Most Popular Movies 1986
This chart shows the 1986 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1986 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1986 - Top 1986 Worldwide
| ← 1985 | Most Popular Overall | 1987 → |
1
| Top Gun |
| Director: Tony Scott |
| Lead Roles: Tom Cruise as Maverick, Kelly McGillis as Charlie |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 16, 1986 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: In a Plane, War, Intertitle, 3D Re-release, 3-D, IMAX: DMR, Romance, Action Adventure, Death of a Partner |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $180,470,489 |
|
International BO: $176,993,259 |
2
| The Golden Child |
| Director: Michael Ritchie |
| Lead Roles: Eddie Murphy as Chandler Jarrell |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 12, 1986 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Kidnap, Rescue, Set in Los Angeles |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $79,817,937 |
3
| The Hitcher |
| Director: Robert Harmon |
| Lead Roles: C. Thomas Howell as Jim Halsey |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 21, 1986 (Wide) by Sony/TriStar |
| Keywords: Road Trip, Psychological Horror, Serial Killer, Cult Movie, Hitchhiker, Framed, Fugitive / On the Run, Remade |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,844,868 |
|
International BO: $185 |
4
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| The Transformers: The Movie |
| Director: Nelson Shin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 8, 1986 (Wide) by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group |
| Keywords: Toy Adaptations, Posthumous Release, Action Adventure, War, Good vs. Evil, End of the World, Reincarnation, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Based on TV, Adventure, Hand Animation, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,849,647 |
5
| 90 Days |
| Director: Giles Walker |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 5, 1986 (Limited) by Cinecom |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,620 |
6
| The Karate Kid, Part II |
| Director: John G. Avildsen |
| Lead Roles: Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, Pat Morita as Mr. Kesuge Miyagi |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 20, 1986 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Martial Arts, Sports Action, You Can't Go Home Again, Revenge, Arranged Marriage, Love Triangle, Extreme Weather, Dysfunctional Family, Hostage, Death Sports |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $115,103,979 |
7
| The Fly |
| Director: David Cronenberg |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 15, 1986 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Body Horror, Monster |
| Classification: Remake, Horror, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $37,585,000 |
|
International BO: $694 |
8
| The Name of the Rose |
| Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 24, 1986 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
|
Domestic BO: $7,153,000 |
9
| Playing for Keeps |
| Director: Gabriele Muccino |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 3, 1986 (Wide) by Universal |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,000,000 |
Synopsis
A romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former soccer star who returns home to put his life back together. Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s soccer team. But his attempts to finally become an “adult” are met with challenges from the attractive soccer moms who pursue him at every turn.
10
| Rad |
| Director: Hal Needham |
| Lead Roles: Bill Allen as Cru |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 21, 1986 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Miscellaneous Sports |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,523,882 |
Synopsis
The story of one young man, Cru Jones, who has the intensity and desire to win a BMX race called Helltrack.
11
| Ruthless People |
| Director: David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams |
| Lead Roles: Judge Reinhold as Ken Kessler, Helen Slater as Sandy Kessler, Bette Midler as Barbara Stone, Danny DeVito as Sam Stone |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 27, 1986 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Kidnap, Misidentified Body, Relationships Gone Wrong, Faked Death, Split Screen, Blackmail, Revenge |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $71,624,879 |
13
| Manhunter |
| Director: Michael Mann |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 15, 1986 (Wide) by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group |
| Keywords: Serial Killer, Film Noir, Cannibalism, Police Procedural, Newspaper Industry, Crime Thriller, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,620,929 |
|
International BO: $1,484 |
14
| True Stories |
| Director: David Byrne |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 10, 1986 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Comedy Musical, Satire, Texas, Voiceover/Narration, Directing Yourself, Screenplay Written By the Star, Segments |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Musical, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,545,142 |
|
International BO: $317 |
15
| The Money Pit |
| Director: Richard Benjamin |
| Lead Roles: Tom Hanks as Walter Fielding, Shelley Long as Anna Crowley |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 26, 1986 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Confidence Men, Newlyweds, White Collar Crime, Surprise Twist, Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $37,499,651 |
16
| Slaughter High |
| Director: George Dugdale, Mark Ezra |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 14, 1986 (Limited) by Vestron |
| Classification: Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
17
| My Little Pony: The Movie |
| Director: Michael Joens |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 6, 1986 (Wide) by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group |
| Keywords: Toy Adaptations, Family Adventure, Good vs. Evil, Animal Lead, Talking Animals |
| Classification: Based on Game, Adventure, Hand Animation, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,958,456 |
18
| Platoon |
| Director: Oliver Stone |
| Lead Roles: Tom Berenger as Sgt. Barnes, Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias, Charlie Sheen as Pvt. Chris Taylor |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1986 (Wide) by Orion Pictures |
| Keywords: Vietnam War, War, War Crimes, Sex Crimes, Voiceover/Narration, Inspired by a True Story, Oscars Best Picture Winner, War Drama, 1987 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $137,963,328 |
|
International BO: $15,067 |
19
| Parting Glances |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 19, 1986 (Wide) by Cinecom |
| Keywords: LGBTQ+ |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $537,681 |
20
| Brighton Beach Memoirs |
| Director: Gene Saks |
| Lead Roles: Jonathan Silverman as Eugene Morris Jerome |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 25, 1986 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Family Comedy, Coming of Age, Autobiographical, Dysfunctional Family, Jewish, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author, 1930s, Breaking the Fourth Wall |
| Classification: Based on Play, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $11,957,943 |
21
| Born American |
| Director: Renny Harlin |
| Lead Roles: Mike Norris as Savoy |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 29, 1986 (Wide) by Cinema Guild |
| Keywords: Action Thriller, Tourists In Trouble, Set in Finland, Set in Soviet Union, Prison, Cruel Wardens or Prison Guards, Director Cameo |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,401,376 |
22
| Rawhead Rex |
| Director: George Pavlou |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 14, 1986 (Wide) (United Kingdom) |
| Classification: Horror, Fantasy |
23
| Black Moon Rising |
| Director: Harley Cokliss |
| Lead Roles: Tommy Lee Jones as Sam Quint, Linda Hamilton as Nina |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 10, 1986 (Wide) by New World |
| Keywords: Action Thriller, Corporate Malfeasance, Corporate Espionage, Car Chase, Heist, Romance, Car Thief, FBI |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $6,637,565 |
24
| Little Shop of Horrors |
| Director: Frank Oz |
| Lead Roles: Rick Moranis as Seymour Krelborn, Ellen Greene as Audrey, Vincent Gardenia as Mr. Mushnik, Steve Martin as Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1986 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Killer Plants, Remake, Romance, Dentist, Gratuitous Cameos, Cult Movie, Comedy Musical |
| Classification: Based on Musical or Opera, Musical, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $38,747,385 |
25
| Eliminators |
| Director: Peter Manoogian |
| Lead Roles: Andrew Prine as Harry Fontana, Denise Crosby as Colonel Nora Hunter, Patrick Reynolds as Mandroid, Conan Lee as Kuji, Roy Dotrice as Abbott Reeves |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 31, 1986 (Wide) by Empire Pictures |
| Keywords: Time Travel, Action Thriller, Ninja, Cyborg, Mercenaries, Cult Movie, Mad Scientist |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $4,601,256 |