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
| Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 1, 1986 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $19,472,057 |
|
International BO: $466 |
2
| April Fool's Day |
| Director: Fred Walton |
| Lead Roles: Deborah Foreman as Muffy/Buffy St. John |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 27, 1986 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Holiday Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $12,947,763 |
3
| My Beautiful Laundrette |
| Director: Stephen Frears |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 1, 1986 (Limited) by Orion Classics |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
International BO: $9,442 |
4
| Howard the Duck |
| Director: Willard Huyck |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 1, 1986 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Marvel Comics, Action Comedy, Romance, Interspecies Romance, Famously Bad, Friendly Alien on Earth, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Based on Comic/Graphic Novel, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $16,295,774 |
5
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home |
| Director: Leonard Nimoy |
| Lead Roles: William Shatner as Admiral/Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Captain Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, James Doohan as Captain Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott, George Takei as Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu, Walter Koenig as Commander Pavel Chekov, Nichelle Nichols as Commander Nyota Uhura |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 26, 1986 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Time Travel, Chase Adventure, Animal Lead, 1980s, Set in Outer Space, Space Opera, Ensemble |
| Classification: Based on TV, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $109,713,132 |
|
International BO: $23,286,868 |
6
| Flight of the Navigator |
| Director: Randal Kleiser |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 30, 1986 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: First Contact, Alien Abduction, Time Travel, Family Adventure, Friendly Alien on Earth, 1970s, Prologue, Missing Child |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $18,564,613 |
7
| Nine 1/2 Weeks |
| Director: Adrian Lyne |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 21, 1986 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Erotic Thriller |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $6,734,844 |
8
| 8 Million Ways to Die |
| Director: Hal Ashby |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 25, 1986 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Film Noir |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action |
|
Domestic BO: $1,305,114 |
9
| The Color of Money |
| Director: Martin Scorsese |
| Lead Roles: Paul Newman as Eddie, Tom Cruise as Vincent, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Carmen |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 17, 1986 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Gambling, Confidence Men, Sports Drama |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $52,293,000 |
10
| Cobra |
| Director: George P. Cosmatos |
| Lead Roles: Sylvester Stallone as Lieutenant Marion Cobretti |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 23, 1986 (Wide) by Cannon |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $49,042,224 |
11
| 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.
12
| Nomads |
| Director: John McTiernan |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 7, 1986 (Wide) by Atlantic |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $2,278,264 |
13
| 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 |
14
| Aliens |
| Director: James Cameron |
| Lead Roles: Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 18, 1986 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Parasite, Corporate Malfeasance, Nightmare, Dream Sequence, Action Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $85,160,248 |
|
International BO: $98,131,645 |
15
| Legend |
| Director: Ridley Scott |
| Lead Roles: Tom Cruise as Jack, Mia Sara as Lili |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 18, 1986 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Sword & Sorcerer, Heroic Adventure, Cult Movie, Rescue, Demons, Romance, Underwater, Slow Motion Scene, Good vs. Evil |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $15,502,112 |
|
International BO: $8,004,125 |
16
| 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 |
17
| Shanghai Surprise |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 29, 1986 (Wide) by MGM |
|
Domestic BO: $2,315,000 |
18
| Crocodile Dundee |
| Director: Peter Faiman |
| Lead Roles: Paul Hogan as Michael J. 'Crocodile' Dundee |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 26, 1986 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Country Mouse, City Mouse, Romance, Culture Clash, Writing and Writers, Suicide Attempt, LGBTQ+, Relationships Gone Wrong, Set in New York, Action Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $174,803,506 |
|
International BO: $153,400,000 |
19
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| House |
| Director: Steve Miner |
| Lead Roles: William Katt as Roger Cobb |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 28, 1986 (Wide) by New World |
| Keywords: Suicide, Writing and Writers, Inheritance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Missing Child, Missing Person, Writer's Block, Vietnam War, Returning Soldiers, Dream Sequence, Non-Chronological, Haunted House, Divorced Couple Falling Back in Love, PTSD, Alternative Dimensions / Parallel universe, Revenge, Haunting, Rescue, Supernatural, Horror Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $19,444,631 |
|
International BO: $2,700,000 |
20
| 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 |
21
| The Toxic Avenger |
| Director: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 11, 1986 (Limited) |
| Keywords: Monster |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
22
| Legal Eagles |
| Director: Ivan Reitman |
| Lead Roles: Robert Redford as Tom Logal, Debra Winger as Laura Kelly, Daryl Hannah as Chelsea Deardon |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 18, 1986 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Crime Comedy, No Honor Among Thieves, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, White Collar Crime, False Identity, Hitmen, Romance, Lawyers |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $49,851,591 |
Synopsis
A hard-nosed assistant district attorney and an imaginative defense attorney combine their talents to defend a spacey “performance artist” who is accused of theft and murder. The clashing attorneys get more than they bargained for as they come in contact with New York’s fascinating art world and dangerous underworld.
23
| Down by Law |
| Director: Jim Jarmusch |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 26, 1986 (Limited) by Island/Alive |
|
Domestic BO: $1,436,000 |
24
| American Anthem |
| Director: Albert Magnoli |
| Lead Roles: Mitch Gaylord as Steve Tevere, Janet Jones as Julie Lloyd |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 27, 1986 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Dysfunctional Family, Sports Drama, Gymnastics, Olympics, Romance, Famously Bad |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,571,624 |
25
| A Room with a View |
| Director: James Ivory |
| Lead Roles: Helena Bonham Carter as Lucy Honeychurch, Miss Bartlett's cousin and Charge, Julian Sands as George Emerson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 7, 1986 (Wide) by Cinecom |
| Keywords: Romantic Drama, 1900s, Relationships Gone Wrong, Set in Italy, Set in London, Cross-Class Romance, 1987 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,966,644 |
|
International BO: $75,363 |