#1 of 4 #1 family movie of 1978
1978 · Adventure, Fantasy
$21M worldwide · 41% of the chart's total
$21M US & Canada · 100% $594 elsewhere · <1%
Family box office · 1978
Family Box Office 1978: Highest-Grossing Family Movies
The Wiz (1978) is the highest-grossing family movie released in 1978, with $21M worldwide, ahead of Return from Witch Mountain (1978) at $16.4M and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) at $7.1M. 4 family films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $51.5M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 75% on 1977, whose releases took $206.1M.
- 1978 releases with a gross
- 4
- combined worldwide
- $51.5M
- The Wiz (1978), the #1
- $21M
- vs 1977
- −75%
#1 of 4 Top 4
What Were the Biggest Family Hits of 1978?
The Wiz (1978) leads with $21M, 41% of the total. The top 4 together took $51.5M, almost all of what the 4 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Family 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 Oct 24, 1978 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $594 Worldwide: $21M
- 2 Return from Witch Mountain (1978)Mar 10, 1978 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.4M
Mar 10, 1978 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy $16.4M worldwide - 3 The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)Jun 30, 1978 US and Canada: $7.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.1M Jun 30, 1978 · English · Sport, Comedy, Family $7.1M worldwide
- 4 Jul 19, 1978 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1978?
Of the top 4, Return from Witch Mountain (1978) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Wiz (1978) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 4 films, $51.5M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Wiz (1978) $21M $21M US & Canada · 100% $594 elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Return from Witch Mountain (1978) $16.4M $16.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) $7.1M $7.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 International Velvet (1978) $7M $7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1978 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $21M from 1 film, led by The Wiz (1978). July was the quietest month ($7M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Return from Witch Mountain (1978) $16.4M Return from Witch Mountain (1978)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) $7.1M The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)
- July Jul International Velvet (1978) $7M International Velvet (1978)
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The Wiz (1978) $21M The Wiz (1978)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1978 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $206.1M from 9 films, led by The Rescuers (1977). 1978 took $51.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 2 films | 2 | $51.3M | – | The Love Bug (1969) $51.3M |
| 1970 2 films · +272% | 2 | $191M | +272% | The Aristocats (1970) $191M |
| 1971 3 films · −94% | 3 | $11.1M | −94% | Fiddler on the Roof (1971) $10.4M |
| 1972 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1973 2 films | 2 | $22.6M | – | The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) $22.6M |
| 1974 5 films · +366% | 5 | $105.3M | +366% | Benji (1974) $39.6M |
| 1975 2 films · −65% | 2 | $36.9M | −65% | The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) $36.9M |
| 1976 5 films · +68% | 5 | $61.9M | +68% | The Bad News Bears (1976) $32.2M |
| 1977 9 films · +233% | 9 | $206.1M | +233% | The Rescuers (1977) $71.2M |
| 1978 4 films · −75% | 4 | $51.5M | −75% | The Wiz (1978) $21M |
Archive
Family Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1938 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $9.1B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $22.3B
2010s 10 years · $62.9B
- 2019 $9.1B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $5.6B #1 Incredibles 2 (2018)
- 2017 $7.8B #1 Beauty and the Beast (2017)
- 2016 $8.9B #1 Finding Dory (2016)
- 2015 $6.3B #1 Minions (2015)
- 2014 $4.4B #1 Big Hero 6 (2014)
- 2013 $5.3B #1 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
- 2012 $4.8B #1 Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
- 2011 $4B #1 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
- 2010 $6.7B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $44.3B
- 2009 $6.9B #1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- 2008 $4.9B #1 Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- 2007 $5.7B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $5.1B #1 Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
- 2005 $5.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- 2004 $4.6B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $4.2B #1 Finding Nemo (2003)
- 2002 $2.5B #1 Ice Age (2002)
- 2001 $3.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $2.1B #1 Dinosaur (2000)
1990s 10 years · $14.6B
- 1999 $1.8B #1 Toy Story 2 (1999)
- 1998 $2B #1 A Bug's Life (1998)
- 1997 $1.1B #1 Bean (1997)
- 1996 $1.1B #1 The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
- 1995 $2.1B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $2.1B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $1.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $607.3M #1 Sister Act (1992)
- 1991 $1.2B #1 Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 1990 $940.8M #1 Home Alone (1990)
1980s 10 years · $3.1B
- 1989 $765.9M #1 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
- 1988 $710.7M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $412.1M #1 3 Men and a Baby (1987)
- 1986 $349.6M #1 The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
- 1985 $247M #1 The Goonies (1985)
- 1984 $123.3M #1 The Karate Kid (1984)
- 1983 $60.1M #1 A Christmas Story (1983)
- 1982 $136.9M #1 Annie (1982)
- 1981 $169.1M #1 The Fox and the Hound (1981)
- 1980 $92.5M #1 Popeye (1980)
1970s 9 years · $811.6M
- 1979 $125.2M #1 The Muppet Movie (1979)
- 1978 $51.5M #1 The Wiz (1978)
- 1977 $206.1M #1 The Rescuers (1977)
- 1976 $61.9M #1 The Bad News Bears (1976)
- 1975 $36.9M #1 The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
- 1974 $105.3M #1 Benji (1974)
- 1973 $22.6M #1 The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
- 1971 $11.1M #1 Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
- 1970 $191M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 9 years · $657.6M
- 1969 $51.3M #1 The Love Bug (1969)
- 1968 $8.8M #1 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- 1967 $205.8M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $16K #1 The Ghost of Monk’s Island (1966)
- 1965 $159.6M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $179.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $12M #1 The Sword in the Stone (1963)
- 1962 $14.8K #1 Bill of Hare (1962)
- 1960 $40.4M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 9 years · $412.6M
- 1959 $51.6M #1 Sleeping Beauty (1959)
- 1957 $91 #1 Old Yeller (1957)
- 1956 $42.1M #1 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- 1955 $93.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $746 #1 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
- 1953 $92.6M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $36M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $16K #1 Lovelorn Leghorn (1951)
- 1950 $96.4M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 8 years · $438.2M
1930s 2 years · $210.7M
FAQ
Family 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 4 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing family movie in 1978?
The Wiz (1978) leads with $21M worldwide, $21M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Return from Witch Mountain (1978) at $16.4M and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) at $7.1M.
How much did family movies released in 1978 earn?
4 family films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $51.5M in all, or $12.9M per film on average. 1977 releases took $206.1M.
How many family movies released in 1978 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Wiz (1978), earned $21M.
How is the 1978 family 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 family 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.