The year 1979 in film involved many significant events.

Highest-grossing films

United States and Canada

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

International

Major events

* 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 29 - Mary Pickford, a silent screen legend and Hollywood pioneer who was, at the height of her career, the most famous woman in the world, dies of a stroke. * 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 Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

, a famous Western movie actor, dies at the age of 72 from

stomach cancer Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a cancer that develops from the Gastric mucosa, lining of the stomach. Most cases of stomach cancers are gastric carcinomas, which can be divided into a number of subtypes, including gastric adenoca ...

. * 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. * August 15 – ''

Apocalypse Now ''Apocalypse Now'' is a 1979 American epic war film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The screenplay, co-written by Coppola, John Milius and Michael Herr, is loosely based on the 1899 novella '' Heart of Darkness'' by Joseph C ...

'' is released to worldwide critical acclaim and box office success. Heralded as one of the greatest films ever made to this day. * September 19 –

Don Bluth Donald Virgil Bluth (; born September 13, 1937) is an American film director, animator An animator is an artist who creates multiple images, known as frames, which give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequen ...

and a group of fellow animators resign from

The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Disney Stud ...

's animation department to set up a rival studio, Don Bluth Productions. * October 3 – Producers Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan purchase the film rights of

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book '' Detective Comics'' on March 30, 1939 ...

from

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...

. It would be another ten years, before a Batman feature film would be fully realized. * 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 blockbuster box office, launching a film franchise that leads to 9 sequels and 3 reboots over the next 37 years. It also leads to the creation of five spin-off television series based upon

Gene Roddenberry Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American television screenwriter, producer, and creator of ''Star Trek: The Original Series'', its sequel spin-off series '' Star Trek: The Animated Series,'' and '' S ...

's creation. * Allied Artists files for bankruptcy.

Awards

Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

(Cannes Film Festival): :''

'', directed by Francis Ford Coppola, United States :''The Tin Drum'' (Die Blechtrommel), directed by Volker Schlöndorff, W. Germany Golden Bear (Berlin Film Festival): :''

David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

'', directed by

Peter Lilienthal Peter Lilienthal (born 27 November 1929) is a German film director, writer, actor and producer. His 1979 film '' David'' won the Golden Bear at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival. His 1984 film ''Das Autogramm'' was entered into the 34th ...

, West Germany

Notable films released in 1979

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

unless stated

#

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

1941 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January– August – 10,072 men, women and children with mental and physical disabilities are asphyxiated with carbon monoxide in a gas chamber, at Hadamar E ...

'', directed by

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spi ...

, starring Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Nancy Allen,

Toshiro Mifune was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 feature films. He is best known for his 16-film collaboration (1948–1965) with Akira Kurosawa in such works as '' Rashomon'', '' Seven Samurai'', '' The Hidden Fortress'', '' Throne of Blood'', a ...

, Treat Williams,

Warren Oates Warren Mercer Oates (July 5, 1928 – April 3, 1982) was an American actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah, including '' The Wild Bunch'' (1969) and '' Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia'' (1974) ...

, Robert Stack

A

*'' The Actress, the Dollars and the Transylvanians'' (Artista, dolarii şi ardelenii) – (

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, a ...

) *'' L'adolescente'' (The Adolescent), directed by

Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. M ...

, starring Simone Signoret – (

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

) *'' The Adventure of Sudsakorn'', the first and only cel-animated feature film from

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

*''Adventures of Sinbad'' *'' Agatha'', directed by Michael Apted, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman – ( U.K.) *''

Ah! Nomugi Toge is a 1979 Japanese film directed by Satsuo Yamamoto. Cast * Shinobu Otake as Mine Masai * Mieko Harada as Yuki Shinoda * Chikako Yūri as Hana Mishima * Yūko Kotegawa as Kiku Shoji * Rentarō Mikuni as Tokichi Adachi Plot An indictment of th ...

'' (Nomugi Pass) – ( Japan) *'' Air Crew'' (Ekipazh) – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' Alien'', directed by

Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is a British film director and producer. Directing, among others, science fiction films, his work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades th ...

, starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright,

John Hurt Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 25 January 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors. Director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in ...

, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto – ( US/ UK) *'' All Quiet on the Western Front'', a TV film directed by Delbert Mann, starring

Richard Thomas Richard Thomas or Dick Thomas may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Dick Thomas (singer) (1915–2003), American singing cowboy and actor * Richard Thomas (actor) (born 1951), American actor * Richard Thomas (author) (born 1967), Americ ...

and Ernest Borgnine *'' All That Jazz'', directed by

Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American actor, choreographer, dancer, and film and stage director. He directed and choreographed musical works on stage and screen, including the stage musicals '' The Paja ...

, starring

Roy Scheider Roy Richard Scheider (; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer. Described by AllMovie as "one of the most unique and distinguished of all Hollywood actors", he gained fame for his leading and supportin ...

, Ann Reinking, Leland Palmer, 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 Norman Frederick Jewison (born July 21, 1926) is a retired Canadian film and television director, producer, and founder of the Canadian Film Centre. He has directed numerous feature films and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best D ...

, starring

Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino (; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Al Pacino, numerous accolades: including an Aca ...

, John Forsythe, Jack Warden, Christine Lahti, Craig T. Nelson, Jeffrey Tambor *'' Anti-Clock'', directed by Jane Arden – ( U.K.) *''

'', directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen,

Dennis Hopper Dennis Lee Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and photographer. He attended the Actors Studio, made his first television appearance in 1954, and soon after appeared in '' Giant'' (1956). In the next ten year ...

, 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 Ball lightning is a rare and unexplained phenomenon described as luminescent, spherical objects that vary from pea-sized to several meters in diameter. Though usually associated with thunderstorms, the observed phenomenon is reported to last ...

'' (Kulový blesk) – (

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

) *'' Ballad of Tara'' (Tcherike-ye Tara) – (

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...

) *'' Bear Island'', starring

Donald Sutherland Donald McNichol Sutherland (born 17 July 1935) is a Canadian actor whose film career spans over six decades. He has been nominated for nine Golden Globe Awards, winning two for his performances in the television films '' Citizen X'' (1995) a ...

, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark, Barbara Parkins *'' Being There'', directed by Hal Ashby, starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine,

Melvyn Douglas Melvyn Douglas (born Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg, April 5, 1901 – August 4, 1981) was an American actor. Douglas came to prominence in the 1930s as a suave leading man, perhaps best typified by his performance in the romantic comedy '' Ninotch ...

, Jack Warden *'' The Bell Jar'', starring Marilyn Hassett, Julie Harris, Anne Jackson *''

Best Boy In a film crew there are two kinds of best boy: best boy electric and best boy grip. They are assistants to their department heads, the gaffer (in charge of electricals) and the key grip (lighting and rigging), respectively. In short, the best ...

'', award-winning documentary *''

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure ''Beyond the Poseidon Adventure'' is a 1979 American action-adventure disaster film and a sequel to '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) directed by Irwin Allen and starring Michael Caine and Sally Field. It was a critical and commercial box office ...

'', directed by

Irwin Allen Irwin Allen (born Irwin O. Cohen, June 12, 1916 – November 2, 1991) was an American film and television producer and director, known for his work in science fiction, then later as the "Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film gen ...

, 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 Anthony Perkins (April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an American actor, director, and singer. Perkins is best remembered for his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's suspense thriller ''Psycho'', which made him an influential ...

, 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 Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen ...

, Ben Gazzara, James Mason, Gert Fröbe, Beatrice Straight *'' Bloody Kids'', directed by

Stephen Frears Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is an English director and producer of film and television often depicting real life stories as well as projects that explore social class through sharply drawn characters. He's received numerous accola ...

– ( U.K.) *''

Boardwalk A boardwalk (alternatively board walk, boarded path, or promenade) is an elevated footpath, walkway, or causeway built with wooden planks that enables pedestrians to cross wet, fragile, or marshy land. They are also in effect a low type of bri ...

'', starring Ruth Gordon,

Lee Strasberg Lee Strasberg (born Israel Strassberg; November 17, 1901 – February 17, 1982) was an American theatre director, actor and acting teacher. He co-founded, with theatre directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 193 ...

Janet Leigh Jeanette Helen Morrison (July 6, 1927 – October 3, 2004), known professionally as Janet Leigh, was an American actress, singer, dancer, and author. Her career spanned over five decades. Raised in Stockton, California, by working-class parents, ...

*'' 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 Breakthrough or break through may refer to: Arts Books * ''Break Through'' (book), a 2007 book about environmentalism by Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger * ''Break Through'' (play), a 2011 episodic play portraying scenes from LGBT life * ...

'', starring

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable p ...

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Jo ...

, Rod Steiger, Curd Jürgens *'' Les Bronzés font du ski'' (a.k.a. French Fried Vacation 2), directed by Patrice Leconte – (

) *'' The Brood'', directed by David Cronenberg, starring Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar – (

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

) *'' 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 – (

) *'' 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 Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

) *''

Bye Bye Brazil ''Bye Bye Brazil'' ( pt, Bye Bye Brasil) is a 1979 Brazilian-French-Argentine film, directed by Carlos Diegues. Locations for the film include Belém and Altamira in the state of Pará, Maceió, the capital of Alagoas state, and the nationa ...

'' – (

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, t ...

)

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 Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germanic ...

'', directed by Tinto Brass, written by

Gore Vidal Eugene Luther Gore Vidal (; born Eugene Louis Vidal, October 3, 1925 – July 31, 2012) was an American writer and public intellectual known for his epigrammatic wit, erudition, and patrician manner. Vidal was bisexual, and in his novels and e ...

, starring Malcolm McDowell,

Teresa Ann Savoy Teresa Ann Savoy, FRSA (18 July 1955 – 9 January 2017) was a British actress who appeared in a number of Italian films. Biography Savoy was 18 years old when she appeared in the Italian adult magazine ''Playmen'' (October 1973), using an ...

Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (born Helen Lydia Mironoff; born 26 July 1945) is an English actor. The recipient of numerous accolades, she is the only performer to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting in both the United States and the United Kingdo ...

, Peter O'Toole – (

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

) *'' Camera Buff''. directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski – (

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...

) *'' The Castle of Cagliostro'' (Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro), an

anime is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...

film by

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widel ...

– ( 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 Dorothy Faye Dunaway (born January 14, 1941) is an American actress. She is the recipient of many accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award. In 2011, the government of France made ...

Ricky Schroder Richard Bartlett Schroder (born April 13, 1970) is an American actor and filmmaker. As a child actor billed as Ricky Schroder he debuted in the film '' The Champ'' (1979), for which he became the youngest Golden Globe award recipient, and went o ...

, 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 Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, activist, and former fashion model. Recognized as a film icon, Fonda is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Jane Fonda, various accolades including two ...

, Michael Douglas *'' Christ Stopped at Eboli'' ( it, Cristo si è fermato a Eboli), directed by Francesco Rosi, starring Gian Maria Volonté – (

) *'' City on Fire'', starring Susan Clark and

Ava Gardner Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...

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

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

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

D

*''

'' – (

West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...

) – 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 Gordon Liu (Lau Kar-fai ); born Sin Kam-hei () August 22, 1951) is a Chinese martial arts film actor and martial artist. He played the lead role of San Te in '' The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'' (1978) and its sequels, and later played two roles in ...

– (

) *'' Don Giovanni'', directed by Joseph Losey, starring Ruggero Raimondi,

John Macurdy John Macurdy (né John Edward McCurdy; – ) was an American operatic bass, who sang at the Metropolitan Opera 1,001 times from 1962–2000 (and also sang numerous performances in other opera houses). Among his teachers was the contralto Elisab ...

Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa , (; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a retired New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced". Te ...

