#1 of 259 #1 movie of 1987
1987 · Drama, Thriller
$320.1M worldwide · 8% of the chart's total
$156.6M US & Canada · 49% $163.5M elsewhere · 51%
Box office · 1987
1987 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1987
Fatal Attraction (1987) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1987, with $320.1M worldwide, ahead of Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) at $300M and Dirty Dancing (1987) at $214.6M. 259 films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $4B in all, 82% of it from the US & Canada. 6 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 10% on 1986, whose releases took $3.7B. By genre, Comedy leads with $2.1B across 108 releases.
- 1987 releases with a gross
- 259
- combined worldwide
- $4B
- films crossed $100M
- 6
- vs 1986
- +10%
#1 of 259 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1987?
Fatal Attraction (1987) leads with $320.1M, 8% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.1B, 28% of what all 259 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 1987, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 259. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1987.
- 1 Sep 18, 1987 US and Canada: $156.6M Rest of the world: $163.5M Worldwide: $320.1M
- 2 May 20, 1987 US and Canada: $153.7M Rest of the world: $146.3M Worldwide: $300M
- 3 Aug 25, 1987 US and Canada: $64.6M Rest of the world: $150M Worldwide: $214.6M
- 4 Nov 25, 1987 US and Canada: $167.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $167.8M
- 5 Mar 6, 1987 US and Canada: $65.2M Rest of the world: $55M Worldwide: $120.2M
- 6
Apr 10, 1987 US and Canada: $67M Rest of the world: $44M Worldwide: $111M - 7
Jun 12, 1987 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $38.5M Worldwide: $98.3M - 8
Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $80.6M Rest of the world: $5.9K Worldwide: $80.6M - 9
Jun 3, 1987 US and Canada: $76.3M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $76.3M - 10
Dec 16, 1987 US and Canada: $51.2M Rest of the world: $16.1M Worldwide: $67.3M - 11
Jun 26, 1987 US and Canada: $57.4M Rest of the world: $9.3M Worldwide: $66.7M - 12
Aug 5, 1987 US and Canada: $65.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $65.7M - 13
Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $32.9M Rest of the world: $32.1M Worldwide: $65.1M - 14
Jun 12, 1987 US and Canada: $63.8M Rest of the world: $165 Worldwide: $63.8M - 15
Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $57.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $57.9M - 16
Jul 24, 1987 US and Canada: $54.2M Rest of the world: $3.2K Worldwide: $54.2M - 17
Jan 30, 1987 US and Canada: $52.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.9M - 18
Jul 17, 1987 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: $31.1M Worldwide: $51.9M - 19
Jul 31, 1987 US and Canada: $51.2M Rest of the world: $35K Worldwide: $51.2M - 20
Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $50.5M Rest of the world: $634 Worldwide: $50.5M - 21
Jun 26, 1987 US and Canada: $46.4M Rest of the world: $3.8M Worldwide: $50.2M - 22
Jun 5, 1987 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: $20.2M Worldwide: $50M - 23
Nov 25, 1987 US and Canada: $49.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.5M - 24
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)Feb 27, 1987 US and Canada: $44.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.8M
Feb 27, 1987 · English · Action, Thriller $44.8M worldwide - 25
Dec 18, 1987 US and Canada: $44M Rest of the world: $47.3K Worldwide: $44M - 26
Dec 11, 1987 US and Canada: $43.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.8M - 27
Feb 13, 1987 US and Canada: $42.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.7M - 28
Jun 19, 1987 US and Canada: $40.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1M - 29
Mar 27, 1987 US and Canada: $39.3M Rest of the world: $15.9K Worldwide: $39.3M - 30
Nov 13, 1987 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $38.1M - 31
Jun 24, 1987 US and Canada: $38.1M Rest of the world: $977 Worldwide: $38.1M - 32
Jul 22, 1987 US and Canada: $35.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.7M - 33
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $35.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.5M - 34
Oct 2, 1987 US and Canada: $34.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.4M - 35
Jul 3, 1987 US and Canada: $34.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.4M - 36
Jul 31, 1987 US and Canada: $32.3M Rest of the world: $220.9K Worldwide: $32.5M - 37
Aug 14, 1987 US and Canada: $31.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.6M - 38
Sep 25, 1987 US and Canada: $30.9M Rest of the world: $125K Worldwide: $31M - 39
Nov 20, 1987 US and Canada: $31M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31M - 40
Jul 24, 1987 US and Canada: $15.7M Rest of the world: $14.6M Worldwide: $30.3M - 41
Jul 10, 1987 US and Canada: $30.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.1M - 42
Mar 13, 1987 US and Canada: $22.8M Rest of the world: $6.3M Worldwide: $29.2M - 43
Apr 3, 1987 US and Canada: $28.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.1M - 44
Dec 16, 1987 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.7M - 45
Oct 7, 1987 US and Canada: $26.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.7M - 46
Jul 1, 1987 US and Canada: $25.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.9M - 47
Mar 13, 1987 US and Canada: $25.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.4M - 48
Feb 6, 1987 US and Canada: $25.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.2M - 49
May 22, 1987 US and Canada: $23.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.5M - 50
Jan 23, 1987 US and Canada: $22.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.9M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1987?
