1990 Top-Grossing Movies (Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 1990. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 1990. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 1989 will most likely earn money in 1989 and 1990.

To see the top movies released in 1990 (ranked by their total cumulative gross across all years), click the “Released in 1990” button below.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based on ticket sale estimates.

← 1989
Show ActualsReleased in 1990
1991 →
RankMovieRelease DateDistributorGenre1990 Gross
Infl. adj.		Tickets Sold
1GhostJul 13, 1990Paramount PicturesDrama$616,793,93851,571,399
2Pretty WomanMar 23, 1990Walt DisneyRomantic Comedy$505,625,34742,276,366
3Home AloneNov 16, 199020th Century FoxComedy$501,511,88741,932,431
4Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesMar 30, 1990New LineAdventure$383,360,27132,053,534
5The Hunt for Red OctoberMar 2, 1990Paramount PicturesThriller/Suspense$342,106,63428,604,233
6Total RecallJun 1, 1990Sony PicturesAction$338,347,66328,289,938
7Die Hard 2Jul 3, 199020th Century FoxAction$332,510,32727,801,866
8Dick TracyJun 15, 1990Walt DisneyAction$294,008,33224,582,636
9Driving Miss DaisyDec 13, 1989Warner Bros.Drama$289,102,32324,172,435
10Back to the Future Part IIIMay 24, 1990UniversalWestern$249,559,52220,866,180
11Presumed InnocentJul 27, 1990Warner Bros.Thriller/Suspense$244,593,86920,450,992
12Days of ThunderJun 27, 1990Paramount PicturesAction$234,299,04419,590,221
13Dances with WolvesNov 9, 1990Orion PicturesWestern$227,185,82918,995,470
14Another 48 Hrs.Jun 8, 1990Paramount PicturesAction$226,864,23218,968,581
15Bird on a WireMay 18, 1990UniversalAction$201,160,43216,819,434
16Born on the Fourth of JulyDec 20, 1989UniversalDrama$184,843,91115,455,176
17FlatlinersAug 10, 1990Sony PicturesHorror$173,754,86014,527,998
183 Men and a Little LadyNov 21, 1990Walt DisneyComedy$167,157,26813,976,360
19Problem ChildJul 27, 1990UniversalBlack Comedy$151,543,09412,670,827
20ArachnophobiaJul 18, 1990Walt DisneyHorror$150,798,53912,608,573
21Kindergarten CopDec 21, 1990UniversalComedy$134,314,05911,230,272
22Hard To KillFeb 9, 1990Warner Bros.Action$134,284,68611,227,816
23RoboCop 2Jun 22, 1990Orion PicturesAction$129,466,07310,824,922
24MiseryNov 30, 1990Sony PicturesThriller/Suspense$128,134,44910,713,582
25Edward ScissorhandsDec 7, 199020th Century FoxDrama$127,127,55610,629,394
26The Godfather: Part IIIDec 25, 1990Paramount PicturesDrama$126,629,78210,587,774
27The Jungle BookOct 18, 1967Walt DisneyMusical$126,531,1864,852,963
28Young Guns IIAug 1, 199020th Century FoxWestern$125,107,86310,460,523
29Look Who’s Talking TooDec 14, 1990Sony PicturesComedy$123,158,07410,297,497
30Marked for DeathApr 18, 199020th Century FoxAction$122,503,55610,242,772
31Gremlins 2: The New BatchJun 15, 1990Warner Bros.Comedy$117,548,3709,828,459
32Rocky VNov 16, 1990MGMAction$116,047,0249,702,928
33Tango & CashDec 22, 1989Warner Bros.Action$113,250,8879,469,137
34The War of the RosesDec 8, 198920th Century FoxBlack Comedy$113,063,5009,453,469
35Joe Versus the VolcanoMar 9, 1990Warner Bros.Comedy$111,613,3369,332,218
36Postcards from the EdgeSep 12, 1990Sony PicturesComedy$107,592,6168,996,038
37GoodfellasSep 19, 1990Warner Bros.Drama$96,105,1728,035,549
38Steel MagnoliasNov 15, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$93,441,4037,812,826
39DarkmanAug 24, 1990UniversalAction$93,363,7827,806,336
40MermaidsDec 14, 1990Orion PicturesComedy$89,880,1287,515,060
41Air AmericaAug 10, 1990Sony PicturesAction$86,460,1647,229,110
42The Little MermaidNov 15, 1989Walt DisneyMusical$84,398,4357,056,725
43Pacific HeightsSep 28, 199020th Century FoxThriller/Suspense$83,272,0846,962,548
44The Rescuers Down UnderNov 16, 1990Walt DisneyAdventure$79,161,2026,618,829
