
December 1987 15 films · +21% 15 $465.8M +21% Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in December 1987?

Comedy took $353.8M across 8 films, 76% of the total, ahead of Drama ($259.9M) and Romance ($175.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

December 1987 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Comedy $353.8M
    8 films · #1 Moonstruck (1987)
  2. Drama $259.9M
    8 films · #1 Moonstruck (1987)
  3. Romance $175.7M
    4 films · #1 Moonstruck (1987)
  4. Crime $101.8M
    2 films · #1 Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
  5. Sci-Fi $69.7M
    3 films · #1 *batteries not included (1987)
  6. History $66.3M
    2 films · #1 The Last Emperor (1987)
  7. Family $65.1M
    1 film · #1 *batteries not included (1987)
  8. Fantasy $65.1M
    1 film · #1 *batteries not included (1987)
  9. Thriller $58.2M
    2 films · #1 Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
  10. Documentary $50.5M
    1 film · #1 Eddie Murphy: Raw (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).

FAQ

English Box Office December 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 15 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in December 1987?

Moonstruck (1987) leads with $80.6M worldwide, $80.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Broadcast News (1987) at $67.3M and *batteries not included (1987) at $65.1M.

How much did English-language movies released in December 1987 earn?

15 English-language films released in December 1987 report a worldwide gross, $465.8M in all, or $31.1M per film on average. November 1987 releases took $343.2M.

How many English-language movies released in December 1987 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Moonstruck (1987), earned $80.6M.

How much of the December 1987 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$417.5M of the $465.8M total, or 90%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 0 films of the 15 report no domestic figure.

How is the December 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 December 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 December 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.