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The year 1979 in film involved many significant events.

Highest-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten 1979 released films by North American gross are as follows:

Highest-grossing films (international)

Major events

• 39 Indian films were released this year


• March 2 - Buena Vista release their first film since the advent of U.S. movie ratings to not be G-rated, Take Down.


• March 5 - Production begins on The Empire Strikes Back.


• March - Frank Price becomes president of Columbia Pictures.


• May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released.


• May 31 - The Muppet Movie, Jim Henson's Muppets' first foray into the world of feature-length motion pictures, is released in United Kingdom.


• June 11 - John Wayne, a famous Western movie actor, dies at the age of 72 from stomach cancer.


• June 29 - Moonraker, The 11th film in the James Bond franchise is released in the United States and goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide.


• September 19 - Don Bluth and a group of fellow animators resign from The Walt Disney Company's animation department to set up a rival studio, Don Bluth Productions.


• November 1 - Production begins on Raiders of the Lost Ark.


• December 7 - Star Trek: The Motion Picture debuts in the United States to mixed reviews but strong box office, launching a film franchise that leads to 13 films over the next 30 years. It also leads to the creation of five spin-off television series based upon Gene Roddenberry's creation.


• 
  Allied Artists files for bankruptcy.

Awards

Academy Awards:

Best Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer - Jaffe, Columbia

Best Director: Robert Benton - Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman - Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Actress: Sally Field - Norma Rae

Best Supporting Actor: Melvyn Douglas - Being There

Best Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep - Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Foreign Language Film: The Tin Drum (Die Blechtrommel), directed by Volker Schlöndorff, W. Germany

Golden Globe Awards:

Drama:

Best Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman - Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Actress: Sally Field - Norma Rae

Comedy or Musical:

Best Picture: Breaking Away

Best Actor: Peter Sellers - Being There

Best Actress: Bette Midler - The Rose

Other

Best Supporting Actor (tie): Melvyn Douglas - Being There

Best Supporting Actor (tie): Robert Duvall - Apocalypse Now

Best Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep - Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola - Apocalypse Now

Best Foreign Language Film: La Cage aux Folles (France)

Palme d'Or (Cannes Film Festival):

Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, United States

The Tin Drum (Die Blechtrommel), directed by Volker Schlöndorff, W. Germany

Golden Bear (Berlin Film Festival):

David, directed by Peter Lilienthal, West Germany

Notable films released in 1979

U.S.A. unless stated

#

• 
  10, directed by Blake Edwards, starring Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews, Bo Derek, Robert Webber, Brian Dennehy
  


• 
  1941, directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Nancy Allen, Toshiro Mifune, Treat Williams, Warren Oates, Robert Stack
  

A

• 
  The Actress, the Dollars and the Transylvanians (Artista, dolarii şi ardelenii) - (Romania)


• 
  L'adolescente (The Adolescent), directed by Jeanne Moreau, starring Simone Signoret - (France)


• 
  The Adventure of Sudsakorn, the first and only cel-animated feature film from Thailand
  


• Adventures of Sinbad


• 
  Agatha, directed by Michael Apted, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman - (U.K.)


• 
  Ah! Nomugi Toge (Nomugi Pass) - (Japan)


• 
  Air Crew (Ekipazh) - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto - (U.S.A./U.K.)


• 
  All Quiet on the Western Front, a TV film directed by Delbert Mann, starring Richard Thomas and Ernest Borgnine
  


• 
  All That Jazz, directed by Bob Fosse, starring Roy Scheider, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, John Lithgow, Jessica Lange
  


• 
  An Almost Perfect Affair, starring Keith Carradine and Monica Vitti
  


• 
  Americathon, starring John Ritter and Harvey Korman
  


• 
  The Amityville Horror, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger
  


• 
  ...And Justice for All, directed by Norman Jewison, starring Al Pacino, John Forsythe, Jack Warden, Christine Lahti, Craig T. Nelson, Jeffrey Tambor
  


• 
  Anti-Clock, directed by Jane Arden - (U.K.)


