List of 1974 box office number-one films in the United States
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:30:12 AM Wikipedia source
This is a list of films which placed number one at the weekly box office in the United States during 1974 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 2, 1974
Film
Papillon
Gross
$1,463,300
Notes
Papillon reached number one in its second week of release
2
2
#
2
Week ending
January 9, 1974
Film
The Exorcist †
Gross
$1,007,800
Notes
The Exorcist reached number one in its second week of release
3
3
#
3
Week ending
January 16, 1974
Film
$1,365,500
4
4
#
4
Week ending
January 23, 1974
Film
$1,532,611
5
5
#
5
Week ending
January 30, 1974
Film
$1,535,896
6
6
#
6
Week ending
February 6, 1974
Film
$1,589,500
7
7
#
7
Week ending
February 13, 1974
Film
$1,369,500
8
8
#
8
Week ending
February 20, 1974
Film
$1,506,188
9
9
#
9
Week ending
February 27, 1974
Film
$1,312,000
10
10
#
10
Week ending
March 6, 1974
Film
$1,182,600
11
11
#
11
Week ending
March 13, 1974
Film
$1,012,100
12
12
#
12
Week ending
March 20, 1974
Film
$835,200
13
13
#
13
Week ending
March 27, 1974
Film
$743,283
14
14
#
14
Week ending
April 3, 1974
Film
The Sting
Gross
$1,332,300
Notes
The Sting reached number one in its 14th week on the chart
15
15
#
15
Week ending
April 10, 1974
Film
$1,585,100
16
16
#
16
Week ending
April 17, 1974
Film
Blazing Saddles
Gross
$1,233,700
Notes
Blazing Saddles reached number one in its tenth week of release
17
17
#
17
Week ending
April 24, 1974
Film
The Sting
Gross
$1,145,900
Notes
The Sting returned to number one in its 17th week on the chart
18
18
#
18
Week ending
May 1, 1974
Film
$1,032,900
19
19
#
19
Week ending
May 8, 1974
Film
$853,300
20
20
#
20
Week ending
May 15, 1974
Film
$815,000
21
21
#
21
Week ending
May 22, 1974
Film
$725,500
22
22
#
22
Week ending
May 29, 1974
Film
The Great Gatsby
Gross
$1,044,438
Notes
The Great Gatsby reached number one in its ninth week on the chart
23
23
#
23
Week ending
June 5, 1974
Film
The Sting
Gross
$759,700
Notes
The Sting returned to number one in its 23rd week on the chart
24
24
#
24
Week ending
June 12, 1974
Film
The Poseidon Adventure (reissue)
Gross
$575,500
25
25
#
25
Week ending
June 19, 1974
Film
The Lords of Flatbush
Gross
$612,000
Notes
The Lords of Flatbush reached number one in its seventh week on the chart
26
26
#
26
Week ending
June 26, 1974
Film
The Exorcist †
Gross
$4,061,300
Notes
The Exorcist returned to number one in its 26th week of release. First film to gross over $4 million in a week in the cities sampled
27
27
#
27
Week ending
July 3, 1974
Film
$2,547,437
28
28
#
28
Week ending
July 10, 1974
Film
$1,542,825
29
29
#
29
Week ending
July 17, 1974
Film
Herbie Rides Again
Gross
$860,200
Notes
Herbie Rides Again reached number one in its sixth week on the chart
30
30
#
30
Week ending
July 24, 1974
Film
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Gross
$869,202
Notes
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry reached number one in its ninth week on the chart
31
31
#
31
Week ending
July 31, 1974
Film
For Pete's Sake
Gross
$1,015,150
Notes
For Pete's Sake reached number one in its fifth week on the chart
32
32
#
32
Week ending
August 7, 1974
Film
$661,500
33
33
#
33
Week ending
August 14, 1974
Film
Return of the Dragon
Gross
$1,168,500
Notes
Return of the Dragon reached number one in its third week on the chart
34
34
#
34
Week ending
August 21, 1974
Film
That's Entertainment!
Gross
$1,307,900
Notes
That's Entertainment! reached number one in its 14th week on the chart
35
35
#
35
Week ending
August 28, 1974
Film
Chinatown
Gross
$1,272,000
Notes
Chinatown reached number one in its tenth week on the chart
36
36
#
36
Week ending
September 4, 1974
Film
$1,175,900
37
37
#
37
Week ending
September 11, 1974
Film
That's Entertainment!