45Internal AffairsJan 12, 1990Paramount PicturesThriller/Suspense$78,397,1716,554,947
46Predator 2Nov 21, 199020th Century FoxAction$77,706,0336,497,159
47Memphis BelleOct 12, 1990Warner Bros.Drama$77,614,1146,489,474
48Cadillac ManMay 18, 1990Orion PicturesComedy$77,249,9406,459,025
49Child’s Play 2Nov 9, 1990UniversalHorror$76,166,5296,368,438
50GloryDec 13, 1989Sony PicturesDrama$74,903,4346,262,828
51House PartyMar 9, 1990New LineComedy$74,780,1186,252,518
52Jacob’s LadderNov 2, 1990Sony PicturesThriller/Suspense$71,878,6426,152,877
53Ernest Goes to JailApr 6, 1990Walt DisneyComedy$70,936,8835,931,177
54The Exorcist IIIAug 17, 199020th Century FoxHorror$70,886,3505,926,952
55Navy SEALsJul 20, 1990Orion PicturesAction$70,354,6325,882,494
56My Blue HeavenAug 17, 1990Warner Bros.Comedy$66,861,1395,590,396
57Ghost DadJun 29, 1990UniversalComedy$65,205,0985,451,931
58The Russia HouseDec 17, 1990MGMThriller/Suspense$65,179,1665,449,763
59FantasiaNov 13, 1940Walt DisneyMusical$63,338,0265,295,821
60The RookieDec 7, 1990Sony PicturesAction$61,313,0655,126,510
61Quigley Down UnderOct 19, 1990MGMWestern$60,687,3785,074,195
62The First PowerApr 6, 1990Orion PicturesHorror$60,551,9525,062,872
63The FreshmanJul 20, 1990Sony PicturesComedy$60,337,1435,044,911
64MadhouseFeb 16, 1990Orion PicturesBlack Comedy$57,924,3184,843,170
65The Adventures of Ford Fairla…Jul 11, 199020th Century FoxComedy$57,882,4014,839,665
66StellaFeb 2, 1990Walt DisneyDrama$56,859,1644,754,110
67Taking Care of BusinessAug 17, 1990Walt DisneyComedy$56,697,8684,740,624
68AlwaysDec 22, 1989UniversalDrama$56,209,4354,699,785
69Betsy's WeddingJun 22, 1990Walt DisneyRomantic Comedy$55,945,7914,677,741
70Look Who’s TalkingOct 13, 1989Sony PicturesComedy$55,773,6664,663,350
71Jetsons: The MovieJul 6, 1990UniversalComedy$55,390,0624,631,276
72DuckTales: The Movie - Treasu…Aug 3, 1990Walt DisneyAdventure$51,227,7154,283,253
73Sibling RivalryOct 26, 1990Sony PicturesBlack Comedy$50,603,0804,231,026
74White PalaceOct 19, 1990UniversalDrama$49,561,8184,143,964
75TremorsJan 19, 1990UniversalComedy$47,236,5703,949,545
76Tales from the Darkside: The …May 4, 1990Paramount PicturesHorror$46,265,8513,868,382
77Mo’ Better BluesAug 3, 1990UniversalDrama$45,779,5923,827,725
78Men At WorkAug 24, 1990Triumph ReleasingComedy$45,774,0153,827,258
79The GuardianApr 27, 1990UniversalHorror$45,743,9963,824,748
80AvalonOct 5, 1990Sony PicturesDrama$44,503,3443,721,015
81I Love You to DeathApr 6, 1990Sony PicturesBlack Comedy$44,212,7453,696,717
82RevengeFeb 16, 1990Sony PicturesThriller/Suspense$44,030,2893,681,462
83The Bonfire of the VanitiesDec 19, 1990Warner Bros.Comedy$43,737,0793,656,946
84Death WarrantSep 14, 1990MGMAction$43,629,0603,647,914
85Mr. DestinyOct 12, 1990Walt DisneyComedy$43,586,6983,644,372
86Quick ChangeJul 13, 1990Warner Bros.Comedy$43,249,1573,616,150
87Spaced InvadersApr 27, 1990Walt DisneyComedy$42,511,8483,554,502
88Fire BirdsMay 24, 1990Walt DisneyAction$41,832,9373,497,737
89Back to the Future Part IINov 22, 1989UniversalAdventure$41,443,8543,465,205
90Wild at HeartAug 17, 1990Goldwyn Entertain…Black Comedy$41,264,8343,450,236
91Lord of the FliesMar 16, 1990Sony PicturesAdventure$39,145,5623,273,040
92Crazy PeopleApr 11, 1990Paramount PicturesComedy$37,423,0643,129,018
93Bad InfluenceMar 9, 1990Triumph ReleasingThriller/Suspense$35,783,7622,991,953
94Nuovo cinema ParadisoFeb 2, 1990MiramaxDrama$33,967,3982,840,083
95Graveyard ShiftOct 26, 1990Paramount PicturesHorror$32,815,9812,743,811
96Pump Up the VolumeAug 22, 1990New LineDrama$32,710,7642,735,013
97Opportunity KnocksMar 30, 1990UniversalComedy$32,193,1712,691,736
98Q & AApr 27, 1990Sony/TriStarThriller/Suspense$31,762,0192,655,687
99Henry & JuneOct 5, 1990UniversalDrama$31,209,0902,609,455
100Wild OrchidApr 27, 1990Triumph ReleasingThriller/Suspense$31,175,3552,606,635