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Horror box office · 1979

Horror Box Office 1979: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies

Alien (1979) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1979, with $109.1M worldwide, ahead of The Amityville Horror (1979) at $86.4M and When a Stranger Calls (1979) at $21.4M. 12 horror films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $279.6M in all, 91% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 2% on 1978, whose releases took $286.6M. By language, English leads with $268.2M across 9 horror releases.

1979 releases with a gross
12
combined worldwide
$279.6M
film crossed $100M
1
vs 1978
−2%
Alien (1979) movie poster #1 of 12
#1 horror movie of 1979

Alien (1979)

1979 · Horror, Sci-Fi

$109.1M worldwide · 39% of the chart's total

$84.2M US & Canada · 77% $24.9M elsewhere · 23%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1979?

Alien (1979) leads with $109.1M, 39% of the total. The top 5 together took $255.5M, 91% of what all 12 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Alien (1979) movie poster Number 1
    $109.1M Alien (1979)
    $84.2M US & Canada · 77% $24.9M elsewhere · 23%
  2. The Amityville Horror (1979) movie poster Number 2
    $86.4M The Amityville Horror (1979)
    $86.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. When a Stranger Calls (1979) movie poster Number 3
    $21.4M When a Stranger Calls (1979)
    $21.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. Dracula (1979) movie poster Number 4
    $20.2M Dracula (1979)
    $20.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. Prophecy (1979) movie poster Number 5
    $18.4M Prophecy (1979)
    $18.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Horror 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. 1 Alien (1979) movie poster
    Alien (1979) Jun 22, 1979 · English · Horror, Sci-Fi $109.1M worldwide
    Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $84.2M Rest of the world: $24.9M Worldwide: $109.1M
  2. 2 The Amityville Horror (1979) movie poster
    The Amityville Horror (1979) Jul 27, 1979 · English · Horror $86.4M worldwide
    Jul 27, 1979 US and Canada: $86.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $86.4M
  3. 3 When a Stranger Calls (1979) movie poster
    When a Stranger Calls (1979) Oct 26, 1979 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $21.4M worldwide
    Oct 26, 1979 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M
  4. 4 Dracula (1979) movie poster
    Dracula (1979) Jul 20, 1979 · English · Horror, Romance $20.2M worldwide
    Jul 20, 1979 US and Canada: $20.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.2M
  5. 5 Prophecy (1979) movie poster
    Prophecy (1979) Jun 15, 1979 · English · Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror $18.4M worldwide
    Jun 15, 1979 US and Canada: $18.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.4M
  6. 6 Phantasm (1979) movie poster
    Phantasm (1979) Jun 1, 1979 · English · Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror $12M worldwide
    Jun 1, 1979 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12M
  7. 7 The Legacy (1979) movie poster
    The Legacy (1979) Sep 14, 1979 · Horror $11.4M worldwide
    Sep 14, 1979 US and Canada: $11.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.4M
  8. 8 Beyond the Reef (1979) movie poster
    Beyond the Reef (1979) Dec 20, 1979 · English · Adventure, Romance, Horror $549.9K worldwide
    Dec 20, 1979 US and Canada: $547.5K Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $549.9K
  9. 9 Dawn of the Dead (1979) movie poster
    Dawn of the Dead (1979) May 24, 1979 · English · Thriller, Horror $159.8K worldwide
    May 24, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $159.8K
  10. 10 Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) movie poster
    Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) Oct 1, 1979 · German · Drama, Horror $3.5K worldwide
    Oct 1, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K
  11. 11 Rapture (1979) movie poster
    Rapture (1979) Mar 2, 1979 · Spanish · Horror, Drama, Fantasy $2.7K worldwide
    Mar 2, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7K
  12. 12 Long Weekend (1979) movie poster
    Long Weekend (1979) Mar 29, 1979 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $365 worldwide
    Mar 29, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1979?