– (

/ U.K./

) *'' Dracula'', directed by John Badham, starring Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Trevor Eve – ( US/ UK) *'' Dreamer'', starring Tim Matheson

E

*'' Eagle's Wing'', starring Martin Sheen and

Sam Waterston Samuel Atkinson Waterston (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television and, film. He has received a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award, and has recei ...

– ( U.K.) *'' The Electric Horseman'', directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford,

, Valerie Perrine, John Saxon,

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and ''Stardust'' (1978 ...

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

Escape to Athena ''Escape to Athena'' is a 1979 British adventure comedy war film directed by George P. Cosmatos. It stars Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono and Elliott Gould. The film is se ...

'', starring

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the third actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, playing the character in seven feature films between 1 ...

David Niven James David Graham Niven (; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was a British actor, soldier, memoirist, and novelist. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Major Pollock in '' Separate Tables'' (1958). Niven's other role ...

Elliott Gould Elliott Gould (; né Goldstein; born August 29, 1938) is an American actor. He began acting in Hollywood films during the 1960s. Elliott's breakthrough role was in the '' Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (1969), for which he received a nomination ...

, Stefanie Powers,

Claudia Cardinale Claude Joséphine Rose "Claudia" Cardinale (; born 15 April 1938) is an Italian actress. She has starred in some of the most iconic European films of the 1960s and 1970s, acting in Italian, French, and English. Born and raised in La Goulette, a ...

, Telly Savalas – ( U.K.) *''

The Europeans ''The Europeans: A sketch'' is a short novel by Henry James, published in 1878. It is essentially a comedy contrasting the behaviour and attitudes of two visitors from Europe with those of their relatives living in the "new" world of New England ...

'', directed by James Ivory, starring Lee Remick,

Lisa Eichhorn Lisa Eichhorn (born February 4, 1952) is an American actress, writer and producer. She made her film debut in 1979 in the John Schlesinger film ''Yanks'', for which she received two Golden Globe nominations. Her international career has include ...

, Kristin Griffith – ( U.K.)

F

*'' Fast Break'', starring Gabe Kaplan and Bernard King *'' Felicity'', starring

Glory Annen Glory Annen (born Glory Anne Clibbery; September 5, 1952 – April 24, 2017) was a Canadian actress. Career Glory Anne Clibbery was born in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. She attended the Victoria Composite High School of Performing Arts in Edmonton, ...

– ( Australia) *'' Ffolkes'', aka ''North Sea Hijack'', starring

, James Mason,

, Michael Parks – ( U.K.) *'' The Fifth Musketeer'', starring Sylvia Kristel, Ursula Andress, Beau Bridges, Ian McShane, Rex Harrison – (

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

) *'' Firepower'', starring

Sophia Loren Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress. She was named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood ci ...

James Coburn James Harrison Coburn III (August 31, 1928 – November 18, 2002) was an American film and television actor who was featured in more than 70 films, largely action roles, and made 100 television appearances during a 45-year career.AllmoviBi ...

O. J. Simpson Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947), nicknamed "Juice", is an American former football running back, actor, and broadcaster who played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Once a popular figure ...

– (U.K.) *''

First Case, Second Case ''First Case, Second Case'' ( fa, .قضیه شکل اول... شکل دوم, ''Qazieh-e shekl-e avval... shekl-e dovvom.'') is a 1979 Iranian film directed by Abbas Kiarostami. Plot The film starts with this scenario; A teacher is drawing a diag ...

'' (Qazieh, Shekl-e Avval, Shekl-e Dovom), directed by Abbas Kiarostami – (

) *'' The First Great Train Robbery'', starring Sean Connery,

Lesley-Anne Down Lesley-Anne Down (born 17 March 1954) is a British actress, singer and former model. She achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series ''Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1973–75). She received further recognition for her performances in ...

– ( U.K.) *'' A Force of One'', starring Chuck Norris and Jennifer O'Neill *'' The Frisco Kid'', directed by

Robert Aldrich Robert Burgess Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His notable credits include ''Vera Cruz'' (1954), '' Kiss Me Deadly'' (1955), '' The Big Knife'' (1955), '' Autumn ...

, starring

Gene Wilder Jerome Silberman (June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016), known professionally as Gene Wilder, was an American actor, comedian, writer and filmmaker. He is known mainly for his comedic roles, but also for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in '' Willy W ...

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...

*'' French Postcards'', starring

Miles Chapin The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a imperial unit, British imperial unit and United States customary unit of distance; both are based on the older English unit of Unit of length, ...

, David Marshall Grant, Debra Winger

G

*'' Gal Young Un'', directed by Victor Nuñez *''

The Genealogy ''The Genealogy'' ( 족보 - ''Jokbo'') is a 1979 South Korean film directed by Im Kwon-taek. Synopsis During the era of Japanese occupation, Sol Jin-young, a Korean patriarch refuses to obey the law to change the family's name to a Japanese name ...

'' (Jokbo) – (

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

) *'' Going in Style'', directed by Martin Brest, starring George Burns, Art Carney,

, Charles Hallahan *''

The Glove The Glove was a 1983 English musical collaboration and recording project by the Cure's Robert Smith and Siouxsie and the Banshees' Steven Severin. They released one studio album, '' Blue Sunshine'', in 1983 as part of Severin's solo deal with ...

'', starring John Saxon and Roosevelt Grier *'' Gol Maal'' (Confusion) – (

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

) *'' Goldengirl'', starring Susan Anton,

, Leslie Caron *''

Grass Labyrinth is a Japanese film directed by Shūji Terayama which was released in France in 1979 and in Japan in 1983. Plot A surreal excursion into a young man's subconscious as he searches for the words to a tune that his mother may have sung to him as a ch ...

'' (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 Peter Hyams (born July 26, 1943) is an American film director, screenwriter and cinematographer known for directing ''Capricorn One'' (which he also wrote), the 1981 science fiction-thriller '' Outland'', the 1984 science fiction film '' 2010: Th ...

