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English box office · July 1988

English Box Office, July 1988: Top-Grossing Releases

Die Hard (1988) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in July 1988, with $143.7M worldwide, ahead of Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and A Fish Called Wanda (1988) at $62.5M. 16 English-language films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $420.5M in all, 76% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 51% on June 1988, whose releases took $850.5M. By genre, Crime leads with $325.7M across 4 English releases.

July 1988 releases with a gross
16
combined worldwide
$420.5M
film crossed $100M
1
vs June 1988
−51%
Die Hard (1988) movie poster #1 of 16
#1 English-language movie of July 1988

Die Hard (1988)

1988 · Action, Thriller

$143.7M worldwide · 34% of the chart's total

$85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of July 1988?

Die Hard (1988) leads with $143.7M, 34% of the total. The top 5 together took $348.1M, 83% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Die Hard (1988) movie poster Number 1
    $143.7M Die Hard (1988)
    $85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
  2. Midnight Run (1988) movie poster Number 2
    $81.6M Midnight Run (1988)
    $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
  3. A Fish Called Wanda (1988) movie poster Number 3
    $62.5M A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
    $62.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. The Dead Pool (1988) movie poster Number 4
    $37.9M The Dead Pool (1988)
    $37.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. License to Drive (1988) movie poster Number 5
    $22.4M License to Drive (1988)
    $22.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of July 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 July 1988.

  1. 1 Die Hard (1988) movie poster
    Die Hard (1988) Jul 15, 1988 · Action, Thriller $143.7M worldwide
    Jul 15, 1988 US and Canada: $85.9M Rest of the world: $57.8M Worldwide: $143.7M
  2. 2 Midnight Run (1988) movie poster
    Midnight Run (1988) Jul 20, 1988 · Action, Adventure $81.6M worldwide
    Jul 20, 1988 US and Canada: $38.4M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $81.6M
  3. 3 A Fish Called Wanda (1988) movie poster
    A Fish Called Wanda (1988) Jul 29, 1988 · Comedy, Crime $62.5M worldwide
    Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $62.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $62.5M
  4. 4 The Dead Pool (1988) movie poster
    The Dead Pool (1988) Jul 13, 1988 · Action, Thriller $37.9M worldwide
    Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $37.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.9M
  5. 5 License to Drive (1988) movie poster
    License to Drive (1988) Jul 6, 1988 · Comedy $22.4M worldwide
    Jul 6, 1988 US and Canada: $22.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.4M
  6. 6 Big Top Pee-wee (1988) movie poster
    Big Top Pee-wee (1988) Jul 22, 1988 · Adventure, Comedy $15.1M worldwide
    Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $15.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.1M
  7. 7 Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) movie poster
    Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) Jul 8, 1988 · Comedy, Romance $14.7M worldwide
    Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
  8. 8 Caddyshack II (1988) movie poster
    Caddyshack II (1988) Jul 22, 1988 · Sport, Comedy $11.8M worldwide
    Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $11.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.8M
  9. 9 Salsa (1988) movie poster
    Salsa (1988) Jul 9, 1988 · Romance, Music $8.9M worldwide
    Jul 9, 1988 US and Canada: $8.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.9M
  10. 10 Phantasm II (1988) movie poster
    Phantasm II (1988) Jul 8, 1988 · Action, Sci-Fi $7.3M worldwide
    Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $915 Worldwide: $7.3M
  11. 11 A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) movie poster
    A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) Jul 26, 1988 · Drama, Romance $6.3M worldwide
    Jul 26, 1988 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M
  12. 12 Monkey Shines (1988) movie poster
    Monkey Shines (1988) Jul 29, 1988 · Sci-Fi, Drama $5.3M worldwide
    Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M
  13. 13 Pascali’s Island (1988) movie poster
    Pascali’s Island (1988) Jul 22, 1988 · Drama $1.5M worldwide
    Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M
  14. 14 Mr. North (1988) movie poster
    Mr. North (1988) Jul 22, 1988 · Drama, Comedy $1.2M worldwide
    Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M
  15. 15 It Takes Two (1988) movie poster
    It Takes Two (1988) Jul 13, 1988 · Romance, Comedy $344.4K worldwide
    Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $344.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $344.4K
  16. 16 Mauri (1988) movie poster
    Mauri (1988) Jul 21, 1988 · Drama $157 worldwide
    Jul 21, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $157
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in July 1988?

