Most Popular Movies 1988
This chart shows the 1988 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 1988 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1988 - Top 1988 Worldwide
| ← 1987 | Most Popular Overall | 1989 → |
1
| Killer Klowns from Outer Space |
| Director: Stephen Chiodo |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 27, 1988 (Limited) by Trans World Entertainment |
| Keywords: Unbelieving Police, Killer Clowns, Alien Invasion, Intentional B Movie |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
International BO: $343 |
2
| They Live |
| Director: John Carpenter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 4, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Advertising and Marketing, Action Thriller, Alien Invasion, Betrayal, Collaborator, Surprise Twist, Homeless, Drifter |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $13,447,978 |
|
International BO: $1,665 |
3
| Beetlejuice |
| Director: Tim Burton |
| Lead Roles: Alec Baldwin as Adam Maitland, Geena Davis as Babara Maitland, Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse (Beetlejuice) |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 30, 1988 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as Beetle Juice |
| Keywords: Haunting, Exorcism, Horror Comedy, Depression, Friendly Ghost |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $74,493,906 |
|
International BO: $618,753 |
4
| Platoon Leader |
| Director: Aaron Norris |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October, 1988 (Wide) by Cannon |
| Keywords: Vietnam War, War |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $1,348,771 |
5
| Miles from Home |
| Director: Gary Sinise |
| Lead Roles: Richard Gere as Frank Roberts |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 1, 1988 (Wide) |
|
Domestic BO: $188,964 |
6
| Coming to America |
| Director: John Landis |
| Lead Roles: Eddie Murphy as Clarence/Prince Akeem/Randy Watson/Saul |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 29, 1988 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Prince/Princess, Same Actor, Multiple Roles, Culture Clash, African Americans, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Arranged Marriage |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $128,152,301 |
|
International BO: $160,647,699 |
7
| Rain Man |
| Director: Barry Levinson |
| Lead Roles: Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt, Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 16, 1988 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Road Trip, Oscars Best Picture Winner, 1989 Oscars Best Picture Nominee, Comedy Drama, Autism, Dysfunctional Family, Gambling |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $172,825,435 |
|
International BO: $239,974,565 |
8
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| Tonari no Totoro |
| Director: Hayao Miyazaki |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 16, 1988 (Wide) (Japan) |
| Keywords: Life in a Small Town, Medical and Hospitals, Missing Child, Supernatural, Fairies, Spiritualism, 1950s, Set in Japan |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Hand Animation, Fantasy |
|
International BO: $27,810,582 |
9
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| Black Eagle |
| Director: Eric Karson |
| Lead Roles: Sho Kosugi as Ken Tani, Jean-Claude Van Damme as Andrei |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 31, 1988 (Limited) by Taurus |
| Keywords: Martial Arts, Secret Agent, Undercover, Commies, Directing Yourself, Director Cameo, Family Affair, Relatives Playing Relatives, Cold War, Set in Malta, Set in Mediterranean Sea |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
10
| A Fish Called Wanda |
| Director: Charles Crichton |
| Lead Roles: John Cleese as Archibald 'Archie' Leech, Jamie Lee Curtis as Wanda, Kevin Kline as Otto West, Michael Palin as Ken |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 15, 1988 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Heist, Confidence Men, Double-Crossed, No Honor Among Thieves, Infidelity, Relationships Gone Wrong, Death of a Pet |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $63,493,000 |
11
| A Cry in the Dark |
| Director: Fred Schepisi |
| Lead Roles: Meryl Streep as Lindy Chamberlain |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 11, 1988 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Biographical Drama, Biography, Animals Gone Bad, Death of a Son or Daughter, Unbelieving Police, Falsely Accused, 1980s, Australia, Media Circus |
| Classification: Based on Factual Book/Article, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $6,908,797 |
12
| Midnight Run |
| Director: Martin Brest |
