List of 1973 box office number-one films in the United States
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:32:33 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of films which placed number one at the weekly box office in the United States during 1973 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 3, 1973
Film
The Poseidon Adventure †
Gross
$773,000
2
2
#
2
Week ending
January 10, 1973
Film
The Getaway
Gross
$874,800
Notes
The Getaway reached number one in its third week of release
3
3
#
3
Week ending
January 17, 1973
Film
The Poseidon Adventure †
Gross
$634,500
Notes
The Poseidon Adventure returned to number one in its fifth week of release
4
4
#
4
Week ending
January 24, 1973
Film
$649,400
5
5
#
5
Week ending
January 31, 1973
Film
$533,300
6
6
#
6
Week ending
February 7, 1973
Film
$1,274,500
7
7
#
7
Week ending
February 14, 1973
Film
$1,116,400
8
8
#
8
Week ending
February 21, 1973
Film
$1,104,100
9
9
#
9
Week ending
February 28, 1973
Film
$749,800
10
10
#
10
Week ending
March 7, 1973
Film
$596,700
11
11
#
11
Week ending
March 14, 1973
Film
The Getaway
Gross
$489,280
Notes
The Getaway returned to number one in its twelfth week of release
12
12
#
12
Week ending
March 21, 1973
Film
The Poseidon Adventure †
Gross
$438,100
Notes
The Poseidon Adventure returned to number one in its 14th week of release
13
13
#
13
Week ending
March 28, 1973
Film
Five Fingers Of Death
Gross
$696,000
14
14
#
14
Week ending
April 4, 1973
Film
Cabaret
Gross
$983,950
Notes
Cabaret reached number one in its 59th week of release. It grossed $1,880,000 nationally, a record for Allied Artists
15
15
#
15
Week ending
April 11, 1973
Film
$833,700
16
16
#
16
Week ending
April 18, 1973
Film
Five Fingers Of Death
Gross
$440,500
Notes
Five Fingers Of Death returned to number one in its fourth week of release
17
17
#
17
Week ending
April 25, 1973
Film
Soylent Green
Gross
$674,500
18
18
#
18
Week ending
May 2, 1973
Film
$537,150
19
19
#
19
Week ending
May 9, 1973
Film
Fists of Fury
Gross
$697,000
20
20
#
20
Week ending
May 16, 1973
Film
The Poseidon Adventure †
Gross
$363,800
Notes
The Poseidon Adventure returned to number one in its 22nd week of release
21
21
#
21
Week ending
May 23, 1973
Film
Last Tango in Paris
Gross
$384,200
Notes
Last Tango In Paris reached number one in its 16th week of release
22
22
#
22
Week ending
May 30, 1973
Film
High Plains Drifter
Gross
$791,700
Notes
High Plains Drifter reached number one in its eighth week on the chart
23
23
#
23
Week ending
June 6, 1973
Film
$460,500
24
24
#
24
Week ending
June 13, 1973
Film
The Chinese Connection
Gross
$694,850
Notes
The Chinese Connection reached number one in its second week of release
25
25
#
25
Week ending
June 20, 1973
Film
The Hammer of God
Gross
$467,000
26
26
#
26
Week ending
June 27, 1973
Film
Scarecrow
Gross
$627,600
Notes
Scarecrow reached number one in its ninth week on the chart
27
27
#
27
Week ending
July 4, 1973
Film
Live and Let Die
Gross
$1,868,100
28
28
#
28
Week ending
July 11, 1973
Film
$1,203,690
29
29
#
29
Week ending
July 18, 1973
Film
$858,900
30
30
#
30
Week ending
July 25, 1973
Film
$731,400
31
31
#
31
Week ending
August 1, 1973
Film
Karado: The Hong Kong Flash
Gross
$725,000
32
32
#
32
Week ending
August 8, 1973
Film
Live and Let Die
Gross
$514,950
Notes
Live and Let Die returned to number one in its sixth week of release
33
33
#
33
Week ending
August 15, 1973
Film
Coffy
Gross
$625,750
Notes
Coffy reached number one in its 14th week of release
34
34
#
34
Week ending
August 22, 1973
Film
Paper Moon
Gross
$911,685
Notes
Paper Moon reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart
35
35
#
35
Week ending
August 29, 1973
Film
Enter the Dragon
Gross
$802,280
Notes
Enter the Dragon reached number one in its second week of release
