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Box office · October 1986

October 1986 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing October Releases

The Color of Money (1986) is the highest-grossing movie released in October 1986, with $52.3M worldwide, ahead of Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) at $41.4M and Children of a Lesser God (1986) at $31.9M. 18 films released in October 1986 report a worldwide gross, $242.4M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 32% on September 1986, whose releases took $354.6M. By genre, Drama leads with $152.4M across 8 releases.

October 1986 releases with a gross
18
combined worldwide
$242.4M
The Color of Money (1986), the #1
$52.3M
vs September 1986
−32%
The Color of Money (1986) movie poster #1 of 18
#1 movie of October 1986

The Color of Money (1986)

1986 · Drama, Sport

$52.3M worldwide · 22% of the chart's total

$52.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Hits of October 1986?

The Color of Money (1986) leads with $52.3M, 22% of the total. The top 5 together took $183.2M, 76% 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 Color of Money (1986) movie poster Number 1
    $52.3M The Color of Money (1986)
    $52.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) movie poster Number 2
    $41.4M Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
    $41.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. Children of a Lesser God (1986) movie poster Number 3
    $31.9M Children of a Lesser God (1986)
    $31.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) movie poster Number 4
    $29.8M Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
    $29.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Soul Man (1986) movie poster Number 5
    $27.8M Soul Man (1986)
    $27.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Release of October 1986, 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 October 1986.

  1. 1 The Color of Money (1986) movie poster
    The Color of Money (1986) Oct 17, 1986 · English · Drama, Sport $52.3M worldwide
    Oct 17, 1986 US and Canada: $52.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.3M
  2. 2 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) movie poster
    Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) Oct 10, 1986 · English · Drama, Fantasy $41.4M worldwide
    Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $41.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.4M
  3. 3 Children of a Lesser God (1986) movie poster
    Children of a Lesser God (1986) Oct 3, 1986 · English · Drama, Romance $31.9M worldwide
    Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $31.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.9M
  4. 4 Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) movie poster
    Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) Oct 10, 1986 · English · Thriller, Comedy $29.8M worldwide
    Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.8M
  5. 5 Soul Man (1986) movie poster
    Soul Man (1986) Oct 24, 1986 · English · Comedy, Romance $27.8M worldwide
    Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $27.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.8M
  6. 6 Tough Guys (1986) movie poster
    Tough Guys (1986) Oct 3, 1986 · English · Comedy, Crime $21.5M worldwide
    Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $21.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.5M
  7. 7 The Mission (1986) movie poster
    The Mission (1986) Oct 31, 1986 · English · Adventure, Drama $17.5M worldwide
    Oct 31, 1986 US and Canada: $17.2M Rest of the world: $286.8K Worldwide: $17.5M
  8. 8 Deadly Friend (1986) movie poster
    Deadly Friend (1986) Oct 10, 1986 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama $9M worldwide
    Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M
  9. 9 Playing for Keeps (1986) movie poster
    Playing for Keeps (1986) Oct 3, 1986 · English · Comedy $2.7M worldwide
    Oct 3, 1986 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7M
  10. 10 True Stories (1986) movie poster
    True Stories (1986) Oct 10, 1986 · English · Comedy, Musical $2.5M worldwide
    Oct 10, 1986 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: $317 Worldwide: $2.5M
  11. 11 Sky Bandits (1986) movie poster
    Sky Bandits (1986) Oct 31, 1986 · English · Adventure $2.3M worldwide
    Oct 31, 1986 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M
  12. 12 Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986) movie poster
    Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986) Oct 27, 1986 · English · Comedy $2.1M worldwide
    Oct 27, 1986 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.1M
  13. 13 From Beyond (1986) movie poster
    From Beyond (1986) Oct 24, 1986 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror $1.3M worldwide
    Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M
  14. 14 Weekend Warriors (1986) movie poster
    Weekend Warriors (1986) Oct 1, 1986 · English · Drama, Action $351.6K worldwide
    Oct 1, 1986 US and Canada: $351.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $351.6K
  15. 15 Cat City (1986) movie poster
    Cat City (1986) Oct 2, 1986 · Hungarian · Adventure, Comedy $15.3K worldwide
    Oct 2, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.3K
  16. 16 When the Wind Blows (1986) movie poster
    When the Wind Blows (1986) Oct 24, 1986 · English · War, Sci-Fi $5.3K worldwide
    Oct 24, 1986 US and Canada: $5.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3K
  17. 17 Double Gentlemen (1986) movie poster
    Double Gentlemen (1986) Oct 22, 1986 · French · Comedy, Drama $2K worldwide
    Oct 22, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2K
  18. 18 Shadows in Paradise (1986) movie poster
    Shadows in Paradise (1986) Oct 17, 1986 · Finnish · Drama, Comedy $298 worldwide
    Oct 17, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $298
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in October 1986?

