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Thriller box office · 1979

Thriller Box Office 1979: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies

Moonraker (1979) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1979, with $210.3M worldwide, ahead of The China Syndrome (1979) at $51.7M and Escape from Alcatraz (1979) at $43M. 18 thriller films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $452.1M in all, 69% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 33% on 1978, whose releases took $674.5M. By language, English leads with $446.5M across 17 thriller releases.

1979 releases with a gross
18
combined worldwide
$452.1M
film crossed $100M
1
vs 1978
−33%
Moonraker (1979) movie poster #1 of 18
#1 thriller movie of 1979

Moonraker (1979)

1979 · Action, Adventure

$210.3M worldwide · 47% of the chart's total

$70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1979?

Moonraker (1979) leads with $210.3M, 47% of the total. The top 5 together took $360.8M, 80% of what all 18 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Moonraker (1979) movie poster Number 1
    $210.3M Moonraker (1979)
    $70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
  2. The China Syndrome (1979) movie poster Number 2
    $51.7M The China Syndrome (1979)
    $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $118 elsewhere · <1%
  3. Escape from Alcatraz (1979) movie poster Number 3
    $43M Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
    $43M US & Canada · 100% $5.4K elsewhere · <1%
  4. ...and justice for all. (1979) movie poster Number 4
    $33.3M ...and justice for all. (1979)
    $33.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. The Warriors (1979) movie poster Number 5
    $22.5M The Warriors (1979)
    $22.5M US & Canada · 100% $5.2K elsewhere · <1%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Thriller 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 Moonraker (1979) movie poster
    Moonraker (1979) Jun 29, 1979 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $210.3M worldwide
    Jun 29, 1979 US and Canada: $70.3M Rest of the world: $140M Worldwide: $210.3M
  2. 2 The China Syndrome (1979) movie poster
    The China Syndrome (1979) Mar 16, 1979 · English · Drama, Thriller $51.7M worldwide
    Mar 16, 1979 US and Canada: $51.7M Rest of the world: $118 Worldwide: $51.7M
  3. 3 Escape from Alcatraz (1979) movie poster
    Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Jun 22, 1979 · English · Biography, Drama, Thriller $43M worldwide
    Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $43M Rest of the world: $5.4K Worldwide: $43M
  4. 4 ...and justice for all. (1979) movie poster
    ...and justice for all. (1979) Oct 19, 1979 · English · Drama, Thriller, Crime $33.3M worldwide
    Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $33.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.3M
  5. 5 The Warriors (1979) movie poster
    The Warriors (1979) Feb 9, 1979 · English · Action, Thriller $22.5M worldwide
    Feb 9, 1979 US and Canada: $22.5M Rest of the world: $5.2K Worldwide: $22.5M
  6. 6 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
  7. 7 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
  8. 8 The Great Train Robbery (1979) movie poster
    The Great Train Robbery (1979) Feb 2, 1979 · English · Adventure, Drama, Thriller $13M worldwide
    Feb 2, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
  9. 9 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) movie poster
    The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · English · Thriller, Action, Drama $13M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
  10. 10 Meteor (1979) movie poster
    Meteor (1979) Oct 19, 1979 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Drama $8.4M worldwide
    Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.4M
  11. 11 Bloodline (1979) movie poster
    Bloodline (1979) Jun 29, 1979 · English · Crime, Thriller $8.2M worldwide
    Jun 29, 1979 US and Canada: $8.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.2M
  12. 12 Cuba (1979) movie poster
    Cuba (1979) Dec 21, 1979 · Adventure, Thriller, Romance $5.6M worldwide
    Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $5.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.6M
  13. 13 Last Embrace (1979) movie poster
    Last Embrace (1979) May 4, 1979 · English · Thriller, Romance, Mystery $1.5M worldwide
    May 4, 1979 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M
  14. 14 Winter Kills (1979) movie poster
    Winter Kills (1979) May 11, 1979 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $1.2M worldwide
    May 11, 1979 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $462 Worldwide: $1.2M
  15. 15 The Human Factor (1979) movie poster
    The Human Factor (1979) Dec 18, 1979 · English · Drama, Thriller, Romance $376.1K worldwide
    Dec 18, 1979 US and Canada: $376.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $376.1K
  16. 16 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
  17. 17 Disco Godfather (1979) movie poster
    Disco Godfather (1979) Sep 4, 1979 · English · Crime, Drama, Comedy $633 worldwide
    Sep 4, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $633
  18. 18 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, ...and justice for all. (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Moonraker (1979) made 67% of its gross abroad. Across all 18 films, $312M (69%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
    $70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
  2. 2 The China Syndrome (1979) $51.7M
    $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $118 elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 Escape from Alcatraz (1979) $43M
    $43M US & Canada · 100% $5.4K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 ...and justice for all. (1979) $33.3M
    $33.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 The Warriors (1979) $22.5M
    $22.5M US & Canada · 100% $5.2K elsewhere · <1%
  6. 6 When a Stranger Calls (1979) $21.4M
    $21.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 Prophecy (1979) $18.4M
    $18.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 The Great Train Robbery (1979) $13M
    $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) $13M
    $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Meteor (1979) $8.4M
    $8.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 18 films crossed $100M and took $210.3M between them, 47% of the total. 9 films, 50% 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, 6% of the list $210.3M · 47% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 8 films, 44% of the list $216.4M · 48% of the gross
  • Under $10M 9 films, 50% of the list $25.5M · 6% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?