Gross
$781,150
Notes
That's Entertainment! returned to number one in its 17th week on the chart
38
38
#
38
Week ending
September 18, 1974
Film
$524,350
39
39
#
39
Week ending
September 25, 1974
Film
Macon County Line
Gross
$458,000
Notes
Macon County Line reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart
40
40
#
40
Week ending
October 2, 1974
Film
The Longest Yard
Gross
$513,630
Notes
The Longest Yard reached number one in its sixth week on the chart
41
41
#
41
Week ending
October 9, 1974
Film
Cabaret (reissue)
Gross
$1,345,000
42
42
#
42
Week ending
October 16, 1974
Film
$687,000
43
43
#
43
Week ending
October 23, 1974
Film
Airport 1975
Gross
$903,934
44
44
#
44
Week ending
October 30, 1974
Film
The Longest Yard
Gross
$905,854
Notes
The Longest Yard returned to number one in its tenth week on the chart
45
45
#
45
Week ending
November 6, 1974
Film
$926,200
46
46
#
46
Week ending
November 13, 1974
Film
$816,500
47
47
#
47
Week ending
November 20, 1974
Film
The Trial of Billy Jack
Gross
$2,390,000
48
48
#
48
Week ending
November 27, 1974
Film
$2,026,000
49
49
#
49
Week ending
December 4, 1974
Film
$1,268,200
50
50
#
50
Week ending
December 11, 1974
Film
Death Wish
Gross
$693,951
Notes
Death Wish reached number one in its twentieth week on the chart
51
51
#
51
Week ending
December 18, 1974
Film
$600,900
52
52
#
52
Week ending
December 25, 1974
Film
The Godfather Part II
Gross
$1,450,135
Notes
The Godfather Part II reached number one in its second week of release
| # | Week ending | Film | Gross | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | January 2, 1974 | Papillon | $1,463,300 | Papillon reached number one in its second week of release | |
| 2 | January 9, 1974 | The Exorcist † | $1,007,800 | The Exorcist reached number one in its second week of release | |
| 3 | January 16, 1974 | $1,365,500 | |||
| 4 | January 23, 1974 | $1,532,611 | |||
| 5 | January 30, 1974 | $1,535,896 | |||
| 6 | February 6, 1974 | $1,589,500 | |||
| 7 | February 13, 1974 | $1,369,500 | |||
| 8 | February 20, 1974 | $1,506,188 | |||
| 9 | February 27, 1974 | $1,312,000 | |||
| 10 | March 6, 1974 | $1,182,600 | |||
| 11 | March 13, 1974 | $1,012,100 | |||
| 12 | March 20, 1974 | $835,200 | |||
| 13 | March 27, 1974 | $743,283 | |||
| 14 | April 3, 1974 | The Sting | $1,332,300 | The Sting reached number one in its 14th week on the chart | |
| 15 | April 10, 1974 | $1,585,100 | |||
| 16 | April 17, 1974 | Blazing Saddles | $1,233,700 | Blazing Saddles reached number one in its tenth week of release | |
| 17 | April 24, 1974 | The Sting | $1,145,900 | The Sting returned to number one in its 17th week on the chart | |
| 18 | May 1, 1974 | $1,032,900 | |||
| 19 | May 8, 1974 | $853,300 | |||
| 20 | May 15, 1974 | $815,000 | |||
| 21 | May 22, 1974 | $725,500 | |||
| 22 | May 29, 1974 | The Great Gatsby | $1,044,438 | The Great Gatsby reached number one in its ninth week on the chart | |
| 23 | June 5, 1974 | The Sting | $759,700 | The Sting returned to number one in its 23rd week on the chart | |
| 24 | June 12, 1974 | The Poseidon Adventure (reissue) | $575,500 | ||
| 25 | June 19, 1974 | The Lords of Flatbush | $612,000 | The Lords of Flatbush reached number one in its seventh week on the chart | |
| 26 | June 26, 1974 | The Exorcist † | $4,061,300 | The Exorcist returned to number one in its 26th week of release. First film to gross over $4 million in a week in the cities sampled | |
| 27 | July 3, 1974 | $2,547,437 | |||
| 28 | July 10, 1974 | $1,542,825 | |||
| 29 | July 17, 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | $860,200 | Herbie Rides Again reached number one in its sixth week on the chart | |
| 30 | July 24, 1974 | Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry | $869,202 | Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry reached number one in its ninth week on the chart | |
| 31 | July 31, 1974 | For Pete's Sake | $1,015,150 | For Pete's Sake reached number one in its fifth week on the chart | |
| 32 | August 7, 1974 | $661,500 | |||
| 33 | August 14, 1974 | Return of the Dragon | $1,168,500 | Return of the Dragon reached number one in its third week on the chart | |
| 34 | August 21, 1974 | That's Entertainment! | $1,307,900 | That's Entertainment! reached number one in its 14th week on the chart | |
| 35 | August 28, 1974 | Chinatown | $1,272,000 | Chinatown reached number one in its tenth week on the chart | |
| 36 | September 4, 1974 | $1,175,900 | |||
| 37 | September 11, 1974 | That's Entertainment! | $781,150 | That's Entertainment! returned to number one in its 17th week on the chart | |
| 38 | September 18, 1974 | $524,350 | |||
| 39 | September 25, 1974 | Macon County Line | $458,000 | Macon County Line reached number one in its twelfth week on the chart | |
| 40 | October 2, 1974 | The Longest Yard | $513,630 | The Longest Yard reached number one in its sixth week on the chart | |
| 41 | October 9, 1974 | Cabaret (reissue) | $1,345,000 | ||
| 42 | October 16, 1974 | $687,000 | |||
| 43 | October 23, 1974 | Airport 1975 | $903,934 | ||
| 44 | October 30, 1974 | The Longest Yard | $905,854 | The Longest Yard returned to number one in its tenth week on the chart | |
| 45 | November 6, 1974 | $926,200 | |||
| 46 | November 13, 1974 | $816,500 | |||
| 47 | November 20, 1974 | The Trial of Billy Jack | $2,390,000 | ||
| 48 | November 27, 1974 | $2,026,000 | |||
| 49 | December 4, 1974 | $1,268,200 |
· Highest-grossing films
1.
