Ranking 1980 Movies

To make this list a movie had to be made in 1980. This page will looks at 156 1980 Movies. The movies are listed in a massive table that lets you rank the movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. This only represents about 35% of the movies made in 1980….but should cover the top box office movies.

Our UMR Top 50 of 1980

Year Movie (Year) Rating S

Year Movie (Year) Rating S

1980 Ordinary People (1980)
AA Best Picture Win

1980 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

1980 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
AA Best Picture Nom

1980 Airplane! (1980)

1980 Superman II (1980)

1980 The Shining (1980)

1980 The Blues Brothers (1980)

1980 Raging Bull (1980)
AA Best Picture Nom

1980 The Elephant Man (1980)
AA Best Picture Nom

1980 Caddyshack (1980)

1980 9 to 5 (1980)

1980 Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)

1980 Brubaker (1980)

1980 Private Benjamin (1980)

1980 Stir Crazy (1980)

1980 Urban Cowboy (1980)

1980 Seems Like Old Times (1980)

1980 Popeye (1980)

1980 Dressed to Kill (1980)

1980 The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

1980 Little Darlings (1980)

1980 Flash Gordon (1980)

1980 Altered States (1980)

1980 The Blue Lagoon (1980)

1980 Bronco Billy (1980)

1980 Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)

1980 Atlantic City (1980)
AA Best Picture Nom

1980 Any Which Way You Can (1980)

1980 My Bodyguard (1980)

1980 The Last Metro (1980)

1980 Windwalker (1980)

1980 Fame (1980)

1980 Honeysuckle Rose (1980)

1980 American Gigolo (1980)

1980 Hopscotch (1980)

1980 The Private Eyes (1980)

1980 Friday the 13th (1980)

1980 The Competition (1980)

1980 Breaker Morant (1980)

1980 The Fog (1980)

1980 The Long Riders (1980)

1980 The Changeling (1980)

1980 The Big Red One (1980)

1980 Lion of the Desert (1980)

1980 Used Cars (1980)

1980 The Stunt Man (1980)

1980 Kagemusha (1980)

1980 Stardust Memories (1980)

1980 Serial (1980)

1980 The Hollywood Knights (1980)

Year	Movie (Year)	Rating	S
1980	Ordinary People (1980) AA Best Picture Win
1980	Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1980	Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) AA Best Picture Nom
1980	Airplane! (1980)
1980	Superman II (1980)
1980	The Shining (1980)
1980	The Blues Brothers (1980)
1980	Raging Bull (1980) AA Best Picture Nom
1980	The Elephant Man (1980) AA Best Picture Nom
1980	Caddyshack (1980)
1980	9 to 5 (1980)
1980	Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)
1980	Brubaker (1980)
1980	Private Benjamin (1980)
1980	Stir Crazy (1980)
1980	Urban Cowboy (1980)
1980	Seems Like Old Times (1980)
1980	Popeye (1980)
1980	Dressed to Kill (1980)
1980	The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
1980	Little Darlings (1980)
1980	Flash Gordon (1980)
1980	Altered States (1980)
1980	The Blue Lagoon (1980)
1980	Bronco Billy (1980)
1980	Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)
1980	Atlantic City (1980) AA Best Picture Nom
1980	Any Which Way You Can (1980)
1980	My Bodyguard (1980)
1980	The Last Metro (1980)
1980	Windwalker (1980)
1980	Fame (1980)
1980	Honeysuckle Rose (1980)
1980	American Gigolo (1980)
1980	Hopscotch (1980)
1980	The Private Eyes (1980)
1980	Friday the 13th (1980)
1980	The Competition (1980)
1980	Breaker Morant (1980)
1980	The Fog (1980)
1980	The Long Riders (1980)
1980	The Changeling (1980)
1980	The Big Red One (1980)
1980	Lion of the Desert (1980)
1980	Used Cars (1980)
1980	The Stunt Man (1980)
1980	Kagemusha (1980)
1980	Stardust Memories (1980)
1980	Serial (1980)
1980	The Hollywood Knights (1980)

1980 Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

- Sort 1980 Movies by movie titles and movie trailers
- Sort 1980 Movies by the stars or in some cases the director of the movie.
- Sort 1980 Movies by stars of the movie
- Sort 1980 Movies by domestic adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort 1980 Movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations each 1980 Movies received and how many Oscar® wins each 1980 Movies received.
- Sort 1980 Movies by Ultimate Movie Ranking Score (UMR). Our UMR score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.

