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
-(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 |
3
-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 |
4
| Going in Style |
| Director: Martin Brest |
| Lead Roles: George Burns as Joe, Art Carney as Al , Lee Strasberg as Willie |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1979 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $29,900,000 |
5
| The First Great Train Robbery |
| Director: Michael Crichton |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 2, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists, released as The Great Train Robbery |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action |
|
Domestic BO: $391,942 |
6
| 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 |
7
| Star Trek: The Motion Picture |
| Director: Robert Wise |
| Lead Roles: William Shatner as Admiral/Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock, DeForest Kelley as Commander Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, M.D., James Doohan as Commander Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott, George Takei as Lieutenant Commander Hikaru Sulu, Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Commander Nyota Uhura, Walter Koenig as Lieutenant Pavel Chekov, Stephen Collins as Captain/Cmdr. Willard 'Will' Decker |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 7, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Action Adventure, Set in Outer Space, Artificial Intelligence, Death of a Girlfriend / Boyfriend, Self-sacrifice |
| Classification: Based on TV, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $82,258,456 |
|
International BO: $56,741,544 |
8
| 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 |
9
| The Black Stallion |
| Director: Carroll Ballard |
| Lead Roles: Kelly Reno as Alec Ramsey , Mickey Rooney as Henry Dailey |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 17, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists, released as Black Stallion, The |
| Keywords: Family Adventure, On a Boat, Marooned, Animal Lead, Horse Racing, Underdog, 1940s |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $37,799,643 |
10
| 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 |
11
| Dolphin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June, 1979 (Wide) |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Documentary, Factual |
|
Domestic BO: $14,000 |
12
| Voices |
| Director: Robert Marowitz |
| Lead Roles: Michael Ontkean as Drew Rithman, Amy Irving as Rosemarie Lemon |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 14, 1979 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Dancing, Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $27,445 |
13
| Yashagaike |
| Director: Masahiro Shinoda |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 20, 1979 (Limited) (Germany) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Fantasy |
14
| An Almost Perfect Affair |
| Lead Roles: Keith Carradine as Hal Raymond |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 27, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action |
15
| Manhattan |
| Director: Woody Allen |
| Lead Roles: Woody Allen as Isaac, Diane Keaton as Mary |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 25, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Directing Yourself, Retro Black and White, Infidelity, Love Triangle, Divorcée Romance, Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Writing and Writers, LGBTQ+, Voiceover/Narration, TV Industry, May / December Romance, Romantic Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $39,946,780 |
|
International BO: $106,815 |
Synopsis
Forty-two-year-old Manhattan native Isaac Davis has a job he hates, a seventeen-year-old girlfriend, Tracy, he doesn't love, and a lesbian ex-wife, Jill, who's writing a tell-all book about their marriage...and whom he'd like to strangle. But when he meets his best friend's sexy intellectual mistress, Mary, Isaac falls head over heels in lust! Leaving Tracy, bedding Mary and quitting his job are just the beginnings of Isaac's quest for romance and fulfillment in a city where sex is as intimate as a handshake - and the gateway to true love...is a revolving door.
16
| Prophecy |
| Director: John Frankenheimer |
| Lead Roles: Talia Shire as Maggie Verne |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 15, 1979 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Animals Gone Bad, Pregnant Women, Nature Horror, Native Americans, Native American Folklore, Environment, Set in Maine, Mutants, Animal Lead |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $22,673,340 |
17
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| Scum |
| Director: Alan Clarke |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 28, 1979 (Limited) (United Kingdom) |
| Keywords: Delayed Release, Juvenile Delinquent, Set in United Kingdom, Agitprop, Prison, Cruel Wardens or Prison Guards, Political, Remake, Director Remaking Their Own Movie, Sex Crimes |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,405 |
18
| ...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 |
19
| The Frisco Kid |
| Director: Robert Aldrich |
| Lead Roles: Gene Wilder as Avram Belinski, Harrison Ford as Tommy Lillard |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 13, 1979 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Comedy Westerns, 1850s, Jewish, Culture Clash, Road Trip, Confidence Men, Money Troubles, Mennonites, Wild West, Screenplay Written By the Star |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $12,000,000 |
20
| On the Yard |
| Director: Raphael D. Silver |
| Lead Roles: John Heard as Juleson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 19, 1979 (Limited) by Midwest Movies |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
21
| Being There |
| Director: Hal Ashby |
| Lead Roles: Peter Sellers as Chance - Chauncey Gardiner |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 19, 1979 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Satire, Satirical Comedy, Learning Disabilities, Political, Washington, D.C., Mistaken Identity |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $30,177,511 |
|
International BO: $95 |
22
| Zulu Dawn |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 14, 1979 (Wide) by American Cinema Releasing |
23
-Thumbnail.jpg)
| Shan zhong zhuan qi |
| Director: King Hu |
| Lead Roles: Shih Chun as Ho Yunqing |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 4, 1979 (Wide) (Hong Kong) |
| Keywords: Supernatural, Haunting, Buddhism, Lost, 1000s, Ancient China, Sung Dynasty |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $7,639 |
Synopsis
A travelling scholar, intent on translating a Buddhist sutra, loses his way in the mountains. Time and space collapse around him as he continues his journey, encountering ghostly visitations amid a haunting fantasia of color, light and landscape. King Hu rose to prominence in the 1960s and 70s as a superb director of wuxia, a subgenre of samurai film dealing with swords, sorcery and chivalrous heroes. Legend of the Mountain comes from the director’s later period, when his artistry, specifically his landscape compositions, was at the height of its powers.
24
| 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 |
25
| 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, Sports Action, Comeback, Directing Yourself, Screenplay Written By the Star, Pregnant Women, Troubled Pregnancy or Miscarriage, Coma, Medical and Hospitals, Underdog, Out of Retirement |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $85,182,160 |
|
International BO: $115,000,000 |