List of 1972 box office number-one films in the United States
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:34:52 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of films which placed number one at the weekly box office in the United States during 1972 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.
Tables
· Number-one films
| † | This implies the highest-grossing movie of the year. |
· Number-one films
1
1
#
1
Week ending
January 5, 1972
Film
Diamonds Are Forever
Gross
$1,551,359
2
2
#
2
Week ending
January 12, 1972
Film
$1,717,800
3
3
#
3
Week ending
January 19, 1972
Film
$963,450
4
4
#
4
Week ending
January 26, 1972
Film
$834,600
5
5
#
5
Week ending
February 2, 1972
Film
$660,962
6
6
#
6
Week ending
February 9, 1972
Film
The French Connection
Gross
$769,200
Notes
The French Connection returned to number one in its 18th week on the chart
7
7
#
7
Week ending
February 16, 1972
Film
$711,400
8
8
#
8
Week ending
February 23, 1972
Film
Dirty Harry
Gross
$601,500
Notes
Dirty Harry reached number one in its ninth week on the chart
9
9
#
9
Week ending
March 1, 1972
Film
The Last Picture Show
Gross
$465,350
Notes
The Last Picture Show reached number one in its 21st week on the chart
10
10
#
10
Week ending
March 8, 1972
Film
The Hospital
Gross
$623,380
Notes
The Hospital reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart
11
11
#
11
Week ending
March 15, 1972
Film
Dirty Harry
Gross
$726,500
Notes
Dirty Harry returned to number one in its twelfth week on the chart
12
12
#
12
Week ending
March 22, 1972
Film
The Godfather †
Gross
$568,800
13
13
#
13
Week ending
March 29, 1972
Film
$2,698,500
14
14
#
14
Week ending
April 5, 1972
Film
$2,495,100
15
15
#
15
Week ending
April 12, 1972
Film
$2,348,100
16
16
#
16
Week ending
April 19, 1972
Film
$1,978,300
17
17
#
17
Week ending
April 26, 1972
Film
$1,775,800
18
18
#
18
Week ending
May 3, 1972
Film
$1,574,200
19
19
#
19
Week ending
May 10, 1972
Film
$1,313,600
20
20
#
20
Week ending
May 17, 1972
Film
$1,164,700
21
21
#
21
Week ending
May 24, 1972
Film
$3,188,000
Gross
First film to gross over $3 million in a week in the cities sampled
22
22
#
22
Week ending
May 31, 1972
Film
$2,976,600
23
23
#
23
Week ending
June 7, 1972
Film
$2,691,200
24
24
#
24
Week ending
June 14, 1972
Film
$1,814,100
25
25
#
25
Week ending
June 21, 1972
Film
$1,633,600
26
26
#
26
Week ending
June 28, 1972
Film
$1,687,800
27
27
#
27
Week ending
July 5, 1972
Film
$1,398,541
28
28
#
28
Week ending
July 12, 1972
Film
$1,112,900
29
29
#
29
Week ending
July 19, 1972
Film
$1,811,400
30
30
#
30
Week ending
July 26, 1972
Film
$1,316,800
31
31
#
31
Week ending
August 2, 1972
Film
$1,275,435
32
32
#
32
Week ending
August 9, 1972
Film
$895,500
33
33
#
33
Week ending
August 16, 1972
Film
$719,200
34
34
#
34
Week ending
August 23, 1972
Film
$610,810
35
35
#
35
Week ending
August 30, 1972
Film
Butterflies Are Free
Gross
$678,900
Notes
Butterflies Are Free reached number one in its eighth week on the chart
36
36
#
36
Week ending
September 6, 1972
Film
The Godfather †
Gross
$1,029,900
Notes
The Godfather returned to number one in its 25th week of release
37
37
#
37
Week ending
September 13, 1972
Film
$668,000
38
38
#
38
Week ending
September 20, 1972
Film
$456,150
39
39
#
39
Week ending
September 27, 1972
Film
Super Fly
Gross
$625,500
Notes
Super Fly reached number one in its eighth week on the chart
40
40
#
40
Week ending
October 4, 1972
Film
$457,050
41
41
#
41
Week ending
October 11, 1972
Film
The New Centurions
Gross
$652,550
Notes
The New Centurions reached number one in its tenth week on the chart
42
42