, starring

Christopher Plummer Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage, and television. He received multiple accolades, inc ...

– ( US/ UK) *'' Hardcore'', directed by Paul Schrader, starring George C. Scott and

Peter Boyle Peter Lawrence Boyle (October 18, 1935 – December 12, 2006) was an American actor. Known as a character actor, he played Frank Barone on the CBS sitcom '' Everybody Loves Raymond'' and the comical monster in Mel Brooks' film spoof ''Youn ...

*'' Heart of the Forest'' (El corazón del bosque) – (

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

) *'' Heartland'', directed by Richard Pearce, starring

Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned more than 60 years. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his part as Marsh Turner in '' Cross Creek'' ...

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 Maria de Lourdes Villiers "Mia" Farrow ( ; born February 9, 1945) is an American actress. She first gained notice for her role as Allison MacKenzie in the television soap opera '' Peyton Place'' and gained further recognition for her subsequen ...

, Jason Robards, Max von Sydow, Trevor Howard *''

The Hussy ''The Hussy'' (french: La drôlesse) is a 1979 French drama film directed by Jacques Doillon. It was entered into the 1979 Cannes Film Festival, where Doillon won the Young Cinema Award. In July 2021, the film was shown in the Cannes Classics s ...

'' (La drôlesse) – (

) *''

The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting ''The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting'' (french: L'Hypothèse du tableau volé) is a 1978 French experimental mystery film directed by Chilean filmmaker Raúl Ruiz and shot by cinematographer Sacha Vierny. The film was inspired by the themes ...

'' (L'Hypothèse du tableau volé), directed by Raúl Ruiz – (

)

I

*'' I as in Icarus'' (I... comme Icare), starring Yves Montand – (

) *'' The In-Laws'', directed by Arthur Hiller, starring Alan Arkin and

Peter Falk Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the long-running television series '' Columbo'' (1968–1978, 1989–2003), for which h ...

J

*'' J-Men Forever'', directed by Richard Patterson, starring Peter Bergman,

M. G. Kelly Gary D. Sinclair (born 1952), known professionally as Michael Gary "M.G." Kelly and Machine Gun Kelly, is an American actor, disc jockey, and radio personality. In addition to hosting several radio programs over the years, Kelly has held severa ...

, Philip Proctor *''Jack Frost'', directed by Rankin/Bass, starring

Robert Morse Robert Alan Morse (May 18, 1931 – April 20, 2022) was an American actor, who starred in '' How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', both the 1961 original Broadway production, for which he won a Tony Award, and its 1967 film adapta ...

*''

Jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the thi ...

'' – (

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

) *''

The Jerk ''The Jerk'' is a 1979 American comedy film directed by Carl Reiner and written by Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb, and Michael Elias (from a story by Steve Martin and Carl Gottlieb). This was Martin's first starring role in a feature film. The ...

'', directed by Carl Reiner, starring Steve Martin and

Bernadette Peters Bernadette Peters ( ''née'' Lazzara; born February 28, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and children's book author. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in musical theatre, television and film, performed in solo co ...

*''

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religiou ...

'', directed by Peter Sykes and John Krisch, starring Brian Deacon – ( Australia/ US/ UK) *'' Just You and Me, Kid'', starring George Burns and Brooke Shields

K

*'' Kaala Patthar'' (Black Stone), starring Shashi Kapoor – (

) *'' Kassbach – Ein Porträt'' (Kassbach – A Portrait) – (

) *'' The Kids Are Alright'', a rockumentary featuring The Who – ( U.K.) *'' Knockabout'', directed by and starring Sammo Hung – (

) *'' Kramer vs. Kramer'', directed by Robert Benton, starring Dustin Hoffman and

Meryl Streep Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...

(both won Oscars),

Justin Henry Justin Henry (born May 25, 1971) is an American actor and businessman, known for playing the object of the titular custody battle in the 1979 film ''Kramer vs. Kramer'', a debut role that earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supp ...

, JoBeth Williams, Jane Alexander

L

*''

Lady Oscar , also known as ''Lady Oscar'' and ''La Rose de Versailles'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Riyoko Ikeda. It was originally serialized in the manga magazine '' Margaret'' from 1972 to 1973, while a revival of the s ...

'', starring Catriona MacColl and Patsy Kensit – (

/ Japan) *'' Le Pétomane'', starring Leonard Rossiter and Graham Stark *'' The Lady Vanishes'', starring

, Cybill Shepherd,

Angela Lansbury Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury (October 16, 1925 – October 11, 2022) was an Irish-British and American film, stage, and television actress. Her career spanned eight decades, much of it in the United States, and her work received a great deal ...

*'' Last Embrace'', directed by Jonathan Demme, starring

and Janet Margolin *'' The Last of the Knucklemen'' – ( Australia) *'' A Little Romance'', directed by George Roy Hill, starring Laurence Olivier, Diane Lane, Sally Kellerman – (

) *'' 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 ''Love at First Bite'' is a 1979 American comedy horror film directed by Stan Dragoti and written by Robert Kaufman, using characters originally created by Bram Stoker. It stars George Hamilton, Susan Saint James, Richard Benjamin, and Ar ...

'', starring George Hamilton and Susan Saint James *'' Love on the Run'' (L'amour en fuite), directed by

François Truffaut François Roland Truffaut ( , ; ; 6 February 1932 – 21 October 1984) was a French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. After a career of more tha ...

– (

) *'' Lovers and Liars'' (Viaggio con Anita), starring Goldie Hawn and Giancarlo Giannini – (

/France) *'' La Luna'', directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Jill Clayburgh – (

)

M

*'' Mad Max'', directed by George Miller, starring Mel Gibson – ( Australia) *''

The Magician of Lublin ''The Magician of Lublin'' ( yi, דער קונצנמאַכער פֿון לובלין, translit=Der Kuntsnmakher fun Lublin) is a novel by Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer. Though originally written in Yiddish, it wa ...

