#1 of 12 #1 crime movie of 1979
1979 · Biography, Drama
$43M worldwide · 33% of the chart's total
$43M US & Canada · 100% $5.4K elsewhere · <1%
Crime box office · 1979
Crime Box Office 1979: Highest-Grossing Crime Movies
Escape from Alcatraz (1979) is the highest-grossing crime movie released in 1979, with $43M worldwide, ahead of ...and justice for all. (1979) at $33.3M and When a Stranger Calls (1979) at $21.4M. 12 crime films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $132M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 13% on 1978, whose releases took $151.3M. By language, English leads with $132M across 11 crime releases.
- 1979 releases with a gross
- 12
- combined worldwide
- $132M
- Escape from Alcatraz (1979), the #1
- $43M
- vs 1978
- −13%
#1 of 12 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Crime Hits of 1979?
Escape from Alcatraz (1979) leads with $43M, 33% of the total. The top 5 together took $120.6M, 91% of what all 12 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 Crime 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 Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $43M Rest of the world: $5.4K Worldwide: $43M
- 2 Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $33.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.3M
- 3 Oct 26, 1979 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M
- 4 Feb 2, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
- 5 Sep 19, 1979 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M
- 6
Jun 29, 1979 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2M - 7
Aug 10, 1979 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 8
Sep 28, 1979 US and Canada: $683.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $683.4K - 9
Oct 17, 1979 US and Canada: $11.9K Rest of the world: $9.6K Worldwide: $21.5K - 10
Sep 12, 1979 US and Canada: $6.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5K - 11
Apr 25, 1979 US and Canada: $5.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6K - 12
Sep 4, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $633
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1979?
Of the top 10, ...and justice for all. (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Vengeance Is Mine (1979) made 45% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $132M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M $43M US & Canada · 100% $5.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 ...and justice for all. (1979) $33.3M $33.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 When a Stranger Calls (1979) $21.4M $21.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Great Train Robbery (1979) $13M $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Onion Field (1979) $9.9M $9.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Bloodline (1979) $8.2M $8.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Sunburn (1979) $2.4M $2.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 A Man, a Woman and a Bank (1979) $683.4K $683.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Vengeance Is Mine (1979) $21.5K $11.9K US & Canada · 55% $9.6K elsewhere · 45%
- 10 Scum (1979) $6.5K $6.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 12 films reached $100M. 8 films, 67% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $132M total.
84% 16%
- $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 33% of the list $110.7M · 84% of the gross
- Under $10M 8 films, 67% of the list $21.2M · 16% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $54.7M from 3 films, led by ...and justice for all. (1979). April was the quietest month ($5.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb The Great Train Robbery (1979) $13M The Great Train Robbery (1979)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Serie Noire (1979) $5.6K Serie Noire (1979)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $51.2M Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Sunburn (1979) $2.4M Sunburn (1979)
- September Sep The Onion Field (1979) $10.6M The Onion Field (1979)
- October Oct ...and justice for all. (1979) $54.7M ...and justice for all. (1979)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1979 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $281.5M from 16 films, led by The Sting (1973). 1979 took $132M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 8 films | 8 | $20.4M | – | Joe (1970) $19.3M |
| 1971 11 films · +588% | 11 | $140.3M | +588% | The French Connection (1971) $51.7M |
| 1972 5 films · +78% | 5 | $250.4M | +78% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 16 films · +12% | 16 | $281.5M | +12% | The Sting (1973) $156M |
| 1974 14 films · −29% | 14 | $199.1M | −29% | The Godfather: Part II (1974) $48M |
| 1975 10 films · −27% | 10 | $145.7M | −27% | Dog Day Afternoon (1975) $50M |
| 1976 12 films · +32% | 12 | $192.9M | +32% | Silver Streak (1976) $51.1M |
| 1977 7 films · −78% | 7 | $42.2M | −78% | The Gauntlet (1977) $26.4M |
| 1978 9 films · +259% | 9 | $151.3M | +259% | Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) $49.6M |
| 1979 12 films · −13% | 12 | $132M | −13% | Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Crime Movies Speak in 1979?