#
42
Week ending
October 18, 1972
Film
$429,950
43
43
#
43
Week ending
October 25, 1972
Film
Slaughter
Gross
$525,000
Notes
Slaughter reached number one in its tenth week on the chart
44
44
#
44
Week ending
November 1, 1972
Film
Deliverance
Gross
$324,720
Notes
Deliverance reached number one in its thirteenth week on the chart
45
45
#
45
Week ending
November 8, 1972
Film
The Valachi Papers
Gross
$749,000
Notes
The Valachi Papers reached number one in its third week on the chart
46
46
#
46
Week ending
November 15, 1972
Film
$740,300
47
47
#
47
Week ending
November 22, 1972
Film
Lady Sings the Blues
Gross
$868,300
Notes
Lady Sings the Blues reached number one in its fifth week on the chart
48
48
#
48
Week ending
November 29, 1972
Film
$924,250
49
49
#
49
Week ending
December 6, 1972
Film
$581,600
50
50
#
50
Week ending
December 13, 1972
Film
$468,245
51
51
#
51
Week ending
December 20, 1972
Film
Man of La Mancha
Gross
$365,996
52
52
#
52
Week ending
December 27, 1972
Film
The Poseidon Adventure
Gross
$777,700
Notes
The Poseidon Adventure reached number one in its second week of release
| # | Week ending | Film | Gross | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | January 5, 1972 | Diamonds Are Forever | $1,551,359 | ||
| 2 | January 12, 1972 | $1,717,800 | |||
| 3 | January 19, 1972 | $963,450 | |||
| 4 | January 26, 1972 | $834,600 | |||
| 5 | February 2, 1972 | $660,962 | |||
| 6 | February 9, 1972 | The French Connection | $769,200 | The French Connection returned to number one in its 18th week on the chart | |
| 7 | February 16, 1972 | $711,400 | |||
| 8 | February 23, 1972 | Dirty Harry | $601,500 | Dirty Harry reached number one in its ninth week on the chart | |
| 9 | March 1, 1972 | The Last Picture Show | $465,350 | The Last Picture Show reached number one in its 21st week on the chart | |
| 10 | March 8, 1972 | The Hospital | $623,380 | The Hospital reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart | |
| 11 | March 15, 1972 | Dirty Harry | $726,500 | Dirty Harry returned to number one in its twelfth week on the chart | |
| 12 | March 22, 1972 | The Godfather † | $568,800 | ||
| 13 | March 29, 1972 | $2,698,500 | |||
| 14 | April 5, 1972 | $2,495,100 | |||
| 15 | April 12, 1972 | $2,348,100 | |||
| 16 | April 19, 1972 | $1,978,300 | |||
| 17 | April 26, 1972 | $1,775,800 | |||
| 18 | May 3, 1972 | $1,574,200 | |||
| 19 | May 10, 1972 | $1,313,600 | |||
| 20 | May 17, 1972 | $1,164,700 | |||
| 21 | May 24, 1972 | $3,188,000 | First film to gross over $3 million in a week in the cities sampled | ||
| 22 | May 31, 1972 | $2,976,600 | |||
| 23 | June 7, 1972 | $2,691,200 | |||
| 24 | June 14, 1972 | $1,814,100 | |||
| 25 | June 21, 1972 | $1,633,600 | |||
| 26 | June 28, 1972 | $1,687,800 | |||
| 27 | July 5, 1972 | $1,398,541 | |||
| 28 | July 12, 1972 | $1,112,900 | |||
| 29 | July 19, 1972 | $1,811,400 | |||
| 30 | July 26, 1972 | $1,316,800 | |||
| 31 | August 2, 1972 | $1,275,435 | |||
| 32 | August 9, 1972 | $895,500 | |||
| 33 | August 16, 1972 | $719,200 | |||
| 34 | August 23, 1972 | $610,810 | |||
| 35 | August 30, 1972 | Butterflies Are Free | $678,900 | Butterflies Are Free reached number one in its eighth week on the chart | |
| 36 | September 6, 1972 | The Godfather † | $1,029,900 | The Godfather returned to number one in its 25th week of release | |
| 37 | September 13, 1972 | $668,000 | |||
| 38 | September 20, 1972 | $456,150 | |||
| 39 | September 27, 1972 | Super Fly | $625,500 | Super Fly reached number one in its eighth week on the chart | |
| 40 | October 4, 1972 | $457,050 | |||
