#1 of 58 #1 drama movie of 1979
1979 · Drama
$106.3M worldwide · 12% of the chart's total
$106.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Drama box office · 1979
Drama Box Office 1979: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1979, with $106.3M worldwide, ahead of Apocalypse Now (1979) at $105.1M and Rocky II (1979) at $85.2M. 58 drama films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $919.3M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 57% on 1978, whose releases took $585M. By language, English leads with $889.5M across 44 drama releases.
- 1979 releases with a gross
- 58
- combined worldwide
- $919.3M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- vs 1978
- +57%
#1 of 58 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1979?
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) leads with $106.3M, 12% of the total. The top 5 together took $410.1M, 45% of what all 58 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 1979, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 58. 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 Dec 19, 1979 US and Canada: $106.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $106.3M
- 2 Aug 15, 1979 US and Canada: $96M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $105.1M
- 3 Jun 15, 1979 US and Canada: $85.2M Rest of the world: $5.7K Worldwide: $85.2M
- 4 Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $61.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $61.8M
- 5 Mar 16, 1979 US and Canada: $51.7M Rest of the world: $118 Worldwide: $51.7M
- 6
Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $43M Rest of the world: $5.4K Worldwide: $43M - 7
Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $39.9M Rest of the world: $247.3K Worldwide: $40.2M - 8
Dec 20, 1979 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $37.8M - 9
Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $33.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.3M - 10
Apr 4, 1979 US and Canada: $30.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.4M - 11
Dec 19, 1979 US and Canada: $30.2M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $30.2M - 12
Nov 7, 1979 US and Canada: $29.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.2M - 13
Dec 25, 1979 US and Canada: $26.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.9M - 14
Aug 3, 1979 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.1M - 15
Mar 2, 1979 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.2M - 16
Oct 26, 1979 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M - 17
Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6M - 18
Jul 20, 1979 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.4M - 19
Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $15.3M Rest of the world: $29.6K Worldwide: $15.3M - 20
Aug 3, 1979 US and Canada: $15M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15M - 21
Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.3M - 22
Feb 2, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 23
Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 24
Sep 19, 1979 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 25
Jul 13, 1979 US and Canada: $9.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.3M - 26
Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.4M - 27
Oct 30, 1979 US and Canada: $6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6M - 28
Jun 8, 1979 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.9M - 29
Oct 26, 1979 US and Canada: $4.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.7M - 30
Sep 19, 1979 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.9M - 31
Sep 13, 1979 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3M - 32
Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M - 33
May 14, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 34
Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M - 35
Jun 15, 1979 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 36
Oct 6, 1979 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 37
May 11, 1979 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $462 Worldwide: $1.2M - 38
Mar 9, 1979 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 39
May 25, 1979 US and Canada: $292K Rest of the world: $163.9K Worldwide: $456K - 40
Dec 18, 1979 US and Canada: $376.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $376.1K - 41
Apr 27, 1979 US and Canada: $85.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $85.5K - 42
Feb 22, 1979 US and Canada: $78.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $78.7K - 43
Oct 17, 1979 US and Canada: $11.9K Rest of the world: $9.6K Worldwide: $21.5K - 44
Jul 4, 1979 US and Canada: $14.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.5K - 45
Feb 20, 1979 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $4K Worldwide: $12.1K - 46
Nov 6, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.5K - 47
Sep 12, 1979 US and Canada: $6.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5K - 48
Apr 25, 1979 US and Canada: $5.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6K - 49
Oct 1, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K - 50
May 14, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1979?
Of the top 10, Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Apocalypse Now (1979) made 9% of its gross abroad. Across all 58 films, $907.8M (99%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $106.3M $106.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M $96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
- 3 Rocky II (1979) $85.2M $85.2M US & Canada · 100% $5.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 The Electric Horseman (1979) $61.8M $61.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The China Syndrome (1979) $51.7M $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $118 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M $43M US & Canada · 100% $5.4K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Manhattan (1979) $40.2M $39.9M US & Canada · 99% $247.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 All That Jazz (1979) $37.8M $37.8M US & Canada · 100% $1.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 ...and justice for all. (1979) $33.3M $33.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Champ (1979) $30.4M $30.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 58 films crossed $100M and took $211.4M between them, 23% of the total. 35 films, 60% of the list, earned under $10M.
23% 70%
- $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, 3% of the list $211.4M · 23% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 21 films, 36% of the list $645.1M · 70% of the gross
- Under $10M 35 films, 60% of the list $62.8M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $276.6M from 7 films, led by Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). January was the quietest month ($509). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Love on the Run (1979) $509 Love on the Run (1979)
- February Feb The Great Train Robbery (1979) $13.1M The Great Train Robbery (1979)
- March Mar The China Syndrome (1979) $133.2M The China Syndrome (1979)
- April Apr The Champ (1979) $30.5M The Champ (1979)
- May May Zulu Dawn (1979) $3.5M Zulu Dawn (1979)
- June Jun Rocky II (1979) $134.8M Rocky II (1979)
- July Jul Breaking Away (1979) $25.8M Breaking Away (1979)
- August Aug Apocalypse Now (1979) $180.7M Apocalypse Now (1979)
- September Sep The Onion Field (1979) $16.8M The Onion Field (1979)
- October Oct ...and justice for all. (1979) $75.1M ...and justice for all. (1979)
- November Nov The Rose (1979) $29.2M The Rose (1979)
- December Dec Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $276.6M Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Last 10 years
How Does 1979 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1979 earned the most: $919.3M from 58 films, led by Kramer vs. Kramer (1979).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 24 films | 24 | $229.2M | – | 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 |
| 1979 58 films · +57% | 58 | $919.3M | +57% | Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $106.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1979?
English-language drama films took $889.5M across 44 films, 97% of the total, ahead of Russian-language drama films ($457.7K) and Italian-language drama films ($88.6K).
1979 Drama Box Office by Language
-
English $889.5M44 films · #1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) -
Russian $457.7K2 films · #1 Stalker (1979) -
Italian $88.6K3 films · #1 Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) -
German $15.6K2 films · #1 The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) -
French $6.1K2 films · #1 Serie Noire (1979) -
Spanish $2.7K1 film · #1 Rapture (1979) -
Turkish $2.4K1 film · #1 The Herd (1979)
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 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 58 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1979?
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) leads with $106.3M worldwide, $106.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Apocalypse Now (1979) at $105.1M and Rocky II (1979) at $85.2M.
How much did drama movies released in 1979 earn?
58 drama films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $919.3M in all, or $15.8M per film on average. 1978 releases took $585M.
How many drama movies released in 1979 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) with $106.3M.
How is the 1979 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 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 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.