#1 of 29 #1 drama movie of 1972
1972 · Drama, Thriller
$250.3M worldwide · 74% of the chart's total
$136.4M US & Canada · 54% $114M elsewhere · 46%
Drama box office · 1972
Drama Box Office 1972: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Godfather (1972) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1972, with $250.3M worldwide, ahead of The Poseidon Adventure (1972) at $84.6M and Bombay to Goa (1972) at $886.7K. 29 drama films released in 1972 report a worldwide gross, $337M in all, 66% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 153% on 1971, whose releases took $133.4M. By language, English leads with $335.1M across 8 drama releases.
- 1972 releases with a gross
- 29
- combined worldwide
- $337M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1971
- +153%
#1 of 29 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1972?
The Godfather (1972) leads with $250.3M, 74% of the total. The top 5 together took $336.4M, almost all of what the 29 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Drama Release of 1972, 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 1972.
- 1 Mar 24, 1972 US and Canada: $136.4M Rest of the world: $114M Worldwide: $250.3M
- 2 Dec 13, 1972 US and Canada: $84.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.6M
- 3 Mar 3, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $886.7K
- 4 Jul 15, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $356.5K
- 5 Feb 5, 1972 US and Canada: $22.2K Rest of the world: $208.8K Worldwide: $231K
- 6
Dec 8, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $201.2K - 7
Mar 22, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $102K - 8
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)Dec 20, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $84.8K
Dec 20, 1972 · English · Drama $84.8K worldwide - 9
Feb 13, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $83.3K - 10
Dec 29, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.8K - 11
Dec 21, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.1K - 12
Jan 7, 1972 US and Canada: $31.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.4K - 13
Nov 26, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.4K - 14
Oct 19, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.9K - 15
May 3, 1972 US and Canada: $14.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1K - 16
Mar 10, 1972 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $264 Worldwide: $8.4K - 17
Jun 14, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4K - 18
Jul 21, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.6K - 19
Oct 18, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K - 20
Sep 1, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K - 21
Mar 17, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8K - 22
May 1, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4K - 23
1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 24
Mar 10, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 25
Mar 9, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $807 - 26
Mar 11, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $585 - 27
Jan 10, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $309 - 28
Jan 10, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $295 - 29
Sep 30, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $263
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1972?
Of the top 10, The Poseidon Adventure (1972) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Solaris (1972) made 90% of its gross abroad. Across all 29 films, $221M (66%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Godfather (1972) $250.3M $136.4M US & Canada · 54% $114M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.6M $84.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Bombay to Goa (1972) $886.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 The Master and Margarita (1972) $356.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Solaris (1972) $231K $22.2K US & Canada · 10% $208.8K elsewhere · 90%
- 6 Victoria No. 203 (1972) $201.2K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Jesus Christ Superstar (1972) $102K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972) $84.8K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Cabaret (1972) $83.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) $37.8K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1972 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 29 films crossed $100M and took $250.3M between them, 74% of the total. 27 films, 93% of the list, earned under $10M.
74% 25%
- $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 1 film, 3% of the list $250.3M · 74% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 1 film, 3% of the list $84.6M · 25% of the gross
- Under $10M 27 films, 93% of the list $2.1M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1972 Earned the Most?
March releases took the most, $251.3M from 8 films, led by The Godfather (1972). September was the quietest month ($3.8K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Dushman (1972) $33.4K Dushman (1972)
- February Feb Solaris (1972) $314.3K Solaris (1972)
- March Mar The Godfather (1972) $251.3M The Godfather (1972)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May We Won’t Grow Old Together (1972) $16.5K We Won’t Grow Old Together (1972)
- June Jun Boxcar Bertha (1972) $6.4K Boxcar Bertha (1972)
- July Jul The Master and Margarita (1972) $361.1K The Master and Margarita (1972)
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Love in the Afternoon (1972) $3.8K Love in the Afternoon (1972)
- October Oct Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) $20.6K Slap the Monster on Page One (1972)
- November Nov Chinese Glory (1972) $17.4K Chinese Glory (1972)
- December Dec The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.9M The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Last 10 years
How Does 1972 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1972 earned the most: $337M from 29 films, led by The Godfather (1972).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 15 films | 15 | $63.5M | – | Cleopatra (1963) $57.8M |
| 1964 19 films · +18% | 19 | $74.9M | +18% | My Fair Lady (1964) $72.7M |
| 1965 21 films · +264% | 21 | $272.6M | +264% | The Sound of Music (1965) $159.5M |
| 1966 24 films · −89% | 24 | $29.7M | −89% | Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) $28M |
| 1967 23 films · +461% | 23 | $166.8M | +461% | The Graduate (1967) $105M |
| 1968 24 films · −65% | 24 | $59.2M | −65% | Funny Girl (1968) $52.2M |
| 1969 33 films · +177% | 33 | $164M | +177% | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) $102.3M |
| 1970 24 films · +40% | 24 | $229.2M | +40% | Airport (1970) $100.5M |
| 1971 33 films · −42% | 33 | $133.4M | −42% | The French Connection (1971) $51.7M |
| 1972 29 films · +153% | 29 | $337M | +153% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1972?