| 41 | October 11, 1972 | The New Centurions | $652,550 | The New Centurions reached number one in its tenth week on the chart | |
| 42 | October 18, 1972 | $429,950 | |||
| 43 | October 25, 1972 | Slaughter | $525,000 | Slaughter reached number one in its tenth week on the chart | |
| 44 | November 1, 1972 | Deliverance | $324,720 | Deliverance reached number one in its thirteenth week on the chart | |
| 45 | November 8, 1972 | The Valachi Papers | $749,000 | The Valachi Papers reached number one in its third week on the chart | |
| 46 | November 15, 1972 | $740,300 | |||
| 47 | November 22, 1972 | Lady Sings the Blues | $868,300 | Lady Sings the Blues reached number one in its fifth week on the chart | |
| 48 | November 29, 1972 | $924,250 | |||
| 49 | December 6, 1972 | $581,600 |
· Highest-grossing films
1.
1.
Rank
1.
Title
The Godfather
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
2,176
Gross ($)
43,170,087
2.
2.
Rank
2.
Title
Fiddler on the Roof
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
920
Gross ($)
13,714,068
3.
3.
Rank
3.
Title
Cabaret
Studio
Allied Artists
Playing weeks
1,254
Gross ($)
10,869,847
4.
4.
Rank
4.
Title
The French Connection
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
1,279
Gross ($)
10,868,314
5.
5.
Rank
5.
Title
What's Up, Doc?
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
733
Gross ($)
8,714,177
6.
6.
Rank
6.
Title
A Clockwork Orange
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
611
Gross ($)
8,039,240
7.
7.
Rank
7.
Title
Diamonds Are Forever
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
683
Gross ($)
7,526,861
8.
8.
Rank
8.
Title
The Hospital
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
953
Gross ($)
6,878,594
9.
9.
Rank
9.
Title
The Last Picture Show
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
911
Gross ($)
6,824,005
10.
10.
Rank
10.
Title
Dirty Harry
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
750
Gross ($)
6,392,199
11.
11.
Rank
11.
Title
Super Fly
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
399
Gross ($)
6,279,996
12.
12.
Rank
12.
Title
Butterflies Are Free
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
639
Gross ($)
5,092,177
13.
13.
Rank
13.
Title
Lady Sings the Blues
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
435
Gross ($)
4,874,806
14.
14.
Rank
14.
Title
Frenzy
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
601
Gross ($)
4,819,132
15.
15.
Rank
15.
Title
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
533
Gross ($)
4,718,382
16.
16.
Rank
16.
Title
Play It Again, Sam
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
442
Gross ($)
4,700,092
17.
17.
Rank
17.
Title
The New Centurions
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
628
Gross ($)
4,629,644
18.
18.
Rank
18.
Title
Nicholas and Alexandra
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
463
Gross ($)
4,311,812
19.
19.
Rank
19.
Title
Deliverance
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
265
Gross ($)
4,048,073
20.
20.
Rank
20.
Title
The Valachi Papers
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
272
Gross ($)
3,713,719
21.
21.
Rank
21.
Title
Fritz the Cat
Studio
Cinemation
Playing weeks
388
Gross ($)
3,683,108
22.
22.
Rank
22.
Title
Midnight Cowboy
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
10
Gross ($)
3,335,739
23.
23.
Rank
23.
Title
Shaft's Big Score
Studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Playing weeks
225
Gross ($)
3,151,923
24.
24.
Rank
24.
Title
Buck and the Preacher
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
276
Gross ($)
3,089,286
25.
