#1 of 84 #1 movie of 1978
1978 · Romance, Musical
$396.3M worldwide · 20% of the chart's total
$190.1M US & Canada · 48% $206.2M elsewhere · 52%
Box office · 1978
1978 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1978
Grease (1978) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1978, with $396.3M worldwide, ahead of Superman (1978) at $300.5M and Jaws 2 (1978) at $187.9M. 84 films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $2B in all, 76% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 12% on 1977, whose releases took $2.2B. By genre, Thriller leads with $674.5M across 14 releases.
- 1978 releases with a gross
- 84
- combined worldwide
- $2B
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs 1977
- −12%
#1 of 84 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1978?
Grease (1978) leads with $396.3M, 20% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.1B, 53% of what all 84 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 Release of 1978, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 84. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1978.
- 1 Jun 16, 1978 US and Canada: $190.1M Rest of the world: $206.2M Worldwide: $396.3M
- 2 Dec 15, 1978 US and Canada: $134.5M Rest of the world: $166M Worldwide: $300.5M
- 3 Jun 16, 1978 US and Canada: $81.8M Rest of the world: $106.1M Worldwide: $187.9M
- 4 Dec 20, 1978 US and Canada: $85.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $85.2M
- 5 Jun 28, 1978 US and Canada: $81.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $81.6M
- 6
Jul 28, 1978 US and Canada: $78M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $78M - 7
Jul 19, 1978 US and Canada: $49.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.6M - 8
Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $49M Rest of the world: $101K Worldwide: $49.1M - 9
Oct 25, 1978 US and Canada: $47.2M Rest of the world: $13.3K Worldwide: $47.2M - 10
Jul 14, 1978 US and Canada: $45M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $45M - 11
May 10, 1978 US and Canada: $44.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.9M - 12
Sep 15, 1978 US and Canada: $44.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.4M - 13
Oct 6, 1978 US and Canada: $35M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35M - 14
Feb 15, 1978 US and Canada: $32.7M Rest of the world: $141 Worldwide: $32.7M - 15
Nov 15, 1978 US and Canada: $30.5M Rest of the world: $5.8K Worldwide: $30.5M - 16
Mar 15, 1978 US and Canada: $28.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $28.5M - 17
Jun 9, 1978 US and Canada: $26.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.5M - 18
Dec 22, 1978 US and Canada: $24.9M Rest of the world: $2.5K Worldwide: $24.9M - 19
Jun 28, 1978 US and Canada: $22.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.8M - 20
Oct 24, 1978 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $594 Worldwide: $21M - 21
Apr 28, 1978 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M - 22
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)Jul 24, 1978 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M
Jul 24, 1978 · English · Adventure, Fantasy $20.4M worldwide - 23
Aug 2, 1978 US and Canada: $20M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20M - 24
Apr 23, 1978 US and Canada: $19.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.7M - 25
Feb 3, 1978 US and Canada: $16.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.9M - 26
Mar 10, 1978 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.4M - 27
Jun 2, 1978 US and Canada: $15.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.5M - 28
May 12, 1978 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M - 29
Sep 29, 1978 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: $9.2K Worldwide: $14.6M - 30
May 18, 1978 US and Canada: $14.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.4M - 31
Oct 6, 1978 US and Canada: $13.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.1M - 32
The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II (1978)Feb 10, 1978 US and Canada: $11.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.6M Feb 10, 1978 · English · Drama, Romance $11.6M worldwide - 33
Dec 22, 1978 US and Canada: $11M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11M - 34
Aug 2, 1978 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.4M - 35
Mar 17, 1978 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 36
Oct 25, 1978 US and Canada: $9.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.6M - 37
Mar 17, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M - 38
Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $7.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.9M - 39
Oct 6, 1978 US and Canada: $7.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.4M - 40
Dec 20, 1978 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.3M - 41
Dec 8, 1978 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 42
Sep 22, 1978 US and Canada: $7.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.2M - 43
Jun 30, 1978 US and Canada: $7.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.1M - 44
Jul 19, 1978 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7M - 45
Feb 10, 1978 US and Canada: $6.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.5M - 46
Apr 5, 1978 US and Canada: $5.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.8M - 47
Mar 10, 1978 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.4M - 48
Dec 22, 1978 US and Canada: $5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5M - 49
Nov 2, 1978 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.9M - 50
Sep 13, 1978 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: $47.2K Worldwide: $3.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1978?
Of the top 10, Every Which Way But Loose (1978) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Jaws 2 (1978) made 56% of its gross abroad. Across all 84 films, $1.5B (76%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Grease (1978) $396.3M $190.1M US & Canada · 48% $206.2M elsewhere · 52%
- 2 Superman (1978) $300.5M $134.5M US & Canada · 45% $166M elsewhere · 55%
- 3 Jaws 2 (1978) $187.9M $81.8M US & Canada · 44% $106.1M elsewhere · 56%
- 4 Every Which Way But Loose (1978) $85.2M $85.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Heaven Can Wait (1978) $81.6M $81.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Hooper (1978) $78M $78M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) $49.6M $49.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Deer Hunter (1978) $49.1M $49M US & Canada · 100% $101K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 Halloween (1978) $47.2M $47.2M US & Canada · 100% $13.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Foul Play (1978) $45M $45M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1978 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 84 films crossed $100M and took $884.6M between them, 45% of the total. 50 films, 60% of the list, earned under $10M.