36
36
#
36
Week ending
September 5, 1973
Film
$825,300
37
37
#
37
Week ending
September 12, 1973
Film
Lady Kung Fu
Gross
$699,000
38
38
#
38
Week ending
September 19, 1973
Film
The Shanghai Killers
Gross
$399,600
Notes
Shanghai Killers reached number one in its third week on the chart
39
39
#
39
Week ending
September 26, 1973
Film
Dillinger
Gross
$412,000
Notes
Dillinger reached number one in its 13th week on the chart
40
40
#
40
Week ending
October 3, 1973
Film
Deadly China Doll
Gross
$400,000
41
41
#
41
Week ending
October 10, 1973
Film
Enter the Dragon
Gross
$643,200
Notes
Enter the Dragon returned to number one in its eighth week of release
42
42
#
42
Week ending
October 17, 1973
Film
The Cheerleaders/Fritz the Cat (double bill)
Gross
$260,000
43
43
#
43
Week ending
October 24, 1973
Film
Paper Moon
Gross
$465,800
Notes
Paper Moon returned to number one in its 21st week on the chart
44
44
#
44
Week ending
October 31, 1973
Film
Billy Jack (reissue)
Gross
$2,526,455
45
45
#
45
Week ending
November 7, 1973
Film
$2,085,425
46
46
#
46
Week ending
November 14, 1973
Film
$1,258,167
47
47
#
47
Week ending
November 21, 1973
Film
The Way We Were
Gross
$1,345,000
Notes
The Way We Were reached number one in its fifth week on the chart
48
48
#
48
Week ending
November 28, 1973
Film
$1,496,100
49
49
#
49
Week ending
December 5, 1973
Film
$967,700
50
50
#
50
Week ending
December 12, 1973
Film
$772,500
51
51
#
51
Week ending
December 19, 1973
Film
$504,100
52
52
#
52
Week ending
December 26, 1973
Film
Serpico
Gross
$907,102
Notes
Serpico reached number one in its third week of release
| # | Week ending | Film | Gross | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | January 3, 1973 | The Poseidon Adventure † | $773,000 | ||
| 2 | January 10, 1973 | The Getaway | $874,800 | The Getaway reached number one in its third week of release | |
| 3 | January 17, 1973 | The Poseidon Adventure † | $634,500 | The Poseidon Adventure returned to number one in its fifth week of release | |
| 4 | January 24, 1973 | $649,400 | |||
| 5 | January 31, 1973 | $533,300 | |||
| 6 | February 7, 1973 | $1,274,500 | |||
| 7 | February 14, 1973 | $1,116,400 | |||
| 8 | February 21, 1973 | $1,104,100 | |||
| 9 | February 28, 1973 | $749,800 | |||
| 10 | March 7, 1973 | $596,700 | |||
| 11 | March 14, 1973 | The Getaway | $489,280 | The Getaway returned to number one in its twelfth week of release | |
| 12 | March 21, 1973 | The Poseidon Adventure † | $438,100 | The Poseidon Adventure returned to number one in its 14th week of release | |
| 13 | March 28, 1973 | Five Fingers Of Death | $696,000 | ||
| 14 | April 4, 1973 | Cabaret | $983,950 | Cabaret reached number one in its 59th week of release. It grossed $1,880,000 nationally, a record for Allied Artists | |
| 15 | April 11, 1973 | $833,700 | |||
| 16 | April 18, 1973 | Five Fingers Of Death | $440,500 | Five Fingers Of Death returned to number one in its fourth week of release | |
| 17 | April 25, 1973 | Soylent Green | $674,500 | ||
| 18 | May 2, 1973 | $537,150 | |||
| 19 | May 9, 1973 | Fists of Fury | $697,000 | ||
| 20 | May 16, 1973 | The Poseidon Adventure † | $363,800 | The Poseidon Adventure returned to number one in its 22nd week of release | |
| 21 | May 23, 1973 | Last Tango in Paris | $384,200 | Last Tango In Paris reached number one in its 16th week of release | |
| 22 | May 30, 1973 | High Plains Drifter | $791,700 | High Plains Drifter reached number one in its eighth week on the chart | |
| 23 | June 6, 1973 | $460,500 | |||
| 24 | June 13, 1973 | The Chinese Connection | $694,850 | The Chinese Connection reached number one in its second week of release | |
| 25 | June 20, 1973 | The Hammer of God | $467,000 | ||
| 26 | June 27, 1973 | Scarecrow | $627,600 | Scarecrow reached number one in its ninth week on the chart | |
