List of 1971 box office number-one films in the United States
Updated: 11/6/2025, 2:09:19 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of films which placed number one at the weekly box office in the United States during 1971 per Variety. The data was based on grosses from 20 to 24 key cities and therefore, the gross quoted may not be the total that the film grossed nationally in the week. The weekly chart was based on the first-run situations in the top 10 markets plus an additional 12 to 14 cities of lesser size.
Tables
· Number-one films
| † | This implies the highest-grossing movie of the year. |
· Number-one films
1
1
#
1
Week ending
January 6, 1971
Film
Love Story †
Gross
$800,400
Notes
For the weekend ending January 3, 1971, Love Story grossed $2,493,167 from all markets in the United States and Canada.
2
2
#
2
Week ending
January 13, 1971
Film
$910,500
Gross
For the weekend ending January 10, 1971, Love Story grossed $2,405,809 from all markets in the United States and Canada.
3
3
#
3
Week ending
January 20, 1971
Film
$926,100
4
4
#
4
Week ending
January 27, 1971
Film
$892,200
5
5
#
5
Week ending
February 3, 1971
Film
$815,900
6
6
#
6
Week ending
February 10, 1971
Film
The Owl and the Pussycat
Gross
$1,051,428
Notes
The Owl and the Pussycat reached number one in its 14th week of release
7
7
#
7
Week ending
February 17, 1971
Film
Love Story †
Gross
$1,191,227
Notes
Love Story returned to number one in its ninth week of release
8
8
#
8
Week ending
February 24, 1971
Film
$908,800
9
9
#
9
Week ending
March 3, 1971
Film
$821,500
10
10
#
10
Week ending
March 10, 1971
Film
$673,300
11
11
#
11
Week ending
March 17, 1971
Film
$634,600
12
12
#
12
Week ending
March 24, 1971
Film
$599,100
13
13
#
13
Week ending
March 31, 1971
Film
Husbands
Gross
$556,000
Notes
Husbands reached number one in its 16th week of release
14
14
#
14
Week ending
April 7, 1971
Film
A New Leaf
Gross
$535,950
Notes
A New Leaf reached number one in its fourth week of release
15
15
#
15
Week ending
April 14, 1971
Film
Cold Turkey
Gross
$715,833
Notes
Cold Turkey reached number one in its tenth week of release
16
16
#
16
Week ending
April 21, 1971
Film
Patton/MASH (double bill)
Gross
$740,421
17
17
#
17
Week ending
April 28, 1971
Film
$567,500
18
18
#
18
Week ending
May 5, 1971
Film
$373,100
19
19
#
19
Week ending
May 12, 1971
Film
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice/Cactus Flower (double bill)
Gross
$340,000
20
20
#
20
Week ending
May 19, 1971
Film
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Gross
$357,500
Notes
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song reached number one in its seventh week on the chart
21
21
#
21
Week ending
May 26, 1971
Film
$421,000
22
22
#
22
Week ending
June 2, 1971
Film
A New Leaf
Gross
$778,100
Notes
A New Leaf returned to number one in its 12th week on the chart
23
23
#
23
Week ending
June 9, 1971
Film
Gimme Shelter
Gross
$283,027
Notes
Gimme Shelter reached number one in its 21st week on the chart
24
24
#
24
Week ending
June 16, 1971
Film
Lawrence of Arabia (reissue)
Gross
$549,500
Notes
Lawrence of Arabia reissue reached number one in its 14th week on the chart
25
25
#
25
Week ending
June 23, 1971
Film
$255,000
26
26
#
26
Week ending
June 30, 1971
Film
Love Story †
Gross
$2,242,900
Notes
Love Story returned to number one after 28 weeks of release. First film to gross over $2 million in a week in the cities sampled
27
27
#
27
Week ending
July 7, 1971
Film
$1,116,951
28
28
#
28
Week ending
July 14, 1971
Film
$672,207
29
29
#
29
Week ending
July 21, 1971
Film
Summer of '42
Gross
$666,435
Notes
Summer of '42 reached number one in its 13th week on the chart
30
30
#
30
Week ending
July 28, 1971
Film
Willard
Gross
$1,329,970
Notes
Willard reached number one in its sixth week on the chart
31
31
#
31
Week ending
August 4, 1971
Film
$755,500
32
32
#
32
Week ending
August 11, 1971
Film
Klute
Gross
$596,000
Notes
Klute reached number one in its seventh week on the chart
33
33
#
33
Week ending
August 18, 1971
Film
The Andromeda Strain
Gross
$479,000
Notes
The Andromeda Strain reached number one in its 20th week on the chart
34
34
#
34
Week ending
August 25, 1971
Film
The Anderson Tapes
Gross
$654,200
Notes
The Anderson Tapes reached number one in its tenth week on the chart
