1989 Top-Grossing Movies (Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 1989. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 1989. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 1988 will most likely earn money in 1988 and 1989.

To see the top movies released in 1989 (ranked by their total cumulative gross across all years), click the “Released in 1989” button below.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.

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Show ActualsReleased in 1989
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RankMovieRelease DateDistributorGenre1989 Gross
Infl. adj.		Tickets Sold
1BatmanJun 23, 1989Warner Bros.Action$752,937,22663,263,185
2Indiana Jones and the Last Cr…May 24, 1989Paramount PicturesAdventure$591,021,25349,416,492
3Lethal Weapon 2Jul 7, 1989Warner Bros.Action$441,392,90036,905,760
4Honey, I Shrunk the KidsJun 23, 1989Walt DisneyAdventure$391,844,88632,762,950
5Rain ManDec 16, 1988MGMComedy$376,633,76931,491,117
6Look Who’s TalkingOct 13, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$360,926,65030,177,813
7Ghostbusters IIJun 16, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$337,202,27228,194,169
8Back to the Future Part IINov 22, 1989UniversalAdventure$310,137,61125,931,238
9ParenthoodAug 2, 1989UniversalComedy$299,892,74425,074,644
10Dead Poets SocietyJun 2, 1989Walt DisneyDrama$287,340,09724,025,091
11When Harry Met Sally…Jul 14, 1989ColumbiaRomantic Comedy$276,646,52623,130,980
12Turner & HoochJul 28, 1989Walt DisneyComedy$213,061,60017,814,515
13Uncle BuckAug 16, 1989UniversalComedy$200,108,29916,731,463
14Field of DreamsApr 21, 1989UniversalDrama$193,133,39216,148,276
15National Lampoon’s Christmas …Dec 1, 1989Warner Bros.Comedy$178,345,83514,911,859
16Sea of LoveSep 15, 1989UniversalThriller/Suspense$175,567,74314,679,577
17Pet SemataryApr 21, 1989Paramount PicturesHorror$172,263,50414,403,303
18Harlem NightsNov 17, 1989Paramount PicturesComedy$167,089,29013,970,676
19BeachesDec 21, 1988Drama$164,409,85513,746,643
20The AbyssAug 9, 198920th Century FoxAdventure$162,593,42713,594,768
21To the LimitNov 15, 1989Documentary$158,867,16813,283,208
22Star Trek V: The Final Fronti…Jun 9, 1989Paramount PicturesAction$156,499,29513,085,225
23The Little MermaidNov 15, 1989Walt DisneyMusical$153,129,64112,803,481
24Steel MagnoliasNov 15, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$152,239,60112,729,063
25Major LeagueApr 7, 1989Paramount PicturesComedy$149,254,36712,479,462
26See No Evil, Hear No EvilMay 12, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$140,582,45611,754,385
27Black RainSep 22, 1989Paramount PicturesThriller/Suspense$137,561,61811,501,807
28Working GirlDec 20, 198820th Century FoxComedy$134,812,77811,271,971
29The War of the RosesDec 8, 198920th Century FoxBlack Comedy$131,308,41410,978,964
30Three FugitivesJan 27, 1989Walt DisneyComedy$121,668,27110,172,932
31Bill & Ted’s Excellent Advent…Feb 17, 1989Orion PicturesAdventure$121,353,65110,146,626
32K-9Apr 28, 1989UniversalComedy$116,480,1769,739,145
33TwinsDec 9, 1988UniversalComedy$116,414,3549,733,641
34The Karate Kid, Part IIIJun 30, 1989Sony PicturesAction$116,282,6089,722,626
35The ‘BurbsFeb 17, 1989UniversalBlack Comedy$106,058,0618,867,730
36Licence to KillJul 14, 1989MGMAction$103,914,1608,688,474
37Fletch LivesMar 17, 1989UniversalComedy$99,717,2018,337,558
38Dangerous LiaisonsDec 21, 1988Drama$97,909,6358,186,424
39Weekend at Bernie’sJul 5, 198920th Century FoxComedy$90,579,4267,573,530
40Road HouseMay 19, 1989United ArtistsAction$90,074,7717,531,335
41Lean on MeMar 3, 1989Warner Bros.Drama$89,394,6757,474,471
42L'OursOct 25, 1989Sony/TriStarAdventure$88,619,3177,409,641
43The Dream TeamApr 7, 1989UniversalComedy$80,313,7986,715,200
44All Dogs Go To HeavenNov 17, 1989MGMAdventure$78,596,9156,571,648
45Do the Right ThingJun 30, 1989UniversalDrama$77,946,9056,517,299