Of the top 10, The Amityville Horror (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Alien (1979) made 23% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $254.5M (91%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Alien (1979) $109.1M
    $84.2M US & Canada · 77% $24.9M elsewhere · 23%
  2. 2 The Amityville Horror (1979) $86.4M
    $86.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 When a Stranger Calls (1979) $21.4M
    $21.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 Dracula (1979) $20.2M
    $20.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 Prophecy (1979) $18.4M
    $18.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Phantasm (1979) $12M
    $12M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Legacy (1979) $11.4M
    $11.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Beyond the Reef (1979) $549.9K
    $547.5K US & Canada · 100% $2.4K elsewhere · <1%
  9. 9 Dawn of the Dead (1979) $159.8K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) $3.5K
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 12 films crossed $100M and took $109.1M between them, 39% of the total. 5 films, 42% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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 1 film, 8% of the list $109.1M · 39% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 6 films, 50% of the list $169.7M · 61% of the gross
  • Under $10M 5 films, 42% of the list $716.3K · <1% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?

June releases took the most, $139.5M from 3 films, led by Alien (1979). March was the quietest month ($3.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  3. March Mar Rapture (1979) $3.1K Rapture (1979)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May Dawn of the Dead (1979) $159.8K Dawn of the Dead (1979)
  6. June Jun Alien (1979) $139.5M Alien (1979)
  7. July Jul The Amityville Horror (1979) $106.6M The Amityville Horror (1979)
  8. August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  9. September Sep The Legacy (1979) $11.4M The Legacy (1979)
  10. October Oct When a Stranger Calls (1979) $21.4M When a Stranger Calls (1979)
  11. November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  12. December Dec Beyond the Reef (1979) $549.9K Beyond the Reef (1979)
Last 10 years

How Does 1979 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1975 earned the most: $481.8M from 4 films, led by Jaws (1975). 1979 took $279.6M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1970 2 films 2 $40.6K – Multiple Maniacs (1970) $39K
1971 7 films · +6614% 7 $2.7M +6614% THX 1138 (1971) $2.4M
1972 2 films · −100% 2 $1.6K −100% Images (1972) $1.4K
1973 4 films · +27702431% 4 $431.3M +27702431% The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M
1974 9 films · −93% 9 $32.1M −93% The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M
1975 4 films · +1400% 4 $481.8M +1400% Jaws (1975) $477.9M
1976 6 films · −69% 6 $149.4M −69% The Omen (1976) $60.9M
1977 7 films · −69% 7 $45.7M −69% Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) $30.7M
1978 7 films · +526% 7 $286.6M +526% Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M
1979 12 films · −2% 12 $279.6M −2% Alien (1979) $109.1M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 1979?

English-language horror films took $268.2M across 9 films, 96% of the total, ahead of German-language horror films ($3.5K) and Spanish-language horror films ($2.7K).

1979 Horror Box Office by Language

  1. English $268.2M
    9 films · #1 Alien (1979)
  2. German $3.5K
    1 film · #1 Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
  3. Spanish $2.7K
    1 film · #1 Rapture (1979)
Archive

Horror Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $3.7B, led by Venom (2018).

2020s 7 years · $15.4B
2010s 10 years · $22.6B
2000s 10 years · $12.1B
1990s 10 years · $5.4B
1980s 10 years · $2.5B
1970s 10 years · $1.7B
1960s 10 years · $33M
1950s 7 years · $24.4M
1940s 5 years · $42.7K
1930s 6 years · $168.1K
1920s 3 years · $18K
FAQ

Horror 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 12 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1979?

Alien (1979) leads with $109.1M worldwide, $84.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Amityville Horror (1979) at $86.4M and When a Stranger Calls (1979) at $21.4M.

How much did horror movies released in 1979 earn?

12 horror films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $279.6M in all, or $23.3M per film on average. 1978 releases took $286.6M.

How many horror movies released in 1979 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Alien (1979) with $109.1M.

How much of the 1979 Horror box office came from the US and Canada?

$254.5M of the $279.6M total, or 91%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 4 films of the 12 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1979 horror 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 horror 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.