Steel Magnolias (1989)
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| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $83,759,091 | Details |
| International Box Office | $11,392,847 | Details |
| Worldwide Box Office | $95,151,938 | |
| Domestic Physical Disc Sales | ||
| DVD Sales (estimated) | $14,066,291 | |
| Total | $14,066,291 | |
| OpusData ID: 5370100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $5,425,440 (6.5% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 11.87 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 88.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 480 opening theaters/1,372 max. theaters, 14.1 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $232,328,765 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 15th, 1989 (Wide) by Sony Pictures May 19th, 2019 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events May 5th, 2024 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events |
| International Releases: | February 15th, 1990 (Wide) (Australia)
May 1st, 2025 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Video Release: | July 8th, 1994 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| MPA Rating: | PG |
| Running Time: | 117 minutes |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Autobiographical |
| Plot point: | Medical and Hospitals |
| Social setting: | Life in a Small Town |
| Source material: | Inspired by a True Story, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Source: | Based on Play |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 4 | $5,425,440 | 480 | $11,303 | $5,467,015 | 1 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 5 | $7,053,867 | +30% | 720 | $9,797 | $15,643,935 | 2 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 4 | $4,856,409 | -31% | 963 | $5,043 | $22,685,485 | 3 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 5 | $3,021,928 | -38% | 1,032 | $2,928 | $27,468,769 | 4 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 7 | $2,094,664 | -31% | 1,102 | $1,901 | $30,700,611 | 5 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 7 | $2,591,550 | +24% | 1,329 | $1,950 | $34,652,166 | 6 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 7 | $6,248,970 | +141% | 1,365 | $4,578 | $44,598,414 | 7 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 6 | $4,502,641 | -28% | 1,369 | $3,289 | $50,943,805 | 8 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 7 | $3,745,560 | -17% | 1,372 | $2,730 | $56,311,630 | 9 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 7 | $2,944,080 | -21% | 1,363 | $2,160 | $60,675,730 | 10 |
| Jan 26, 1990 | 8 | $2,376,950 | -19% | 1,370 | $1,735 | $64,115,820 | 11 |
| Feb 2, 1990 | 10 | $2,019,275 | -15% | 1,369 | $1,475 | $67,032,445 | 12 |
| Feb 9, 1990 | 10 | $1,606,880 | -20% | 1,328 | $1,210 | $69,303,290 | 13 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 10 | $1,550,400 | -4% | 1,216 | $1,275 | $71,319,818 | 14 |
| Feb 23, 1990 | 10 | $1,207,930 | -22% | 1,214 | $995 | $72,828,100 | 15 |
| Mar 2, 1990 | 10 | $1,178,865 | -2% | 1,173 | $1,005 | $74,425,795 | 16 |
| Mar 23, 1990 | 18 | $603,480 | 642 | $940 | $77,568,541 | 19 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 3 | $8,548,493 | 480 | $17,809 | $8,590,068 | 2 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 4 | $9,239,008 | +8% | 720 | $12,832 | $17,829,076 | 3 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 3 | $6,617,765 | -28% | 963 | $6,872 | $24,446,841 | 4 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 4 | $4,159,106 | -37% | 1,032 | $4,030 | $28,605,947 | 5 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 5 | $3,454,669 | -17% | 1,102 | $3,135 | $32,060,616 | 6 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 6 | $6,288,828 | +82% | 1,329 | $4,732 | $38,349,444 | 7 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 7 | $8,091,720 | +29% | 1,365 | $5,928 | $46,441,164 | 8 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 4 | $6,124,906 | -24% | 1,369 | $4,474 | $52,566,070 | 9 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 7 | $5,165,580 | -16% | 1,372 | $3,765 | $57,731,650 | 10 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 7 | $4,007,220 | -22% | 1,363 | $2,940 | $61,738,870 | 11 |
| Jan 26, 1990 | 7 | $3,274,300 | -18% | 1,370 | $2,390 | $65,013,170 | 12 |
| Feb 2, 1990 | 7 | $2,683,240 | -18% | 1,369 | $1,960 | $67,696,410 | 13 |
| Feb 9, 1990 | 5 | $2,073,008 | -23% | 1,328 | $1,561 | $69,769,418 | 14 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 10 | $1,850,752 | -11% | 1,216 | $1,522 | $71,620,170 | 15 |
| Feb 23, 1990 | 9 | $1,626,760 | -12% | 1,214 | $1,340 | $73,246,930 | 16 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 5/1/2025 | $0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | $191 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| Rest of World | $11,392,656 | |||||||||
| International Total | $11,392,847 | 4/4/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
| Sally Field | M'Lynn Eatenton | |
| Dolly Parton | Truvy Jones | |
| Shirley MacLaine | Louisa 'Ouiser' Boudreaux | |
| Daryl Hannah | Annelle Dupuy Desoto | |
| Olympia Dukakis | Clairee Belcher | |
| Dylan McDermott | Jackson Latcherie | |
| Tom Skerritt | Drum Eatenton | |
| Kevin J. O’Connor | Sammy Dwayne Desoto | |
| Jonathan Ward | Jonathan Eatenton | |
| Knowl Johnson | Thomas 'Tommy' Lee Eatenton | |
| Sam Shepard | Spud Jones | |
| Ann Wedgeworth | Aunt Fern Thornton | |
| Bibi Besch | Belle Marmillion | |
| Bill McCutcheon | Owen Jenkins |
