The Blues Brothers (1980)

The Blues Brothers poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $57,229,890Details
International Box Office $15,389Details
Worldwide Box Office $57,245,279
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$4,858,152 (8.5% of total gross)
Legs:11.78 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$27,000,000 (worldwide box office is 2.1 times production budget)
Theater counts:594 opening theaters/594 max. theaters, 1.0 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $229,345,061

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes, iTunes
Netflix:Netflix, Netflix

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: June 20th, 1980 (Wide) by Universal
November 29th, 2020 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events, released as The Blues Brothers (1980)
International Releases: September 24th, 2020 (Limited) (New Zealand)
October 8th, 2020 (Special Engagement) (Australia)
April 11th, 2024 (Limited) (New Zealand)
Video Release: September 8th, 1998 by Universal Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 133 minutes
Franchise: Blues Brothers
Comparisons: vs. Insidious: The Red Door
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Life on the Outside, Car Chase, Neo Nazis, Saturday Night Live, Action Comedy, Fugitive / On the Run, Musicians, Monks and Nuns
Source:Based on TV
Genre:Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Universal Pictures
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jun 20, 1980 2 $4,858,152   594 $8,179   $4,858,152 1

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
Australia 10/8/2020 $2,327 1 2 9 $15,203 10/19/2022
New Zealand 9/24/2020 $0 0 1 1 $186 4/21/2024
 
International Total$15,389 4/21/2024

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records


Leading Cast

John Belushi Joliet Jake
Dan Aykroyd Elwood

Supporting Cast

James Brown Reverend Cleophus James
Cab Calloway Curtis
Ray Charles Ray
Carrie Fisher Mystery Woman
Aretha Franklin Soul Food Cafe Owner
Henry Gibson Head Nazi
Steve Cropper Steve "The Colonel" Cropper
Donald Dunn Donald "Duck" Dunn
Murphy Dunne Murph
Willie Hall Willie "Too Big" Hall
Tom Malone "Bones" Malone
Lou Marini "Blue" Lou Marini
Matt Murphy Matt "Guitar" Murphy
Alan Rubin Mr. Fabulous
John Candy Burton Mercer
John Lee Hooker Street Slim
Kathleen Freeman Sister Mary Stigmata
Steve Lawrence Maury Sline
Twiggy Chic Lady
Frank Oz Corrections Officer
Jeff Morris Bob
Charles Napier Tucker McElroy
Steve Williams Trooper Mount
Armand Cerami Trooper Daniel
Tom Erhart Prison Guard
Gerald Walling Prison Guard
Walter Levine Prison Guard
Alonzo Atkins Choirmaster
Stephen Bishop Charming Trooper
John Landis Trooper La Fong
Kristi Oleson Sales Girl
Gary McLarty Man in Toy Store
Joe Cuttone Lloyd
Shotgun Britton The Cheese Whiz
Toni Fleming Mrs. Tarantino
Judy Jacklin Cocktail Waitress
Rosie Schuster Cocktail Waitress
Paul Reubens Waiter
Ben Piazza Father
Gwen Banta Mother
Lari Taylor Daughter
Cindy Fisher Daughter
Elizabeth Hoy Daughter
Tony M. Conde Sommelier
Eugene J. Anthony Gruppenfuhrer
Dean Hill Nazi
Gary Houston Nazi
Jack Orend Nazi
Gene Schuldt Nazi
Charles Mountain Cop
Walter Horton Tampa Pete
Pinetop Perkins Luther Jackson
Willie Smith Drums
Luther Johnson Guitar
Calvin Jones Bass
Carolyn Franklin Soul Food Chorus Member
Brenda Bryant Corbett Soul Food Chorus Member
Margaret Branch Soul Food Chorus Member
Devoreaux White Young Guitar Thief
Sheila Wells Claire
Lou Perry Man at Bar
Stan Mazin Drunk Dancer
Russ Bruzek One of the Good Ole Boys
Blair Burrows One of the Good Ole Boys
Jack Callahan One of the Good Ole Boys
Gene Janson One of the Good Ole Boys
Gil Pearson One of the Good Ole Boys
Aaron Jais Orphan
Lemetrius Daniels Orphan
Jeff Cahill Orphan
Curt Clendenin Orphan
Steve Cruz Orphan
Leonard Daniels Orphan
Sean Hayden Orphan
Babtunde Myers Orphan
Gary Patzik Orphan
J. Bernard Walton Orphan
Butch Williams Orphan
Wally Engelhardt Gas Station Owner
Michael Klenfner Clarion Records' President
Ralph Foody Police Dispatcher
Lenny Garner Lobby Guard
Andrew Goodman Lobby Guard
Eddy Donno SWAT Team Commander
Shirley Levine Woman on Cutting Room Floor

