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Comedy box office · 1973

Comedy Box Office 1973: Highest-Grossing Comedy Movies

The Sting (1973) is the highest-grossing comedy movie released in 1973, with $156M worldwide, ahead of American Graffiti (1973) at $115M and The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) at $22.6M. 13 comedy films released in 1973 report a worldwide gross, $313.5M in all, 92% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 16.2 times the total of 1972, whose releases took $19.3M. By language, English leads with $312M across 6 comedy releases.

1973 releases with a gross
13
combined worldwide
$313.5M
films crossed $100M
2
vs 1972
×16.2
The Sting (1973) movie poster #1 of 13
#1 comedy movie of 1973

The Sting (1973)

1973 · Drama, Comedy

$156M worldwide · 50% of the chart's total

$156M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Comedy Hits of 1973?

The Sting (1973) leads with $156M, 50% of the total. The top 5 together took $313.3M, almost all of what the 13 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Sting (1973) movie poster Number 1
    $156M The Sting (1973)
    $156M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. American Graffiti (1973) movie poster Number 2
    $115M American Graffiti (1973)
    $115M US & Canada · 100% $6.7K elsewhere · <1%
  3. The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) movie poster Number 3
    $22.6M The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. Sleeper (1973) movie poster Number 4
    $18.3M Sleeper (1973)
    $18.3M US & Canada · 100% $139 elsewhere · <1%
  5. Uuno Turhapuro (1973) movie poster Number 5
    $1.4M Uuno Turhapuro (1973)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Comedy Release of 1973, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1973.

  1. 1 The Sting (1973) movie poster
    The Sting (1973) Dec 25, 1973 · English · Drama, Comedy, Crime $156M worldwide
    Dec 25, 1973 US and Canada: $156M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $156M
  2. 2 American Graffiti (1973) movie poster
    American Graffiti (1973) Aug 11, 1973 · English · Drama, Comedy $115M worldwide
    Aug 11, 1973 US and Canada: $115M Rest of the world: $6.7K Worldwide: $115M
  3. 3 The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) movie poster
    The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) Feb 14, 1973 · English · Comedy, Family $22.6M worldwide
    Feb 14, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22.6M
  4. 4 Sleeper (1973) movie poster
    Sleeper (1973) Dec 17, 1973 · English · Sci-Fi, Comedy $18.3M worldwide
    Dec 17, 1973 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: $139 Worldwide: $18.3M
  5. 5 Uuno Turhapuro (1973) movie poster
    Uuno Turhapuro (1973) Aug 24, 1973 · Finnish · Comedy $1.4M worldwide
    Aug 24, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M
  6. 6 Amarcord (1973) movie poster
    Amarcord (1973) Dec 18, 1973 · Italian · Drama, Comedy $195.8K worldwide
    Dec 18, 1973 US and Canada: $125.5K Rest of the world: $70.3K Worldwide: $195.8K
  7. 7 The Long Goodbye (1973) movie poster
    The Long Goodbye (1973) Mar 7, 1973 · English · Drama, Mystery, Thriller $24.2K worldwide
    Mar 7, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.2K
  8. 8 Indian Summer (1973) movie poster
    Indian Summer (1973) Jun 22, 1973 · Bulgarian · Comedy $3.7K worldwide
    Jun 22, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K
  9. 9 Love and Anarchy (1973) movie poster
    Love and Anarchy (1973) Feb 23, 1973 · Italian · Drama, Comedy, Romance $965 worldwide
    Feb 23, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $965
  10. 10 Paper Moon (1973) movie poster
    Paper Moon (1973) May 9, 1973 · Drama, Comedy, Crime $591 worldwide
    May 9, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $591
  11. 11 Day for Night (1973) movie poster
    Day for Night (1973) May 15, 1973 · French · Comedy, Drama $509 worldwide
    May 15, 1973 US and Canada: $509 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $509
  12. 12 Bawdy Tales (1973) movie poster
    Bawdy Tales (1973) Oct 12, 1973 · Italian · Comedy $483 worldwide
    Oct 12, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $483
  13. 13 O Lucky Man! (1973) movie poster
    O Lucky Man! (1973) Mar 25, 1973 · English · Music, Fantasy, Comedy $332 worldwide
    Mar 25, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $332
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1973?

