#1 of 50 #1 drama movie of 1978
1978 · Adventure, Drama
$187.9M worldwide · 32% of the chart's total
$81.8M US & Canada · 44% $106.1M elsewhere · 56%
Drama box office · 1978
Drama Box Office 1978: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
Jaws 2 (1978) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1978, with $187.9M worldwide, ahead of The Deer Hunter (1978) at $49.1M and The End (1978) at $44.9M. 50 drama films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $585M in all, 82% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 30% on 1977, whose releases took $832.1M. By language, English leads with $513.3M across 40 drama releases.
- 1978 releases with a gross
- 50
- combined worldwide
- $585M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1977
- −30%
#1 of 50 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1978?
Jaws 2 (1978) leads with $187.9M, 32% of the total. The top 5 together took $349.5M, 60% of what all 50 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 Drama Release of 1978, 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 1978.
- 1 Jun 16, 1978 US and Canada: $81.8M Rest of the world: $106.1M Worldwide: $187.9M
- 2 Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $49M Rest of the world: $101K Worldwide: $49.1M
- 3 May 10, 1978 US and Canada: $44.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.9M
- 4 Oct 6, 1978 US and Canada: $35M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35M
- 5 Feb 15, 1978 US and Canada: $32.7M Rest of the world: $141 Worldwide: $32.7M
- 6
Jun 28, 1978 US and Canada: $22.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.8M - 7
Apr 28, 1978 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M - 8
Apr 23, 1978 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 9
May 12, 1978 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M - 10
Sep 29, 1978 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: $9.2K Worldwide: $14.6M - 11
May 18, 1978 US and Canada: $14.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.4M - 12
The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II (1978)Feb 10, 1978 US and Canada: $11.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.6M
Feb 10, 1978 · English · Drama, Romance $11.6M worldwide - 13
Dec 22, 1978 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M - 14
Aug 2, 1978 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.4M - 15
Mar 17, 1978 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 16
Oct 25, 1978 US and Canada: $9.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.6M - 17
Mar 17, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M - 18
Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M - 19
Dec 20, 1978 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M - 20
Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 21
Sep 22, 1978 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 22
Jul 19, 1978 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M - 23
Feb 10, 1978 US and Canada: $6.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5M - 24
Apr 5, 1978 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 25
Mar 10, 1978 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.4M - 26
Nov 2, 1978 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.9M - 27
Sep 13, 1978 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $47.4K Worldwide: $3.5M - 28
Sep 13, 1978 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $46.2K Worldwide: $3.5M - 29
May 1, 1978 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 30
Feb 22, 1978 US and Canada: $500.7K Rest of the world: $64K Worldwide: $564.6K - 31
1978 US and Canada: $494.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $494.8K - 32
Sep 20, 1978 US and Canada: $69.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $69.3K - 33
May 10, 1978 US and Canada: $52.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.2K - 34
Oct 8, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39K - 35
Mar 3, 1978 US and Canada: $27.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.2K - 36
Oct 4, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.1K - 37
Nov 1, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.9K - 38
Jun 30, 1978 US and Canada: $9.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.5K - 39
Nov 17, 1978 US and Canada: $9.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.5K - 40
May 14, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.4K - 41
Aug 11, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.4K - 42
May 19, 1978 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $264 Worldwide: $8.4K - 43
Sep 28, 1978 US and Canada: $4.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.8K - 44
Nov 8, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7K - 45
Jul 29, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 46
May 26, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 47
Jan 13, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $568 - 48
Apr 5, 1978 US and Canada: $509 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $509 - 49
Jun 2, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $402 - 50
Mar 3, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $340
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1978?
Of the top 10, The End (1978) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Jaws 2 (1978) made 56% of its gross abroad. Across all 50 films, $478.6M (82%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M $81.8M US & Canada · 44% $106.1M elsewhere · 56%
- 2 The Deer Hunter (1978) $49.1M $49M US & Canada · 100% $101K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The End (1978) $44.9M $44.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Midnight Express (1978) $35M $35M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Coming Home (1978) $32.7M $32.7M US & Canada · 100% $141 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Convoy (1978) $22.8M $22.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 F.I.S.T. (1978) $20.4M $20.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Same Time, Next Year (1978) $19.7M $19.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Greek Tycoon (1978) $14.7M $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Death on the Nile (1978) $14.6M $14.6M US & Canada · 100% $9.2K elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1978 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 50 films crossed $100M and took $187.9M between them, 32% of the total. 36 films, 72% of the list, earned under $10M.