R	Movie (Year)	UMR Co-Star Links			Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil)				UMR Score
R	Movie (Year)	UMR Co-Star Links	Actual B.O. Domestic (mil)	Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil)	Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil)	B.O. Rank by Year	Review	Oscar Nom / Win	UMR Score	S
1	Ordinary People (1980) AA Best Picture Win	Donald Sutherland & Directed by Robert Redford	54.8	227.1	227.10	12	82	06 / 04	99.8
3	Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)	Harrison Ford & Mark Hamill	255.3	1,058.4	2,086.20	1	92	03 / 02	99.4
2	Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) AA Best Picture Nom	Sissy Spacek & Tommy Lee Jones	81.5	337.8	337.80	6	80	07 / 01	99.1
4	Airplane! (1980)	Leslie Nielsen	93.4	387.2	387.20	5	88	00 / 00	98.7
4	Superman II (1980)	Gene Hackman & Christopher Reeve	111.2	461.1	965.00	3	86	00 / 00	98.4
7	The Shining (1980)	Jack Nicholson	44.0	182.5	182.50	18	83	00 / 00	96.9
8	The Blues Brothers (1980)	John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd	57.2	237.3	237.30	11	77	00 / 00	96.8
7	Raging Bull (1980) AA Best Picture Nom	Robert DeNiro & Joe Pesci	23.5	97.5	97.50	33	94	08 / 02	96.7
10	The Elephant Man (1980) AA Best Picture Nom	John Hurt & Anthony Hopkins	27.9	115.8	115.80	28	88	08 / 00	96.1
10	Caddyshack (1980)	Chevy Chase & Bill Murray	47.7	197.7	197.70	15	73	00 / 00	95.7
9	9 to 5 (1980)	Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda	137.4	569.9	569.90	2	68	01 / 00	95.0
14	Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)	Tommy Chong	50.1	207.9	207.90	13	68	00 / 00	94.6
15	Brubaker (1980)	Morgan Freeman & Robert Redford	44.9	186.1	186.10	17	71	01 / 00	94.4
14	Private Benjamin (1980)	Goldie Hawn & Eileen Brennan	80.0	331.7	331.70	7	65	03 / 00	94.4
15	Stir Crazy (1980)	Richard Pryor & Gene Wilder	101.3	420.0	420.00	4	67	00 / 00	94.3
16	Urban Cowboy (1980)	John Travolta & Debra Winger	46.9	194.5	194.50	16	68	00 / 00	94.2
17	Seems Like Old Times (1980)	Goldie Hawn & Chevy Chase	44.0	182.4	182.40	19	67	00 / 00	92.7
19	Popeye (1980)	Robin Williams	49.8	206.6	248.90	14	59	00 / 00	92.2
18	Dressed to Kill (1980)	Michael Caine	34.8	144.4	144.40	23	77	00 / 00	92.1
20	The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)	N!xau	30.0	124.5	124.50	26	78	00 / 00	90.3
21	Little Darlings (1980)	Matt Dillon	38.8	161.0	161.00	21	63	00 / 00	89.2
22	Flash Gordon (1980)	Max Von Sydow & Topol	34.6	143.5	143.50	24	67	00 / 00	88.6
23	Altered States (1980)	Drew Barrymore & William Hurt	29.1	120.6	120.60	27	70	02 / 00	87.9
22	The Blue Lagoon (1980)	Brooke Shields	58.9	244.0	244.00	10	46	00 / 00	87.5
26	Bronco Billy (1980)	Clint Eastwood	34.9	144.6	144.60	22	62	00 / 00	87.1
26	Smokey and the Bandit II (1980)	Sally Field & Burt Reynolds	66.1	274.2	274.20	9	44	00 / 00	87.1
26	Atlantic City (1980) AA Best Picture Nom		12.7	52.8	52.80	64	80	05 / 00	86.8
28	Any Which Way You Can (1980)	Clint Eastwood	70.7	293.1	293.10	8	42	00 / 00	86.0
29	My Bodyguard (1980)	Matt Dillon	24.9	103.2	103.20	31	72	00 / 00	86.0
30	The Last Metro (1980)	Gérard Depardieu & Catherine Deneuve	3.0	12.5	12.50	126	100	01 / 00	85.7
31	Windwalker (1980)	Trevor Howard	18.6	77.3	77.30	39	74	00 / 00	83.0
32	Fame (1980)	Irene Cara	17.8	73.7	73.70	42	68	06 / 02	82.8
33	Honeysuckle Rose (1980)	Willie Nelson	24.4	101.2	101.20	32	66	00 / 00	82.8
34	American Gigolo (1980)	Richard Gere	26.7	110.9	110.90	29	62	00 / 00	82.1
34	Hopscotch (1980)	Walter Matthau & Glenda Jackson	17.4	72.3	72.30	43	73	00 / 00	81.6
36	The Private Eyes (1980)	Tim Conway	18.0	74.6	74.60	40	72	00 / 00	81.4
38	Friday the 13th (1980)	Kevin Bacon	39.8	164.9	164.90	20	43	00 / 00	81.2
38	The Competition (1980)	Richard Dreyfuss	16.9	70.3	70.30	45	71	02 / 00	80.7
37	Breaker Morant (1980)	Edward Woodward	7.1	29.6	29.60	87	84	01 / 00	80.6
40	The Fog (1980)	John Carpenter & Jamie Lee Curtis	21.4	88.6	88.60	34	64	00 / 00	79.1
40	The Long Riders (1980)	Dennis Quaid	13.7	56.8	56.80	57	74	00 / 00	78.9
42	The Changeling (1980)	George C. Scott & Melvyn Douglas	12.8	53.0	53.00	62	75	00 / 00	78.8
41	The Big Red One (1980)	Lee Marvin & Mark Hamill	5.4	22.5	22.50	100	83	00 / 00	78.1
43	Lion of the Desert (1980)		3.5	14.5	14.50	117	85	00 / 00	77.1
46	Used Cars (1980)	Kurt Russell & Jack Warden	11.7	48.6	48.60	65	73	00 / 00	76.1
45	The Stunt Man (1980)	Peter O'Toole	7.1	29.3	29.30	88	76	03 / 00	75.4
47	Kagemusha (1980)	Tatsuya Nakadai & Directed by Akira Kurosawa	4.0	16.6	16.60	113	80	02 / 00	74.7
49	Stardust Memories (1980)	Woody Allen & Daniel Stern	10.4	43.1	43.10	70	73	00 / 00	74.5
49	Serial (1980)	Martin Mull	9.9	40.9	40.90	73	72	00 / 00	72.8
51	The Hollywood Knights (1980)	Michelle Pfeiffer	16.1	66.6	66.60	49	63	00 / 00	72.3
52	The Dogs of War (1980)	Christopher Walken & Tom Berenger	5.5	22.7	22.70	98	75	00 / 00	70.3
52	Melvin and Howard (1980)	Jason Robards & Mary Steenburgen	4.3	17.9	17.90	108	71	03 / 02	69.4
54	The Hunter (1980)	Steve McQueen	19.3	80.2	80.20	36	56	00 / 00	69.1
53	Inside Moves (1980)	Diana Scarwid	2.3	9.6	9.60	132	77	01 / 00	68.7
56	Cruising (1980)	Al Pacino	16.3	67.4	67.40	48	60	00 / 00	68.6
54	Resurrection (1980)	Ellen Burstyn & Sam Shepard	3.9	16.2	16.20	116	73	02 / 00	67.0
57	The Idolmaker (1980)	Peter Gallagher & Ray Sharkey	2.6	10.9	10.90	128	76	00 / 00	66.7
58	Tom Horn (1980)	Steve McQueen	10.2	42.4	42.40	71	66	00 / 00	66.6
59	The Mirror Crack'd (1980)	Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson	12.8	53.0	53.00	61	62	00 / 00	65.7
60	The Island (1980)	Michael Caine	15.7	65.2	65.20	51	58	00 / 00	65.7
61	A Change of Seasons (1980)	Anthony Hopkins & Shirley MacLaine	16.9	70.1	70.10	46	56	00 / 00	65.1
62	The Final Countdown (1980)	Kirk Douglas & Martin Sheen	15.6	64.5	64.50	52	58	00 / 00	64.7
