#1 of 48 #1 movie of 1971
1971 · Action, Crime
$51.7M worldwide · 25% of the chart's total
$51.7M US & Canada · 100% $8.9K elsewhere · <1%
Box office · 1971
1971 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1971
The French Connection (1971) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1971, with $51.7M worldwide, ahead of Dirty Harry (1971) at $36M and The Last Picture Show (1971) at $29.1M. 48 films released in 1971 report a worldwide gross, $206M in all, 94% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 54% on 1970, whose releases took $450M. By genre, Thriller leads with $141.7M across 14 releases.
- 1971 releases with a gross
- 48
- combined worldwide
- $206M
- The French Connection (1971), the #1
- $51.7M
- vs 1970
- −54%
#1 of 48 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1971?
The French Connection (1971) leads with $51.7M, 25% of the total. The top 5 together took $156.3M, 76% of what all 48 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 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 Oct 7, 1971 US and Canada: $51.7M Rest of the world: $8.9K Worldwide: $51.7M
- 2 Dec 23, 1971 US and Canada: $36M Rest of the world: $1.7K Worldwide: $36M
- 3 Oct 22, 1971 US and Canada: $29.1M Rest of the world: $13.7K Worldwide: $29.1M
- 4 Dec 20, 1971 US and Canada: $26.6M Rest of the world: $416.6K Worldwide: $27M
- 5 Mar 13, 1971 US and Canada: $12.4M Rest of the world: $519 Worldwide: $12.4M
- 6
May 21, 1971 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.3M - 7
Nov 12, 1971 US and Canada: $10.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.6M - 8
Dec 13, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.6M - 9
Nov 3, 1971 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $3.6K Worldwide: $10.4M - 10
Mar 11, 1971 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.4M - 11
Mar 31, 1971 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $13.1K Worldwide: $1.1M - 12
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)Jun 30, 1971 US and Canada: $573.4K Rest of the world: $114.4K Worldwide: $687.7K
Jun 30, 1971 · English · Fantasy, Family $687.7K worldwide - 13
Jul 29, 1971 US and Canada: $432.8K Rest of the world: $41.1K Worldwide: $473.9K - 14
Nov 3, 1971 US and Canada: $280.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $280.7K - 15
May 12, 1971 US and Canada: $50.4K Rest of the world: $218.9K Worldwide: $269.3K - 16
Apr 28, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $136.2K - 17
May 13, 1971 US and Canada: $56.6K Rest of the world: $15.5K Worldwide: $72.1K - 18
Mar 18, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $60.4K - 19
Feb 17, 1971 US and Canada: $40.5K Rest of the world: $312 Worldwide: $40.8K - 20
Jun 25, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.7K - 21
Jun 24, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.3K - 22
Jun 30, 1971 US and Canada: $33.7K Rest of the world: $321 Worldwide: $34K - 23
Oct 1, 1971 US and Canada: $31.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.4K - 24
Mar 1, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.1K - 25
Aug 28, 1971 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $1.2K Worldwide: $9.4K - 26
Nov 5, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.7K - 27
Jul 14, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4K - 28
Apr 1, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.1K - 29
Dec 20, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.5K - 30
Aug 1, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.2K - 31
Jun 16, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4K - 32
Aug 4, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7K - 33
Nov 13, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5K - 34
Dec 22, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3K - 35
Jul 16, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3K - 36
Jul 1, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9K - 37
Jan 24, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6K - 38
May 28, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 39
Dec 13, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $844 - 40
Feb 18, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $842 - 41
Jun 28, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $839 - 42
Aug 27, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $823 - 43
Nov 18, 1971 US and Canada: $509 Rest of the world: Worldwide: $509 - 44
Mar 11, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $308 - 45
Jul 7, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $115 - 46
Mar 1, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47 - 47
Apr 7, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34 - 48
Jul 1, 1971 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $27
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1971?
Of the top 10, Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while A Clockwork Orange (1971) made 2% of its gross abroad. Across all 48 films, $194.3M (94%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The French Connection (1971) $51.7M $51.7M US & Canada · 100% $8.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 2 Dirty Harry (1971) $36M $36M US & Canada · 100% $1.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The Last Picture Show (1971) $29.1M $29.1M US & Canada · 100% $13.7K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 A Clockwork Orange (1971) $27M $26.6M US & Canada · 98% $416.6K elsewhere · 2%
- 5 Vanishing Point (1971) $12.4M $12.4M US & Canada · 100% $519 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) $12.3M $12.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Play Misty for Me (1971) $10.6M $10.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Gentlemen of Fortune (1971) $10.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Fiddler on the Roof (1971) $10.4M $10.4M US & Canada · 100% $3.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 THX 1138 (1971) $2.4M $2.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1971 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 48 films reached $100M. 39 films, 81% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $206M total.
