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Adventure box office · 1980

Adventure Box Office 1980: Highest-Grossing Adventure Movies

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the highest-grossing adventure movie released in 1980, with $550M worldwide, ahead of The Blue Lagoon (1980) at $58.9M and Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) at $41.7M. 15 adventure films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $763.7M in all, 66% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 69% on 1979, whose releases took $450.6M. By language, English leads with $763.7M across 14 adventure releases.

1980 releases with a gross
15
combined worldwide
$763.7M
film crossed $100M
1
vs 1979
+69%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Adventure Hits of 1980?

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) leads with $550M, 72% of the total. The top 5 together took $702M, 92% of what all 15 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) movie poster Number 1
    $550M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
  2. The Blue Lagoon (1980) movie poster Number 2
    $58.9M The Blue Lagoon (1980)
    $58.9M US & Canada · 100% $137 elsewhere · <1%
  3. Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) movie poster Number 3
    $41.7M Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980)
    $41.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. Flash Gordon (1980) movie poster Number 4
    $27.2M Flash Gordon (1980)
    $27.1M US & Canada · 100% $78.6K elsewhere · <1%
  5. Bronco Billy (1980) movie poster Number 5
    $24.3M Bronco Billy (1980)
    $24.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Adventure Release of 1980, 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 1980.

  1. 1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) movie poster
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) May 21, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $550M worldwide
    May 21, 1980 US and Canada: $292.8M Rest of the world: $257.3M Worldwide: $550M
  2. 2 The Blue Lagoon (1980) movie poster
    The Blue Lagoon (1980) Jul 2, 1980 · English · Adventure, Drama, Romance $58.9M worldwide
    Jul 2, 1980 US and Canada: $58.9M Rest of the world: $137 Worldwide: $58.9M
  3. 3 Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) movie poster
    Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) Jul 18, 1980 · English · Action, Comedy, Adventure $41.7M worldwide
    Jul 18, 1980 US and Canada: $41.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.7M
  4. 4 Flash Gordon (1980) movie poster
    Flash Gordon (1980) Dec 5, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $27.2M worldwide
    Dec 5, 1980 US and Canada: $27.1M Rest of the world: $78.6K Worldwide: $27.2M
  5. 5 Bronco Billy (1980) movie poster
    Bronco Billy (1980) Jun 11, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $24.3M worldwide
    Jun 11, 1980 US and Canada: $24.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.3M
  6. 6 Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) movie poster
    Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) Jun 25, 1980 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy $18M worldwide
    Jun 25, 1980 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18M
  7. 7 Rough Cut (1980) movie poster
    Rough Cut (1980) Jun 20, 1980 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Comedy $16.7M worldwide
    Jun 20, 1980 US and Canada: $16.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.7M
  8. 8 Saturn 3 (1980) movie poster
    Saturn 3 (1980) Feb 15, 1980 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller $9M worldwide
    Feb 15, 1980 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M
  9. 9 Mad Max (1980) movie poster
    Mad Max (1980) Feb 15, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $8.8M worldwide
    Feb 15, 1980 US and Canada: $8.8M Rest of the world: $24K Worldwide: $8.8M
  10. 10 When Time Ran Out... (1980) movie poster
    When Time Ran Out... (1980) Mar 28, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Drama $3.8M worldwide
    Mar 28, 1980 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.8M
  11. 11 Heaven's Gate (1980) movie poster
    Heaven's Gate (1980) Nov 19, 1980 · English · Adventure, Drama, Western $3.5M worldwide
    Nov 19, 1980 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: $192 Worldwide: $3.5M
  12. 12 Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) movie poster
    Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) May 30, 1980 · English · Adventure, Mystery, Comedy $2M worldwide
    May 30, 1980 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
  13. 13 City of Women (1980) movie poster
    City of Women (1980) Mar 28, 1980 · Italian · Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure $12.9K worldwide
    Mar 28, 1980 US and Canada: $12.5K Rest of the world: $416 Worldwide: $12.9K
  14. 14 Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) movie poster
    Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) May 1, 1980 · English · Comedy, Adventure $501 worldwide
    May 1, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $501
  15. 15 Cannibal Holocaust (1980) movie poster
    Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Feb 7, 1980 · English · Adventure, Horror $477 worldwide
    Feb 7, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $477
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1980?

