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List of 1978 box office number-one films in the United States

Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:09:49 AM Wikipedia source

This is a list of films which placed number one at the weekly box office in the United States during 1978 per Variety. The data was based on grosses from 20 to 22 key cities and therefore, the gross quoted may not be the total that the film grossed nationally in the week.

Tables

· Number-one films
†
This implies the highest-grossing movie of the year.
· Number-one films
1
1
#
1
Week ending
January 4, 1978
Film
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Gross
$4,435,990
2
2
#
2
Week ending
January 11, 1978
Film
$3,377,392
3
3
#
3
Week ending
January 18, 1978
Film
$2,274,682
4
4
#
4
Week ending
January 25, 1978
Film
$1,622,296
5
5
#
5
Week ending
February 1, 1978
Film
$1,774,208
6
6
#
6
Week ending
February 8, 1978
Film
$1,489,164
7
7
#
7
Week ending
February 15, 1978
Film
The Betsy
Gross
$1,339,400
Notes
The Betsy grossed $2,727,084 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended February 12, an opening record for Allied Artists
8
8
#
8
Week ending
February 22, 1978
Film
Saturday Night Fever
Gross
$1,605,673
Notes
Saturday Night Fever reached number one in its tenth week on the chart
9
9
#
9
Week ending
March 1, 1978
Film
$2,171,501
Gross
Saturday Night Fever grossed $3,765,000 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended February 26
10
10
#
10
Week ending
March 8, 1978
Film
$1,687,869
11
11
#
11
Week ending
March 15, 1978
Film
$1,398,108
12
12
#
12
Week ending
March 22, 1978
Film
$1,207,132
13
13
#
13
Week ending
March 29, 1978
Film
The Fury
Gross
$1,444,416
Notes
The Fury reached number one in its second week of release grossing $2,777,291 nationally for the weekend ended March 26
14
14
#
14
Week ending
April 5, 1978
Film
$1,257,159
15
15
#
15
Week ending
April 12, 1978
Film
The Goodbye Girl
Gross
$969,830
Notes
The Goodbye Girl reached number one in its 19th week on the chart
16
16
#
16
Week ending
April 19, 1978
Film
$788,848
17
17
#
17
Week ending
April 26, 1978
Film
House Calls
Gross
$949,285
Notes
House Calls reached number one in its sixth week on the chart
18
18
#
18
Week ending
May 3, 1978
Film
$818,620
19
19
#
19
Week ending
May 10, 1978
Film
F.I.S.T.
Gross
$724,367
Notes
F.I.S.T. reached number one in its second week of release
20
20
#
20
Week ending
May 17, 1978
Film
The Greek Tycoon
Gross
$677,300
21
21
#
21
Week ending
May 24, 1978
Film
$981,908
22
22
#
22
Week ending
May 31, 1978
Film
American Graffiti (reissue)
Gross
$1,361,800
23
23
#
23
Week ending
June 7, 1978
Film
Capricorn One
Gross
$1,411,600
24
24
#
24
Week ending
June 14, 1978
Film
Damien: Omen II
Gross
$2,216,400
Notes
Damien: Omen II grossed $3,880,880 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended June 11
25
25
#
25
Week ending
June 21, 1978
Film
Jaws 2
Gross
$4,038,800
Notes
Jaws 2 grossed $9.9 million nationally from all markets in the weekend ended June 18, an opening weekend record
26
26
#
26
Week ending
June 28, 1978
Film
Grease †
Gross
$4,174,082
Notes
Grease reached number one in its second week of release, grossing $7,867,000 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended June 25
27
27
#
27
Week ending
July 5, 1978
Film
$3,518,287
28
28
#
28
Week ending
July 12, 1978
Film
$2,443,707
29
29
#
29
Week ending
July 19, 1978
Film
$2,129,200
30
30
#
30
Week ending
July 26, 1978
Film
$1,977,551
Gross
Star Wars (reissue) placed third on the chart from 166 theaters but grossed $10,166,366 nationally from 1,750 theaters in the weekend ended July 23, beating the weekend record set by Jaws 2
31
31
#
31
Week ending
August 2, 1978
Film
Star Wars (reissue)
Gross
$1,891,255
Notes
Star Wars grossed $6,501,185 nationally in the weekend ended July 30
32
32
#
32
Week ending
August 9, 1978
Film
Hooper
Gross
$2,476,400
Notes
Hooper reached number one in its third week of release. Its nationwide gross for the week was $9,437,484.
33
33
#
33
Week ending
August 16, 1978
Film
$1,988,915
34
34
#
34
Week ending
August 23, 1978
Film
$1,747,842
35
35
#
35
Week ending
August 30, 1978
Film
Animal House
Gross
$2,022,990
Notes
Animal House reached number one in its fifth week on the chart
36
36
#
36
Week ending
September 6, 1978
Film
$2,103,917
37
37
#
37
Week ending
September 13, 1978
Film
$1,557,835
38
38
#
38
Week ending
September 20, 1978
Film
$1,251,100
39
39
#
39
Week ending
September 27, 1978
Film
$1,085,881
40
40
#
40
Week ending
October 4, 1978
Film
Up in Smoke
Gross
$1,109,000
Notes
Up in Smoke reached number one in its second week of release
41
41
#
41
Week ending
October 11, 1978
Film
Animal House
Gross
$1,868,567
Notes
Animal House returned to number one in its eleventh week of release
42
42
#
42
Week ending
October 18, 1978
Film
$1,337,828
43
43
#
43
Week ending
October 25, 1978
Film
$1,298,347
44
44
#
44
Week ending
November 1, 1978
Film
Midnight Express
Gross
$1,300,711
Notes
Midnight Express reached number one in its fourth week of release
45
45
#
45
Week ending
November 8, 1978
Film
Up in Smoke
Gross
$1,443,320
Notes
Up in Smoke returned to number one in its seventh week of release.
46
46
#
46
Week ending
November 15, 1978
Film
Magic
Gross
$1,376,000
47
47
#
47
Week ending
November 22, 1978
Film
$1,177,317
48
48
#
48
Week ending
November 29, 1978
Film
Midnight Express
Gross
$993,743
Notes
Midnight Express returned to number one in its eighth week of release
49
49
#
49
Week ending
December 6, 1978
Film
$746,543
50
50
#
50
Week ending