62	Gregory's Girl (1980)		1.2	5.2	5.20	151	76	00 / 00	64.5
63	The Ninth Configuration (1980)	Scott Wilson	1.9	8.0	8.00	143	75	00 / 00	64.2
65	Gloria (1980)	Buck Henry & Directed by John Cassavetes	3.5	14.3	14.30	123	72	01 / 00	63.9
67	It's My Turn (1980)	Michael Douglas & Daniel Stern	13.6	56.4	56.40	58	59	00 / 00	63.3
67	The Long Good Friday (1980)	Bob Hoskins & Helen Mirren	0.8	3.4	3.40	158	76	00 / 00	62.7
68	Middle Age Crazy (1980)	Bruce Dern & Ann-Margret	14.0	57.9	57.90	56	58	00 / 00	62.5
71	Hero at Large (1980)	Kevin Bacon	12.8	53.0	53.00	63	60	00 / 00	62.3
70	Pixote (1980) Limited Release	Fernando Ramos da Silva	0.1	0.5	0.50	183	76	00 / 00	61.2
72	Kill or Be Killed (1980)	James Ryan	15.8	65.6	65.60	50	55	00 / 00	60.9
71	Tribute (1980)	Jack Lemmon & Robby Benson	9.0	37.3	37.30	79	63	01 / 00	60.6
75	The Jazz Singer (1980)	Laurence Olivier & Neil Diamond	30.2	125.3	125.30	25	36	00 / 00	60.4
74	Motel Hell (1980)	Rory Calhoun	6.3	26.3	26.30	94	67	00 / 00	59.9
75	Xanadu (1980)	Gene Kelly	25.4	105.5	105.50	30	41	00 / 00	59.4
77	The Nude Bomb (1980)	Don Adams & Rhonda Fleming	19.0	78.8	78.80	37	50	00 / 00	59.3
77	Bon Voyage Charlie Brown (1980)	Arrin Skelley	2.0	8.3	8.30	138	72	00 / 00	59.0
76	The Young Master (1980)		0.1	0.2	32.90	192	74	00 / 00	58.8
79	The Earthling (1980)	William Holdin	0.5	1.9	1.90	168	73	00 / 00	57.9
81	Foxes (1980)	Jodie Foster & Sally Kellerman	7.5	31.0	31.00	86	64	00 / 00	57.6
83	Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)	Cloris Leachman	17.0	70.5	70.50	44	51	00 / 00	57.3
80	My American Uncle (1980)		0.3	1.4	1.40	172	72	01 / 00	57.3
82	Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980)	David Strathairn	1.0	4.1	4.10	154	72	00 / 00	56.6
84	Midnight Madness (1980)	Michael J. Fox	3.5	14.5	14.50	118	68	00 / 00	56.4
87	Little Miss Marker (1980)	Walter Matthau & Julie Andrews	8.6	35.7	35.70	82	61	00 / 00	55.6
86	Simon (1980)	Alan Arkin	6.3	26.0	26.00	95	64	00 / 00	55.6
85	Out of the Blue (1980)	Dennis Hopper	2.0	8.2	8.20	139	70	00 / 00	55.4
86	Fatso (1980)	Anne Bancroft	8.7	36.2	36.20	80	61	00 / 00	55.1
89	Gilda Live (1980)	Gilda Radner	2.3	9.4	9.40	133	69	00 / 00	54.2
90	The Octagon (1980)	Chuck Norris & Lee Van Cleef	19.0	78.7	78.70	38	47	00 / 00	54.0
90	Divine Madness (1980)	Bette Midler	4.4	18.3	18.30	106	66	00 / 00	53.8
92	The Big Brawl (1980)	Jackie Chan	7.0	28.9	28.90	89	62	00 / 00	53.7
94	Prom Night (1980)	Jamie Lee Curtis	14.0	57.9	57.90	55	53	00 / 00	53.1
94	The Exterminator (1980)	Samantha Eggar & Christopher George	9.3	38.6	38.60	78	59	00 / 00	52.8
95	Oh, God! Book II (1980)	George Burns	14.5	60.1	60.10	54	52	00 / 00	52.6
97	The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)	Elliott Gould & Genevieve Bujold	9.3	38.6	38.60	77	58	00 / 00	50.7
97	Somewhere in Time (1980)	Christopher Plummer	9.8	40.5	40.50	74	57	00 / 00	49.8
98	Terror Train (1980)	Jamie Lee Curtis	8.1	33.7	33.70	83	59	00 / 00	49.6
99	Fade to Black (1980)	Dennis Christopher	5.7	23.6	23.60	97	62	00 / 00	49.4
99	La Cage aux Folles II (1980)	Michel Serrault	7.0	28.8	28.80	91	60	00 / 00	49.4
101	Breaking Glass (1980)	Phil Daniels	0.0	0.2	0.20	195	69	00 / 00	48.6
102	Foolin' Around (1980)	Gary Busey & Tony Randall	3.0	12.5	12.50	127	65	00 / 00	48.0
103	The Man With Bogart's Face (1980)	Yvonne De Carlo	1.4	5.8	5.80	150	67	00 / 00	47.9
104	Times Square (1980)	Tim Curry	3.3	13.5	13.50	125	64	00 / 00	47.8
103	Hide in Plain Sight (1980)	James Caan	3.5	14.5	14.50	119	64	00 / 00	47.7
106	Hangar 18 (1980)	Darren McGavin & Robert Vaughn	13.4	55.5	55.50	59	51	00 / 00	47.4
108	Wholly Moses! (1980)	Richard Pryor & Dudley Moore	17.9	74.1	74.10	41	45	00 / 00	47.0
107	Why Would I Lie? (1980)	Treat Williams	1.2	4.9	4.90	152	66	00 / 00	46.5
109	I Sent A Letter To My Love (1980)		0.2	0.7	0.70	177	67	00 / 00	45.7
109	ffolkes (1980)	Roger Moore	4.0	16.5	16.50	114	62	00 / 00	45.6
111	The Conductor (1980)		0.2	0.6	0.60	179	67	00 / 00	44.6
112	Carny (1980)	Jodie Foster & Gary Busey	1.8	7.5	7.50	145	64	00 / 00	43.6
111	The Black Marble (1980)	James Woods	2.5	10.4	10.40	129	63	00 / 00	42.9
114	Touched By Love (1980)	Diane Lane	0.1	0.2	0.20	191	66	00 / 00	42.4
113	Bad Timing (1980)	https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com/bad-timing-1980/	0.5	2.1	2.10	167	65	00 / 00	41.4
116	The Mountain Men (1980)	Charlton Heston & Brian Keith	7.6	31.7	31.70	84	55	00 / 00	41.3
115	Those Lips, Those Eyes (1980)	Frank Langella	0.8	3.3	3.30	159	64	00 / 00	40.6
118	Loulou (1980)		0.2	0.6	0.60	178	65	00 / 00	40.5
120	How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980)	Adrian Lyne & Jessica Lange	7.0	28.9	28.90	90	56	00 / 00	40.5
118	Willie & Phil (1980)	Michael Ontkean & Margot Kidder	4.4	18.2	18.20	107	59	00 / 00	39.3
122	Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)	George Peppard & Robert Vaugh	11.0	45.6	45.60	69	50	00 / 00	38.5
121	Death Watch (1980) Film Festival Circuit Only	Robbie Coltrane	0.1	0.3	0.30	187	64	00 / 00	38.1
124	Heaven's Gate (1980)	Jeff Bridges & Christopher Walken	3.5	14.4	14.40	122	58	01 / 00	37.0
124	Hardly Working (1980)	Jerry Lewis & Susan Oliver	20.6	85.4	85.40	35	36	00 / 00	36.7
124	Alligator (1980)	Dean Jagger	6.4	26.7	26.70	93	55	00 / 00	36.6
126	Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980)		0.0	0.1	0.10	197	63	00 / 00	36.4
127	The Pilot (1980)	Dana Andrews	1.9	7.7	7.70	144	61	00 / 00	36.3
127	Defiance (1980)	Jan-Michael Vincent & Danny Aiello	1.0	4.1	4.10	155	62	00 / 00	36.2
129	In God We Trust (1980)	Richard Pryor	6.2	25.6	25.60	96	55	00 / 00	35.9
130	One-Trick Pony (1980)	Paul Simon	0.8	3.5	3.50	157	61	00 / 00	34.2
131	3 hommes à abattre (1980)		2.2	9.1	29.10	135	59	00 / 00	32.5
134	The Last Married Couple in America (1980)	Natalie Wood & George Segal	12.8	53.2	53.20	60	45	00 / 00	32.3
