#1 of 101 #1 English-language movie of 1980
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1980 · Action, Adventure
$550M worldwide · 24% of the chart's total
$292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
English box office · 1980
English Box Office 1980: Highest-Grossing English Movies
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1980, with $550M worldwide, ahead of The Blues Brothers (1980) at $115.2M and 9 to 5 (1980) at $103.3M. 101 English-language films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $2.3B in all, 86% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 18% on 1979, whose releases took $2B. By genre, Comedy leads with $1B across 47 English releases.
- 1980 releases with a gross
- 101
- combined worldwide
- $2.3B
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs 1979
- +18%
#1 of 101 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1980?
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) leads with $550M, 24% of the total. The top 5 together took $953.3M, 41% of what all 101 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $550M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)$292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every English Release of 1980, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 101. 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 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) May 21, 1980 · Action, Adventure $550M worldwideMay 21, 1980 US and Canada: $292.8M Rest of the world: $257.3M Worldwide: $550M
- 2 Jun 16, 1980 US and Canada: $57.2M Rest of the world: $58M Worldwide: $115.2M
- 3 Dec 19, 1980 US and Canada: $103.3M Rest of the world: $13K Worldwide: $103.3M
- 4 Dec 12, 1980 US and Canada: $101.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $101.3M
- 5 Jul 2, 1980 US and Canada: $83.5M Rest of the world: $2.3K Worldwide: $83.5M
- 6
Dec 17, 1980 US and Canada: $70.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $70.7M - 7
Mar 7, 1980 US and Canada: $67.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $67.2M - 8
Aug 15, 1980 US and Canada: $66.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $66.1M - 9
Jul 2, 1980 US and Canada: $58.9M Rest of the world: $137 Worldwide: $58.9M - 10
Dec 12, 1980 US and Canada: $49.8M Rest of the world: $292 Worldwide: $49.8M - 11
May 23, 1980 US and Canada: $45.6M Rest of the world: $2.3M Worldwide: $48M - 12
Jun 6, 1980 US and Canada: $46.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.9M - 13
Dec 19, 1980 US and Canada: $44M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44M - 14
Jul 18, 1980 US and Canada: $41.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.7M - 15
Jul 25, 1980 US and Canada: $39.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.9M - 16
May 9, 1980 US and Canada: $39.8M Rest of the world: $163.3K Worldwide: $39.9M - 17
Jun 20, 1980 US and Canada: $37.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.1M - 18
Mar 21, 1980 US and Canada: $34.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.3M - 19
Jul 25, 1980 US and Canada: $31.9M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $31.9M - 20
Dec 5, 1980 US and Canada: $27.1M Rest of the world: $78.6K Worldwide: $27.2M - 21
Dec 19, 1980 US and Canada: $27.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.1M - 22
Oct 10, 1980 US and Canada: $26M Rest of the world: $23.5K Worldwide: $26M - 23
Jun 11, 1980 US and Canada: $24.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.3M - 24
Nov 14, 1980 US and Canada: $23.4M Rest of the world: $21.9K Worldwide: $23.4M - 25
Aug 8, 1980 US and Canada: $22.8M Rest of the world: $4.9K Worldwide: $22.8M - 26
Feb 1, 1980 US and Canada: $22.7M Rest of the world: $1.5K Worldwide: $22.7M - 27
Sep 26, 1980 US and Canada: $22.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.5M - 28
May 16, 1980 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $878 Worldwide: $21.2M - 29
Dec 25, 1980 US and Canada: $19.9M Rest of the world: $6 Worldwide: $19.9M - 30
Feb 15, 1980 US and Canada: $19.8M Rest of the world: $16.6K Worldwide: $19.8M - 31
Aug 15, 1980 US and Canada: $19M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19M - 32
Jun 25, 1980 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18M - 33
Jul 18, 1980 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.8M - 34
Jun 20, 1980 US and Canada: $16.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.7M - 35
Aug 1, 1980 US and Canada: $16.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.6M - 36
Feb 8, 1980 US and Canada: $15.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.9M - 37
May 16, 1980 US and Canada: $15.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.8M - 38
Dec 25, 1980 US and Canada: $15.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.2M - 39
Jul 18, 1980 US and Canada: $14.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8M - 40
May 9, 1980 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M - 41
Oct 3, 1980 US and Canada: $14.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.5M - 42
Jun 13, 1980 US and Canada: $14.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.2M - 43
Apr 3, 1980 US and Canada: $12.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.8M - 44
Jul 11, 1980 US and Canada: $11.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.7M - 45
Sep 26, 1980 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.4M - 46
Mar 28, 1980 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 47
Oct 3, 1980 US and Canada: $9.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.7M - 48
Feb 15, 1980 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M - 49
Dec 19, 1980 US and Canada: $8.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.9M - 50
Feb 15, 1980 US and Canada: $8.8M Rest of the world: $24K Worldwide: $8.8M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1980?
