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
| 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 |
2
| 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 |
3
| 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 |
4
| Talk Radio |
| Director: Oliver Stone |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 1, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Radio Industry, Psychological Thriller, Jewish, Political, Big Break, Stalker, Non-Drama Biographies, Biography, Terrorism, Assassination, Screenplay Written By the Star, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author, Epilogue |
| Classification: Based on Play, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,468,572 |
5
| Oliver & Company |
| Director: George Scribner |
| Lead Roles: Bette Midler as Georgette (voice) |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 18, 1988 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Family Adventure, Animal Lead, Talking Animals, Kidnap, Homeless, Set in New York City, Set in New York, Money Troubles, Loan Shark |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Hand Animation, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $49,576,671 |
6
| Phantasm II |
| Director: Don Coscarelli |
| Lead Roles: Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man, James LeGros as Mike Pearson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 8, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Delayed Sequel, Psychics, Prophetic Dreams, Dwarves, Alternative Dimensions / Parallel universe, Action Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $7,282,851 |
7
| Lady in White |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 22, 1988 (Wide) by New Century Vista Film Company |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $1,705,139 |
8
| Scrooged |
| Director: Richard Donner |
| Lead Roles: Bill Murray as Francis Xavier Cross |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 23, 1988 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Christmas, TV Industry, Modern Adaptation, Christmas in November, Gratuitous Cameos, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Haunting, Dysfunctional Family, Relationships Gone Wrong, Boss From Hell, Homeless, Time Travel, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $59,450,353 |
|
International BO: $443 |
9
| Die Hard |
| Director: John McTiernan |
| Lead Roles: Bruce Willis as Detective John McClane |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 15, 1988 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Hostage, Terrorism, Action Thriller, Christmas, Christmas in November, Set in New York City, Set in New York, NYPD, Surprise Twist, Heist |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $85,892,546 |
|
International BO: $57,759,104 |
10
| 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 |
11
| Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers |
| Director: Dwight H. Little |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 1, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Slasher Horror, Supernatural |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $17,768,757 |
12
| Night of the Demons |
| Director: Kevin Tenney |
| Lead Roles: Cathy Podewell as Judy, Amelia Kinkade as Angela Franklin, Linnea Quigley as Suzanne |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 14, 1988 (Limited) by Paragon Pictures |
| Keywords: Remade, Demons, Halloween, Supernatural Horror, Supernatural |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,847,907 |
13
| Biloxi Blues |
| Director: Mike Nichols |
| Lead Roles: Matthew Broderick as Eugene Morris Jerome, Christopher Walken as Sergeant Toomey |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 25, 1988 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Military Life, World War II, Boot Camp |
| Classification: Based on Play, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $43,184,798 |
|
International BO: $8,500,000 |
14
| Action Jackson |
| Director: Craig R. Baxley |
| Lead Roles: Carl Weathers as Action Jackson, Craig T. Nelson as Peter Dellaplane, Vanity as Sydney Ash |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 12, 1988 (Wide) by Lorimar Motion Pictures |
| Keywords: African Americans, Action Thriller, Unions, Police Detective, Framed, Fugitive / On the Run, Narcotics, Addiction, Mariticide / Uxoricide |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,257,000 |
|
International BO: $17,718 |
15
| Young Guns |
| Director: Christopher Cain |
| Lead Roles: Emilio Estevez as William H. Bonney, Kiefer Sutherland as Doc Scurlock, Lou Diamond Phillips as Jose Chavez y Chavez, Charlie Sheen as Richard Brewer, Dermot Mulroney as Dirty Steven Stephens, Casey Siemaszko as Charley Bowdre |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 12, 1988 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Revisionist Western, 1870s, Life on a Farm, Revenge, Outlaws, Death of a Mentor |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Western, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $44,726,644 |
16
| Mystic Pizza |
| Director: Donald Petrie |
| Lead Roles: Julia Roberts as Daisy Araujo |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 21, 1988 (Wide) by Samuel Goldwyn Films |
| Keywords: Comedy Drama, Romance, Sibling Rivalry, Relationships Gone Wrong, Bigotry, Dysfunctional Family, Infidelity, The Other Woman, Restaurants |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $12,793,213 |
17
| Prison |
| Director: Renny Harlin |
| Lead Roles: Viggo Mortensen as Burke/Forsythe Electrocution |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 4, 1988 (Wide) by Empire Pictures |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action |
|
Domestic BO: $354,704 |
18
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| Hairspray |
| Director: John Waters |
| Lead Roles: Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 26, 1988 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Cross-Dressing, Dancing, TV Industry, Genderbending Casting, Bigotry, 1960s, Set in Baltimore, MD, Remade, Comedy Musical |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Musical, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $6,671,108 |
|
International BO: $2,500,000 |
Synopsis
It’s Baltimore, 1962, and a rebellious teenager with the biggest bouffant on the block attempts to win the coveted “Miss Auto Show” crown as she fights against racial discrimination in this film created and directed by John Waters and featuring Divine in his/her last role.
19
| 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 |
20
| Dudes |
| Director: Penelope Spheeris |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 24, 1988 (Limited) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
21
| Clara's Heart |
| Director: Richard Mulligan |
| Lead Roles: Whoopi Goldberg as Clara Mayfield |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1988 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Family Drama, Dysfunctional Family, Death of a Son or Daughter, Death of a Sibling, Sex Crimes |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,194,491 |
22
| Far North |
| Director: Sam Shepard |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1988 (Wide) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $147,234 |
23
| Bad Dreams |
| Director: Andrew Fleming |
| Lead Roles: Jennifer Rubin as Cynthia |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 8, 1988 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Psychological Horror, Prologue, 1970s, Cults, Mass Suicide, Coma, Suicide, Doctors, Mental Hospital, Medical Crimes, Human Experimentation, Hallucinations |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $9,000,000 |
24
| Nosferatu a Venezia |
| Director: Augusto Caminito |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 8, 1988 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
25
| Bird |
| Director: Clint Eastwood |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 1, 1988 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Biography |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $2,181,286 |
|
International BO: $426 |