• 
  Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Laurence Fishburne, Frederic Forrest
  


• 
  The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, starring Don Knotts and Tim Conway
  


• 
  Arabian Adventure, starring Christopher Lee and Emma Samms - (U.K.)


• 
  Ashanti, directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Michael Caine and Peter Ustinov
  


• 
  Autumn Marathon (Osenniy marafon) - (U.S.S.R.)

B

• 
  Baby Snakes, directed by Frank Zappa
  


• 
  Ball Lightning (Kulový blesk) - (Czechoslovakia)


• 
  Ballad of Tara (Tcherike-ye Tara) - (Iran)


• 
  Bear Island, starring Donald Sutherland, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark, Barbara Parkins
  


• 
  Being There, directed by Hal Ashby, starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden
  


• 
  The Bell Jar, starring Marilyn Hassett, Julie Harris, Anne Jackson
  


• 
  Best Boy, award-winning documentary


• 
  Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, directed by Irwin Allen, starring Michael Caine, Telly Savalas, Sally Field, Karl Malden, Shirley Jones
  


• 
  Birth of the Beatles, directed by Richard Marquand
  


• 
  The Bitch, starring Joan Collins - (U.K.)


• 
  The Black Hole, directed by Gary Nelson, starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Ernest Borgnine, Yvette Mimieux
  


• 
  The Black Stallion, directed by Carroll Ballard, starring Mickey Rooney, Hoyt Axton, Teri Garr, Kelly Reno
  


• 
  Bloodline, directed by Terence Young, starring Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, James Mason, Gert Fröbe, Beatrice Straight
  


• 
  Bloody Kids, directed by Stephen Frears - (U.K.)


• 
  Boardwalk, starring Ruth Gordon, Lee Strasberg, Janet Leigh
  


• 
  Boulevard Nights, directed by Michael Pressman
  


• 
  Breaking Away, directed by Peter Yates, starring Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, Paul Dooley
  


• 
  Breakthrough, starring Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Rod Steiger, Curd Jürgens
  


• 
  Les Bronzés font du ski (a.k.a. French Fried Vacation 2), directed by Patrice Leconte - (France)


• 
  The Brood, directed by David Cronenberg, starring Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar - (Canada)


• 
  Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, starring Gil Gerard and Erin Gray
  


• 
  Buffet froid, directed by Bertrand Blier, starring Gérard Depardieu, Bernard Blier, Jean Carmet - (France)


• The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie


• 
  Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, starring Tom Berenger and William Katt
  


• 
  The Butterfly Murders (Die bian), directed by Tsui Hark - (Hong Kong)


• 
  Bye Bye Brazil - (Brazil/France/Argentina)

C

• 
  C.H.O.M.P.S., directed by Don Chaffey, starring Wesley Eure, Valerie Bertinelli, Conrad Bain, Red Buttons
  


• 
  California Dreaming, starring Glynnis O'Connor, Dennis Christopher, Tanya Roberts
  


• 
  Caligula, directed by Tinto Brass, written by Gore Vidal, starring Malcolm McDowell, Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole - (Italy/U.S.A.)


• 
  Camera Buff. directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski - (Poland)


• 
  The Castle of Cagliostro (Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro), an anime film by Hayao Miyazaki - (Japan)


• 
  The Cat and the Canary, starring Honor Blackman, Carol Lynley, Olivia Hussey - (U.K.)


