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
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| 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: $62,005,728 |
|
International BO: $122,631,433 |
2
| 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 |
3
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| 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 |
4
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| 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 |
5
| 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 |
6
| 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 |
7
| Real Life |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 2, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
8
| The Wanderers |
| Director: Philip Kaufman |
| Lead Roles: Ken Wahl as Richie Gennaro, John Friedrich as Joey Capra, Karen Allen as Nina, Toni Kalem as Despie Galasso |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 13, 1979 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Gangs, Set in New York City, 1960s, Set in The Bronx, Political Assassination, Crime Drama |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,017,811 |
|
International BO: $18,000,000 |
9
| The Electric Horseman |
| Director: Sydney Pollack |
| Lead Roles: Robert Redford as Norman "Sonny" Steele, Jane Fonda as Alice "Hallie" Martin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1979 (Wide) by Universal |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $42,670,138 |
10
| Hanover Street |
| Director: Peter Hyams |
| Lead Roles: Harrison Ford as David Halloran, Lesley-Anne Down as Margaret Sellinger, Christopher Plummer as Paul Sellinger |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1979 (Wide) by Columbia |
| Keywords: War Drama, Romance, Love Triangle, Secret Agent, Undercover, Nazis, 1940s, World War II, In a Plane, Relationships Gone Wrong |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,000,000 |
11
| Moonraker |
| Director: Gilbert Lewis |
| Lead Roles: Roger Moore as James Bond |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 29, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Secret Agent, Action Thriller, Space Program, MI6, Enemies Forced to Work Together, Genetic Engineering, Good vs. Evil, Genocide, Bent on World Domination |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $70,300,000 |
|
International BO: $140,000,000 |
12
| Dreamer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 27, 1979 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox, released as Dreamer (1979) |
13
| Meteor |
| Director: Ronald Neame |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 19, 1979 (Wide) by American International Pictures |
| Keywords: End of the World, Action Thriller, Political, Disaster, Ensemble, Development Hell |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,400,000 |
14
| 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 |
15
| 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 |
16
| Sunburn |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 10, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
17
| 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 |
18
| Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht |
| Director: Werner Herzog |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 5, 1979 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox, released as Nosferatu the Vampyre |
| Classification: Based on Folk Tale/Legend/Fairytale, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
19
| Chapter Two |
| Director: Robert Moore |
| Lead Roles: James Caan as George Schneider, Marsha Mason as Jennie MacLaine |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1979 (Wide) by Columbia |
| Keywords: Romantic Comedy, Romance, Widow/Widower, Death of a Spouse or Fiancée / Fiancé, Divorcée Romance, Honeymoon, Relationships Gone Wrong, Infidelity, Blind Date, Novel or Other Work Adapted by Author |
| Classification: Based on Play, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $30,000,000 |
20
| I... comme Icare |
| Director: Henri Verneuil |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1979 (Wide) (France) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
21
| 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 |
22
| The Legacy |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 14, 1979 (Wide) by Universal |
23
| Human Experiments |
| Director: Gregory Goodell |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 16, 1979 (Limited) by Self Distributed |
| Keywords: Prison |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
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 Fish That Saved Pittsburgh |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 2, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Basketball |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $12,922 |