'', starring Alan Arkin, Louise Fletcher, Valerie Perrine *'' Magnificent Butcher'' (Lin shi rong), starring Sammo Hung – (

) *''

The Main Event In sports, a card lists the matches taking place in a title match combat-sport event. Cards include a main event match and the undercard listing the rest of the matches. The undercard may be divided into a midcard and a lower card, according to ...

'', starring

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

and

Ryan O'Neal Ryan O'Neal (born April 20, 1941) is an American actor and former boxer. He trained as an amateur boxer before beginning his career in acting in 1960. In 1964, he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera '' Peyton Pla ...

*''

Mamá cumple cien años ''Mamá cumple cien años'' is a 1979 Spanish comedy film written and directed by Carlos Saura. The film is a comedy sequel of the drama Ana and the Wolves directed by Saura in 1973. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Lang ...

'' (Mama Turns 100), directed by

Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (born 4 January 1932) is a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. Along with Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be one of Spain’s most renowned filmmakers. He has a long and prolific career th ...

, starring Geraldine Chaplin – (

) *''

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...

'', directed by and starring

Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...

, with Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway *'' A Man, a Woman, and a Bank'', starring

and Brooke Adams *'' The Marriage of Maria Braun'', directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Hanna Schygulla – (

) *'' Maula Jatt'' – (

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

) *''

Meatballs A meatball is ground meat rolled into a ball, sometimes along with other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, minced onion, eggs, butter, and seasoning. Meatballs are cooked by frying, baking, steaming, or braising in sauce. There are many types ...

'', directed by Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray – (

) *'' The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed'' (Mesto vstrechi izmenit nelzya) – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' Meetings with Remarkable Men'', Gurdjieff biography directed by

Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 – 2 July 2022) was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Shak ...

– ( U.K.) *''

Meteor A meteoroid () is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. Meteoroids are defined as objects significantly smaller than asteroids, ranging in size from grains to objects up to a meter wide. Objects smaller than this are classified as mic ...

'', directed by Ronald Neame, starring Sean Connery,

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood ( Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles. Wood started acting at age four and was given a co-starring r ...

, Karl Malden, Henry Fonda, Martin Landau, Trevor Howard *'' Monty Python's Life of Brian'', directed by Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman,

John Cleese John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and ...

, Terry Gilliam,

Eric Idle Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. Idle was a member of the British surreal comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the Broadway ...

, Terry Jones,

Michael Palin Sir Michael Edward Palin (; born 5 May 1943) is an English actor, comedian, writer, television presenter, and public speaker. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy group. Since 1980, he has made a number of travel documentaries. Palin ...

– ( U.K.) *'' Moonraker'', directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring

(as

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 19 ...

), with Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale,

Richard Kiel Richard Dawson Kiel (September 13, 1939 – September 10, 2014) was an American actor. Standing tall, he was known for portraying Jaws in '' The Spy Who Loved Me'' (1977) and '' Moonraker'' (1979). Kiel's next-most-recognized role is the ...

– ( U.K.) *'' More American Graffiti'', starring Candy Clark, Ron Howard,

Paul Le Mat Paul Le Mat (born September 22, 1945) is an American actor. He first came to prominence with his role in ''American Graffiti'' (1973); his performance was met with critical acclaim and earned him the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - ...

Charles Martin Smith Charles Martin Smith (born October 30, 1953) is an American actor, writer, and director of film and television, based in British Columbia. He is known for his roles in '' American Graffiti'' (1973), '' The Buddy Holly Story'' (1978), ''Never Cry W ...

Cindy Williams Cynthia Jane Williams (born August 22, 1947) is an American actress and producer, known for her role as Shirley Feeney on the television sitcom '' Happy Days'' (1975–1979), and ''Laverne & Shirley'' (1976–1982). Early life Williams was bo ...

*'' 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 ''Murder by Decree'' is a 1979 mystery thriller film directed by Bob Clark. It features the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who are embroiled in the investigation surrounding the real-life ...

'' (British/ Canadian), a Sherlock Holmes mystery directed by Bob Clark, starring

(as Sherlock Holmes) and James Mason as Watson– ( U.K./

) *'' My Brilliant Career'', directed by Gillian Armstrong, starring

Judy Davis Judith Davis (born 23 April 1955) is an Australian actress in film, television, and on stage. With a career spanning over 40 years, she has been commended for her versatility and regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation. Frequen ...

and Sam Neill – ( Australia)

N

*'' Nightwing'', directed by Arthur Hiller, starring Nick Mancuso and Kathryn Harrold *'' Noorie'', directed by Manmohan Krishna – (

) *'' 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 Morris Mac Davis (January 21, 1942 – September 29, 2020) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. A native of Lubbock, Texas, he enjoyed success as a crossover artist, and during his early career he wrote for Elvis Presley, ...

G. D. Spradlin Gervase Duan Spradlin (August 31, 1920 – July 24, 2011) was an American actor, attorney, and businessman. Known for his distinctive accent and voice, he often played devious authority figures. He is credited in over 70 television and film pro ...

Dayle Haddon Dayle Haddon (born May 26, 1948) is a Canadian model and actress, presently known for promoting anti-aging products manufactured by L'Oréal. Additionally, she is credited as author of ''Ageless Beauty: A Woman's Guide to Lifelong Beauty and Well ...

, Bo Svenson, John Matuszak *'' Nosferatu the Vampyre'' (Nosferatu: Phantom der Nach), directed by Werner Herzog, starring

Klaus Kinski Klaus Kinski (, born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski 18 October 1926 – 23 November 1991) was a German actor, equally renowned for his intense performance style and notorious for his volatile personality. He appeared in over 130 film roles in a c ...

, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz – (

)

O

*'' The Odd Angry Shot'', starring

Bryan Brown Bryan Neathway Brown AM (born 23 June 1947) is an Australian actor. He has performed in over eighty film and television projects since the late 1970s, both in his native Australia and abroad. Notable films include '' Breaker Morant'' (1980), ...

