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Action box office · 1979

Action Box Office 1979: Highest-Grossing Action Movies

Moonraker (1979) is the highest-grossing action movie released in 1979, with $210.3M worldwide, ahead of Apocalypse Now (1979) at $105.1M and 1941 (1979) at $92.5M. 15 action films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $524.3M in all, 60% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 3% on 1978, whose releases took $509.4M. By language, English leads with $524.3M across 15 action releases.

1979 releases with a gross
15
combined worldwide
$524.3M
films crossed $100M
2
vs 1978
+3%
Moonraker (1979) movie poster #1 of 15
#1 action movie of 1979

Moonraker (1979)

1979 · Action, Adventure

$210.3M worldwide · 40% of the chart's total

$70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Action Hits of 1979?

Moonraker (1979) leads with $210.3M, 40% of the total. The top 5 together took $466.2M, 89% of what all 15 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Moonraker (1979) movie poster Number 1
    $210.3M Moonraker (1979)
    $70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
  2. Apocalypse Now (1979) movie poster Number 2
    $105.1M Apocalypse Now (1979)
    $96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
  3. 1941 (1979) movie poster Number 3
    $92.5M 1941 (1979)
    $31.8M US & Canada · 34% $60.7M elsewhere · 66%
  4. The Black Hole (1979) movie poster Number 4
    $35.8M The Black Hole (1979)
    $35.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. The Warriors (1979) movie poster Number 5
    $22.5M The Warriors (1979)
    $22.5M US & Canada · 100% $5.2K elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Action Release of 1979, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1979.

  1. 1 Moonraker (1979) movie poster
    Moonraker (1979) Jun 29, 1979 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $210.3M worldwide
    Jun 29, 1979 US and Canada: $70.3M Rest of the world: $140M Worldwide: $210.3M
  2. 2 Apocalypse Now (1979) movie poster
    Apocalypse Now (1979) Aug 15, 1979 · English · Action, Drama, War $105.1M worldwide
    Aug 15, 1979 US and Canada: $96M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $105.1M
  3. 3 1941 (1979) movie poster
    1941 (1979) Dec 14, 1979 · English · Action, Comedy, War $92.5M worldwide
    Dec 14, 1979 US and Canada: $31.8M Rest of the world: $60.7M Worldwide: $92.5M
  4. 4 The Black Hole (1979) movie poster
    The Black Hole (1979) Dec 21, 1979 · English · Action, Sci-Fi $35.8M worldwide
    Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $35.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.8M
  5. 5 The Warriors (1979) movie poster
    The Warriors (1979) Feb 9, 1979 · English · Action, Thriller $22.5M worldwide
    Feb 9, 1979 US and Canada: $22.5M Rest of the world: $5.2K Worldwide: $22.5M
  6. 6 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) movie poster
    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) Sep 20, 1979 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $21.7M worldwide
    Sep 20, 1979 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.7M
  7. 7 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) movie poster
    The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · English · Thriller, Action, Drama $13M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
  8. 8 Meteor (1979) movie poster
    Meteor (1979) Oct 19, 1979 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Drama $8.4M worldwide
    Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.4M
  9. 9 The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) movie poster
    The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · English · Comedy, Adventure, Action $7.7M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7M
  10. 10 Hanover Street (1979) movie poster
    Hanover Street (1979) Sep 13, 1979 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $3M worldwide
    Sep 13, 1979 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M
  11. 11 Sunburn (1979) movie poster
    Sunburn (1979) Aug 10, 1979 · English · Action, Comedy, Crime $2.4M worldwide
    Aug 10, 1979 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M
  12. 12 The Passage (1979) movie poster
    The Passage (1979) Mar 9, 1979 · English · Action, Drama, War $1.1M worldwide
    Mar 9, 1979 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M
  13. 13 City on Fire (1979) movie poster
    City on Fire (1979) Jul 11, 1979 · English · Action $791.6K worldwide
    Jul 11, 1979 US and Canada: $784.2K Rest of the world: $7.4K Worldwide: $791.6K
  14. 14 Disco Godfather (1979) movie poster
    Disco Godfather (1979) Sep 4, 1979 · English · Crime, Drama, Comedy $633 worldwide
    Sep 4, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $633
  15. 15 The Six Thousand Dollar Nigger (1979) movie poster
    The Six Thousand Dollar Nigger (1979) Nov 1, 1979 · English · Comedy, Action, Sci-Fi $81 worldwide
    Nov 1, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $81
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1979?