• 
  The Champ, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, Ricky Schroder, Jack Warden, Arthur Hill
  


• 
  Chapter Two, starring James Caan, Marsha Mason, Joseph Bologna, Valerie Harper
  


• 
  The China Syndrome, directed by James Bridges, starring Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas
  


• 
  Christ Stopped at Eboli (Italian: Cristo si è fermato a Eboli), directed by Francesco Rosi, starring Gian Maria Volontè - (Italy/France)


• 
  City on Fire, starring Susan Clark and Ava Gardner
  


• 
  The Concorde ... Airport '79, starring Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, Robert Wagner, George Kennedy
  


• 
  Cuba, directed by Richard Lester, starring Sean Connery, Brooke Adams, Chris Sarandon
  

D

• 
  David - (West Germany) - Golden Bear winner


• 
  Derek and Clive Get the Horn, starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - (U.K.)


• 
  Dirty Ho (Lan tou He), starring Gordon Liu - (Hong Kong)


• 
  Don Giovanni, directed by Joseph Losey, starring Ruggero Raimondi, John Macurdy, Kiri Te Kanawa - (Italy/France/U.K./West Germany)


• 
  Dracula, directed by John Badham, starring Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Trevor Eve - (U.S.A./U.K.)


• 
  Dreamer, starring Tim Matheson
  

E

• 
  Eagle's Wing, starring Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston - (U.K.)


• 
  The Electric Horseman, directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Valerie Perrine, John Saxon, Willie Nelson
  


• 
  Escape from Alcatraz, directed by Don Siegel, starring Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward
  


• 
  Escape to Athena, starring Roger Moore, David Niven, Elliott Gould, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Telly Savalas - (U.K.)


• 
  The Europeans, directed by James Ivory, starring Lee Remick, Lisa Eichhorn, Kristin Griffith - (U.K.)

F

• 
  Fast Break, starring Gabe Kaplan and Bernard King
  


• 
  Felicity, starring Glory Annen - (Australia)


• 
  Ffolkes, aka North Sea Hijack, starring Roger Moore, James Mason, Anthony Perkins, Michael Parks - (U.K.)


• 
  The Fifth Musketeer, starring Sylvia Kristel, Ursula Andress, Beau Bridges, Ian McShane, Rex Harrison - (Austria/West Germany)


• 
  Firepower, starring Sophia Loren, James Coburn, O. J. Simpson - (U.K.)


• 
  First Case, Second Case (Qazieh, Shekl-e Avval, Shekl-e Dovom), directed by Abbas Kiarostami - (Iran)


• 
  The First Great Train Robbery, starring Sean Connery, Lesley-Anne Down, Donald Sutherland - (U.K.)


• 
  A Force of One, starring Chuck Norris and Jennifer O'Neill
  


• 
  French Postcards, starring Miles Chapin, David Marshall Grant, Debra Winger
  

G

• 
  Gal Young Un, directed by Victor Nuñez
  


• 
  The Genealogy (Jokbo) - (South Korea)


• 
  Going in Style, directed by Martin Brest, starring George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg
  


• 
  The Glove, starring John Saxon and Roosevelt Grier
  


• 
  Gol Maal (Confusion) - (India)


• 
  Goldengirl, starring Susan Anton, James Coburn, Leslie Caron
  


• 
  Grass Labyrinth (Kusa Meikyū) - (Japan)


• 
  The Great Santini, starring Robert Duvall, Michael O'Keefe, Blythe Danner, Lisa Jane Persky, Stan Shaw
  


• 
  The Great Riviera Bank Robbery, starring Ian McShane - (U.K.)

H

• 
  Hair, directed by Miloš Forman, starring John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo
  


• 
  Hanover Street, directed by Peter Hyams, starring Harrison Ford, Lesley-Anne Down, Christopher Plummer - (U.S.A./U.K.)


• 
  Hardcore, directed by Paul Schrader, starring George C. Scott and Peter Boyle
  


• 
  Heart of the Forest (El corazón del bosque) - (Spain)


• 
  Heartland, directed by Richard Pearce, starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell - Golden Bear winner, Sundance Grand Jury Prize


• 
  Hot Stuff, directed by and starring Dom DeLuise, with Suzanne Pleshette, Ossie Davis, Jerry Reed
  


• 
  The Human Factor, starring Richard Attenborough, John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi - (U.K.)