| 27 | July 4, 1973 | Live and Let Die | $1,868,100 | ||
| 28 | July 11, 1973 | $1,203,690 | |||
| 29 | July 18, 1973 | $858,900 | |||
| 30 | July 25, 1973 | $731,400 | |||
| 31 | August 1, 1973 | Karado: The Hong Kong Flash | $725,000 | ||
| 32 | August 8, 1973 | Live and Let Die | $514,950 | Live and Let Die returned to number one in its sixth week of release | |
| 33 | August 15, 1973 | Coffy | $625,750 | Coffy reached number one in its 14th week of release | |
| 34 | August 22, 1973 | Paper Moon | $911,685 | Paper Moon reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart | |
| 35 | August 29, 1973 | Enter the Dragon | $802,280 | Enter the Dragon reached number one in its second week of release | |
| 36 | September 5, 1973 | $825,300 | |||
| 37 | September 12, 1973 | Lady Kung Fu | $699,000 | ||
| 38 | September 19, 1973 | The Shanghai Killers | $399,600 | Shanghai Killers reached number one in its third week on the chart | |
| 39 | September 26, 1973 | Dillinger | $412,000 | Dillinger reached number one in its 13th week on the chart | |
| 40 | October 3, 1973 | Deadly China Doll | $400,000 | ||
| 41 | October 10, 1973 | Enter the Dragon | $643,200 | Enter the Dragon returned to number one in its eighth week of release | |
| 42 | October 17, 1973 | The Cheerleaders/Fritz the Cat (double bill) | $260,000 | ||
| 43 | October 24, 1973 | Paper Moon | $465,800 | Paper Moon returned to number one in its 21st week on the chart | |
| 44 | October 31, 1973 | Billy Jack (reissue) | $2,526,455 | ||
| 45 | November 7, 1973 | $2,085,425 | |||
| 46 | November 14, 1973 | $1,258,167 | |||
| 47 | November 21, 1973 | The Way We Were | $1,345,000 | The Way We Were reached number one in its fifth week on the chart | |
| 48 | November 28, 1973 | $1,496,100 | |||
| 49 | December 5, 1973 | $967,700 |
· Highest-grossing films
1.
1.
Rank
1.
Title
The Poseidon Adventure
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
1,229
Gross ($)
12,850,359
2.
2.
Rank
2.
Title
Billy Jack
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
1,446
Gross ($)
9,328,613
3.
3.
Rank
3.
Title
Last Tango in Paris
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
804
Gross ($)
8,937,300
4.
4.
Rank
4.
Title
The Way We Were
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
690
Gross ($)
8,184,256
5.
5.
Rank
5.
Title
Live and Let Die
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
803
Gross ($)
7,739,979
6.
6.
Rank
6.
Title
The Devil in Miss Jones
Studio
MBL
Playing weeks
607
Gross ($)
7,681,782
7.
7.
Rank
7.
Title
Paper Moon
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
954
Gross ($)
7,245,869
8.
8.
Rank
8.
Title
The Getaway
Studio
National General Pictures
Playing weeks
594
Gross ($)
5,244,568
9.
9.
Rank
9.
Title
The Heartbreak Kid
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
663
Gross ($)
4,708,831
10.
10.
Rank
10.
Title
Deliverance
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
757
Gross ($)
4,626,320
11.
11.
Rank
11.
Title
Deep Throat
Studio
Damiano
Playing weeks
182
Gross ($)
4,617,211
12.
12.
Rank
12.
Title
Sleuth
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
547
Gross ($)
4,528,312
13.
13.
Rank
13.
Title
Cabaret
Studio
Allied Artists
Playing weeks
1,080
Gross ($)
4,511,703
14.
14.
Rank
14.
Title
Jesus Christ Superstar
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
485
Gross ($)
4,267,763
15.
15.
Rank
15.
Title
The Day of the Jackal
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
563
Gross ($)
4,234,494
16.
16.
Rank
16.
Title
American Graffiti
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
411
Gross ($)
4,227,708
17.
17.
Rank
17.
Title
A Touch of Class
Studio
Avco Embassy
Playing weeks
527
Gross ($)
4,202,988
18.
18.
