1984 Top-Grossing Movies (Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)
Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 1984. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 1984. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 1983 will most likely earn money in 1983 and 1984. Click on the individual movie to see its total gross over all the years in which it played.
Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.
| Rank | Movie | Release Date | Distributor | Genre | 1984 Gross Infl. adj. |
Tickets Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghostbusters | Jun 8, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Comedy | $786,140,404 | 65,730,803 |
| 2 | Indiana Jones and the Temple … | May 23, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Adventure | $623,213,972 | 52,108,192 |
| 3 | Gremlins | Jun 8, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $527,227,003 | 44,082,525 |
| 4 | The Karate Kid | Jun 22, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Action | $323,260,141 | 27,028,440 |
| 5 | Beverly Hills Cop | Dec 5, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Comedy | $299,421,971 | 25,035,282 |
| 6 | Police Academy | Mar 23, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $289,029,397 | 24,166,338 |
| 7 | Footloose | Feb 17, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Drama | $269,978,384 | 22,573,443 |
| 8 | Romancing the Stone | Mar 30, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Adventure | $267,242,854 | 22,344,720 |
| 9 | Star Trek III: The Search for… | Jun 1, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Adventure | $253,700,735 | 21,212,436 |
| 10 | Purple Rain | Jul 27, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $243,446,430 | 20,355,053 |
| 11 | Terms of Endearment | Nov 23, 1983 | Paramount Pictures | Drama | $232,986,826 | 19,480,504 |
| 12 | Splash | Mar 9, 1984 | Walt Disney | Romantic Comedy | $222,824,393 | 18,630,802 |
| 13 | Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secr… | Jun 16, 1984 | Documentary | $187,942,857 | 15,714,285 | |
| 14 | The Natural | May 11, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Drama | $170,686,211 | 14,271,422 |
| 15 | Tightrope | Aug 17, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Thriller/Suspense | $168,693,590 | 14,104,815 |
| 16 | Greystoke: The Legend of Tarz… | Mar 30, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Adventure | $163,234,647 | 13,648,382 |
| 17 | Revenge of the Nerds | Jul 20, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $145,480,137 | 12,163,891 |
| 18 | Bachelor Party | Jun 29, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $136,813,668 | 11,439,270 |
| 19 | Red Dawn | Aug 10, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Action | $134,870,987 | 11,276,838 |
| 20 | Breakin' | May 4, 1984 | Cannon | Musical | $128,125,892 | 10,712,867 |
| 21 | All of Me | Sep 21, 1984 | Universal | Comedy | $125,450,366 | 10,489,161 |
| 22 | The Terminator | Oct 26, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Action | $121,040,205 | 10,120,418 |
| 23 | Friday the 13th Part IV: The … | Apr 13, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Horror | $108,184,632 | 9,045,538 |
| 24 | Places in the Heart | Sep 21, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Drama | $104,675,027 | 8,752,093 |
| 25 | Silkwood | Dec 14, 1983 | 20th Century Fox | Drama | $98,505,315 | 8,236,230 |
| 26 | Teachers | Oct 5, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $98,017,703 | 8,195,460 |
| 27 | 2010 | Dec 7, 1984 | MGM | Thriller/Suspense | $97,946,658 | 8,189,520 |
| 28 | Cannonball Run II | Jun 29, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $97,172,982 | 8,124,831 |
| 29 | City Heat | Dec 7, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Action | $95,641,764 | 7,996,803 |
| 30 | Conan the Destroyer | Jun 29, 1984 | Universal | Action | $93,847,906 | 7,846,815 |
