List of American films of 1978

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A list of American films released in 1978.

The Deer Hunter won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1978. Superman was the highest-grossing film of 1978.

A-B

Title	Director	Cast	Genre/Note
Almost Summer	Martin Davidson	Bruno Kirby, Lee Purcell, Didi Conn	Comedy
Alucarda	Juan Lopez Moctezuma	Tina Romero, Susana Kamin, Claudio Brook	Horror	México
American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince	Martin Scorsese	Steven Prince, Martin Scorsese	Documentary
American Hot Wax	Floyd Mutrux	Tim McIntire, Fran Drescher, Jay Leno, Laraine Newman	Comedy, Musical	Paramount
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes	John De Bello	David Miller, George Wilson, Costa Dillon, Eric Christmas	Comedy
Avalanche	Corey Allen	Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow, Robert Forster	Disaster	New World
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan	John Berry	Tony Curtis, Jackie Earle Haley	Comedy	2nd sequel
Battlestar Galactica	Richard A. Colla	Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Lorne Greene	Science fiction	pilot for TV series
The Betsy	Daniel Petrie	Laurence Olivier, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Katharine Ross, Lesley-Anne Down, Kathleen Beller, Joseph Wiseman, Jane Alexander	Drama	from a novel by Harold Robbins
The Big Fix	Jeremy Kagan	Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Anspach, Bonnie Bedelia, John Lithgow, F. Murray Abraham	Mystery	Universal
Big Wednesday	John Milius	Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, Gary Busey	Drama	Warner Bros.
Bloodbrothers	Robert Mulligan	Paul Sorvino, Tony Lo Bianco, Richard Gere	Drama	Warner Bros.
Blue Collar	Paul Schrader	Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto	Drama, Crime	Universal
Born Again	Irving Rapper	Dean Jones, Anne Francis, Dana Andrews	Drama
The Boys from Brazil	Franklin J. Schaffner	Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Steve Guttenberg, Uta Hagen, Denholm Elliott, John Dehner	Thriller	from a novel by Ira Levin
The Boys in Company C	Sidney J. Furie	Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, R. Lee Ermey, James Whitmore, Jr.	Drama, War	Columbia
The Brink's Job	William Friedkin	Peter Falk, Peter Boyle, Warren Oates, Gena Rowlands, Paul Sorvino	Comedy, Crime	Universal
The Buddy Holly Story	Steve Rash	Gary Busey, Charles Martin Smith, Don Stroud, Conrad Janis	Biography, Musical	3 Oscar nominations

