The Abyss (1989)

The Abyss
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $54,763,229Details
International Box Office $30,205Details
Worldwide Box Office $54,793,434
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$9,319,797 (17.0% of total gross)
Legs:5.88 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:99.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$70,000,000 (worldwide box office is 0.8 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,533 opening theaters/1,538 max. theaters, 6.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $147,071,702

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,683 $54,763,229
All Time International Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400) 21,308 $30,205
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,887 $54,793,434

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes
Hulu:Hulu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: August 9th, 1989 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox
International Releases: December 14th, 1989 (Wide) (Australia)
December 10th, 2020 (Limited) (Australia)
December 7th, 2023 (Limited) (Special Edition) (Australia)
January 25th, 2024 (Limited) (Special Edition 4K Remaster) (New Zealand)
Video Release: May 14th, 1996 by Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and some scenes of action (Special Edition)
Running Time: 140 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Aliens
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Underwater, First Contact, Cold War, Relationships Gone Wrong, Exes in Love, Chase Adventure, Friendly Alien on Earth, Alien Encounters
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Adventure
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Science Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: 20th Century Fox
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day) 184 $5,532,135 Sep 1, 1989 26
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 89 $15,667,450 Sep 1, 1989 26

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,683 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,044 $147,071,702
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,272 $54,763,229
Top 1989 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 24 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 701-800) 773 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,356 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Science Fiction Movies (Rank 101-200) 200 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 301-400) 387 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 701-800) 705 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for 20th Century Fox Movies (Rank 101-200) 191 $54,763,229

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Aug 11, 1989 2 $9,319,797   1,533 $6,079   $13,027,411 1
Aug 18, 1989 3 $7,213,102 -23% 1,538 $4,690   $24,745,404 2
Aug 25, 1989 3 $4,734,287 -34% 1,525 $3,104   $32,963,185 3
Sep 1, 1989 3 $5,532,135 +17% 1,532 $3,611   $40,726,991 4
Sep 8, 1989 5 $2,865,779 -48% 1,498 $1,913   $44,540,211 5
Sep 15, 1989 7 $2,150,879 -25% 1,361 $1,580   $47,594,385 6
Sep 22, 1989 8 $1,512,309 -30% 1,176 $1,286   $49,710,458 7

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Dec 6, 2023 5 $520,104     570 $912   $54,763,229 12,538

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Aug 11, 1989 2 $13,824,688   1,533 $9,018   $17,532,302 2
Aug 18, 1989 3 $10,696,596 -23% 1,538 $6,955   $28,228,898 3
Aug 25, 1989 3 $6,965,958 -35% 1,525 $4,568   $35,194,856 4
Sep 1, 1989 3 $6,479,576 -7% 1,532 $4,229   $41,674,432 5
Sep 8, 1989 5 $3,769,074 -42% 1,498 $2,516   $45,443,506 6
Sep 15, 1989 7 $2,754,643 -27% 1,361 $2,024   $48,198,149 7

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
Australia 12/14/1989 $0 0 36 37 $23,706 12/11/2023
New Zealand 1/25/2024 $4,892 13 13 16 $6,499 2/5/2024
 
International Total$30,205 2/5/2024

International Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time International Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400) 21,308 $30,205
All Time International Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 20,001-20,100) 20,018 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 12,301-12,400) 12,331 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 18,101-18,200) 18,174 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Science Fiction Movies (Rank 801-900) 840 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,139 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,214 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for 20th Century Fox Movies (Rank 301-400) 376 $30,205

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,887 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,296 $54,793,434
Top 1989 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 28 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,401 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,418 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Science Fiction Movies (Rank 301-400) 308 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 501-600) 545 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,052 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for 20th Century Fox Movies (Rank 201-300) 278 $54,793,434

