List of American films of 1979

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A list of American films released in 1979.

Kramer vs. Kramer won the Academy Award for Best Picture and was the highest-grossing film of 1979.

A

Title	Director	Cast	Genre/Note
10	Blake Edwards	Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews, Bo Derek, Robert Webber, Brian Dennehy, Dee Wallace	Comedy	6 Golden Globe nominations
1941	Steven Spielberg	John Belushi, Ned Beatty, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Toshirō Mifune, Robert Stack, Warren Oates, Tim Matheson, Nancy Allen, Treat Williams, Slim Pickens	Comedy	3 Academy Award nominations
Agatha	Michael Apted	Dustin Hoffman, Vanessa Redgrave	Drama
Alien	Ridley Scott	Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto	Sci-fi, Horror	Oscar for Visual Effects; 2 sequels
The Alien Encounters	James T. Flocker	Bonnie Henry	Science fiction
All That Jazz	Bob Fosse	Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen	Drama, Musical	won 4 Oscars
An Almost Perfect Affair	Michael Ritchie	Monica Vitti, Keith Carradine	Romance, Drama
Americathon	Neal Israel	John Ritter, Harvey Korman, Fred Willard	Comedy	United Artists
The Amityville Horror	Stuart Rosenberg	James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger	Horror	1st of series
...And Justice for All	Norman Jewison	Al Pacino, John Forsythe, Christine Lahti, Jack Warden	Drama, Comedy	2 Oscar nominations
Angels' Brigade	Greydon Clark	Sylvia Anderson, Peter Lawford, Jim Backus, Jack Palance	Action
Apocalypse Now	Francis Ford Coppola	Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, Albert Hall	Drama, War	8 Oscar nominations; winner of Palme d'Or
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again	Vincent McEveety	Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Tim Matheson	Family	Disney, sequel
Ashanti	Richard Fleischer	Michael Caine, Peter Ustinov, Beverly Johnson	Adventure	Warner Bros.
Avalanche Express	Mark Robson	Lee Marvin, Robert Shaw, Joe Namath	Thriller, Action	final film of Robson, Shaw