133	Oh Heavenly Dog (1980)	Chevy Chase	8.7	36.2	36.20	81	50	00 / 00	32.2
134	Ruckus (1980)		0.0	0.2	0.20	196	61	00 / 00	32.0
135	Super Fuzz (1980)		0.6	2.4	2.40	164	60	00 / 00	31.3
136	Second-Hand Hearts (1980)	Barbara Harris	0.0	0.1	0.10	199	61	00 / 00	30.8
137	The Baltimore Bullet (1980)	James Coburn & Omar Sharif	2.0	8.2	8.20	140	58	00 / 00	30.0
138	Heart Beat (1980)	Sissy Spacek & John Heard	1.0	4.0	4.00	156	59	00 / 00	29.4
138	Humanoids from the Deep (1980)	Doug McClure & Ann Turkel	2.5	10.4	10.40	130	57	00 / 00	29.4
142	The Watcher in the Woods (1980)	Bette Davis & Carroll Baker	5.0	20.7	20.70	102	53	00 / 00	28.8
140	A Small Circle of Friends (1980)	Brad Davis & Karen Allen	0.8	3.2	3.20	160	59	00 / 00	28.8
142	Tell Me A Riddle (1980)	Melvyn Douglas	0.1	0.4	0.40	186	59	00 / 00	28.4
143	The Children (1980)	Gil Rogers	4.9	20.2	20.20	103	53	00 / 00	28.0
144	The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)	Peter Sellers	11.6	48.2	48.20	66	44	00 / 00	27.8
143	The American Success Company (1980)	Jeff Bridges	1.8	7.5	7.50	146	57	00 / 00	27.8
144	Coast to Coast (1980)	Dyan Cannon	4.7	19.3	19.30	105	53	00 / 00	27.6
148	Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)	Bill Murray	9.8	40.5	40.50	75	46	00 / 00	26.7
146	Les séducteurs (1980)	Roger Moore & Gene Wilder	0.6	2.6	2.60	163	57	00 / 00	26.0
149	Virus (1980) Film Festival Circuit Only	Glenn Ford	0.0	0.1	0.10	203	58	00 / 00	25.2
152	Rough Cut (1980)	Burt Reynolds & David Niven	16.7	69.1	69.10	47	35	00 / 00	23.1
149	Roadie (1980)	Meat Loaf	3.4	14.1	14.10	124	52	00 / 00	23.0
151	Up The Academy (1980)	Ralph Macchio	11.2	46.3	46.30	68	42	00 / 00	23.0
152	Raise the Titanic (1980)	Jason Robards & Alec Guinness	6.8	28.2	28.20	92	48	00 / 00	22.9
153	Don't Answer the Phone! (1980)	James Westmoreland	4.1	16.9	16.90	111	51	00 / 00	22.2
153	The Hearse (1980)	Joseph Cotten	5.5	22.7	22.70	99	49	00 / 00	21.8
156	The Awakening (1980)	Charlton Heston	9.9	41.0	41.00	72	43	00 / 00	21.8
155	Nijinsky (1980)	Jeremy Irons	1.0	4.3	4.30	153	54	00 / 00	21.1
157	B.C. Rock (1980) Limited Release	Bill Murray	0.2	0.6	0.60	180	55	00 / 00	20.4
158	HealtH (1980)	James Garner & Lauren Bacall	1.6	6.7	6.70	147	53	00 / 00	20.2
160	The First Deadly Sin (1980)	Frank Sinatra & Faye Dunaway	3.5	14.5	14.50	120	50	00 / 00	19.3
160	Je vous aime (1980)		0.2	1.0	1.00	174	54	00 / 00	19.2
161	Just Tell Me What You Want (1980)	Myrna Loy & Directed by Sidney Lumet	2.1	8.7	8.70	137	52	00 / 00	19.2
162	Obsession (1980)		0.2	0.8	0.80	176	54	00 / 00	18.6
164	Running Scared (1980)	Judge Reinhold	2.2	9.3	9.30	134	51	00 / 00	17.9
165	Leo and Loree (1980)	Donnie Most	0.5	2.1	2.10	166	52	00 / 00	16.9
166	Crossover/Mr. Patman (1980) Film Festival Circuit Only	James Coburn & Directed by John Guillermin	0.0	0.1	0.10	198	53	00 / 00	16.6
169	First Family (1980)	Bob Newhart	15.2	63.0	63.00	53	33	00 / 00	16.3
168	The Kidnapping of the President (1980)	Ava Gardner & Van Johnson	0.7	2.9	2.90	162	52	00 / 00	16.3
168	Die Laughing (1980)	Elsa Lanchester	4.1	16.9	16.90	110	47	00 / 00	16.2
170	Cloud Dancer (1980)	David Carradine	0.1	0.5	0.50	184	52	00 / 00	15.9
170	Happy Birthday Gemini (1980) Limited Release	Rita Moreno & Madeline Kahn	0.1	0.2	0.20	193	52	00 / 00	15.3
170	Loving Couples (1980)	James Coburn & Shirley MacLaine	3.5	14.5	14.50	121	47	00 / 00	14.5
172	Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980) Limited Release	Anne Baxter	0.0	0.1	0.10	201	51	00 / 00	13.8
175	Death Ship (1980)	George Kennedy	4.1	16.9	16.90	109	45	00 / 00	13.3
173	The Attic (1980)	Ray Milland	1.5	6.3	6.30	149	48	00 / 00	13.1
178	Borderline (1980)	Charles Bronson & Ed Harris	5.3	22.2	22.20	101	43	00 / 00	13.1
175	Pray TV (1980) Showtime Movies	Dabney Coleman	0.1	0.2	0.20	189	50	00 / 00	13.0
179	The Formula (1980)	Marlon Brando & George C. Scott	9.6	39.8	39.80	76	37	01 / 00	12.8
179	Cabo Blanco (1980)	Charles Bronson	2.0	8.2	8.20	141	47	00 / 00	12.6
178	The Sea Wolves (1980)	Gregory Peck & David Niven	0.2	0.9	0.90	175	49	00 / 00	12.5
181	The Gong Show Movie (1980)	Chuck Barris	7.6	31.7	31.70	85	40	00 / 00	12.4
180	Nothing Personal (1980)	Donald Sutherland	0.7	3.0	3.00	161	49	00 / 00	12.4
182	The Great Skycopter Rescue (1980)		0.1	0.5	0.50	185	49	00 / 00	12.3
183	Silver Dream Racer (1980)	Beau Bridges	0.4	1.5	1.50	171	49	00 / 00	11.9
184	Without Warning (1980)	Jack Palance	0.3	1.4	1.40	173	48	00 / 00	11.2
185	Eaten Alive! (1980)		0.1	0.5	0.50	181	48	00 / 00	11.1
186	Falling In Love Again (1980)		0.6	2.3	2.30	165	48	00 / 00	11.1
188	Schizoid (1980)		0.1	0.2	0.20	190	46	00 / 00	8.4
189	Saturn 3 (1980)	Kirk Douglas & Harvey Keitel	11.4	47.2	47.20	67	30	00 / 00	7.3
189	Double Negative (1980)	Anthony Perkins	0.0	0.1	0.10	200	44	00 / 00	6.6
190	Agency (1980)	Robert Mitchum	1.6	6.5	6.50	148	42	00 / 00	6.4
192	Final Assignment (1980)	Genevieve Bujold & Burgess Meredith	0.4	1.5	1.50	169	43	00 / 00	6.1
191	Witches' Brew (1980)	Lana Turner & Teri Garr	2.3	9.6	9.60	131	38	00 / 00	4.8
194	Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980)		0.4	1.5	1.50	170	41	00 / 00	4.8
195	When Time Ran Out... (1980)	Paul Newman & William Holden	4.0	16.4	16.40	115	32	01 / 00	4.0
196	He Knows You're Alone (1980)	Tom Hanks	4.1	16.9	16.90	112	34	00 / 00	3.8
195	Phobia (1980)	Paul Michael Glaser	0.1	0.2	0.20	188	38	00 / 00	3.0
198	The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood (1980)	Adam West	0.0	0.2	0.20	194	36	00 / 00	2.1
199	Windows (1980)	Talia Shire	2.1	8.8	8.80	136	32	00 / 00	1.9
200	Gorp (1980)	Dennis Quaid	2.0	8.1	8.10	142	32	00 / 00	1.7
201	There Goes The Bride (1980)		0.0	0.1	0.10	202	34	00 / 00	1.6
202	The Return (1980)	Martin Landau	0.1	0.5	0.50	182	32	00 / 00	1.1
203	Can't Stop The Music (1980)	Steve Guttenberg	4.7	19.3	19.30	104	22	00 / 00	0.6