Supporting
| Julia Roberts | Shelby Eatenton Latcherie |
Production and Technical Credits
| Herbert Ross | Director | |
| Robert Harling | Screenwriter | |
| Robert Harling | Story Creator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $5,425,440 (6.5% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 11.87 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 88.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 480 opening theaters/1,372 max. theaters, 14.1 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $232,328,765 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | November 15th, 1989 (Wide) by Sony Pictures May 19th, 2019 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events May 5th, 2024 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events |
| International Releases: | February 15th, 1990 (Wide) (Australia)
May 1st, 2025 (Limited) (New Zealand) |
| Video Release: | July 8th, 1994 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| MPA Rating: | PG |
| Running Time: | 117 minutes |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Autobiographical |
| Plot point: | Medical and Hospitals |
| Social setting: | Life in a Small Town |
| Source material: | Inspired by a True Story, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Source: | Based on Play |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 4 | $5,425,440 | 480 | $11,303 | $5,467,015 | 1 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 5 | $7,053,867 | +30% | 720 | $9,797 | $15,643,935 | 2 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 4 | $4,856,409 | -31% | 963 | $5,043 | $22,685,485 | 3 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 5 | $3,021,928 | -38% | 1,032 | $2,928 | $27,468,769 | 4 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 7 | $2,094,664 | -31% | 1,102 | $1,901 | $30,700,611 | 5 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 7 | $2,591,550 | +24% | 1,329 | $1,950 | $34,652,166 | 6 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 7 | $6,248,970 | +141% | 1,365 | $4,578 | $44,598,414 | 7 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 6 | $4,502,641 | -28% | 1,369 | $3,289 | $50,943,805 | 8 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 7 | $3,745,560 | -17% | 1,372 | $2,730 | $56,311,630 | 9 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 7 | $2,944,080 | -21% | 1,363 | $2,160 | $60,675,730 | 10 |
| Jan 26, 1990 | 8 | $2,376,950 | -19% | 1,370 | $1,735 | $64,115,820 | 11 |
| Feb 2, 1990 | 10 | $2,019,275 | -15% | 1,369 | $1,475 | $67,032,445 | 12 |
| Feb 9, 1990 | 10 | $1,606,880 | -20% | 1,328 | $1,210 | $69,303,290 | 13 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 10 | $1,550,400 | -4% | 1,216 | $1,275 | $71,319,818 | 14 |
| Feb 23, 1990 | 10 | $1,207,930 | -22% | 1,214 | $995 | $72,828,100 | 15 |
| Mar 2, 1990 | 10 | $1,178,865 | -2% | 1,173 | $1,005 | $74,425,795 | 16 |
| Mar 23, 1990 | 18 | $603,480 | 642 | $940 | $77,568,541 | 19 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 1989 | 3 | $8,548,493 | 480 | $17,809 | $8,590,068 | 2 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | 4 | $9,239,008 | +8% | 720 | $12,832 | $17,829,076 | 3 |
| Dec 1, 1989 | 3 | $6,617,765 | -28% | 963 | $6,872 | $24,446,841 | 4 |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 4 | $4,159,106 | -37% | 1,032 | $4,030 | $28,605,947 | 5 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 5 | $3,454,669 | -17% | 1,102 | $3,135 | $32,060,616 | 6 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 6 | $6,288,828 | +82% | 1,329 | $4,732 | $38,349,444 | 7 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 7 | $8,091,720 | +29% | 1,365 | $5,928 | $46,441,164 | 8 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 4 | $6,124,906 | -24% | 1,369 | $4,474 | $52,566,070 | 9 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 7 | $5,165,580 | -16% | 1,372 | $3,765 | $57,731,650 | 10 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 7 | $4,007,220 | -22% | 1,363 | $2,940 | $61,738,870 | 11 |
| Jan 26, 1990 | 7 | $3,274,300 | -18% | 1,370 | $2,390 | $65,013,170 | 12 |
| Feb 2, 1990 | 7 | $2,683,240 | -18% | 1,369 | $1,960 | $67,696,410 | 13 |
| Feb 9, 1990 | 5 | $2,073,008 | -23% | 1,328 | $1,561 | $69,769,418 | 14 |
| Feb 16, 1990 | 10 | $1,850,752 | -11% | 1,216 | $1,522 | $71,620,170 | 15 |
| Feb 23, 1990 | 9 | $1,626,760 | -12% | 1,214 | $1,340 | $73,246,930 | 16 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 5/1/2025 | $0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | $191 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| Rest of World | $11,392,656 | |||||||||
| International Total | $11,392,847 | 4/4/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
| Sally Field | M'Lynn Eatenton | |
| Dolly Parton | Truvy Jones | |
| Shirley MacLaine | Louisa 'Ouiser' Boudreaux | |
| Daryl Hannah | Annelle Dupuy Desoto | |
| Olympia Dukakis | Clairee Belcher | |
| Dylan McDermott | Jackson Latcherie | |
| Tom Skerritt | Drum Eatenton | |
| Kevin J. O’Connor | Sammy Dwayne Desoto | |
| Jonathan Ward | Jonathan Eatenton | |
| Knowl Johnson | Thomas 'Tommy' Lee Eatenton | |
| Sam Shepard | Spud Jones | |
| Ann Wedgeworth | Aunt Fern Thornton | |
| Bibi Besch | Belle Marmillion | |
| Bill McCutcheon | Owen Jenkins |
Supporting
| Julia Roberts | Shelby Eatenton Latcherie |
Production and Technical Credits
| Herbert Ross | Director | |
| Robert Harling | Screenwriter | |
| Robert Harling | Story Creator |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.