45% 49%
- $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 3 films, 4% of the list $884.6M · 45% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 31 films, 37% of the list $965.8M · 49% of the gross
- Under $10M 50 films, 60% of the list $119.6M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1978 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $737.7M from 9 films, led by Grease (1978). January was the quietest month ($495.4K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Uncle Joe Shannon (1978) $495.4K Uncle Joe Shannon (1978)
- February Feb Coming Home (1978) $68.3M Coming Home (1978)
- March Mar House Calls (1978) $69.5M House Calls (1978)
- April Apr F.I.S.T. (1978) $48.5M F.I.S.T. (1978)
- May May The End (1978) $76M The End (1978)
- June Jun Grease (1978) $737.7M Grease (1978)
- July Jul Hooper (1978) $200M Hooper (1978)
- August Aug Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) $30.4M Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
- September Sep Up in Smoke (1978) $73.2M Up in Smoke (1978)
- October Oct Halloween (1978) $133.4M Halloween (1978)
- November Nov The Lord of the Rings (1978) $34.4M The Lord of the Rings (1978)
- December Dec Superman (1978) $498.1M Superman (1978)
Last 10 years
How Does 1978 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1977 earned the most: $2.2B from 72 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). 1978 took $2B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 44 films | 44 | $247.4M | – | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) $102.3M |
| 1970 41 films · +82% | 41 | $450M | +82% | The Aristocats (1970) $191M |
| 1971 48 films · −54% | 48 | $206M | −54% | The French Connection (1971) $51.7M |
| 1972 50 films · +80% | 50 | $371.4M | +80% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 53 films · +166% | 53 | $989.4M | +166% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 65 films · −19% | 65 | $803.9M | −19% | Blazing Saddles (1974) $119.6M |
| 1975 49 films · +35% | 49 | $1.1B | +35% | Jaws (1975) $477.9M |
| 1976 49 films · −28% | 49 | $784.1M | −28% | Rocky (1976) $117.3M |
| 1977 72 films · +184% | 72 | $2.2B | +184% | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M |
| 1978 84 films · −12% | 84 | $2B | −12% | Grease (1978) $396.3M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1978?
Thriller took $674.5M across 14 films, 34% of the total, ahead of Romance ($628.2M) and Adventure ($596.2M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $1.5B across 67 films, 76% of the total, ahead of German-language films ($306.4K) and Italian-language films ($53.8K).
1978 Box Office by Genre
-
Thriller $674.5M14 films · #1 Superman (1978) -
Romance $628.2M17 films · #1 Grease (1978) -
Adventure $596.2M11 films · #1 Superman (1978) -
Drama $585M50 films · #1 Jaws 2 (1978) -
Comedy $568.8M24 films · #1 Every Which Way But Loose (1978) -
Action $509.4M12 films · #1 Superman (1978) -
Musical $437.7M3 films · #1 Grease (1978) -
Sci-Fi $341.8M5 films · #1 Superman (1978) -
Horror $286.6M7 films · #1 Jaws 2 (1978) -
Fantasy $169.9M6 films · #1 Heaven Can Wait (1978)
1978 Box Office by Language
- English $1.5B67 films · #1 Grease (1978)
-
German $306.4K2 films · #1 Boarding School (1978) -
Italian $53.8K3 films · #1 Nest of Vipers (1978) -
Swedish $39K1 film · #1 Autumn Sonata (1978) -
French $26.4K3 films · #1 The Song of Roland (1978) -
Azerbaijani $7.6K1 film · #1 Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978)
Archive
Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $134.1B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $34.2B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $34B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $30.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $31.3B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $30.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $28.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $26.5B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $201.3B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $21.2B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $20.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $19.7B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $19.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $15.8B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $16B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $14B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
- 1999 $13.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $11.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $12.7B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.9B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $9.5B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $8.5B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $7.1B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $6.3B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $6.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $36B
- 1989 $6.1B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.9B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $4B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.7B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.7B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.5B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
- 1979 $2.2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $2B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $784.1M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $1.1B #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $803.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $989.4M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $371.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $206M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $450M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
- 1969 $247.4M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $144M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $441.4M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $29.9M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $387.9M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $240.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $12.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
- 1959 $127.1M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $162.1M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $153.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.2M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
- 1949 $1.8M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $12.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $92.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22.1M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $132K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6.2M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $268.3M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $214M
- 1939 $26.7M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $32.8K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $164.8K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $51.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $135.8K #1 Drácula (1931)
- 1930 $6.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 9 years · $10M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $67.1K #1 Battleship Potemkin (1926)
- 1925 $87.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1924 $198.9K #1 The Epic of Everest (1924)
- 1923 $13.2K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ
Box Office 1978: 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 84 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1978?
Grease (1978) leads with $396.3M worldwide, $190.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Superman (1978) at $300.5M and Jaws 2 (1978) at $187.9M.
How much did movies released in 1978 earn?
84 films released in 1978 report a worldwide gross, $2B in all, or $23.5M per film on average. 1977 releases took $2.2B.
How many movies released in 1978 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by Grease (1978) with $396.3M.
How is the 1978 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 1978. 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 1978 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.