Of the top 10, 3 Men and a Baby (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Dirty Dancing (1987) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 259 films, $3.3B (82%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M $156.6M US & Canada · 49% $163.5M elsewhere · 51%
- 2 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M $153.7M US & Canada · 51% $146.3M elsewhere · 49%
- 3 Dirty Dancing (1987) $214.6M $64.6M US & Canada · 30% $150M elsewhere · 70%
- 4 3 Men and a Baby (1987) $167.8M $167.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Lethal Weapon (1987) $120.2M $65.2M US & Canada · 54% $55M elsewhere · 46%
- 6 The Secret of My Succe$s (1987) $111M $67M US & Canada · 60% $44M elsewhere · 40%
- 7 Predator (1987) $98.3M $59.7M US & Canada · 61% $38.5M elsewhere · 39%
- 8 Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M $80.6M US & Canada · 100% $5.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 The Untouchables (1987) $76.3M $76.3M US & Canada · 100% $1.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Broadcast News (1987) $67.3M $51.2M US & Canada · 76% $16.1M elsewhere · 24%
Gross bands
How Many 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
6 of 259 films crossed $100M and took $1.2B between them, 31% of the total. 177 films, 68% of the list, earned under $10M.
31% 61% 8%
- $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, 2% of the list $1.2B · 31% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 76 films, 29% of the list $2.4B · 61% of the gross
- Under $10M 177 films, 68% of the list $323.8M · 8% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1987 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $531.5M from 19 films, led by Predator (1987). January was the quietest month ($146.4M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Outrageous Fortune (1987) $146.4M Outrageous Fortune (1987)
- February Feb A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) $184.6M A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- March Mar Lethal Weapon (1987) $274.8M Lethal Weapon (1987)
- April Apr The Secret of My Succe$s (1987) $176.4M The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)
- May May Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $390.6M Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- June Jun Predator (1987) $531.5M Predator (1987)
- July Jul La Bamba (1987) $362.8M La Bamba (1987)
- August Aug Dirty Dancing (1987) $484.2M Dirty Dancing (1987)
- September Sep Fatal Attraction (1987) $440.5M Fatal Attraction (1987)
- October Oct Like Father Like Son (1987) $165.1M Like Father Like Son (1987)
- November Nov 3 Men and a Baby (1987) $381.6M 3 Men and a Baby (1987)
- December Dec Moonstruck (1987) $468.2M Moonstruck (1987)
Last 10 years
How Does 1987 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $4B from 259 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 84 films | 84 | $2B | – | 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 |
| 1987 259 films · +10% | 259 | $4B | +10% | Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1987?
Comedy took $2.1B across 108 films, 53% of the total, ahead of Drama ($1.7B) and Thriller ($1.7B). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $3.7B across 219 films, 93% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language films ($89.7M) and French-language films ($5.5M).
1987 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $2.1B108 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Drama $1.7B129 films · #1 Fatal Attraction (1987) -
Thriller $1.7B65 films · #1 Fatal Attraction (1987) -
Crime $1.1B55 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Action $1B52 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Romance $933.1M58 films · #1 Dirty Dancing (1987) -
Fantasy $521.8M30 films · #1 *batteries not included (1987) -
Adventure $429.9M27 films · #1 Predator (1987) -
Family $412.1M13 films · #1 3 Men and a Baby (1987) -
Sci-Fi $360.5M27 films · #1 Predator (1987)
1987 Box Office by Language
- English $3.7B219 films · #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
-
Spanish $89.7M3 films · #1 The Untouchables (1987) -
French $5.5M10 films · #1 Maurice (1987) -
Japanese $3.7M3 films · #1 Dead Heat (1987) -
Russian $2.3M4 films · #1 Dark Eyes (1987) -
Danish $2.1M2 films · #1 Pelle the Conqueror (1987) -
Swedish $873.9K1 film · #1 Real Men (1987) -
Cantonese $509.4K1 film · #1 The Romancing Star (1987) -
Italian $322.4K2 films · #1 Good Morning, Babylon (1987) -
Northern Sami $243K1 film · #1 Pathfinder (1987)
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 1987: 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 259 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1987?
Fatal Attraction (1987) leads with $320.1M worldwide, $156.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) at $300M and Dirty Dancing (1987) at $214.6M.
How much did movies released in 1987 earn?
259 films released in 1987 report a worldwide gross, $4B in all, or $15.5M per film on average. 1986 releases took $3.7B.
How many movies released in 1987 made $1 billion?
None. 6 films crossed $100 million, led by Fatal Attraction (1987) with $320.1M.
How is the 1987 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 1987. 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 1987 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.