Of the top 10, The Sting (1973) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Amarcord (1973) made 36% of its gross abroad. Across all 13 films, $289.5M (92%) came from the US & Canada. 6 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 The Sting (1973) $156M
    $156M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  2. 2 American Graffiti (1973) $115M
    $115M US & Canada · 100% $6.7K elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) $22.6M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. 4 Sleeper (1973) $18.3M
    $18.3M US & Canada · 100% $139 elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 Uuno Turhapuro (1973) $1.4M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 Amarcord (1973) $195.8K
    $125.5K US & Canada · 64% $70.3K elsewhere · 36%
  7. 7 The Long Goodbye (1973) $24.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 Indian Summer (1973) $3.7K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 Love and Anarchy (1973) $965
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Paper Moon (1973) $591
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1973 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 13 films crossed $100M and took $271M between them, 86% of the total. 9 films, 69% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $100M to $500M 2 films, 15% of the list $271M · 86% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 2 films, 15% of the list $40.9M · 13% of the gross
  • Under $10M 9 films, 69% of the list $1.6M · <1% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1973 Earned the Most?

December releases took the most, $174.5M from 3 films, led by The Sting (1973). October was the quietest month ($483). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) $22.6M The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
  3. March Mar The Long Goodbye (1973) $24.5K The Long Goodbye (1973)
  4. April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  5. May May Paper Moon (1973) $1.1K Paper Moon (1973)
  6. June Jun Indian Summer (1973) $3.7K Indian Summer (1973)
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug American Graffiti (1973) $116.4M American Graffiti (1973)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct Bawdy Tales (1973) $483 Bawdy Tales (1973)
  11. November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  12. December Dec The Sting (1973) $174.5M The Sting (1973)
Last 10 years

How Does 1973 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $313.5M from 13 films, led by The Sting (1973).

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1964 14 films 14 $143.3M – Mary Poppins (1964) $103.1M
1965 6 films · −100% 6 $364.7K −100% Do Not Disturb (1965) $315.7K
1966 11 films · −51% 11 $177.9K −51% Made in U.S.A (1966) $95.3K
1967 12 films · +91002% 12 $162.1M +91002% The Graduate (1967) $105M
1968 9 films · −39% 9 $98.4M −39% Funny Girl (1968) $52.2M
1969 8 films · −33% 8 $66.3M −33% The Love Bug (1969) $51.3M
1970 11 films · +216% 11 $209.7M +216% The Aristocats (1970) $191M
1971 8 films · −95% 8 $10.7M −95% Gentlemen of Fortune (1971) $10.6M
1972 11 films · +80% 11 $19.3M +80% Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) $18.1M
1973 13 films · +1521% 13 $313.5M +1521% The Sting (1973) $156M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Comedy Movies Speak in 1973?

English-language comedy films took $312M across 6 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Finnish-language comedy films ($1.4M) and Italian-language comedy films ($197.3K).

1973 Comedy Box Office by Language

  1. English $312M
    6 films · #1 The Sting (1973)
  2. Finnish $1.4M
    1 film · #1 Uuno Turhapuro (1973)
  3. Italian $197.3K
    3 films · #1 Amarcord (1973)
  4. Bulgarian $3.7K
    1 film · #1 Indian Summer (1973)
  5. French $509
    1 film · #1 Day for Night (1973)
Archive

Comedy Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1921 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $16.1B, led by The Lion King (2019).

2020s 7 years · $40.8B
2010s 10 years · $118B
2000s 10 years · $79.4B
1990s 10 years · $33.7B
1980s 10 years · $17.5B
1970s 10 years · $3.2B
1960s 10 years · $554.7M
1950s 10 years · $162M
1940s 10 years · $188M
1930s 10 years · $31.5M
1920s 7 years · $132.6K
FAQ

Comedy Box Office 1973: Questions & Answers

The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 13 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing comedy movie in 1973?

The Sting (1973) leads with $156M worldwide, $156M of it in the US & Canada. Next come American Graffiti (1973) at $115M and The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) at $22.6M.

How much did comedy movies released in 1973 earn?

13 comedy films released in 1973 report a worldwide gross, $313.5M in all, or $24.1M per film on average. 1972 releases took $19.3M.

How many comedy movies released in 1973 made $1 billion?

None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by The Sting (1973) with $156M.

How much of the 1973 Comedy box office came from the US and Canada?

$289.5M of the $313.5M total, or 92%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 8 films of the 13 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1973 comedy box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?

Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 1973. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.

How often is the 1973 comedy box office chart updated?

Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.