English-language drama films took $335.1M across 8 films, 99% of the total, ahead of Hindi-language drama films ($1.1M) and Russian-language drama films ($231K).
1972 Drama Box Office by Language
- English $335.1M8 films · #1 The Godfather (1972)
-
Hindi $1.1M3 films · #1 Bombay to Goa (1972) -
Russian $231K1 film · #1 Solaris (1972) -
Tagalog $102K1 film · #1 Jesus Christ Superstar (1972) -
German $46.2K2 films · #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) -
French $37.5K4 films · #1 Chinese Glory (1972) -
Swedish $37.1K1 film · #1 Cries and Whispers (1972) -
Italian $21.4K3 films · #1 Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) -
Japanese $5851 film · #1 Ecstasy of the Angels (1972) -
Arabic $3091 film · #1 The Dupes (1972)
Archive
Drama Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $13.9B, led by The Lion King (2019).
2020s 7 years · $50.1B
2010s 10 years · $113.6B
- 2019 $13.9B #1 The Lion King (2019)
- 2018 $12.7B #1 Black Panther (2018)
- 2017 $12.5B #1 Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
- 2016 $11.1B #1 The Jungle Book (2016)
- 2015 $11.6B #1 Inside Out (2015)
- 2014 $10.3B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $12.1B #1 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- 2011 $7.8B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $9.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $70.7B
- 2009 $9.9B #1 2012 (2009)
- 2008 $10.6B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $7.6B #1 I Am Legend (2007)
- 2006 $7.5B #1 The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
- 2005 $8.1B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.4B #1 The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- 2003 $5B #1 Bruce Almighty (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $4.6B #1 Pearl Harbor (2001)
- 2000 $5.8B #1 Gladiator (2000)
1990s 10 years · $42.3B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.9B #1 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- 1997 $5.9B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $4.5B #1 Twister (1996)
- 1995 $4.8B #1 Apollo 13 (1995)
- 1994 $4.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $4.7B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $2.9B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $2.4B #1 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- 1990 $2.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $14.2B
- 1989 $2B #1 Dead Poets Society (1989)
- 1988 $2.1B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $1.4B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $1.5B #1 Rocky IV (1985)
- 1984 $1.4B #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.1B #1 Terms of Endearment (1983)
- 1982 $1.3B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $889.5M #1 On Golden Pond (1981)
- 1980 $674.6M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 10 years · $5B
- 1979 $919.3M #1 Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
- 1978 $585M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $832.1M #1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- 1976 $378.6M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $303.6M #1 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- 1974 $439.5M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $869.6M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $337M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $133.4M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $229.2M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $865.1M
- 1969 $164M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $59.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $166.8M #1 The Graduate (1967)
- 1966 $29.7M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $272.6M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $74.9M #1 My Fair Lady (1964)
- 1963 $63.5M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $6M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $6.5M #1 Mother and a Guest (1961)
- 1960 $21.9M #1 The Apartment (1960)
1950s 10 years · $438.7M
- 1959 $75M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $3.3M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $32.5M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $119.9M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $32.7M #1 The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- 1953 $36.8M #1 The Robe (1953)
- 1952 $36.5M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.5M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $1.5M #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $775.9M
- 1949 $164.2K #1 Stray Dog (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $11.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $54.6M #1 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $102.5K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $4.9M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $270.1M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.8M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $404.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $2.8M
- 1939 $1.1M #1 Wuthering Heights (1939)
- 1938 $47.4K #1 Port of Shadows (1938)
- 1937 $19.3K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $536.4K #1 Modern Times (1936)
- 1935 $516K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $13.2K #1 L’Atalante (1934)
- 1933 $451.3K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $47.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $46.6K #1 M (1931)
- 1930 $5.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 8 years · $10.4M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $40.9K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $161.5K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $720.7K #1 Flesh and the Devil (1926)
- 1925 $82.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1923 $12.9K #1 A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
- 1921 $9.2M #1 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
- 1920 $9.3K #1 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
Drama Box Office 1972: 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 29 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1972?
The Godfather (1972) leads with $250.3M worldwide, $136.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Poseidon Adventure (1972) at $84.6M and Bombay to Goa (1972) at $886.7K.
How much did drama movies released in 1972 earn?
29 drama films released in 1972 report a worldwide gross, $337M in all, or $11.6M per film on average. 1971 releases took $133.4M.
How many drama movies released in 1972 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Godfather (1972) with $250.3M.
How is the 1972 drama 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 1972. 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 1972 drama 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.