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
November 8 Sunday, November 8, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 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
5
Holidays
1988
Politics 38 years ago
U.S. Vice President George H. W. Bush is elected as the 41st president.
George H. W. Bush, serving as Vice President under Ronald Reagan, is elected as the 41st President of the United States.
History
What happened on November 8
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 960War
Battle of Andrassos: Byzantines under Leo Phokas the Younger score a crushing victory over the Hamdanid Emir of Aleppo, Sayf al-Dawla.
Leo Phokas the Younger leads Byzantine forces to a decisive victory against the Hamdanid Emir of Aleppo, Sayf al-Dawla.
- 1278Asian history
Trần Thánh Tông, the second emperor of the Trần dynasty, decides to pass the throne to his crown prince Trần Khâm and take up the post of Retired Emperor.
Trần Thánh Tông, second emperor of Vietnam's Trần dynasty, abdicates in favor of his crown prince Trần Khâm and assumes the title of Retired Emperor.
- 1291European history
The Republic of Venice enacts a law confining most of Venice's glassmaking industry to the "island of Murano".
Venice restricts most glassmaking activities to Murano Island to prevent fires and control secrets of glass production.
- 1519World history
Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with a great celebration.
Hernán Cortés is welcomed into Tenochtitlán by the Aztec ruler Moctezuma with a grand celebration.
- 1520Royalty
After being crowned king of Sweden, Christian II gave the order to execute nearly 100 people, mostly noblemen, despite promises of general amnesty.
Christian II ordered the execution of nearly 100 people, mostly noblemen, shortly after becoming king of Sweden.
- 1602UK history
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford is opened to the public.
The Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford opens its doors to the public.
- 1605UK history
Robert Catesby, ringleader of the Gunpowder Plotters, is killed.
Robert Catesby, leader of the Gunpowder Plot, is killed during a confrontation with troops.
- 1745UK history
Charles Edward Stuart invades England with an army of approximately 5,000 that would later participate in the Battle of Culloden.
Charles Edward Stuart leads an invasion of England with about 5,000 men, an army that would later fight at the Battle of Culloden.
- 1889US history
Montana is admitted as the 41st U.S. state.
Montana joins the Union as the 41st state.
- 1892Crime
The Carmaux-Bons Enfants bombing marks the start of Émile Henry's attacks into the Ère des attentats (1892-1894).
Anarchist Émile Henry bombs the offices of the Carmaux Mining Company, launching a wave of attacks that would define France's "Era of Attentats."
- 1988Politics
U.S. Vice President George H. W. Bush is elected as the 41st president.
George H. W. Bush, serving as Vice President under Ronald Reagan, is elected as the 41st President of the United States.
- 2011Science
The potentially hazardous asteroid 2005 YU55 passes 0.85 lunar distances from Earth (about 324,600 kilometres or 201,700 miles), the closest known approach by an asteroid of its brightness since 2010 XC15 in 1976.
Asteroid 2005 YU55 passes within 0.85 lunar distances from Earth, the closest known approach by an asteroid of its size since 1976.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 8
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 32
Lauren Alaina
American singer and songwriter
Lauren Alaina, runner-up on American Idol's tenth season and country singer known for hits like "Road Less Traveled," turns 31 today.
Born
1994
Turns 32
today
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
1622 – 1660
Christiaan Barnard
South African surgeon and academic
1922 – 2001
John Farrar
Australian-born music producer, songwriter, arranger, singer, and guitarist
b. 1945 · 81
Ken Lamberton
American author and educator
b. 1958 · 68
Masashi Kishimoto
Japanese author and illustrator, created Naruto
b. 1974 · 52
Bucky Covington
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1977 · 49
Music
The number one songs on November 8
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 8, 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 November 8, 1966
U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law an antitrust exemption allowing the National Football League to merge with the upstart American Football League.
Lyndon B. Johnson signs a law exempting the NFL and AFL merger from antitrust regulations.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 8, 1957
Operation Grapple X, Round C1: The United Kingdom conducts its first successful hydrogen bomb test over Kiritimati in the Pacific.
The United Kingdom successfully tests its first hydrogen bomb over Kiritimati in the Pacific.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Intersex Day of Remembrance (New South Wales, Australia)
International
Intersex Day of Remembrance, also known as Intersex Solidarity Day, is an internationally observed civil awareness day designed to highlight issues faced by intersex people
International Day of Radiology (European Society of Radiology)
International
The International Day of Radiology (IDoR) is an annual event promoting the role of medical imaging in modern healthcare
National Aboriginal Veterans Day (Canada)
International
National Indigenous Veterans Day is a memorial day observed in Canada in recognition of aboriginal contributions to military service, particularly in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War
World Urbanism Day
International
World Urbanism Day, also known as World Town Planning Day or World Urban Planning Day, is an international day, recognising the accomplishments of professional planners and their contributions to crea
Victory Day (Azerbaijan)
International
The Victory Day is a public holiday in Azerbaijan that is celebrated on 8 November, in commemoration of Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War