Of the top 10, The Black Hole (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Moonraker (1979) made 67% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $314.5M (60%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
    $70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
  2. 2 Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M
    $96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
  3. 3 1941 (1979) $92.5M
    $31.8M US & Canada · 34% $60.7M elsewhere · 66%
  4. 4 The Black Hole (1979) $35.8M
    $35.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 The Warriors (1979) $22.5M
    $22.5M US & Canada · 100% $5.2K elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) $21.7M
    $21.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) $13M
    $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Meteor (1979) $8.4M
    $8.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) $7.7M
    $7.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Hanover Street (1979) $3M
    $3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 15 films crossed $100M and took $315.4M between them, 60% of the total. 8 films, 53% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $100M to $500M 2 films, 13% of the list $315.4M · 60% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 33% of the list $185.5M · 35% of the gross
  • Under $10M 8 films, 53% of the list $23.4M · 4% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?

June releases took the most, $210.3M from 1 film, led by Moonraker (1979). November was the quietest month ($81). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb The Warriors (1979) $22.5M The Warriors (1979)
  3. March Mar The Passage (1979) $1.1M The Passage (1979)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  6. June Jun Moonraker (1979) $210.3M Moonraker (1979)
  7. July Jul City on Fire (1979) $791.6K City on Fire (1979)
  8. August Aug Apocalypse Now (1979) $128.2M Apocalypse Now (1979)
  9. September Sep Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) $24.7M Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
  10. October Oct Meteor (1979) $8.4M Meteor (1979)
  11. November Nov The Six Thousand Dollar Nigger (1979) $81 The Six Thousand Dollar Nigger (1979)
  12. December Dec 1941 (1979) $128.3M 1941 (1979)
Last 10 years

How Does 1979 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $1B from 8 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1979 took $524.3M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1970 3 films 3 $119.5M – Airport (1970) $100.5M
1971 6 films · −6% 6 $112.6M −6% The French Connection (1971) $51.7M
1972 8 films · −16% 8 $94.5M −16% The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.6M
1973 10 films · −11% 10 $84.1M −11% Magnum Force (1973) $39.8M
1974 11 films · +184% 11 $238.7M +184% The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M
1975 8 films · −88% 8 $28.9M −88% The Eiger Sanction (1975) $14.2M
1976 8 films · +262% 8 $104.8M +262% Silver Streak (1976) $51.1M
1977 8 films · +858% 8 $1B +858% Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M
1978 12 films · −49% 12 $509.4M −49% Superman (1978) $300.5M
1979 15 films · +3% 15 $524.3M +3% Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
Archive

Action Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1924 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2017 leads with $20.6B, led by Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017).

2020s 7 years · $61.4B
2010s 10 years · $152.6B
2000s 10 years · $73.2B
1990s 10 years · $32.6B
1980s 10 years · $10.7B
1970s 10 years · $2.8B
1960s 10 years · $286.3M
1950s 7 years · $3.2M
1940s 2 years · $2.3M
1930s 2 years · $5.8K
1920s 2 years · $1.8K
FAQ

Action Box Office 1979: Questions & Answers

The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 15 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing action movie in 1979?

Moonraker (1979) leads with $210.3M worldwide, $70.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Apocalypse Now (1979) at $105.1M and 1941 (1979) at $92.5M.

How much did action movies released in 1979 earn?

15 action films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $524.3M in all, or $35M per film on average. 1978 releases took $509.4M.

How many action movies released in 1979 made $1 billion?

None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Moonraker (1979) with $210.3M.

How much of the 1979 Action box office came from the US and Canada?

$314.5M of the $524.3M total, or 60%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 2 films of the 15 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1979 action box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?

Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 1979. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.

How often is the 1979 action box office chart updated?

Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.