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Box office · May 1980

May 1980 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing May Releases

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the highest-grossing movie released in May 1980, with $550M worldwide, ahead of The Shining (1980) at $48M and Friday the 13th (1980) at $39.9M. 13 films released in May 1980 report a worldwide gross, $700.1M in all, 63% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 29.3 times the total of April 1980, whose releases took $23.9M. By genre, Action leads with $564.7M across 2 releases.

May 1980 releases with a gross
13
combined worldwide
$700.1M
film crossed $100M
1
vs April 1980
×29.3
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Hits of May 1980?

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) leads with $550M, 79% of the total. The top 5 together took $674.9M, 96% of what all 13 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) movie poster Number 1
    $550M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
  2. The Shining (1980) movie poster Number 2
    $48M The Shining (1980)
    $45.6M US & Canada · 95% $2.3M elsewhere · 5%
  3. Friday the 13th (1980) movie poster Number 3
    $39.9M Friday the 13th (1980)
    $39.8M US & Canada · 100% $163.3K elsewhere · <1%
  4. Fame (1980) movie poster Number 4
    $21.2M Fame (1980)
    $21.2M US & Canada · 100% $878 elsewhere · <1%
  5. The Long Riders (1980) movie poster Number 5
    $15.8M The Long Riders (1980)
    $15.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Release of May 1980, 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 May 1980.

  1. 1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) movie poster
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) May 21, 1980 · English · Action, Adventure $550M worldwide
    May 21, 1980 US and Canada: $292.8M Rest of the world: $257.3M Worldwide: $550M
  2. 2 The Shining (1980) movie poster
    The Shining (1980) May 23, 1980 · English · Thriller, Horror $48M worldwide
    May 23, 1980 US and Canada: $45.6M Rest of the world: $2.3M Worldwide: $48M
  3. 3 Friday the 13th (1980) movie poster
    Friday the 13th (1980) May 9, 1980 · English · Horror $39.9M worldwide
    May 9, 1980 US and Canada: $39.8M Rest of the world: $163.3K Worldwide: $39.9M
  4. 4 Fame (1980) movie poster
    Fame (1980) May 16, 1980 · English · Drama, Music $21.2M worldwide
    May 16, 1980 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $878 Worldwide: $21.2M
  5. 5 The Long Riders (1980) movie poster
    The Long Riders (1980) May 16, 1980 · English · Western $15.8M worldwide
    May 16, 1980 US and Canada: $15.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.8M
  6. 6 The Nude Bomb (1980) movie poster
    The Nude Bomb (1980) May 9, 1980 · English · Crime, Comedy $14.7M worldwide
    May 9, 1980 US and Canada: $14.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.7M
  7. 7 The Gong Show Movie (1980) movie poster
    The Gong Show Movie (1980) May 23, 1980 · English · Comedy $6.6M worldwide
    May 23, 1980 US and Canada: $6.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.6M
  8. 8 Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) movie poster
    Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) May 30, 1980 · English · Adventure, Mystery $2M worldwide
    May 30, 1980 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M
  9. 9 Carny (1980) movie poster
    Carny (1980) May 23, 1980 · English · Drama $1.8M worldwide
    May 23, 1980 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.8M
  10. 10 Every Man for Himself (1980) movie poster
    Every Man for Himself (1980) May 22, 1980 · French · Drama $47.3K worldwide
    May 22, 1980 US and Canada: $47.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.3K
  11. 11 My American Uncle (1980) movie poster
    My American Uncle (1980) May 21, 1980 · French · Romance, Comedy $38.5K worldwide
    May 21, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $38.5K
  12. 12 Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) movie poster
    Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) May 1, 1980 · English · Comedy, Adventure $501 worldwide
    May 1, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $501
  13. 13 Humanoids from the Deep (1980) movie poster
    Humanoids from the Deep (1980) May 16, 1980 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror $160 worldwide
    May 16, 1980 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $160
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in May 1980?