• 
  Hurricane, starring Mia Farrow, Jason Robards, Max von Sydow, Trevor Howard
  


• 
  The Hussy (La drôlesse) - (France)


• 
  The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting (L'Hypothèse du tableau volé), directed by Raúl Ruiz - (France)

I

• 
  I as in Icarus (I... comme Icare), starring Yves Montand - (France)


• 
  The In-Laws, directed by Arthur Hiller, starring Alan Arkin and Peter Falk
  

J

• 
  Jack Frost, directed by Rankin/Bass, starring Robert Morse
  


• 
  Jaguar - (Philippines)


• 
  The Jerk, directed by Carl Reiner, starring Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters
  


• 
  Jesus, directed by Peter Sykes and John Krisch, starring Brian Deacon - (Australia/U.S.A./U.K.)


• 
  Just You and Me, Kid, starring George Burns and Brooke Shields
  

K

• 
  Kaala Patthar (Black Stone), starring Shashi Kapoor - (India)


• 
  Kassbach – Ein Porträt (Kassbach - A Portrait) - (Austria)


• 
  The Kids Are Alright, a rockumentary featuring The Who - (U.K.)


• 
  Knockabout, directed by and starring Sammo Hung - (Hong Kong)


• 
  Kramer vs. Kramer, directed by Robert Benton, starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep (both won Oscars), Justin Henry, JoBeth Williams, Jane Alexander
  

L

• 
  Lady Oscar, starring Catriona MacColl and Patsy Kensit - (France/Japan)


• 
  Le Pétomane, starring Leonard Rossiter and Graham Stark
  


• 
  The Lady Vanishes, starring Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd, Angela Lansbury
  


• 
  Last Embrace, directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Roy Scheider and Janet Margolin
  


• 
  The Last of the Knucklemen - (Australia)


• Little House Years


• 
  A Little Romance, directed by George Roy Hill, starring Laurence Olivier, Diane Lane, Sally Kellerman - (France/U.S.A.)


• 
  Little Tragedies (Malenkie tragedii) - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  Love and Bullets, directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Rod Steiger
  


• 
  Love at First Bite, starring George Hamilton and Susan Saint James
  


• 
  Love on the Run (L'amour en fuite), directed by François Truffaut - (France)


• 
  Lovers and Liars (Viaggio con Anita), starring Goldie Hawn and Giancarlo Giannini - (Italy/France)


• 
  La Luna, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Jill Clayburgh - (Italy)

M

• 
  Mad Max, directed by George Miller, starring Mel Gibson - (Australia)


• 
  The Magician of Lublin, starring Alan Arkin, Louise Fletcher, Valerie Perrine
  


• 
  Magnificent Butcher (Lin shi rong), starring Sammo Hung - (Hong Kong)


• 
  The Main Event, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal
  


• 
  Mamá cumple cien años (Mama Turns 100), directed by Carlos Saura, starring Geraldine Chaplin - (Spain)


• 
  Manhattan, directed by and starring Woody Allen, with Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway
  


• 
  A Man, a Woman, and a Bank, starring Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams
  


• 
  The Marriage of Maria Braun, directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Hanna Schygulla - (West Germany)


• 
  Maula Jatt - (Pakistan)


• 
  Meatballs, directed by Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray - (Canada)


• 
  The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (Mesto vstrechi izmenit nelzya) - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  Meetings with Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff biography directed by Peter Brook - (U.K.)


• 
  Meteor, directed by Ronald Neame, starring Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Henry Fonda, Martin Landau, Trevor Howard
  


• 
  Monty Python's Life of Brian, directed by Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin - (U.K.)


• 
  Moonraker, directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring Roger Moore (as James Bond), with Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Richard Kiel - (U.K.)