C-G

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
California Suite	Herbert Ross	Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Walter Matthau	Comedy	written by Neil Simon; Oscar for Smith
Capricorn One	Peter Hyams	Elliott Gould, Sam Waterston, James Brolin, O. J. Simpson, Brenda Vaccaro, Hal Holbrook	Suspense	Warner Bros.
Caravans	James Fargo	Anthony Quinn, Michael Sarrazin, Behrouz Vossoughi	Adventure	Universal; based on novel by James Michener
Casey's Shadow	Martin Ritt	Walter Matthau, Alexis Smith, Murray Hamilton	Drama	Columbia
The Cat from Outer Space	Norman Tokar	Sandy Duncan, Roddy McDowall, Ken Berry	Sci-fi	Disney
The Cheap Detective	Robert Moore	Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Sid Caesar, Dom DeLuise, Stockard Channing, Louise Fletcher, Marsha Mason	Comedy	written by Neil Simon
The Class of Miss MacMichael	Silvio Narizzano	Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Rosalind Cash	Drama
Coma	Michael Crichton	Geneviève Bujold, Michael Douglas, Richard Widmark, Elizabeth Ashley, Rip Torn	Thriller	MGM; based on Robin Cook novel
Comes a Horseman	Alan J. Pakula	James Caan, Jane Fonda, Jason Robards, George Grizzard, Richard Farnsworth	Western	United Artists
Coming Home	Hal Ashby	Jon Voight, Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern	Drama	Oscars for Voight, Fonda, screenplay
Convoy	Sam Peckinpah	Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine, Burt Young, Madge Sinclair	Action	United Artists; based on C.W. McCall song
Corvette Summer	Matthew Robbins	Mark Hamill, Annie Potts, Danny Bonaduce	Action	MGM
Covert Action	Romolo Guerrieri	David Janssen, Arthur Kennedy	Drama
The Dain Curse	E.W. Swackhamer	James Coburn, Héctor Elizondo, Jean Simmons	Mystery	based on James M. Cain novel
Damien: Omen II	Don Taylor	William Holden, Lee Grant	Horror	sequel to The Omen
Dawn of the Dead	George A. Romero	David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross	Horror	Night of the Living Dead sequel
Days of Heaven	Terrence Malick	Richard Gere, Brooke Adams	Drama	Oscar for cinematography; 4 nominations
Death Dimension	Al Adamson	Jim Kelly, Harold Sakata, George Lazenby	Action
Deathsport	Allan Arkush	Claudia Jennings, David Carradine	Action	A.I.P.
The Deer Hunter	Michael Cimino	Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, John Cazale	Drama, War	Universal; 5 Oscars including Best Picture
A Different Story	Paul Aaron	Meg Foster, Perry King, Valerie Curtin	Drama	Embassy
A Distant Thunder	Donald W. Thompson	Patty Dunning	Drama
The Driver	Walter Hill	Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani	Crime drama	20th Century Fox
The End	Burt Reynolds	Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Sally Field	Comedy	United Artists
An Enemy of the People	George Schaefer	Steve McQueen, Charles Durning, Bibi Andersson	Drama	First Artists
Every Which Way but Loose	James Fargo	Clint Eastwood, Ruth Gordon, Beverly D'Angelo, Geoffrey Lewis, Sondra Locke	Comedy	Warner Bros.
Eyes of Laura Mars	Irvin Kershner	Faye Dunaway, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif	Thriller	20th Century Fox
F.I.S.T.	Norman Jewison	Sylvester Stallone, Rod Steiger, Melinda Dillon, Brian Dennehy, Kevin Conway, Peter Boyle	Drama	United Artists
FM	John A. Alonzo	Alex Karras, Cleavon Little, Martin Mull, Michael Brandon, Eileen Brennan	Comedy	Universal
Fedora	Billy Wilder	William Holden, Marthe Keller, Hildegard Knef, Jose Ferrer, Frances Sternhagen, Stephen Collins	Drama	United Artists
Fingers	James Toback	Harvey Keitel, Michael V. Gazzo, Tanya Roberts	Drama
Foul Play	Colin Higgins	Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Dudley Moore, Eugene Roche, Burgess Meredith	Comedy	Paramount; 6 Golden Globe nominations
The Fury	Brian De Palma	Kirk Douglas, Amy Irving, John Cassavetes, Andrew Stevens, Charles Durning, Carrie Snodgress	Horror	20th Century Fox; based on John Farris novel
Gates of Heaven	Errol Morris	Lucille Billingsley, Errol Morris	Documentary
Gay USA	Arthur J. Bressan, Jr.	Footage of 1977 gay pride events	Documentary
Girlfriends	Claudia Weill	Melanie Mayron, Eli Wallach, Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest	Comedy, drama	Warner Bros.
Go Tell the Spartans	Ted Post	Burt Lancaster, Craig Wasson	War, Drama	Embassy; based on Daniel Ford novel
Goin' South	Jack Nicholson	Jack Nicholson, Mary Steenburgen, John Belushi, Veronica Cartwright, Christopher Lloyd	Comedy, Western	Paramount; 1st film of Steenburgen, Belushi
Good Guys Wear Black	Ted Post	Chuck Norris, Dana Andrews, Anne Archer	Action
Gray Lady Down	David Greene	Charlton Heston, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox, Stacy Keach, Rosemary Forsyth	Adventure	Universal
Grease	Randal Kleiser	John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Didi Conn, Edd Byrnes, Frankie Avalon	Musical comedy	Paramount; based on stage musical; 4 Golden Globe nominations
The Greek Tycoon	J. Lee Thompson	Anthony Quinn, Jacqueline Bisset	Drama	Universal

