#1 of 3 #1 thriller movie of December 1980
1980 · Action, Adventure
$27.2M worldwide · 49% of the chart's total
$27.1M US & Canada · 100% $78.6K elsewhere · <1%
Thriller box office · December 1980
Thriller Box Office, December 1980: Top-Grossing Releases
Flash Gordon (1980) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in December 1980, with $27.2M worldwide, ahead of Altered States (1980) at $19.9M and The Formula (1980) at $8.9M. 3 thriller films released in December 1980 report a worldwide gross, $55.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada.
- December 1980 releases with a gross
- 3
- combined worldwide
- $55.9M
- Flash Gordon (1980), the #1
- $27.2M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 100%
#1 of 3 Top 3
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of December 1980?
Flash Gordon (1980) leads with $27.2M, 49% of the total. The top 3 together took $55.9M, almost all of what the 3 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Thriller Release of December 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 December 1980.
- 1 Dec 5, 1980 US and Canada: $27.1M Rest of the world: $78.6K Worldwide: $27.2M
- 2 Dec 25, 1980 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: $6 Worldwide: $19.9M
- 3 Dec 19, 1980 US and Canada: $8.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.9M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1980?
Of the top 3, The Formula (1980) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Flash Gordon (1980) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 3 films, $55.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M $27.1M US & Canada · 100% $78.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Altered States (1980) $19.9M $19.9M US & Canada · 100% $6 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The Formula (1980) $8.9M $8.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release week
Which Week of December 1980 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 49 (Nov 30–Dec 6) took $27.2M, led by Flash Gordon (1980). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 49 Wk 49 Nov 30–Dec 6 Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M Flash Gordon (1980)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 7–13 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 14–20 The Formula (1980) $8.9M The Formula (1980)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 21–27 Altered States (1980) $19.9M Altered States (1980)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 28–31 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does December 1980 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1973 earned the most: $470.8M from 3 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). December 1980 took $55.9M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1971 2 films | 2 | $63M | – | Dirty Harry (1971) $36M |
| December 1972 2 films · +34% | 2 | $84.6M | +34% | The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.6M |
| December 1973 3 films · +457% | 3 | $470.8M | +457% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| December 1974 4 films · −61% | 4 | $185M | −61% | The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M |
| December 1975 2 films · −73% | 2 | $50.5M | −73% | Dog Day Afternoon (1975) $50M |
| December 1976 2 films · +93% | 2 | $97.3M | +93% | Silver Streak (1976) $51.1M |
| December 1977 1 film · −73% | 1 | $26.4M | −73% | The Gauntlet (1977) $26.4M |
| December 1978 1 film · +1038% | 1 | $300.5M | +1038% | Superman (1978) $300.5M |
| December 1979 2 films · −98% | 2 | $6M | −98% | Cuba (1979) $5.6M |
| December 1980 3 films · +834% | 3 | $55.9M | +834% | Flash Gordon (1980) $27.2M |
Archive
Thriller Box Office in 1980, Month by Month
The months of 1980 with their totals: February leads with $81.8M, led by American Gigolo (1980).
- January $2.1M #1 Windows (1980)
- February $81.8M #1 American Gigolo (1980)
- March $3.8M #1 When Time Ran Out... (1980)
- April $228.5K #1 Haunted Tales (1980)
- May $48M #1 The Shining (1980)
- June $7.1M #1 The Stunt Man (1980)
- July $46.9M #1 Dressed to Kill (1980)
- August $35.2M #1 The Octagon (1980)
- September $59.2K #1 Phobia (1980)
- October $10.4M #1 Motel Hell (1980)
- November No grosses
- December $55.9M #1 Flash Gordon (1980)
FAQ
Thriller Box Office December 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 3 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in December 1980?
Flash Gordon (1980) leads with $27.2M worldwide, $27.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Altered States (1980) at $19.9M and The Formula (1980) at $8.9M.
How much did thriller movies released in December 1980 earn?
3 thriller films released in December 1980 report a worldwide gross, $55.9M in all, or $18.6M per film on average.
How many thriller movies released in December 1980 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Flash Gordon (1980), earned $27.2M.
How is the December 1980 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 December 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 December 1980 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.