#1 of 9 #1 horror movie of 1974
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
1974 · Mystery, Thriller
$30.9M worldwide · 96% of the chart's total
$30.9M US & Canada · 100% $61.5K elsewhere · <1%
Horror box office · 1974
Horror Box Office 1974: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 1974, with $30.9M worldwide, ahead of The Wicker Man (1974) at $551.9K and The Terminal Man (1974) at $551.9K. 9 horror films released in 1974 report a worldwide gross, $32.1M in all, 97% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 93% on 1973, whose releases took $431.3M. By language, English leads with $31.5M across 7 horror releases.
- 1974 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $32.1M
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), the #1
- $30.9M
- vs 1973
- −93%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 1974?
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) leads with $30.9M, 96% of the total. The top 5 together took $32.1M, almost all of what the 9 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 Horror 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 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)Oct 1, 1974 US and Canada: $30.9M Rest of the world: $61.5K Worldwide: $30.9M
Oct 1, 1974 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $30.9M worldwide - 2 Aug 7, 1974 US and Canada: $148.9K Rest of the world: $403K Worldwide: $551.9K
- 3 Jun 19, 1974 US and Canada: $148.9K Rest of the world: $403K Worldwide: $551.9K
- 4 Jun 22, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.7K
- 5 Dec 20, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3K
- 6
Oct 10, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $786 - 7
Apr 7, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $442 - 8
Sep 1, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $289 - 9
Feb 2, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $219
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1974?
Of the top 9, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Terminal Man (1974) made 73% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $31.2M (97%) came from the US & Canada. 6 films of the top 9 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M $30.9M US & Canada · 100% $61.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 The Wicker Man (1974) $551.9K $148.9K US & Canada · 27% $403K elsewhere · 73%
- 3 The Terminal Man (1974) $551.9K $148.9K US & Canada · 27% $403K elsewhere · 73%
- 4 Flower & Snake (1974) $95.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Black Christmas (1974) $4.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) $786 No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974) $442 No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Phase IV (1974) $289 No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Deranged (1974) $219 No US & Canada figure reported
By release month
Which Month of 1974 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $30.9M from 2 films, led by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). February was the quietest month ($219). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb Deranged (1974) $219 Deranged (1974)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974) $442 Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun The Terminal Man (1974) $647.6K The Terminal Man (1974)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug The Wicker Man (1974) $551.9K The Wicker Man (1974)
- September Sep Phase IV (1974) $289 Phase IV (1974)
- October Oct The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Black Christmas (1974) $4.3K Black Christmas (1974)
Last 10 years
How Does 1974 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $431.3M from 4 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). 1974 took $32.1M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 2 films | 2 | $34.7K | – | Repulsion (1965) $33.4K |
| 1966 2 films · −84% | 2 | $5.6K | −84% | Eye of the Devil (1966) $5K |
| 1967 1 film · +4177% | 1 | $240.1K | +4177% | Night of the Big Heat (1967) $240.1K |
| 1968 4 films · +1% | 4 | $242.2K | +1% | Night of the Living Dead (1968) $238K |
| 1969 1 film · −100% | 1 | $171 | −100% | Night of the Bloody Apes (1969) $171 |
| 1970 2 films · +23648% | 2 | $40.6K | +23648% | Multiple Maniacs (1970) $39K |
| 1971 7 films · +6614% | 7 | $2.7M | +6614% | THX 1138 (1971) $2.4M |
| 1972 2 films · −100% | 2 | $1.6K | −100% | Images (1972) $1.4K |
| 1973 4 films · +27702431% | 4 | $431.3M | +27702431% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
| 1974 9 films · −93% | 9 | $32.1M | −93% | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 1974?
English-language horror films took $31.5M across 7 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language horror films ($95.7K).
Archive
Horror Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $3.7B, led by Venom (2018).
2020s 7 years · $15.4B
- 2026 so far $2.5B #1 Backrooms (2026)
- 2025 $2.7B #1 The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
- 2024 $2.6B #1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- 2023 $2.7B #1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- 2022 $2.6B #1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 2021 $1.6B #1 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- 2020 $697.4M #1 The Invisible Man (2020)
2010s 10 years · $22.6B
- 2019 $3.1B #1 It: Chapter Two (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $3.5B #1 It (2017)
- 2016 $1.9B #1 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015)
- 2014 $1.4B #1 Annabelle (2014)
- 2013 $2.2B #1 World War Z (2013)
- 2012 $2.7B #1 Prometheus (2012)
- 2011 $1.1B #1 Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- 2010 $1.3B #1 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
2000s 10 years · $12.1B
- 2009 $1.4B #1 The Final Destination (2009)
- 2008 $661.8M #1 Saw V (2008)
- 2007 $1.6B #1 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 2006 $1.2B #1 Saw III (2006)
- 2005 $1.7B #1 Constantine (2005)
- 2004 $1.3B #1 The Grudge (2004)
- 2003 $970.4M #1 Gothika (2003)
- 2002 $1.1B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $712.3M #1 The Others (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1999 $1.3B #1 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- 1998 $929.6M #1 Godzilla (1998)
- 1997 $720.6M #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $357.9M #1 Scream (1996)
- 1995 $283.3M #1 Species (1995)
- 1994 $368.5M #1 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
- 1993 $165M #1 The Good Son (1993)
- 1992 $571M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $285.2M #1 Cape Fear (1991)
- 1990 $450.5M #1 Flatliners (1990)
1980s 10 years · $2.5B
- 1989 $214.3M #1 Pet Sematary (1989)
- 1988 $284.7M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- 1987 $325.5M #1 The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- 1986 $262.9M #1 The Fly (1986)
- 1985 $185.9M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- 1984 $303.5M #1 Gremlins (1984)
- 1983 $243.8M #1 Jaws 3-D (1983)
- 1982 $289M #1 Poltergeist (1982)
- 1981 $209.9M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- 1980 $175M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1979 $279.6M #1 Alien (1979)
- 1978 $286.6M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $45.7M #1 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
- 1976 $149.4M #1 The Omen (1976)
- 1975 $481.8M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $32.1M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $431.3M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $1.6K #1 Images (1972)
- 1971 $2.7M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $40.6K #1 Multiple Maniacs (1970)
1960s 10 years · $33M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $242.2K #1 Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $5.6K #1 Eye of the Devil (1966)
- 1965 $34.7K #1 Repulsion (1965)
- 1964 $1.2K #1 Onibaba (1964)
- 1963 $55.4K #1 The Birds (1963)
- 1962 $4.5K #1 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
- 1961 $30.2K #1 The Innocents (1961)
- 1960 $32.4M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 7 years · $24.4M
1940s 5 years · $42.7K
1930s 6 years · $168.1K
FAQ
Horror 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 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 1974?
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) leads with $30.9M worldwide, $30.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Wicker Man (1974) at $551.9K and The Terminal Man (1974) at $551.9K.
How much did horror movies released in 1974 earn?
9 horror films released in 1974 report a worldwide gross, $32.1M in all, or $3.6M per film on average. 1973 releases took $431.3M.
How many horror movies released in 1974 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), earned $30.9M.
How is the 1974 horror 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 horror 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.