B-G

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Baby Snakes	Frank Zappa	Frank Zappa, Dale Bozzio	Concert
Being There	Hal Ashby	Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Richard Basehart, Richard A. Dysart, Jack Warden	Comedy	based on Jerzy Kosinski novel; Oscar for Douglas; Golden Globe for Sellers
The Bell Jar	Larry Peerce	Marilyn Hassett, Julie Harris, Jameson Parker	Drama	based on a book by Sylvia Plath
Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens	Russ Meyer	Ken Kerr, Kitten Natividad, Uschi Digard	Comedy
Best Boy	Ira Wohl	Philip Wohl, Zero Mostel	Documentary	Oscar Best Documentary
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure	Irwin Allen	Michael Caine, Sally Field, Telly Savalas, Shirley Jones, Karl Malden, Mark Harmon	Action	The Poseidon Adventure sequel
Birth of The Beatles	Richard Marquand	Stephen MacKenna, Rod Culbertson	Biography
The Black Hole	Gary Nelson	Ernest Borgnine, Anthony Perkins, Yvette Mimieux, Maximilian Schell	Science fiction	Disney
The Black Stallion	Carroll Ballard	Teri Garr, Mickey Rooney, Kelly Reno, Hoyt Axton	Family	2 Oscar nominations
Bloodline	Terence Young	Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, James Mason	Drama	from Sidney Sheldon novel
Boardwalk	Stephen Verona	Ruth Gordon, Lee Strasberg, Janet Leigh	Drama
Breaking Away	Peter Yates	Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, Paul Dooley, Barbara Barrie	Drama, Comedy	5 Oscar nominations; Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy
The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie	Phil Monroe, Chuck Jones	Voices of Mel Blanc	Animated
Butch and Sundance: The Early Days	Richard Lester	Tom Berenger, William Katt	Western	prequel
C.H.O.M.P.S.	Don Chaffey	Wesley Eure, Valerie Bertinelli	Family	AIP
California Dreaming	John D. Hancock	Glynnis O'Connor, Dennis Christopher, Seymour Cassel	Drama	A.I.P.
Caligula	Tinto Brass	Malcolm McDowell, John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, Helen Mirren	Historical, Erotic	produced by Penthouse magazine
The Cat and the Canary	Radley Metzger	Olivia Hussey, Honor Blackman	Mystery	remake of 1927 film
The Champ	Franco Zeffirelli	Jon Voight, Rick Schroder, Faye Dunaway	Drama	remake of 1931 film
Chapter Two	Robert Moore	James Caan, Marsha Mason, Joseph Bologna, Valerie Harper	Comedy, Drama	based on Neil Simon play
Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend	Jeff Werner	Kristine DeBell	Action
The Children of Sanchez	Hall Bartlett	Anthony Quinn, Dolores del Río, Katy Jurado	Drama	from Oscar Lewis book; Del Río's last film
The China Syndrome	James Bridges	Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas	Thriller	4 Academy Award nominations
City on Fire	Alvin Rakoff	Susan Clark, Barry Newman, Ava Gardner	Disaster film	Embassy
The Concorde ... Airport '79	David Lowell Rich	George Kennedy, Alain Delon, Charo, Robert Wagner, Susan Blakely	Drama, Thriller	3rd sequel to Airport
Cuba	Richard Lester	Sean Connery, Brooke Adams, Chris Sarandon, Jack Weston	Drama	United Artists
The Disco Godfather	J. Robert Wagoner	Rudy Ray Moore, Carol Speed	Action, Comedy
Dracula	John Badham	Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier	Horror	based on Bram Stoker novel
Dreamer	Noel Nosseck	Tim Matheson, Jack Warden, Susan Blakely	Drama, Sports	Magnetic Video
The Driller Killer	Abel Ferrara	Abel Ferrara, Carolyn Marz	Horror
The Electric Horseman	Sydney Pollack	Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Willie Nelson	Romantic comedy	with 5 songs by Nelson
Escape from Alcatraz	Don Siegel	Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Fred Ward	Drama	Paramount
The Europeans	James Ivory	Lee Remick, Lisa Eichhorn	Drama	based on Henry James novel
Fast Break	Jack Smight	Gabe Kaplan, Harold Sylvester	Comedy, Sports	Columbia
The Fifth Floor	Howard Avedis	Sharon Farrell, Bo Hopkins	Horror
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh	Gilbert Moses	Jonathan Winters, Julius Erving, Flip Wilson	Comedy, Sports	Lorimar
Five Days from Home	George Peppard	George Peppard	Drama	Universal
A Force of One	Paul Aaron	Chuck Norris, Jennifer O'Neill, Clu Gulager	Action	ACR
French Postcards	Willard Huyck	Miles Chapin, Blanche Baker, Debra Winger	Comedy, Drama	Paramount
The Frisco Kid	Robert Aldrich	Gene Wilder, Harrison Ford	Western, Comedy	Warner Bros.
Gal Young 'Un	Victor Nuñez	Dana Preu, David Peck	Drama
The Glove	Ross Hagen	John Saxon, Joanna Cassidy, Roosevelt Grier, Joan Blondell	Action	Troma Entertainment
Going in Style	Martin Brest	George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg	Comedy, Drama	Brest's first film
Goldengirl	Joseph Sargent	Susan Anton, Leslie Caron, James Coburn	Drama, Sports	Embassy
The Great Santini	Lewis Carlino	Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe, Stan Shaw	Drama	from Pat Conroy novel; 2 Oscar nominations