| 31 | Sudden Impact | Dec 9, 1983 | Warner Bros. | Action | $91,800,525 | 7,675,629 |
| 32 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Jul 13, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Comedy | $90,891,383 | 7,599,614 |
| 33 | The Woman in Red | Aug 15, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Romantic Comedy | $90,084,952 | 7,532,187 |
| 34 | Moscow on the Hudson | Apr 6, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Comedy | $86,512,767 | 7,233,509 |
| 35 | The Jungle Book | Oct 18, 1967 | Musical | $81,874,597 | 6,845,702 | |
| 36 | Missing in Action | Nov 16, 1984 | Cannon | Action | $79,681,845 | 6,662,362 |
| 37 | The Last Starfighter | Jul 13, 1984 | Universal | Action | $79,024,237 | 6,607,378 |
| 38 | Against All Odds | Mar 2, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Thriller/Suspense | $77,202,733 | 6,455,078 |
| 39 | Rhinestone | Jun 22, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $75,938,546 | 6,349,377 |
| 40 | Oh God, You Devil! | Nov 9, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $75,148,987 | 6,283,360 |
| 41 | Weekend Pass | Feb 3, 1984 | Crown | Comedy | $74,956,570 | 6,267,272 |
| 42 | Dune | Dec 14, 1984 | Universal | Action | $73,593,657 | 6,153,316 |
| 43 | Sixteen Candles | May 4, 1984 | Universal | Romantic Comedy | $72,936,067 | 6,098,333 |
| 44 | Yentl | Nov 18, 1983 | MGM/UA Classics | Musical | $72,377,118 | 6,051,599 |
| 45 | Never Cry Wolf | Oct 7, 1983 | Walt Disney | Drama | $71,864,782 | 6,008,761 |
| 46 | The Neverending Story | Jul 20, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Adventure | $71,755,757 | 5,999,645 |
| 47 | A Soldier’s Story | Sep 14, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Drama | $71,389,874 | 5,969,053 |
| 48 | Unfaithfully Yours | Feb 10, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Romantic Comedy | $70,934,902 | 5,931,012 |
| 49 | Pinocchio | Feb 9, 1940 | Adventure | $68,531,195 | 5,730,033 | |
| 50 | Scarface | Dec 9, 1983 | Universal | Drama | $67,290,623 | 5,626,306 |
| 51 | Amadeus | Sep 19, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $66,252,790 | 5,539,531 |
| 52 | Blame it on Rio | Feb 17, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Romantic Comedy | $66,071,874 | 5,524,404 |
| 53 | Best Defense | Jul 20, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Comedy | $65,358,517 | 5,464,759 |
| 54 | Hot Dog… The Movie | Jan 13, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Comedy | $62,434,639 | 5,220,288 |
| 55 | Lassiter | Feb 17, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Thriller/Suspense | $62,339,549 | 5,212,337 |
| 56 | Angel | Jan 13, 1984 | New World | Thriller/Suspense | $62,250,960 | 5,204,930 |
| 57 | Top Secret! | Jun 22, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Comedy | $61,255,482 | 5,121,696 |
| 58 | Beat Street | Jun 8, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $59,073,113 | 4,939,224 |
| 59 | Firestarter | May 11, 1984 | Universal | Horror | $53,880,049 | 4,505,021 |
| 60 | Children of the Corn | Mar 9, 1984 | New World | Horror | $51,858,663 | 4,336,009 |
| 61 | Starman | Dec 14, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Adventure | $51,737,903 | 4,325,912 |
| 62 | Night of the Comet | Nov 16, 1984 | Atlantic | Horror | $50,921,387 | 4,257,641 |
| 63 | Uncommon Valor | Dec 16, 1983 | Paramount Pictures | Action | $49,552,622 | 4,143,196 |
| 64 | Supergirl | Nov 21, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Adventure | $48,009,284 | 4,014,154 |
| 65 | The Cotton Club | Dec 14, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $47,359,286 | 3,959,807 |
| 66 | The Evil That Men Do | Sep 21, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Action | $46,636,970 | 3,899,412 |
| 67 | The Ice Pirates | Mar 16, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Comedy | $46,542,162 | 3,891,485 |
| 68 | Irreconcilable Differences | Sep 28, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $44,081,570 | 3,685,750 |
