#1 of 99 #1 movie of 1979
1979 · Action, Adventure
$210.3M worldwide · 10% of the chart's total
$70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
Box office · 1979
1979 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1979
Moonraker (1979) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1979, with $210.3M worldwide, ahead of Alien (1979) at $109.1M and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) at $106.3M. 99 films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $2.2B in all, 89% of it from the US & Canada. 4 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 10% on 1978, whose releases took $2B. By genre, Drama leads with $917.4M across 57 releases.
- 1979 releases with a gross
- 99
- combined worldwide
- $2.2B
- films crossed $100M
- 4
- vs 1978
- +10%
#1 of 99 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1979?
Moonraker (1979) leads with $210.3M, 10% of the total. The top 5 together took $623.2M, 29% of what all 99 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 1979, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 99. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1979.
- 1 Jun 29, 1979 US and Canada: $70.3M Rest of the world: $140M Worldwide: $210.3M
- 2 Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $84.2M Rest of the world: $24.9M Worldwide: $109.1M
- 3 Dec 19, 1979 US and Canada: $106.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $106.3M
- 4 Aug 15, 1979 US and Canada: $96M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $105.1M
- 5 Dec 14, 1979 US and Canada: $31.8M Rest of the world: $60.7M Worldwide: $92.5M
- 6
Jul 27, 1979 US and Canada: $86.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $86.4M - 7
Jun 15, 1979 US and Canada: $85.2M Rest of the world: $5.7K Worldwide: $85.2M - 8
Dec 7, 1979 US and Canada: $82.6M Rest of the world: $72.1K Worldwide: $82.7M - 9
Oct 5, 1979 US and Canada: $74.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $74.9M - 10
Dec 14, 1979 US and Canada: $73.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $73.7M - 11
Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $66.5M Rest of the world: $1.3K Worldwide: $66.5M - 12
Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $61.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $61.8M - 13
Mar 16, 1979 US and Canada: $51.7M Rest of the world: $118 Worldwide: $51.7M - 14
Apr 27, 1979 US and Canada: $43.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.9M - 15
Jun 29, 1979 US and Canada: $43M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43M - 16
Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $43M Rest of the world: $5.4K Worldwide: $43M - 17
Jun 22, 1979 US and Canada: $42.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.8M - 18
Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $39.9M Rest of the world: $247.3K Worldwide: $40.2M - 19
Dec 20, 1979 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $37.8M - 20
Oct 13, 1979 US and Canada: $37.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.8M - 21
Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $35.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.8M - 22
Oct 5, 1979 US and Canada: $35.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.6M - 23
Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $33.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.3M - 24
Apr 4, 1979 US and Canada: $30.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $30.4M - 25
Dec 19, 1979 US and Canada: $30.2M Rest of the world: $1.9K Worldwide: $30.2M - 26
Nov 7, 1979 US and Canada: $29.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.2M - 27
Dec 25, 1979 US and Canada: $26.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.9M - 28
Aug 3, 1979 US and Canada: $26.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $26.1M - 29
Feb 9, 1979 US and Canada: $22.5M Rest of the world: $5.2K Worldwide: $22.5M - 30
Mar 2, 1979 US and Canada: $22.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22.2M - 31
Sep 20, 1979 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.7M - 32
Oct 26, 1979 US and Canada: $21.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4M - 33
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)Jun 27, 1979 US and Canada: $20.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.9M
Jun 27, 1979 · English · Comedy, Western $20.9M worldwide - 34
Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $20.2M Rest of the world: $626.6K Worldwide: $20.8M - 35
May 13, 1979 US and Canada: $20.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.4M - 36
Jul 20, 1979 US and Canada: $20.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.2M - 37
Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $19.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.6M - 38
Jun 15, 1979 US and Canada: $18.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.4M - 39
Jul 20, 1979 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.4M - 40
Mar 14, 1979 US and Canada: $15.3M Rest of the world: $29.6K Worldwide: $15.3M - 41
Aug 3, 1979 US and Canada: $15M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15M - 42
Dec 21, 1979 US and Canada: $13.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.3M - 43
Feb 2, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 44
Aug 17, 1979 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13M - 45
Jun 1, 1979 US and Canada: $12M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12M - 46
Sep 14, 1979 US and Canada: $11.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.4M - 47
Sep 19, 1979 US and Canada: $9.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9M - 48
Jul 13, 1979 US and Canada: $9.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.3M - 49
Oct 19, 1979 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.4M - 50
Nov 6, 1979 US and Canada: $8.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1979?