Top earners in 1980 for Adjusted USA Box Office:


Carrie Fisher	2	2,323.5	1,295.7
Alec Guinness	2	2,114.4	1,086.6
Mark Hamill	2	2,108.7	1,080.9
Harrison Ford	1	2,086.2	1,058.4
Billy Dee Williams	1	2,086.2	1,058.4
James Earl Jones	1	2,086.2	1,058.4
Dabney Coleman	5	619.9	619.9
Earl Boen	2	615.5	615.5
Jane Fonda	1	569.9	569.9
Dolly Parton	1	569.9	569.9
Lily Tomlin	1	569.9	569.9
Sterling Hayden	1	569.9	569.9
Ned Beatty	3	1,044.8	540.9
Richard Pryor	3	519.7	519.7
Goldie Hawn	2	514.1	514.1
Christopher Reeve	2	1,005.5	501.6
Craig T. Nelson	3	500.3	500.3
Margot Kidder	2	983.2	479.3
Glenn Ford	2	965.1	461.2
Gene Hackman	1	965.0	461.1
Valerie Perrine	1	965.0	461.1
Terence Stamp	1	965.0	461.1
Susannah York	1	965.0	461.1
Jackie Cooper	1	965.0	461.1
Leslie Nielsen	2	445.1	445.1

