#1 of 18 #1 movie of September 1989
1989 · Action, Thriller
$134.2M worldwide · 47% of the chart's total
$46.2M US & Canada · 34% $88M elsewhere · 66%
Box office · September 1989
September 1989 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing September Releases
Black Rain (1989) is the highest-grossing movie released in September 1989, with $134.2M worldwide, ahead of Sea of Love (1989) at $110.9M and Kickboxer (1989) at $14.7M. 18 films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $285.2M in all, 51% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 34% on August 1989, whose releases took $434.6M. By genre, Crime leads with $252.3M across 3 releases.
- September 1989 releases with a gross
- 18
- combined worldwide
- $285.2M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs August 1989
- −34%
#1 of 18 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of September 1989?
Black Rain (1989) leads with $134.2M, 47% of the total. The top 5 together took $270.8M, 95% 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 September 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 September 1989.
- 1 Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $46.2M Rest of the world: $88M Worldwide: $134.2M
- 2 Sep 15, 1989 US and Canada: $58.6M Rest of the world: $52.3M Worldwide: $110.9M
- 3 Sep 8, 1989 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
- 4 Sep 29, 1989 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M
- 5 Sep 20, 1989 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
- 6
Sep 13, 1989 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.6M - 7
Sep 7, 1989 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.5M - 8
Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 9
Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M - 10
Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 11
Sep 10, 1989 US and Canada: $938.1K Rest of the world: $497 Worldwide: $938.6K - 12
Sep 1, 1989 US and Canada: $618.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $618.2K - 13
Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $272.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $272.4K - 14
Sep 12, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $143.2K - 15
Sep 15, 1989 US and Canada: $117.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $117.5K - 16
Sep 21, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77.6K - 17
Sep 8, 1989 US and Canada: $76.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $76.6K - 18
Sep 6, 1989 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in September 1989?
Of the top 10, Kickboxer (1989) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Black Rain (1989) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $144.7M (51%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Black Rain (1989) $134.2M $46.2M US & Canada · 34% $88M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 Sea of Love (1989) $110.9M $58.6M US & Canada · 53% $52.3M elsewhere · 47%
- 3 Kickboxer (1989) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Johnny Handsome (1989) $7.2M $7.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 A Dry White Season (1989) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Old Gringo (1989) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 In Country (1989) $3.5M $3.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Erik the Viking (1989) $1.9M $1.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Bloodfist (1989) $1.8M $1.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Courage Mountain (1989) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many September 1989 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 18 films crossed $100M and took $245.1M between them, 86% of the total. 15 films, 83% of the list, earned under $10M.
86% 9%
- $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 $245.1M · 86% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 1 film, 6% of the list $14.7M · 5% of the gross
- Under $10M 15 films, 83% of the list $25.5M · 9% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of September 1989 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 38 (Sep 17–23) took $140.1M, led by Black Rain (1989). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 27–Sep 2 Erik the Viking (1989) $3.9M Erik the Viking (1989)
- Week 36 Wk 36 Sep 3–9 Kickboxer (1989) $18.3M Kickboxer (1989)
- Week 37 Wk 37 Sep 10–16 Sea of Love (1989) $115.7M Sea of Love (1989)
- Week 38 Wk 38 Sep 17–23 Black Rain (1989) $140.1M Black Rain (1989)
- Week 39 Wk 39 Sep 24–30 Johnny Handsome (1989) $7.2M Johnny Handsome (1989)
Earlier years
How Does September 1989 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 1989 took $285.2M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1980 10 films | 10 | $102.7M | – | 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 |
| September 1989 18 films · +85% | 18 | $285.2M | +85% | Black Rain (1989) $134.2M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in September 1989?
Crime took $252.3M across 3 films, 88% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($162.3M) and Action ($154.9M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $284.9M across 14 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language films ($220.8K) and French-language films ($1.6K).
September 1989 Box Office by Genre
-
Crime $252.3M3 films · #1 Black Rain (1989) -
Thriller $162.3M6 films · #1 Black Rain (1989) -
Action $154.9M5 films · #1 Black Rain (1989) -
Drama $132.4M13 films · #1 Sea of Love (1989) -
Romance $114.6M4 films · #1 Sea of Love (1989) -
Sport $14.7M1 film · #1 Kickboxer (1989) -
Comedy $3M3 films · #1 Erik the Viking (1989) -
Adventure $1.9M1 film · #1 Erik the Viking (1989) -
Fantasy $1.9M1 film · #1 Erik the Viking (1989) -
Family $1.4M1 film · #1 Courage Mountain (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 September 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 September 1989?
Black Rain (1989) leads with $134.2M worldwide, $46.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Sea of Love (1989) at $110.9M and Kickboxer (1989) at $14.7M.
How much did movies released in September 1989 earn?
18 films released in September 1989 report a worldwide gross, $285.2M in all, or $15.8M per film on average. August 1989 releases took $434.6M.
How many movies released in September 1989 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Black Rain (1989) with $134.2M.
How is the September 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 September 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 September 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.