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English box office · Week 40 · Sep 25–Oct 1, 1988

English Box Office, Week 40 of 1988: English Releases of Sep 25–Oct 1

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1), with $5.6M worldwide, ahead of Heartbreak Hotel (1988) at $5.5M and Imagine: John Lennon (1988) at $3.8M. 8 English-language films released that week report a worldwide gross, $24M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 65% on Week 39, 1988, whose releases took $69.3M. By genre, Music leads with $15M across 4 English releases.

week 40 releases with a gross
8
combined worldwide
$24M
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), the #1
$5.6M
vs Week 39, 1988
−65%
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) movie poster #1 of 8
#1 English-language movie of Week 40, 1988

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

1988 · Horror, Comedy

$5.6M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total

$5.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of Week 40 of 1988?

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) leads with $5.6M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $20.6M, 86% of what all 8 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) movie poster Number 1
    $5.6M Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
    $5.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. Heartbreak Hotel (1988) movie poster Number 2
    $5.5M Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
    $5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. Imagine: John Lennon (1988) movie poster Number 3
    $3.8M Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
    $3.8M US & Canada · 100% $296 elsewhere · <1%
  4. Tougher Than Leather (1988) movie poster Number 4
    $3.6M Tougher Than Leather (1988)
    $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Bird (1988) movie poster Number 5
    $2.2M Bird (1988)
    $2.2M US & Canada · 100% $10.6K elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of Week 40 of 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 week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1).

  1. 1 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) movie poster
    Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) Sep 30, 1988 · Horror, Comedy $5.6M worldwide
    Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6M
  2. 2 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) movie poster
    Heartbreak Hotel (1988) Sep 30, 1988 · Comedy, Music $5.5M worldwide
    Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M
  3. 3 Imagine: John Lennon (1988) movie poster
    Imagine: John Lennon (1988) Sep 30, 1988 · Music, Documentary $3.8M worldwide
    Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $296 Worldwide: $3.8M
  4. 4 Tougher Than Leather (1988) movie poster
    Tougher Than Leather (1988) Sep 26, 1988 · Crime, Music $3.6M worldwide
    Sep 26, 1988 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M
  5. 5 Bird (1988) movie poster
    Bird (1988) Sep 30, 1988 · Biography, Drama $2.2M worldwide
    Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $10.6K Worldwide: $2.2M
  6. 6 Platoon Leader (1988) movie poster
    Platoon Leader (1988) Oct 1, 1988 · Drama, War $1.3M worldwide
    Oct 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M
  7. 7 Apartment Zero (1988) movie poster
    Apartment Zero (1988) Sep 30, 1988 · Drama, Thriller $1.3M worldwide
    Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M
  8. 8 The Girl in a Swing (1988) movie poster
    The Girl in a Swing (1988) Sep 29, 1988 · Thriller, Drama $747K worldwide
    Sep 29, 1988 US and Canada: $747K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $747K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in Week 40 of 1988?

Of the top 8, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Bird (1988) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $24M (100%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) $5.6M
    $5.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. 2 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $5.5M
    $5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 Imagine: John Lennon (1988) $3.8M
    $3.8M US & Canada · 100% $296 elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Tougher Than Leather (1988) $3.6M
    $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Bird (1988) $2.2M
    $2.2M US & Canada · 100% $10.6K elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 Platoon Leader (1988) $1.3M
    $1.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Apartment Zero (1988) $1.3M
    $1.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 The Girl in a Swing (1988) $747K
    $747K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Weeks around it

How Does Week 40 Compare With the Weeks Around It?

Week 40 releases took $24M. The biggest of these 9 weeks is week 34 (Aug 14–20) with $93.1M, led by A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988).