– ( Australia) *'' The Odd Couple'' (Bo ming chan dao duo ming qiang), starring Sammo Hung – (

) *'' 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 Volonté – (

) *'' 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 ''Les petites fugues'' is a 1979 Swiss comedy film directed by Yves Yersin. It competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival. The film was produced by Filmkollektiv Zurich. The film was selected as the Swiss entry fo ...

'' (The Little Fugitives) – ( Switzerland) *'' Phantasm'', directed by Don Coscarelli *''A Pleasure Doing Business'', directed by Steven Vagnino, starring Conrad Bain, John Byner,

Alan Oppenheimer Alan Oppenheimer (born April 23, 1930) is an American actor. He has performed numerous roles on live action television since the 1960s, and he has had an active career doing voice work since the 1970s. Early life Oppenheimer was born in New Yor ...

and Misty Rowe *'' The Plank'', directed by and starring

Eric Sykes Eric Sykes (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading com ...

, 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 ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in or ...

'', starring Peter Sellers, Lynne Frederick and Lionel Jeffries *'' The Prize Fighter'', starring Don Knotts and Tim Conway *''

Prophecy In religion, a prophecy is a message that has been communicated to a person (typically called a '' prophet'') by a supernatural entity. Prophecies are a feature of many cultures and belief systems and usually contain divine will or law, or pre ...

'', 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 Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...

, featuring The Ramones *'' Rocky II'', directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, with Carl Weathers, Talia Shire,

Burgess Meredith Oliver Burgess Meredith (November 16, 1907 – September 9, 1997) was an American actor and filmmaker whose career encompassed theater, film, and television. Active for more than six decades, Meredith has been called "a virtuosic actor" and "on ...

, Burt Young *'' Roller Boogie'', directed by Mark L. Lester, starring Linda Blair,

Jim Bray Jim Bray (born February 23, 1961, Upland, California) is a former competitive artistic roller skater. He went to Chaffey High School and graduated in 1979. He won several national titles in Singles and Pairs. At the age of 18 he gave up his amateu ...

, Albert Insinnia,

Jimmy Van Patten Richard Vincent Van Patten (December 9, 1928 – June 23, 2015) was an American actor, comedian, businessman, and animal welfare advocate, whose career spanned seven decades of television. He was best known for his role as patriarch Tom Brad ...

, Kimberly Beck, Stoney Jackson, Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard *''

The Rose A rose is a perennial plant of the genus ''Rosa'', or the flower it bears. Rose may also refer to: Colors * Rose (color) ** RAL 3017 Rose * Rose (heraldic tincture) Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''Rose'' (2011 film), a Polish film ...

'', directed by Mark Rydell, starring

Bette Midler Bette Midler (;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden Gl ...

, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest *''

Running Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...

'', 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 ''A Scream from Silence'' (french: Mourir à tue-tête) is a 1979 Canadian drama film directed by Anne Claire Poirier and starring Julie Vincent. It competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival. The film was selecte ...

'' (Mourir à tue-tête) – (

) *'' The Seduction of Joe Tynan'', starring

Alan Alda Alan Alda (; born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; January 28, 1936) is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for playing Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the war come ...

, Barbara Harris,

*''

A Sense of Freedom ''A Sense of Freedom'' is a 1981 Scottish crime film directed by John Mackenzie for Scottish Television. The film stars David Hayman and featured Jake D'Arcy, Sean Scanlan, Hector Nicol, Alex Norton and Fulton Mackay. It is based on the auto ...

'', directed by John Mackenzie – (U.K.) *''

Série noire ''Série noire'' is a French publishing imprint (trade name), imprint, founded in 1945 by Marcel Duhamel. It has released a Collection (publishing), collection of crime fiction of the hardboiled, hardboiled detective thrillers variety published b ...

'' (Black Series), directed by Alain Corneau – (

) *'' Siberiade'', directed by Andrei Konchalovsky – ( U.S.S.R) *''

Sisters, or the Balance of Happiness ''Sisters, or the Balance of Happiness'' (german: Schwestern oder Die Balance des Glücks) is a 1979 West German drama film written and directed by Margarethe von Trotta. Cast *Jutta Lampe as Maria Sundermann *Gudrun Gabriel as Anna Sundermann ...

'' (Schwestern oder Die Balance des Glücks), directed by Margarethe von Trotta – (

) *'' 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 Stefan Lambov Danailov ( bg, Стефан Ламбов Данаилов; 9 December 1942 – 27 November 2019) was a Bulgarian actor who served as Minister of Culture of Bulgaria (August 2005 – July 2009). The first film Danailov took p ...

, Aneta Sotirova – (

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Mac ...

) *'' Stalker'', directed by Andrei Tarkovsky – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'', directed by

Robert Wise Robert Earl Wise (September 10, 1914 – September 14, 2005) was an American film director, producer, and editor. He won the Academy Awards for Academy Award for Best Director, Best Director and Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Picture for h ...

, starring

William Shatner William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1965 debut as the captain of the starship ''Enterpri ...

, Leonard Nimoy,

Persis Khambatta Persis Khambatta (2 October 1948 – 18 August 1998) was an Indian model and actress who is best remembered for playing Lieutenant Ilia in the feature film '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979). Biography Early life and family Persis K ...

, 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 – (

) *'' The Survivors'' (Los sobrevivientes) – (

)

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 – (

/ U.K.) *''

That Summer! ''That Summer!'' is a 1979 British drama film directed by Harley Cokeliss and starring Ray Winstone, Tony London, Emily Moore and Julie Shipley. It was Ray Winstone's theatrical film debut, playing the character Steve Brodie. Plot It is the ...

'', starring Ray Winstone – (U.K.) *'' The Theme'' (Tema), directed by Gleb Panfilov, starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Inna Churikova, Stanislav Lyubshin, and

Yevgeni Vesnik Yevgeny Yakovlevich Vesnik (russian: Евге́ний Я́ковлевич Ве́сник; 15 January 1923 in Petrograd – 10 April 2009 in Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian actor. The son of Yakov Vesnik, the first director of the Kryvorizhstal pl ...