H-L

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Halloween	John Carpenter	Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P.J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards	Horror	inspired Halloween film franchise
Harper Valley PTA	Richard C. Bennett	Barbara Eden, Nanette Fabray, Ronny Cox	Comedy	based on a song by Jeannie C. Riley
Heaven Can Wait	Warren Beatty, Buck Henry	Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Jack Warden, Dyan Cannon, Charles Grodin, James Mason, Buck Henry, Vincent Gardenia, R.G. Armstrong	Comedy, Fantasy	Here Comes Mr. Jordan remake; 9 Oscar nominations
Holocaust	Marvin J. Chomsky	Meryl Streep, Michael Moriarty, Rosemary Harris	Drama	TV miniseries for NBC; 4 Emmy awards
Hooper	Hal Needham	Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jan-Michael Vincent, Brian Keith, Robert Klein, James Best, Adam West	Action, comedy	Warner Bros.
Hot Lead and Cold Feet	Robert Butler	Don Knotts, Jim Dale, Darren McGavin, Karen Valentine	Western, Comedy	Disney
House Calls	Howard Zieff	Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Art Carney, Richard Benjamin, Candice Azzara	Comedy	Universal; became a 1979 TV series
I Spit on Your Grave	Meir Zarchi	Camille Keaton	Thriller
I Wanna Hold Your Hand	Robert Zemeckis	Nancy Allen, Bobby DiCicco, Marc McClure	Comedy	based on a song by The Beatles
Ice Castles	Donald Wrye	Lynn-Holly Johnson, Robby Benson	Drama	Columbia
Interiors	Woody Allen	Geraldine Page, Diane Keaton, Maureen Stapleton, Mary Beth Hurt, Richard Jordan, E. G. Marshall	Drama	United Artists; 5 Oscar nominations
International Velvet	Bryan Forbes	Tatum O'Neal, Christopher Plummer	Drama, Family	National Velvet sequel
Invasion of the Body Snatchers	Philip Kaufman	Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy	Science fiction	from Jack Finney book; remake of 1956 film
Jaws 2	Jeannot Szwarc	Roy Scheider, Murray Hamilton, Lorraine Gary	Thriller	Jaws sequel
Jennifer	Brice Mack	Lisa Pelikan, Nina Foch, Bert Convy	Horror
Killer of Sheep	Charles Burnett		Drama
King of the Gypsies	Frank Pierson	Eric Roberts, Brooke Shields, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Sterling Hayden	Drama	Paramount
Laserblast	Michael Rae	Kim Milford, Keenan Wynn	Science fiction
The Last Waltz	Martin Scorsese	The Band, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan	Documentary	United Artists
The Legacy	Richard Marquand	Katharine Ross, Sam Elliott, Roger Daltrey	Horror	Universal
Let Me Die a Woman	Doris Wishman	Harry Reems, Dr. Leo Wollman	Exploitation
The Lord of the Rings	Ralph Bakshi	Voices of John Hurt, Billy Barty	Fantasy, Animated	United Artists; from J. R. R. Tolkien book