Of the top 10, A Fish Called Wanda (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Midnight Run (1988) made 53% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $319.5M (76%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Die Hard (1988) $143.7M
    $85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
  2. 2 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M
    $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
  3. 3 A Fish Called Wanda (1988) $62.5M
    $62.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 The Dead Pool (1988) $37.9M
    $37.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 License to Drive (1988) $22.4M
    $22.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Big Top Pee-wee (1988) $15.1M
    $15.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) $14.7M
    $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Caddyshack II (1988) $11.8M
    $11.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Salsa (1988) $8.9M
    $8.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Phantasm II (1988) $7.3M
    $7.3M US & Canada · 100% $915 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands

How Many July 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 16 films crossed $100M and took $143.7M between them, 34% of the total. 8 films, 50% 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, 6% of the list $143.7M · 34% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 7 films, 44% of the list $246M · 59% of the gross
  • Under $10M 8 films, 50% of the list $30.8M · 7% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of July 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 29 (Jul 10–16) took $181.9M, led by Die Hard (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 27 Wk 27 Jun 26–Jul 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. Week 28 Wk 28 Jul 3–9 License to Drive (1988) $53.3M License to Drive (1988)
  3. Week 29 Wk 29 Jul 10–16 Die Hard (1988) $181.9M Die Hard (1988)
  4. Week 30 Wk 30 Jul 17–23 Midnight Run (1988) $111.2M Midnight Run (1988)
  5. Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 24–30 A Fish Called Wanda (1988) $74.1M A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
  6. Week 32 Wk 32 Jul 31–Aug 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years

How Does July 1988 Compare With July in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, July 1985 earned the most: $578.6M from 14 films, led by Back to the Future (1985). July 1988 took $420.5M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
July 1979 5 films 5 $133.2M – The Amityville Horror (1979) $86.4M
July 1980 13 films · +148% 13 $329.7M +148% Airplane! (1980) $83.5M
July 1981 14 films · +3% 14 $340.9M +3% Arthur (1981) $95.5M
July 1982 12 films · −2% 12 $332.6M −2% An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) $129.8M
July 1983 8 films · −32% 8 $226.8M −32% Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M
July 1984 9 films · −13% 9 $196.3M −13% Purple Rain (1984) $70.3M
July 1985 14 films · +195% 14 $578.6M +195% Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M
July 1986 12 films · −44% 12 $321.6M −44% Aliens (1986) $131.1M
July 1987 15 films · +3% 15 $330.2M +3% La Bamba (1987) $54.2M
July 1988 16 films · +27% 16 $420.5M +27% Die Hard (1988) $143.7M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in July 1988?

Crime took $325.7M across 4 films, 77% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($275.8M) and Action ($270.5M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

July 1988 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Crime $325.7M
    4 films · #1 Die Hard (1988)
  2. Thriller $275.8M
    5 films · #1 Die Hard (1988)
  3. Action $270.5M
    4 films · #1 Die Hard (1988)
  4. Comedy $209.7M
    8 films · #1 Midnight Run (1988)
  5. Adventure $96.7M
    2 films · #1 Midnight Run (1988)
  6. Romance $45.3M
    5 films · #1 Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
  7. Drama $14.3M
    5 films · #1 A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988)
  8. Horror $12.6M
    2 films · #1 Phantasm II (1988)
  9. Sci-Fi $12.6M
    2 films · #1 Phantasm II (1988)
  10. Sport $11.8M
    1 film · #1 Caddyshack II (1988)
Archive

English Box Office in 1988, Month by Month

The months of 1988 with their totals: December leads with $984.8M, led by Rain Man (1988).

FAQ

English Box Office July 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 16 films as the chart.

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

Die Hard (1988) leads with $143.7M worldwide, $85.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M and A Fish Called Wanda (1988) at $62.5M.

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

16 English-language films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $420.5M in all, or $26.3M per film on average. June 1988 releases took $850.5M.

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

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Die Hard (1988) with $143.7M.

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

$319.5M of the $420.5M total, or 76%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 1 film of the 16 report no domestic figure.

How is the July 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 July 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 July 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.