#1 of 3 #1 family movie of 1979
1979 · Adventure, Comedy
$66.5M worldwide · 53% of the chart's total
$66.5M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
Family box office · 1979
Family Box Office 1979: Highest-Grossing Family Movies
The Muppet Movie (1979) is the highest-grossing family movie released in 1979, with $66.5M worldwide, ahead of The Black Stallion (1979) at $37.8M and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) at $20.9M. 3 family films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $125.2M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 143% on 1978, whose releases took $51.5M.
- 1979 releases with a gross
- 3
- combined worldwide
- $125.2M
- The Muppet Movie (1979), the #1
- $66.5M
- vs 1978
- +143%
#1 of 3 Top 3
What Were the Biggest Family Hits of 1979?
The Muppet Movie (1979) leads with $66.5M, 53% of the total. The top 3 together took $125.2M, almost all of what the 3 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Family 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: $66.5M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $66.5M
- 2 Oct 13, 1979 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.8M
- 3 The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)Jun 27, 1979 US and Canada: $20.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.9M
Jun 27, 1979 · English · Comedy, Western, Family $20.9M worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1979?
Of the top 3, The Black Stallion (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Muppet Movie (1979) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 3 films, $125.2M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Muppet Movie (1979) $66.5M $66.5M US & Canada · 100% $1.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 The Black Stallion (1979) $37.8M $37.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) $20.9M $20.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $87.4M from 2 films, led by The Muppet Movie (1979). October was the quietest month ($37.8M). 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 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun The Muppet Movie (1979) $87.4M The Muppet Movie (1979)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The Black Stallion (1979) $37.8M The Black Stallion (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, 1977 earned the most: $206.1M from 9 films, led by The Rescuers (1977). 1979 took $125.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 2 films | 2 | $191M | – | 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 |
| 1979 3 films · +143% | 3 | $125.2M | +143% | The Muppet Movie (1979) $66.5M |
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 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 3 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing family movie in 1979?
The Muppet Movie (1979) leads with $66.5M worldwide, $66.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Black Stallion (1979) at $37.8M and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) at $20.9M.
How much did family movies released in 1979 earn?
3 family films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $125.2M in all, or $41.7M per film on average. 1978 releases took $51.5M.
How many family movies released in 1979 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Muppet Movie (1979), earned $66.5M.
How is the 1979 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 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 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.