• 
  More American Graffiti, starring Candy Clark, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams
  


• 
  Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears - (U.S.S.R.) - Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film


• 
  Mr. Mike's Mondo Video, starring Michael O'Donoghue, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray
  


• 
  The Muppet Movie, made by Jim Henson, with Charles Durning and Dom DeLuise
  


• 
  Murder by Decree, starring Christopher Plummer (as Sherlock Holmes) and James Mason - (U.K./Canada)


• 
  My Brilliant Career, directed by Gillian Armstrong, starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill - (Australia)

N

• 
  Nightwing, directed by Arthur Hiller, starring Nick Mancuso and Kathryn Harrold
  


• 
  Noorie, directed by Manmohan Krishna - (India)


• 
  Norma Rae, directed by Martin Ritt, starring Sally Field, Ron Leibman, Beau Bridges
  


• 
  The North Avenue Irregulars, starring Karen Valentine, Barbara Harris, Susan Clark
  


• 
  North Dallas Forty, starring Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, G. D. Spradlin, Dayle Haddon, Bo Svenson, John Matuszak
  


• 
  Nosferatu the Vampyre (Nosferatu: Phantom der Nach), directed by Werner Herzog, starring Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz - (West Germany)

O

• 
  The Odd Angry Shot, starring Bryan Brown - (Australia)


• 
  The Odd Couple (Bo ming chan dao duo ming qiang), starring Sammo Hung - (Hong Kong)


• 
  The Onion Field, directed by Harold Becker, starring James Woods, John Savage, Franklyn Seales, Ted Danson
  


• 
  Operación Ogro, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, starring Gian Maria Volontè - (Spain/Italy)


• 
  Over the Edge, directed by Jonathan Kaplan, starring Matt Dillon
  

P

• 
  The Passage, starring Anthony Quinn, James Mason, Malcolm McDowell, Patricia Neal, Kay Lenz
  


• 
  A Perfect Couple, directed by Robert Altman, starring Paul Dooley and Marta Heflin


• 
  Peruvazhiyambalam, directed by Padmarajan - (India)


• 
  Les petites fugues (The Little Fugitives) - (Switzerland)


• 
  Phantasm, directed by Don Coscarelli
  


• 
  The Plank, directed by and starring Eric Sykes, with Arthur Lowe - (U.K.)


• 
  The Plumber, directed by Peter Weir, starring Judy Morris - (Australia)


• 
  Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King (Nezha nao hai), an animated film - (China)


• 
  The Prisoner of Zenda, starring Peter Sellers, Lynne Frederick and Lionel Jeffries
  


• 
  The Prize Fighter, starring Don Knotts and Tim Conway
  


• 
  Prophecy, directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Talia Shire, Robert Foxworth, Richard Dysart, Armand Assante
  

Q

• 
  Quadrophenia, directed by Franc Roddam, starring Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Ray Winstone, with music by The Who - (U.K.)

R

• 
  Real Life, directed by and starring Albert Brooks, with Charles Grodin
  


• Richard Pryor: Live in Concert


• 
  Rich Kids, starring Trini Alvarado and John Lithgow
  


• 
  Rock 'n' Roll High School, produced by Roger Corman, featuring The Ramones
  


• 
  Rocky II, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, with Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young
  


• 
  The Rose, directed by Mark Rydell, starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest
  


• 
  Running, starring Michael Douglas
  

S

• 
  Saint Jack, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Ben Gazzara
  


• 
  Scavenger Hunt, starring Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Vincent Price, Tony Randall
  


• 
  Scum, starring Ray Winstone - (U.K.)


• 
  A Scream from Silence (Mourir à tue-tête) - (Canada)


• 
  The Seduction of Joe Tynan, starring Alan Alda, Meryl Streep, Melvyn Douglas, Barbara Harris, Rip Torn
  


• 
  A Sense of Freedom, directed by John Mackenzie - (U.K.)


