Ghost (1990)

[La Binoche]

The success of this movie fascinates me because it's actually quite mediocre. The sleeper hit of Summer 1990, it opened to $12M and displayed tremendous legs, finishing its US run with $218M. 

 

But the real surprise came from overseas. According to this Oct. 1993 Variety article, the top international grosses of all time as of that date were as follows: 

 

1. 'Jurassic Park, 1993, $379 million.

2. 'E.T. -- The Extraterrestrial,' 1982, $301.6 million.

3. 'Ghost,' 1990, $290 million.

4. 'The Bodyguard,' 1992, $289 million.

5. 'Pretty Woman,' 1989, $279 million.

6. 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' 1991, $263 million.

7. 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' 1987, $258 million.

8. 'Rain Man,' 1988, $240 million.

9. 'Basic Instinct,' 1992, $235 million.

10. 'Beauty and the Beast,' 1991, $202 million.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/10/04/Jurassic-Park-sets-worldwide-box-office-record/67457497072

 

This means Ghost was 2nd only to ET at the international box office upon release. In fact, it was so successful that it scored a BP Oscar nom and won 2 statues - Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay - despite mixed reviews. 

 

 

[filmlover]

It's a film that definitely struck a chord with a certain audience, namely adult women. The box office success translated to awards success and paved the way for similar runs like The Blind Side, The Help, Hidden Figures, etc.

[John Rambo]

11 hours ago, La Binoche said:

The success of this movie fascinates me because it's actually quite mediocre. The sleeper hit of Summer 1990, it opened to $12M and displayed tremendous legs, finishing its US run with $218M. 

 

But the real surprise came from overseas. According to this Oct. 1993 Variety article, the top international grosses of all time as of that date were as follows: 

 

1. 'Jurassic Park, 1993, $379 million.

2. 'E.T. -- The Extraterrestrial,' 1982, $301.6 million.

3. 'Ghost,' 1990, $290 million.

4. 'The Bodyguard,' 1992, $289 million.

5. 'Pretty Woman,' 1989, $279 million.

6. 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' 1991, $263 million.

7. 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' 1987, $258 million.

8. 'Rain Man,' 1988, $240 million.

9. 'Basic Instinct,' 1992, $235 million.

10. 'Beauty and the Beast,' 1991, $202 million.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/10/04/Jurassic-Park-sets-worldwide-box-office-record/67457497072

 

This means Ghost was 2nd only to ET at the international box office upon release. In fact, it was so successful that it scored a BP Oscar nom and won 2 statues - Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay - despite mixed reviews. 

 

 

Rain Mans official gross seems to be 240 according to various sources but BOM has its fig close to 170-180!!!

[Jiffy]

13 hours ago, La Binoche said:

The success of this movie fascinates me because it's actually quite mediocre. The sleeper hit of Summer 1990, it opened to $12M and displayed tremendous legs, finishing its US run with $218M. 

 

But the real surprise came from overseas. According to this Oct. 1993 Variety article, the top international grosses of all time as of that date were as follows: 

 

1. 'Jurassic Park, 1993, $379 million.

2. 'E.T. -- The Extraterrestrial,' 1982, $301.6 million.

3. 'Ghost,' 1990, $290 million.

4. 'The Bodyguard,' 1992, $289 million.

5. 'Pretty Woman,' 1989, $279 million.

6. 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' 1991, $263 million.

7. 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,' 1987, $258 million.

8. 'Rain Man,' 1988, $240 million.

9. 'Basic Instinct,' 1992, $235 million.

10. 'Beauty and the Beast,' 1991, $202 million.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/10/04/Jurassic-Park-sets-worldwide-box-office-record/67457497072

 

This means Ghost was 2nd only to ET at the international box office upon release. In fact, it was so successful that it scored a BP Oscar nom and won 2 statues - Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay - despite mixed reviews. 

 

 

I wonder where the extra $50m in T2's OS gross came in (BOM has it listed as $315m). 

Between Ghost, PW, and The Bodyguard, adult women were really fueling OS grosses around that time. 

 

Edited July 30, 2018 by Jiffy

[Juby]

17 hours ago, Jiffy said:

I wonder where the extra $50m in T2's OS gross came in (BOM has it listed as $315m). 

 

It was 1993, T2 was still in theaters around the world that time. Just... different times. Ex: Polish premier od T2 was in May 1992 and it was still in theaters in 1993.

 

Ghost is one of my all time favorites movies. Absolutely perfect mix of action, drama, fantasy, romance, based on a PERFECT script. 100% movie magic and great entertainment.  

[Jiffy]

6 hours ago, Juby said:

 

It was 1993, T2 was still in theaters around the world that time. Just... different times. Ex: Polish premier od T2 was in May 1992 and it was still in theaters in 1993.

Hmm didn't know that.

[La Binoche]

10 hours ago, Juby said:

 

It was 1993, T2 was still in theaters around the world that time. Just... different times. Ex: Polish premier od T2 was in May 1992 and it was still in theaters in 1993.

 

Ghost is one of my all time favorites movies. Absolutely perfect mix of action, drama, fantasy, romance, based on a PERFECT script. 100% movie magic and great entertainment.  

Still in overseas theatres over 2 years after US release, though? 

[Juby]

The article also could have outdated info (underestimate). Variety in 1998 had T2 at $312 mln overseas and - if I remember right - in the book "Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster"author claimed T2 overseas gross was $310 mln. But I'm not sure, maybe this was different book.

 

Ghost overseas numbers for years were overestimated at $300 mln. Mojo updated it at $288M for the first time in early 2004:

https://web.archive.org/web/20040406113035/http://boxofficemojo.com:80/movies/?id=ghost.htm