This was a response to poor morale in a nation suffering through economic recession, which generally increased theatrical visits as audiences sought escapism and ignored romantic films and depictions of blue-collar life. Industry professionals predicted comedy films and upbeat entertainment to dominate theaters in 1980. Allied Artists is sold to Lorimar Productions.November 19 – Heaven's Gate becomes one of the biggest box office bombs of all-time and its colossal failure bankrupts United Artists.June 20 – The Blues Brothers is released, and in addition to becoming one of the top-grossing films of the year, it also became the first feature film to be based on characters created on Saturday Night Live.Pryor ran down his street in Northridge, California, until subdued by police.

June 9 – Richard Pryor sets himself on fire while free-basing cocaine and drinking 151-proof rum.May 21 – The Empire Strikes Back is released and is the highest-grossing film of the year (just as its predecessor, Star Wars, was three years prior).April 29 – Sir Alfred Hitchcock, known as 'the Master of Suspense', dies at his home in Bel Air, California, at the age of 80.Note that this list is incomplete and is therefore not representative of the highest-grossing films worldwide in 1980. The following table lists known worldwide gross revenue figures for several high-grossing films that originally released in 1980. The top ten 1980 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: See also: List of 1980 box office number-one films in the United States

Faye's Sacrifice by Madeline Martin