#1 of 39 #1 movie of September 1988
1988 · History, Drama
$61.1M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total
$24.7M US & Canada · 40% $36.4M elsewhere · 60%
Box office · September 1988
September 1988 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing September Releases
Gorillas in the Mist (1988) is the highest-grossing movie released in September 1988, with $61.1M worldwide, ahead of Cinema Paradiso (1988) at $13.5M and Moon Over Parador (1988) at $11.4M. 39 films released in September 1988 report a worldwide gross, $154.3M in all, 76% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 37% on August 1988, whose releases took $244M. By genre, Drama leads with $116.6M across 23 releases.
- September 1988 releases with a gross
- 39
- combined worldwide
- $154.3M
- Gorillas in the Mist (1988), the #1
- $61.1M
- vs August 1988
- −37%
#1 of 39 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of September 1988?
Gorillas in the Mist (1988) leads with $61.1M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $104.1M, 67% of what all 39 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 September 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 September 1988.
- 1 Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $24.7M Rest of the world: $36.4M Worldwide: $61.1M
- 2 Sep 29, 1988 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $13.5M
- 3 Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $11.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.4M
- 4 Sep 15, 1988 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M
- 5 Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $8M Rest of the world: $688 Worldwide: $8M
- 6
Sep 2, 1988 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.7M - 7
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6M - 8
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.5M - 9
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M - 10
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $296 Worldwide: $3.8M - 11
Sep 26, 1988 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M - 12
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1M - 13
Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: $12.8K Worldwide: $2.8M - 14
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 15
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $10.6K Worldwide: $2.2M - 16
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 17
Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 18
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 19
Sep 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 20
Sep 2, 1988 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $550 Worldwide: $1.1M - 21
Sep 11, 1988 US and Canada: $693.6K Rest of the world: $78.2K Worldwide: $771.7K - 22
Sep 29, 1988 US and Canada: $747K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $747K - 23
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $657.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $657.4K - 24
Sep 15, 1988 US and Canada: $657.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $657.2K - 25
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $540K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $540K - 26
Sep 10, 1988 US and Canada: $424.8K Rest of the world: $53.1K Worldwide: $477.8K - 27
Sep 9, 1988 US and Canada: $401.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $401.4K - 28
Sep 2, 1988 US and Canada: $346.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $346.3K - 29
Sep 10, 1988 US and Canada: $241.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $241.3K - 30
Sep 2, 1988 US and Canada: $187.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $187.3K - 31
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $177.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $177.8K - 32
Sep 14, 1988 US and Canada: $161K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $161K - 33
Sep 14, 1988 US and Canada: $78.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $78.8K - 34
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: $29.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.6K - 35
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $22.2K Rest of the world: $5.2K Worldwide: $27.4K - 36
Sep 16, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.4K - 37
Sep 1, 1988 US and Canada: $12.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.8K - 38
Sep 1, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4K - 39
Sep 1, 1988 US and Canada: $4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1988?
Of the top 10, Moon Over Parador (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Gorillas in the Mist (1988) made 60% of its gross abroad. Across all 39 films, $116.6M (76%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988) $61.1M $24.7M US & Canada · 40% $36.4M elsewhere · 60%
- 2 Cinema Paradiso (1988) $13.5M $12.4M US & Canada · 92% $1.1M elsewhere · 8%
- 3 Moon Over Parador (1988) $11.4M $11.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Criminal Law (1988) $10M $10M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Dead Ringers (1988) $8M $8M US & Canada · 100% $688 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Eight Men Out (1988) $5.7M $5.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) $5.6M $5.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) $5.5M $5.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Sweet Hearts Dance (1988) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Imagine: John Lennon (1988) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% $296 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many September 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 39 films reached $100M. 36 films, 92% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $154.3M total.
56% 44%
- $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 3 films, 8% of the list $86.1M · 56% of the gross
- Under $10M 36 films, 92% of the list $68.2M · 44% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of September 1988 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 39 (Sep 18–24) took $77.3M, led by Gorillas in the Mist (1988). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 36 Wk 36 Aug 28–Sep 3 Eight Men Out (1988) $8.6M Eight Men Out (1988)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 4–10 Moon Over Parador (1988) $15.4M Moon Over Parador (1988)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 11–17 Criminal Law (1988) $16.8M Criminal Law (1988)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 18–24 Gorillas in the Mist (1988) $77.3M Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 25–Oct 1 Cinema Paradiso (1988) $36.2M Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Earlier years
How Does September 1988 Compare With September in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, September 1987 earned the most: $440.5M from 31 films, led by Fatal Attraction (1987). September 1988 took $154.3M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1979 10 films | 10 | $51M | – | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) $21.7M |
| September 1980 10 films · +101% | 10 | $102.7M | +101% | Ordinary People (1980) $54.8M |
| September 1981 8 films · −27% | 8 | $75M | −27% | Only When I Laugh (1981) $25.5M |
| September 1982 9 films · −48% | 9 | $38.9M | −48% | Zapped! (1982) $16.9M |
| September 1983 16 films · +231% | 16 | $128.7M | +231% | The Big Chill (1983) $56.4M |
| September 1984 18 films · +27% | 18 | $163.3M | +27% | Amadeus (1984) $52.3M |
| September 1985 15 films · −49% | 15 | $82.8M | −49% | Agnes of God (1985) $25.6M |
| September 1986 10 films · +328% | 10 | $354.6M | +328% | Crocodile Dundee (1986) $328.2M |
| September 1987 31 films · +24% | 31 | $440.5M | +24% | Fatal Attraction (1987) $320.1M |
| September 1988 39 films · −65% | 39 | $154.3M | −65% | Gorillas in the Mist (1988) $61.1M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in September 1988?
Drama took $116.6M across 23 films, 76% of the total, ahead of History ($66.8M) and Romance ($54.8M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $132.4M across 33 films, 86% of the total, ahead of Italian-language films ($13.5M) and Hindi-language films ($346.3K).
September 1988 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $116.6M23 films · #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988) -
History $66.8M2 films · #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988) -
Romance $54.8M11 films · #1 Cinema Paradiso (1988) -
Comedy $29M11 films · #1 Moon Over Parador (1988) -
Thriller $27.4M9 films · #1 Criminal Law (1988) -
Music $18.7M6 films · #1 Heartbreak Hotel (1988) -
Crime $14.4M9 films · #1 Tougher Than Leather (1988) -
Action $8.8M5 films · #1 Tougher Than Leather (1988) -
Horror $7.8M4 films · #1 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) -
Sport $5.7M1 film · #1 Eight Men Out (1988)
September 1988 Box Office by Language
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 September 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 39 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in September 1988?
Gorillas in the Mist (1988) leads with $61.1M worldwide, $24.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Cinema Paradiso (1988) at $13.5M and Moon Over Parador (1988) at $11.4M.
How much did movies released in September 1988 earn?
39 films released in September 1988 report a worldwide gross, $154.3M in all, or $4M per film on average. August 1988 releases took $244M.
How many movies released in September 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Gorillas in the Mist (1988), earned $61.1M.
How is the September 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 September 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 September 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.