. Winner of 1987 Golden Bear – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' The Third Generation'' (Die Dritte Generation), directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Hanna Schygulla – (

) *'' Those Wonderful Movie Cranks'' (Báječní muži s klikou), directed by Jiří Menzel – (

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

) *'' La Tía Alejandra'' (Aunt Alejandra) – (

Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

) *'' Tim'', starring Mel Gibson and

Piper Laurie Piper Laurie (born Rosetta Jacobs; January 22, 1932) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films '' The Hustler'' (1961), '' Carrie'' (1976), and '' Children of a Lesser God'' (1986), all of which brought her Academy Award n ...

– ( Australia) *'' Time After Time'', directed by Nicholas Meyer, starring Malcolm McDowell,

David Warner David or Dave Warner may refer to: Sports * Dave Warner (strongman) (born 1969), Northern Ireland strongman competitor * David Bruce Warner (born 1970), South African alpine skier * David Warner (cricketer) (born 1986), Australian cricketer Others ...

, Mary Steenburgen *'' The Tin Drum'' (Die Blechtrommel), directed by Volker Schlöndorff, starring David Bennent – (

) –

winner *'' To Forget Venice'' (Dimenticare Venezia), directed by Franco Brusati, starring Mariangela Melato and Erland Josephson – (

) *''

Tourist Trap A tourist trap is an establishment (or group of establishments) that has been created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money. Tourist traps will typically provide overpriced services, entertainment, food, souveni ...

'', starring Chuck Connors and Tanya Roberts

U

*'' Ultraman'' – ( Japan) *'' Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle'' – ( Japan) *''

Uncle Marin, the Billionaire ''Uncle Marin, the Billionaire'' ( ro, Nea Mărin miliardar) is a 1979 Romanian comedy film directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu after a script written by , , and Amza Pellea. The main roles are interpreted by Amza Pellea (in dual role), Draga Olt ...

'' (Nea Mărin miliardar) – (

)

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 Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. Dou ...

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as Ann-Margret. She is known for her roles in '' Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), '' State Fair'' (1962), ' ...

, Arnold Schwarzenegger *'' The Visitor'', starring

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered ...

, Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters

W

*'' Wanda Nevada'', directed by and starring Peter Fonda, with Brooke Shields *'' The Wanderers'', starring

Ken Wahl Ken Wahl (born October 31, 1957) is a retired American film and television actor, popular in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for the CBS television crime drama '' Wiseguy''. Early life and career Wahl, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, Note: ...

and Karen Allen *'' The Warriors'', directed by Walter Hill (director), Walter Hill, starring Michael Beck, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Deborah Van Valkenburgh *''When a Stranger Calls (1979 film), When a Stranger Calls'', starring Charles Durning and Carol Kane *''Winter Kills (film), Winter Kills'', starring Jeff Bridges,

*''Wise Blood (film), Wise Blood'', directed by and starring

, with Brad Dourif – (

) *''Woman Between Wolf and Dog'' (Femme entre chien et loup) – (List of Belgian films of the 1970s, Belgium/

) *''Woyzeck (1979 film), Woyzeck'', directed by Werner Herzog, starring

and Eva Mattes – (

) *''The Wretches Are Still Singing'' (''Τα Κουρέλια Τραγουδάνε Ακόμα''), directed by Nikos Nikolaidis – (Greek films of the 1970s, Greece)

Y

*''Yanks'', directed by John Schlesinger, starring Richard Gere,

, Vanessa Redgrave – ( US/ UK) *''Yesterday's Hero'', directed by Neil Leifer, starring Ian McShane, Suzanne Somers, Adam Faith and Paul Nicholas – ( U.K.)

Z

*''Zombi 2'', directed by Lucio Fulci, starring Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch (actor), Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson (actor), Richard Johnson – (

) *''Zulu Dawn'', starring Peter O'Toole, Burt Lancaster, Simon Ward – (

/List of South African films, South Africa/Dutch films of the 1970s, Netherlands)

