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Horror box office · 1980

Horror Box Office 1980: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies

The Shining (1980) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1980, with $48M worldwide, ahead of Friday the 13th (1980) at $39.9M and The Fog (1980) at $21.4M. 16 horror films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $175M in all, 98% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 37% on 1979, whose releases took $279.6M. By language, English leads with $153.4M across 13 horror releases.

1980 releases with a gross
16
combined worldwide
$175M
The Shining (1980), the #1
$48M
vs 1979
−37%
The Shining (1980) movie poster #1 of 16
#1 horror movie of 1980

The Shining (1980)

1980 · Thriller, Horror

$48M worldwide · 27% of the chart's total

$45.6M US & Canada · 95% $2.3M elsewhere · 5%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1980?

The Shining (1980) leads with $48M, 27% of the total. The top 5 together took $144M, 82% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Shining (1980) movie poster Number 1
    $48M The Shining (1980)
    $45.6M US & Canada · 95% $2.3M elsewhere · 5%
  2. Friday the 13th (1980) movie poster Number 2
    $39.9M Friday the 13th (1980)
    $39.8M US & Canada · 100% $163.3K elsewhere · <1%
  3. The Fog (1980) movie poster Number 3
    $21.4M The Fog (1980)
    $21.4M US & Canada · 100% $48 elsewhere · <1%
  4. Altered States (1980) movie poster Number 4
    $19.9M Altered States (1980)
    $19.9M US & Canada · 100% $6 elsewhere · <1%
  5. Prom Night (1980) movie poster Number 5
    $14.8M Prom Night (1980)
    $14.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Horror Release of 1980, 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 1980.

  1. 1 The Shining (1980) movie poster
    The Shining (1980) May 23, 1980 · English · Thriller, Horror $48M worldwide
    May 23, 1980 US and Canada: $45.6M Rest of the world: $2.3M Worldwide: $48M
  2. 2 Friday the 13th (1980) movie poster
    Friday the 13th (1980) May 9, 1980 · English · Horror $39.9M worldwide
    May 9, 1980 US and Canada: $39.8M Rest of the world: $163.3K Worldwide: $39.9M
  3. 3 The Fog (1980) movie poster
    The Fog (1980) Feb 8, 1980 · Thriller, Horror $21.4M worldwide
    Feb 8, 1980 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: $48 Worldwide: $21.4M
  4. 4 Altered States (1980) movie poster
    Altered States (1980) Dec 25, 1980 · English · Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror $19.9M worldwide
    Dec 25, 1980 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: $6 Worldwide: $19.9M
  5. 5 Prom Night (1980) movie poster
    Prom Night (1980) Jul 18, 1980 · English · Thriller, Horror $14.8M worldwide
    Jul 18, 1980 US and Canada: $14.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8M
  6. 6 Saturn 3 (1980) movie poster
    Saturn 3 (1980) Feb 15, 1980 · English · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller $9M worldwide
    Feb 15, 1980 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M
  7. 7 The Awakening (1980) movie poster
    The Awakening (1980) Jul 9, 1980 · English · Horror $8.4M worldwide
    Jul 9, 1980 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.4M
  8. 8 Motel Hell (1980) movie poster
    Motel Hell (1980) Oct 24, 1980 · English · Thriller, Horror, Comedy $6.3M worldwide
    Oct 24, 1980 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M
  9. 9 He Knows You’re Alone (1980) movie poster
    He Knows You’re Alone (1980) Aug 29, 1980 · English · Horror $4.9M worldwide
    Aug 29, 1980 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.9M
  10. 10 Windows (1980) movie poster
    Windows (1980) Jan 18, 1980 · English · Thriller, Horror, Drama $2.1M worldwide
    Jan 18, 1980 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.1M
  11. 11 Haunted Tales (1980) movie poster
    Haunted Tales (1980) Apr 19, 1980 · Chinese · Horror, Thriller $228.5K worldwide
    Apr 19, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $228.5K
  12. 12 Phobia (1980) movie poster
    Phobia (1980) Sep 9, 1980 · English · Thriller, Horror $59.2K worldwide
    Sep 9, 1980 US and Canada: $59.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $59.2K
  13. 13 Inferno (1980) movie poster
    Inferno (1980) Apr 2, 1980 · English · Horror $1K worldwide
    Apr 2, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1K
  14. 14 Cannibal Holocaust (1980) movie poster
    Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Feb 7, 1980 · English · Adventure, Horror $477 worldwide
    Feb 7, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $477
  15. 15 Humanoids from the Deep (1980) movie poster
    Humanoids from the Deep (1980) May 16, 1980 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror $160 worldwide
    May 16, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $160
  16. 16 The Changeling (1980) movie poster
    The Changeling (1980) Mar 28, 1980 · Horror $147 worldwide
    Mar 28, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $147
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1980?