Cameos

Chaka Khan Choir Soloist
Steven Spielberg Cook County Clerk
Joe Walsh Prisoner

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

Production and Technical Credits

John Landis Director
Robert K. Weiss Producer
Bernie Brillstein Executive Producer
Dan Aykroyd Screenwriter
John Landis Screenwriter
George Folsey, Jr. Associate Producer
David Sosna Associate Producer
David Sosna Assistant Director
Jerram A. Swartz Assistant Director
Robert Latham Brown Unit Production Manager
Tom Joyner Unit Production Manager
Fran Roy Production Supervisor
John J. Lloyd Production Designer
Henry Larrecq Art Director
Hal Gausman Set Decorator
Leslie McCarthy-Frankenheimer Set Decorator
Stephen M. Katz Director of Photography
Deborah Nadoolman Costume Designer
George Folsey, Jr. Editor
Malcolm Campbell Associate Editor
David Ramirez Associate Editor
William B. Kaplan Sound Mixer
Robert Knudson Re-recording Mixer
Don MacDougall Re-recording Mixer
Robert Glass Re-recording Mixer
John Stacy Sound Effects Editor
John Strauss Music Editor
Elmer Bernstein Composer
Ira Newborn Music Supervisor
Michael Chinich Casting Director
Gary McLarty Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for March 6th, 2012

March 6th, 2012

The number of big releases coming out this week can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The biggest theatrical release of the week is Immortals, but its reviews were weak enough that I think it might struggle on the home market in comparison. There are also a few catalog titles coming out on Blu-ray that are note-worthy, like To Catch a Thief. However, by far the biggest release, and the best, is Game of Thrones: Season One on DVD or Blu-ray, the latter of which is the Pick of the Week with To Catch a Thief not too far behind. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for August 16th, 2011

August 16th, 2011

It's a deceptively busy week, as there are several significant releases hitting the home market on Tuesday. However, most of these are wide releases that flopped, to one degree or another. In fact, one of the best selling releases of the week is Jane Eyre, an early success story in limited release. When a limited release could conceivably lead the way in sales... well, that's a sure sign of weakness in the overall market. As for the best release of the week, that would have to go to The Big Lebowski Limited Edition Blu-ray Digibook. The latest season of Dexter would come close, but while the show is great, the releases are not Pick of the Week material. More...

Featured Blu-ray review: Animal House and The Blues Brothers

August 11th, 2011

I'm combining the Blu-ray reviews for National Lampoon's Animal House and The Blues Brothers for a number reasons. They were originally released in theaters less than two years apart, came out on Blu-ray the same day, they are both being released by the same studio, and I previously reviewed The Blues Brothers, so that review will be rather short. Another similarity... they're both widely considered the best of their respective franchises, both of which have fallen on hard times. So, have the years been good to them? And are these Blu-ray releases worth picking up More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 26th, 2011

July 25th, 2011

Summer time at the box office is amazing. From the first weekend in May until sometime in August, there is usually an average of one $100 million dollar movie released per week. This year will have at least three months in a row with at least one $100 million film. On the home market, on the other hand, summer time is crappy. This year has been particularly tiresome, as the spring wasn't a fun time at the box office. The biggest release this week is Source Code, which was only a midlevel hit. To be fair, it is one of the best-reviewed wide releases of the year. On the other hand, neither the DVD nor the Blu-ray are exactly overloaded with extras. More...

DVD Review - The Blues Brothers - 25th Anniversary Edition

September 12th, 2005

Just over a week ago, Universal released a 25th Anniversary Edition of The Blues Brothers. This review will go into the movie itself and the DVD presentation, but like all Special Editions, the real question is, is it worth the update. More...

