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Sci-Fi box office · 1980

Sci-Fi Box Office 1980: Highest-Grossing Sci-Fi Movies

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie released in 1980, with $550M worldwide, ahead of Flash Gordon (1980) at $27.2M and Xanadu (1980) at $22.8M. 9 sci-fi films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $645.6M in all, 60% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 29% on 1979, whose releases took $500.5M. By language, English leads with $645.6M across 8 sci-fi releases.

1980 releases with a gross
9
combined worldwide
$645.6M
film crossed $100M
1
vs 1979
+29%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Sci-Fi Hits of 1980?

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) leads with $550M, 85% of the total. The top 5 together took $636.5M, 99% of what all 9 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) movie poster Number 1
    $550M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
  2. Flash Gordon (1980) movie poster Number 2
    $27.2M Flash Gordon (1980)
    $27.1M US & Canada · 100% $78.6K elsewhere · <1%
  3. Xanadu (1980) movie poster Number 3
    $22.8M Xanadu (1980)
    $22.8M US & Canada · 100% $4.9K elsewhere · <1%
  4. Altered States (1980) movie poster Number 4
    $19.9M Altered States (1980)
    $19.9M US & Canada · 100% $6 elsewhere · <1%
  5. The Final Countdown (1980) movie poster Number 5
    $16.6M The Final Countdown (1980)
    $16.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Sci-Fi 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 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) movie poster
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) May 21, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $550M worldwide
    May 21, 1980 US and Canada: $292.8M Rest of the world: $257.3M Worldwide: $550M
  2. 2 Flash Gordon (1980) movie poster
    Flash Gordon (1980) Dec 5, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $27.2M worldwide
    Dec 5, 1980 US and Canada: $27.1M Rest of the world: $78.6K Worldwide: $27.2M
  3. 3 Xanadu (1980) movie poster
    Xanadu (1980) Aug 8, 1980 · English · Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi $22.8M worldwide
    Aug 8, 1980 US and Canada: $22.8M Rest of the world: $4.9K Worldwide: $22.8M
  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 The Final Countdown (1980) movie poster
    The Final Countdown (1980) Aug 1, 1980 · English · Action, Sci-Fi $16.6M worldwide
    Aug 1, 1980 US and Canada: $16.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.6M
  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 Captive (1980) movie poster
    Captive (1980) 1980 · English · Sci-Fi $124.3K worldwide
    1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $124.3K
  8. 8 The Apple (1980) movie poster
    The Apple (1980) Nov 21, 1980 · Sci-Fi, Music, Musical $569 worldwide
    Nov 21, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $569
  9. 9 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
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1980?

Of the top 9, The Final Countdown (1980) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) made 47% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $388.1M (60%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 9 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
    $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
  2. 2 Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M
    $27.1M US & Canada · 100% $78.6K elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 Xanadu (1980) $22.8M
    $22.8M US & Canada · 100% $4.9K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Altered States (1980) $19.9M
    $19.9M US & Canada · 100% $6 elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 The Final Countdown (1980) $16.6M
    $16.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 Saturn 3 (1980) $9M
    $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Captive (1980) $124.3K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 The Apple (1980) $569
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 Humanoids from the Deep (1980) $160
    No US & Canada figure reported
By release month

Which Month of 1980 Earned the Most?

May releases took the most, $550M from 2 films, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). November was the quietest month ($569). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Captive (1980) $124.3K Captive (1980)
  2. February Feb Saturn 3 (1980) $9M Saturn 3 (1980)
  3. March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug Xanadu (1980) $39.4M Xanadu (1980)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  11. November Nov The Apple (1980) $569 The Apple (1980)
  12. December Dec Flash Gordon (1980) $47M Flash Gordon (1980)
Last 10 years

How Does 1980 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $1.1B from 4 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1980 took $645.6M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1971 4 films 4 $42.1M – A Clockwork Orange (1971) $27M
1972 3 films · −78% 3 $9.3M −78% Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) $9M
1973 5 films · +193% 5 $27.2M +193% Sleeper (1973) $18.3M
1974 5 films · −98% 5 $560.7K −98% The Terminal Man (1974) $551.9K
1975 3 films · +595% 3 $3.9M +595% Bug (1975) $3.6M
1976 3 films · +5% 3 $4.1M +5% Robot Taekwon V (1976) $3.9M
1977 4 films · +26431% 4 $1.1B +26431% Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M
1978 5 films · −68% 5 $341.8M −68% Superman (1978) $300.5M
1979 12 films · +46% 12 $500.5M +46% Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
1980 9 films · +29% 9 $645.6M +29% Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
Archive

Sci-Fi Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1933 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $15.1B, led by Avengers: Infinity War (2018).

2020s 7 years · $37.1B
2010s 10 years · $87.8B
2000s 10 years · $31B
1990s 10 years · $12.5B
1980s 10 years · $5.4B
1970s 10 years · $2B
1960s 8 years · $33.1M
1950s 9 years · $696.6K
1940s 1 year · $14.8K
1930s 3 years · $39.9K
FAQ

Sci-Fi 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 9 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing sci-fi movie in 1980?

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) leads with $550M worldwide, $292.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Flash Gordon (1980) at $27.2M and Xanadu (1980) at $22.8M.

How much did sci-fi movies released in 1980 earn?

9 sci-fi films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $645.6M in all, or $71.7M per film on average. 1979 releases took $500.5M.

How many sci-fi movies released in 1980 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with $550M.

How much of the 1980 Sci-Fi box office came from the US and Canada?

$388.1M of the $645.6M total, or 60%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 3 films of the 9 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1980 sci-fi 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 sci-fi 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.