Well, kochilt, your remembrance of the summer of '79 made me dip into my old records to see what those months brought to me.  
Here are some high- and low-lights, all from theatrical viewings.

DAWN OF THE DEAD May 18
TOURIST TRAP May 18
ALIEN May 25
STARCRASH June 1
PHANTASM June 9
THE BROOD June 20
PROPHECY June 23
MOONRAKER June 29
NIGHTWING June 29
DRACULA  (Langella) July 13
AMITYVILLE HORROR August 2
UP FROM THE DEPTHS August 20

Some good stuff (DAWN OF THE DEAD, ALIEN, THE BROOD), some disappointing, and some just not very good.  A decent summer, but 
won't make anyone forget '82, for one.