December 13, 1978
Film
$590,763
51
51
#
51
Week ending
December 20, 1978
Film
Superman
Gross
$3,685,756
Notes
Superman grossed $7,465,343 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended December 17, beating King Kong's December opening record
52
52
#
52
Week ending
December 27, 1978
Film
$4,171,899
Gross
Superman grossed $6,535,784 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended December 24
#
Week ending
Film
Gross
Notes
Ref
1
January 4, 1978
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
$4,435,990
2
January 11, 1978
$3,377,392
3
January 18, 1978
$2,274,682
4
January 25, 1978
$1,622,296
5
February 1, 1978
$1,774,208
6
February 8, 1978
$1,489,164
7
February 15, 1978
The Betsy
$1,339,400
The Betsy grossed $2,727,084 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended February 12, an opening record for Allied Artists
8
February 22, 1978
Saturday Night Fever
$1,605,673
Saturday Night Fever reached number one in its tenth week on the chart
9
March 1, 1978
$2,171,501
Saturday Night Fever grossed $3,765,000 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended February 26
10
March 8, 1978
$1,687,869
11
March 15, 1978
$1,398,108
12
March 22, 1978
$1,207,132
13
March 29, 1978
The Fury
$1,444,416
The Fury reached number one in its second week of release grossing $2,777,291 nationally for the weekend ended March 26
14
April 5, 1978
$1,257,159
15
April 12, 1978
The Goodbye Girl
$969,830
The Goodbye Girl reached number one in its 19th week on the chart
16
April 19, 1978
$788,848
17
April 26, 1978
House Calls
$949,285
House Calls reached number one in its sixth week on the chart
18
May 3, 1978
$818,620
19
May 10, 1978
F.I.S.T.
$724,367
reached number one in its second week of release
20
May 17, 1978
The Greek Tycoon
$677,300
21
May 24, 1978
$981,908
22
May 31, 1978
American Graffiti (reissue)
$1,361,800
23
June 7, 1978
Capricorn One
$1,411,600
24
June 14, 1978
Damien: Omen II
$2,216,400
Damien: Omen II grossed $3,880,880 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended June 11
25
June 21, 1978
Jaws 2
$4,038,800
Jaws 2 grossed $9.9 million nationally from all markets in the weekend ended June 18, an opening weekend record
26
June 28, 1978
Grease †
$4,174,082
Grease reached number one in its second week of release, grossing $7,867,000 nationally from all markets in the weekend ended June 25
27
July 5, 1978
$3,518,287
28
July 12, 1978
$2,443,707
29
July 19, 1978
$2,129,200
30
July 26, 1978
$1,977,551
Star Wars (reissue) placed third on the chart from 166 theaters but grossed $10,166,366 nationally from 1,750 theaters in the weekend ended July 23, beating the weekend record set by Jaws 2
31
August 2, 1978
Star Wars (reissue)
$1,891,255
Star Wars grossed $6,501,185 nationally in the weekend ended July 30
32
August 9, 1978
Hooper
$2,476,400
Hooper reached number one in its third week of release. Its nationwide gross for the week was $9,437,484.
33
August 16, 1978
$1,988,915
34
August 23, 1978
$1,747,842
35
August 30, 1978
Animal House
$2,022,990
Animal House reached number one in its fifth week on the chart
36
September 6, 1978
$2,103,917
37
September 13, 1978
$1,557,835
38
September 20, 1978
$1,251,100
39
September 27, 1978
$1,085,881
40
October 4, 1978
Up in Smoke
$1,109,000
Up in Smoke reached number one in its second week of release
41
October 11, 1978
Animal House
$1,868,567
Animal House returned to number one in its eleventh week of release
42
October 18, 1978
$1,337,828
43
October 25, 1978
$1,298,347
44
November 1, 1978
Midnight Express
$1,300,711
Midnight Express reached number one in its fourth week of release
45
November 8, 1978
Up in Smoke
$1,443,320
Up in Smoke returned to number one in its seventh week of release.
46
November 15, 1978
Magic
$1,376,000
47
November 22, 1978
$1,177,317
48
November 29, 1978
Midnight Express
$993,743
Midnight Express returned to number one in its eighth week of release
49
December 6, 1978
$746,543
· Highest grossing films
1
1
Rank
1
Title
Grease
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Rental
$83,091,000
2
2
Rank
2
Title
Saturday Night Fever
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Rental
$71,463,000
3
3
Rank
3
Title
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Rental
$54,000,000
4
4
Rank
4
Title
Animal House
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Rental
$52,368,000
5
5
Rank
5
Title
Jaws 2
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Rental
$49,299,000
6
6
Rank
6
Title
Heaven Can Wait
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Rental
$42,517,000
7
7
Rank
7
Title
The Goodbye Girl
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Rental
$41,000,000
8
8
Rank
8
Title
Star Wars (reissue)
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Rental
$38,375,000
9
9
Rank
9
Title
Hooper
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Rental
$31,500,000
10
10
Rank
10
Title
Foul Play
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Rental
$25,065,000
Rank
Title
Distributor
Rental
1
Grease
Paramount Pictures
$83,091,000
2
Saturday Night Fever
Paramount Pictures
$71,463,000
3
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Columbia Pictures
$54,000,000
4
Animal House
Universal Pictures
$52,368,000
5
Jaws 2
Universal Pictures
$49,299,000
6
Heaven Can Wait
Paramount Pictures
$42,517,000
7
The Goodbye Girl
Warner Bros.
$41,000,000
8
Star Wars (reissue)
20th Century Fox
$38,375,000
9
Hooper
Warner Bros.
$31,500,000
10
Foul Play
Paramount Pictures
$25,065,000
· Chronology
Preceded by1977
1978
Succeeded by1979

References

  1. The Numbers lists The One and Only with a gross of $2,707,679 from 417 theaters for the weekend ended February 5. Close
  2. Box Office Mojo and The Numbers list Every Which Way but Loose as the number one for the weekend with a gross of $10,272
  3. Film facts
    https://archive.org/details/filmfacts00cobb_mc3/page/28/mode/1up
  4. Variety
    https://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1979-01-03_293_9/page/20/mode/1up
  5. Variety
    https://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1979-01-03_293_9/page/17/mode/1up
  6. Variety
  7. Variety
  8. Variety
  9. Variety
  10. Variety
  11. Variety
  12. The Numbers
    https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1978/02/03
  13. Daily Variety
  14. Variety
  15. Variety
  16. Variety
  17. Variety
  18. Variety
  19. Variety
  20. Variety
  21. Variety
  22. Variety
  23. Variety
  24. Variety
  25. Variety
  26. Variety
  27. Variety
  28. Variety
  29. Variety
  30. Variety
  31. Variety
  32. Variety
  33. Variety
  34. Variety
  35. Variety
  36. Box Office Mojo
    https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1978W23/?ref_=bo_rl_table_1
  37. Variety
  38. Daily Variety
  39. Box Office Mojo
    https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1978W24/?ref_=bo_we_nav
  40. Variety
  41. Variety
  42. Variety
  43. Variety
  44. Variety
  45. Variety
  46. Variety
  47. Box Office Mojo
    https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1978W29/?ref_=bo_we_nav
  48. Variety
  49. Variety
  50. Variety
  51. Variety
  52. Variety
  53. Variety
  54. Variety
  55. Variety
  56. Variety
  57. Variety
  58. Variety
  59. Variety
  60. Variety
  61. Variety
  62. Variety
  63. Variety
  64. Variety
  65. Variety
  66. Variety
  67. Variety
  68. Variety
  69. Variety
  70. Variety
  71. Variety
  72. Box Office Mojo
    https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1978W50/?ref_=bo_we_nav
  73. Variety
  74. Box Office Mojo
    https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1978W51/?ref_=bo_we_nav
  75. Daily Variety
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