The China Syndrome (1979)

The China Syndrome
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $35,708,042Details
International Box Office $119Details
Worldwide Box Office $35,708,161
OpusData ID: 15890100
Further financial details...

Metrics

Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $160,899,577

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,642 $35,708,042
All Time International Box Office (Rank 34,701-34,800) 34,776 $119
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,051 $35,708,161

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: March 16th, 1979 (Wide) by Columbia
International Releases: September 22nd, 2022 (Limited) (New Zealand)
March 6th, 2025 (Limited) (New Zealand)
Video Release: July 5th, 1995 by Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 122 minutes
Comparisons: Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Whistleblowers, Techno-Thriller, Corporate Malfeasance, Witness Tampering, Set in Los Angeles, Investigative Journalist
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,642 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,010 $160,899,577
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,085 $35,708,042
Top-grossing movies at the domestic box office first released in 1979 22 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,337 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,240 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,318 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 201-300) 226 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 601-700) 632 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Columbia Movies 11 $35,708,042

Weekend Box Office Performance

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
New Zealand 9/22/2022 $0 0 0 0 $119 3/31/2025
 
International Total$119 3/31/2025

International Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time International Box Office (Rank 34,701-34,800) 34,776 $119
All Time International Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 33,101-33,200) 33,137 $119
All Time International Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 21,101-21,200) 21,114 $119
All Time International Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 30,501-30,600) 30,501 $119
All Time International Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 18,301-18,400) 18,336 $119
All Time International Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,601 $119
All Time International Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,297 $119
All Time International Box Office for Columbia Movies 15 $119

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,051 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,294 $35,708,161
Top 1979 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 24 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,166 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,484 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,088 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 301-400) 373 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 701-800) 742 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Columbia Movies 11 $35,708,161

Leading Cast

Jane Fonda    Kimberley Wells
Jack Lemmon    Jack Godell
Michael Douglas    Richard Adams

Supporting Cast

Lewis Arquette    Hatcher
Wilford Brimley    Ted Spindler

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

James Bridges    Director
Mike Gray    Screenwriter
T. S. Cook    Screenwriter
James Bridges    Screenwriter

  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $160,899,577

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,642 $35,708,042
All Time International Box Office (Rank 34,701-34,800) 34,776 $119
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,051 $35,708,161

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: March 16th, 1979 (Wide) by Columbia
International Releases: September 22nd, 2022 (Limited) (New Zealand)
March 6th, 2025 (Limited) (New Zealand)
Video Release: July 5th, 1995 by Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 122 minutes
Comparisons: Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Whistleblowers, Techno-Thriller, Corporate Malfeasance, Witness Tampering, Set in Los Angeles, Investigative Journalist
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Leading Cast

Jane Fonda    Kimberley Wells
Jack Lemmon    Jack Godell
Michael Douglas    Richard Adams

Supporting Cast

Lewis Arquette    Hatcher
Wilford Brimley    Ted Spindler

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

James Bridges    Director
Mike Gray    Screenwriter
T. S. Cook    Screenwriter
James Bridges    Screenwriter

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,642 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,010 $160,899,577
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,085 $35,708,042
Top-grossing movies at the domestic box office first released in 1979 22 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,337 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,240 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,318 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 201-300) 226 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 601-700) 632 $35,708,042
All Time Domestic Box Office for Columbia Movies 11 $35,708,042

Weekend Box Office Performance

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
New Zealand 9/22/2022 $0 0 0 0 $119 3/31/2025
 
International Total$119 3/31/2025

International Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time International Box Office (Rank 34,701-34,800) 34,776 $119
All Time International Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 33,101-33,200) 33,137 $119
All Time International Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 21,101-21,200) 21,114 $119
All Time International Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 30,501-30,600) 30,501 $119
All Time International Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 18,301-18,400) 18,336 $119
All Time International Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 2,601-2,700) 2,601 $119
All Time International Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 1,201-1,300) 1,297 $119
All Time International Box Office for Columbia Movies 15 $119

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100) 4,051 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,294 $35,708,161
Top 1979 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 24 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,166 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,484 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,088 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies (Rank 301-400) 373 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 701-800) 742 $35,708,161
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Columbia Movies 11 $35,708,161