#1 of 15 #1 thriller movie of 1973
1973 · Drama, Thriller
$430.9M worldwide · 85% of the chart's total
$233M US & Canada · 54% $197.9M elsewhere · 46%
Thriller box office · 1973
Thriller Box Office 1973: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
The Exorcist (1973) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1973, with $430.9M worldwide, ahead of Magnum Force (1973) at $39.8M and Live and Let Die (1973) at $35.4M. 15 thriller films released in 1973 report a worldwide gross, $509M in all, 61% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 52% on 1972, whose releases took $334.9M. By language, English leads with $508.9M across 14 thriller releases.
- 1973 releases with a gross
- 15
- combined worldwide
- $509M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1972
- +52%
#1 of 15 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1973?
The Exorcist (1973) leads with $430.9M, 85% of the total. The top 5 together took $508.6M, almost all of what the 15 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 Thriller 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: $39.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.8M
- 3 Jun 27, 1973 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: $6.3K Worldwide: $35.4M
- 4 Jul 30, 1973 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M
- 5 Mar 26, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $318.3K
- 6
Dec 9, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $116.1K - 7
Aug 19, 1973 US and Canada: $25.3K Rest of the world: $90.5K Worldwide: $115.8K - 8
Oct 14, 1973 US and Canada: $32.6K Rest of the world: $29K Worldwide: $61.7K - 9
Mar 7, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.2K - 10
Nov 21, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $614 - 11
Jun 14, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $535 - 12
May 1, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $469 - 13
May 9, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $210 - 14
Sep 19, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $194 - 15
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, Magnum Force (1973) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Enter the Dragon (1973) made 78% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $310.5M (61%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M $233M US & Canada · 54% $197.9M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 Magnum Force (1973) $39.8M $39.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Live and Let Die (1973) $35.4M $35.4M US & Canada · 100% $6.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 The Day of the Jackal (1973) $2.3M $2.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Sisters (1973) $318.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Don't Look Now (1973) $116.1K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Enter the Dragon (1973) $115.8K $25.3K US & Canada · 22% $90.5K elsewhere · 78%
- 8 Mean Streets (1973) $61.7K $32.6K US & Canada · 53% $29K elsewhere · 47%
- 9 The Long Goodbye (1973) $24.2K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Westworld (1973) $614 No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1973 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 15 films crossed $100M and took $430.9M between them, 85% of the total. 12 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M.
85% 15%
- $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, 7% of the list $430.9M · 85% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 2 films, 13% of the list $75.2M · 15% of the gross
- Under $10M 12 films, 80% of the list $2.9M · <1% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1973 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $470.8M from 3 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). April was the quietest month ($11). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Sisters (1973) $342.6K Sisters (1973)
- April Apr Scorpio (1973) $11 Scorpio (1973)
- May May Coffy (1973) $679 Coffy (1973)
- June Jun Live and Let Die (1973) $35.4M Live and Let Die (1973)
- July Jul The Day of the Jackal (1973) $2.3M The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- August Aug Enter the Dragon (1973) $115.8K Enter the Dragon (1973)
- September Sep Charley Varrick (1973) $194 Charley Varrick (1973)
- October Oct Mean Streets (1973) $61.7K Mean Streets (1973)
- November Nov Westworld (1973) $614 Westworld (1973)
- December Dec The Exorcist (1973) $470.8M The Exorcist (1973)
Last 10 years
How Does 1973 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $509M from 15 films, led by The Exorcist (1973).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 7 films | 7 | $34.5M | – | 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 |
| 1972 8 films · +136% | 8 | $334.9M | +136% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
| 1973 15 films · +52% | 15 | $509M | +52% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
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
- 2026 so far $2.6B #1 Project Hail Mary (2026)
- 2025 $7.7B #1 Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)
- 2024 $5.7B #1 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
- 2023 $7.9B #1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