25.
Rank
25.
Title
The Other
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
375
Gross ($)
2,638,754
| Rank | Title | Studio | Playing weeks | Gross ($) |
| 1. | The Godfather | Paramount | 2,176 | 43,170,087 |
| 2. | Fiddler on the Roof | United Artists | 920 | 13,714,068 |
| 3. | Cabaret | Allied Artists | 1,254 | 10,869,847 |
| 4. | The French Connection | 20th Century Fox | 1,279 | 10,868,314 |
| 5. | What's Up, Doc? | Warner Bros. | 733 | 8,714,177 |
| 6. | A Clockwork Orange | Warner Bros. | 611 | 8,039,240 |
| 7. | Diamonds Are Forever | United Artists | 683 | 7,526,861 |
| 8. | The Hospital | United Artists | 953 | 6,878,594 |
| 9. | The Last Picture Show | Columbia | 911 | 6,824,005 |
| 10. | Dirty Harry | Warner Bros. | 750 | 6,392,199 |
| 11. | Super Fly | Warner Bros. | 399 | 6,279,996 |
| 12. | Butterflies Are Free | Columbia | 639 | 5,092,177 |
| 13. | Lady Sings the Blues | Paramount | 435 | 4,874,806 |
| 14. | Frenzy | Universal | 601 | 4,819,132 |
| 15. | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) | United Artists | 533 | 4,718,382 |
| 16. | Play It Again, Sam | Paramount | 442 | 4,700,092 |
| 17. | The New Centurions | Columbia | 628 | 4,629,644 |
| 18. | Nicholas and Alexandra | Columbia | 463 | 4,311,812 |
| 19. | Deliverance | Warner Bros. | 265 | 4,048,073 |
| 20. | The Valachi Papers | Columbia | 272 | 3,713,719 |
| 21. | Fritz the Cat | Cinemation | 388 | 3,683,108 |
| 22. | Midnight Cowboy | United Artists | 10 | 3,335,739 |
| 23. | Shaft's Big Score | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 225 | 3,151,923 |
| 24. | Buck and the Preacher | Columbia | 276 | 3,089,286 |
| 25. | The Other | 20th Century Fox | 375 | 2,638,754 |
· Chronology
| Preceded by1971 | 1972 | Succeeded by1973 |
References
- Playing weeks represent one film in one theatre for one week
- Variety noted that the total grosses that they collated represented about one-third of total U.S. grosses as defined by
- Playing weeks represent one film in one theatre for one week
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-01-12_265_9/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-01-19_265_10/page/17
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-01-26_265_11/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-02-02_265_12/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-02-09_265_13/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-02-16_266_1/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-02-23_266_2/page/16
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-03-01_266_3/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-03-08_266_4/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-03-15_266_5/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-03-22_266_6/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-03-29_266_7/page/21
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-04-05_266_8/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-04-12_266_9/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-04-19_266_10/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-04-26_266_11/page/14
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-05-03_266_12/page/17
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-05-10_266_13/page/17
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-05-17_267_1/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-05-24_267_2/page/n8
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-06-07_267_4/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-06-14_267_5/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-06-21_267_6/page/10
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-07-05_267_8/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-07-12_267_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-07-19_267_10/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-07-26_267_11/page/n11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-08-02_267_12/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-08-09_267_13/page/11
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-08-23_268_2/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-08-30_268_3/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-09-06_268_4/page/n10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-09-13_268_5/page/10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-09-20_268_6/page/n10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-09-27_268_7/page/n8/mode/1up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-10-04_268_8/page/n8/mode/1up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-10-11_268_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-10-25_268_11/page/17
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-11-01_268_12/page/11
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-11-15_269_1/page/n7/mode/2up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-11-22_269_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-11-29_269_3/page/21
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-12-06_269_4/page/9/mode/1up?view=theater
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-12-13_269_5/page/n10/mode/1up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-12-20_269_6/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-12-27_269_7/page/n10/mode/2up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-01-10_269_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-05-09_270_13/page/44
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-05-09_270_13/page/44