• 
  Série noire (Black Series), directed by Alain Corneau - (France)


• 
  Siberiade, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  Sisters, or the Balance of Happiness (Schwestern oder Die Balance des Glücks), directed by Margarethe von Trotta - (West Germany)


• 
  Skatetown, U.S.A., starring Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormick, Patrick Swayze
  


• 
  Something Out of Nothing, directed by Nikola Rudarov, starring Asen Kisimov, Stefan Danailov, Aneta Sotirova - (Bulgaria)


• 
  Stalker, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  Star Trek: The Motion Picture, directed by Robert Wise, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Persis Khambatta, Stephen Collins
  


• 
  Starting Over, directed by Alan J. Pakula, starring Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, Candice Bergen, Charles Durning
  


• 
  Suhaag (a.k.a. Sign of Marriage), starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha - (India)


• 
  The Survivors (Los sobrevivientes) - (Cuba)

T

• 
  Take Down, starring Lorenzo Lamas and Maureen McCormick
  


• 
  Tale of Tales (Skazka skazok), an animated film - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  Tarka the Otter, narrated by Peter Ustinov - (U.K.)


• 
  The Tempest, directed by Derek Jarman, starring Toyah Willcox - (U.K.)


• 
  Tess, directed by Roman Polanski, starring Nastassja Kinski - (France/U.K.)


• 
  That Summer!, starring Ray Winstone - (U.K.)


• 
  The Theme (Tema), directed by Gleb Panfilov, starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Inna Churikova, Stanislav Lyubshin, and Yevgeni Vesnik. Winner of 1987 Golden Bear - (U.S.S.R.)


• 
  The Third Generation (Die Dritte Generation), directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Hanna Schygulla - (West Germany)


• 
  Those Wonderful Movie Cranks (Báječní muži s klikou), directed by Jiří Menzel - (Czechoslovakia)


• 
  La Tía Alejandra (Aunt Alejandra) - (Mexico)


• 
  Tim, starring Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie - (Australia)


• 
  Time After Time, directed by Nicholas Meyer, starring Malcolm McDowell, David Warner, Mary Steenburgen
  


• 
  The Tin Drum (Die Blechtrommel), directed by Volker Schlöndorff, starring David Bennent - (West Germany) - Palme d'Or winner


• 
  To Forget Venice (Dimenticare Venezia), directed by Franco Brusati, starring Mariangela Melato and Erland Josephson - (Italy)


• 
  Tourist Trap, starring Chuck Connors and Tanya Roberts
  

U

• 
  Ultraman - (Japan)


• 
  Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle - (Japan)


• 
  Uncle Marin, the Billionaire (Nea Mărin miliardar) - (Romania)

V

• 
  Vengeance Is Mine (fukushū suru wa ware ni ari), directed by Shohei Imamura, starring Ken Ogata - (Japan)


• 
  The Villain, directed by Hal Needham, starring Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, Arnold Schwarzenegger
  


• 
  The Visitor, starring John Huston, Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters
  

W

• 
  Wanda Nevada, directed by and starring Peter Fonda, with Brooke Shields
  


• 
  The Wanderers, starring Ken Wahl and Karen Allen
  


• 
  The Warriors, directed by Walter Hill, starring Michael Beck, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Deborah Van Valkenburgh
  


• 
  When a Stranger Calls, starring Charles Durning and Carol Kane
  


• 
  Winter Kills, starring Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins
  


• 
  Wise Blood, directed by and starring John Huston, with Brad Dourif - (U.S.A./West Germany)


• 
  Woman Between Wolf and Dog (Femme entre chien et loup) - (Belgium/France)


• 
  Woyzeck, directed by Werner Herzog, starring Klaus Kinski and Eva Mattes - (West Germany)


• 
  The Wretches Are Still Singing (Τα Κουρέλια Τραγουδάνε Ακόμα), directed by Nikos Nikolaidis - (Greece)

XYZ

• 
  Yanks, directed by John Schlesinger, starring Richard Gere, Lisa Eichhorn, Vanessa Redgrave - (U.S.A./U.K.)


