Most Popular Movies 1979
This chart shows the 1979 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1979 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1979 - Top 1979 Worldwide
| ← 1978 | Most Popular Overall | 1980 → |
1
| Mad Max |
| Director: George Miller |
| Lead Roles: Mel Gibson as 'Mad' Max Rockatansky |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 12, 1979 (Wide) (Australia) |
| Keywords: Post Apocalypse, Revenge, Vigilante, Gangs, Car Chase, Action Adventure, Near Future, Yesterday's Tomorrow |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,750,000 |
|
International BO: $91,000,000 |
2
| The Warriors |
| Director: Walter Hill |
| Lead Roles: Michael Beck as Swan, James Remar as Ajax, Dorsey Wright as Cleon, Brian Tyler as Snow, David Harris as Cochise, Tom McKitterick as Cowboy, Thomas G. Waites as Fox, Terry Michos as Vermin, Marcelino Sanchez as Rembrandt, Deborah Van Valkenburgh as Mercy, Roger Hill as Cyrus, David Patrick Kelly as Luther |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 1, 1979 (Limited) (Australia) |
| Keywords: Gangs, Hood Film, Action Thriller, Framed, Fugitive / On the Run |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $22,490,000 |
|
International BO: $5,493 |
3
| 1941 |
| Director: Steven Spielberg |
| Lead Roles: Dan Aykroyd as Sergeant Frank Tree, John Belushi as Captain Wild Bill Kelso |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 14, 1979 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: World War II, War, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Ensemble, Set in Hollywood |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $34,175,000 |
|
International BO: $60,700,000 |
4
| Rocky 2 |
| Director: Sylvester Stallone |
| Lead Roles: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 15, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Boxing, Training Montage |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $85,182,160 |
|
International BO: $115,000,000 |
5
| Apocalypse Now |
| Director: Francis Ford Coppola |
| Lead Roles: Martin Sheen as Captain Benjamin L. Willard |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 15, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Vietnam War, War, IMAX: DMR, Special Ops, Set in Cambodia, 1980 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $83,535,860 |
|
International BO: $2,423,850 |
6
| The Muppet Movie |
| Director: James Frawley |
| Lead Roles: Jim Henson as Various voices, Frank Oz as Biker in El Sleezo Café/Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle, Jerry Nelson as Floyd Pepper/Crazy Harry/Robin the Frog/Lew Zealand, Richard Hunt as Scooter/Statler/Janice/Sweetums/Beaker, Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo/Zoot/Dr. Bunsen Honeydew |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 22, 1979 (Wide) by Associated Film Distributors |
| Keywords: Breaking the Fourth Wall, Gratuitous Cameos, Road Trip, Movie Business, Non-Chronological, Beauty Pageants, Food, Dream Sequence, Romance, Kidnap, Scene in End Credits, Inventor, Mad Scientist, Nazis Outside of World War II, Family Adventure |
| Classification: Based on TV, Adventure, Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $76,657,000 |
7
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| Alien |
| Director: Ridley Scott |
| Lead Roles: Tom Skerritt as Dallas, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 25, 1979 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Parasite, Survival Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $64,324,049 |
|
International BO: $122,631,433 |
8
-(1979)-Thumbnail.jpg)
| Life of Brian |
| Director: Terry Jones |
| Lead Roles: Graham Chapman as Wise Man #2/Brian Cohen/Biggus Dickus, Terry Gilliam as Various Roles, Eric Idle as Various Roles, Terry Jones as Various roles, Michael Palin as Various Roles, John Cleese as Various Roles |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 17, 1979 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as The Life of Brian |
| Keywords: Same Actor, Multiple Roles, Religious, Satirical Comedy, Satire, Ancient Rome, Directing Yourself, Screenplay Written By the Star |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,182,359 |
|
International BO: $366,290 |
9
| The Jerk |
| Director: Carl Reiner |
| Lead Roles: Steve Martin as Navin R. Johnson/Cat Juggler |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 14, 1979 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Rags to Riches, Riches to Rags, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Inventor, Adopted Family, Road Trip |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $73,691,419 |
10
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| Dawn of the Dead |
| Director: George A. Romero |
| Lead Roles: David Emge as Stephen, Ken Foree as Peter, Scott H. Reiniger as Roger, Gaylen Ross as Francine |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 20, 1979 (Limited) by United Film Distribution Co. |
| Keywords: Zombies, Supernatural Horror, Epidemic, Remade, Satire, Corrupt Cops, Motorcycle Gangs |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,100,000 |
|
International BO: $49,900,000 |
11
| The Black Hole |
| Lead Roles: Maximilian Schell as Dr. Hans Reinhardt, Anthony Perkins as Dr. Alex Durant, Robert Forster as Capt. Dan Holland, Joseph Bottoms as Lieutenant Charles Pizer , Yvette Mimieux as Dr. Kate McCrae , Ernest Borgnine as Harry Booth |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 21, 1979 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Robot |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $35,841,901 |