Rank
18.
Title
Enter the Dragon
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
351
Gross ($)
3,835,710
19.
19.
Rank
19.
Title
Tom Sawyer
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
335
Gross ($)
3,688,035
20.
20.
Rank
20.
Title
Sounder
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
566
Gross ($)
3,675,623
21.
21.
Rank
21.
Title
Five Fingers Of Death
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
408
Gross ($)
3,638,868
22.
22.
Rank
22.
Title
Across 110th Street
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
528
Gross ($)
3,560,285
23.
23.
Rank
23.
Title
Pete 'n' Tillie
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
510
Gross ($)
3,432,595
24.
24.
Rank
24.
Title
Westworld
Studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Playing weeks
434
Gross ($)
3,369,655
25.
25.
Rank
25.
Title
Man of La Mancha
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
361
Gross ($)
3,192,703
| Rank | Title | Studio | Playing weeks | Gross ($) |
| 1. | The Poseidon Adventure | 20th Century Fox | 1,229 | 12,850,359 |
| 2. | Billy Jack | Warner Bros. | 1,446 | 9,328,613 |
| 3. | Last Tango in Paris | United Artists | 804 | 8,937,300 |
| 4. | The Way We Were | Columbia | 690 | 8,184,256 |
| 5. | Live and Let Die | United Artists | 803 | 7,739,979 |
| 6. | The Devil in Miss Jones | MBL | 607 | 7,681,782 |
| 7. | Paper Moon | Paramount | 954 | 7,245,869 |
| 8. | The Getaway | National General Pictures | 594 | 5,244,568 |
| 9. | The Heartbreak Kid | 20th Century Fox | 663 | 4,708,831 |
| 10. | Deliverance | Warner Bros. | 757 | 4,626,320 |
| 11. | Deep Throat | Damiano | 182 | 4,617,211 |
| 12. | Sleuth | 20th Century Fox | 547 | 4,528,312 |
| 13. | Cabaret | Allied Artists | 1,080 | 4,511,703 |
| 14. | Jesus Christ Superstar | Universal | 485 | 4,267,763 |
| 15. | The Day of the Jackal | Universal | 563 | 4,234,494 |
| 16. | American Graffiti | Universal | 411 | 4,227,708 |
| 17. | A Touch of Class | Avco Embassy | 527 | 4,202,988 |
| 18. | Enter the Dragon | Warner Bros. | 351 | 3,835,710 |
| 19. | Tom Sawyer | United Artists | 335 | 3,688,035 |
| 20. | Sounder | 20th Century Fox | 566 | 3,675,623 |
| 21. | Five Fingers Of Death | Warner Bros. | 408 | 3,638,868 |
| 22. | Across 110th Street | United Artists | 528 | 3,560,285 |
| 23. | Pete 'n' Tillie | Universal | 510 | 3,432,595 |
| 24. | Westworld | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 434 | 3,369,655 |
| 25. | Man of La Mancha | United Artists | 361 | 3,192,703 |
· Chronology
| Preceded by1972 | 1973 | Succeeded by1974 |
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_1973-01-10_269_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-01-17_269_10/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-01-24_269_11/page/10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-01-31_269_12/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-02-07_269_13/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-02-14_270_1/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-02-21_270_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-02-28_270_3/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-03-07_270_4/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-03-14_270_5/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-03-21_270_6/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-03-28_270_7/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-04-04_270_8/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-04-11_270_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-04-04_270_8/page/5
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-04-18_270_10/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-04-25_270_11/page/10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-05-02_270_12/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-05-09_270_13/page/19
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-05-23_271_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-05-30_271_3/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-06-06_271_4/page/11
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-06-20_271_6/page/13
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-07-25_271_11/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-08-01_271_12/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-08-08_271_13/page/10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-08-15_272_1/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-08-22_272_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-08-29_272_3/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-09-05_272_4/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-09-12_272_5/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-09-19_272_6/page/13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-09-26_272_7/page/14
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-10-03_272_8/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-10-10_272_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-10-17_272_10/page/10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-10-24_272_11/page/9
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-11-14_273_1/page/10
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-11-21_273_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-11-28_273_3/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-12-05_273_4/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-12-12_273_5/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-12-19_273_6/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1973-12-26_273_7/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-01-02_273_8/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-08_274_13/page/68/mode/2up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-08_274_13/page/68/mode/2up