My Main Sources

Source 1: Variety – January 14th, 1981

Source 2: Twentieth Century-Fox A Corporate and Financial History by Aubrey Solomon

Source 3: Wikipedia

Source 4: IMDb.com

Source 5: BoxOfficeMojo.com

(Visited 1 times)

21 thoughts on “Ranking 1980 Movies”

Steve Lensman says:

September 23, 2018 at 6:03 am

I’ve seen 36 out of the 156 films on the chart, a lot less than I expected.

Looking at my files I have 50 films from 1980 in my movie collection and that’s less than I expected too. My tally should increase as the 80s get into full swing, no other movie decade has more guilty pleasure & cult favorites than the 1980s.

My favorite 1980 films include –

Airplane
Altered States
Any Which Way You Can
Battle Beyond the Stars
Big Brawl ,The
Big Red One ,The
Blues Brothers ,The
Bronco Billy
Changeling ,The
Dressed to Kill
Elephant Man ,The
Final Countdown ,The
Flash Gordon
Fog ,The
Friday the 13th
Long Good Friday ,The
Long Riders ,The
Raise the Titanic
Saturn 3
Sea Wolves ,The
Shining ,The
Smokey and the Bandit II
Star Wars V -The Empire Strikes Back
Stir Crazy
Stuntman ,The
zz-China – Spooky Encounters
zz-China – Young Master

The Empire Strikes Back was my favorite movie of the year and easily the top grossing film worldwide and domestic. Shocked to see ‘9 to 5’ was such a big hit in the US, bigger than Superman II. I’ll be surprised if it did as well outside the US.