| Lead Roles: Robert De Niro as Jack Walsh, Charles Grodin as Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 20, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Mafia, White Collar Crime, Action Comedy, Fugitive / On the Run, FBI, Bounty Hunter, Corrupt Cops, Crime Boss, Relationships Gone Wrong |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $38,413,606 |
|
International BO: $43,200,000 |
13
| The Presidio |
| Director: Peter Hyams |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 10, 1988 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Set in San Francisco, Police Detective, Enemies Forced to Work Together, Crime Thriller, Smuggler |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,036,000 |
14
| The Last Temptation of Christ |
| Director: Martin Scorsese |
| Lead Roles: Willem Dafoe as Jesus of Nazareth |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 12, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Religious, Christians, Jewish, Ancient Rome, Middle East, Historical Drama |
| Classification: Based on Religious Text, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,373,585 |
15
| My Best Friend Is a Vampire |
| Director: Jimmy Huston |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May, 1988 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Horror Comedy, Vampire, Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $174,380 |
16
| Dirty Rotten Scoundrels |
| Director: Frank Oz |
| Lead Roles: Steve Martin as Freddy Benson, Michael Caine as Lawrence Jamieson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 14, 1988 (Wide) by Orion Pictures |
| Keywords: Confidence Men, Crime Comedy, False Identity, Fake Dating, Surprise Twist |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $42,039,000 |
17
| Big |
| Director: Penny Marshall |
| Lead Roles: Tom Hanks as Josh |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 3, 1988 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Body Swap, Same Role, Multiple Actors, Dysfunctional Family, Voiceover/Narration, Coming of Age, Wish Granters, Romance, First Love, February / May Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $114,968,774 |
|
International BO: $36,696,573 |
18
| Punchline |
| Director: David Seltzer |
| Lead Roles: Sally Field as Lilah Krytsick, Tom Hanks as Steven Gold |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 30, 1988 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Comedy Drama, Dysfunctional Family, Medical Students, Father’s Footsteps, Big Break, About a Stand Up Comedian |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $21,032,000 |
19
| School Daze |
| Director: Spike Lee |
| Lead Roles: Laurence Fishburne as Dap Dunlap, Giancarlo Esposito as Julian "Big Brother Almighty" Eaves, Tisha Campbell-Martin as Jane Toussaint, Kyme as Rachel Meadows, Spike Lee as Half-Pint |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 12, 1988 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: African Americans, Comedy Drama, College |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $14,545,844 |
20
| Funny Farm |
| Director: George Roy Hill |
| Lead Roles: Chevy Chase as Andrew 'Andy' Farmer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 3, 1988 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Country Mouse, City Mouse, Satirical Comedy, Satire, Writing and Writers, Relationships Gone Wrong, Life in a Small Town |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $25,537,221 |
21
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| When the Wind Blows |
| Director: Jimmy T. Murakami |
| Lead Roles: John Mills as Jim , Peggy Ashcroft as Hilda Bloggs |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 11, 1988 (Limited) by King’s Road Entertainment |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Multiple Genres, Hand Animation, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,274 |
22
| Child’s Play |
| Director: Tom Holland |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 9, 1988 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Living Toys, Supernatural, Supernatural Horror, Voodoo, Killer Inanimate Objects, Fugitive / On the Run, Serial Killer |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $33,244,684 |
|
International BO: $10,952,000 |
23
| Kansas |
| Lead Roles: Andrew McCarthy as Wade Corey, Matt Dillon as Doyle Kennedy |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 23, 1988 (Wide) by Trans World Entertainment |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,000,000 |
24
| Beaches |
| Director: Garry Marshall |
| Lead Roles: Bette Midler as Cecilia 'CC' Carol Bloom, Barbara Hershey as Hillary Whitney Essex |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 21, 1988 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Comedy Drama |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $57,041,866 |
25
| The Moderns |
| Director: Alan Rudolph |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 15, 1988 (Wide) |
|
Domestic BO: $2,011,497 |