46Sex, Lies, and VideotapeAug 4, 1989MiramaxDrama$74,162,9926,200,919
47The Accidental TouristDec 23, 1988Drama$71,993,3436,019,510
48Tango & CashDec 22, 1989Warner Bros.Action$70,287,7905,876,905
49The Naked Gun: From the Files…Dec 2, 1988Paramount PicturesComedy$69,099,2275,777,527
50A Nightmare On Elm Street: Th…Aug 11, 1989New LineHorror$66,449,5175,555,979
51Lock UpAug 4, 1989Sony PicturesAction$66,244,1535,538,808
52AlwaysDec 22, 1989UniversalDrama$65,976,4415,516,424
53CousinsFeb 10, 1989Paramount PicturesRomantic Comedy$65,067,3045,440,410
54Say Anything…Apr 14, 198920th Century FoxDrama$60,059,9945,021,738
55DadOct 27, 1989UniversalComedy$59,164,5764,946,870
56The Fly IIFeb 10, 198920th Century FoxHorror$58,275,8584,872,563
57An Innocent ManOct 6, 1989Walt DisneyDrama$58,144,9254,861,615
58Skin DeepMar 3, 198920th Century FoxComedy$56,952,3814,761,904
59Casualties of WarAug 18, 1989Sony PicturesDrama$55,359,8544,628,750
60Mississippi BurningDec 9, 1988Drama$54,719,1254,575,177
61Crimes and MisdemeanorsOct 13, 1989Orion PicturesComedy$54,718,3554,575,113
62The Fabulous Baker BoysOct 13, 198920th Century FoxComedy$54,318,4744,541,678
63Her AlibiFeb 3, 1989Warner Bros.Comedy$51,542,0554,309,536
64ShockerOct 27, 1989UniversalHorror$49,622,6074,149,047
65PrancerNov 17, 1989Orion PicturesDrama$48,305,8054,038,946
66No Holds BarredJun 2, 1989New LineAction$48,240,6184,033,496
67Next of KinOct 20, 1989Warner Bros.Action$47,787,9283,995,646
68Chances AreMar 10, 1989Sony PicturesRomantic Comedy$47,779,0403,994,903
69BlazeDec 13, 1989Walt DisneyDrama$47,645,1783,983,710
70LeviathanMar 17, 1989MGMHorror$46,052,1753,850,516
71She-DevilDec 8, 198920th Century FoxBlack Comedy$46,015,7883,847,473
72KickboxerSep 8, 1989CannonAction$43,564,6183,642,526
73Friday the 13th Part VIII: Ja…Jul 28, 1989Paramount PicturesHorror$42,995,9783,594,981
74The WizardDec 15, 1989UniversalAdventure$42,800,9133,578,671
75Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsDec 14, 1988Orion PicturesComedy$42,417,3633,546,602
76Great Balls of Fire!Jun 30, 1989Orion PicturesDrama$41,040,3353,431,466
77Peter PanFeb 5, 1953RKO Radio PicturesAdventure$40,351,2533,373,850
78Pink CadillacMay 26, 1989Warner Bros.Comedy$36,400,0173,043,479
79She's Out of ControlApr 14, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$36,167,4363,024,033
80Physical EvidenceJan 27, 1989Sony PicturesThriller/Suspense$35,969,9253,007,518
81Halloween 5: The Revenge of M…Oct 13, 1989Galaxy Internatio…Horror$34,897,5832,917,858
82Police Academy 6: City Under …Mar 10, 1989Warner Bros.Comedy$34,672,0102,898,997
83Young EinsteinAug 4, 1989Warner Bros.Comedy$34,580,8832,891,378
84Gross AnatomyOct 20, 1989Walt DisneyDrama$34,010,1212,843,655
85Family BusinessDec 15, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$33,133,8012,770,384
86Who's Harry Crumb?Feb 3, 1989Sony/TriStarComedy$32,919,5672,752,472
87New York StoriesMar 1, 1989Walt DisneyDrama$32,263,4312,697,611
88The PackageAug 25, 1989Orion PicturesAction$31,914,9722,668,475
89We're No AngelsDec 15, 1989Paramount PicturesComedy$31,639,5892,645,450
90Koneko monogatariAug 25, 1989Sony PicturesAdventure$30,478,4112,548,362
91CyborgApr 7, 1989CannonAction$30,067,4852,514,003
92Tequila SunriseDec 2, 1988Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$28,417,1282,376,014
93Criminal LawApr 28, 1989HemdaleThriller/Suspense$28,306,9822,366,804
94Oliver & CompanyNov 18, 1988Walt DisneyAdventure$27,602,5052,307,901
95TapFeb 10, 1989Sony PicturesDrama$27,321,2622,284,386
96RenegadesJun 2, 1989UniversalAction$27,022,8982,259,439
97ScandalApr 28, 1989MiramaxDrama$26,377,9452,205,513
98True BelieverFeb 17, 1989Sony PicturesDrama$26,204,0902,190,977
99My Stepmother Is an AlienDec 9, 1988Sony PicturesComedy$26,004,2142,174,265
100The Land Before TimeNov 18, 1988UniversalAdventure$24,132,2532,017,746