| Title | Format | Opening | Sound | Studio | Notes |
| “Altered States” | Spherical (1.85:1) | Dec 25 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo (MegaSound) | Warner Bros. |  First of four 70mm releases from 1980/81 to feature MegaSound bass enhancement. Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. Sneak previewed in 70mm prior to release. 70mm trailers: ‘Outland’ and ‘Excalibur.’ |
| “The Blue Lagoon” | Spherical (1.85:1) | June 20 (USA) | 6-Track Stereo | Columbia |  World Premiere: June 19 (Los Angeles). Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. As with DP Nestor Almendros’ work on ‘Days Of Heaven,’ this was a magnificently shot film enhanced with 70mm prints.
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| Blues Brothers, The | Spherical (1.85:1) | Oct 10 (UK) | 6-Track Stereo | Universal |  35mm release: June 20. Some 35mm prints in 4-track mag stereo.
See: 70mm Film Presentations in London
|
“Can’t Stop the Music”
| Panavision | June 20 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | AFD |  |
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| Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Re-Issue) | Panavision | Aug 1 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Columbia |  This was the 132-min ‘Special Edition,’ and was the version initially made available to home video formats. This version included a newly-shot ending, footage unused in the 1977 edition, and different editing throughout the film. |
| “Divine Madness” | Panavision | Sept 25 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Ladd |  |
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| Electric Horseman, The | Panavision | Mar 13 (UK) | 6-Track Stereo | Universal/Columbia |  US 35mm release: Dec 21, 1979. |
"The Empire Strikes Back"
| Panavision | May 21 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | 20th Century Fox |  World Premiere: May 17 (Washington, DC). 136 70mm prints were struck for initial release (a record at the time.) Due to last-minute changes made to the film, the already prepared 70mm prints contain some different shots, dialogue & transitional wipes compared to the final 35mm prints. Expanded release June 27. 70mm re-issues in ‘81, ‘82, ‘83 and 35mm-digital in ‘97. AKA: “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.” |
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| “Fame” | Spherical (1.85:1) | May 16 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | MGM |  |
| “Heaven’s Gate” | Panavision | Nov 19 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | United Artists |  US reserved seat engagement (shortest in history!). Originally set to open in three cities (New York, Los Angeles, Toronto). LA engagement was cancelled. There was one screening in Toronto. The NY run lasted three days. Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. Premiere version ran 219 min. Cut to 149 for 1981 re-issue/general release.
Shown at KRRR! 2016
Shown at Widescreen Weekend 2001
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| “The Island” | Panavision | June 13 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Universal |  |
| “The Jazz Singer” | Spherical (1.85:1) | Dec 19 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo (SS) | AFD |  Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up.
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| “The Ninth Configuration” | Panavision | Feb 29 (USA) | 6-Track Stereo | Warner Bros. |  LA engagement not advertised in 70mm until third week of run. Re-edited into a ‘director’s cut’ & re-issued in Aug 1980 under the title “Twinkle, Twinkle, ‘Killer’ Kane.” Also see database entry for “Twinkle, Twinkle, ‘Killer’Kane.”
Shown at Widescreen Weekend 2003
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| “Raise the Titanic” | Technovision | Aug 1 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | AFD |  Technovision photography credit misspelled ‘Technivision’ in end credits. 70mm trailer: ‘The Jazz Singer.’
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| Saturn 3 | Spherical (1.85:1) | May 8 (UK) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | AFD |  Advertised in LA for one day only (Feb 10) & in NY for three days only (Feb 10, 15 & 17). Screened in 70mm in London beginning May 8.
See: 70mm Film Presentations in London
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| Shaan | NA | Dec 1980 (India) | 6-Track Stereo | NA | See: 70mm Films in India |
| Twinkle, Twinkle, ‘Killer’ Kane | Panavision | Aug 8 (USA) | 6-Track Stereo | UFD | This was a re-edited, re-issued version of “The Ninth Configuration.” Re-issued in yet another edition (in 35mm) in 1985. Which cut (and under which title) will eventually appear on DVD? Also see database entry for “The Ninth Configuration.”
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