Of the top 10, Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Moonraker (1979) made 67% of its gross abroad. Across all 99 films, $1.9B (89%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Moonraker (1979) $210.3M $70.3M US & Canada · 33% $140M elsewhere · 67%
- 2 Alien (1979) $109.1M $84.2M US & Canada · 77% $24.9M elsewhere · 23%
- 3 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $106.3M $106.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Apocalypse Now (1979) $105.1M $96M US & Canada · 91% $9.1M elsewhere · 9%
- 5 1941 (1979) $92.5M $31.8M US & Canada · 34% $60.7M elsewhere · 66%
- 6 The Amityville Horror (1979) $86.4M $86.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Rocky II (1979) $85.2M $85.2M US & Canada · 100% $5.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) $82.7M $82.6M US & Canada · 100% $72.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 10 (1979) $74.9M $74.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Jerk (1979) $73.7M $73.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1979 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
4 of 99 films crossed $100M and took $530.8M between them, 24% of the total. 53 films, 54% of the list, earned under $10M.
24% 70%
- $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 4 films, 4% of the list $530.8M · 24% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 42 films, 42% of the list $1.5B · 70% of the gross
- Under $10M 53 films, 54% of the list $110.1M · 5% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1979 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $671.1M from 14 films, led by Moonraker (1979). January was the quietest month ($509). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Love on the Run (1979) $509 Love on the Run (1979)
- February Feb The Warriors (1979) $35.6M The Warriors (1979)
- March Mar The China Syndrome (1979) $133.6M The China Syndrome (1979)
- April Apr Love at First Bite (1979) $74.4M Love at First Bite (1979)
- May May La Cage aux Folles (1979) $24.2M La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- June Jun Moonraker (1979) $671.1M Moonraker (1979)
- July Jul The Amityville Horror (1979) $133.2M The Amityville Horror (1979)
- August Aug Apocalypse Now (1979) $218.4M Apocalypse Now (1979)
- September Sep Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) $51M Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
- October Oct 10 (1979) $223.4M 10 (1979)
- November Nov The Rose (1979) $37.5M The Rose (1979)
- December Dec Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) $567.4M Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Last 10 years
How Does 1979 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). 1979 took $2.2B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 41 films | 41 | $450M | – | 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 |
| 1979 99 films · +10% | 99 | $2.2B | +10% | Moonraker (1979) $210.3M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1979?
Drama took $917.4M across 57 films, 42% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($823.9M) and Action ($524.3M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $2B across 78 films, 90% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($20.4M) and Russian-language films ($457.7K).
1979 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $917.4M57 films · #1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) -
Comedy $823.9M37 films · #1 1941 (1979) -
Action $524.3M15 films · #1 Moonraker (1979) -
Sci-Fi $500.5M12 films · #1 Moonraker (1979) -
Thriller $452.1M18 films · #1 Moonraker (1979) -
Adventure $448.8M10 films · #1 Moonraker (1979) -
Romance $342.1M20 films · #1 10 (1979) -
Horror $279.6M12 films · #1 Alien (1979) -
War $226.2M8 films · #1 Apocalypse Now (1979) -
Sport $204.2M6 films · #1 Rocky II (1979)
1979 Box Office by Language
- English $2B78 films · #1 Moonraker (1979)
-
French $20.4M3 films · #1 La Cage aux Folles (1979) -
Russian $457.7K2 films · #1 Stalker (1979) -
Japanese $439.5K1 film · #1 Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage (1979) -
Italian $88.6K3 films · #1 Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979) -
German $15.6K2 films · #1 The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) -
Spanish $2.7K1 film · #1 Rapture (1979) -
Turkish $2.4K1 film · #1 The Herd (1979)
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 · $134B
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 · $201.4B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24.1B #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 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 99 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1979?
Moonraker (1979) leads with $210.3M worldwide, $70.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Alien (1979) at $109.1M and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) at $106.3M.
How much did movies released in 1979 earn?
99 films released in 1979 report a worldwide gross, $2.2B in all, or $21.9M per film on average. 1978 releases took $2B.
How many movies released in 1979 made $1 billion?
None. 4 films crossed $100 million, led by Moonraker (1979) with $210.3M.
How is the 1979 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 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.
How often is the 1979 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.