#1 of 6 #1 fantasy movie of 1978
1978 · Sport, Fantasy
$81.6M worldwide · 48% of the chart's total
$81.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Fantasy box office · 1978
Fantasy Box Office 1978: Highest-Grossing Fantasy Movies
Heaven Can Wait (1978) is the highest-grossing fantasy movie released in 1978, with $81.6M worldwide, ahead of The Lord of the Rings (1978) at $30.5M and The Wiz (1978) at $21M. 6 fantasy films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $169.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 82% on 1977, whose releases took $954.3M. By language, English leads with $67.2M across 3 fantasy releases.
- 1978 releases with a gross
- 6
- combined worldwide
- $169.9M
- Heaven Can Wait (1978), the #1
- $81.6M
- vs 1977
- −82%
#1 of 6 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Fantasy Hits of 1978?
Heaven Can Wait (1978) leads with $81.6M, 48% of the total. The top 5 together took $169.9M, almost all of what the 6 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 Fantasy 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 28, 1978 US and Canada: $81.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $81.6M
- 2 The Lord of the Rings (1978)Nov 15, 1978 US and Canada: $30.5M Rest of the world: $5.8K Worldwide: $30.5M
Nov 15, 1978 · English · Fantasy, Adventure, Animation $30.5M worldwide - 3 Oct 24, 1978 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $594 Worldwide: $21M
- 4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)Jul 24, 1978 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M Jul 24, 1978 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy $20.4M worldwide
- 5 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
- 6
Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978)Aug 1, 1978 US and Canada: $7.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.6K
Aug 1, 1978 · Azerbaijani · History, Fantasy, Animation $7.6K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1978?
Of the top 6, Heaven Can Wait (1978) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Lord of the Rings (1978) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 6 films, $169.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Heaven Can Wait (1978) $81.6M $81.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 The Lord of the Rings (1978) $30.5M $30.5M US & Canada · 100% $5.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The Wiz (1978) $21M $21M US & Canada · 100% $594 elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) $20.4M $20.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Return from Witch Mountain (1978) $16.4M $16.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978) $7.6K $7.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1978 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $81.6M from 1 film, led by Heaven Can Wait (1978). August was the quietest month ($7.6K). 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 Heaven Can Wait (1978) $81.6M Heaven Can Wait (1978)
- July Jul Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) $20.4M Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
- August Aug Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978) $7.6K Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The Wiz (1978) $21M The Wiz (1978)
- November Nov The Lord of the Rings (1978) $30.5M The Lord of the Rings (1978)
- 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: $954.3M from 9 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1978 took $169.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 2 films | 2 | $1.1M | – | Satyricon (1969) $1.1M |
| 1970 2 films · −95% | 2 | $61.6K | −95% | Donkey Skin (1970) $60.5K |
| 1971 2 films · +1017% | 2 | $688.6K | +1017% | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) $687.7K |
| 1972 2 films · −48% | 2 | $356.8K | −48% | The Master and Margarita (1972) $356.5K |
| 1973 6 films · −3% | 6 | $345K | −3% | The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) $190.7K |
| 1974 5 films · +10985% | 5 | $38.2M | +10985% | Herbie Rides Again (1974) $38.2M |
| 1975 4 films · −63% | 4 | $14.2M | −63% | The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1975) $11.2M |
| 1976 1 film · −100% | 1 | $21.8K | −100% | Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) $21.8K |
| 1977 9 films · +4381654% | 9 | $954.3M | +4381654% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 6 films · −82% | 6 | $169.9M | −82% | Heaven Can Wait (1978) $81.6M |
Archive
Fantasy Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $15.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $40.9B
2010s 10 years · $90B
- 2019 $15.7B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $8.2B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $13.4B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $10.4B #1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- 2015 $7.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $6.9B #1 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
- 2013 $8.2B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $6.7B #1 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
- 2011 $5.8B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $7.4B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $46.3B
- 2009 $8.5B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $4B #1 Hancock (2008)
- 2007 $7.3B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $3.8B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $4.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $4.2B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $4.3B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $3B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $4.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $2.1B #1 What Women Want (2000)
1990s 10 years · $11.9B
- 1999 $3.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $987.9M #1 City of Angels (1998)
- 1997 $736.5M #1 Liar Liar (1997)
- 1996 $770.2M #1 Phenomenon (1996)
- 1995 $1.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $764.7M #1 The Mask (1994)
- 1993 $645.5M #1 Last Action Hero (1993)
- 1992 $600.2M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $1.2B #1 Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- 1990 $791.6M #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $4.4B
- 1989 $678.8M #1 Ghostbusters II (1989)
- 1988 $805.7M #1 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- 1987 $521.8M #1 *batteries not included (1987)
- 1986 $240.7M #1 The Golden Child (1986)
- 1985 $295.4M #1 Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
- 1984 $651.5M #1 Ghostbusters (1984)
- 1983 $694.5M #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $262.9M #1 Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- 1981 $175.2M #1 Time Bandits (1981)
- 1980 $75.3M #1 Xanadu (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.2B
- 1979 $49.8M #1 All That Jazz (1979)
- 1978 $169.9M #1 Heaven Can Wait (1978)
- 1977 $954.3M #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $21.8K #1 Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)
- 1975 $14.2M #1 The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1975)
- 1974 $38.2M #1 Herbie Rides Again (1974)
- 1973 $345K #1 The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
- 1972 $356.8K #1 The Master and Margarita (1972)
- 1971 $688.6K #1 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- 1970 $61.6K #1 Donkey Skin (1970)
1960s 10 years · $125.1M
- 1969 $1.1M #1 Satyricon (1969)
- 1968 $8.8M #1 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
- 1967 $4.2K #1 Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
- 1966 $3.3K #1 The Hawks and the Sparrows (1966)
- 1965 $33K #1 Juliet of the Spirits (1965)
- 1964 $103.1M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $12M #1 The Sword in the Stone (1963)
- 1962 $31.9K #1 Pitfall (1962)
- 1961 $90 #1 Mothra (1961)
- 1960 $3K #1 Testament of Orpheus (1960)
1950s 7 years · $236M
1940s 8 years · $171.6M
- 1948 $44 #1 The Bishop's Wife (1948)
- 1947 $11.6M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $38M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $2.7K #1 Anchors Aweigh (1945)
- 1944 $306 #1 The Curse of the Cat People (1944)
- 1942 $27 #1 I Married a Witch (1942)
- 1941 $112.6K #1 Dumbo (1941)
- 1940 $121.9M #1 Pinocchio (1940)
1930s 4 years · $210.7M
1920s 1 year · $12.2K
FAQ
Fantasy 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 6 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing fantasy movie in 1978?
Heaven Can Wait (1978) leads with $81.6M worldwide, $81.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Lord of the Rings (1978) at $30.5M and The Wiz (1978) at $21M.
How much did fantasy movies released in 1978 earn?
6 fantasy films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $169.9M in all, or $28.3M per film on average. 1977 releases took $954.3M.
How many fantasy movies released in 1978 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Heaven Can Wait (1978), earned $81.6M.
How is the 1978 fantasy 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 fantasy 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.