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Thriller box office · 1971

Thriller Box Office 1971: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies

The French Connection (1971) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1971, with $51.7M worldwide, ahead of Dirty Harry (1971) at $36M and A Clockwork Orange (1971) at $27M. 14 thriller films released in 1971 report a worldwide gross, $141.7M in all, 99% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 18% on 1970, whose releases took $120.3M. By language, English leads with $129.3M across 12 thriller releases.

1971 releases with a gross
14
combined worldwide
$141.7M
The French Connection (1971), the #1
$51.7M
vs 1970
+18%
The French Connection (1971) movie poster #1 of 14
#1 thriller movie of 1971

The French Connection (1971)

1971 · Action, Crime

$51.7M worldwide · 36% of the chart's total

$51.7M US & Canada · 100% $8.9K elsewhere · <1%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1971?

The French Connection (1971) leads with $51.7M, 36% of the total. The top 5 together took $137.8M, 97% of what all 14 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The French Connection (1971) movie poster Number 1
    $51.7M The French Connection (1971)
    $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $8.9K elsewhere · <1%
  2. Dirty Harry (1971) movie poster Number 2
    $36M Dirty Harry (1971)
    $36M US & Canada · 100% $1.7K elsewhere · <1%
  3. A Clockwork Orange (1971) movie poster Number 3
    $27M A Clockwork Orange (1971)
    $26.6M US & Canada · 98% $416.6K elsewhere · 2%
  4. Vanishing Point (1971) movie poster Number 4
    $12.4M Vanishing Point (1971)
    $12.4M US & Canada · 100% $519 elsewhere · <1%
  5. Play Misty for Me (1971) movie poster Number 5
    $10.6M Play Misty for Me (1971)
    $10.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Thriller Release of 1971, 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 1971.

  1. 1 The French Connection (1971) movie poster
    The French Connection (1971) Oct 7, 1971 · English · Action, Crime, Drama $51.7M worldwide
    Oct 7, 1971 US and Canada: $51.7M Rest of the world: $8.9K Worldwide: $51.7M
  2. 2 Dirty Harry (1971) movie poster
    Dirty Harry (1971) Dec 23, 1971 · English · Action, Thriller, Crime $36M worldwide
    Dec 23, 1971 US and Canada: $36M Rest of the world: $1.7K Worldwide: $36M
  3. 3 A Clockwork Orange (1971) movie poster
    A Clockwork Orange (1971) Dec 20, 1971 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller $27M worldwide
    Dec 20, 1971 US and Canada: $26.6M Rest of the world: $416.6K Worldwide: $27M
  4. 4 Vanishing Point (1971) movie poster
    Vanishing Point (1971) Mar 13, 1971 · Action, Thriller, Crime $12.4M worldwide
    Mar 13, 1971 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $519 Worldwide: $12.4M
  5. 5 Play Misty for Me (1971) movie poster
    Play Misty for Me (1971) Nov 12, 1971 · English · Thriller $10.6M worldwide
    Nov 12, 1971 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M
  6. 6 THX 1138 (1971) movie poster
    THX 1138 (1971) Mar 11, 1971 · English · Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery $2.4M worldwide
    Mar 11, 1971 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M
  7. 7 The Beguiled (1971) movie poster
    The Beguiled (1971) Mar 31, 1971 · English · Drama, Thriller, Western $1.1M worldwide
    Mar 31, 1971 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $13.1K Worldwide: $1.1M
  8. 8 Wake in Fright (1971) movie poster
    Wake in Fright (1971) May 12, 1971 · English · Thriller, Drama $269.3K worldwide
    May 12, 1971 US and Canada: $50.4K Rest of the world: $218.9K Worldwide: $269.3K
  9. 9 Get Carter (1971) movie poster
    Get Carter (1971) Mar 18, 1971 · English · Action, Thriller, Crime $60.4K worldwide
    Mar 18, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $60.4K
  10. 10 Klute (1971) movie poster
    Klute (1971) Jun 25, 1971 · English · Mystery, Thriller, Crime $34.7K worldwide
    Jun 25, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.7K
  11. 11 Duel (1971) movie poster
    Duel (1971) Nov 13, 1971 · English · Action, Thriller $2.5K worldwide
    Nov 13, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5K
  12. 12 Daughters of Darkness (1971) movie poster
    Daughters of Darkness (1971) May 28, 1971 · English · Thriller, Horror, Drama $1.1K worldwide
    May 28, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K
  13. 13 A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971) movie poster
    A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971) Feb 18, 1971 · Italian · Thriller, Mystery, Horror $842 worldwide
    Feb 18, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $842
  14. 14 The Zodiac Killer (1971) movie poster
    The Zodiac Killer (1971) Apr 7, 1971 · English · Horror, Thriller, Crime $34 worldwide
    Apr 7, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1971?