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

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$4,858,152 (8.5% of total gross)
Legs:11.78 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$27,000,000 (worldwide box office is 2.1 times production budget)
Theater counts:594 opening theaters/594 max. theaters, 1.0 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $229,345,061

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes, iTunes
Netflix:Netflix, Netflix

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: June 20th, 1980 (Wide) by Universal
November 29th, 2020 (Special Engagement) by Fathom Events, released as The Blues Brothers (1980)
International Releases: September 24th, 2020 (Limited) (New Zealand)
October 8th, 2020 (Special Engagement) (Australia)
April 11th, 2024 (Limited) (New Zealand)
Video Release: September 8th, 1998 by Universal Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 133 minutes
Franchise: Blues Brothers
Comparisons: vs. Insidious: The Red Door
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Life on the Outside, Car Chase, Neo Nazis, Saturday Night Live, Action Comedy, Fugitive / On the Run, Musicians, Monks and Nuns
Source:Based on TV
Genre:Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Universal Pictures
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Leading Cast

John Belushi Joliet Jake
Dan Aykroyd Elwood

Supporting Cast

James Brown Reverend Cleophus James
Cab Calloway Curtis
Ray Charles Ray
Carrie Fisher Mystery Woman
Aretha Franklin Soul Food Cafe Owner
Henry Gibson Head Nazi
Steve Cropper Steve "The Colonel" Cropper
Donald Dunn Donald "Duck" Dunn
Murphy Dunne Murph
Willie Hall Willie "Too Big" Hall
Tom Malone "Bones" Malone
Lou Marini "Blue" Lou Marini
Matt Murphy Matt "Guitar" Murphy
Alan Rubin Mr. Fabulous
John Candy Burton Mercer
John Lee Hooker Street Slim
Kathleen Freeman Sister Mary Stigmata
Steve Lawrence Maury Sline
Twiggy Chic Lady
Frank Oz Corrections Officer
Jeff Morris Bob
Charles Napier Tucker McElroy
Steve Williams Trooper Mount
Armand Cerami Trooper Daniel
Tom Erhart Prison Guard
Gerald Walling Prison Guard
Walter Levine Prison Guard
Alonzo Atkins Choirmaster
Stephen Bishop Charming Trooper
John Landis Trooper La Fong
Kristi Oleson Sales Girl
Gary McLarty Man in Toy Store
Joe Cuttone Lloyd
Shotgun Britton The Cheese Whiz
Toni Fleming Mrs. Tarantino
Judy Jacklin Cocktail Waitress
Rosie Schuster Cocktail Waitress
Paul Reubens Waiter
Ben Piazza Father
Gwen Banta Mother
Lari Taylor Daughter
Cindy Fisher Daughter
Elizabeth Hoy Daughter
Tony M. Conde Sommelier
Eugene J. Anthony Gruppenfuhrer
Dean Hill Nazi
Gary Houston Nazi
Jack Orend Nazi
Gene Schuldt Nazi
Charles Mountain Cop
Walter Horton Tampa Pete
Pinetop Perkins Luther Jackson
Willie Smith Drums
Luther Johnson Guitar
Calvin Jones Bass
Carolyn Franklin Soul Food Chorus Member
Brenda Bryant Corbett Soul Food Chorus Member
Margaret Branch Soul Food Chorus Member
Devoreaux White Young Guitar Thief
Sheila Wells Claire
Lou Perry Man at Bar
Stan Mazin Drunk Dancer
Russ Bruzek One of the Good Ole Boys
Blair Burrows One of the Good Ole Boys
Jack Callahan One of the Good Ole Boys
Gene Janson One of the Good Ole Boys
Gil Pearson One of the Good Ole Boys
Aaron Jais Orphan
Lemetrius Daniels Orphan
Jeff Cahill Orphan
Curt Clendenin Orphan
Steve Cruz Orphan
Leonard Daniels Orphan
Sean Hayden Orphan
Babtunde Myers Orphan
Gary Patzik Orphan
J. Bernard Walton Orphan
Butch Williams Orphan
Wally Engelhardt Gas Station Owner
Michael Klenfner Clarion Records' President
Ralph Foody Police Dispatcher
Lenny Garner Lobby Guard
Andrew Goodman Lobby Guard
Eddy Donno SWAT Team Commander
Shirley Levine Woman on Cutting Room Floor