M-S

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Magic	Richard Attenborough	Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith	Suspense	Fox; from William Goldman novel
The Magic of Lassie	Don Chaffey	James Stewart, Mickey Rooney, Pernell Roberts	Family
The Manitou	William Girdler	Tony Curtis, Ann Sothern, Susan Strasberg	Horror	Avco Embassy
Maraschino Cherry	Radley Metzger	Gloria Leonard, Annette Haven, Constance Money	Adult film
Mean Dog Blues	Mel Stuart	Gregg Henry, Kay Lenz, Scatman Crothers	Drama
The Medusa Touch	Jack Gold	Richard Burton, Lee Remick	Drama	ITC Entertainment
Midnight Express	Alan Parker	Brad Davis, John Hurt, Randy Quaid	Drama, Biography	from Billy Hayes book; 6 Oscar nominations
Moment by Moment	Jane Wagner	Lily Tomlin, John Travolta	Drama	Universal
Movie Movie	Stanley Donen	George C. Scott, Art Carney, Ann Reinking, Harry Hamlin, Trish Van Devere, Barry Bostwick, Red Buttons	Comedy, Musical	Double feature
National Lampoon's Animal House	John Landis	Tim Matheson, Tom Hulce, John Belushi, John Vernon, Peter Riegert, Karen Allen, Verna Bloom, Stephen Furst, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland	Comedy	Universal Pictures; first film for Riegert, Allen, Furst, Bacon
A Night Full of Rain	Lina Wertmüller	Giancarlo Giannini, Candice Bergen	Romance	U.S./Italy production
Oliver's Story	John Korty	Ryan O'Neal, Candice Bergen, Ray Milland	Romance	sequel to Love Story
Olly Olly Oxen Free	Richard Colla	Katharine Hepburn, Kevin McKenzie	Family
The One and Only	Carl Reiner	Henry Winkler, Kim Darby	Comedy	Paramount
Paradise Alley	Sylvester Stallone	Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Anne Archer	Drama	Universal
Piranha	Joe Dante	Bradford Dillman, Barbara Steele, Dick Miller	Horror	New World Pictures
Planet of Dinosaurs	James Shea	James Whitworth, Charlotte Speer	Sci-fi
Pretty Baby	Louis Malle	Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon, Keith Carradine	Drama	Paramount
Rabbit Test	Joan Rivers	Billy Crystal, Doris Roberts, Alex Rocco	Comedy	Avco Embassy; only film directed by Rivers
Remember My Name	Alan Rudolph	Geraldine Chaplin, Anthony Perkins, Moses Gunn	Thriller	Columbia
Renaldo and Clara	Bob Dylan	Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Harry Dean Stanton	Concert	nearly 4 hours
Return from Witch Mountain	John Hough	Christopher Lee, Bette Davis, Jack Soo	Family	Escape to Witch Mountain sequel
Revenge of the Pink Panther	Blake Edwards	Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Dyan Cannon	Comedy	Pink Panther sequel
Same Time, Next Year	Robert Mulligan	Alan Alda, Ellen Burstyn	Comedy	from Bernard Slade play
The Scenic Route	Mark Rappaport	Randy Danson, Marilyn Jones, Kevin Wade	Drama
Sextette	Ken Hughes	Mae West, Dom DeLuise, Tony Curtis	Comedy	West's final film
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Michael Schultz	Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees, George Burns	Musical	based on Beatles album
Silent Partner	Daryl Duke	Elliott Gould, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York	Crime drama	Carolco; Canada 1979 Best Picture
Slow Dancing in the Big City	John G. Avildsen	Paul Sorvino, Anne Ditchburn	Drama	United Artists
Somebody Killed Her Husband	Lamont Johnson	Farrah Fawcett, Jeff Bridges	Comedy	Columbia
Straight Time	Ulu Grosbard	Dustin Hoffman, Theresa Russell, Gary Busey	Crime drama	Warner Bros.
Superman	Richard Donner	Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perrine, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Susannah York, Jeff East	Superhero film	based on DC Comics character; 3 Oscar nominations
The Swarm	Irwin Allen	Michael Caine, Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland, Fred MacMurray, Richard Widmark, Katharine Ross, Bradford Dillman, Richard Chamberlain, Slim Pickens, Lee Grant	Disaster film	Warner Bros.; final film for MacMurray

T-Z

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Thank God It's Friday	Robert Klane	Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger, Donna Summer	Comedy	Columbia
The Toolbox Murders	Dennis Donnelly	Cameron Mitchell	Horror
Two Solitudes	Lionel Chetwynd	Stacy Keach, Jean-Pierre Aumont	Drama
Uncle Joe Shannon	Joseph Hanwright	Burt Young, Madge Sinclair	Drama	United Artists
An Unmarried Woman	Paul Mazursky	Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy	Drama	3 Oscar nominations
Up in Smoke	Lou Adler	Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Tom Skerritt	Comedy	Paramount
A Wedding	Robert Altman	Carol Burnett, Lillian Gish, Mia Farrow, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Lauren Hutton, Geraldine Chaplin, Vittorio Gassman, Howard Duff, Paul Dooley, Dina Merrill	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?	Ted Kotcheff	George Segal, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Morley	Comedy	Warner Bros.
Who'll Stop the Rain	Karel Reisz	Nick Nolte, Tuesday Weld, Michael Moriarty, Anthony Zerbe, Gail Strickland	Drama, Action	United Artists
The Wiz	Sidney Lumet	Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Lena Horne	Musical	inspired by The Wizard of Oz
Wolf Lake	Burt Kennedy	Rod Steiger, David Huffman, Robin Mattson	Thriller
Youngblood	Noel Nosseck	Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, T. K. Carter	Drama	AIP
Zero to Sixty	Don Weis	Darren McGavin, Sylvia Miles, Joan Collins	Comedy

See also

• List of American films of 1977
• List of American films of 1979

External links

• 1978 films at the Internet Movie Database