#1 of 34 #1 drama movie of 1973
1973 · Drama, Thriller
$430.9M worldwide · 50% of the chart's total
$233M US & Canada · 54% $197.9M elsewhere · 46%
Drama box office · 1973
Drama Box Office 1973: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Exorcist (1973) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1973, with $430.9M worldwide, ahead of The Sting (1973) at $156M and American Graffiti (1973) at $115M. 34 drama films released in 1973 report a worldwide gross, $869.6M in all, 77% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 158% on 1972, whose releases took $337M. By language, English leads with $787.9M across 22 drama releases.
- 1973 releases with a gross
- 34
- combined worldwide
- $869.6M
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs 1972
- +158%
#1 of 34 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1973?
The Exorcist (1973) leads with $430.9M, 50% of the total. The top 5 together took $800.1M, 92% of what all 34 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 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 Dec 26, 1973 US and Canada: $233M Rest of the world: $197.9M Worldwide: $430.9M
- 2 Dec 25, 1973 US and Canada: $156M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $156M
- 3 Aug 11, 1973 US and Canada: $115M Rest of the world: $6.7K Worldwide: $115M
- 4 Dec 16, 1973 US and Canada: $53.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $53.3M
- 5 Oct 19, 1973 US and Canada: $45M Rest of the world: $493 Worldwide: $45M
- 6
Jan 27, 1973 US and Canada: $36.1M Rest of the world: $39.1K Worldwide: $36.2M - 7
Dec 5, 1973 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: $57.9K Worldwide: $29.9M - 8
Jul 30, 1973 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 9
Dec 18, 1973 US and Canada: $125.5K Rest of the world: $70.3K Worldwide: $195.8K - 10
Sep 18, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $190.7K - 11
Nov 29, 1973 US and Canada: $61K Rest of the world: $56.2K Worldwide: $117.2K - 12
Dec 9, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $116.1K - 13
Aug 19, 1973 US and Canada: $25.3K Rest of the world: $90.5K Worldwide: $115.8K - 14
Aug 15, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $102K - 15
Oct 14, 1973 US and Canada: $32.6K Rest of the world: $29K Worldwide: $61.7K - 16
Oct 15, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $54.4K - 17
Oct 5, 1973 US and Canada: $40.6K Rest of the world: $6.8K Worldwide: $47.3K - 18
Mar 7, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.2K - 19
Apr 20, 1973 US and Canada: $21.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.2K - 20
Nov 18, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.8K - 21
Feb 8, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.3K - 22
Oct 12, 1973 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $1.8K Worldwide: $10K - 23
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)May 23, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.5K
May 23, 1973 · English · Biography, Drama, Western $8.5K worldwide - 24
Feb 23, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $965 - 25
May 9, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $591 - 26
Jun 14, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $535 - 27
May 15, 1973 US and Canada: $509 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $509 - 28
Jun 27, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $378 - 29
Mar 25, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $332 - 30
Apr 11, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $295 - 31
Mar 24, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $259 - 32
Sep 19, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $194 - 33
May 10, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $64 - 34
Apr 19, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11
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 The Exorcist (1973) made 46% of its gross abroad. Across all 34 films, $670.8M (77%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M $233M US & Canada · 54% $197.9M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 The Sting (1973) $156M $156M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 American Graffiti (1973) $115M $115M US & Canada · 100% $6.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Papillon (1973) $53.3M $53.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Way We Were (1973) $45M $45M US & Canada · 100% $493 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Last Tango in Paris (1973) $36.2M $36.1M US & Canada · 100% $39.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Serpico (1973) $29.9M $29.8M US & Canada · 100% $57.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 8 The Day of the Jackal (1973) $2.3M $2.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Amarcord (1973) $195.8K $125.5K US & Canada · 64% $70.3K elsewhere · 36%
- 10 The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) $190.7K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1973 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 34 films crossed $100M and took $701.9M between them, 81% of the total. 27 films, 79% of the list, earned under $10M.
81% 19%
- $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 3 films, 9% of the list $701.9M · 81% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 12% of the list $164.3M · 19% of the gross
- Under $10M 27 films, 79% of the list $3.4M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1973 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $670.3M from 6 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). June was the quietest month ($913). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Last Tango in Paris (1973) $36.2M Last Tango in Paris (1973)
- February Feb The Harder They Come (1973) $16.3K The Harder They Come (1973)
- March Mar The Long Goodbye (1973) $24.8K The Long Goodbye (1973)
- April Apr Ganja & Hess (1973) $21.5K Ganja & Hess (1973)
- May May Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) $9.6K Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
- June Jun The Last of Sheila (1973) $913 The Last of Sheila (1973)
- July Jul The Day of the Jackal (1973) $2.3M The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- August Aug American Graffiti (1973) $115.2M American Graffiti (1973)
- September Sep The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) $190.9K The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
- October Oct The Way We Were (1973) $45.2M The Way We Were (1973)
- November Nov The Holy Mountain (1973) $135K The Holy Mountain (1973)
- December Dec The Exorcist (1973) $670.3M The Exorcist (1973)
Last 10 years
How Does 1973 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $869.6M from 34 films, led by The Exorcist (1973).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 19 films | 19 | $74.9M | – | 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 |
| 1973 34 films · +158% | 34 | $869.6M | +158% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1973?
English-language drama films took $787.9M across 22 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Italian-language drama films ($196.8K) and Spanish-language drama films ($190.7K).
1973 Drama Box Office by Language
- English $787.9M22 films · #1 The Exorcist (1973)
-
Italian $196.8K2 films · #1 Amarcord (1973) -
Spanish $190.7K1 film · #1 The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) -
French $47.9K2 films · #1 The Mother and the Whore (1973) -
German $10K1 film · #1 The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1973) -
Japanese $6372 films · #1 Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
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 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 34 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing drama movie in 1973?
The Exorcist (1973) leads with $430.9M worldwide, $233M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Sting (1973) at $156M and American Graffiti (1973) at $115M.
How much did drama movies released in 1973 earn?
34 drama films released in 1973 report a worldwide gross, $869.6M in all, or $25.6M per film on average. 1972 releases took $337M.
How many drama movies released in 1973 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by The Exorcist (1973) with $430.9M.
How is the 1973 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 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 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.