#1 of 8 #1 English-language movie of March 1979
1979 · Drama, Thriller
$51.7M worldwide · 39% of the chart's total
$51.7M US & Canada · 100% $118 elsewhere · <1%
English box office · March 1979
English Box Office, March 1979: Top-Grossing Releases
The China Syndrome (1979) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in March 1979, with $51.7M worldwide, ahead of Manhattan (1979) at $40.2M and Norma Rae (1979) at $22.2M. 8 English-language films released in March 1979 report a worldwide gross, $133.6M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. By genre, Drama leads with $133.2M across 6 English releases.
- March 1979 releases with a gross
- 8
- combined worldwide
- $133.6M
- The China Syndrome (1979), the #1
- $51.7M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 100%
#1 of 8 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of March 1979?
The China Syndrome (1979) leads with $51.7M, 39% of the total. The top 5 together took $132.1M, 99% of what all 8 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 English Release of March 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 March 1979.
- 1 Mar 16, 1979 US and Canada: $51.7M Rest of the world: $118 Worldwide: $51.7M
- 2 Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $39.9M Rest of the world: $247.3K Worldwide: $40.2M
- 3 Mar 2, 1979 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.2M
- 4 Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $15.3M Rest of the world: $29.6K Worldwide: $15.3M
- 5 Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.6M
- 6
Mar 9, 1979 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 7
Mar 2, 1979 US and Canada: $364.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $364.6K - 8
Mar 29, 1979 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in March 1979?
Of the top 8, Norma Rae (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Manhattan (1979) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 8 films, $133.3M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 8 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The China Syndrome (1979) $51.7M $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $118 elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Manhattan (1979) $40.2M $39.9M US & Canada · 99% $247.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 Norma Rae (1979) $22.2M $22.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Hair (1979) $15.3M $15.3M US & Canada · 100% $29.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Voices (1979) $2.6M $2.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Passage (1979) $1.1M $1.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Real Life (1979) $364.6K $364.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Long Weekend (1979) $365 No US & Canada figure reported
By release week
Which Week of March 1979 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 11 (Mar 11–17) took $109.9M, led by The China Syndrome (1979). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 9 Wk 9 Feb 25–Mar 3 Norma Rae (1979) $22.6M Norma Rae (1979)
- Week 10 Wk 10 Mar 4–10 The Passage (1979) $1.1M The Passage (1979)
- Week 11 Wk 11 Mar 11–17 The China Syndrome (1979) $109.9M The China Syndrome (1979)
- Week 12 Wk 12 Mar 18–24 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- Week 13 Wk 13 Mar 25–31 Long Weekend (1979) $365 Long Weekend (1979)
Earlier years
How Does March 1979 Compare With March in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, March 1972 earned the most: $250.4M from 5 films, led by The Godfather (1972). March 1979 took $133.6M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1970 2 films | 2 | $324K | – | Woodstock (1970) $321.3K |
| March 1971 6 films · +1019% | 6 | $3.6M | +1019% | THX 1138 (1971) $2.4M |
| March 1972 5 films · +6806% | 5 | $250.4M | +6806% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| March 1973 3 films · −100% | 3 | $342.9K | −100% | Sisters (1973) $318.3K |
| March 1974 1 film · +5897% | 1 | $20.6M | +5897% | The Great Gatsby (1974) $20.6M |
| March 1975 3 films · +407% | 3 | $104.3M | +407% | Shampoo (1975) $49.4M |
| March 1976 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| March 1977 4 films | 4 | $22.5M | – | Black Sunday (1977) $15.8M |
| March 1978 6 films · +209% | 6 | $69.4M | +209% | House Calls (1978) $28.5M |
| March 1979 8 films · +92% | 8 | $133.6M | +92% | The China Syndrome (1979) $51.7M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in March 1979?
Drama took $133.2M across 6 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($55.9M) and Thriller ($51.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
March 1979 English Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $133.2M6 films · #1 The China Syndrome (1979) -
Comedy $55.9M3 films · #1 Manhattan (1979) -
Thriller $51.7M2 films · #1 The China Syndrome (1979) -
Romance $42.8M2 films · #1 Manhattan (1979) -
Musical $15.3M1 film · #1 Hair (1979) -
Action $1.1M1 film · #1 The Passage (1979) -
War $1.1M1 film · #1 The Passage (1979) -
Horror $3651 film · #1 Long Weekend (1979) -
Mystery $3651 film · #1 Long Weekend (1979)
Archive
English Box Office in 1979, Month by Month
The months of 1979 with their totals: June leads with $671.1M, led by Moonraker (1979).
- January No grosses
- February $35.5M #1 The Warriors (1979)
- March $133.6M #1 The China Syndrome (1979)
- April $74.4M #1 Love at First Bite (1979)
- May $5.2M #1 Zulu Dawn (1979)
- June $671.1M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- July $133.2M #1 The Amityville Horror (1979)
- August $218.4M #1 Apocalypse Now (1979)
- September $39.2M #1 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
- October $75.1M #1 ...and justice for all. (1979)
- November $8.3M #1 The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)
- December $561.8M #1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
FAQ
English Box Office March 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 8 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in March 1979?
The China Syndrome (1979) leads with $51.7M worldwide, $51.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Manhattan (1979) at $40.2M and Norma Rae (1979) at $22.2M.
How much did English-language movies released in March 1979 earn?
8 English-language films released in March 1979 report a worldwide gross, $133.6M in all, or $16.7M per film on average.
How many English-language movies released in March 1979 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The China Syndrome (1979), earned $51.7M.
How is the March 1979 English 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 March 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the March 1979 English 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.