H-M

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Hair	Miloš Forman	Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo, John Savage	Musical	United Artists; based on the stage musical
Hanover Street	Peter Hyams	Harrison Ford, Lesley-Anne Down, Christopher Plummer	Drama	Columbia
Hardcore	Paul Schrader	George C. Scott, Season Hubley, Peter Boyle	Drama	Columbia
Head Over Heels	Joan Micklin Silver	Mary Beth Hurt, John Heard	Drama	based on Ann Beattie novel
Heartland	Richard Pearce	Conchata Ferrell, Rip Torn	Drama	Golden Bear winner
Hot Stuff	Dom DeLuise	Dom DeLuise, Suzanne Pleshette, Jerry Reed	Comedy	Columbia
Human Experiments	Gregory Goodell	Aldo Ray, Linda Haynes, Geoffrey Lewis	Drama
Hurricane	Jan Troell	Mia Farrow, Jason Robards, Max von Sydow	Adventure	based on 1937 film
The In-Laws	Arthur Hiller	Peter Falk, Alan Arkin	Comedy	remade in 2003
The Jerk	Carl Reiner	Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters	Comedy	Martin's first starring role
Jesus	Peter Sykes, John Krish	Brian Deacon, Eli Cohen	Drama, Family
Just You and Me, Kid	Leonard B. Stern	George Burns, Brooke Shields	Comedy	Columbia
Kramer vs. Kramer	Robert Benton	Dustin Hoffman, Justin Henry, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, JoBeth Williams, Howard Duff	Drama	won 5 Oscars; based on a novel by Avery Corman
The Lady Vanishes	Anthony Page	Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd	Mystery	remake of 1938 film
Last Embrace	Jonathan Demme	Roy Scheider, Janet Margolin	Suspense	United Artists
A Little Romance	George Roy Hill	Laurence Olivier, Sally Kellerman, Diane Lane	Comedy	Lane's first film
Lost and Found	Melvin Frank	Glenda Jackson, George Segal	Comedy	Columbia
Love and Bullets	Stuart Rosenberg	Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland	Crime	ITC
Love At First Bite	Stan Dragoti	George Hamilton, Susan Saint James	Comedy	spoof of Dracula
The Main Event	Howard Zieff	Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal	Comedy	Warner Bros.
The Magician of Lublin	Menahem Golan	Alan Arkin, Valerie Perrine	Drama	Cannon Films
Manhattan	Woody Allen	Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep	Comedy, Drama	2 Oscar nominations
Meteor	Ronald Neame	Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden	Disaster film, Sci-Fi	AIP
More American Graffiti	Bill L. Norton	Ron Howard, Candy Clark, Paul LeMat	Comedy, Drama	American Graffiti sequel
Mr. Mike's Mondo Video	Michael O'Donoghue	Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Teri Garr	Comedy
The Muppet Movie	James Frawley	James Coburn, Mel Brooks, Orson Welles	Comedy, Family	based on characters of Jim Henson
Murder by Decree	Bob Clark	James Mason, Christopher Plummer	Mystery	Sherlock Holmes

N-S

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square	Ralph Thomas	David Niven, Elke Sommer, Richard Jordan	Crime comedy	Thomas's final film
Nightwing	Arthur Hiller	Nick Mancuso, David Warner, Kathryn Harrold	Horror	Columbia
Norma Rae	Martin Ritt	Sally Field, Ron Leibman, Beau Bridges	Drama	Oscar for Field; 8 nominations
The North Avenue Irregulars	Bruce Bilson	Edward Herrmann, Cloris Leachman, Susan Clark, Karen Valentine	Comedy, Family	Disney
North Dallas Forty	Ted Kotcheff	Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, G. D. Spradlin, Charles Durning, Dabney Coleman, Dayle Haddon	Drama, Sports	based on Peter Gent novel
The Onion Field	Harold Becker	James Woods, John Savage, Ted Danson	Crime drama	based on Joseph Wambaugh book
Over the Edge	Jonathan Kaplan	Matt Dillon, Vincent Spano	Drama	Dillon's 1st film
Parts: The Clonus Horror	Robert S. Fiveson	Peter Graves, Keenan Wynn	Sci-fi
Penitentiary	Jamaa Fanaka	Leon Issac Kennedy, Badja Djola	Action	followed by two sequels
A Perfect Couple	Robert Altman	Paul Dooley, Marta Heflin, Henry Gibson	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Phantasm	Don Coscarelli	Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm	Horror
The Prisoner of Zenda	Richard Quine	Peter Sellers, Elke Sommer, Lionel Jeffries	Comedy	based on Anthony Hope novel
The Prize Fighter	Michael Preece	Don Knotts, Tim Conway	Comedy	New World Pictures
The Promise	Gilbert Cates	Kathleen Quinlan, Stephen Collins	Drama	Universal
Promises in the Dark	Jerome Hellman	Marsha Mason, Ned Beatty	Drama	Orion
Prophecy	John Frankenheimer	Robert Foxworth, Talia Shire, Armand Assante	Horror	Paramount
The Punk Rock Movie	Don Letts	John Lydon, Joe Strummer, Siouxsie Sioux	Documentary
Quintet	Robert Altman	Paul Newman, Fernando Rey	Drama	20th Century Fox
Real Life	Albert Brooks	Albert Brooks, Charles Grodin	Comedy	Brooks' 1st film; spoof of An American Family
Rich Kids	Robert M. Young	Trini Alvarado, Jeremy Levy, John Lithgow	Comedy	United Artists
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert	Jeff Margolis	Richard Pryor	Comedy	Concert film
Rock 'n' Roll High School	Allan Arkush	P. J. Soles, Mary Woronov, Ramones	Comedy	New World
Rocky II	Sylvester Stallone	Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young	Drama	sequel to Oscar-winning Rocky
Roller Boogie	Mark L. Lester	Linda Blair, Jim Bray, Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard	Drama	Compass
The Rose	Mark Rydell	Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest	Drama	20th Century Fox; 4 Oscar nominations
Saint Jack	Peter Bogdanovich	Ben Gazzara, Denholm Elliott	Drama	from Paul Theroux novel
Scavenger Hunt	Michael Schultz	Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Tony Randall	Comedy	also stars Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Seduction of Joe Tynan	Jerry Schatzberg	Alan Alda, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Barbara Harris, Melvyn Douglas	Drama	Universal; written by Alda
Skatetown, U.S.A.	William A. Levey	Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Patrick Swayze	Comedy	Columbia
Star Trek: The Motion Picture	Robert Wise	William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Persis Khambatta, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei	Science fiction	first film based on the TV series
Starting Over	Alan J. Pakula	Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, Candice Bergen	Romantic Comedy	2 Oscar nominations
Sunburn	Richard C. Sarafian	Farrah Fawcett, Art Carney, Charles Grodin	Action

