#1 of 218 #1 movie of 1986
1986 · Action, Drama
$357.3M worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$180.3M US & Canada · 50% $177M elsewhere · 50%
Box office · 1986
1986 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1986
Top Gun (1986) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1986, with $357.3M worldwide, ahead of Crocodile Dundee (1986) at $328.2M and Platoon (1986) at $138.5M. 218 films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $3.7B in all, 86% of it from the US & Canada. 6 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 2% on 1985, whose releases took $3.7B. By genre, Comedy leads with $2B across 92 releases.
- 1986 releases with a gross
- 218
- combined worldwide
- $3.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 6
- vs 1985
- −2%
#1 of 218 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1986?
Top Gun (1986) leads with $357.3M, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.1B, 29% of what all 218 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 Release of 1986, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 218. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1986.
- 1 May 16, 1986 US and Canada: $180.3M Rest of the world: $177M Worldwide: $357.3M
- 2 Sep 26, 1986 US and Canada: $174.8M Rest of the world: $153.4M Worldwide: $328.2M
- 3 Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $138.5M Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $138.5M
- 4 Jul 18, 1986 US and Canada: $85.2M Rest of the world: $45.9M Worldwide: $131.1M
- 5 Jun 20, 1986 US and Canada: $115.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $115.1M
- 6
Nov 26, 1986 US and Canada: $109.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $109.7M - 7
Jun 20, 1986 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $43.3M Worldwide: $93.2M - 8
Jun 13, 1986 US and Canada: $91.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $91.3M - 9
Nov 21, 1986 US and Canada: $47.5M Rest of the world: $37.1M Worldwide: $84.5M - 10
Dec 12, 1986 US and Canada: $79.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.8M - 11
Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $71.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.6M - 12
Jun 11, 1986 US and Canada: $70.1M Rest of the world: $604.1K Worldwide: $70.7M - 13
Jan 31, 1986 US and Canada: $62.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $62.1M - 14
Aug 15, 1986 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $20.2M Worldwide: $60.6M - 15
Mar 26, 1986 US and Canada: $37.5M Rest of the world: $17.5M Worldwide: $55M - 16
Aug 22, 1986 US and Canada: $52.3M Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $53.5M - 17
Oct 17, 1986 US and Canada: $52.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.3M - 18
May 23, 1986 US and Canada: $49M Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $49M - 19
Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $43.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.6M - 20
Dec 5, 1986 US and Canada: $42.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.7M - 21
Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $41.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.4M - 22
May 23, 1986 US and Canada: $41M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $41M - 23
May 9, 1986 US and Canada: $40.7M Rest of the world: $542 Worldwide: $40.7M - 24
Feb 28, 1986 US and Canada: $40.5M Rest of the world: $9K Worldwide: $40.5M - 25
Feb 1, 1986 US and Canada: $40.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1M - 26
Dec 12, 1986 US and Canada: $39.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.2M - 27
Dec 19, 1986 US and Canada: $39M Rest of the world: $32.3K Worldwide: $39.1M - 28
Jul 2, 1986 US and Canada: $38.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.7M - 29
Jul 2, 1986 US and Canada: $38.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.6M - 30
Jun 27, 1986 US and Canada: $38.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.5M - 31
Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $16.3M Rest of the world: $21.7M Worldwide: $38M - 32
Mar 14, 1986 US and Canada: $36.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.6M - 33
Jul 30, 1986 US and Canada: $32.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.3M - 34
Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $31.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.9M - 35
Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.8M - 36
Nov 14, 1986 US and Canada: $28.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.6M - 37
Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $27.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.8M - 38
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $26.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.3M - 39
Jul 25, 1986 US and Canada: $25.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.3M - 40
Dec 25, 1986 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: $66 Worldwide: $25.1M - 41
Jan 17, 1986 US and Canada: $24.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.2M - 42
Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $21.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.5M - 43
Apr 1, 1986 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $95.4K Worldwide: $21.1M - 44
Feb 7, 1986 US and Canada: $20.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.6M - 45
Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986)Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.5M Rest of the world: $743 Worldwide: $19.5M
Aug 1, 1986 · English · Thriller, Horror $19.5M worldwide - 46
Feb 28, 1986 US and Canada: $19.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.4M - 47
Aug 1, 1986 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $18.6M - 48
May 2, 1986 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18M - 49
Feb 14, 1986 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M - 50
Oct 31, 1986 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: $286.8K Worldwide: $17.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1986?
Of the top 10, The Karate Kid Part II (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Top Gun (1986) made 50% of its gross abroad. Across all 218 films, $3.1B (86%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Top Gun (1986) $357.3M $180.3M US & Canada · 50% $177M elsewhere · 50%
- 2 Crocodile Dundee (1986) $328.2M $174.8M US & Canada · 53% $153.4M elsewhere · 47%
- 3 Platoon (1986) $138.5M $138.5M US & Canada · 100% $15.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Aliens (1986) $131.1M $85.2M US & Canada · 65% $45.9M elsewhere · 35%
- 5 The Karate Kid Part II (1986) $115.1M $115.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) $109.7M $109.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Legal Eagles (1986) $93.2M $49.9M US & Canada · 54% $43.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 8 Back to School (1986) $91.3M $91.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 An American Tail (1986) $84.5M $47.5M US & Canada · 56% $37.1M elsewhere · 44%
- 10 The Golden Child (1986) $79.8M $79.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
6 of 218 films crossed $100M and took $1.2B between them, 32% of the total. 150 films, 69% of the list, earned under $10M.