35
35
#
35
Week ending
September 1, 1971
Film
The Omega Man
Gross
$500,000
Notes
The Omega Man reached number one in its fifth week on the chart
36
36
#
36
Week ending
September 8, 1971
Film
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Gross
$387,000
Notes
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song returned to number one in its 19th week on the chart
37
37
#
37
Week ending
September 15, 1971
Film
$283,000
38
38
#
38
Week ending
September 22, 1971
Film
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Gross
$343,652
Notes
McCabe & Mrs. Miller reached number one in its eleventh week on the chart
39
39
#
39
Week ending
September 29, 1971
Film
The Stewardesses
Gross
$450,070
Notes
The Stewardesses reached number one in its 43rd week on the chart
40
40
#
40
Week ending
October 6, 1971
Film
$526,216
41
41
#
41
Week ending
October 13, 1971
Film
$454,700
42
42
#
42
Week ending
October 20, 1971
Film
The Omega Man
Gross
$500,000
Notes
The Omega Man returned to number one in its tenth week on the chart
43
43
#
43
Week ending
October 27, 1971
Film
The Organization
Gross
$646,500
44
44
#
44
Week ending
November 3, 1971
Film
$473,600
45
45
#
45
Week ending
November 10, 1971
Film
Cry Uncle!
Gross
$502,500
Notes
Cry Uncle! reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart
46
46
#
46
Week ending
November 17, 1971
Film
The French Connection
Gross
$489,600
Notes
The French Connection reached number one in its sixth week on the chart
47
47
#
47
Week ending
November 24, 1971
Film
$776,050
48
48
#
48
Week ending
December 1, 1971
Film
$914,700
49
49
#
49
Week ending
December 8, 1971
Film
$628,078
50
50
#
50
Week ending
December 15, 1971
Film
$508,207
51
51
#
51
Week ending
December 22, 1971
Film
Diamonds Are Forever
Gross
$1,521,800
Notes
For the weekend ending December 19, 1971, Diamonds Are Forever grossed $1,569,249 from all markets in the United States and Canada.
52
52
#
52
Week ending
December 29, 1971
Film
$2,033,500
| # | Week ending | Film | Gross | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | January 6, 1971 | Love Story † | $800,400 | For the weekend ending January 3, 1971, Love Story grossed $2,493,167 from all markets in the United States and Canada. | |
| 2 | January 13, 1971 | $910,500 | For the weekend ending January 10, 1971, Love Story grossed $2,405,809 from all markets in the United States and Canada. | ||
| 3 | January 20, 1971 | $926,100 | |||
| 4 | January 27, 1971 | $892,200 | |||
| 5 | February 3, 1971 | $815,900 | |||
| 6 | February 10, 1971 | The Owl and the Pussycat | $1,051,428 | The Owl and the Pussycat reached number one in its 14th week of release | |
| 7 | February 17, 1971 | Love Story † | $1,191,227 | Love Story returned to number one in its ninth week of release | |
| 8 | February 24, 1971 | $908,800 | |||
| 9 | March 3, 1971 | $821,500 | |||
| 10 | March 10, 1971 | $673,300 | |||
| 11 | March 17, 1971 | $634,600 | |||
| 12 | March 24, 1971 | $599,100 | |||
| 13 | March 31, 1971 | Husbands | $556,000 | Husbands reached number one in its 16th week of release | |
| 14 | April 7, 1971 | A New Leaf | $535,950 | A New Leaf reached number one in its fourth week of release | |
| 15 | April 14, 1971 | Cold Turkey | $715,833 | Cold Turkey reached number one in its tenth week of release | |
| 16 | April 21, 1971 | Patton/MASH (double bill) | $740,421 | ||
| 17 | April 28, 1971 | $567,500 | |||
| 18 | May 5, 1971 | $373,100 | |||
| 19 | May 12, 1971 | Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice/Cactus Flower (double bill) | $340,000 | ||
| 20 | May 19, 1971 | Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song | $357,500 | Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song reached number one in its seventh week on the chart | |
| 21 | May 26, 1971 | $421,000 | |||
| 22 | June 2, 1971 | A New Leaf | $778,100 | A New Leaf returned to number one in its 12th week on the chart | |
| 23 | June 9, 1971 | Gimme Shelter | $283,027 | Gimme Shelter reached number one in its 21st week on the chart | |
| 24 | June 16, 1971 | Lawrence of Arabia (reissue) | $549,500 | Lawrence of Arabia reissue reached number one in its 14th week on the chart | |
| 25 | June 23, 1971 | $255,000 | |||