English-language crime films took $132M across 11 films, 100% of the total, ahead of French-language crime films ($5.6K).
Archive
Crime Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2013 leads with $6.1B, led by Despicable Me 2 (2013).
2020s 7 years · $16.4B
2010s 10 years · $37.4B
- 2019 $4.9B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Skyscraper (2018)
- 2017 $3.8B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $3.9B #1 Zootopia (2016)
- 2015 $4.1B #1 Furious 7 (2015)
- 2014 $2.1B #1 22 Jump Street (2014)
- 2013 $6.1B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $4.9B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- 2011 $1.7B #1 Fast Five (2011)
- 2010 $2.2B #1 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2010)
2000s 10 years · $28.4B
- 2009 $3.2B #1 Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- 2008 $3.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $3.4B #1 Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
- 2006 $2.5B #1 The Departed (2006)
- 2005 $2.7B #1 Batman Begins (2005)
- 2004 $2.1B #1 Ocean's Twelve (2004)
- 2003 $3.1B #1 Bad Boys II (2003)
- 2002 $2.6B #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $3.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $2B #1 Charlie's Angels (2000)
1990s 10 years · $19.3B
- 1999 $2.5B #1 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
- 1998 $1.7B #1 Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
- 1997 $2.1B #1 Face/Off (1997)
- 1996 $1.8B #1 Ransom (1996)
- 1995 $2.5B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $1.9B #1 The Mask (1994)
- 1993 $1.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $1.7B #1 Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
- 1991 $1.7B #1 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- 1990 $2.1B #1 Home Alone (1990)
1980s 10 years · $6.5B
- 1989 $1.6B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $1.2B #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $1.1B #1 Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- 1986 $480.9M #1 Legal Eagles (1986)
- 1985 $257M #1 Fletch (1985)
- 1984 $664.2M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $344.3M #1 Sudden Impact (1983)
- 1982 $236.6M #1 48 Hrs. (1982)
- 1981 $247.4M #1 Sharky's Machine (1981)
- 1980 $373M #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.6B
- 1979 $132M #1 Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
- 1978 $151.3M #1 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- 1977 $42.2M #1 The Gauntlet (1977)
- 1976 $192.9M #1 Silver Streak (1976)
- 1975 $145.7M #1 Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- 1974 $199.1M #1 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- 1973 $281.5M #1 The Sting (1973)
- 1972 $250.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $140.3M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $20.4M #1 Joe (1970)
1960s 10 years · $174M
- 1969 $102.7M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $6.5M #1 The War Wagon (1967)
- 1966 $143.5K #1 Made in U.S.A (1966)
- 1965 $186.8K #1 Pierrot le Fou (1965)
- 1964 $10.9M #1 The Pink Panther (1964)
- 1963 $46.4M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $2.5M #1 Copacabana Palace (1962)
- 1961 $3.8K #1 Accattone (1961)
- 1960 $1M #1 Breathless (1960)
1950s 10 years · $13.7M
- 1959 $27.6K #1 The Law (1959)
- 1958 $2.7M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $3.7K #1 12 Angry Men (1957)
- 1956 $76.3K #1 The Ladykillers (1956)
- 1955 $1.5M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $6.4M #1 An Inspector Calls (1954)
- 1953 $7.5K #1 The Big Heat (1953)
- 1952 $8.9K #1 Deadline - U.S.A. (1952)
- 1951 $1.9M #1 The Girl on the Bridge (1951)
- 1950 $994.2K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 7 years · $667K
1930s 7 years · $3.3M
FAQ
Crime 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 12 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing crime movie in 1979?
Escape from Alcatraz (1979) leads with $43M worldwide, $43M of it in the US & Canada. Next come ...and justice for all. (1979) at $33.3M and When a Stranger Calls (1979) at $21.4M.
How much did crime movies released in 1979 earn?
12 crime films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $132M in all, or $11M per film on average. 1978 releases took $151.3M.
How many crime movies released in 1979 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Escape from Alcatraz (1979), earned $43M.
How is the 1979 crime 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 crime 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.