#1 of 20 #1 movie of March 1986
1986 · Comedy
$55M worldwide · 28% of the chart's total
$37.5M US & Canada · 68% $17.5M elsewhere · 32%
Box office · March 1986
March 1986 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing March Releases
The Money Pit (1986) is the highest-grossing movie released in March 1986, with $55M worldwide, ahead of Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) at $43.6M and Gung Ho (1986) at $36.6M. 20 films released in March 1986 report a worldwide gross, $196.1M in all, 91% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 8% on February 1986, whose releases took $182.2M. By genre, Comedy leads with $153.4M across 8 releases.
- March 1986 releases with a gross
- 20
- combined worldwide
- $196.1M
- The Money Pit (1986), the #1
- $55M
- vs February 1986
- +8%
#1 of 20 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of March 1986?
The Money Pit (1986) leads with $55M, 28% of the total. The top 5 together took $156.7M, 80% of what all 20 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 March 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 March 1986.
- 1 Mar 26, 1986 US and Canada: $37.5M Rest of the world: $17.5M Worldwide: $55M
- 2 Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $43.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.6M
- 3 Mar 14, 1986 US and Canada: $36.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.6M
- 4 Mar 28, 1986 US and Canada: $12.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.9M
- 5 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986)Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $8.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.5M
Mar 21, 1986 · English · Adventure, Fantasy $8.5M worldwide - 6
Mar 28, 1986 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2M - 7
Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $6.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.4M - 8
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $5.9M Rest of the world: $2.5K Worldwide: $5.9M - 9
Mar 14, 1986 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 10
Mar 1, 1986 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 11
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: $408 Worldwide: $2.5M - 12
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 13
Mar 28, 1986 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 14
Mar 1, 1986 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M - 15
Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 16
Mar 7, 1986 US and Canada: $279.4K Rest of the world: $6.7K Worldwide: $286.1K - 17
Mar 1, 1986 US and Canada: $19.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6K - 18
Mar 13, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9K - 19
Mar 12, 1986 US and Canada: $2.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7K - 20
Mar 21, 1986 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $807
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in March 1986?
Of the top 10, Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Money Pit (1986) made 32% of its gross abroad. Across all 20 films, $178.6M (91%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Money Pit (1986) $55M $37.5M US & Canada · 68% $17.5M elsewhere · 32%
- 2 Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) $43.6M $43.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Gung Ho (1986) $36.6M $36.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 April Fool's Day (1986) $12.9M $12.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) $8.5M $8.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Lucas (1986) $8.2M $8.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Just Between Friends (1986) $6.4M $6.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Highlander (1986) $5.9M $5.9M US & Canada · 100% $2.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Crossroads (1986) $5.8M $5.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Naked Cage (1986) $3.1M $3.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many March 1986 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 20 films reached $100M. 16 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $196.1M total.
76% 24%
- $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 4 films, 20% of the list $148.1M · 76% of the gross
- Under $10M 16 films, 80% of the list $47.9M · 24% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of March 1986 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 13 (Mar 23–29) took $78.2M, led by The Money Pit (1986). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 9 Wk 9 Feb 23–Mar 1 The Naked Cage (1986) $4.6M The Naked Cage (1986)
- Week 10 Wk 10 Mar 2–8 Highlander (1986) $11M Highlander (1986)
- Week 11 Wk 11 Mar 9–15 Gung Ho (1986) $42.5M Gung Ho (1986)
- Week 12 Wk 12 Mar 16–22 Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) $59.9M Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)
- Week 13 Wk 13 Mar 23–29 The Money Pit (1986) $78.2M The Money Pit (1986)
- Week 14 Wk 14 Mar 30–Apr 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does March 1986 Compare With March in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, March 1984 earned the most: $376.1M from 16 films, led by Romancing the Stone (1984). March 1986 took $196.1M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1977 5 films | 5 | $22.5M | – | Black Sunday (1977) $15.8M |
| March 1978 9 films · +209% | 9 | $69.5M | +209% | House Calls (1978) $28.5M |
| March 1979 9 films · +92% | 9 | $133.6M | +92% | The China Syndrome (1979) $51.7M |
| March 1980 13 films · −1% | 13 | $132M | −1% | Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) $67.2M |
| March 1981 14 films · −27% | 14 | $96.1M | −27% | The Final Conflict (1981) $20.5M |
| March 1982 15 films · +148% | 15 | $238.5M | +148% | Porky's (1982) $111.3M |
| March 1983 14 films · −33% | 14 | $158.6M | −33% | High Road to China (1983) $28.4M |
| March 1984 16 films · +137% | 16 | $376.1M | +137% | Romancing the Stone (1984) $86.6M |
| March 1985 21 films · −30% | 21 | $262.4M | −30% | Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) $55.6M |
| March 1986 20 films · −25% | 20 | $196.1M | −25% | The Money Pit (1986) $55M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in March 1986?
Comedy took $153.4M across 8 films, 78% of the total, ahead of Drama ($67.3M) and Romance ($22.9M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $187.6M across 16 films, 96% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language films ($286.1K) and Telugu-language films ($2.9K).
March 1986 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $153.4M8 films · #1 The Money Pit (1986) -
Drama $67.3M12 films · #1 Gung Ho (1986) -
Romance $22.9M4 films · #1 Lucas (1986) -
Mystery $18.8M3 films · #1 April Fool's Day (1986) -
Fantasy $16.7M3 films · #1 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) -
Adventure $15.8M3 films · #1 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) -
Horror $15.2M3 films · #1 April Fool's Day (1986) -
Action $10.4M3 films · #1 Highlander (1986) -
Family $9.9M3 films · #1 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) -
Animation $9.9M2 films · #1 Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (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).
- January $161M #1 Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)
- February $182.2M #1 Pretty in Pink (1986)
- March $196.1M #1 The Money Pit (1986)
- April $115.7M #1 A Room with a View (1986)
- May $522.4M #1 Top Gun (1986)
- June $548.4M #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
- July $326.7M #1 Aliens (1986)
- August $303.4M #1 The Fly (1986)
- September $354.6M #1 Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- October $242.4M #1 The Color of Money (1986)
- November $298.1M #1 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
- December $398.6M #1 Platoon (1986)
FAQ
Box Office March 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 20 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in March 1986?
The Money Pit (1986) leads with $55M worldwide, $37.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) at $43.6M and Gung Ho (1986) at $36.6M.
How much did movies released in March 1986 earn?
20 films released in March 1986 report a worldwide gross, $196.1M in all, or $9.8M per film on average. February 1986 releases took $182.2M.
How many movies released in March 1986 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Money Pit (1986), earned $55M.
How is the March 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 March 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 March 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.