| 26 | June 30, 1971 | Love Story † | $2,242,900 | Love Story returned to number one after 28 weeks of release. First film to gross over $2 million in a week in the cities sampled | |
| 27 | July 7, 1971 | $1,116,951 | |||
| 28 | July 14, 1971 | $672,207 | |||
| 29 | July 21, 1971 | Summer of '42 | $666,435 | Summer of '42 reached number one in its 13th week on the chart | |
| 30 | July 28, 1971 | Willard | $1,329,970 | Willard reached number one in its sixth week on the chart | |
| 31 | August 4, 1971 | $755,500 | |||
| 32 | August 11, 1971 | Klute | $596,000 | Klute reached number one in its seventh week on the chart | |
| 33 | August 18, 1971 | The Andromeda Strain | $479,000 | The Andromeda Strain reached number one in its 20th week on the chart | |
| 34 | August 25, 1971 | The Anderson Tapes | $654,200 | The Anderson Tapes reached number one in its tenth week on the chart | |
| 35 | September 1, 1971 | The Omega Man | $500,000 | The Omega Man reached number one in its fifth week on the chart | |
| 36 | September 8, 1971 | Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song | $387,000 | Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song returned to number one in its 19th week on the chart | |
| 37 | September 15, 1971 | $283,000 | |||
| 38 | September 22, 1971 | McCabe & Mrs. Miller | $343,652 | McCabe & Mrs. Miller reached number one in its eleventh week on the chart | |
| 39 | September 29, 1971 | The Stewardesses | $450,070 | The Stewardesses reached number one in its 43rd week on the chart | |
| 40 | October 6, 1971 | $526,216 | |||
| 41 | October 13, 1971 | $454,700 | |||
| 42 | October 20, 1971 | The Omega Man | $500,000 | The Omega Man returned to number one in its tenth week on the chart | |
| 43 | October 27, 1971 | The Organization | $646,500 | ||
| 44 | November 3, 1971 | $473,600 | |||
| 45 | November 10, 1971 | Cry Uncle! | $502,500 | Cry Uncle! reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart | |
| 46 | November 17, 1971 | The French Connection | $489,600 | The French Connection reached number one in its sixth week on the chart | |
| 47 | November 24, 1971 | $776,050 | |||
| 48 | December 1, 1971 | $914,700 | |||
| 49 | December 8, 1971 | $628,078 |
· Highest-grossing films
1.
1.
Rank
1.
Title
Love Story
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
1,163
Gross ($)
19,303,390
2.
2.
Rank
2.
Title
Summer of '42
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
936
Gross ($)
7,704,068
3.
3.
Rank
3.
Title
Little Big Man
Studio
National General Pictures
Playing weeks
664
Gross ($)
6,552,922
4.
4.
Rank
4.
Title
Carnal Knowledge
Studio
Avco Embassy
Playing weeks
463
Gross ($)
6,280,736
5.
5.
Rank
5.
Title
The Owl and the Pussycat
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
656
Gross ($)
6,046,961
6.
6.
Rank
6.
Title
The Stewardesses
Studio
Sherpix
Playing weeks
522
Gross ($)
5,712,562
7.
7.
Rank
7.
Title
Ryan's Daughter
Studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Playing weeks
587
Gross ($)
5,371,146
8.
8.
Rank
8.
Title
The French Connection
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
279
Gross ($)
5,009,791
9.
9.
Rank
9.
Title
The Anderson Tapes
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
323
Gross ($)
4,766,507
10.
10.
Rank
10.
Title
A New Leaf
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
348
Gross ($)
4,670,247
11.
11.
Rank
11.
Title
Willard
Studio
CRC
Playing weeks
271
Gross ($)
4,599,340
12.
12.
Rank
12.
Title
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
439
Gross ($)
3,934,026
13.
13.
Rank
13.
Title
Shaft
Studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Playing weeks
257
Gross ($)
3,916,721
14.
14.
Rank
14.
Title
Klute
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
408
Gross ($)
3,686,063
15.
15.
Rank
15.
Title
Diamonds Are Forever
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
145
Gross ($)
3,588,437
16.
16.
Rank
16.
Title
Plaza Suite
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
285
Gross ($)
3,525,483
17.
17.
Rank
17.
Title
The Andromeda Strain
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
333
Gross ($)
3,431,440
18.
18.
Rank
18.
Title
Five Easy Pieces
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
535
Gross ($)
3,237,844
19.
