#1 of 21 #1 thriller movie of 1974
1974 · Action, Drama
$116M worldwide · 33% of the chart's total
$116M US & Canada · 100% $2K elsewhere · <1%
Thriller box office · 1974
Thriller Box Office 1974: Highest-Grossing Thriller Movies
The Towering Inferno (1974) is the highest-grossing thriller movie released in 1974, with $116M worldwide, ahead of Earthquake (1974) at $79.7M and The Godfather: Part II (1974) at $48M. 21 thriller films released in 1974 report a worldwide gross, $352.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 31% on 1973, whose releases took $509M. By language, English leads with $272.6M across 17 thriller releases.
- 1974 releases with a gross
- 21
- combined worldwide
- $352.9M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1973
- −31%
#1 of 21 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Thriller Hits of 1974?
The Towering Inferno (1974) leads with $116M, 33% of the total. The top 5 together took $303.8M, 86% of what all 21 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 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 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 - 5 Jun 20, 1974 US and Canada: $29.2M Rest of the world: $32.2K Worldwide: $29.2M
- 6
Jul 24, 1974 US and Canada: $22M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $22M - 7
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)Dec 20, 1974 US and Canada: $21M Rest of the world: $986 Worldwide: $21M Dec 20, 1974 · English · Action, Adventure, Thriller $21M worldwide - 8
Apr 7, 1974 US and Canada: $4.9M Rest of the world: $35.9K Worldwide: $4.9M - 9
Aug 7, 1974 US and Canada: $148.9K Rest of the world: $403K Worldwide: $551.9K - 10
Jun 19, 1974 US and Canada: $148.9K Rest of the world: $403K Worldwide: $551.9K - 11
Jun 22, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.7K - 12
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 - 13
Jan 2, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1K - 14
Dec 20, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3K - 15
Jun 19, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4K - 16
Apr 5, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $459 - 17
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)Sep 1, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $364 Sep 1, 1974 · English · Thriller, Action, Crime $364 worldwide - 18
Sep 1, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $289 - 19
Mar 22, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $269 - 20
Feb 2, 1974 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $219 - 21
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 Terminal Man (1974) made 73% of its gross abroad. Across all 21 films, $351.7M (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 Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M $30.9M US & Canada · 100% $61.5K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Chinatown (1974) $29.2M $29.2M US & Canada · 100% $32.2K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Death Wish (1974) $22M $22M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) $21M $21M US & Canada · 100% $986 elsewhere · <1%
- 8 The Conversation (1974) $4.9M $4.9M US & Canada · 99% $35.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 9 The Wicker Man (1974) $551.9K $148.9K US & Canada · 27% $403K elsewhere · 73%
- 10 The Terminal Man (1974) $551.9K $148.9K US & Canada · 27% $403K elsewhere · 73%
Gross bands
How Many 1974 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 21 films crossed $100M and took $116M between them, 33% of the total. 14 films, 67% of the list, earned under $10M.
33% 65%
- $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, 5% of the list $116M · 33% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 29% of the list $230.8M · 65% of the gross
- Under $10M 14 films, 67% of the list $6.1M · 2% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1974 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $185M from 4 films, led by The Towering Inferno (1974). February was the quietest month ($219). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Stone (1974) $5.1K Stone (1974)
- February Feb Deranged (1974) $219 Deranged (1974)
- March Mar Lady Snowblood (1974) $269 Lady Snowblood (1974)
- April Apr The Conversation (1974) $4.9M The Conversation (1974)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Chinatown (1974) $29.9M Chinatown (1974)
- July Jul Death Wish (1974) $22M Death Wish (1974)
- August Aug The Wicker Man (1974) $570.8K The Wicker Man (1974)
- September Sep The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) $653 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
- October Oct The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) $30.9M The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- November Nov Earthquake (1974) $79.7M Earthquake (1974)
- December Dec The Towering Inferno (1974) $185M The Towering Inferno (1974)
Last 10 years
How Does 1974 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1973 earned the most: $509M from 15 films, led by The Exorcist (1973). 1974 took $352.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 5 films | 5 | $114.9M | – | 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 |
| 1974 21 films · −31% | 21 | $352.9M | −31% | The Towering Inferno (1974) $116M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Thriller Movies Speak in 1974?
English-language thriller films took $272.6M across 17 films, 77% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language thriller films ($96K).
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 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 21 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing thriller 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 thriller movies released in 1974 earn?
21 thriller films released in 1974 report a worldwide gross, $352.9M in all, or $16.8M per film on average. 1973 releases took $509M.
How many thriller 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 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 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 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.