Of the top 10, Play Misty for Me (1971) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Wake in Fright (1971) made 81% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $140.9M (99%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 The French Connection (1971) $51.7M
    $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $8.9K elsewhere · <1%
  2. 2 Dirty Harry (1971) $36M
    $36M US & Canada · 100% $1.7K elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 A Clockwork Orange (1971) $27M
    $26.6M US & Canada · 98% $416.6K elsewhere · 2%
  4. 4 Vanishing Point (1971) $12.4M
    $12.4M US & Canada · 100% $519 elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 Play Misty for Me (1971) $10.6M
    $10.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 THX 1138 (1971) $2.4M
    $2.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 The Beguiled (1971) $1.1M
    $1.1M US & Canada · 99% $13.1K elsewhere · 1%
  8. 8 Wake in Fright (1971) $269.3K
    $50.4K US & Canada · 19% $218.9K elsewhere · 81%
  9. 9 Get Carter (1971) $60.4K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Klute (1971) $34.7K
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1971 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 14 films reached $100M. 9 films, 64% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $141.7M total.

  • $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 36% of the list $137.8M · 97% of the gross
  • Under $10M 9 films, 64% of the list $3.9M · 3% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1971 Earned the Most?

December releases took the most, $63M from 2 films, led by Dirty Harry (1971). April was the quietest month ($34). 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 A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971) $842 A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971)
  3. March Mar Vanishing Point (1971) $16.1M Vanishing Point (1971)
  4. April Apr The Zodiac Killer (1971) $34 The Zodiac Killer (1971)
  5. May May Wake in Fright (1971) $270.4K Wake in Fright (1971)
  6. June Jun Klute (1971) $34.7K Klute (1971)
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct The French Connection (1971) $51.7M The French Connection (1971)
  11. November Nov Play Misty for Me (1971) $10.6M Play Misty for Me (1971)
  12. December Dec Dirty Harry (1971) $63M Dirty Harry (1971)
Last 10 years

How Does 1971 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1971 earned the most: $141.7M from 14 films, led by The French Connection (1971).

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1962 5 films 5 $2.9M – The Manchurian Candidate (1962) $2.8M
1963 4 films · +471% 4 $16.6M +471% Dr. No (1963) $16.1M
1964 7 films · +108% 7 $34.5M +108% From Russia with Love (1964) $24.8M
1965 5 films · +233% 5 $114.9M +233% Thunderball (1965) $63.6M
1966 8 films · −100% 8 $47.4K −100% Blow-Up (1966) $38.6K
1967 10 films · +92469% 10 $43.9M +92469% You Only Live Twice (1967) $43.1M
1968 8 films · −92% 8 $3.7M −92% Coogan’s Bluff (1968) $3.1M
1969 10 films · +562% 10 $24.3M +562% On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) $22.8M
1970 5 films · +394% 5 $120.3M +394% Airport (1970) $100.5M
1971 14 films · +18% 14 $141.7M +18% The French Connection (1971) $51.7M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1971?

English-language thriller films took $129.3M across 12 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Italian-language thriller films ($842).

1971 Thriller Box Office by Language

  1. English $129.3M
    12 films · #1 The French Connection (1971)
  2. Italian $842
    1 film · #1 A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971)
Archive

Thriller Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2015 leads with $12.8B, led by Jurassic World (2015).

2020s 7 years · $38.5B
2010s 10 years · $93.9B
2000s 10 years · $67.5B
1990s 10 years · $36B
1980s 10 years · $9.2B
1970s 10 years · $3.5B
1960s 10 years · $273.6M
1950s 10 years · $52.7M
1940s 10 years · $12.3M
1930s 7 years · $195.5K
1920s 4 years · $156.3K
FAQ

Thriller Box Office 1971: 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 14 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1971?

The French Connection (1971) leads with $51.7M worldwide, $51.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Dirty Harry (1971) at $36M and A Clockwork Orange (1971) at $27M.

How much did thriller movies released in 1971 earn?

14 thriller films released in 1971 report a worldwide gross, $141.7M in all, or $10.1M per film on average. 1970 releases took $120.3M.

How many thriller movies released in 1971 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The French Connection (1971), earned $51.7M.

How much of the 1971 Thriller box office came from the US and Canada?

$140.9M of the $141.7M total, or 99%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 6 films of the 14 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1971 thriller 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 1971. 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 1971 thriller 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.