#1 of 6 #1 history movie of 1978
1978 · Drama, Music
$7.9M worldwide · 50% of the chart's total
$7.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
History box office · 1978
History Box Office 1978: Highest-Grossing History Movies
American Hot Wax (1978) is the highest-grossing history movie released in 1978, with $7.9M worldwide, ahead of The Brink's Job (1978) at $7.9M and The Song of Roland (1978) at $24.1K. 6 history films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $15.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $15.9M across 3 history releases.
- 1978 releases with a gross
- 6
- combined worldwide
- $15.9M
- American Hot Wax (1978), the #1
- $7.9M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 100%
#1 of 6 Top 5
What Were the Biggest History Hits of 1978?
American Hot Wax (1978) leads with $7.9M, 50% of the total. The top 5 together took $15.9M, 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 History 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 Mar 17, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M
- 2 Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M
- 3 Oct 4, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.1K
- 4 Nov 17, 1978 US and Canada: $9.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.5K
- 5 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 - 6
Apr 5, 1978 US and Canada: $509 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $509
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1978?
Of the top 6, American Hot Wax (1978) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Green Room (1978) made 0% of its gross abroad. Across all 6 films, $15.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 6 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 American Hot Wax (1978) $7.9M $7.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 The Brink's Job (1978) $7.9M $7.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Song of Roland (1978) $24.1K No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Northern Lights (1978) $9.5K $9.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978) $7.6K $7.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Green Room (1978) $509 $509 US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1978 Earned the Most?
March releases took the most, $7.9M from 1 film, led by American Hot Wax (1978). April was the quietest month ($509). 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 American Hot Wax (1978) $7.9M American Hot Wax (1978)
- April Apr The Green Room (1978) $509 The Green Room (1978)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- 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 Song of Roland (1978) $24.1K The Song of Roland (1978)
- November Nov Northern Lights (1978) $9.5K Northern Lights (1978)
- December Dec The Brink's Job (1978) $7.9M The Brink's Job (1978)
Last 10 years
How Does 1978 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1976 earned the most: $70.8M from 3 films, led by All the President's Men (1976). 1978 took $15.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 2 films | 2 | $1M | – | Army of Shadows (1969) $931.7K |
| 1970 4 films · +3043% | 4 | $31.9M | +3043% | Little Big Man (1970) $31.6M |
| 1971 2 films · −100% | 2 | $3.1K | −100% | The Devils (1971) $2.3K |
| 1972 1 film · +1107% | 1 | $37.8K | +1107% | Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) $37.8K |
| 1973 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1974 5 films | 5 | $103.4K | – | Edvard Munch (1974) $76.9K |
| 1975 5 films · +303% | 5 | $416.1K | +303% | Barry Lyndon (1975) $283.9K |
| 1976 3 films · +16920% | 3 | $70.8M | +16920% | All the President's Men (1976) $70.6M |
| 1977 2 films · −28% | 2 | $50.8M | −28% | A Bridge Too Far (1977) $50.8M |
| 1978 6 films · −69% | 6 | $15.9M | −69% | American Hot Wax (1978) $7.9M |
Archive
History Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $2.8B, led by Oppenheimer (2023).
2020s 7 years · $6.8B
2010s 10 years · $11.6B
- 2019 $1.8B #1 My People, My Country (2019)
- 2018 $1.2B #1 Green Book (2018)
- 2017 $1.7B #1 Dunkirk (2017)
- 2016 $1.8B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.1B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $528.3M #1 Unbroken (2014)
- 2013 $969.9M #1 American Hustle (2013)
- 2012 $1.2B #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $413.7M #1 Beginning of the Great Revival (2011)
- 2010 $881.6M #1 The King's Speech (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6.7B
- 2009 $638.5M #1 Public Enemies (2009)
- 2008 $943.6M #1 Australia (2008)
- 2007 $426.8M #1 Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
- 2006 $744.1M #1 World Trade Center (2006)
- 2005 $796.9M #1 Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
- 2004 $1.2B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $666.9M #1 The Last Samurai (2003)
- 2002 $630M #1 Gangs of New York (2002)
- 2001 $103.7M #1 Enemy at the Gates (2001)
- 2000 $565.8M #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.6B
- 1999 $183.1M #1 Anna and the King (1999)
- 1998 $353.8M #1 The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
- 1997 $207.8M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $40.4M #1 Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
- 1995 $980.4M #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $52.8M #1 Quiz Show (1994)
- 1993 $420M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $58M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $223M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $42.6M #1 Glory (1990)
1980s 10 years · $628.2M
- 1989 $24.8M #1 Henry V (1989)
- 1988 $70.4M #1 Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- 1987 $157.2M #1 The Untouchables (1987)
- 1986 $23.6M #1 The Mission (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Killing Fields (1985)
- 1984 $63.8M #1 Amadeus (1984)
- 1983 $74M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $53.3M #1 Quest for Fire (1982)
- 1981 $83.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $4M #1 Kagemusha (1980)
1970s 9 years · $171.8M
- 1979 $1.9M #1 Zulu Dawn (1979)
- 1978 $15.9M #1 American Hot Wax (1978)
- 1977 $50.8M #1 A Bridge Too Far (1977)
- 1976 $70.8M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $416.1K #1 Barry Lyndon (1975)
- 1974 $103.4K #1 Edvard Munch (1974)
- 1972 $37.8K #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- 1971 $3.1K #1 The Devils (1971)
- 1970 $31.9M #1 Little Big Man (1970)
1960s 10 years · $108.7M
- 1969 $1M #1 Army of Shadows (1969)
- 1968 $20.1K #1 The Lion in Winter (1968)
- 1967 $316 #1 In Cold Blood (1967)
- 1966 $1.1M #1 The Battle of Algiers (1966)
- 1965 $162.9K #1 War and Peace (1965)
- 1964 $149.3K #1 Becket (1964)
- 1963 $58M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $46M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $350K #1 The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
- 1960 $1.9M #1 Spartacus (1960)
1950s 9 years · $177.5M
- 1959 $74.6M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $38.4K #1 The Vikings (1958)
- 1957 $68K #1 Throne of Blood (1957)
- 1956 $65.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $911.1K #1 The Dam Busters (1955)
- 1954 $26.6K #1 Knights of the Round Table (1954)
- 1953 $36M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $280.5K #1 Les Miserables (1952)
- 1950 $10.9K #1 The Flame and the Arrow (1950)
1940s 5 years · $402.5M
1930s 4 years · $29.1K
1920s 3 years · $124.9K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ
History 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 history movie in 1978?
American Hot Wax (1978) leads with $7.9M worldwide, $7.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Brink's Job (1978) at $7.9M and The Song of Roland (1978) at $24.1K.
How much did history movies released in 1978 earn?
6 history films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $15.9M in all, or $2.6M per film on average.
How many history movies released in 1978 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, American Hot Wax (1978), earned $7.9M.
How is the 1978 history 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 history 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.