#1 of 12 #1 movie of December 1973
1973 · Drama, Thriller
$430.9M worldwide · 59% of the chart's total
$233M US & Canada · 54% $197.9M elsewhere · 46%
Box office · December 1973
December 1973 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing December Releases
The Exorcist (1973) is the highest-grossing movie released in December 1973, with $430.9M worldwide, ahead of The Sting (1973) at $156M and Papillon (1973) at $53.3M. 12 films released in December 1973 report a worldwide gross, $728.5M in all, 73% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. By genre, Drama leads with $670.3M across 6 releases.
- December 1973 releases with a gross
- 12
- combined worldwide
- $728.5M
- films crossed $100M
- 2
- earned in the US & Canada
- 73%
#1 of 12 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Hits of December 1973?
The Exorcist (1973) leads with $430.9M, 59% of the total. The top 5 together took $709.8M, 97% of what all 12 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 December 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 December 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: $156M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $156M
- 3 Dec 16, 1973 US and Canada: $53.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $53.3M
- 4 Dec 25, 1973 US and Canada: $39.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.8M
- 5 Dec 5, 1973 US and Canada: $29.8M Rest of the world: $57.9K Worldwide: $29.9M
- 6
Dec 17, 1973 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: $139 Worldwide: $18.3M - 7
Dec 18, 1973 US and Canada: $125.5K Rest of the world: $70.3K Worldwide: $195.8K - 8
Dec 9, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $116.1K - 9
Dec 1, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $70.3K - 10
Dec 30, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.1K - 11
Dec 6, 1973 US and Canada: $4.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3K - 12
Dec 1, 1973 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in December 1973?
Of the top 10, The Sting (1973) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Exorcist (1973) made 46% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $530.3M (73%) came from the US & Canada. 3 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 The Sting (1973) $156M $156M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Papillon (1973) $53.3M $53.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Magnum Force (1973) $39.8M $39.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Serpico (1973) $29.9M $29.8M US & Canada · 100% $57.9K elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Sleeper (1973) $18.3M $18.3M US & Canada · 100% $139 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Amarcord (1973) $195.8K $125.5K US & Canada · 64% $70.3K elsewhere · 36%
- 8 Don't Look Now (1973) $116.1K No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Ladies & Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones (1973) $70.3K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Cipollino (1973) $15.1K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many December 1973 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
2 of 12 films crossed $100M and took $586.9M between them, 81% of the total. 6 films, 50% of the list, earned under $10M.
81% 19%
- $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 2 films, 17% of the list $586.9M · 81% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 33% of the list $141.2M · 19% of the gross
- Under $10M 6 films, 50% of the list $404.3K · <1% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of December 1973 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 52 (Dec 23–29) took $626.6M, led by The Exorcist (1973). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 48 Wk 48 Nov 25–Dec 1 Ladies & Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones (1973) $73K Ladies & Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones (1973)
- Week 49 Wk 49 Dec 2–8 Serpico (1973) $29.9M Serpico (1973)
- Week 50 Wk 50 Dec 9–15 Don't Look Now (1973) $116.1K Don't Look Now (1973)
- Week 51 Wk 51 Dec 16–22 Papillon (1973) $71.8M Papillon (1973)
- Week 52 Wk 52 Dec 23–29 The Exorcist (1973) $626.6M The Exorcist (1973)
- Week 53 Wk 53 Dec 30–31 Cipollino (1973) $15.1K Cipollino (1973)
Earlier years
How Does December 1973 Compare With December in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, December 1973 earned the most: $728.5M from 12 films, led by The Exorcist (1973).
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1964 4 films | 4 | $72.7M | – | My Fair Lady (1964) $72.7M |
| December 1965 7 films · +142% | 7 | $176M | +142% | Doctor Zhivago (1965) $112.1M |
| December 1966 8 films · −100% | 8 | $379K | −100% | Andrei Rublev (1966) $181K |
| December 1967 7 films · +49256% | 7 | $187M | +49256% | The Graduate (1967) $105M |
| December 1968 4 films · −94% | 4 | $11.7M | −94% | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) $7.5M |
| December 1969 5 films · +99% | 5 | $23.3M | +99% | On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) $22.8M |
| December 1970 11 films · +856% | 11 | $222.9M | +856% | The Aristocats (1970) $191M |
| December 1971 6 films · −67% | 6 | $73.6M | −67% | Dirty Harry (1971) $36M |
| December 1972 8 films · +15% | 8 | $85M | +15% | The Poseidon Adventure (1972) $84.6M |
| December 1973 12 films · +757% | 12 | $728.5M | +757% | The Exorcist (1973) $430.9M |
Genres & languages
Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in December 1973?
Drama took $670.3M across 6 films, 92% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($470.8M) and Horror ($431M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $728.3M across 8 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Italian-language films ($195.8K) and Russian-language films ($15.1K).
December 1973 Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $670.3M6 films · #1 The Exorcist (1973) -
Thriller $470.8M3 films · #1 The Exorcist (1973) -
Horror $431M2 films · #1 The Exorcist (1973) -
Crime $278.9M4 films · #1 The Sting (1973) -
Comedy $174.5M3 films · #1 The Sting (1973) -
Biography $83.1M2 films · #1 Papillon (1973) -
Action $39.8M2 films · #1 Magnum Force (1973) -
Mystery $39.8M1 film · #1 Magnum Force (1973) -
Sci-Fi $18.3M2 films · #1 Sleeper (1973) -
Music $70.3K1 film · #1 Ladies & Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones (1973)
Archive
Box Office in 1973, Month by Month
The months of 1973 with their totals: December leads with $728.5M, led by The Exorcist (1973).
- January $36.2M #1 Last Tango in Paris (1973)
- February $22.6M #1 The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
- March $343.2K #1 Sisters (1973)
- April $21.5K #1 Ganja & Hess (1973)
- May $10.3K #1 Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
- June $44.2M #1 Live and Let Die (1973)
- July $2.3M #1 The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- August $132.3M #1 American Graffiti (1973)
- September $190.9K #1 The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)
- October $45.2M #1 The Way We Were (1973)
- November $135.6K #1 The Holy Mountain (1973)
- December $728.5M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
FAQ
Box Office December 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 12 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing movie in December 1973?
The Exorcist (1973) leads with $430.9M worldwide, $233M of it in the US & Canada. Next come The Sting (1973) at $156M and Papillon (1973) at $53.3M.
How much did movies released in December 1973 earn?
12 films released in December 1973 report a worldwide gross, $728.5M in all, or $60.7M per film on average.
How many movies released in December 1973 made $1 billion?
None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by The Exorcist (1973) with $430.9M.
How is the December 1973 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 December 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 December 1973 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.