Of the top 10, The Color of Money (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Mission (1986) made 2% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $242.1M (100%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 The Color of Money (1986) $52.3M
    $52.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. 2 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) $41.4M
    $41.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 Children of a Lesser God (1986) $31.9M
    $31.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) $29.8M
    $29.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Soul Man (1986) $27.8M
    $27.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Tough Guys (1986) $21.5M
    $21.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Mission (1986) $17.5M
    $17.2M US & Canada · 98% $286.8K elsewhere · 2%
  8. 8 Deadly Friend (1986) $9M
    $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Playing for Keeps (1986) $2.7M
    $2.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 True Stories (1986) $2.5M
    $2.5M US & Canada · 100% $317 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands

How Many October 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 18 films reached $100M. 11 films, 61% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $242.4M 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 7 films, 39% of the list $222.2M · 92% of the gross
  • Under $10M 11 films, 61% of the list $20.3M · 8% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of October 1986 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 41 (Oct 5–11) took $82.8M, led by Peggy Sue Got Married (1986). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 28–Oct 4 Children of a Lesser God (1986) $56.3M Children of a Lesser God (1986)
  2. Week 41 Wk 41 Oct 5–11 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) $82.8M Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
  3. Week 42 Wk 42 Oct 12–18 The Color of Money (1986) $52.3M The Color of Money (1986)
  4. Week 43 Wk 43 Oct 19–25 Soul Man (1986) $29.1M Soul Man (1986)
  5. Week 44 Wk 44 Oct 26–Nov 1 The Mission (1986) $21.9M The Mission (1986)
Earlier years

How Does October 1986 Compare With October in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, October 1986 earned the most: $242.4M from 18 films, led by The Color of Money (1986).

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
October 1977 9 films 9 $92.2M – Oh, God! (1977) $41.7M
October 1978 8 films · +45% 8 $133.4M +45% Halloween (1978) $47.2M
October 1979 11 films · +68% 11 $223.4M +68% 10 (1979) $74.9M
October 1980 15 films · −36% 15 $143.4M −36% Private Benjamin (1980) $69.8M
October 1981 15 films · −33% 15 $96.6M −33% The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) $26.9M
October 1982 15 films · +93% 15 $186.6M +93% First Blood (1982) $125.2M
October 1983 10 films · −2% 10 $181.9M −2% Never Say Never Again (1983) $55.4M
October 1984 23 films · +21% 23 $221M +21% The Terminator (1984) $78.4M
October 1985 14 films · −28% 14 $158.7M −28% Commando (1985) $57.5M
October 1986 18 films · +53% 18 $242.4M +53% The Color of Money (1986) $52.3M
Genres & languages

Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in October 1986?

Drama took $152.4M across 8 films, 63% of the total, ahead of Romance ($130.9M) and Comedy ($128.2M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $242.4M across 15 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Hungarian-language films ($15.3K) and French-language films ($2K).

October 1986 Box Office by Genre

  1. Drama $152.4M
    8 films · #1 The Color of Money (1986)
  2. Romance $130.9M
    5 films · #1 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
  3. Comedy $128.2M
    11 films · #1 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
  4. Sport $52.3M
    1 film · #1 The Color of Money (1986)
  5. Fantasy $41.4M
    1 film · #1 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
  6. Thriller $38.8M
    2 films · #1 Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
  7. Crime $21.5M
    1 film · #1 Tough Guys (1986)
  8. Adventure $19.8M
    3 films · #1 The Mission (1986)
  9. History $17.5M
    1 film · #1 The Mission (1986)
  10. Sci-Fi $10.3M
    3 films · #1 Deadly Friend (1986)

October 1986 Box Office by Language

  1. English $242.4M
    15 films · #1 The Color of Money (1986)
  2. Hungarian $15.3K
    1 film · #1 Cat City (1986)
  3. French $2K
    1 film · #1 Double Gentlemen (1986)
  4. Finnish $298
    1 film · #1 Shadows in Paradise (1986)
Archive

Box Office in 1986, Month by Month

The months of 1986 with their totals: June leads with $548.4M, led by The Karate Kid Part II (1986).

FAQ

Box Office October 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 18 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing movie in October 1986?

The Color of Money (1986) leads with $52.3M worldwide, $52.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) at $41.4M and Children of a Lesser God (1986) at $31.9M.

How much did movies released in October 1986 earn?

18 films released in October 1986 report a worldwide gross, $242.4M in all, or $13.5M per film on average. September 1986 releases took $354.6M.

How many movies released in October 1986 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Color of Money (1986), earned $52.3M.

How much of the October 1986 box office came from the US and Canada?

$242.1M of the $242.4M total, or 100%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 3 films of the 18 report no domestic figure.

How is the October 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 October 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 October 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.