Cameos

Chaka Khan Choir Soloist
Steven Spielberg Cook County Clerk
Joe Walsh Prisoner

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

Production and Technical Credits

John Landis Director
Robert K. Weiss Producer
Bernie Brillstein Executive Producer
Dan Aykroyd Screenwriter
John Landis Screenwriter
George Folsey, Jr. Associate Producer
David Sosna Associate Producer
David Sosna Assistant Director
Jerram A. Swartz Assistant Director
Robert Latham Brown Unit Production Manager
Tom Joyner Unit Production Manager
Fran Roy Production Supervisor
John J. Lloyd Production Designer
Henry Larrecq Art Director
Hal Gausman Set Decorator
Leslie McCarthy-Frankenheimer Set Decorator
Stephen M. Katz Director of Photography
Deborah Nadoolman Costume Designer
George Folsey, Jr. Editor
Malcolm Campbell Associate Editor
David Ramirez Associate Editor
William B. Kaplan Sound Mixer
Robert Knudson Re-recording Mixer
Don MacDougall Re-recording Mixer
Robert Glass Re-recording Mixer
John Stacy Sound Effects Editor
John Strauss Music Editor
Elmer Bernstein Composer
Ira Newborn Music Supervisor
Michael Chinich Casting Director
Gary McLarty Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for March 6th, 2012

March 6th, 2012

The number of big releases coming out this week can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The biggest theatrical release of the week is Immortals, but its reviews were weak enough that I think it might struggle on the home market in comparison. There are also a few catalog titles coming out on Blu-ray that are note-worthy, like To Catch a Thief. However, by far the biggest release, and the best, is Game of Thrones: Season One on DVD or Blu-ray, the latter of which is the Pick of the Week with To Catch a Thief not too far behind. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for August 16th, 2011

August 16th, 2011

It's a deceptively busy week, as there are several significant releases hitting the home market on Tuesday. However, most of these are wide releases that flopped, to one degree or another. In fact, one of the best selling releases of the week is Jane Eyre, an early success story in limited release. When a limited release could conceivably lead the way in sales... well, that's a sure sign of weakness in the overall market. As for the best release of the week, that would have to go to The Big Lebowski Limited Edition Blu-ray Digibook. The latest season of Dexter would come close, but while the show is great, the releases are not Pick of the Week material. More...

Featured Blu-ray review: Animal House and The Blues Brothers

August 11th, 2011

I'm combining the Blu-ray reviews for National Lampoon's Animal House and The Blues Brothers for a number reasons. They were originally released in theaters less than two years apart, came out on Blu-ray the same day, they are both being released by the same studio, and I previously reviewed The Blues Brothers, so that review will be rather short. Another similarity... they're both widely considered the best of their respective franchises, both of which have fallen on hard times. So, have the years been good to them? And are these Blu-ray releases worth picking up More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 26th, 2011

July 25th, 2011

Summer time at the box office is amazing. From the first weekend in May until sometime in August, there is usually an average of one $100 million dollar movie released per week. This year will have at least three months in a row with at least one $100 million film. On the home market, on the other hand, summer time is crappy. This year has been particularly tiresome, as the spring wasn't a fun time at the box office. The biggest release this week is Source Code, which was only a midlevel hit. To be fair, it is one of the best-reviewed wide releases of the year. On the other hand, neither the DVD nor the Blu-ray are exactly overloaded with extras. More...

DVD Review - The Blues Brothers - 25th Anniversary Edition

September 12th, 2005

Just over a week ago, Universal released a 25th Anniversary Edition of The Blues Brothers. This review will go into the movie itself and the DVD presentation, but like all Special Editions, the real question is, is it worth the update. More...

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jun 20, 1980 2 $4,858,152   594 $8,179   $4,858,152 1

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
Australia 10/8/2020 $2,327 1 2 9 $15,203 10/19/2022
New Zealand 9/24/2020 $0 0 1 1 $186 4/21/2024
 
International Total$15,389 4/21/2024

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records