#1 of 24 #1 movie of May 1987
1987 · Action, Thriller
$300M worldwide · 77% of the chart's total
$153.7M US & Canada · 51% $146.3M elsewhere · 49%
Box office · May 1987
May 1987 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing May Releases
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) is the highest-grossing movie released in May 1987, with $300M worldwide, ahead of Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) at $23.5M and Ishtar (1987) at $14.4M. 24 films released in May 1987 report a worldwide gross, $390.6M in all, 63% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 121% on April 1987, whose releases took $176.4M. By genre, Comedy leads with $354.2M across 10 releases.
- May 1987 releases with a gross
- 24
- combined worldwide
- $390.6M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs April 1987
- +121%
#1 of 24 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of May 1987?
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) leads with $300M, 77% of the total. The top 5 together took $358.2M, 92% of what all 24 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 May 1987, 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 May 1987.
- 1 May 20, 1987 US and Canada: $153.7M Rest of the world: $146.3M Worldwide: $300M
- 2 May 22, 1987 US and Canada: $23.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.5M
- 3 May 15, 1987 US and Canada: $14.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.4M
- 4 May 15, 1987 US and Canada: $13.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.5M
- 5 May 9, 1987 US and Canada: $6.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.8M
- 6
May 5, 1987 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M - 7
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.6M - 8
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.2M - 9
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4M - 10
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 11
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $2.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.7M - 12
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $18.2K Worldwide: $1.7M - 13
May 1, 1987 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 14
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 15
May 14, 1987 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 16
May 19, 1987 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M - 17
May 7, 1987 US and Canada: $949.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $949.5K - 18
May 29, 1987 US and Canada: $350.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $350.5K - 19
May 13, 1987 US and Canada: $183.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.7K - 20
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: $159.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.7K - 21
May 18, 1987 US and Canada: $138.6K Rest of the world: $43 Worldwide: $138.7K - 22
May 17, 1987 US and Canada: $61.8K Rest of the world: $23.2K Worldwide: $85K - 23
May 14, 1987 US and Canada: $68.8K Rest of the world: $923 Worldwide: $69.7K - 24
May 8, 1987 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $938
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in May 1987?
Of the top 10, Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) made 49% of its gross abroad. Across all 24 films, $244.2M (63%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M $153.7M US & Canada · 51% $146.3M elsewhere · 49%
- 2 Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) $23.5M $23.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Ishtar (1987) $14.4M $14.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Gate (1987) $13.5M $13.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) $6.8M $6.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Gardens of Stone (1987) $5.3M $5.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 River's Edge (1987) $4.6M $4.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Hot Pursuit (1987) $4.2M $4.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987) $4M $4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Malone (1987) $3.1M $3.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many May 1987 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 24 films crossed $100M and took $300M between them, 77% of the total. 20 films, 83% of the list, earned under $10M.
77% 13% 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, 4% of the list $300M · 77% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 3 films, 13% of the list $51.4M · 13% of the gross
- Under $10M 20 films, 83% of the list $39.2M · 10% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of May 1987 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 21 (May 17–23) took $324.7M, led by Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 26–May 2 American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987) $11.2M American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987)
- Week 19 Wk 19 May 3–9 The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) $25M The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
- Week 20 Wk 20 May 10–16 Ishtar (1987) $29.3M Ishtar (1987)
- Week 21 Wk 21 May 17–23 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $324.7M Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- Week 22 Wk 22 May 24–30 Summer Heat (1987) $350.5K Summer Heat (1987)
- Week 23 Wk 23 May 31–Jun 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does May 1987 Compare With May in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, May 1980 earned the most: $700.1M from 13 films, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). May 1987 took $390.6M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1978 9 films | 9 | $76M | – | The End (1978) $44.9M |
| May 1979 10 films · −66% | 10 | $26.1M | −66% | La Cage aux Folles (1979) $20.4M |
| May 1980 13 films · +2586% | 13 | $700.1M | +2586% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
| May 1981 10 films · −81% | 10 | $130.9M | −81% | The Four Seasons (1981) $50.4M |
| May 1982 17 films · +111% | 17 | $275.9M | +111% | Rocky III (1982) $125.1M |
| May 1983 10 films · +115% | 10 | $593.6M | +115% | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $482.5M |
| May 1984 15 films · −18% | 15 | $486.6M | −18% | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $333.1M |
| May 1985 20 films · +8% | 20 | $527.8M | +8% | Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) $300.4M |
| May 1986 13 films · −1% | 13 | $522.4M | −1% | Top Gun (1986) $357.3M |
| May 1987 24 films · −25% | 24 | $390.6M | −25% | Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $300M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in May 1987?
Comedy took $354.2M across 10 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Action ($308.5M) and Crime ($305.9M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $389.2M across 19 films, 100% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($1M) and Italian-language films ($322.4K).
May 1987 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $354.2M10 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Action $308.5M5 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Crime $305.9M3 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Thriller $303M2 films · #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) -
Family $30.3M2 films · #1 Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) -
Adventure $21.3M3 films · #1 Ishtar (1987) -
Drama $20.9M14 films · #1 Gardens of Stone (1987) -
Musical $14.4M1 film · #1 Ishtar (1987) -
Fantasy $13.7M2 films · #1 The Gate (1987) -
Horror $13.5M2 films · #1 The Gate (1987)
Archive
Box Office in 1987, Month by Month
The months of 1987 with their totals: June leads with $531.5M, led by Predator (1987).
- January $146.4M #1 Outrageous Fortune (1987)
- February $184.6M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- March $274.8M #1 Lethal Weapon (1987)
- April $176.4M #1 The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)
- May $390.6M #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- June $531.5M #1 Predator (1987)
- July $362.8M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- August $484.2M #1 Dirty Dancing (1987)
- September $440.5M #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- October $165.1M #1 Like Father Like Son (1987)
- November $381.6M #1 3 Men and a Baby (1987)
- December $468.2M #1 Moonstruck (1987)
FAQ
Box Office May 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 24 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in May 1987?
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) leads with $300M worldwide, $153.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) at $23.5M and Ishtar (1987) at $14.4M.
How much did movies released in May 1987 earn?
24 films released in May 1987 report a worldwide gross, $390.6M in all, or $16.3M per film on average. April 1987 releases took $176.4M.
How many movies released in May 1987 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) with $300M.
How is the May 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 May 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 May 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.