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
March 3 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 3 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
8
Holidays
1873
US history 153 years ago
Censorship in the United States: The U.S. Congress enacts the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene literature and articles of immoral use" through the mail.
The U.S. Congress passes the Comstock Law, banning the mailing of obscene literature and articles deemed immoral.
History
What happened on March 3
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 473European history
Gundobad (nephew of Ricimer) nominates Glycerius as emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Gundobad nominates Glycerius as the new emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
- 724Royalty
Empress Genshō abdicates the throne in favor of her nephew Shōmu who becomes emperor of Japan.
Empress Genshō abdicates in favor of her nephew Shōmu, who then ascends to become the Emperor of Japan.
- 880Religion
Emperor Basil I ratifies the decrees of the Fourth Council of Constantinople, confirming the reinstatement of patriarch Photios I of Constantinople.
Emperor Basil I confirms the reinstatement of Patriarch Photios I through decrees ratified at the Fourth Council of Constantinople.
- 1575War
Mughal Emperor Akbar defeats Sultan of Bengal Daud Khan Karrani's army at the Battle of Tukaroi.
Akbar defeats Daud Khan Karrani's forces at the Battle of Tukaroi, expanding Mughal control in eastern India.
- 1585Culture
The Olympic Theatre, designed by Andrea Palladio, is inaugurated in Vicenza.
The Olympic Theatre, designed by Andrea Palladio, is inaugurated in Vicenza.
- 1776War
American Revolutionary War: The first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps begins the Battle of Nassau.
The United States Marine Corps conducts its first amphibious landing, attacking the British-held port of Nassau in the Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1795World history
The Fédon Rebellion breaks out in Grenada, the rebels seizing Grenville and later Gouyave.
Rebels led by Julien Fedon seize Grenville and later Gouyave, initiating a rebellion against British rule.
- 1845US history
Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.
Florida joins the United States as the 27th state.
- 1873US history
Censorship in the United States: The U.S. Congress enacts the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene literature and articles of immoral use" through the mail.
The U.S. Congress passes the Comstock Law, banning the mailing of obscene literature and articles deemed immoral.
- 1944Politics
The Order of Nakhimov and Order of Ushakov are instituted in USSR as the highest naval awards.
The Order of Nakhimov and Order of Ushakov are established as the Soviet Union's top naval honors.
- 1985Disaster
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake strikes the Valparaíso Region of Chile, killing 177 and leaving nearly a million people homeless.
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake devastates the Valparaíso Region of Chile, killing 177 and displacing nearly a million people.
- 2013Disaster
A bomb blast in Karachi, Pakistan, kills at least 48 people and injured 200 others in a predominantly Shia Muslim area.
A bombing in Karachi's predominantly Shia Muslim district leaves at least 48 dead and over 200 injured.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 3
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 75
Heizō Takenaka
Japanese economist and politician
Heizō Takenaka, Japanese economist who served as Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy and Financial Services under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, driving structural reforms including labor market deregulation, turns 74 today.
Born
1951
Turns 75
today
William Godwin
English journalist and author
1756 – 1836
Ragnar Frisch
Norwegian economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
1895 – 1973
Margaret Bonds
American pianist and composer
1913 – 1972
Nándor Hidegkuti
Hungarian footballer and manager
1922 – 2002
Raúl Alcalá
Mexican cyclist
b. 1964 · 62
Martin Procházka
Czech ice hockey player
b. 1972 · 54
Music
The number one songs on March 3
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 3, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport March 3, 2005
Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.
Steve Fossett completes the first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in an airplane without refueling.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 3, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Hinamatsuri or "Girl's Day" (Japan)
International
Hinamatsuri , also called Doll's Day or Girls' Day, is an annual festival in Japan, celebrated on 3 March of each year
Liberation and Freedom Day (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA)
International
Liberation and Freedom Day is a city holiday in Charlottesville, Virginia celebrated on March 3
Liberation Day (Bulgaria)
International
The Liberation Day, officially known as the Day of Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Oppression, is the national holiday of Bulgaria, celebrated every 3 March
Martyrs' Day (Malawi)
International
Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including the Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Myanmar, Panama and Tunisia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of ge
Mother's Day (Georgia)
International
Sportsmen's Day (Egypt)
International
Public holidays are celebrated by the entire population of Egypt