Best Defense (1984)

Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $19,265,302Details
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$7,872,297 (40.9% of total gross)
Legs:2.45 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:1,425 opening theaters/1,425 max. theaters, 3.0 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $61,809,502

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,901-4,000) 3,950 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,601-5,700) 5,651 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 801-900) 815 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,068 $19,265,302

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


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 20th, 1984 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures
Video Release: January 27th, 2004 by Paramount Home Video
Running Time: 94 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Beowulf
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Satirical Comedy, Satire, War, Military Life, 1980s, Non-Chronological, KGB, Death of a Colleague
Source:Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre:Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production Countries: United States

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,901-4,000) 3,950 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,680 $61,809,502
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,300 $19,265,302
Top 1984 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 54 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 801-900) 827 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,472 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,086 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 801-900) 815 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Paramount Pictures Movies (Rank 401-500) 415 $19,265,302

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 20, 1984 2 $7,872,297   1,425 $5,524   $7,872,297 1
Jul 27, 1984 7 $3,175,612 -60% 1,425 $2,228   $14,155,050 2
Aug 3, 1984 15 $1,469,636 -54% 921 $1,596   $17,026,305 3
Aug 10, 1984 18 $575,047 -61% 484 $1,188   $18,361,590 4

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 20, 1984 3 $10,979,438   1,425 $7,705   $10,979,438 1
Jul 27, 1984 7 $4,577,231 -58% 1,425 $3,212   $15,556,669 2
Aug 3, 1984 15 $2,229,874 -51% 921 $2,421   $17,786,543 3

Leading Cast

Eddie Murphy    Lieutenant T.M. Landry
Dudley Moore    Wylie Cooper

Supporting Cast

Kate Capshaw    Laura Cooper
George Dzundza    Steve Loparino
Helen Shaver    Clair Lewis, Wylie's Boss

Uncategorized

Tom Noonan    Frank Holtzman
David Rasche    Jeff the 'KBG' Agent

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

Production and Technical Credits

Willard Huyck    Director
Willard Huyck    Screenwriter
Jennifer Parsons*    Costumer: Women

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:$7,872,297 (40.9% of total gross)
Legs:2.45 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:1,425 opening theaters/1,425 max. theaters, 3.0 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $61,809,502

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,901-4,000) 3,950 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,601-5,700) 5,651 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 801-900) 815 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,068 $19,265,302

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


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 20th, 1984 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures
Video Release: January 27th, 2004 by Paramount Home Video
Running Time: 94 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Beowulf
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Satirical Comedy, Satire, War, Military Life, 1980s, Non-Chronological, KGB, Death of a Colleague
Source:Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre:Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production Countries: United States

Leading Cast

Eddie Murphy    Lieutenant T.M. Landry
Dudley Moore    Wylie Cooper

Supporting Cast

Kate Capshaw    Laura Cooper
George Dzundza    Steve Loparino
Helen Shaver    Clair Lewis, Wylie's Boss

Uncategorized

Tom Noonan    Frank Holtzman
David Rasche    Jeff the 'KBG' Agent

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

Production and Technical Credits

Willard Huyck    Director
Willard Huyck    Screenwriter
Jennifer Parsons*    Costumer: Women

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 3,901-4,000) 3,950 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,680 $61,809,502
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,300 $19,265,302
Top 1984 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 54 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 801-900) 827 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,472 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,086 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 801-900) 815 $19,265,302
All Time Domestic Box Office for Paramount Pictures Movies (Rank 401-500) 415 $19,265,302

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 20, 1984 2 $7,872,297   1,425 $5,524   $7,872,297 1
Jul 27, 1984 7 $3,175,612 -60% 1,425 $2,228   $14,155,050 2
Aug 3, 1984 15 $1,469,636 -54% 921 $1,596   $17,026,305 3
Aug 10, 1984 18 $575,047 -61% 484 $1,188   $18,361,590 4

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 20, 1984 3 $10,979,438   1,425 $7,705   $10,979,438 1
Jul 27, 1984 7 $4,577,231 -58% 1,425 $3,212   $15,556,669 2
Aug 3, 1984 15 $2,229,874 -51% 921 $2,421   $17,786,543 3

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,601-5,700) 5,651 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 4,801-4,900) 4,818 $19,265,302
Top 1984 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 54 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,062 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,901-5,000) 4,911 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,965 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Comedy Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,068 $19,265,302
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Paramount Pictures Movies (Rank 401-500) 441 $19,265,302