#1 of 21 #1 English-language movie of August 1989
1989 · Drama, Comedy
$126.3M worldwide · 31% of the chart's total
$100M US & Canada · 79% $26.3M elsewhere · 21%
English box office · August 1989
English Box Office, August 1989: Top-Grossing Releases
Parenthood (1989) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in August 1989, with $126.3M worldwide, ahead of The Abyss (1989) at $90.5M and Uncle Buck (1989) at $79.3M. 21 English-language films released in August 1989 report a worldwide gross, $409.8M in all, 82% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 33% on July 1989, whose releases took $607.4M. By genre, Drama leads with $259.1M across 13 English releases.
- August 1989 releases with a gross
- 21
- combined worldwide
- $409.8M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs July 1989
- −33%
#1 of 21 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of August 1989?
Parenthood (1989) leads with $126.3M, 31% of the total. The top 5 together took $340.3M, 83% of what all 21 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 1989, 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 1989.
- 1 Aug 2, 1989 US and Canada: $100M Rest of the world: $26.3M Worldwide: $126.3M
- 2 Aug 9, 1989 US and Canada: $55M Rest of the world: $35.5M Worldwide: $90.5M
- 3 Aug 16, 1989 US and Canada: $66.8M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $79.3M
- 4 Aug 11, 1989 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.2M
- 5 Aug 4, 1989 US and Canada: $22.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.1M
- 6
Aug 18, 1989 US and Canada: $18.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.7M - 7
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 8
Aug 18, 1989 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2M - 9
Aug 30, 1989 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M - 10
Aug 30, 1989 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.1M - 11
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 12
Aug 18, 1989 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 13
Aug 16, 1989 US and Canada: $3.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.2M - 14
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 15
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 16
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 17
Aug 25, 1989 US and Canada: $793.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $793.8K - 18
Aug 18, 1989 US and Canada: $536.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $536.5K - 19
Aug 18, 1989 US and Canada: $216.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $216.4K - 20
Aug 18, 1989 US and Canada: $15.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.5K - 21
Aug 1, 1989 US and Canada: $2.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in August 1989?
Of the top 10, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Abyss (1989) made 39% of its gross abroad. Across all 21 films, $335.6M (82%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Parenthood (1989) $126.3M $100M US & Canada · 79% $26.3M elsewhere · 21%
- 2 The Abyss (1989) $90.5M $55M US & Canada · 61% $35.5M elsewhere · 39%
- 3 Uncle Buck (1989) $79.3M $66.8M US & Canada · 84% $12.5M elsewhere · 16%
- 4 A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) $22.2M $22.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Lock Up (1989) $22.1M $22.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Casualties of War (1989) $18.7M $18.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Package (1989) $10.6M $10.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Cheetah (1989) $8.2M $8.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Relentless (1989) $7M $7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Shirley Valentine (1989) $6.1M $6.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many August 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 21 films crossed $100M and took $126.3M between them, 31% of the total. 14 films, 67% of the list, earned under $10M.
31% 59% 10%
- $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, 5% of the list $126.3M · 31% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 29% of the list $243.4M · 59% of the gross
- Under $10M 14 films, 67% of the list $40.2M · 10% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of August 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 31 (Jul 30–Aug 5) took $148.4M, led by Parenthood (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 30–Aug 5 Parenthood (1989) $148.4M Parenthood (1989)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 6–12 The Abyss (1989) $112.7M The Abyss (1989)
- Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 13–19 Uncle Buck (1989) $115M Uncle Buck (1989)
- Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 20–26 The Package (1989) $20.7M The Package (1989)
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 27–Sep 2 Relentless (1989) $13M Relentless (1989)
Earlier years
How Does August 1989 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). August 1989 took $409.8M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1980 8 films | 8 | $131.4M | – | 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 |
| August 1988 19 films · −48% | 19 | $244M | −48% | A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) $49.4M |
| August 1989 21 films · +68% | 21 | $409.8M | +68% | Parenthood (1989) $126.3M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in August 1989?
Drama took $259.1M across 13 films, 63% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($221.9M) and Thriller ($136.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
August 1989 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $259.1M13 films · #1 Parenthood (1989) -
Comedy $221.9M9 films · #1 Parenthood (1989) -
Thriller $136.6M6 films · #1 The Abyss (1989) -
Action $128.2M4 films · #1 The Abyss (1989) -
Sci-Fi $96.3M2 films · #1 The Abyss (1989) -
Adventure $91.3M2 films · #1 The Abyss (1989) -
Family $88.2M3 films · #1 Uncle Buck (1989) -
Crime $58.4M4 films · #1 Lock Up (1989) -
Horror $29.2M2 films · #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) -
Fantasy $24.1M3 films · #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
Archive
English Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: June leads with $1.2B, led by Batman (1989).
- January $95.5M #1 Three Fugitives (1989)
- February $208.9M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- March $160.2M #1 Fletch Lives (1989)
- April $324.3M #1 Field of Dreams (1989)
- May $592M #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- June $1.2B #1 Batman (1989)
- July $607.4M #1 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- August $409.8M #1 Parenthood (1989)
- September $284.9M #1 Black Rain (1989)
- October $470M #1 Look Who's Talking (1989)
- November $816.1M #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- December $764M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
FAQ
English Box Office August 1989: 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 21 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in August 1989?
Parenthood (1989) leads with $126.3M worldwide, $100M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Abyss (1989) at $90.5M and Uncle Buck (1989) at $79.3M.
How much did English-language movies released in August 1989 earn?
21 English-language films released in August 1989 report a worldwide gross, $409.8M in all, or $19.5M per film on average. July 1989 releases took $607.4M.
How many English-language movies released in August 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Parenthood (1989) with $126.3M.
How is the August 1989 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 1989. 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 1989 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.