#1 of 28 #1 English-language movie of August 1987
1987 · Drama, Romance
$214.6M worldwide · 45% of the chart's total
$64.6M US & Canada · 30% $150M elsewhere · 70%
English box office · August 1987
English Box Office, August 1987: Top-Grossing Releases
Dirty Dancing (1987) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in August 1987, with $214.6M worldwide, ahead of Stakeout (1987) at $65.7M and No Way Out (1987) at $35.5M. 28 English-language films released in August 1987 report a worldwide gross, $472.5M in all, 68% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 43% on July 1987, whose releases took $330.2M. By genre, Drama leads with $319.9M across 12 English releases.
- August 1987 releases with a gross
- 28
- combined worldwide
- $472.5M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs July 1987
- +43%
#1 of 28 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of August 1987?
Dirty Dancing (1987) leads with $214.6M, 45% of the total. The top 5 together took $365.1M, 77% of what all 28 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 August 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 August 1987.
- 1 Aug 25, 1987 US and Canada: $64.6M Rest of the world: $150M Worldwide: $214.6M
- 2 Aug 5, 1987 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $65.7M
- 3 Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $35.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.5M
- 4 Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $31.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.6M
- 5 Aug 21, 1987 US and Canada: $17.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.7M
- 6
Aug 21, 1987 US and Canada: $17.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.4M - 7
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $769 Worldwide: $17.3M - 8
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $13.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.8M - 9
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $13.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.1M - 10
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.4M - 11
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.8M - 12
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.7M - 13
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 14
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $3.8M - 15
Aug 6, 1987 US and Canada: $3.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.3M - 16
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M - 17
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 18
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 19
Aug 22, 1987 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 20
Aug 29, 1987 US and Canada: $901.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $901.4K - 21
Aug 22, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $208.2K - 22
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $169.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $169.6K - 23
Aug 1, 1987 US and Canada: $61.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $61.8K - 24
Aug 7, 1987 US and Canada: $41.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.2K - 25
Aug 28, 1987 US and Canada: $25K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25K - 26
Aug 9, 1987 US and Canada: $7.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.1K - 27
Aug 18, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2K - 28
Aug 23, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $630
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1987?
Of the top 10, Stakeout (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Dirty Dancing (1987) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 28 films, $322.3M (68%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Dirty Dancing (1987) $214.6M $64.6M US & Canada · 30% $150M elsewhere · 70%
- 2 Stakeout (1987) $65.7M $65.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 No Way Out (1987) $35.5M $35.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Can't Buy Me Love (1987) $31.6M $31.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Big Easy (1987) $17.7M $17.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Born in East L.A. (1987) $17.4M $17.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Masters of the Universe (1987) $17.3M $17.3M US & Canada · 100% $769 elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Hamburger Hill (1987) $13.8M $13.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Back to the Beach (1987) $13.1M $13.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Fourth Protocol (1987) $12.4M $12.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many August 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 28 films crossed $100M and took $214.6M between them, 45% of the total. 18 films, 64% of the list, earned under $10M.
45% 48%
- $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, 4% of the list $214.6M · 45% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 9 films, 32% of the list $224.6M · 48% of the gross
- Under $10M 18 films, 64% of the list $33.3M · 7% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of August 1987 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 35 (Aug 23–29) took $253M, led by Dirty Dancing (1987). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 26–Aug 1 Love at Stake (1987) $61.8K Love at Stake (1987)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 2–8 Stakeout (1987) $107.7M Stakeout (1987)
- Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 9–15 No Way Out (1987) $74.9M No Way Out (1987)
- Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 16–22 The Big Easy (1987) $36.8M The Big Easy (1987)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 23–29 Dirty Dancing (1987) $253M Dirty Dancing (1987)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 30–Sep 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does August 1987 Compare With August in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, August 1987 earned the most: $472.5M from 28 films, led by Dirty Dancing (1987).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1978 4 films | 4 | $30.4M | – | Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) $20M |
| August 1979 12 films · +617% | 12 | $218.4M | +617% | Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M |
| August 1980 8 films · −40% | 8 | $131.4M | −40% | Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) $66.1M |
| August 1981 12 films · −9% | 12 | $119.4M | −9% | An American Werewolf in London (1981) $30.8M |
| August 1982 9 films · +16% | 9 | $138M | +16% | Friday the 13th Part III (1982) $36.7M |
| August 1983 15 films · +64% | 15 | $226.6M | +64% | Mr. Mom (1983) $64.8M |
| August 1984 15 films · −20% | 15 | $180.7M | −20% | Tightrope (1984) $48.1M |
| August 1985 17 films · +45% | 17 | $262.5M | +45% | Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) $41M |
| August 1986 23 films · −11% | 23 | $232.7M | −11% | The Fly (1986) $60.6M |
| August 1987 28 films · +103% | 28 | $472.5M | +103% | Dirty Dancing (1987) $214.6M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in August 1987?
Drama took $319.9M across 12 films, 68% of the total, ahead of Romance ($309.1M) and Thriller ($164.4M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
August 1987 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $319.9M12 films · #1 Dirty Dancing (1987) -
Romance $309.1M8 films · #1 Dirty Dancing (1987) -
Thriller $164.4M8 films · #1 Stakeout (1987) -
Comedy $149.5M12 films · #1 Stakeout (1987) -
Action $145.7M9 films · #1 Stakeout (1987) -
Crime $126.3M7 films · #1 Stakeout (1987) -
Mystery $37.2M2 films · #1 No Way Out (1987) -
Fantasy $34.1M7 films · #1 Masters of the Universe (1987) -
Adventure $24.8M4 films · #1 Masters of the Universe (1987) -
Sci-Fi $17.3M1 film · #1 Masters of the Universe (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 August 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 28 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in August 1987?
Dirty Dancing (1987) leads with $214.6M worldwide, $64.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Stakeout (1987) at $65.7M and No Way Out (1987) at $35.5M.
How much did English-language movies released in August 1987 earn?
28 English-language films released in August 1987 report a worldwide gross, $472.5M in all, or $16.9M per film on average. July 1987 releases took $330.2M.
How many English-language movies released in August 1987 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Dirty Dancing (1987) with $214.6M.
How is the August 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 August 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 August 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.