#1 of 6 #1 comedy movie of December 1979
1979 · Action, Comedy
$92.5M worldwide · 31% of the chart's total
$31.8M US & Canada · 34% $60.7M elsewhere · 66%
Comedy box office · December 1979
Comedy Box Office, December 1979: Top-Grossing Releases
1941 (1979) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in December 1979, with $92.5M worldwide, ahead of The Jerk (1979) at $73.7M and The Electric Horseman (1979) at $61.8M. 6 comedy films released in December 1979 report a worldwide gross, $298.3M in all, 80% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $298.3M across 6 comedy releases.
- December 1979 releases with a gross
- 6
- combined worldwide
- $298.3M
- 1941 (1979), the #1
- $92.5M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 80%
#1 of 6 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of December 1979?
1941 (1979) leads with $92.5M, 31% of the total. The top 5 together took $285M, 96% of what all 6 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Comedy Release of December 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 December 1979.
- 1 Dec 14, 1979 US and Canada: $31.8M Rest of the world: $60.7M Worldwide: $92.5M
- 2 Dec 14, 1979 US and Canada: $73.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $73.7M
- 3 Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $61.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $61.8M
- 4 Dec 19, 1979 US and Canada: $30.2M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $30.2M
- 5 Dec 25, 1979 US and Canada: $26.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.9M
- 6
Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1979?
Of the top 6, The Jerk (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while 1941 (1979) made 66% of its gross abroad. Across all 6 films, $237.5M (80%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 1941 (1979) $92.5M $31.8M US & Canada · 34% $60.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 2 The Jerk (1979) $73.7M $73.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Electric Horseman (1979) $61.8M $61.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Being There (1979) $30.2M $30.2M US & Canada · 100% $1.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Going in Style (1979) $26.9M $26.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Roller Boogie (1979) $13.3M $13.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1979 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 50 (Dec 9–15) took $166.1M, led by 1941 (1979). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 25–Dec 1 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 2–8 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 9–15 1941 (1979) $166.1M 1941 (1979)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 16–22 The Electric Horseman (1979) $105.2M The Electric Horseman (1979)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 23–29 Going in Style (1979) $26.9M Going in Style (1979)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 30–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1979 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1979 earned the most: $298.3M from 6 films, led by 1941 (1979).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1970 6 films | 6 | $191.1M | – | The Aristocats (1970) $191M |
| December 1971 4 films · −94% | 4 | $10.6M | −94% | Gentlemen of Fortune (1971) $10.6M |
| December 1972 2 films · −98% | 2 | $224K | −98% | Victoria No. 203 (1972) $201.2K |
| December 1973 3 films · +77817% | 3 | $174.5M | +77817% | The Sting (1973) $156M |
| December 1974 3 films · −50% | 3 | $86.4M | −50% | Young Frankenstein (1974) $86.3M |
| December 1975 1 film · −72% | 1 | $24.4M | −72% | Lucky Lady (1975) $24.4M |
| December 1976 2 films · +247% | 2 | $84.9M | +247% | Silver Streak (1976) $51.1M |
| December 1977 3 films · −63% | 3 | $31.4M | −63% | High Anxiety (1977) $31.1M |
| December 1978 2 films · +196% | 2 | $93.1M | +196% | Every Which Way But Loose (1978) $85.2M |
| December 1979 6 films · +220% | 6 | $298.3M | +220% | 1941 (1979) $92.5M |
Archive
Comedy Box Office in 1979, Month by Month
The months of 1979 with their totals: December leads with $298.3M, led by 1941 (1979).
- January $509 #1 Love on the Run (1979)
- February No grosses
- March $55.9M #1 Manhattan (1979)
- April $44M #1 Love at First Bite (1979)
- May $22M #1 La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- June $178.4M #1 The Muppet Movie (1979)
- July $25.8M #1 Breaking Away (1979)
- August $80.1M #1 North Dallas Forty (1979)
- September $684K #1 A Man, a Woman and a Bank (1979)
- October $110.5M #1 10 (1979)
- November $8.3M #1 The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)
- December $298.3M #1 1941 (1979)
FAQ
Comedy Box Office December 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 6 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in December 1979?
1941 (1979) leads with $92.5M worldwide, $31.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Jerk (1979) at $73.7M and The Electric Horseman (1979) at $61.8M.
How much did comedy movies released in December 1979 earn?
6 comedy films released in December 1979 report a worldwide gross, $298.3M in all, or $49.7M per film on average.
How many comedy movies released in December 1979 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, 1941 (1979), earned $92.5M.
How is the December 1979 comedy 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 December 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 December 1979 comedy 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.