#1 of 7 #1 music movie of 1978
1978 · Comedy, Music
$44.4M worldwide · 64% of the chart's total
$44.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Music box office · 1978
Music Box Office 1978: Highest-Grossing Music Movies
Up in Smoke (1978) is the highest-grossing music movie released in 1978, with $44.4M worldwide, ahead of The Buddy Holly Story (1978) at $14.4M and American Hot Wax (1978) at $7.9M. 7 music films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $69M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 73% on 1977, whose releases took $254M. By language, English leads with $69M across 7 music releases.
- 1978 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $69M
- Up in Smoke (1978), the #1
- $44.4M
- vs 1977
- −73%
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Music Hits of 1978?
Up in Smoke (1978) leads with $44.4M, 64% of the total. The top 5 together took $69M, almost all of what the 7 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 Music 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 Sep 15, 1978 US and Canada: $44.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.4M
- 2 May 18, 1978 US and Canada: $14.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.4M
- 3 Mar 17, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M
- 4 Apr 1, 1978 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M
- 5 Apr 26, 1978 US and Canada: $322.3K Rest of the world: $41.2K Worldwide: $363.5K
- 6
Jun 30, 1978 US and Canada: $9.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.5K - 7
May 19, 1978 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $134
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1978?
Of the top 7, Up in Smoke (1978) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Last Waltz (1978) made 11% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $68.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 7 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Up in Smoke (1978) $44.4M $44.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 The Buddy Holly Story (1978) $14.4M $14.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 American Hot Wax (1978) $7.9M $7.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978) $1.9M $1.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Last Waltz (1978) $363.5K $322.3K US & Canada · 89% $41.2K elsewhere · 11%
- 6 Stunt Rock (1978) $9.5K $9.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Thank God It’s Friday (1978) $134 No US & Canada figure reported
By release month
Which Month of 1978 Earned the Most?
September releases took the most, $44.4M from 1 film, led by Up in Smoke (1978). June was the quietest month ($9.5K). 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 I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978) $2.3M I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
- May May The Buddy Holly Story (1978) $14.4M The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
- June Jun Stunt Rock (1978) $9.5K Stunt Rock (1978)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Up in Smoke (1978) $44.4M Up in Smoke (1978)
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- 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: $254M from 7 films, led by Saturday Night Fever (1977). 1978 took $69M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1970 5 films | 5 | $191.4M | – | The Aristocats (1970) $191M |
| 1971 1 film · −100% | 1 | $1.6K | −100% | The Music Lovers (1971) $1.6K |
| 1972 2 films · +41952% | 2 | $671.2K | +41952% | Elvis on Tour (1972) $587.8K |
| 1973 5 films · −70% | 5 | $204.1K | −70% | Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) $102K |
| 1974 2 films · −50% | 2 | $102.6K | −50% | A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974) $96.8K |
| 1975 3 films · +9684% | 3 | $10M | +9684% | Nashville (1975) $10M |
| 1976 3 films · +697% | 3 | $80M | +697% | A Star Is Born (1976) $80M |
| 1977 7 films · +217% | 7 | $254M | +217% | Saturday Night Fever (1977) $237.1M |
| 1978 7 films · −73% | 7 | $69M | −73% | Up in Smoke (1978) $44.4M |
Archive
Music Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1925 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2020s 7 years · $2.9B
2010s 10 years · $7B
- 2019 $543.5M #1 Rocketman (2019)
- 2018 $2B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $531.2M #1 Baby Driver (2017)
- 2016 $803.5M #1 Sing (2016)
- 2015 $1B #1 Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
- 2014 $508.5M #1 Step Up: All In (2014)
- 2013 $495.1M #1 Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
- 2012 $467.2M #1 Step Up Revolution (2012)
- 2011 $339.1M #1 Happy Feet Two (2011)
- 2010 $319.4M #1 Step Up 3-D (2010)
2000s 10 years · $6B
- 2009 $1.2B #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- 2008 $374M #1 Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
- 2007 $831.5M #1 Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- 2006 $723.7M #1 Happy Feet (2006)
- 2005 $716.9M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $536.3M #1 Home on the Range (2004)
- 2003 $411.4M #1 School of Rock (2003)
- 2002 $487.1M #1 8 Mile (2002)
- 2001 $251.1M #1 Save the Last Dance (2001)
- 2000 $539.5M #1 Coyote Ugly (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.2B
- 1999 $80.7M #1 Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- 1998 $197.7M #1 The Wedding Singer (1998)
- 1997 $309.7M #1 The Full Monty (1997)
- 1996 $183.2M #1 Mr. Holland's Opus (1996)
- 1995 $1.5M #1 Georgia (1995)
- 1994 $31.3M #1 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
- 1993 $180.1M #1 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
- 1992 $858.7M #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $131.6M #1 The Doors (1991)
- 1990 $247.1M #1 Dick Tracy (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.3B
- 1989 $42.4M #1 The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
- 1988 $114.1M #1 Beaches (1988)
- 1987 $83.6M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $34.6M #1 Disorder (1986)
- 1985 $73.7M #1 The Last Dragon (1985)
- 1984 $360.2M #1 Footloose (1984)
- 1983 $188.2M #1 Flashdance (1983)
- 1982 $93.7M #1 Victor Victoria (1982)
- 1981 $20.3M #1 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
- 1980 $262.6M #1 The Blues Brothers (1980)
1970s 10 years · $686.3M
- 1979 $80.8M #1 All That Jazz (1979)
- 1978 $69M #1 Up in Smoke (1978)
- 1977 $254M #1 Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- 1976 $80M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $10M #1 Nashville (1975)
- 1974 $102.6K #1 A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974)
- 1973 $204.1K #1 Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
- 1972 $671.2K #1 Elvis on Tour (1972)
- 1971 $1.6K #1 The Music Lovers (1971)
- 1970 $191.4M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 8 years · $3.8M
- 1968 $1.4M #1 Elvis: The ’68 Comeback Special (1968)
- 1967 $4.4K #1 Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
- 1966 $5K #1 A Well Paid Walk (1966)
- 1965 $1.4K #1 Orgy of the Dead (1965)
- 1964 $2.4M #1 A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
- 1963 $1.4K #1 Summer Holiday (1963)
- 1962 $9.9K #1 Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962)
- 1961 $1.6K #1 Too Late Blues (1961)
1950s 10 years · $4.1M
- 1959 $75.4K #1 Jazz on a Summer’s Day (1959)
- 1958 $502.3K #1 South Pacific (1958)
- 1957 $20.2K #1 Silk Stockings (1957)
- 1956 $1.5K #1 Carousel (1956)
- 1955 $43.8K #1 Oklahoma! (1955)
- 1954 $7.6K #1 There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954)
- 1953 $3.3M #1 Dangerous When Wet (1953)
- 1952 $9.3K #1 Limelight (1952)
- 1951 $141K #1 The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
- 1950 $14.8K #1 Rabbit of Seville (1950)
1940s 4 years · $514.2K
1930s 3 years · $951.7K
1920s 1 year · $4.4K
FAQ
Music 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 7 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing music movie in 1978?
Up in Smoke (1978) leads with $44.4M worldwide, $44.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Buddy Holly Story (1978) at $14.4M and American Hot Wax (1978) at $7.9M.
How much did music movies released in 1978 earn?
7 music films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $69M in all, or $9.9M per film on average. 1977 releases took $254M.
How many music movies released in 1978 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Up in Smoke (1978), earned $44.4M.
How is the 1978 music 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 music 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.