Events

• January 11 - Production begins on the Star Wars sequel, Return of the Jedi.
• The THX Sound System is developed for use in movie theaters.
• Hugh Grant makes his film debut.

Top grossing films

North America

1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
2. Rocky III, starring Sylvester Stallone
3. On Golden Pond
4. Porky's
5. An Officer and a Gentleman
6. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
7. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
8. Poltergeist
9. Annie
10. Chariots of Fire

Academy Awards

• Best Picture: Gandhi - Indo-British Films, Columbia
• Best Actor: Ben Kingsley - Gandhi
• Best Actress: Meryl Streep - Sophie's Choice

Births

• March 11 - Thora Birch
• April 30 - Kirsten Dunst
• July 24 - Anna Paquin

Deaths

• March 5 - John Belushi, actor
• March 6 - Ayn Rand, writer
• June 18 - Curt Jurgens, Austrian actor
• November 21 - Lee Patrick, actress

Other movies released

• 48 Hrs. , starring Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte
• Blade Runner
• Christ Stopped at Eboli by Francesco Rossi
• Conan the Barbarian
• Das Boot
• Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
• Death Wish II
• Fanny and Alexander, directed by Ingmar Bergman
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
• Frances
• Friday the 13th, Part 3
• Gandhi
• Grease 2
• Halloween III: Season of the Witch
• Inchon! with Laurence Olivier
• Mad Max 2(a)
• Man From Snowy River (a)
• Megaforce directed by Hal Needham
• Missing, Palme d'Or winner
• Monkey Grip (a)
• My Favorite Year
• Quest for Fire
• The Road Warrior
• Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip
• The Secret of NIMH
• Sophie's Choice
• [[Starstruck] (a)
• The State of Things , Golden Lion winner, by director Wim Wenders
• Street Music , Sundance Grand Jury Prize
• Time Stands Still
• Tootsie, starring Dustin Hoffman
• Tron
• The Verdict
• Veronika Voss , Golden Bear winner
• Victor/Victoria
• Volver a Empezar Academy Award for Foreign language film
• The World According to Garp
• Yol , Palme d'Or winner