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English box office · August 1979

English Box Office, August 1979: Top-Grossing Releases

Apocalypse Now (1979) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in August 1979, with $105.1M worldwide, ahead of North Dallas Forty (1979) at $26.1M and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) at $20.8M. 12 English-language films released in August 1979 report a worldwide gross, $218.4M in all, 95% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 64% on July 1979, whose releases took $133.2M. By genre, Drama leads with $180.7M across 6 English releases.

August 1979 releases with a gross
12
combined worldwide
$218.4M
film crossed $100M
1
vs July 1979
+64%
Apocalypse Now (1979) movie poster #1 of 12
#1 English-language movie of August 1979

Apocalypse Now (1979)

1979 · Action, Drama

$105.1M worldwide · 48% of the chart's total

$96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of August 1979?

Apocalypse Now (1979) leads with $105.1M, 48% of the total. The top 5 together took $186.6M, 85% of what all 12 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Apocalypse Now (1979) movie poster Number 1
    $105.1M Apocalypse Now (1979)
    $96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
  2. North Dallas Forty (1979) movie poster Number 2
    $26.1M North Dallas Forty (1979)
    $26.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) movie poster Number 3
    $20.8M Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
    $20.2M US & Canada · 97% $626.6K elsewhere · 3%
  4. The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) movie poster Number 4
    $19.6M The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979)
    $19.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. More American Graffiti (1979) movie poster Number 5
    $15M More American Graffiti (1979)
    $15M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of August 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 August 1979.

  1. 1 Apocalypse Now (1979) movie poster
    Apocalypse Now (1979) Aug 15, 1979 · Action, Drama $105.1M worldwide
    Aug 15, 1979 US and Canada: $96M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $105.1M
  2. 2 North Dallas Forty (1979) movie poster
    North Dallas Forty (1979) Aug 3, 1979 · Drama, Sport $26.1M worldwide
    Aug 3, 1979 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.1M
  3. 3 Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) movie poster
    Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · Comedy $20.8M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $20.2M Rest of the world: $626.6K Worldwide: $20.8M
  4. 4 The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) movie poster
    The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · Drama $19.6M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6M
  5. 5 More American Graffiti (1979) movie poster
    More American Graffiti (1979) Aug 3, 1979 · Drama, Comedy $15M worldwide
    Aug 3, 1979 US and Canada: $15M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15M
  6. 6 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) movie poster
    The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · Thriller, Action $13M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M
  7. 7 The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) movie poster
    The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · Comedy, Adventure $7.7M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7M
  8. 8 Americathon (1979) movie poster
    Americathon (1979) Aug 10, 1979 · Comedy $6.2M worldwide
    Aug 10, 1979 US and Canada: $6.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.2M
  9. 9 Sunburn (1979) movie poster
    Sunburn (1979) Aug 10, 1979 · Action, Comedy $2.4M worldwide
    Aug 10, 1979 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M
  10. 10 Rich Kids (1979) movie poster
    Rich Kids (1979) Aug 17, 1979 · Drama, Comedy $1.9M worldwide
    Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.9M
  11. 11 Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1979) movie poster
    Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1979) Aug 31, 1979 · Music $576K worldwide
    Aug 31, 1979 US and Canada: $162.5K Rest of the world: $413.5K Worldwide: $576K
  12. 12 Home Movies (1979) movie poster
    Home Movies (1979) Aug 28, 1979 · Comedy $89.1K worldwide
    Aug 28, 1979 US and Canada: $89.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $89.1K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in August 1979?

Of the top 10, North Dallas Forty (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Apocalypse Now (1979) made 9% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $208.3M (95%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M
    $96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
  2. 2 North Dallas Forty (1979) $26.1M
    $26.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) $20.8M
    $20.2M US & Canada · 97% $626.6K elsewhere · 3%
  4. 4 The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) $19.6M
    $19.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 More American Graffiti (1979) $15M
    $15M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979) $13M
    $13M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Prisoner of Zenda (1979) $7.7M
    $7.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Americathon (1979) $6.2M
    $6.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Sunburn (1979) $2.4M
    $2.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Rich Kids (1979) $1.9M
    $1.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many August 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 12 films crossed $100M and took $105.1M between them, 48% of the total. 6 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, 8% of the list $105.1M · 48% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 42% of the list $94.5M · 43% of the gross
  • Under $10M 6 films, 50% of the list $18.8M · 9% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of August 1979 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 33 (Aug 12–18) took $168.1M, led by Apocalypse Now (1979). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 31 Wk 31 Jul 29–Aug 4 North Dallas Forty (1979) $41.1M North Dallas Forty (1979)
  2. Week 32 Wk 32 Aug 5–11 Americathon (1979) $8.6M Americathon (1979)
  3. Week 33 Wk 33 Aug 12–18 Apocalypse Now (1979) $168.1M Apocalypse Now (1979)
  4. Week 34 Wk 34 Aug 19–25 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. Week 35 Wk 35 Aug 26–Sep 1 Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1979) $665.2K Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1979)
Earlier years

How Does August 1979 Compare With August in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, August 1979 earned the most: $218.4M from 12 films, led by Apocalypse Now (1979).

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
August 1970 2 films 2 $202.1K – Wanda (1970) $108.7K
August 1971 2 films · −98% 2 $3.6K −98% Johnny Got His Gun (1971) $2.7K
August 1972 2 films · +508337% 2 $18.1M +508337% Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) $18.1M
August 1973 5 films · +624% 5 $130.9M +624% American Graffiti (1973) $115M
August 1974 2 films · −67% 2 $43M −67% The Longest Yard (1974) $43M
August 1975 2 films · −48% 2 $22.2M −48% Love and Death (1975) $20.1M
August 1976 1 film · −64% 1 $8.1M −64% The Shootist (1976) $8.1M
August 1977 6 films · +521% 6 $50.2M +521% The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) $46.9M
August 1978 4 films · −39% 4 $30.4M −39% Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) $20M
August 1979 12 films · +617% 12 $218.4M +617% Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in August 1979?

Drama took $180.7M across 6 films, 83% of the total, ahead of Action ($128.2M) and War ($120.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

August 1979 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Drama $180.7M
    6 films · #1 Apocalypse Now (1979)
  2. Action $128.2M
    4 films · #1 Apocalypse Now (1979)
  3. War $120.1M
    2 films · #1 Apocalypse Now (1979)
  4. Comedy $80.1M
    8 films · #1 North Dallas Forty (1979)
  5. Sport $26.1M
    1 film · #1 North Dallas Forty (1979)
  6. Thriller $13M
    1 film · #1 The Concorde… Airport ’79 (1979)
  7. Adventure $7.7M
    1 film · #1 The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
  8. Crime $2.4M
    1 film · #1 Sunburn (1979)
  9. Music $576K
    1 film · #1 Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (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).

FAQ

English Box Office August 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 12 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in August 1979?

Apocalypse Now (1979) leads with $105.1M worldwide, $96M of it in the US & Canada. Next come North Dallas Forty (1979) at $26.1M and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) at $20.8M.

How much did English-language movies released in August 1979 earn?

12 English-language films released in August 1979 report a worldwide gross, $218.4M in all, or $18.2M per film on average. July 1979 releases took $133.2M.

How many English-language movies released in August 1979 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Apocalypse Now (1979) with $105.1M.

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

$208.3M of the $218.4M total, or 95%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 0 films of the 12 report no domestic figure.

How is the August 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 August 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 August 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.