Of the top 10, Stir Crazy (1980) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Blues Brothers (1980) made 50% of its gross abroad. Across all 101 films, $2B (86%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
- 2 The Blues Brothers (1980) $115.2M $57.2M US & Canada · 50% $58M elsewhere · 50%
- 3 9 to 5 (1980) $103.3M $103.3M US & Canada · 100% $13K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Stir Crazy (1980) $101.3M $101.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Airplane! (1980) $83.5M $83.5M US & Canada · 100% $2.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Any Which Way You Can (1980) $70.7M $70.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) $67.2M $67.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) $66.1M $66.1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Blue Lagoon (1980) $58.9M $58.9M US & Canada · 100% $137 elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Popeye (1980) $49.8M $49.8M US & Canada · 100% $292 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1980 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 101 films crossed $100M and took $869.8M between them, 38% of the total. 56 films, 55% of the list, earned under $10M.
24% 14% 54% 8%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 1 film, <1% of the list $550M · 24% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 3 films, 3% of the list $319.8M · 14% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 41 films, 41% of the list $1.2B · 54% of the gross
- Under $10M 56 films, 55% of the list $192.3M · 8% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1980 Earned the Most?
May releases took the most, $700M from 11 films, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). January was the quietest month ($4.3M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Windows (1980) $4.3M Windows (1980)
- February Feb American Gigolo (1980) $97.3M American Gigolo (1980)
- March Mar Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) $131.8M Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
- April Apr The Last Married Couple in America (1980) $20.4M The Last Married Couple in America (1980)
- May May Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $700M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- June Jun The Blues Brothers (1980) $283.7M The Blues Brothers (1980)
- July Jul Airplane! (1980) $329.7M Airplane! (1980)
- August Aug Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) $131.4M Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
- September Sep My Bodyguard (1980) $46.5M My Bodyguard (1980)
- October Oct The Elephant Man (1980) $64.7M The Elephant Man (1980)
- November Nov Raging Bull (1980) $29.7M Raging Bull (1980)
- December Dec 9 to 5 (1980) $467.4M 9 to 5 (1980)
Last 10 years
How Does 1980 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1980 earned the most: $2.3B from 101 films, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 36 films | 36 | $182.9M | – | The French Connection (1971) $51.7M |
| 1972 23 films · +102% | 23 | $369.2M | +102% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 36 films · +152% | 36 | $928.9M | +152% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 38 films · −25% | 38 | $694.9M | −25% | Blazing Saddles (1974) $119.6M |
| 1975 31 films · +37% | 31 | $955.1M | +37% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 33 films · −35% | 33 | $624.6M | −35% | A Star Is Born (1976) $80M |
| 1977 53 films · +235% | 53 | $2.1B | +235% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 67 films · −29% | 67 | $1.5B | −29% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
| 1979 79 films · +31% | 79 | $2B | +31% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
| 1980 101 films · +18% | 101 | $2.3B | +18% | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1980?
Comedy took $1B across 47 films, 45% of the total, ahead of Action ($991.5M) and Adventure ($763.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
1980 English Box Office by Genre
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Comedy $1B47 films · #1 The Blues Brothers (1980) -
Action $991.5M18 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) -
Adventure $763.7M14 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) -
Sci-Fi $645.6M8 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) -
Drama $569.8M43 films · #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) -
Romance $418.1M26 films · #1 The Blue Lagoon (1980) -
Crime $352.7M13 films · #1 The Blues Brothers (1980) -
Music $262.6M12 films · #1 The Blues Brothers (1980) -
Thriller $249.5M17 films · #1 The Shining (1980) -
Horror $153.4M13 films · #1 The Shining (1980)
Archive
English Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $28.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $105.1B
2010s 10 years · $261B
- 2019 $28.7B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $28.3B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $27.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $27.3B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $27.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $24.6B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $26B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $26B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $24.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $21B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $170.2B
- 2009 $23B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $20B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $20.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $17.7B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $16.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $15.9B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $17.1B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $13.9B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $13.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $12.2B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $84.5B
- 1999 $12.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $10B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $11.8B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $8.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $7.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $6.3B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $5.5B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $5.9B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.5B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $33.4B
- 1989 $6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.3B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $3.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.3B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.5B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.2B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $9.6B
- 1979 $2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $1.5B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $624.6M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $955.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $694.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $928.9M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $369.2M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $182.9M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $346.9M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.4B
- 1969 $244.6M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $147.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $342.7M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $28.1M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $227.4M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1964 $241M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $75.1M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $49.6M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $952.7K #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- 1960 $42.4M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $770.2M
- 1959 $126.4M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $5.1M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $31.3M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $149.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $70.6M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $150.9M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.6M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.4M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.5M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $662.1M
- 1949 $1.7M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $707.7K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $1.4M #1 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- 1946 $96.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $117.4K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $2M #1 Reunion in France (1942)
- 1941 $4.2M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $527.8M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $217.4M
- 1939 $26.3M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $27.1K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $4.6M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $602.9K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $37.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $588.1K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $40K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $299 #1 Transgression (1931)
- 1930 $1.2K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
1920s 4 years · $718.5K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
English 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 101 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language 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 The Blues Brothers (1980) at $115.2M and 9 to 5 (1980) at $103.3M.
How much did English-language movies released in 1980 earn?
101 English-language films released in 1980 report a worldwide gross, $2.3B in all, or $22.8M per film on average. 1979 releases took $2B.
How many English-language movies released in 1980 made $1 billion?
None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with $550M.
How is the 1980 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 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, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the 1980 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.