Most Popular Movies 1980
This chart shows the 1980 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 1980 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1980 - Top 1980 Worldwide
| ← 1979 | Most Popular Overall | 1981 → |
1
| Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back |
| Director: Irvin Kershner |
| Lead Roles: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Hans Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 20, 1980 (Wide) (United Kingdom) |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Heroic Adventure, Fugitive / On the Run, Good vs. Evil, Rebellion, Mentor, Friendly Ghost |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $291,738,960 |
|
International BO: $257,262,126 |
2
| Altered States |
| Director: Ken Russell |
| Lead Roles: William Hurt as Eddie Jessup |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 25, 1980 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Body Horror, Scientific Experiment Gone Awry, Relationships Gone Wrong, Prologue, Set in Mexico, Hallucinations, Research Scientist |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Horror, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $19,853,892 |
|
International BO: $6 |
3
| Nine to Five |
| Director: Colin Higgins |
| Lead Roles: Jane Fonda as Judy Bernly, Lily Tomlin as Senior Supervisor Mrs. Violet Newstead, Dolly Parton as Doralee Rhodes, Hart's Secretary, Dabney Coleman as Franklin M. Hart Jr. (Chairman of the Board) |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1980 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Sexism, Bigotry, 1980s |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $103,290,500 |
|
International BO: $10,159 |
4
| Flash Gordon |
| Director: Mike Hodges |
| Lead Roles: Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 5, 1980 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Action Adventure, Space Opera |
| Classification: Based on Comic/Graphic Novel, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $27,107,960 |
|
International BO: $68,865 |
5
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| Friday the 13th |
| Director: Sean Cunningham |
| Lead Roles: Adrienne King as Alice Hardy, Harry Crosby as Bill, Laurie Bartram as Brenda, Mark Nelson as Ned, Jeannine Taylor as Marcie, Ari Lehman as Jason |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 9, 1980 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $39,754,601 |
|
International BO: $20,000,000 |
6
| Up the Academy |
| Director: Robert Downey, Sr. |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 6, 1980 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Military Life, Boarding School, Famously Bad, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $10,000,000 |
7
| The Shining |
| Director: Stanley Kubrick |
| Lead Roles: Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 23, 1980 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Writing and Writers, Writer's Block, Haunting, Domestic Abuse, Addiction, Dysfunctional Family, Psychological Horror |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $45,052,898 |
|
International BO: $1,159,751 |
8
| The Changeling |
| Director: Peter Medak |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1980 (Wide) by Associated Film Distributors |
| Keywords: Supernatural, Psychological Horror, Death of a Spouse or Fiancée / Fiancé, Death of a Son or Daughter, Dysfunctional Family, Familial Murder, False Identity, Politicians, Surprise Twist, Haunting, Haunted House, Séance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $12,000,000 |
9
| Mon oncle d'Amérique |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 17, 1980 (Wide) by New World |
| Keywords: Foreign Language |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
10
| The Last Word |
| Director: Roy Boulting |
| Lead Roles: Richard Harris as Danny Travis |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 12, 1980 (Limited) by Samuel Goldwyn Films |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
11
| Raging Bull |
| Director: Martin Scorsese |
| Lead Roles: Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 14, 1980 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Biography, Boxing, Film Noir, Throwing a Fight / Match, Sports Drama, Prologue, Non-Chronological, 1960s, 1940s, Underdog, 1950s, 1981 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $23,380,203 |
|
International BO: $37,446 |
12
| Gilda Live |
| Director: Mike Nichols |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 28, 1980 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Concert/Performance, Live Action, Factual |
|
Domestic BO: $2,261,507 |
13
| The Long Riders |
| Director: Walter Hill |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 16, 1980 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Screenplay Written By the Star, Revisionist Western, Family Affair, Relatives Playing Relatives |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Western, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $15,198,912 |
14
| The Elephant Man |
| Director: David Lynch |
| Lead Roles: John Hurt as John Merrick |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 3, 1980 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: 1880s, Biographical Drama, 1981 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Factual Book/Article, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $26,010,864 |
|
International BO: $14,022 |
15
| The Big Brawl |
| Director: Robert Clouse |
| Lead Roles: Jackie Chan as Jerry Kwan, José Ferrer as Domenici, Kristine DeBell as Nancy |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 29, 1980 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Mafia, Martial Arts, Action Comedy, 1930s, Set in Chicago, Texas, Underground / Illegal Fighting |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,527,743 |
16
| Hardly Working |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1980 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
|
Domestic BO: $18,000,000 |
17
| La ragazza del vagone letto |
| Director: Ferdinando Baldi |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 10, 1980 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
18
| Forbidden Zone |
| Director: Richard Elfman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 21, 1980 (Limited) by Samuel Goldwyn Films |
| Keywords: Prologue, Intertitle, Cult Movie, Dysfunctional Family, LGBTQ+, Alternative Dimensions / Parallel universe, Family Affair |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Musical, Live Action, Fantasy |
19
| The Black Marble |
| Director: Harold Becker |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 1, 1980 (Wide) by Avco Embassy |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,500,000 |
20
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| Battle Beyond the Stars |
| Director: Jimmy T. Murakami |
| Lead Roles: Richard Thomas as Shad, Robert Vaughn as Gelt, John Saxon as Sador, George Peppard as Cowboy, Darlanne Fluegel as Nanelia, Sybil Danning as Saint-Exmin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 10, 1980 (Limited) by New World |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Science Fiction |
21
| Mangiati vivi |
| Director: Umberto Lenzi |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 20, 1980 (Wide), released as Mangiati vivi! (Italy) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
22
| Hero At Large |
| Director: Martin Davidson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 8, 1980 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Action Comedy, Romance, Vigilante, Aspiring Actress / Actor |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $15,934,737 |
23
| Midnight Madness |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 8, 1980 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
|
Domestic BO: $2,900,000 |
24
| Serial |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 28, 1980 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
|
Domestic BO: $9,870,727 |
25
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| Patrick vive ancora |
| Director: Mario Landi |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 15, 1980 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |