#1 of 26 #1 movie of October 1988
1988 · Action, Sci-Fi
$32.2M worldwide · 20% of the chart's total
$25.2M US & Canada · 78% $6.9M elsewhere · 22%
Box office · October 1988
October 1988 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing October Releases
Alien Nation (1988) is the highest-grossing movie released in October 1988, with $32.2M worldwide, ahead of The Accused (1988) at $32.1M and Punchline (1988) at $21M. 26 films released in October 1988 report a worldwide gross, $161.6M in all, 96% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 5% on September 1988, whose releases took $154.3M. By genre, Drama leads with $97.6M across 18 releases.
- October 1988 releases with a gross
- 26
- combined worldwide
- $161.6M
- Alien Nation (1988), the #1
- $32.2M
- vs September 1988
- +5%
#1 of 26 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of October 1988?
Alien Nation (1988) leads with $32.2M, 20% of the total. The top 5 together took $115.8M, 72% of what all 26 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 October 1988, 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 1988.
- 1 Oct 7, 1988 US and Canada: $25.2M Rest of the world: $6.9M Worldwide: $32.2M
- 2 Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $32.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $32.1M
- 3 Oct 7, 1988 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21M
- 4 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M
Oct 21, 1988 · English · Thriller, Horror $17.8M worldwide - 5 Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $12.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.8M
- 6
Oct 7, 1988 US and Canada: $5.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2M - 7
Oct 25, 1988 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: $4.9K Worldwide: $4.9M - 8
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $4.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.4M - 9
Oct 25, 1988 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.2M - 10
Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4M - 11
Oct 7, 1988 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4M - 12
Oct 28, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 13
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 14
Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 15
Oct 14, 1988 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 16
Oct 13, 1988 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 17
Oct 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 18
Oct 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 19
Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 20
Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988)Oct 25, 1988 US and Canada: $518.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $518.9K Oct 25, 1988 · English · Documentary, Music $518.9K worldwide - 21
Oct 21, 1988 US and Canada: $343.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $343.8K - 22
Oct 10, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $108.4K - 23
Oct 12, 1988 US and Canada: $64.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $64.2K - 24
Oct 26, 1988 US and Canada: $30.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.9K - 25
Oct 10, 1988 US and Canada: $5.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.4K - 26
Oct 1, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $688
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in October 1988?
Of the top 10, The Accused (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Alien Nation (1988) made 22% of its gross abroad. Across all 26 films, $154.6M (96%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Alien Nation (1988) $32.2M $25.2M US & Canada · 78% $6.9M elsewhere · 22%
- 2 The Accused (1988) $32.1M $32.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Punchline (1988) $21M $21M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) $17.8M $17.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Mystic Pizza (1988) $12.8M $12.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Clara's Heart (1988) $5.2M $5.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Torch Song Trilogy (1988) $4.9M $4.9M US & Canada · 100% $4.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Pumpkinhead (1988) $4.4M $4.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Red Scorpion (1988) $4.2M $4.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Bat*21 (1988) $4M $4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many October 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 26 films reached $100M. 21 films, 81% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $161.6M total.
72% 28%
- $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 5 films, 19% of the list $115.8M · 72% of the gross
- Under $10M 21 films, 81% of the list $45.8M · 28% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of October 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 41 (Oct 2–8) took $62.4M, led by Alien Nation (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 25–Oct 1 Platoon Leader (1988) $2.6M Platoon Leader (1988)
- Week 41 Wk 41 Oct 2–8 Alien Nation (1988) $62.4M Alien Nation (1988)
- Week 42 Wk 42 Oct 9–15 The Accused (1988) $56.4M The Accused (1988)
- Week 43 Wk 43 Oct 16–22 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) $26.8M Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
- Week 44 Wk 44 Oct 23–29 Torch Song Trilogy (1988) $13.5M Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
- Week 45 Wk 45 Oct 30–Nov 5 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does October 1988 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). October 1988 took $161.6M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1979 11 films | 11 | $223.4M | – | 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 |
| October 1987 28 films · −32% | 28 | $165.1M | −32% | Like Father Like Son (1987) $34.4M |
| October 1988 26 films · −2% | 26 | $161.6M | −2% | Alien Nation (1988) $32.2M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in October 1988?
Drama took $97.6M across 18 films, 60% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($50.4M) and Romance ($40.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $160.3M across 23 films, 99% of the total, ahead of Russian-language films ($1.3M) and Chinese-language films ($108.4K).
October 1988 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $97.6M18 films · #1 The Accused (1988) -
Comedy $50.4M10 films · #1 Punchline (1988) -
Romance $40.1M5 films · #1 Punchline (1988) -
Crime $39.6M4 films · #1 Alien Nation (1988) -
Action $37.8M4 films · #1 Alien Nation (1988) -
Sci-Fi $32.2M1 film · #1 Alien Nation (1988) -
Horror $25.2M4 films · #1 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) -
Thriller $19.7M3 films · #1 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) -
War $9.5M3 films · #1 Red Scorpion (1988) -
Fantasy $6.3M2 films · #1 Pumpkinhead (1988)
Archive
Box Office in 1988, Month by Month
The months of 1988 with their totals: December leads with $1B, led by Rain Man (1988).
- January $168.7M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- February $171.7M #1 Shoot to Kill (1988)
- March $284.1M #1 Beetlejuice (1988)
- April $197.4M #1 Colors (1988)
- May $533.3M #1 Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- June $1B #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- July $601.7M #1 Cocktail (1988)
- August $244M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- September $154.3M #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- October $161.6M #1 Alien Nation (1988)
- November $387.2M #1 The Land Before Time (1988)
- December $1B #1 Rain Man (1988)
FAQ
Box Office October 1988: 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 26 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in October 1988?
Alien Nation (1988) leads with $32.2M worldwide, $25.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Accused (1988) at $32.1M and Punchline (1988) at $21M.
How much did movies released in October 1988 earn?
26 films released in October 1988 report a worldwide gross, $161.6M in all, or $6.2M per film on average. September 1988 releases took $154.3M.
How many movies released in October 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Alien Nation (1988), earned $32.2M.
How is the October 1988 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 1988. 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 1988 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.