• 
  Yesterday's Hero, directed by Neil Leifer, starring Ian McShane, Suzanne Somers, Adam Faith and Paul Nicholas - (U.K.)


• 
  Zombi 2, directed by Lucio Fulci, starring Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson - (Italy)


• 
  Zulu Dawn, starring Peter O'Toole, Burt Lancaster, Simon Ward - (U.S.A./South Africa/Netherlands)

1979 film releases

January–March

• January 1979
  
  • Take Down
  
  


• February 1979
  
  
  
  • February 2
    
    • The First Great Train Robbery
    
    
  
  
  • February 9
    
    
    
    • Agatha
    
    
    • The Warriors
    
    
    • The North Avenue Irregulars
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• March 1979
  
  
  
  • March 2
    
    
    
    • Norma Rae
    
    
    • Real Life
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • March 7
    
    • Starcrash
    
    
  
  
  • March 14
    
    
    
    • Hair
    
    
    • Tourist Trap
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • March 16
    
    • The China Syndrome
    
    
  
  
  • March 17
    
    • The Story of Heidi
    
    
  
  
  
  

April–June

• April 1979
  
  
  
  • April 4
    
    • The Champ
    
    
  
  
  • April 25
    
    • Manhattan
    
    
  
  
  • April 27
    
    • Love at First Bite
    
    
  
  
  
  


• May 1979
  
  
  
  • May 3
    
    • Winds of Change
    
    
  
  
  • May 4
    
    • Last Embrace
    
    
  
  
  • May 10
    
    • Apocalypse Now
    
    
  
  
  • May 11
    
    • Winter Kills
    
    
  
  
  • May 15
    
    • Zulu Dawn
    
    
  
  
  • May 25
    
    • Alien
    
    
  
  
  
  


• June 1979
  
  
  
  • June 1
    
    • Phantasm
    
    
  
  
  • June 7
    
    • 
      One Hundred and One Dalmatians (re-release)
    
    
  
  
  • June 15
    
    
    
    • Butch and Sundance: The Early Days
    
    
    • The In-Laws
    
    
    • Prophecy
    
    
    • Rocky II
    
    
    • The Water Babies
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • June 22
    
    
    
    • Escape from Alcatraz
    
    
    • The Main Event
    
    
    • The Muppet Movie
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • June 26
    
    • Moonraker
    
    
  
  
  • June 27
    
    • The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
    
    
  
  
  • June 29
    
    • Up from the Depths
    
    
  
  
  
  

July–September

• July 1979
  
  
  
  • July 9
    
    • Nutcracker Fantasy
    
    
  
  
  • July 13
    
    • Dracula
    
    
  
  
  • July 27
    
    • The Amityville Horror
    
    
  
  
  • July 26
    
    • Unidentified Flying Oddball
    
    
  
  
  
  


• August 1979
  
  
  
  • August 3
    
    • More American Graffiti
    
    
  
  
  • August 17
    
    
    
    • Monty Python's Life of Brian
    
    
    • The Prisoner of Zenda
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• September 1979
  
  
  
  • September 7
    
    • Patrick
    
    
  
  
  • September 28
    
    
    
    • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie
    
    
    • 
      Sleeping Beauty (re-release)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

October–December

• October 1979
  
  
  
  • October 5
    
    • 10
    
    
  
  
  • October 26
    
    • When a Stranger Calls
    
    
  
  
  
  


• November 1979
  
  • November 9
    
    • The Rose
    
    
  
  


• December 1979
  
  
  
  • December 7
    
    • Star Trek: The Motion Picture
    
    
  
  
  • December 14
    
    
    
    • 1941
    
    
    • The Jerk
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • December 20
    
    • All That Jazz
    
    
  
  
  • December 21
    
    • The Black Hole
    
    
  