| 69 | The Big Chill | Sep 28, 1983 | Sony Pictures | Comedy | $43,922,139 | 3,672,420 |
| 70 | Dreamscape | Aug 17, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Adventure | $43,128,490 | 3,606,061 |
| 71 | Up the Creek | Apr 6, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Comedy | $41,675,862 | 3,484,604 |
| 72 | Protocol | Dec 21, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $41,021,166 | 3,429,863 |
| 73 | Tank | Mar 16, 1984 | Universal | Action | $39,622,946 | 3,312,955 |
| 74 | Broadway Danny Rose | Jan 27, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Comedy | $37,612,470 | 3,144,855 |
| 75 | Where the Boys Are '84 | Apr 6, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Comedy | $37,481,786 | 3,133,929 |
| 76 | Thief of Hearts | Oct 19, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Drama | $36,894,123 | 3,084,793 |
| 77 | Falling in Love | Nov 21, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Drama | $34,149,388 | 2,855,300 |
| 78 | Micki + Maude | Dec 21, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Romantic Comedy | $34,106,912 | 2,851,749 |
| 79 | The Wild Life | Sep 28, 1984 | Comedy | $33,650,848 | 2,813,616 | |
| 80 | Two of a Kind | Dec 16, 1983 | 20th Century Fox | Romantic Comedy | $31,840,855 | 2,662,279 |
| 81 | Bolero | Aug 31, 1984 | Cannon | Drama | $31,732,731 | 2,653,238 |
| 82 | Hard To Hold | Apr 6, 1984 | Universal | Drama | $31,513,016 | 2,634,868 |
| 83 | Gorky Park | Dec 16, 1983 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $31,446,998 | 2,629,348 |
| 84 | Johnny Dangerously | Dec 21, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $31,382,748 | 2,623,976 |
| 85 | Body Double | Oct 26, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Thriller/Suspense | $31,330,715 | 2,619,625 |
| 86 | The Bounty | May 4, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $30,659,823 | 2,563,530 |
| 87 | Oxford Blues | Aug 24, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Comedy | $30,366,714 | 2,539,023 |
| 88 | Country | Sep 29, 1984 | Walt Disney | Drama | $29,866,448 | 2,497,195 |
| 89 | Terror in the Aisles | Oct 26, 1984 | Universal | Multiple Genres | $29,601,733 | 2,475,061 |
| 90 | Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo | Dec 19, 1984 | Cannon | Musical | $29,439,412 | 2,461,489 |
| 91 | The Philadelphia Experiment | Aug 3, 1984 | New World | Adventure | $28,843,996 | 2,411,705 |
| 92 | Cloak & Dagger | Aug 10, 1984 | Universal | Action | $28,729,589 | 2,402,140 |
| 93 | The Little Drummer Girl | Oct 19, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $27,866,946 | 2,330,012 |
| 94 | The Right Stuff | Oct 21, 1983 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $27,761,114 | 2,321,163 |
| 95 | A Nightmare on Elm Street | Nov 9, 1984 | New Line | Horror | $27,263,283 | 2,279,539 |
| 96 | Ninja III: The Domination | Sep 14, 1984 | Cannon | Action | $27,090,770 | 2,265,115 |
| 97 | The Flamingo Kid | Dec 21, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $27,072,175 | 2,263,560 |
| 98 | Just the Way You Are | Nov 16, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Comedy | $26,759,429 | 2,237,410 |
| 99 | Christine | Dec 9, 1983 | Sony Pictures | Horror | $26,621,433 | 2,225,872 |
| 100 | Iceman | Apr 13, 1984 | Universal | Drama | $26,137,697 | 2,185,426 |
| 101 | Hardbodies | May 4, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Comedy | $25,028,454 | 2,092,680 |
| 102 | Alphabet City | May 4, 1984 | Atlantic | Drama | $24,606,397 | 2,057,391 |
| 103 | Reckless | Feb 3, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $23,961,298 | 2,003,453 |
| 104 | Swing Shift | Apr 13, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $23,671,567 | 1,979,228 |
| 105 | The Razor's Edge | Oct 19, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Drama | $23,321,954 | 1,949,996 |
| 106 | The Adventures of Buckaroo Ba… | Aug 10, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Adventure | $22,168,707 | 1,853,571 |