1979 Wide-release movies

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Births

* January 1 – Vidya Balan, Indian actress * January 6 - Cristela Alonzo, American comedian, actress, writer and producer * January 8 **Ashraf Barhom, Israeli-Arab actor **Sarah Polley, Canadian actress * January 16 - Aaliyah, American actress and singer (d. 2001 in film, 2001) * January 24 – Tatyana Ali, American actress and singer * January 29 - Andrew Keegan, American actor * February 1 - Rachelle Lefevre, Canadian actress * February 2 – Shamita Shetty, Indian actress * February 3 - Costa Ronin, Australian actor and cinematographer * February 9 – Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and dancer * February 11 – Brandy Norwood, American actress and singer * February 13 – Mena Suvari, American actress * February 21 **Jordan Peele, American actor, comedian, writer, director and producer **Maryke Hendrikse, Bahamian-born Canadian voice actress **Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer * March 3 - Patrick Renna, American actor * March 5 - Riki Lindhome, American actress, comedian and musician * March 9 – Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor * March 10 **Edi Gathegi, Kenyan-American actor **Danny Pudi, American actor * March 17 - Stephen Kramer Glickman, Canadian actor, music producer and stand-up comedian * March 18 - Adam Levine, American singer, songwriter, musician and actor * March 20 - Bianca Lawson, American actress * March 24 – Lake Bell, American actress, director and screenwriter * March 25 – Lee Pace, American actor * March 28 - Shakib Khan, Bangladeshi film actor, producer, singer, film organiser and media personalities * March 29 - De'Angelo Wilson, American actor and rapper (d. 2008 in film, 2008) * April 4 ** Bunko Kanazawa, Japanese actress ** Heath Ledger, Australian actor (d. 2008 in film, 2008) ** Natasha Lyonne, American actress * April 5 - Josh Boone (director), American filmmaker * April 11 – Josh Server, American actor * April 12 **Claire Danes, American actress **Paul Nicholls (actor), English actor * April 15 - Luke Evans, Welsh actor and singer * April 19 – Kate Hudson, American actress * April 21 – James McAvoy, Scottish actor * April 23 – Jaime King, American actress * May 5 - Vincent Kartheiser, American actor * May 7 – Yōsuke Kubozuka, Japanese actor * May 9 – Rosario Dawson, American actress * May 12 - Aaron Yoo, Korean-American actor * May 19 – Bérénice Marlohe, French actress * May 22 – Maggie Q, American actress * May 23 - Josh Cooley, American animator, screenwriter, director and voice actor * May 28 **Jesse Bradford, American actor **Monica Keena, American actress * June 2 - Morena Baccarin, Brazilian actress * June 7 – Anna Torv, Australian actress * June 12 - Wil Horneff, American former child actor * June 17 - Young Maylay, American rapper, producer and voice actor * 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 **Abdul Salis, British actor * July 10 - Gong Yoo, South Korean actor * July 12 - Omid Abtahi, Iranian-American actor * July 14 - Scott Porter, American actor * July 16 – Jayma Mays, American actress * July 17 - Mike Vogel, American actor and former model * July 19 - David Sakurai, Danish-Japanese actor, director and scriptwriter * July 31 – B. J. Novak, American writer and actor * August 1 - Jason Momoa, American actor and filmmaker * August 3 – Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress * August 6 – Dayahang Rai, Nepalese actor * August 10 - JoAnna Garcia Swisher, American actress * August 22 - Brandon Adams (actor), American actor * August 23 - Claire Grant, American actress, model and producer * August 26 – Erik Valdez, American actor * August 27 – Aaron Paul, American actor * August 29 - Dan Harris (screenwriter), American screenwriter and director * August 31 – Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian film composer * September 8 – Pink (singer), Pink, American singer and actress * September 11 **Ariana Richards, American actress **Hu Ting-ting, English-born Taiwanese actress * September 18 - Alison Lohman, American former actress * September 19 - Noémie Lenoir, French model and actress * September 20 - Chris Tardio, American actor * September 22 - MyAnna Buring, Swedish-born actress * September 23 - Lisa Loven Kongsli, Norwegian actress * September 27 - Jad Saxton, American voice actress * September 30 - Jonathan Kasdan, American screenwriter, director, producer and actor * October 1 – Marielle Heller, American film director * October 4 **Caitríona Balfe, Irish actress **Rachael Leigh Cook, American actress * October 6 – Sareh Bayat, Iranian actress * October 7 **Tang Wei, Chinese actress **Aaron Ashmore and Shawn Ashmore, Canadian actors * October 8 – Kristanna Loken, American actress * October 9 - Brandon Routh, American actor * October 20 - John Krasinski, American actor and filmmaker * October 28 - Natina Reed, American singer-songwriter, rapper and actress (d. 2012) * October 29 – Maya Karin, Malaysian actress * October 31 - Erica Cerra, Canadian actress * November 8 - Dania Ramirez, Dominican actress * November 13 - Riccardo Scamarcio, Italian actor and producer * November 14 – Olga Kurylenko, Ukrainian-French actress * November 19 – Barry Jenkins, American film director * November 22 - Andrew Knott, British actor * November 23 - Jonathan Sadowski, American actor * November 25 - Joel Kinnaman, Swedish-American actor * November 28 - Daniel Henney, American actor and model * December 3 – Tiffany Haddish, American comedian and actress * December 5 - Nick Stahl, American actor * December 7 - Eric Bauza, Canadian-born American voice actor, stand-up comedian and animation artist * December 11 – Rider Strong, American actor * December 15 - Adam Brody, American actor, writer, musician and producer * December 23 – Summer Altice, American model and actress * December 26 – Chris Daughtry, American actor and singer * December 29 - Diego Luna, Mexican actor, director and producer

Deaths

Debuts

*Rosanna Arquette – '' More American Graffiti'' *Tobin Bell - ''

'' *Lorraine Bracco – ''Duos sur canapé'' *Frances Conroy – ''Manhattan'' *Matt Craven – ''

'' * Ted Danson – '' The Onion Field'' *Keith David – ''Disco Godfather'' * Matt Dillon – '' Over the Edge'' *

– ''Yanks'' *Cary Elwes – ''Yesterday's Hero'' *Giancarlo Esposito – ''

'' *Danny Glover – '' Escape from Alcatraz'' *Bruce Greenwood – '' Bear Island'' *Dennis Haysbert – ''Scoring'' *Anna Maria Horsford – '' An Almost Perfect Affair'' *Sam J. Jones – '' 10'' *David Keith (actor), David Keith – '' The Great Santini'' *Wayne Knight – '' The Wanderers'' * Christine Lahti – '' ...And Justice for All'' * Diane Lane – '' A Little Romance'' *

(director) – '' The Castle of Cagliostro'' *Will Patton – ''Minus Zero'' * Emma Samms – '' Arabian Adventure'' *David Paymer – '' The In-Laws'' *Chris Penn – ''Charlie and the Talking Buzzard'' *Elizabeth Peña – ''El Super'' *Jean Reno – ''

'' *Mickey Rourke – ''

'' *Jay O. Sanders – '' Starting Over'' *Raynor Scheine – ''Something Short of Paradise'' *

– '' The Champ'' *Wallace Shawn – ''Manhattan'' *Martin Short – ''Lost and Found (1979 film), Lost and Found'' *Timothy Spall – '' Quadrophenia'' * Daniel Stern – '' Breaking Away'' * Patrick Swayze – '' Skatetown, U.S.A.'' *Christoph Waltz – ''

'' *Peter Weller – '' Butch and Sundance: The Early Days'' * JoBeth Williams – '' Kramer vs. Kramer'' * Ray Winstone – ''

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1979 In Film 1979 in film, Film by year