Of the top 10, Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) made 47% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $506.3M (66%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
    $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
  2. 2 The Blue Lagoon (1980) $58.9M
    $58.9M US & Canada · 100% $137 elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) $41.7M
    $41.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M
    $27.1M US & Canada · 100% $78.6K elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 Bronco Billy (1980) $24.3M
    $24.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) $18M
    $18M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Rough Cut (1980) $16.7M
    $16.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Saturn 3 (1980) $9M
    $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Mad Max (1980) $8.8M
    $8.8M US & Canada · 100% $24K elsewhere · <1%
  10. 10 When Time Ran Out... (1980) $3.8M
    $3.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1980 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 15 films crossed $100M and took $550M between them, 72% 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 1 film, 7% of the list $550M · 72% of the gross
  • $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 6 films, 40% of the list $186.6M · 24% of the gross
  • Under $10M 8 films, 53% of the list $27M · 4% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1980 Earned the Most?

May releases took the most, $552M from 3 films, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). November was the quietest month ($3.5M). 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 Saturn 3 (1980) $17.8M Saturn 3 (1980)
  3. March Mar When Time Ran Out... (1980) $3.8M When Time Ran Out... (1980)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $552M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  6. June Jun Bronco Billy (1980) $58.9M Bronco Billy (1980)
  7. July Jul The Blue Lagoon (1980) $100.5M The Blue Lagoon (1980)
  8. August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  11. November Nov Heaven's Gate (1980) $3.5M Heaven's Gate (1980)
  12. December Dec Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M Flash Gordon (1980)
Last 10 years

How Does 1980 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $1.4B from 15 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1980 took $763.7M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1971 3 films 3 $476.6K – The Red Tent (1971) $473.9K
1972 7 films · +17845% 7 $85.5M +17845% The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.6M
1973 3 films · −58% 3 $35.5M −58% Live and Let Die (1973) $35.4M
1974 8 films · +71% 8 $60.5M +71% Benji (1974) $39.6M
1975 9 films · +747% 9 $513.1M +747% Jaws (1975) $477.9M
1976 1 film · −90% 1 $52.6M −90% King Kong (1976) $52.6M
1977 15 films · +2502% 15 $1.4B +2502% Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M
1978 11 films · −56% 11 $596.2M −56% Superman (1978) $300.5M
1979 11 films · −24% 11 $450.6M −24% Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
1980 15 films · +69% 15 $763.7M +69% Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Adventure Movies Speak in 1980?

English-language adventure films took $763.7M across 14 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Italian-language adventure films ($12.9K).

1980 Adventure Box Office by Language

  1. English $763.7M
    14 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  2. Italian $12.9K
    1 film · #1 City of Women (1980)
Archive

Adventure Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1923 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $20.5B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).

2020s 7 years · $64.6B
2010s 10 years · $150.8B
2000s 10 years · $71.5B
1990s 10 years · $23B
1980s 10 years · $8.9B
1970s 10 years · $3.4B
1960s 10 years · $759.7M
1950s 10 years · $325.9M
1940s 6 years · $5.3M
1930s 5 years · $25.7M
1920s 6 years · $122.1K
FAQ

Adventure Box Office 1980: 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 adventure movie in 1980?

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) leads with $550M worldwide, $292.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Blue Lagoon (1980) at $58.9M and Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980) at $41.7M.

How much did adventure movies released in 1980 earn?

15 adventure films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $763.7M in all, or $50.9M per film on average. 1979 releases took $450.6M.

How many adventure movies released in 1980 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with $550M.

How much of the 1980 Adventure box office came from the US and Canada?

$506.3M of the $763.7M total, or 66%, 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 1980 adventure 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 1980. 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 1980 adventure 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.