June releases took the most, $279.9M from 4 films, led by Moonraker (1979). September was the quietest month ($633). 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 The Warriors (1979) $35.5M The Warriors (1979)
  3. March Mar The China Syndrome (1979) $51.7M The China Syndrome (1979)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May Last Embrace (1979) $2.9M Last Embrace (1979)
  6. June Jun Moonraker (1979) $279.9M Moonraker (1979)
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) $13M The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979)
  9. September Sep Disco Godfather (1979) $633 Disco Godfather (1979)
  10. October Oct ...and justice for all. (1979) $63.1M ...and justice for all. (1979)
  11. November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  12. December Dec Cuba (1979) $6M Cuba (1979)
Last 10 years

How Does 1979 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1978 earned the most: $674.5M from 14 films, led by Superman (1978). 1979 took $452.1M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1970 5 films 5 $120.3M – Airport (1970) $100.5M
1971 14 films · +18% 14 $141.7M +18% The French Connection (1971) $51.7M
1972 8 films · +136% 8 $334.9M +136% The Godfather (1972) $250.3M
1973 15 films · +52% 15 $509M +52% The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M
1974 21 films · −31% 21 $352.9M −31% The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M
1975 11 films · +67% 11 $589.1M +67% Jaws (1975) $477.9M
1976 13 films · −66% 13 $200.3M −66% All the President's Men (1976) $70.6M
1977 10 films · −20% 10 $161.1M −20% The Deep (1977) $47.3M
1978 14 films · +319% 14 $674.5M +319% Superman (1978) $300.5M
1979 18 films · −33% 18 $452.1M −33% Moonraker (1979) $210.3M
Archive

Thriller Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2015 leads with $12.8B, led by Jurassic World (2015).

2020s 7 years · $38.5B
2010s 10 years · $93.9B
2000s 10 years · $67.5B
1990s 10 years · $36B
1980s 10 years · $9.2B
1970s 10 years · $3.5B
1960s 10 years · $273.6M
1950s 10 years · $52.7M
1940s 10 years · $12.3M
1930s 7 years · $195.5K
1920s 4 years · $156.3K
FAQ

Thriller 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 18 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1979?

Moonraker (1979) leads with $210.3M worldwide, $70.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The China Syndrome (1979) at $51.7M and Escape from Alcatraz (1979) at $43M.

How much did thriller movies released in 1979 earn?

18 thriller films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $452.1M in all, or $25.1M per film on average. 1978 releases took $674.5M.

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

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Moonraker (1979) with $210.3M.

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

$312M of the $452.1M total, or 69%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 3 films of the 18 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1979 thriller 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 thriller 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.