| 107 | Firstborn | Oct 26, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Drama | $22,049,901 | 1,843,637 |
| 108 | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Jun 22, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Black Comedy | $21,855,106 | 1,827,350 |
| 109 | To Be or Not to Be | Dec 16, 1983 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $21,284,575 | 1,779,647 |
| 110 | Sheena | Aug 17, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Adventure | $20,568,185 | 1,719,748 |
| 111 | Streets of Fire | Jun 1, 1984 | Universal | Action | $19,916,070 | 1,665,223 |
| 112 | Meatballs II | Jul 27, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Comedy | $19,260,484 | 1,610,408 |
| 113 | Racing with the Moon | Mar 23, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Drama | $19,167,167 | 1,602,606 |
| 114 | Once Upon a Time in America | Jun 1, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $18,942,034 | 1,583,782 |
| 115 | Love Letters | Apr 27, 1984 | New World | Drama | $18,758,655 | 1,568,449 |
| 116 | D.C. Cab | Dec 16, 1983 | Universal | Comedy | $18,532,518 | 1,549,542 |
| 117 | The Hotel New Hampshire | Mar 9, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $18,040,087 | 1,508,368 |
| 118 | The Dresser | Dec 6, 1983 | Sony Pictures | Drama | $17,947,041 | 1,500,589 |
| 119 | Star 80 | Nov 10, 1983 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $17,906,188 | 1,497,173 |
| 120 | American Dreamer | Oct 26, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Romantic Comedy | $17,875,042 | 1,494,569 |
| 121 | No Small Affair | Nov 9, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Romantic Comedy | $17,776,597 | 1,486,338 |
| 122 | Harry & Son | Mar 2, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $17,317,012 | 1,447,911 |
| 123 | The Lonely Guy | Jan 27, 1984 | Universal | Romantic Comedy | $17,012,299 | 1,422,433 |
| 124 | Grandview, U.S.A. | Aug 3, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $16,883,245 | 1,411,643 |
| 125 | This is Spinal Tap | Mar 2, 1984 | MGM | Comedy | $15,988,117 | 1,336,799 |
| 126 | Educating Rita | Sep 21, 1983 | Sony Pictures | Drama | $15,697,386 | 1,312,490 |
| 127 | The Man Who Loved Women | Dec 16, 1983 | Sony Pictures | Comedy | $15,155,808 | 1,267,208 |
| 128 | Runaway | Dec 14, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Thriller/Suspense | $14,692,294 | 1,228,453 |
| 129 | Until September | Sep 21, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $14,583,704 | 1,219,373 |
| 130 | Making the Grade | May 18, 1984 | Cannon | Comedy | $14,313,087 | 1,196,746 |
| 131 | Flashpoint | Aug 31, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Action | $13,721,370 | 1,147,272 |
| 132 | Cheech & Chong's The Corsican… | Jul 27, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Comedy | $13,429,318 | 1,122,853 |
| 133 | Exterminator 2 | Sep 14, 1984 | Cannon | Action | $13,310,505 | 1,112,918 |
| 134 | Joy of Sex | Aug 3, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Comedy | $13,126,815 | 1,097,560 |
| 135 | C.H.U.D. | Aug 31, 1984 | New World | Horror | $12,146,864 | 1,015,624 |
| 136 | Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of t… | May 25, 1983 | 20th Century Fox | Adventure | $11,386,842 | 952,077 |
| 137 | Crimes of Passion | Oct 19, 1984 | New World | Thriller/Suspense | $10,368,697 | 866,948 |
| 138 | The Warrior and the Sorceress | Sep 7, 1984 | New World | Action | $10,273,587 | 858,996 |
| 139 | The Gods Must Be Crazy | Jul 9, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Comedy | $10,027,374 | 838,409 |
| 140 | Impulse | Sep 28, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Thriller/Suspense | $9,848,191 | 823,427 |
| 141 | The Bear | Sep 28, 1984 | Embassy | Drama | $9,564,967 | 799,746 |
| 142 | Silent Night, Deadly Night | Nov 9, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Horror | $8,868,411 | 741,506 |