Of the top 10, Prom Night (1980) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Shining (1980) made 5% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $172.3M (98%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 The Shining (1980) $48M
    $45.6M US & Canada · 95% $2.3M elsewhere · 5%
  2. 2 Friday the 13th (1980) $39.9M
    $39.8M US & Canada · 100% $163.3K elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 The Fog (1980) $21.4M
    $21.4M US & Canada · 100% $48 elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Altered States (1980) $19.9M
    $19.9M US & Canada · 100% $6 elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 Prom Night (1980) $14.8M
    $14.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Saturn 3 (1980) $9M
    $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Awakening (1980) $8.4M
    $8.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Motel Hell (1980) $6.3M
    $6.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 He Knows You’re Alone (1980) $4.9M
    $4.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Windows (1980) $2.1M
    $2.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1980 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 16 films reached $100M. 11 films, 69% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $175M total.

  • $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 31% of the list $144M · 82% of the gross
  • Under $10M 11 films, 69% of the list $31.1M · 18% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1980 Earned the Most?

May releases took the most, $87.9M from 3 films, led by The Shining (1980). March was the quietest month ($147). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Windows (1980) $2.1M Windows (1980)
  2. February Feb The Fog (1980) $30.4M The Fog (1980)
  3. March Mar The Changeling (1980) $147 The Changeling (1980)
  4. April Apr Haunted Tales (1980) $229.5K Haunted Tales (1980)
  5. May May The Shining (1980) $87.9M The Shining (1980)
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul Prom Night (1980) $23.2M Prom Night (1980)
  8. August Aug He Knows You’re Alone (1980) $4.9M He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
  9. September Sep Phobia (1980) $59.2K Phobia (1980)
  10. October Oct Motel Hell (1980) $6.3M Motel Hell (1980)
  11. November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  12. December Dec Altered States (1980) $19.9M Altered States (1980)
Last 10 years

How Does 1980 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1975 earned the most: $481.8M from 4 films, led by Jaws (1975). 1980 took $175M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1971 7 films 7 $2.7M – 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
1980 16 films · −37% 16 $175M −37% The Shining (1980) $48M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 1980?

English-language horror films took $153.4M across 13 films, 88% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language horror films ($228.5K).

1980 Horror Box Office by Language

  1. English $153.4M
    13 films · #1 The Shining (1980)
  2. Chinese $228.5K
    1 film · #1 Haunted Tales (1980)
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 1980: 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 16 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1980?

The Shining (1980) leads with $48M worldwide, $45.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Friday the 13th (1980) at $39.9M and The Fog (1980) at $21.4M.

How much did horror movies released in 1980 earn?

16 horror films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $175M in all, or $10.9M per film on average. 1979 releases took $279.6M.

How many horror movies released in 1980 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Shining (1980), earned $48M.

How much of the 1980 Horror box office came from the US and Canada?

$172.3M of the $175M total, or 98%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 5 films of the 16 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1980 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 1980. 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 1980 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.