What is the number one movie of 1980?

The Blockbuster King of 1980: Star Trek Takes the Throne

While 1980 brought us iconic films like The Empire Strikes Back and 9 to 5, the box office crown for that year actually went to a different kind of space odyssey: Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Long before streaming and global midnight premieres, this film marked the return of the beloved Star Trek crew to the big screen after a long hiatus from the original TV series. Directed by Robert Wise, the movie brought back Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise team in a visually ambitious journey that emphasized spectacle and cosmic wonder over fast-paced action.

At a time when sci-fi was rapidly evolving thanks to hits like Star Wars, Star Trek: The Motion Picture leaned into a more contemplative, almost meditative tone. Its massive budget—unprecedented for a Trek project—was poured into groundbreaking visual effects, giving audiences sweeping shots of the Enterprise and the mysterious entity known as V'Ger. The film’s score by Jerry Goldsmith, introducing the theme that would become synonymous with later Star Trek series, added to its grandeur.

Though some fans found the pacing slow compared to the serialized energy of the original show, the public turned out in force. It earned over $82 million domestically, making it the highest-grossing film of 1980.

Interestingly, it beat out The Empire Strikes Back, which, despite its now-legendary status, finished slightly behind at the yearly box office. That’s a reminder that cultural staying power doesn’t always align with initial票房 rankings.

So while later Star Trek entries would bring more action and humor, the 1980 original motion picture stands as a bold, cerebral milestone—and the undeniable box office champion of its year.