| 143 | Choose Me | Aug 29, 1984 | Island/Alive | Comedy | $8,864,044 | 741,141 |
| 144 | Under the Volcano | Jun 13, 1984 | Universal | Drama | $8,644,848 | 722,813 |
| 145 | The Rescuers | Jun 22, 1977 | Walt Disney | Adventure | $8,002,739 | 669,125 |
| 146 | Never Say Never Again | Oct 7, 1983 | Warner Bros. | Action | $7,301,940 | 610,530 |
| 147 | Electric Dreams | Jul 20, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Comedy | $6,879,360 | 575,197 |
| 148 | The Buddy System | Jan 20, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Drama | $6,478,508 | 541,681 |
| 149 | Body Rock | Sep 28, 1984 | New World | Musical | $5,834,512 | 487,835 |
| 150 | Misunderstood | Mar 30, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $5,269,911 | 440,628 |
| 151 | Finders Keepers | May 18, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Comedy | $5,223,231 | 436,725 |
| 152 | Garbo Talks | Oct 12, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $5,079,825 | 424,735 |
| 153 | Stop Making Sense | Oct 19, 1984 | Cinecom | Concert/Performance | $5,031,049 | 420,656 |
| 154 | Give My Regards to Broad Stre… | Oct 26, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Musical | $4,938,626 | 412,929 |
| 155 | The Brother from Another Plan… | Sep 7, 1984 | Cinecom | Comedy | $4,647,272 | 388,568 |
| 156 | The Killing Fields | Nov 2, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $4,177,785 | 349,313 |
| 157 | Sahara | Mar 2, 1984 | Cannon | Adventure | $3,648,565 | 305,064 |
| 158 | Mike's Murder | Mar 9, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Thriller/Suspense | $3,486,721 | 291,532 |
| 159 | Purple Hearts | Mar 30, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $3,390,368 | 283,476 |
| 160 | A Passage to India | Dec 14, 1984 | Sony Pictures | Drama | $3,292,527 | 275,295 |
| 161 | Songwriter | Oct 12, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Drama | $3,082,245 | 257,713 |
| 162 | The River Rat | Sep 21, 1984 | Paramount Pictures | Action | $2,812,928 | 235,195 |
| 163 | Over the Brooklyn Bridge | Mar 2, 1984 | Cannon | Comedy | $2,108,833 | 176,324 |
| 164 | Scandalous | Jan 20, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Comedy | $1,875,175 | 156,787 |
| 165 | A Christmas Story | Nov 18, 1983 | MGM | Comedy | $1,778,915 | 148,739 |
| 166 | The Keep | Dec 16, 1983 | Paramount Pictures | Horror | $1,690,051 | 141,309 |
| 167 | Un dimanche à la campagne | Nov 16, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $1,658,617 | 138,680 |
| 168 | Experience Preferred | Nov 4, 1983 | Samuel Goldwyn Fi… | Drama | $1,359,585 | 113,678 |
| 169 | Windy City | Sep 21, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Drama | $1,224,085 | 102,348 |
| 170 | The Bostonians | Jul 20, 1984 | Almi | Drama | $1,112,586 | 93,026 |
| 171 | Lovelines | Nov 2, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Comedy | $802,922 | 67,134 |
| 172 | Blame it on the Night | Nov 2, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Comedy | $715,806 | 59,850 |
| 173 | Repo Man | Mar 2, 1984 | Universal | Comedy | $640,326 | 53,539 |
| 174 | Champions | Apr 20, 1984 | Embassy | Drama | $620,941 | 51,918 |
| 175 | Razorback | Nov 16, 1984 | Warner Bros. | Horror | $493,503 | 41,263 |
| 176 | Mrs. Soffel | Dec 26, 1984 | MGM/UA Classics | Drama | $389,540 | 32,570 |
| 177 | Slayground | Jan 27, 1984 | Universal | Action | $384,884 | 32,181 |
| 178 | Heartbreakers | Sep 28, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $370,635 | 30,990 |
| 179 | The River | Dec 17, 1984 | Universal | Drama | $354,906 | 29,674 |
| 180 | Un amour de Swann | Sep 14, 1984 | Orion Pictures | Drama | $292,579 | 24,463 |
| 181 | Crackers | Feb 17, 1984 | Universal | Action | $208,905 | 17,467 |
| 182 | Birdy | Dec 21, 1984 | Sony/TriStar | Drama | $141,804 | 11,857 |
| 183 | Paris, Texas | Nov 9, 1984 | 20th Century Fox | Drama | $80,833 | 6,759 |
| 184 | Mass Appeal | Dec 14, 1984 | Universal | Drama | $19,342 | 1,617 |