32% 51% 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 1 film, 2% of the list $187.9M · 32% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 13 films, 26% of the list $301.1M · 51% of the gross
- Under $10M 36 films, 72% of the list $96.1M · 16% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1978 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $210.7M from 4 films, led by Jaws 2 (1978). January was the quietest month ($495.4K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Uncle Joe Shannon (1978) $495.4K Uncle Joe Shannon (1978)
- February Feb Coming Home (1978) $51.3M Coming Home (1978)
- March Mar Straight Time (1978) $23.3M Straight Time (1978)
- April Apr F.I.S.T. (1978) $45.9M F.I.S.T. (1978)
- May May The End (1978) $76M The End (1978)
- June Jun Jaws 2 (1978) $210.7M Jaws 2 (1978)
- July Jul International Velvet (1978) $7M International Velvet (1978)
- August Aug Interiors (1978) $10.4M Interiors (1978)
- September Sep Death on the Nile (1978) $28.8M Death on the Nile (1978)
- October Oct Midnight Express (1978) $44.6M Midnight Express (1978)
- November Nov Caravans (1978) $4M Caravans (1978)
- December Dec The Deer Hunter (1978) $82.5M The Deer Hunter (1978)
Last 10 years
How Does 1978 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $869.6M from 34 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). 1978 took $585M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 33 films | 33 | $164M | – | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) $102.3M |
| 1970 24 films · +40% | 24 | $229.2M | +40% | Airport (1970) $100.5M |
| 1971 33 films · −42% | 33 | $133.4M | −42% | The French Connection (1971) $51.7M |
| 1972 29 films · +153% | 29 | $337M | +153% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 34 films · +158% | 34 | $869.6M | +158% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 34 films · −49% | 34 | $439.5M | −49% | The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M |
| 1975 30 films · −31% | 30 | $303.6M | −31% | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) $109.1M |
| 1976 27 films · +25% | 27 | $378.6M | +25% | Rocky (1976) $117.3M |
| 1977 41 films · +120% | 41 | $832.1M | +120% | Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) $306.9M |
| 1978 50 films · −30% | 50 | $585M | −30% | Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1978?
English-language drama films took $513.3M across 40 films, 88% of the total, ahead of Swedish-language drama films ($39K) and Italian-language drama films ($36.5K).
Archive
Drama Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $13.9B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $50.1B
2010s 10 years · $113.6B
- 2019 $13.9B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $12.7B #1 Black Panther (2018)
- 2017 $12.5B #1 Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
- 2016 $11.1B #1 The Jungle Book (2016)
- 2015 $11.6B #1 Inside Out (2015)
- 2014 $10.3B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $12.1B #1 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- 2011 $7.8B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $9.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $70.7B
- 2009 $9.9B #1 2012 (2009)
- 2008 $10.6B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $7.6B #1 I Am Legend (2007)
- 2006 $7.5B #1 The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
- 2005 $8.1B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.4B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $5B #1 Bruce Almighty (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $4.6B #1 Pearl Harbor (2001)
- 2000 $5.8B #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $42.3B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.9B #1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- 1997 $5.9B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $4.5B #1 Twister (1996)
- 1995 $4.8B #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $4.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $4.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $2.9B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $2.4B #1 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- 1990 $2.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $14.2B
- 1989 $2B #1 Dead Poets Society (1989)
- 1988 $2.1B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $1.4B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $1.5B #1 Rocky IV (1985)
- 1984 $1.4B #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.1B #1 Terms of Endearment (1983)
- 1982 $1.3B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $889.5M #1 On Golden Pond (1981)
- 1980 $674.6M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 10 years · $5B
- 1979 $919.3M #1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
- 1978 $585M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $832.1M #1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- 1976 $378.6M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $303.6M #1 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- 1974 $439.5M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $869.6M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $337M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $133.4M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $229.2M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $865.1M
- 1969 $164M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $59.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $166.8M #1 The Graduate (1967)
- 1966 $29.7M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $272.6M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $74.9M #1 My Fair Lady (1964)
- 1963 $63.5M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $6M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $6.5M #1 Mother and a Guest (1961)
- 1960 $21.9M #1 The Apartment (1960)
1950s 10 years · $438.7M
- 1959 $75M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $3.3M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $32.5M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $119.9M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $32.7M #1 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- 1953 $36.8M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $36.5M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.5M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $1.5M #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $775.9M
- 1949 $164.2K #1 Stray Dog (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $11.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $54.6M #1 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $102.5K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $4.9M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $270.1M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.8M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $404.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $2.8M
- 1939 $1.1M #1 Wuthering Heights (1939)
- 1938 $47.4K #1 Port of Shadows (1938)
- 1937 $19.3K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $536.4K #1 Modern Times (1936)
- 1935 $516K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $13.2K #1 L’Atalante (1934)
- 1933 $451.3K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $47.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $46.6K #1 M (1931)
- 1930 $5.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 8 years · $10.4M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $40.9K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $161.5K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $720.7K #1 Flesh and the Devil (1926)
- 1925 $82.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1923 $12.9K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
Drama Box Office 1978: 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 50 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1978?
Jaws 2 (1978) leads with $187.9M worldwide, $81.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Deer Hunter (1978) at $49.1M and The End (1978) at $44.9M.
How much did drama movies released in 1978 earn?
50 drama films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $585M in all, or $11.7M per film on average. 1977 releases took $832.1M.
How many drama movies released in 1978 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Jaws 2 (1978) with $187.9M.
How is the 1978 drama 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 1978. 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 1978 drama 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.