Bruce you should do a separate chart at the bottom of the page for any worldwide grosses you can find for 1980 films. If these figures do exist.

Box Office Mojo’s worldwide charts start from 1989 but there must be some stats available for other years of the 1980s.

Another top movie year page mon capitaine. Vote Up.

Reply
1. Cogerson says:
  
  September 23, 2018 at 9:38 am
  
  Hey Steve. Gotta admit…I figured your tally would be near my total of 69. 1980 was when I started being able to pick the movies I wanted to watch…thank you HBO. I have such fond memories of getting the monthly HBO guide and putting my movie watching schedule together. Ah those were the days.
  
  50 1980 movies owned is way more than me…I have 14…..probably 15….I have a massive Clint Eastwood movie set that probably includes Bronco Billy…..not one I watch on a regular basis…so not sure if that one is in that collection.
  
  9 to 5 is listed as the 14th biggest hit of the decade (1971-1980) according to Variety…..one spot behind One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and one spot ahead of the monster hit Smokey and the Bandit.
  
  Empire is my favorite Star Wars movie…..and the pinnacle of that franchise…..and it has been all downhill since then. I have seen all of your favorites with the exception Raise the Titanic (seen parts of it) and the two China movies. As for worldwide box office…..I have so few movies with those grosses it is not even worth including it. But…if you click the trailer page….the worldwide is listed there.
  
  Good feedback and good suggestion.
  
  Reply
Davis says:

September 22, 2018 at 8:27 pm

Breaker Morant at the bottom? That is a great movie!

Reply
1. Cogerson says:
  
  September 22, 2018 at 10:39 pm
  
  Hey Davis, that was an error that has been fixed. For some reason our database was refusing to calculate the score properly…..it now has a place in the Top 35. I agree it is a very good movie.
  
  Reply
Flora Breen Robison says:

September 22, 2018 at 11:47 am

I have seen 21 movies from 1980. Most of them are in the top 30. It’s a higher number than the last yearly review completed.

The HIGHEST rated film I have seen is Ordinary People.

The highest rated film I have NOT seen is The Empire Strikes Back.

The LOWEST rated film I have seen is The First Deadly Sin.
Movies Seen By Tens Up to Top 30:
6 out of top 10: Ordinary People, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Airplane!, The Blues Brothers, 9 to 5, and Private Benjamin
11 out of top 20: The Shining, Stir Crazy, Caddyshack, Brubaker, and Popeye
14 out of 30: Any Which Way You Can, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Fame

Favourite 1980 Movies:

Airplane!
Coal Miner’s Daughter
Private Benjamin
9 To 5
The Blues Brothers
Fame
The Mirror Crack’d -so bad it’s funny
The Earthling – William Holden’s final shot film -it was released before SOB

Reply
1. Cogerson says:
  
  September 22, 2018 at 10:48 pm
  
  Hey Flora….thanks for checking out this latest yearly review…..as we dip our toe into the 1980s waters. 21 is indeed an increase from the last tally. I guess the four year old Flora liked movies made in 1980……lol.
  
  Almost 50% of the Top 30……not too bad. I have seen 69 of these movies…including many in theaters….I count 6 that I saw in theaters….not too bad for a pre-teen. I have seen all of your favorites….lots of comedies.
  
  Two low ranked movies that I enjoyed were James Caan’s Hide in Plain Sight and Fade To Black. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on 1980 movies.
  
  Reply
2. Flora Breen Robison says:
  
  September 23, 2018 at 1:08 pm
  
  Just finished reading Steve’s comment which lists The Sea Wolves among his favourite 1980 movies. I missed writing that one down. I double checked and it’s not on the table. I have also seen that movie with Gregory Peck and David Niven and it is a favourite of mine.
  
  Reply
Dan says:

September 22, 2018 at 10:04 am

1980 was the first year I may have seen 100 current films in a cinema. By your ranking the following #’s I saw in the cinema
1,3,4,5,8,9,10,12,13,14,17,18,19,21,22,23,25,26,29,32,33,36,37,39, 40,41,43,45,46,47,48,49,50,53,55,58,60,61,63,68,69,70,71,72,73,75,76,77,78,79,80,84,85,86,87, 88,90,91,92,95,97,98,99,101,103,104,106,106 – 109, 112,114,115,119 – 122, 125,126,131,134,136 – 138, 140-142, 144,145,147,149, 152 & 155

Since December 1992 I have seen the following 48 movies for the first time. Key is film, studio, stars if listed, date seen and source (TV channel, tape, DVD).