Supporting Cast

Ed Harris Virgil "Bud" Brigman
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Lindsey Brigman
Michael Biehn Lt. Hiram Coffey
Leo Burmester Catfish De Vries
Todd Graff Alan 'Hippy' Carnes
John Bedford Lloyd Jammer Willis
J.C. Quinn Arliss 'Sonny' Dawson
Kimberly A. Scott Lisa 'One Night' Standing
Captain Kidd Brewer, Jr. Lew Finler
George Robert Klek Wilhite
Christopher Murphy Schoenick
Adam Nelson Ensign Monk
Richard Warlock Dwight Perry
Jimmie Ray Weeks Leland McBride
J. Kenneth Campbell DeMarco
Ken Jenkins Gerard Kirkhill
Chris Elliott Bendix
Peter Ratray Captain
Michael Beach Barnes
Brad Sullivan Executive
Frank Lloyd Navigator
Phillip Darlington Crew Member
Joseph Nemec III Crew Member
Joe Farago Anchorman
William Wisher Bill Tyler

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

James Cameron Director
James Cameron Screenwriter
Gale Anne Hurd Producer
Mikael Salomon Director of Photography
Leslie Dilley Production Designer
Alan Silvestri Composer
Robin Oliver Assistant Director
Stephen J. Fisher Assistant Director
Newt Arnold Assistant Director
Charles Skouras III Production Manager
Peter Childs Supervising Art Director
Russell Christian Art Director
Joseph Nemec III Art Director
Anne Kuljian Set Decorator
Al Giddings Underwater Photography
John Bruno Visual Effects Supervisor
Dennis Muren Visual Effects Supervisor
Hoyt Yeatman Visual Effects Supervisor
Dennis Skotak Visual Effects Designer
Deborah Everton Costume Designer
Deena Appel Costume Supervisor
Joel Goodman Editor
Howard Smith Co-Editor
Conrad Buff Co-Editor
Lee Orloff Sound Mixer
Don Bassman Re-recording Mixer
Kevin F. Cleary Re-recording Mixer
Richard Overton Re-recording Mixer
Kevin E. Carpenter Re-recording Mixer
Dody Dorn Supervising Sound Editor
John Hoeren Sound Editor
Peter Michael Sullivan Sound Editor
Michael Dressel Sound Editor
Stuart Copley Sound Editor
Sarah Rothenberg Sound Editor
Blake Leyh Sound Designer
Kenneth Karman Music Editor
Emanuel Millar Hairstylist
Howard Feuer Casting Director
Richard Warlock Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$9,319,797 (17.0% of total gross)
Legs:5.88 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:99.9% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$70,000,000 (worldwide box office is 0.8 times production budget)
Theater counts:1,533 opening theaters/1,538 max. theaters, 6.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $147,071,702

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,683 $54,763,229
All Time International Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400) 21,308 $30,205
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,887 $54,793,434

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes
Hulu:Hulu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: August 9th, 1989 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox
International Releases: December 14th, 1989 (Wide) (Australia)
December 10th, 2020 (Limited) (Australia)
December 7th, 2023 (Limited) (Special Edition) (Australia)
January 25th, 2024 (Limited) (Special Edition 4K Remaster) (New Zealand)
Video Release: May 14th, 1996 by Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and some scenes of action (Special Edition)
Running Time: 140 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Aliens
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Underwater, First Contact, Cold War, Relationships Gone Wrong, Exes in Love, Chase Adventure, Friendly Alien on Earth, Alien Encounters
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Adventure
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Science Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: 20th Century Fox
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day) 184 $5,532,135 Sep 1, 1989 26
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 89 $15,667,450 Sep 1, 1989 26

Supporting Cast

Ed Harris Virgil "Bud" Brigman
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Lindsey Brigman
Michael Biehn Lt. Hiram Coffey
Leo Burmester Catfish De Vries
Todd Graff Alan 'Hippy' Carnes
John Bedford Lloyd Jammer Willis
J.C. Quinn Arliss 'Sonny' Dawson
Kimberly A. Scott Lisa 'One Night' Standing
Captain Kidd Brewer, Jr. Lew Finler
George Robert Klek Wilhite
Christopher Murphy Schoenick
Adam Nelson Ensign Monk
Richard Warlock Dwight Perry
Jimmie Ray Weeks Leland McBride
J. Kenneth Campbell DeMarco
Ken Jenkins Gerard Kirkhill
Chris Elliott Bendix
Peter Ratray Captain
Michael Beach Barnes
Brad Sullivan Executive
Frank Lloyd Navigator
Phillip Darlington Crew Member
Joseph Nemec III Crew Member
Joe Farago Anchorman
William Wisher Bill Tyler

