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English box office · November 1988

English Box Office, November 1988: Top-Grossing Releases

The Land Before Time (1988) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in November 1988, with $84.8M worldwide, ahead of Oliver & Company (1988) at $74.2M and Scrooged (1988) at $60.3M. 18 English-language films released in November 1988 report a worldwide gross, $379.9M in all, 86% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 137% on October 1988, whose releases took $160.3M. By genre, Comedy leads with $196.9M across 6 English releases.

November 1988 releases with a gross
18
combined worldwide
$379.9M
The Land Before Time (1988), the #1
$84.8M
vs October 1988
+137%
The Land Before Time (1988) movie poster #1 of 18
#1 English-language movie of November 1988

The Land Before Time (1988)

1988 · Adventure, Drama

$84.8M worldwide · 22% of the chart's total

$48.5M US & Canada · 57% $36.4M elsewhere · 43%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of November 1988?

The Land Before Time (1988) leads with $84.8M, 22% of the total. The top 5 together took $291.7M, 77% of what all 18 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Land Before Time (1988) movie poster Number 1
    $84.8M The Land Before Time (1988)
    $48.5M US & Canada · 57% $36.4M elsewhere · 43%
  2. Oliver & Company (1988) movie poster Number 2
    $74.2M Oliver & Company (1988)
    $74.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. Scrooged (1988) movie poster Number 3
    $60.3M Scrooged (1988)
    $60.3M US & Canada · 100% $1K elsewhere · <1%
  4. Child’s Play (1988) movie poster Number 4
    $44.2M Child’s Play (1988)
    $33.2M US & Canada · 75% $11M elsewhere · 25%
  5. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) movie poster Number 5
    $28.2M Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
    $28.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of November 1988, 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 November 1988.

  1. 1 The Land Before Time (1988) movie poster
    The Land Before Time (1988) Nov 18, 1988 · Adventure, Drama $84.8M worldwide
    Nov 18, 1988 US and Canada: $48.5M Rest of the world: $36.4M Worldwide: $84.8M
  2. 2 Oliver & Company (1988) movie poster
    Oliver & Company (1988) Nov 18, 1988 · Adventure, Comedy $74.2M worldwide
    Nov 18, 1988 US and Canada: $74.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $74.2M
  3. 3 Scrooged (1988) movie poster
    Scrooged (1988) Nov 23, 1988 · Drama, Fantasy $60.3M worldwide
    Nov 23, 1988 US and Canada: $60.3M Rest of the world: $1K Worldwide: $60.3M
  4. 4 Child’s Play (1988) movie poster
    Child’s Play (1988) Nov 9, 1988 · Horror $44.2M worldwide
    Nov 9, 1988 US and Canada: $33.2M Rest of the world: $11M Worldwide: $44.2M
  5. 5 Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) movie poster
    Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) Nov 11, 1988 · Fantasy, Comedy $28.2M worldwide
    Nov 11, 1988 US and Canada: $28.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.2M
  6. 6 Cocoon: The Return (1988) movie poster
    Cocoon: The Return (1988) Nov 23, 1988 · Adventure, Sci-Fi $25M worldwide
    Nov 23, 1988 US and Canada: $18.9M Rest of the world: $6.1M Worldwide: $25M
  7. 7 They Live (1988) movie poster
    They Live (1988) Nov 4, 1988 · Action, Sci-Fi $13.5M worldwide
    Nov 4, 1988 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $2.6K Worldwide: $13.5M
  8. 8 Everybody’s All-American (1988) movie poster
    Everybody’s All-American (1988) Nov 4, 1988 · Drama, Romance $12.6M worldwide
    Nov 4, 1988 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.6M
  9. 9 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) movie poster
    U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) Nov 3, 1988 · Documentary, Music $8.6M worldwide
    Nov 3, 1988 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6M
  10. 10 High Spirits (1988) movie poster
    High Spirits (1988) Nov 18, 1988 · Fantasy, Comedy $8.6M worldwide
    Nov 18, 1988 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6M
  11. 11 A Cry in the Dark (1988) movie poster
    A Cry in the Dark (1988) Nov 3, 1988 · Drama $6.9M worldwide
    Nov 3, 1988 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9M
  12. 12 Fresh Horses (1988) movie poster
    Fresh Horses (1988) Nov 18, 1988 · Drama, Romance $6.6M worldwide
    Nov 18, 1988 US and Canada: $6.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.6M
  13. 13 The Good Mother (1988) movie poster
    The Good Mother (1988) Nov 4, 1988 · Drama, Romance $4.8M worldwide
    Nov 4, 1988 US and Canada: $4.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.8M
  14. 14 Spike of Bensonhurst (1988) movie poster
    Spike of Bensonhurst (1988) Nov 11, 1988 · Comedy, Drama $623.1K worldwide
    Nov 11, 1988 US and Canada: $623.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $623.1K
  15. 15 Full Moon in Blue Water (1988) movie poster
    Full Moon in Blue Water (1988) Nov 23, 1988 · Romance, Drama $450.7K worldwide
    Nov 23, 1988 US and Canada: $450.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $450.7K
  16. 16 The Chocolate War (1988) movie poster
    The Chocolate War (1988) Nov 18, 1988 · Drama $303.6K worldwide
    Nov 18, 1988 US and Canada: $303.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $303.6K
  17. 17 Distant Thunder (1988) movie poster
    Distant Thunder (1988) Nov 11, 1988 · Drama $156.2K worldwide
    Nov 11, 1988 US and Canada: $156.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $156.2K
  18. 18 Missing Link (1988) movie poster
    Missing Link (1988) Nov 4, 1988 · Adventure $6.1K worldwide
    Nov 4, 1988 US and Canada: $6.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.1K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in November 1988?