32% 56% 12%
- $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 6 films, 3% of the list $1.2B · 32% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 62 films, 28% of the list $2B · 56% of the gross
- Under $10M 150 films, 69% of the list $423.1M · 12% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1986 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $548.4M from 18 films, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986). April was the quietest month ($115.7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) $161M Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)
- February Feb Pretty in Pink (1986) $182.2M Pretty in Pink (1986)
- March Mar The Money Pit (1986) $196.1M The Money Pit (1986)
- April Apr A Room with a View (1986) $115.7M A Room with a View (1986)
- May May Top Gun (1986) $522.4M Top Gun (1986)
- June Jun The Karate Kid Part II (1986) $548.4M The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
- July Jul Aliens (1986) $326.7M Aliens (1986)
- August Aug The Fly (1986) $303.4M The Fly (1986)
- September Sep Crocodile Dundee (1986) $354.5M Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- October Oct The Color of Money (1986) $242.4M The Color of Money (1986)
- November Nov Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) $300M Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
- December Dec Platoon (1986) $398.6M Platoon (1986)
Last 10 years
How Does 1986 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1985 earned the most: $3.7B from 192 films, led by Back to the Future (1985). 1986 took $3.7B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 72 films | 72 | $2.2B | – | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 84 films · −12% | 84 | $2B | −12% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
| 1979 99 films · +10% | 99 | $2.2B | +10% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 130 films · +16% | 130 | $2.5B | +16% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| 1981 136 films · −15% | 136 | $2.1B | −15% | Superman II (1981) $216.4M |
| 1982 154 films · +18% | 154 | $2.5B | +18% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| 1983 147 films · +12% | 147 | $2.8B | +12% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| 1984 178 films · +27% | 178 | $3.6B | +27% | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M |
| 1985 192 films · +4% | 192 | $3.7B | +4% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
| 1986 218 films · −2% | 218 | $3.7B | −2% | Top Gun (1986) $357.3M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1986?
Comedy took $2B across 92 films, 55% of the total, ahead of Drama ($1.4B) and Romance ($1.2B). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $3.3B across 178 films, 91% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($31.6M) and Norwegian-language films ($7.2M).
1986 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $2B92 films · #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986) -
Drama $1.4B106 films · #1 Top Gun (1986) -
Romance $1.2B50 films · #1 Top Gun (1986) -
Action $1.1B48 films · #1 Top Gun (1986) -
Adventure $841.3M33 films · #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986) -
Thriller $571.7M38 films · #1 Aliens (1986) -
Sci-Fi $504.9M26 films · #1 Aliens (1986) -
Crime $482.8M41 films · #1 Legal Eagles (1986) -
Family $349.6M17 films · #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986) -
Sport $339.1M9 films · #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
1986 Box Office by Language
- English $3.3B178 films · #1 Top Gun (1986)
-
French $31.6M12 films · #1 Disorder (1986) -
Norwegian $7.2M1 film · #1 The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) -
Cantonese $5.5M2 films · #1 A Better Tomorrow (1986) -
Swedish $318.8K1 film · #1 The Sacrifice (1986) -
Spanish $286.1K1 film · #1 Matador (1986) -
Korean $2862 films · #1 Ticket (1986)
Archive
Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $134B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $34.2B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $34B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $30.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $31.3B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $30.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $28.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $26.5B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $201.4B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $21.2B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $20.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $19.7B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $19.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $15.8B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $16B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $14B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
- 1999 $13.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $11.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $12.7B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.9B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $9.5B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $8.5B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $7.1B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $6.3B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $6.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $36B
- 1989 $6.1B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.9B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $4B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.7B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.7B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.5B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
- 1979 $2.2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $2B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $784.1M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $1.1B #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $803.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $989.4M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $371.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $206M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $450M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
- 1969 $247.4M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $144M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $441.4M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $29.9M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $387.9M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $240.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $12.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
- 1959 $127.1M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $162.1M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $153.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.2M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
- 1949 $1.8M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $12.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $92.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22.1M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $132K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6.2M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $268.3M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $214M
- 1939 $26.7M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $32.8K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $164.8K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $51.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $135.8K #1 Drácula (1931)
- 1930 $6.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 9 years · $10M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $67.1K #1 Battleship Potemkin (1926)
- 1925 $87.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1924 $198.9K #1 The Epic of Everest (1924)
- 1923 $13.2K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ
Box Office 1986: 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 218 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1986?
Top Gun (1986) leads with $357.3M worldwide, $180.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Crocodile Dundee (1986) at $328.2M and Platoon (1986) at $138.5M.
How much did movies released in 1986 earn?
218 films released in 1986 report a worldwide gross, $3.7B in all, or $16.7M per film on average. 1985 releases took $3.7B.
How many movies released in 1986 made $1 billion?
None. 6 films crossed $100 million, led by Top Gun (1986) with $357.3M.
How is the 1986 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 1986. 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.
How often is the 1986 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.