#1 of 34 #1 drama movie of 1974
1974 · Action, Drama
$116M worldwide · 26% of the chart's total
$116M US & Canada · 100% $2K elsewhere · <1%
Drama box office · 1974
Drama Box Office 1974: Highest-Grossing Drama Movies
The Towering Inferno (1974) is the highest-grossing drama movie released in 1974, with $116M worldwide, ahead of Earthquake (1974) at $79.7M and The Godfather: Part II (1974) at $48M. 34 drama films released in 1974 report a worldwide gross, $439.5M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 49% on 1973, whose releases took $869.6M. By language, English leads with $331.7M across 16 drama releases.
- 1974 releases with a gross
- 34
- combined worldwide
- $439.5M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1973
- −49%
#1 of 34 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Drama Hits of 1974?
The Towering Inferno (1974) leads with $116M, 26% of the total. The top 5 together took $315.9M, 72% 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 1974, 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 1974.
- 1 Dec 17, 1974 US and Canada: $116M Rest of the world: $2K Worldwide: $116M
- 2 Nov 15, 1974 US and Canada: $79.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.7M
- 3 Dec 12, 1974 US and Canada: $47.8M Rest of the world: $149.1K Worldwide: $48M
- 4 Aug 30, 1974 US and Canada: $43M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43M
- 5 Jun 20, 1974 US and Canada: $29.2M Rest of the world: $32.2K Worldwide: $29.2M
- 6
Nov 24, 1974 US and Canada: $27.6M Rest of the world: $24.8K Worldwide: $27.7M - 7
Jul 24, 1974 US and Canada: $22M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22M - 8
May 24, 1974 US and Canada: $21.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.7M - 9
Mar 29, 1974 US and Canada: $20.6M Rest of the world: $493 Worldwide: $20.6M - 10
Dec 9, 1974 US and Canada: $18.6M Rest of the world: $211 Worldwide: $18.6M - 11
Apr 5, 1974 US and Canada: $7.5M Rest of the world: $5K Worldwide: $7.5M - 12
Apr 7, 1974 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: $35.9K Worldwide: $4.9M - 13
Oct 5, 1974 US and Canada: $95.8K Rest of the world: $34.5K Worldwide: $130.3K - 14
Dec 21, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $117.9K - 15
Jun 22, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.7K - 16
Nov 12, 1974 US and Canada: $43.5K Rest of the world: $33.4K Worldwide: $76.9K - 17
Oct 8, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $59.3K - 18
Dec 20, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42K - 19
Nov 18, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.6K - 20
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)Aug 7, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.9K
Aug 7, 1974 · English · Action, Drama, Thriller $18.9K worldwide - 21
Mar 5, 1974 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $8.4K Worldwide: $16.5K - 22
Nov 18, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15K - 23
May 15, 1974 US and Canada: $13.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.8K - 24
Jun 20, 1974 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $264 Worldwide: $8.4K - 25
Oct 23, 1974 US and Canada: $5.1K Rest of the world: $540 Worldwide: $5.6K - 26
Dec 10, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4K - 27
Nov 1, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K - 28
Jun 19, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4K - 29
Jan 30, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2K - 30
May 8, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 31
Sep 5, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $782 - 32
Mar 22, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $269 - 33
Sep 15, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $250 - 34
Jul 11, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $73
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1974?
Of the top 10, Earthquake (1974) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Godfather: Part II (1974) made <1% of its gross abroad. Across all 34 films, $438.7M (100%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M $116M US & Canada · 100% $2K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Earthquake (1974) $79.7M $79.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 The Godfather: Part II (1974) $48M $47.8M US & Canada · 100% $149.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 The Longest Yard (1974) $43M $43M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Chinatown (1974) $29.2M $29.2M US & Canada · 100% $32.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Murder on the Orient Express (1974) $27.7M $27.6M US & Canada · 100% $24.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Death Wish (1974) $22M $22M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) $21.7M $21.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 The Great Gatsby (1974) $20.6M $20.6M US & Canada · 100% $493 elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) $18.6M $18.6M US & Canada · 100% $211 elsewhere · <1%
Gross bands
How Many 1974 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 34 films crossed $100M and took $116M between them, 26% of the total. 24 films, 71% of the list, earned under $10M.
26% 71%
- $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 $116M · 26% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 9 films, 26% of the list $310.4M · 71% of the gross
- Under $10M 24 films, 71% of the list $13M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1974 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $182.8M from 6 films, led by The Towering Inferno (1974). September was the quietest month ($1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Lacombe, Lucien (1974) $3.2K Lacombe, Lucien (1974)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar The Great Gatsby (1974) $20.6M The Great Gatsby (1974)
- April Apr The Sugarland Express (1974) $12.4M The Sugarland Express (1974)
- May May Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) $21.7M Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
- June Jun Chinatown (1974) $29.3M Chinatown (1974)
- July Jul Death Wish (1974) $22M Death Wish (1974)
- August Aug The Longest Yard (1974) $43M The Longest Yard (1974)
- September Sep Allonsanfan (1974) $1K Allonsanfan (1974)
- October Oct A Bigger Splash (1974) $195.2K A Bigger Splash (1974)
- November Nov Earthquake (1974) $107.4M Earthquake (1974)
- December Dec The Towering Inferno (1974) $182.8M The Towering Inferno (1974)
Last 10 years
How Does 1974 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $869.6M from 34 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). 1974 took $439.5M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 21 films | 21 | $272.6M | – | 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 |
| 1974 34 films · −49% | 34 | $439.5M | −49% | The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Drama Movies Speak in 1974?
English-language drama films took $331.7M across 16 films, 75% of the total, ahead of Italian-language drama films ($165.1K) and Japanese-language drama films ($96K).
1974 Drama Box Office by Language
- English $331.7M16 films · #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
-
Italian $165.1K4 films · #1 We All Loved Each Other So Much (1974) -
Japanese $96K2 films · #1 Flower & Snake (1974) -
German $87.7K4 films · #1 Alice in the Cities (1974) -
Norwegian $76.9K1 film · #1 Edvard Munch (1974) -
French $23.7K4 films · #1 Stavisky… (1974) -
Swedish $2501 film · #1 Scenes from a Marriage (1974)
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 1974: 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 1974?
The Towering Inferno (1974) leads with $116M worldwide, $116M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Earthquake (1974) at $79.7M and The Godfather: Part II (1974) at $48M.
How much did drama movies released in 1974 earn?
34 drama films released in 1974 report a worldwide gross, $439.5M in all, or $12.9M per film on average. 1973 releases took $869.6M.
How many drama movies released in 1974 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Towering Inferno (1974) with $116M.
How is the 1974 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 1974. 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 1974 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.