#1 of 18 #1 movie of December 1989
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
1989 · Biography, Drama
$161M worldwide · 21% of the chart's total
$70M US & Canada · 43% $91M elsewhere · 57%
Box office · December 1989
December 1989 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing December Releases
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) is the highest-grossing movie released in December 1989, with $161M worldwide, ahead of The War of the Roses (1989) at $160.2M and Driving Miss Daisy (1989) at $145.8M. 18 films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $779.2M in all, 70% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 5% on November 1989, whose releases took $816.1M. By genre, Comedy leads with $507.5M across 10 releases.
- December 1989 releases with a gross
- 18
- combined worldwide
- $779.2M
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs November 1989
- −5%
#1 of 18 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of December 1989?
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) leads with $161M, 21% of the total. The top 5 together took $615.7M, 79% 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 $74.5M National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)$74.5M US & Canada · 100% $26.2K elsewhere · <1% -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Release of December 1989, 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 December 1989.
- 1 Dec 20, 1989 US and Canada: $70M Rest of the world: $91M Worldwide: $161M
- 2 Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $86.9M Rest of the world: $73.3M Worldwide: $160.2M
- 3 Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $106.6M Rest of the world: $39.2M Worldwide: $145.8M
- 4 Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $74.5M Rest of the world: $26.2K Worldwide: $74.5M
- 5 Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $43.9M Rest of the world: $30.3M Worldwide: $74.1M
- 6
Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $63.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $63.4M - 7
Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $19.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.1M - 8
Dec 8, 1989 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.4M - 9
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $14.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.3M - 10
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $12.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.2M - 11
Dec 15, 1989 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 12
Dec 13, 1989 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.8M - 13
Dec 20, 1989 US and Canada: $6.7M Rest of the world: $1M Worldwide: $7.7M - 14
Dec 22, 1989 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M - 15
Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 16
Dec 25, 1989 US and Canada: $553.2K Rest of the world: $2.4M Worldwide: $3M - 17
Dec 8, 1989 US and Canada: $408.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $408.8K - 18
Dec 1, 1989 US and Canada: $13.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.1K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1989?
Of the top 10, Tango & Cash (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Born on the Fourth of July (1989) made 57% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $542M (70%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M $70M US & Canada · 43% $91M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 The War of the Roses (1989) $160.2M $86.9M US & Canada · 54% $73.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 3 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $145.8M $106.6M US & Canada · 73% $39.2M elsewhere · 27%
- 4 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) $74.5M $74.5M US & Canada · 100% $26.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Always (1989) $74.1M $43.9M US & Canada · 59% $30.3M elsewhere · 41%
- 6 Tango & Cash (1989) $63.4M $63.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Blaze (1989) $19.1M $19.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 She-Devil (1989) $15.4M $15.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Wizard (1989) $14.3M $14.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Family Business (1989) $12.2M $12.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many December 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 18 films crossed $100M and took $467M between them, 60% of the total. 7 films, 39% of the list, earned under $10M.
60% 36%
- $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 3 films, 17% of the list $467M · 60% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 8 films, 44% of the list $283.6M · 36% of the gross
- Under $10M 7 films, 39% of the list $28.6M · 4% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 51 (Dec 17–23) took $312.5M, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 26–Dec 2 The War of the Roses (1989) $238.2M The War of the Roses (1989)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 3–9 She-Devil (1989) $15.8M She-Devil (1989)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 10–16 Driving Miss Daisy (1989) $209.7M Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 17–23 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $312.5M Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 24–30 Akira (1989) $3M Akira (1989)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1989 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1988 earned the most: $1B from 21 films, led by Rain Man (1988). December 1989 took $779.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1980 14 films | 14 | $494.4M | – | 9 to 5 (1980) $103.3M |
| December 1981 16 films · −23% | 16 | $379.7M | −23% | On Golden Pond (1981) $119.3M |
| December 1982 16 films · +43% | 16 | $544.2M | +43% | Tootsie (1982) $177.2M |
| December 1983 16 films · −42% | 16 | $313.5M | −42% | Sudden Impact (1983) $67.6M |
| December 1984 18 films · +96% | 18 | $614M | +96% | Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $316.4M |
| December 1985 17 films · −3% | 17 | $593.5M | −3% | Out of Africa (1985) $227.5M |
| December 1986 14 films · −33% | 14 | $398.6M | −33% | Platoon (1986) $138.5M |
| December 1987 19 films · +17% | 19 | $468.2M | +17% | Moonstruck (1987) $80.6M |
| December 1988 21 films · +119% | 21 | $1B | +119% | Rain Man (1988) $354.8M |
| December 1989 18 films · −24% | 18 | $779.2M | −24% | Born on the Fourth of July (1989) $161M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in December 1989?
Comedy took $507.5M across 10 films, 65% of the total, ahead of Drama ($441M) and Thriller ($229.9M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $764M across 16 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language films ($3M).
December 1989 Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $507.5M10 films · #1 The War of the Roses (1989) -
Drama $441M10 films · #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) -
Thriller $229.9M4 films · #1 The War of the Roses (1989) -
Biography $180.1M2 films · #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) -
War $161.4M2 films · #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989) -
Romance $96.2M3 films · #1 Always (1989) -
Crime $86.2M3 films · #1 Tango & Cash (1989) -
Fantasy $74.1M1 film · #1 Always (1989) -
Action $63.4M2 films · #1 Tango & Cash (1989) -
Adventure $14.3M1 film · #1 The Wizard (1989)
Archive
Box Office in 1989, Month by Month
The months of 1989 with their totals: June leads with $1.3B, led by Batman (1989).
- January $96.3M #1 Three Fugitives (1989)
- February $210.2M #1 The 'Burbs (1989)
- March $196.1M #1 Fletch Lives (1989)
- April $374.7M #1 Field of Dreams (1989)
- May $595M #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- June $1.3B #1 Batman (1989)
- July $620.9M #1 Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
- August $434.6M #1 Parenthood (1989)
- September $285.2M #1 Black Rain (1989)
- October $471.8M #1 Look Who's Talking (1989)
- November $816.1M #1 Back to the Future Part II (1989)
- December $779.2M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
FAQ
Box Office December 1989: 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 December 1989?
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) leads with $161M worldwide, $70M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The War of the Roses (1989) at $160.2M and Driving Miss Daisy (1989) at $145.8M.
How much did movies released in December 1989 earn?
18 films released in December 1989 report a worldwide gross, $779.2M in all, or $43.3M per film on average. November 1989 releases took $816.1M.
How many movies released in December 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) with $161M.
How is the December 1989 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 December 1989. 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 December 1989 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.