97%
- $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 9 films, 19% of the list $200.2M · 97% of the gross
- Under $10M 39 films, 81% of the list $5.8M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1971 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $80.9M from 3 films, led by The French Connection (1971). January was the quietest month ($1.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Music Lovers (1971) $1.6K The Music Lovers (1971)
- February Feb Max and the Junkmen (1971) $41.6K Max and the Junkmen (1971)
- March Mar Vanishing Point (1971) $16.1M Vanishing Point (1971)
- April Apr Bananas (1971) $142.3K Bananas (1971)
- May May Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) $12.7M Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
- June Jun Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) $795K Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- July Jul The Red Tent (1971) $484.7K The Red Tent (1971)
- August Aug Beware of a Holy Whore (1971) $17.1K Beware of a Holy Whore (1971)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct The French Connection (1971) $80.9M The French Connection (1971)
- November Nov Play Misty for Me (1971) $21.3M Play Misty for Me (1971)
- December Dec Dirty Harry (1971) $73.6M Dirty Harry (1971)
Last 10 years
How Does 1971 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1970 earned the most: $450M from 41 films, led by The Aristocats (1970). 1971 took $206M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 40 films | 40 | $52M | – | Lawrence of Arabia (1962) $46M |
| 1963 29 films · +166% | 29 | $138.3M | +166% | Cleopatra (1963) $57.8M |
| 1964 36 films · +74% | 36 | $240.7M | +74% | Mary Poppins (1964) $103.1M |
| 1965 30 films · +61% | 30 | $387.9M | +61% | The Sound of Music (1965) $159.5M |
| 1966 41 films · −92% | 41 | $29.9M | −92% | Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) $28M |
| 1967 36 films · +1375% | 36 | $441.4M | +1375% | The Jungle Book (1967) $205.8M |
| 1968 40 films · −67% | 40 | $144M | −67% | Funny Girl (1968) $52.2M |
| 1969 44 films · +72% | 44 | $247.4M | +72% | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) $102.3M |
| 1970 41 films · +82% | 41 | $450M | +82% | The Aristocats (1970) $191M |
| 1971 48 films · −54% | 48 | $206M | −54% | The French Connection (1971) $51.7M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1971?
Thriller took $141.7M across 14 films, 69% of the total, ahead of Crime ($140.3M) and Drama ($133.4M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $182.9M across 36 films, 89% of the total, ahead of Russian-language films ($10.6M) and French-language films ($113.3K).
1971 Box Office by Genre
-
Thriller $141.7M14 films · #1 The French Connection (1971) -
Crime $140.3M11 films · #1 The French Connection (1971) -
Drama $133.4M33 films · #1 The French Connection (1971) -
Action $112.6M6 films · #1 The French Connection (1971) -
Sci-Fi $42.1M4 films · #1 A Clockwork Orange (1971) -
Family $11.1M3 films · #1 Fiddler on the Roof (1971) -
Musical $11.1M3 films · #1 Fiddler on the Roof (1971) -
Comedy $10.7M8 films · #1 Gentlemen of Fortune (1971) -
Romance $10.5M9 films · #1 Fiddler on the Roof (1971) -
Horror $2.7M7 films · #1 THX 1138 (1971)
1971 Box Office by Language
- English $182.9M36 films · #1 The French Connection (1971)
-
Russian $10.6M3 films · #1 Gentlemen of Fortune (1971) -
French $113.3K3 films · #1 Four Nights of a Dreamer (1971) -
German $9.4K1 film · #1 Beware of a Holy Whore (1971) -
Swedish $6.4K1 film · #1 The Touch (1971) -
Korean $6.1K1 film · #1 Woman of Fire (1971) -
Italian $1.7K2 films · #1 A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971)
Archive
Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $134B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
- 2019 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $37.1B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $36.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $34.2B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $34B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $30.1B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $31.3B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $30.6B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $28.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $26.5B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $201.4B
- 2009 $27.2B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $23.9B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $24.1B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $21.2B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $20.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $19.7B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $19.2B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $15.8B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $16B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $14B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
- 1999 $13.7B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $11.3B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $12.7B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.9B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $9.5B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $8.5B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $7.1B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $6.3B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $6.2B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.7B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $36B
- 1989 $6.1B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.9B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $4B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.7B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.7B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.8B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.5B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.5B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
- 1979 $2.2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $2B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.2B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $784.1M #1 Rocky (1976)
- 1975 $1.1B #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $803.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $989.4M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $371.4M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $206M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $450M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
- 1969 $247.4M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $144M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $441.4M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $29.9M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $387.9M #1 The Sound of Music (1965)
- 1964 $240.7M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $138.3M #1 Cleopatra (1963)
- 1962 $52M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $12.9M #1 The Taste of Violence (1961)
- 1960 $94.9M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
- 1959 $127.1M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $13.9M #1 Vertigo (1958)
- 1957 $32.7M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $162.1M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $96.9M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $74.4M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $153.5M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.8M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.8M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.2M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
- 1949 $1.8M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $6.2M #1 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- 1947 $12.1M #1 It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
- 1946 $92.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22.1M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $132K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6.2M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $268.3M #1 Bambi (1942)
- 1941 $1.9M #1 Citizen Kane (1941)
- 1940 $525.9M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $214M
- 1939 $26.7M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $32.8K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $1.5M #1 Born to Dance (1936)
- 1935 $105.9K #1 The 39 Steps (1935)
- 1934 $47.3K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $164.8K #1 Duck Soup (1933)
- 1932 $51.1K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $135.8K #1 Drácula (1931)
- 1930 $6.1K #1 The Blue Angel (1930)
1920s 9 years · $10M
- 1929 $89.2K #1 Pandora’s Box (1929)
- 1928 $41.6K #1 The Air Circus (1928)
- 1927 $245K #1 Sunrise (1927)
- 1926 $67.1K #1 Battleship Potemkin (1926)
- 1925 $87.5K #1 The Gold Rush (1925)
- 1924 $198.9K #1 The Epic of Everest (1924)
- 1923 $13.2K #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 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ
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 48 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing 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 The Last Picture Show (1971) at $29.1M.
How much did movies released in 1971 earn?
48 films released in 1971 report a worldwide gross, $206M in all, or $4.3M per film on average. 1970 releases took $450M.
How many movies released in 1971 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The French Connection (1971), earned $51.7M.
How is the 1971 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 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.