T-Z

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Take Down	Kieth Merrill	Lorenzo Lamas, Edward Herrmann, Kathleen Lloyd	Drama, Sports	Buena Vista
The Tale of Tiffany Lust	Radley Metzger	Candida Royalle, Desiree Cousteau, Dominique Saint Claire, George Payne, Ron Jeremy, Samantha Fox, Vanessa del Rio, Veronica Hart	Adult film	VCA Pictures
Tilt	Rudy Durand	Brooke Shields, Charles Durning	Drama	Warner Bros.
Time After Time	Nicholas Meyer	Malcolm McDowell, David Warner, Mary Steenburgen	Sci-fi drama	won 3 Saturn Awards
Tourist Trap	David Schmoeller	Chuck Connors, Jocelyn Jones, Tanya Roberts	Horror	Compass
The Villain	Hal Needham	Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, Arnold Schwarzenegger	Western, Comedy	Columbia
The Visitor	Giulio Paradisi	Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters, Steve Somers	Horror	Italy/U.S.
Wanda Nevada	Peter Fonda	Peter Fonda, Brooke Shields	Western	United Artists
The Wanderers	Philip Kaufman	Ken Wahl, Karen Allen, Val Avery	Drama	based on Richard Price novel
The War at Home	Glenn Silber	Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allen Ginsberg	Documentary
The Warriors	Walter Hill	James Remar, Michael Beck, David Patrick Kelly, Dorsey Wright, Lynne Thigpen	Action	based on Sol Yurick novel
When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?	Milton Katselas	Marjoe Gortner, Candy Clark	Drama	based on Mark Medoff play
When a Stranger Calls	Fred Walton	Carol Kane, Charles Durning	Thriller	Columbia
Winter Kills	William Richert	Jeff Bridges, Anthony Perkins, Sterling Hayden, Eli Wallach, Richard Boone	Drama	based on Richard Condon novel
Wise Blood	John Huston	Brad Dourif, John Huston, Ned Beatty	Drama	based on Flannery O'Connor novel
Wolfman	Worth Keeter, Earl Owensby	Earl Owensby, Ed Grady	Horror
Yanks	John Schlesinger	Richard Gere, Vanessa Redgrave, Lisa Eichhorn	Drama, War	Universal

See also

• List of American films of 1978
• List of American films of 1980

External links

• 1979 films at the Internet Movie Database