#1 of 50 #1 movie of 1972
1972 · Drama, Thriller
$250.3M worldwide · 67% of the chart's total
$136.4M US & Canada · 54% $114M elsewhere · 46%
Box office · 1972
1972 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1972
The Godfather (1972) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1972, with $250.3M worldwide, ahead of The Poseidon Adventure (1972) at $84.6M and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) at $18.1M. 50 films released in 1972 report a worldwide gross, $371.4M in all, 69% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 80% on 1971, whose releases took $206M. By genre, Drama leads with $337M across 29 releases.
- 1972 releases with a gross
- 50
- combined worldwide
- $371.4M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 1971
- +80%
#1 of 50 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of 1972?
The Godfather (1972) leads with $250.3M, 67% of the total. The top 5 together took $368.4M, 99% of what all 50 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 $18.1M Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)$18M US & Canada · 100% $73.8K elsewhere · <1% -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Release of 1972, 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 1972.
- 1 Mar 24, 1972 US and Canada: $136.4M Rest of the world: $114M Worldwide: $250.3M
- 2 Dec 13, 1972 US and Canada: $84.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.6M
- 3 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)Aug 6, 1972 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: $73.8K Worldwide: $18.1M
Aug 6, 1972 · English · Comedy $18.1M worldwide - 4 Jun 30, 1972 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M
- 5 Jul 19, 1972 US and Canada: $6.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.3M
- 6
Mar 3, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $886.7K - 7
Nov 1, 1972 US and Canada: $587.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $587.8K - 8
Jul 15, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $356.5K - 9
Feb 5, 1972 US and Canada: $22.2K Rest of the world: $208.8K Worldwide: $231K - 10
Dec 8, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $201.2K - 11
Sep 15, 1972 US and Canada: $82.5K Rest of the world: $20.8K Worldwide: $103.2K - 12
Mar 22, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $102K - 13
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972)Dec 20, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $84.8K Dec 20, 1972 · English · Drama $84.8K worldwide - 14
Feb 13, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $83.3K - 15
Dec 29, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.8K - 16
Dec 21, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.1K - 17
Feb 25, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $34.7K - 18
Jan 7, 1972 US and Canada: $31.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.4K - 19
1972 US and Canada: $29.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.3K - 20
Dec 17, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22.8K - 21
Nov 26, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.4K - 22
Oct 19, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.9K - 23
Dec 26, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.2K - 24
May 5, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.4K - 25
May 3, 1972 US and Canada: $14.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.1K - 26
Dec 13, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.6K - 27
Jul 2, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9K - 28
Mar 10, 1972 US and Canada: $8.1K Rest of the world: $264 Worldwide: $8.4K - 29
Jun 14, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4K - 30
Mar 17, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.4K - 31
Jan 26, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2K - 32
Jun 21, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.9K - 33
Jul 21, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.6K - 34
Oct 18, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K - 35
Sep 1, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5K - 36
Jan 27, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8K - 37
Mar 17, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8K - 38
May 1, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4K - 39
May 9, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 40
1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 41
Mar 10, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K - 42
Jun 1, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $980 - 43
Mar 9, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $807 - 44
Mar 24, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $692 - 45
Mar 11, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $585 - 46
Jan 10, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $309 - 47
Jan 10, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $295 - 48
Sep 30, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $263 - 49
Jan 26, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $250 - 50
Aug 30, 1972 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $135
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1972?
Of the top 10, The Poseidon Adventure (1972) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Solaris (1972) made 90% of its gross abroad. Across all 50 films, $255.1M (69%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Godfather (1972) $250.3M $136.4M US & Canada · 54% $114M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.6M $84.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) $18.1M $18M US & Canada · 100% $73.8K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) $9M $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Joe Kidd (1972) $6.3M $6.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Bombay to Goa (1972) $886.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Elvis on Tour (1972) $587.8K $587.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Master and Margarita (1972) $356.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Solaris (1972) $231K $22.2K US & Canada · 10% $208.8K elsewhere · 90%
- 10 Victoria No. 203 (1972) $201.2K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1972 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 50 films crossed $100M and took $250.3M between them, 67% of the total. 47 films, 94% of the list, earned under $10M.
67% 28%
- $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, 2% of the list $250.3M · 67% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 2 films, 4% of the list $102.7M · 28% of the gross
- Under $10M 47 films, 94% of the list $18.4M · 5% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1972 Earned the Most?
March releases took the most, $251.4M from 10 films, led by The Godfather (1972). October was the quietest month ($20.6K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Dushman (1972) $71K Dushman (1972)
- February Feb Solaris (1972) $349.1K Solaris (1972)
- March Mar The Godfather (1972) $251.4M The Godfather (1972)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Play It Again, Sam (1972) $33.4K Play It Again, Sam (1972)
- June Jun Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) $9.1M Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- July Jul Joe Kidd (1972) $6.7M Joe Kidd (1972)
- August Aug Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) $18.1M Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)
- September Sep The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) $107K The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
- October Oct Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) $20.6K Slap the Monster on Page One (1972)
- November Nov Elvis on Tour (1972) $605.2K Elvis on Tour (1972)
- December Dec The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $85M The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Last 10 years
How Does 1972 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1970 earned the most: $450M from 41 films, led by The Aristocats (1970). 1972 took $371.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 29 films | 29 | $138.3M | – | 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 |
| 1972 50 films · +80% | 50 | $371.4M | +80% | The Godfather (1972) $250.3M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1972?
Drama took $337M across 29 films, 91% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($334.9M) and Crime ($250.4M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $369.2M across 23 films, 99% of the total, ahead of Hindi-language films ($1.1M) and Russian-language films ($231K).
1972 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $337M29 films · #1 The Godfather (1972) -
Thriller $334.9M8 films · #1 The Godfather (1972) -
Crime $250.4M5 films · #1 The Godfather (1972) -
Action $94.5M8 films · #1 The Poseidon Adventure (1972) -
Adventure $85.5M7 films · #1 The Poseidon Adventure (1972) -
Comedy $19.3M11 films · #1 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) -
Sci-Fi $9.3M3 films · #1 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) -
Western $6.3M3 films · #1 Joe Kidd (1972) -
Romance $1.4M11 films · #1 Bombay to Goa (1972) -
Documentary $676.7K7 films · #1 Elvis on Tour (1972)
1972 Box Office by Language
- English $369.2M23 films · #1 The Godfather (1972)
-
Hindi $1.1M3 films · #1 Bombay to Goa (1972) -
Russian $231K1 film · #1 Solaris (1972) -
French $170K6 films · #1 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) -
Tagalog $102K1 film · #1 Jesus Christ Superstar (1972) -
Italian $46.6K5 films · #1 Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) -
German $46.2K2 films · #1 Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) -
Swedish $37.1K1 film · #1 Cries and Whispers (1972) -
Japanese $5851 film · #1 Ecstasy of the Angels (1972) -
Arabic $3091 film · #1 The Dupes (1972)
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 1972: 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 50 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in 1972?
The Godfather (1972) leads with $250.3M worldwide, $136.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Poseidon Adventure (1972) at $84.6M and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) at $18.1M.
How much did movies released in 1972 earn?
50 films released in 1972 report a worldwide gross, $371.4M in all, or $7.4M per film on average. 1971 releases took $206M.
How many movies released in 1972 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Godfather (1972) with $250.3M.
How is the 1972 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 1972. 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 1972 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.