Of the top 10, The Long Riders (1980) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) made 47% of its gross abroad. Across all 13 films, $440.3M (63%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
    $292.8M US & Canada · 53% $257.3M elsewhere · 47%
  2. 2 The Shining (1980) $48M
    $45.6M US & Canada · 95% $2.3M elsewhere · 5%
  3. 3 Friday the 13th (1980) $39.9M
    $39.8M US & Canada · 100% $163.3K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 Fame (1980) $21.2M
    $21.2M US & Canada · 100% $878 elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 The Long Riders (1980) $15.8M
    $15.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 The Nude Bomb (1980) $14.7M
    $14.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Gong Show Movie (1980) $6.6M
    $6.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) $2M
    $2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Carny (1980) $1.8M
    $1.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Every Man for Himself (1980) $47.3K
    $47.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many May 1980 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 13 films crossed $100M and took $550M between them, 79% of the total. 7 films, 54% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $500M to $1B 1 film, 8% of the list $550M · 79% of the gross
  • $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 38% of the list $139.5M · 20% of the gross
  • Under $10M 7 films, 54% of the list $10.5M · 2% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of May 1980 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 21 (May 18–24) took $606.5M, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 27–May 3 Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) $501 Goodbye Pork Pie (1980)
  2. Week 19 Wk 19 May 4–10 Friday the 13th (1980) $54.6M Friday the 13th (1980)
  3. Week 20 Wk 20 May 11–17 Fame (1980) $37M Fame (1980)
  4. Week 21 Wk 21 May 18–24 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $606.5M Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  5. Week 22 Wk 22 May 25–31 Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) $2M Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980)
Earlier years

How Does May 1980 Compare With May in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, May 1977 earned the most: $903M from 7 films, led by Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). May 1980 took $700.1M.

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
May 1971 4 films 4 $12.7M – Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) $12.3M
May 1972 4 films · −100% 4 $33.4K −100% Play It Again, Sam (1972) $15.4K
May 1973 6 films · −69% 6 $10.3K −69% Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) $8.5K
May 1974 7 films · +212484% 7 $21.9M +212484% Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) $21.7M
May 1975 7 films · +213% 7 $68.5M +213% The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) $41.8M
May 1976 5 films · −92% 5 $5.4M −92% That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) $5M
May 1977 7 films · +16669% 7 $903M +16669% Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) $775.4M
May 1978 9 films · −92% 9 $76M −92% The End (1978) $44.9M
May 1979 10 films · −66% 10 $26.1M −66% La Cage aux Folles (1979) $20.4M
May 1980 13 films · +2586% 13 $700.1M +2586% Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $550M
Genres & languages

Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in May 1980?

Action took $564.7M across 2 films, 81% of the total, ahead of Adventure ($552M) and Sci-Fi ($550M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $700M across 11 films, 100% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($85.7K).

May 1980 Box Office by Genre

  1. Action $564.7M
    2 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  2. Adventure $552M
    3 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  3. Sci-Fi $550M
    2 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  4. Horror $87.9M
    3 films · #1 The Shining (1980)
  5. Thriller $48M
    1 film · #1 The Shining (1980)
  6. Comedy $23.3M
    5 films · #1 The Nude Bomb (1980)
  7. Drama $23.1M
    4 films · #1 Fame (1980)
  8. Music $21.2M
    1 film · #1 Fame (1980)
  9. Musical $21.2M
    1 film · #1 Fame (1980)
  10. Mystery $16.7M
    2 films · #1 The Nude Bomb (1980)

May 1980 Box Office by Language

  1. English $700M
    11 films · #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  2. French $85.7K
    2 films · #1 Every Man for Himself (1980)
Archive

Box Office in 1980, Month by Month

The months of 1980 with their totals: May leads with $700.1M, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

FAQ

Box Office May 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 13 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing movie in May 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 Shining (1980) at $48M and Friday the 13th (1980) at $39.9M.

How much did movies released in May 1980 earn?

13 films released in May 1980 report a worldwide gross, $700.1M in all, or $53.9M per film on average. April 1980 releases took $23.9M.

How many movies released in May 1980 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with $550M.

How much of the May 1980 box office came from the US and Canada?

$440.3M of the $700.1M total, or 63%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 3 films of the 13 report no domestic figure.

How is the May 1980 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 May 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.

How often is the May 1980 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.