Of the top 10, Oliver & Company (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Land Before Time (1988) made 43% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $326.4M (86%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 The Land Before Time (1988) $84.8M
    $48.5M US & Canada · 57% $36.4M elsewhere · 43%
  2. 2 Oliver & Company (1988) $74.2M
    $74.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 Scrooged (1988) $60.3M
    $60.3M US & Canada · 100% $1K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Child’s Play (1988) $44.2M
    $33.2M US & Canada · 75% $11M elsewhere · 25%
  5. 5 Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) $28.2M
    $28.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Cocoon: The Return (1988) $25M
    $18.9M US & Canada · 76% $6.1M elsewhere · 24%
  7. 7 They Live (1988) $13.5M
    $13.4M US & Canada · 100% $2.6K elsewhere · <1%
  8. 8 Everybody’s All-American (1988) $12.6M
    $12.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) $8.6M
    $8.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 High Spirits (1988) $8.6M
    $8.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many November 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 18 films reached $100M. 10 films, 56% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $379.9M 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 8 films, 44% of the list $342.8M · 90% of the gross
  • Under $10M 10 films, 56% of the list $37M · 10% of the gross
Earlier years

How Does November 1988 Compare With November in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, November 1985 earned the most: $501.8M from 20 films, led by Rocky IV (1985). November 1988 took $379.9M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
November 1979 2 films 2 $8.3M – The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979) $8.3M
November 1980 5 films · +258% 5 $29.7M +258% Raging Bull (1980) $23.4M
November 1981 5 films · +123% 5 $66.2M +123% Time Bandits (1981) $42.4M
November 1982 11 films · −9% 11 $60.3M −9% Creepshow (1982) $21M
November 1983 10 films · +167% 10 $161.1M +167% Terms of Endearment (1983) $108.4M
November 1984 14 films · −4% 14 $155.2M −4% A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) $25.9M
November 1985 20 films · +223% 20 $501.8M +223% Rocky IV (1985) $300.5M
November 1986 19 films · −44% 19 $279.8M −44% Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) $109.7M
November 1987 23 films · +23% 23 $343.2M +23% 3 Men and a Baby (1987) $167.8M
November 1988 18 films · +11% 18 $379.9M +11% The Land Before Time (1988) $84.8M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in November 1988?

Comedy took $196.9M across 6 films, 52% of the total, ahead of Family ($187.2M) and Adventure ($184M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

November 1988 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Comedy $196.9M
    6 films · #1 Oliver & Company (1988)
  2. Family $187.2M
    3 films · #1 The Land Before Time (1988)
  3. 4 films · #1 The Land Before Time (1988)
  4. Drama $177.7M
    10 films · #1 The Land Before Time (1988)
  5. 2 films · #1 The Land Before Time (1988)
  6. Fantasy $97.1M
    3 films · #1 Scrooged (1988)
  7. Musical $74.2M
    1 film · #1 Oliver & Company (1988)
  8. Horror $57.6M
    2 films · #1 Child’s Play (1988)
  9. Romance $49.5M
    5 films · #1 Cocoon: The Return (1988)
  10. Sci-Fi $38.5M
    2 films · #1 Cocoon: The Return (1988)
FAQ

English Box Office November 1988: 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 18 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in November 1988?

The Land Before Time (1988) leads with $84.8M worldwide, $48.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Oliver & Company (1988) at $74.2M and Scrooged (1988) at $60.3M.

How much did English-language movies released in November 1988 earn?

18 English-language films released in November 1988 report a worldwide gross, $379.9M in all, or $21.1M per film on average. October 1988 releases took $160.3M.

How many English-language movies released in November 1988 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Land Before Time (1988), earned $84.8M.

How much of the November 1988 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$326.4M of the $379.9M total, or 86%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 0 films of the 18 report no domestic figure.

How is the November 1988 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 November 1988. 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 November 1988 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.