  1. Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 14–20 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $93.1M A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
  2. Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 21–27 Betrayed (1988) $45M Betrayed (1988)
  3. Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 28–Sep 3 Eight Men Out (1988) $8.2M Eight Men Out (1988)
  4. Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 4–10 Moon Over Parador (1988) $15.4M Moon Over Parador (1988)
  5. Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 11–17 Criminal Law (1988) $16.8M Criminal Law (1988)
  6. Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 18–24 Gorillas in the Mist (1988) $69.3M Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
  7. Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 25–Oct 1 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) $24M Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
  8. Week 41 Wk 41 Oct 2–8 Alien Nation (1988) $62.4M Alien Nation (1988)
  9. Week 42 Wk 42 Oct 9–15 The Accused (1988) $56.3M The Accused (1988)
Earlier years

How Does Week 40 of 1988 Compare With Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, Week 40, 1984 earned the most: $65.4M from 3 films, led by Places in the Heart (1984). Week 40, 1988 took $24M.

Week Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
Week 40, 1979 Sep 30–Oct 6 1 film 1 $1.2M – Goldengirl (1979) $1.2M
Week 40, 1980 Sep 28–Oct 4 5 films · +2269% 5 $29.6M +2269% Oh, God! Book II (1980) $14.5M
Week 40, 1981 Sep 27–Oct 3 3 films · −25% 3 $22.1M −25% Paternity (1981) $18.8M
Week 40, 1982 Sep 26–Oct 2 1 film · −100% 1 $25.7K −100% Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982) $25.7K
Week 40, 1983 Sep 25–Oct 1 1 film · +219116% 1 $56.4M +219116% The Big Chill (1983) $56.4M
Week 40, 1984 Sep 30–Oct 6 3 films · +16% 3 $65.4M +16% Places in the Heart (1984) $34.9M
Week 40, 1985 Sep 29–Oct 5 4 films · −36% 4 $41.9M −36% Jagged Edge (1985) $40.5M
Week 40, 1986 Sep 28–Oct 4 4 films · +35% 4 $56.3M +35% Children of a Lesser God (1986) $31.9M
Week 40, 1987 Sep 27–Oct 3 6 films · −26% 6 $41.9M −26% Like Father Like Son (1987) $34.4M
Week 40, 1988 Sep 25–Oct 1 8 films · −43% 8 $24M −43% Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) $5.6M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in Week 40 of 1988?

Music took $15M across 4 films, 63% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($11.1M) and Horror ($6.9M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

Week 40 of 1988 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Music $15M
    4 films · #1 Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
  2. Comedy $11.1M
    2 films · #1 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
  3. Horror $6.9M
    2 films · #1 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
  4. Drama $5.6M
    4 films · #1 Bird (1988)
  5. Action $4.9M
    2 films · #1 Tougher Than Leather (1988)
  6. Documentary $3.8M
    1 film · #1 Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
  7. Crime $3.6M
    1 film · #1 Tougher Than Leather (1988)
  8. Biography $2.2M
    1 film · #1 Bird (1988)
  9. Thriller $2M
    2 films · #1 Apartment Zero (1988)
  10. War $1.3M
    1 film · #1 Platoon Leader (1988)
Archive

English Box Office in 1988, Week by Week

51 weeks of 1988 with reported grosses; the biggest is week 22 (May 22–28) with $428.7M, led by Crocodile Dundee II (1988).

FAQ

English Box Office Week 40 of 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 8 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1)?

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) leads with $5.6M worldwide, $5.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Heartbreak Hotel (1988) at $5.5M and Imagine: John Lennon (1988) at $3.8M.

How much did English-language movies released in week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1) earn?

8 English-language films released in week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1) report a worldwide gross, $24M in all, or $3M per film on average. Week 39, 1988 releases took $69.3M.

How many English-language movies released in week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1) made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), earned $5.6M.

How much of the Week 40, 1988 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$24M of the $24M total, or 100%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 0 films of the 8 report no domestic figure.

How is the week 40, 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 week 40 of 1988 (Sep 25–Oct 1). 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 week 40, 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.