AGENCY (CAN.) 1980 JENSON FALEY 6/22 2013 DVD
ALLIGATOR 1980 GROUP 1 ROBERT FORSTER 2/4 1996 SCI
AMERICAN GIGOLO 1980 PAR RICHARD GERE LAUREN HUTTON 5/8 2004 MMAX
APPLE, THE 1980 CAN XXX XXX 6/22 2008 TCM
BAD TIMING: A SENSUAL OBSESSION 1980 WORLD NORTHAL THERESA RUSSELL 8/13 1996 BRAVO
BELOW THE BELT 1980 ATLANTIC 12/8 2012 TCM
BON VOYAGE, CHARLIE BROWN (AND DON’T COME BACK) (CAR.) 1980 PAR XXX XXX 5/5 1996 TBS
BORDER COP 1980 6/14 2013 DVD
BREAKER MORANT (AUSTRALIAN) 1980 NW EDWARD WOODWARD 7/17 1995 BRAVO
BRUBAKER 1980 FOX ROBERT REDFORD 8/2 2000 MAX
CHAIN REACTION (AUSTRALIA) 1980 PALM BEACOR 7/28 2017 SHO
COME BACK TO THE 5 & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN 1980 CINECON 2/25 2016 MOVIES
COMPETITION, THE 1980 COL RICHARD DREYFUSS AMY IRVING 3/26 1997 TMC
CUBA CROSSING 1980 STUART WHITMAN ROBERT VAUGHN 1/14 1995 55
DEATH WATCH 1980 ROMY SCHNEIDER HARVEY KEITEL 5/27 1996 SCI
ELEPHANT MAN 1980 PAR 7/7 2015 E-CL
EMPEROR OF THE SHAOLIN KUNG FU (H.K.) 1980 KAM YEUNG XXX XXX 11/24 2011 DVD
GODS MUST BE CRAZY 1980 FOX XXX XXX 10/28 1995 COM
HE KNOWS YOU’RE ALONE 1980 MGM 12/31 2017 TCM
HEART BEAT 1980 ORION / WB 1/12 2017 TCM
INVINCIBLE KUNG FU LEGS (TAIWAN) 1980 8/19 2010 DVD
JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT 1980 WB 9/15 2015 TCM
KUNG FU ARTS (TAIWAN) 1980 KAN YUNG FILM XXX XXX 11/10 2011 DVD
KUNG FU KIDS BREAK AWAY (H.K.) 1980 4/5 2012 DVD
KUNG FU OF THE 8 DRUNKARDS (H.K.) 1980 7/27 2010 DVD
LAST FLIGHT OF NOAH’S ARK 1980 BV ELLIOTT GOULD GENEVIEVE BUJOLD 10/4 1994 DIS
LAST WORD 1980 VARIETY INTL. RICHARD HARRIS KAREN BLACK 5/26 1997 ENC
LEGEND OF ALFRED PARKER 1980 AMER NATL. XXX XXX 11/1 1995 TNT
LITTLE DARLINGS 1980 PAR TATUM O’NEAL 7/22 1995 TBS
LITTLE DRAGONS 1980 XXX XXX 12/30 2011 DVD
LONG GOOD FRIDAY (U.K.) 1980 AVCO EMBASSY BOB HOSKINS HELEN MIRREN 12/30 2001 IFC
LONG RIDERS 1980 UA DAVID CARRADINE KEITH CARRADINE 8/16 1996 TBS
MCVICAR (U.K.) 1980 UNI ADAM FAITH 3/20 2006 SUND
MONSTER 1980 M & M 7/20 2015 DVD
NEW YEAR’S EVIL 1980 CANNON XXX XXX 1/3 2002 MYST
NIGHTMARE NEVER ENDS 1980 5/31 2013 DVD
PENETENIARY 1980 JERRY GROSS ORG. 3/24 2008 TCM
SHADOW NINJA (H.K.) 1980 FIRST FILM ORG. 2/11 2012 DVD
SILVER DREAM RACER (U.K.) 1980 BEAU BRIDGES 1/23 2003 ACTN
SITTING DUCKS 1980 UFD XXX XXX 9/24 1998 IFC
SONNY CHIBA’S DRAGON PRINCESS 1980 12/13 1992 TAPE
TEMPEST (U.K.) 1980 WORLD NORTHAL 11/24 2012 TCM
TOUCHED BY LOVE 1980 COL DIANE LANE DEBORAH RAFFIN 12/18 1996 11
VISITOR, THE 1980 AIP 7/20 2014 TCM
WILLIE AND PHIL 1980 FOX MARGOT KIDDER 10/6 2003 FXM
WISE BLOOD 1980 NL 7/23 2017 TCM
YOU BETTER WATCH OUT 1980 PAN AMER. FILMS 6/2 2012 TCM
YOUNG MASTER (H.K.) 1980 JACKIE CHAN 6/24 2002 ACTN

Reply
1. Cogerson says:
  
  September 22, 2018 at 10:58 pm
  
  Hey Dan….wow…I was bragging about the 6 I had seen in theaters….and then I see all the ones you saw in theaters…and I quietly sat down in my seat….lol. I counted you saw 68 of the Top 100 in theaters…..that is only one behind my grand total of 69 seen in all formats.
  
  So no Coal Miner’s Daughter for you? That is quietly one of the highest rated movies in our database. A good movie, but I have not seen it in decades. Even more shocking is that it looks like you missed seeing Raging Bull. I am not a huge fan of that one, but it’s classic status begs people to watch it.
  
  Thanks as always for sharing your viewing lists….it is appreciated.
  
  Reply
  1. Dan says:
    
    September 23, 2018 at 9:44 pm
    
    I saw both Raging Bull and Coal Miner’s Daughter but on TV before December 1992 when I started logging the old ones.
    
    Reply
    1. Cogerson says:
      
      September 26, 2018 at 6:48 am
      
      Hey Dan….now it makes sense…thanks for the clarification.
      
      Reply
Cogerson says:

September 22, 2018 at 8:09 am

So….drumroll……we have a “box office notebook” that lists 1000s and 1000s of box office rental numbers……it is about an inch and a half wide……had it for about 7 years now…….the VERY LAST pages in that notebook are Variety’s Top Grossing Movies of 1980….when we hit publish for this page….that pretty much ended the long process of moving those numbers from that notebook to this website. So…patting myself and WoC on the back for FINALLY working our way through that book.

Reply

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