  
  
  

Births

• January 1 - Vidya Balan, Indian actress


• January 8 - Sarah Polley, Canadian actress


• January 27 - Rosamund Pike, English actress


• February 2 - Shamita Shetty, Indian actress


• February 9 - Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and dancer


• February 11 - Brandy Norwood, American actress and singer


• February 13 - Mena Suvari, American actress


• February 21 - Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer


• March 9 - Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor


• March 10 - Danny Pudi, American actor


• April 4
  
  
  
  • 
    Bunko Kanazawa, Japanese actress
  
  
  • 
    Heath Ledger, Australian actor (d. 2008)
  
  
  • 
    Natasha Lyonne, American actress
  
  
  
  


• April 11 - Josh Server, American actor


• April 12 - Claire Danes, American actress


• April 19 - Kate Hudson, American actress


• April 21 - James McAvoy, Scottish actor


• April 23 - Jaime King, American actress


• May 9 - Rosario Dawson, American actress


• May 22 - Maggie Q, American actress


• May 28 - Monica Keena, American actress


• June 7 - Anna Torv, Australian actress


• June 21 - Chris Pratt, American actor


• June 24 - Mindy Kaling, American writer and actress


• June 27 - Benjamin Speed, Australian film composer


• July 3 - Ludivine Sagnier, French actress


• July 6 - Kevin Hart, American actor


• July 16 - Jayma Mays, American actress


• July 31 - B. J. Novak, American writer and actor


• August 3 - Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress


• August 27 - Aaron Paul, American actor


• August 31 - Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer


• September 8 - Pink, American singer and actress


• September 11 - Ariana Richards, American actress


• October 1 - Marielle Heller, American film director


• October 4 - Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress


• October 6 - Sareh Bayat, Iranian actress


• October 8 - Kristanna Loken, American actress


• October 29 - Maya Karin, Malaysian actress


• November 19 - Barry Jenkins, American film director


• December 3 - Tiffany Haddish, American comedian and actress


• December 11 - Rider Strong, American actor


• December 23 - Summer Altice, American model and actress


• December 26 - Chris Daughtry, American actor and singer

Notable deaths

Debuts

• 
  Rosanna Arquette - More American Graffiti
  


• 
  Lorraine Bracco - Duos sur canapé
  


• 
  Matt Craven - Meatballs
  


• 
  Ted Danson - The Onion Field
  


• 
  Keith David - Disco Godfather
  


• 
  Matt Dillon - Over the Edge
  


• 
  Lisa Eichhorn - Yanks
  


• 
  Cary Elwes - Yesterday's Hero
  


• 
  Bruce Greenwood - Bear Island
  


• 
  Danny Glover - Escape from Alcatraz
  


• 
  Dennis Haysbert - Scoring
  


• 
  Sam J. Jones - 10
  


• 
  Wayne Knight - The Wanderers
  


• 
  Christine Lahti - ...And Justice for All
  


• 
  Diane Lane - A Little Romance
  


• 
  Hayao Miyazaki (director) - The Castle of Cagliostro
  


• 
  David Paymer - The In-Laws
  


• 
  Chris Penn - Charlie and the Talking Buzzard
  


• 
  Jean Reno - The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting
  


• 
  Mickey Rourke - 1941
  


• 
  Jay O. Sanders - Starting Over
  


• 
  Ricky Schroder - The Champ
  


• 
  Wallace Shawn - Manhattan
  


• 
  Martin Short - Lost and Found
  


• 
  Timothy Spall - Quadrophenia
  


• 
  Daniel Stern - Breaking Away
  


• 
  Patrick Swayze - Skatetown, U.S.A.
  


• 
  Christoph Waltz - Breakthrough
  


• 
  Peter Weller - Butch and Sundance: The Early Days
  


• 
  Ray Winstone - That Summer!
  


• 
  JoBeth Williams - Kramer vs. Kramer
  

References