12
| Time After Time |
| Lead Roles: Malcolm McDowell as H.G. Wells, David Warner as Jack the Ripper, Mary Steenburgen as Amy Robbins |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1979 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Time Travel |
|
Domestic BO: $13,000,000 |
13
| Meatballs |
| Director: Ivan Reitman |
| Lead Roles: Bill Murray as Tripper |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 29, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Camping, Slobs vs. Snobs, Coming of Age, Voiceover/Narration, Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field, Ensemble, Food, Miscellaneous Sports, Romance, First Love, Underdog, Scene in End Credits, Competitive Eating, Improvised, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $43,000,000 |
14
| Rock ‘n’ Roll High School |
| Director: Allan Arkush |
| Lead Roles: P.J. Soles as Riff Randell, Dey Young as Kate Rambeau |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 20, 1979 (Limited) by New World |
| Keywords: Rock 'n' Roll, Punk Rock, High School |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
15
| The Onion Field |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 21, 1979 (Wide) by Avco Embassy |
| Keywords: Film Noir |
16
| Escape from Alcatraz |
| Director: Don Siegel |
| Lead Roles: Clint Eastwood as Frank Morris |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 22, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Prison |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $43,000,000 |
|
International BO: $459 |
17
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| The Europeans |
| Director: James Ivory |
| Lead Roles: Wesley Addy as Mr. Wentworth, Lisa Eichhorn as Gertrude Wentworth |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 8, 1979 (Limited) by Levitt-Pickman |
| Keywords: 1800s, Romance |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
Synopsis
The fortune-hunting Baroness Eugenia Muenster arrives with her artistic and dashing brother Felix for a transatlantic visit with their cousins, the Wentworths. Less calculating than his sister, the bohemian, happy-go-lucky Felix falls for Gertrude Wentworth, who is already being courted (and bored) by the earnest Unitarian Minister suitor Mr. Brand. Eugenia meanwhile sets her sights on the reserved and attractive Robert Acton, who is torn between his captivation with the Baroness and his distrust of her European worldliness. Delightful, elegant and superbly acted, this film inaugurated Merchant Ivory’s long winning streak of period literary adaptations.
18
| The Concorde: Airport '79 |
| Lead Roles: Alain Delon as Capt. Paul Metrand, Susan Blakely as Maggie Whelan , Robert Wagner as Dr. Kevin Harrison , Sylvia Kristel as Isabelle, George Kennedy as Capt. Joe Patroni |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1979 (Wide) by Universal |
|
Domestic BO: $13,000,000 |
19
| Wanda Nevada |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 1, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Directing Yourself, Orphan, Gambling, Road Trip, Romance, May / December Romance, First Love, Confidence Men, Coming of Age, Treasure Hunters, Haunting, Native Americans, Bigotry |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
20
| Real Life |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 2, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
21
| ...And Justice For All |
| Director: Norman Jewison |
| Lead Roles: Al Pacino as Arthur Kirkland |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 19, 1979 (Wide) by Columbia |
| Keywords: Courtroom / Legal Drama, Film Noir, Lawyers, Corrupt Judge, Sex Crimes, Prostitution, Suicide, Hostage |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action |
|
Domestic BO: $33,300,000 |
22
| More American Graffiti |
| Director: B.W.L. Norton |
| Lead Roles: Ron Howard as Steve Bolander, Candy Clark as Debbie Dunham |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 3, 1979 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Coming of Age, Comedy Drama, 1970s, Delayed Sequel |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,100,000 |
23
| Kramer vs. Kramer |
| Director: Robert Benton |
| Lead Roles: Dustin Hoffman as Ted Kramer, Meryl Streep as Joanna Kramer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1979 (Wide) by Columbia |
| Keywords: Romantic Drama, 1980 Oscars Best Picture Nominee, Oscars Best Picture Winner |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $106,260,000 |
24
| The Champ |
| Director: Franco Zeffirelli |
| Lead Roles: Jon Voight as Billy Flynn, Faye Dunaway as Annie |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 4, 1979 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Boxing, Sports Drama, Athletes Past Their Prime, Horse Racing, One Last Job, Gambling, Addiction, Money Troubles, Dysfunctional Family, Relationships Gone Wrong, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $30,441,738 |
25
| The Great Santini |
| Director: Lewis John Carlino |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 26, 1979 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Historical Drama, 1960s, Vietnam War, In a Plane, Dysfunctional Family, Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Bigotry, Death of a Best Friend |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $7,000,000 |