- 2022 $7.1B #1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
- 2021 $5.5B #1 No Time to Die (2021)
- 2020 $2B #1 Bad Boys for Life (2020)
2010s 10 years · $93.9B
- 2019 $8.6B #1 Joker (2019)
- 2018 $10B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $10.2B #1 The Fate of the Furious (2017)
- 2016 $7.6B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $12.8B #1 Jurassic World (2015)
- 2014 $8.5B #1 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
- 2013 $10.5B #1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- 2012 $12B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $5B #1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
- 2010 $8.6B #1 Inception (2010)
2000s 10 years · $67.5B
- 2009 $8.6B #1 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- 2008 $8.5B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $8.8B #1 Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- 2006 $7B #1 The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- 2005 $5.8B #1 War of the Worlds (2005)
- 2004 $6.7B #1 Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- 2003 $6.6B #1 The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- 2002 $5.2B #1 Die Another Day (2002)
- 2001 $5.3B #1 Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- 2000 $5B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $36B
- 1999 $5.2B #1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
- 1998 $4.2B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $5.1B #1 The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- 1996 $5B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $3.9B #1 Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
- 1994 $2.9B #1 True Lies (1994)
- 1993 $2.3B #1 The Fugitive (1993)
- 1992 $2.3B #1 Basic Instinct (1992)
- 1991 $2.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $3B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $9.2B
- 1989 $1.8B #1 Batman (1989)
- 1988 $995.3M #1 Rambo III (1988)
- 1987 $1.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $571.7M #1 Aliens (1986)
- 1985 $908.2M #1 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
- 1984 $822.8M #1 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- 1983 $1.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $608M #1 First Blood (1982)
- 1981 $397.1M #1 For Your Eyes Only (1981)
- 1980 $291.5M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $3.5B
- 1979 $452.1M #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $674.5M #1 Superman (1978)
- 1977 $161.1M #1 The Deep (1977)
- 1976 $200.3M #1 All the President's Men (1976)
- 1975 $589.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $352.9M #1 The Towering Inferno (1974)
- 1973 $509M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $334.9M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $141.7M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $120.3M #1 Airport (1970)
1960s 10 years · $273.6M
- 1969 $24.3M #1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
- 1968 $3.7M #1 Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
- 1967 $43.9M #1 You Only Live Twice (1967)
- 1966 $47.4K #1 Blow-Up (1966)
- 1965 $114.9M #1 Thunderball (1965)
- 1964 $34.5M #1 From Russia with Love (1964)
- 1963 $16.6M #1 Dr. No (1963)
- 1962 $2.9M #1 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- 1961 $69.7K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $32.7M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 10 years · $52.7M
- 1959 $215.4K #1 North by Northwest (1959)
- 1958 $10.7M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $27.4K #1 The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
- 1956 $18.2K #1 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
- 1955 $2.3M #1 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- 1954 $38.5M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $46.2K #1 The Wages of Fear (1953)
- 1952 $26K #1 Sudden Fear (1952)
- 1951 $52K #1 Strangers on a Train (1951)
- 1950 $816.7K #1 Shadow on the Wall (1950)
1940s 10 years · $12.3M
- 1949 $1.5M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $464.6K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $79K #1 Odd Man Out (1947)
- 1946 $10M #1 Cloak and Dagger (1946)
- 1945 $94.2K #1 Dead of Night (1945)
- 1944 $23.6K #1 Double Indemnity (1944)
- 1943 $37K #1 Le Corbeau (1943)
- 1942 $47.5K #1 Went the Day Well? (1942)
- 1941 $19 #1 Suspicion (1941)
- 1940 $114.1K #1 Rebecca (1940)
1930s 7 years · $195.5K
FAQ
Thriller 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 15 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller movie in 1973?
The Exorcist (1973) leads with $430.9M worldwide, $233M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Magnum Force (1973) at $39.8M and Live and Let Die (1973) at $35.4M.
How much did thriller movies released in 1973 earn?
15 thriller films released in 1973 report a worldwide gross, $509M in all, or $33.9M per film on average. 1972 releases took $334.9M.
How many thriller movies released in 1973 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Exorcist (1973) with $430.9M.
How is the 1973 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 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 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.