Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
January 8 Thursday, January 8, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 8 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
UK history 1155 years ago
Æthelred I and Alfred the Great lead a West Saxon army to repel an invasion by Danelaw Vikings.
Æthelred I and his brother Alfred the Great led a West Saxon army to victory against invading Danish forces at the Battle of Ashdown.
History
What happened on January 8
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 307World history
Sima Chi becomes emperor of the Jin dynasty in succession to his brother, Sima Zhong, despite a challenge from his other brother, Sima Ying.
Sima Chi succeeds his brother Sima Zhong as emperor of the Jin dynasty, overcoming a challenge from another brother, Sima Ying.
- 871UK history
Æthelred I and Alfred the Great lead a West Saxon army to repel an invasion by Danelaw Vikings.
Æthelred I and his brother Alfred the Great led a West Saxon army to victory against invading Danish forces at the Battle of Ashdown.
- 1297European history
François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, leads his men to capture the fortress protecting the Rock of Monaco, establishing his family as the rulers of Monaco.
François Grimaldi, disguised as a Franciscan monk, leads his men to seize the fortress atop the Rock of Monaco, establishing Grimaldi rule over the principality.
- 1454Religion
The papal bull Romanus Pontifex awards the Kingdom of Portugal exclusive trade and colonization rights to all of Africa south of Cape Bojador.
Pope Nicholas V issues the papal bull Romanus Pontifex, granting Portugal exclusive rights to trade and colonize lands south of Cape Bojador in Africa.
- 1499Royalty
Louis XII of France marries Anne of Brittany in accordance with a law set by his predecessor, Charles VIII.
Louis XII of France marries Anne of Brittany as required by a law established by Charles VIII.
- 1547Culture
The first Lithuanian-language book, the Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas, is published in Königsberg.
Martynas Mažvydas publishes the first Lithuanian-language book, a Catechism that marks the beginning of written literature in Lithuania.
- 1746UK history
Second Jacobite rising: Bonnie Prince Charlie occupies Stirling.
Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite forces occupy Stirling, securing a strategic Scottish stronghold during the Second Jacobite rising.
- 1790US history
George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address in New York City.
George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address to Congress in New York City.
- 1806UK history
The Dutch Cape Colony in southern Africa becomes the British Cape Colony as a result of the Battle of Blaauwberg.
The Dutch Cape Colony in southern Africa becomes the British Cape Colony following the Battle of Blaauwberg.
- 1867US history
The United States Congress passes the bill to allow African American men the right to vote in Washington, D.C.
Congress passes a bill granting African American men the right to vote in Washington, D.C.
- 1956World history
Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Waorani of Ecuador shortly after making first contact.
Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Waorani tribe in Ecuador following their initial encounter.
- 2021Crime
Twenty-three people are killed in what is described as a police ″massacre″ in La Vega, Caracas, Venezuela.
A police operation in La Vega, Caracas, results in the deaths of twenty-three people, described by some as a massacre.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 8
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 58
Bull Nakano
Japanese professional wrestler
Bull Nakano, the Japanese professional wrestler who became a dominant villain in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and later pursued a career in professional golf, turns 58 today.
Born
1968
Turns 58
today
Jan Pieterszoon Coen
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
1587 – 1629
Edmond-Charles Genêt
French-American translator and diplomat
1763 – 1834
Hans von Bülow
German pianist and composer
1830 – 1894
James Craig
1st Viscount Craigavon, Irish captain and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
1871 – 1940
Betsy DeVos
American businesswoman and politician, 11th Secretary of Education
b. 1958 · 68
Noah Cyrus
American singer, songwriter, and actress
b. 2000 · 26
Music
The number one songs on January 8
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Where Is My Husband!"— Raye
- 2025"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2024"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2023"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2022"Merry Christmas"— Ed Sheeran and Elton John
- 2021"Last Christmas"— Wham!
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 8, 1982
The San Francisco 49ers defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the NFC Championship Game
Dwight Clark's leaping touchdown catch in the end zone with 51 seconds remaining, known as "The Catch," propels San Francisco to their first Super Bowl. The play becomes one of the most iconic moments in NFL history.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 8, 1973
Soviet space mission Luna 21 is launched.
Luna 21 launches from Earth bound for the Moon, carrying the Lunakhod 2 rover.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Babinden (Belarus, Russia)
International
Babinden is a traditional Bulgarian feast, celebrated on 8 January, in honour of the women practicing midwifery
Commonwealth Day (Northern Mariana Islands)
International
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of the 14 northern isl
Earliest day on which Children's Day can fall, while January 14 is the latest; celebrated on the second Saturday in January. (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
Typing Day (International observance)
International
Typing Day is an annual event that falls on 8 January in Malaysia
❝
The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
— Martin Luther King Jr. · born January 8, 1929