#1 of 18 #1 movie of July 1988
1988 · Comedy, Romance
$171.5M worldwide · 29% of the chart's total
$78.2M US & Canada · 46% $93.3M elsewhere · 54%
Box office · July 1988
July 1988 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing July Releases
Cocktail (1988) is the highest-grossing movie released in July 1988, with $171.5M worldwide, ahead of Die Hard (1988) at $143.7M and Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M. 18 films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $601.7M in all, 66% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 40% on June 1988, whose releases took $1B. By genre, Comedy leads with $381.2M across 9 releases.
- July 1988 releases with a gross
- 18
- combined worldwide
- $601.7M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs June 1988
- −40%
#1 of 18 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of July 1988?
Cocktail (1988) leads with $171.5M, 29% of the total. The top 5 together took $497.2M, 83% of what all 18 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 July 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 July 1988.
- 1 Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $78.2M Rest of the world: $93.3M Worldwide: $171.5M
- 2 Jul 15, 1988 US and Canada: $85.9M Rest of the world: $57.8M Worldwide: $143.7M
- 3 Jul 20, 1988 US and Canada: $38.4M Rest of the world: $43.2M Worldwide: $81.6M
- 4 Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $62.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $62.5M
- 5 Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $37.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.9M
- 6
Jul 6, 1988 US and Canada: $22.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.4M - 7
Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $15.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.1M - 8
Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M - 9
Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $11.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.8M - 10
Jul 9, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.7M - 11
Jul 9, 1988 US and Canada: $8.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.9M - 12
Jul 8, 1988 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $915 Worldwide: $7.3M - 13
Jul 26, 1988 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M - 14
Jul 29, 1988 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.3M - 15
Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M - 16
Jul 22, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 17
Jul 13, 1988 US and Canada: $344.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $344.4K - 18
Jul 21, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $157
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in July 1988?
Of the top 10, A Fish Called Wanda (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Cocktail (1988) made 54% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $397.8M (66%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Cocktail (1988) $171.5M $78.2M US & Canada · 46% $93.3M elsewhere · 54%
- 2 Die Hard (1988) $143.7M $85.9M US & Canada · 60% $57.8M elsewhere · 40%
- 3 Midnight Run (1988) $81.6M $38.4M US & Canada · 47% $43.2M elsewhere · 53%
- 4 A Fish Called Wanda (1988) $62.5M $62.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Dead Pool (1988) $37.9M $37.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 License to Drive (1988) $22.4M $22.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Big Top Pee-wee (1988) $15.1M $15.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Caddyshack II (1988) $11.8M $11.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988) $9.7M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many July 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 18 films crossed $100M and took $315.2M between them, 52% of the total. 9 films, 50% of the list, earned under $10M.
52% 41%
- $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 2 films, 11% of the list $315.2M · 52% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 7 films, 39% of the list $246M · 41% of the gross
- Under $10M 9 films, 50% of the list $40.5M · 7% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of July 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 31 (Jul 24–30) took $245.6M, led by Cocktail (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 27 Wk 27 Jun 26–Jul 2 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 28 Wk 28 Jul 3–9 License to Drive (1988) $63M License to Drive (1988)
- Week 29 Wk 29 Jul 10–16 Die Hard (1988) $181.9M Die Hard (1988)
- Week 30 Wk 30 Jul 17–23 Midnight Run (1988) $111.2M Midnight Run (1988)
- Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 24–30 Cocktail (1988) $245.6M Cocktail (1988)
- Week 32 Wk 32 Jul 31–Aug 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does July 1988 Compare With July in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, July 1988 earned the most: $601.7M from 18 films, led by Cocktail (1988).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1979 6 films | 6 | $133.2M | – | The Amityville Horror (1979) $86.4M |
| July 1980 14 films · +148% | 14 | $329.7M | +148% | Airplane! (1980) $83.5M |
| July 1981 16 films · +4% | 16 | $341.4M | +4% | Arthur (1981) $95.5M |
| July 1982 15 films · +3% | 15 | $352.8M | +3% | An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) $129.8M |
| July 1983 9 films · −17% | 9 | $291.7M | −17% | Jaws 3-D (1983) $88M |
| July 1984 9 films · −33% | 9 | $196.3M | −33% | Purple Rain (1984) $70.3M |
| July 1985 15 films · +195% | 15 | $578.7M | +195% | Back to the Future (1985) $385.1M |
| July 1986 13 films · −44% | 13 | $326.7M | −44% | Aliens (1986) $131.1M |
| July 1987 17 films · +11% | 17 | $362.8M | +11% | La Bamba (1987) $54.2M |
| July 1988 18 films · +66% | 18 | $601.7M | +66% | Cocktail (1988) $171.5M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in July 1988?
Comedy took $381.2M across 9 films, 63% of the total, ahead of Crime ($325.7M) and Action ($280.2M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $420.5M across 16 films, 70% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language films ($9.7M).
July 1988 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $381.2M9 films · #1 Cocktail (1988) -
Crime $325.7M4 films · #1 Die Hard (1988) -
Action $280.2M5 films · #1 Die Hard (1988) -
Thriller $275.8M5 films · #1 Die Hard (1988) -
Romance $216.8M6 films · #1 Cocktail (1988) -
Adventure $96.7M2 films · #1 Midnight Run (1988) -
Drama $14.3M5 films · #1 A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) -
Horror $12.6M2 films · #1 Phantasm II (1988) -
Sci-Fi $12.6M2 films · #1 Phantasm II (1988) -
Sport $11.8M1 film · #1 Caddyshack II (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 July 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 18 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in July 1988?
Cocktail (1988) leads with $171.5M worldwide, $78.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Die Hard (1988) at $143.7M and Midnight Run (1988) at $81.6M.
How much did movies released in July 1988 earn?
18 films released in July 1988 report a worldwide gross, $601.7M in all, or $33.4M per film on average. June 1988 releases took $1B.
How many movies released in July 1988 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Cocktail (1988) with $171.5M.
How is the July 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 July 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 July 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.