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

James Cameron Director
James Cameron Screenwriter
Gale Anne Hurd Producer
Mikael Salomon Director of Photography
Leslie Dilley Production Designer
Alan Silvestri Composer
Robin Oliver Assistant Director
Stephen J. Fisher Assistant Director
Newt Arnold Assistant Director
Charles Skouras III Production Manager
Peter Childs Supervising Art Director
Russell Christian Art Director
Joseph Nemec III Art Director
Anne Kuljian Set Decorator
Al Giddings Underwater Photography
John Bruno Visual Effects Supervisor
Dennis Muren Visual Effects Supervisor
Hoyt Yeatman Visual Effects Supervisor
Dennis Skotak Visual Effects Designer
Deborah Everton Costume Designer
Deena Appel Costume Supervisor
Joel Goodman Editor
Howard Smith Co-Editor
Conrad Buff Co-Editor
Lee Orloff Sound Mixer
Don Bassman Re-recording Mixer
Kevin F. Cleary Re-recording Mixer
Richard Overton Re-recording Mixer
Kevin E. Carpenter Re-recording Mixer
Dody Dorn Supervising Sound Editor
John Hoeren Sound Editor
Peter Michael Sullivan Sound Editor
Michael Dressel Sound Editor
Stuart Copley Sound Editor
Sarah Rothenberg Sound Editor
Blake Leyh Sound Designer
Kenneth Karman Music Editor
Emanuel Millar Hairstylist
Howard Feuer Casting Director
Richard Warlock Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,683 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,044 $147,071,702
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,272 $54,763,229
Top 1989 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 24 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 701-800) 773 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,356 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Science Fiction Movies (Rank 101-200) 200 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 301-400) 387 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 701-800) 705 $54,763,229
All Time Domestic Box Office for 20th Century Fox Movies (Rank 101-200) 191 $54,763,229

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Aug 11, 1989 2 $9,319,797   1,533 $6,079   $13,027,411 1
Aug 18, 1989 3 $7,213,102 -23% 1,538 $4,690   $24,745,404 2
Aug 25, 1989 3 $4,734,287 -34% 1,525 $3,104   $32,963,185 3
Sep 1, 1989 3 $5,532,135 +17% 1,532 $3,611   $40,726,991 4
Sep 8, 1989 5 $2,865,779 -48% 1,498 $1,913   $44,540,211 5
Sep 15, 1989 7 $2,150,879 -25% 1,361 $1,580   $47,594,385 6
Sep 22, 1989 8 $1,512,309 -30% 1,176 $1,286   $49,710,458 7

Daily Box Office Performance

DateRankGross%YD%LWTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Dec 6, 2023 5 $520,104     570 $912   $54,763,229 12,538

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Aug 11, 1989 2 $13,824,688   1,533 $9,018   $17,532,302 2
Aug 18, 1989 3 $10,696,596 -23% 1,538 $6,955   $28,228,898 3
Aug 25, 1989 3 $6,965,958 -35% 1,525 $4,568   $35,194,856 4
Sep 1, 1989 3 $6,479,576 -7% 1,532 $4,229   $41,674,432 5
Sep 8, 1989 5 $3,769,074 -42% 1,498 $2,516   $45,443,506 6
Sep 15, 1989 7 $2,754,643 -27% 1,361 $2,024   $48,198,149 7

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
Australia 12/14/1989 $0 0 36 37 $23,706 12/11/2023
New Zealand 1/25/2024 $4,892 13 13 16 $6,499 2/5/2024
 
International Total$30,205 2/5/2024

International Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time International Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400) 21,308 $30,205
All Time International Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 20,001-20,100) 20,018 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 12,301-12,400) 12,331 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 18,101-18,200) 18,174 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Science Fiction Movies (Rank 801-900) 840 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,139 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,214 $30,205
All Time International Box Office for 20th Century Fox Movies (Rank 301-400) 376 $30,205

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,887 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,296 $54,793,434
Top 1989 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 28 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,401 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,401-2,500) 2,418 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Science Fiction Movies (Rank 301-400) 308 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 501-600) 545 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG-13 Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,052 $54,793,434
All Time Worldwide Box Office for 20th Century Fox Movies (Rank 201-300) 278 $54,793,434