19.
Rank
19.
Title
Fiddler on the Roof
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
82
Gross ($)
3,204,410
20.
20.
Rank
20.
Title
Song of Norway
Studio
CRC
Playing weeks
351
Gross ($)
3,130,729
21.
21.
Rank
21.
Title
Bananas
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
396
Gross ($)
3,016,073
22.
22.
Rank
22.
Title
The Love Machine
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
244
Gross ($)
3,007,834
23.
23.
Rank
23.
Title
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
Studio
Cinemation
Playing weeks
179
Gross ($)
2,994,704
24.
24.
Rank
24.
Title
Cold Turkey
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
421
Gross ($)
2,857,938
25.
25.
Rank
25.
Title
Kotch
Studio
CRC
Playing weeks
407
Gross ($)
2,762,265
| Rank | Title | Studio | Playing weeks | Gross ($) |
| 1. | Love Story | Paramount | 1,163 | 19,303,390 |
| 2. | Summer of '42 | Warner Bros. | 936 | 7,704,068 |
| 3. | Little Big Man | National General Pictures | 664 | 6,552,922 |
| 4. | Carnal Knowledge | Avco Embassy | 463 | 6,280,736 |
| 5. | The Owl and the Pussycat | Columbia | 656 | 6,046,961 |
| 6. | The Stewardesses | Sherpix | 522 | 5,712,562 |
| 7. | Ryan's Daughter | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 587 | 5,371,146 |
| 8. | The French Connection | 20th Century Fox | 279 | 5,009,791 |
| 9. | The Anderson Tapes | Columbia | 323 | 4,766,507 |
| 10. | A New Leaf | Paramount | 348 | 4,670,247 |
| 11. | Willard | CRC | 271 | 4,599,340 |
| 12. | Tora! Tora! Tora! | 20th Century Fox | 439 | 3,934,026 |
| 13. | Shaft | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 257 | 3,916,721 |
| 14. | Klute | Warner Bros. | 408 | 3,686,063 |
| 15. | Diamonds Are Forever | United Artists | 145 | 3,588,437 |
| 16. | Plaza Suite | Paramount | 285 | 3,525,483 |
| 17. | The Andromeda Strain | Universal | 333 | 3,431,440 |
| 18. | Five Easy Pieces | Columbia | 535 | 3,237,844 |
| 19. | Fiddler on the Roof | United Artists | 82 | 3,204,410 |
| 20. | Song of Norway | CRC | 351 | 3,130,729 |
| 21. | Bananas | United Artists | 396 | 3,016,073 |
| 22. | The Love Machine | Columbia | 244 | 3,007,834 |
| 23. | Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song | Cinemation | 179 | 2,994,704 |
| 24. | Cold Turkey | United Artists | 421 | 2,857,938 |
| 25. | Kotch | CRC | 407 | 2,762,265 |
· Chronology
| Preceded by1970 | 1971 | Succeeded by1972 |
References
- Playing weeks represent one film in one theatre for one week
- Variety noted that the total grosses that they collated represented about 30% of total US grosses as defined by the US D
- Playing weeks represent one film in one theatre for one week
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-01-13_261_9/page/17
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-01-13_261_9/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-01-20_261_10/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-01-27_261_11/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-02-03_261_12/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-02-10_261_13/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-02-17_262_1/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-02-24_262_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-03-03_262_3/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-03-10_262_4/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-03-17_262_5/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-03-24_262_6/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-03-31_262_7/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-04-07_262_8/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-04-14_262_9/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-04-21_262_10/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-04-28_262_11/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-05-05_262_12/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-05-12_262_13/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-05-19_263_1/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-05-26_263_2/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-06-02_263_3/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-06-09_263_4/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-06-16_263_5/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-06-23_263_6/page/14
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-06-30_263_7/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-07-07_263_8/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-07-14_263_9/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-07-21_263_10/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-07-28_263_11/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-08-04_263_12/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-08-11_263_13/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-08-18_264_1/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-08-25_264_2/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-09-01_264_3/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-09-08_264_4/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-09-15_264_5/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-09-22_264_6/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-09-29_264_7/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-10-06_264_8/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-10-13_264_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-10-20_264_10/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-10-27_264_11/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-11-03_264_12/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-11-10_264_13/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-11-17_265_1/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-11-24_265_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-12-01_265_3/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-12-08_265_4/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-12-15_265_5/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-12-22_265_6/page/25
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-12-29_265_7/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-12-22_265_6/page/26
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-01-12_265_9/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-05-03_266_12/page/n31/mode/2up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-05-03_266_12/page/n31/mode/2up