1.
Rank
1.
Title
The Exorcist
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
1,522
Gross ($)
31,541,887
2.
2.
Rank
2.
Title
The Sting
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
2,099
Gross ($)
26,380,982
3.
3.
Rank
3.
Title
Papillon
Studio
Allied Artists
Playing weeks
2,024
Gross ($)
14,732,236
4.
4.
Rank
4.
Title
Serpico
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
1,312
Gross ($)
10,287,816
5.
5.
Rank
5.
Title
American Graffiti
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
1,321
Gross ($)
9,526,412
6.
6.
Rank
6.
Title
That's Entertainment!
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
842
Gross ($)
9,368,447
7.
7.
Rank
7.
Title
Blazing Saddles
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
1,197
Gross ($)
9,234,062
8.
8.
Rank
8.
Title
Chinatown
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
994
Gross ($)
8,570,732
9.
9.
Rank
9.
Title
The Longest Yard
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
1,037
Gross ($)
7,604,614
10.
10.
Rank
10.
Title
The Great Gatsby
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
848
Gross ($)
7,443,580
11.
11.
Rank
11.
Title
The Trial of Billy Jack
Studio
Taylor-Laughlin
Playing weeks
854
Gross ($)
6,789,030
12.
12.
Rank
12.
Title
Vanishing Wilderness
Studio
Pacific International Enterprises
Playing weeks
367
Gross ($)
6,117,307
13.
13.
Rank
13.
Title
Death Wish
Studio
Paramount
Playing weeks
611
Gross ($)
6,089,607
14.
14.
Rank
14.
Title
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
878
Gross ($)
6,025,067
15.
15.
Rank
15.
Title
For Pete's Sake
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
820
Gross ($)
5,856,767
16.
16.
Rank
16.
Title
Sleeper
Studio
United Artists
Playing weeks
811
Gross ($)
5,852,424
17.
17.
Rank
17.
Title
Uptown Saturday Night
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
444
Gross ($)
5,413,089
18.
18.
Rank
18.
Title
Airport 1975
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
394
Gross ($)
5,390,607
19.
19.
Rank
19.
Title
Magnum Force
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
534
Gross ($)
5,309,704
20.
20.
Rank
20.
Title
Mame
Studio
Warner Bros.
Playing weeks
364
Gross ($)
4,955,672
21.
21.
Rank
21.
Title
Herbie Rides Again
Studio
Buena Vista
Playing weeks
477
Gross ($)
4,769,028
22.
22.
Rank
22.
Title
Earthquake
Studio
Universal
Playing weeks
153
Gross ($)
4,535,053
23.
23.
Rank
23.
Title
The Way We Were
Studio
Columbia
Playing weeks
943
Gross ($)
4,489,653
24.
24.
Rank
24.
Title
Buck and the Preacher
Studio
20th Century Fox
Playing weeks
685
Gross ($)
4,234,429
25.
25.
Rank
25.
Title
Return of the Dragon
Studio
Bryanston
Playing weeks
398
Gross ($)
4,223,269
| Rank | Title | Studio | Playing weeks | Gross ($) |
| 1. | The Exorcist | Warner Bros. | 1,522 | 31,541,887 |
| 2. | The Sting | Universal | 2,099 | 26,380,982 |
| 3. | Papillon | Allied Artists | 2,024 | 14,732,236 |
| 4. | Serpico | Paramount | 1,312 | 10,287,816 |
| 5. | American Graffiti | Universal | 1,321 | 9,526,412 |
| 6. | That's Entertainment! | United Artists | 842 | 9,368,447 |
| 7. | Blazing Saddles | Warner Bros. | 1,197 | 9,234,062 |
| 8. | Chinatown | Paramount | 994 | 8,570,732 |
| 9. | The Longest Yard | Paramount | 1,037 | 7,604,614 |
| 10. | The Great Gatsby | Paramount | 848 | 7,443,580 |
| 11. | The Trial of Billy Jack | Taylor-Laughlin | 854 | 6,789,030 |
| 12. | Vanishing Wilderness | Pacific International Enterprises | 367 | 6,117,307 |
| 13. | Death Wish | Paramount | 611 | 6,089,607 |
| 14. | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | 20th Century Fox | 878 | 6,025,067 |
| 15. | For Pete's Sake | Columbia | 820 | 5,856,767 |
| 16. | Sleeper | United Artists | 811 | 5,852,424 |
| 17. | Uptown Saturday Night | Warner Bros. | 444 | 5,413,089 |
| 18. | Airport 1975 | Universal | 394 | 5,390,607 |
| 19. | Magnum Force | Warner Bros. | 534 | 5,309,704 |
| 20. | Mame | Warner Bros. | 364 | 4,955,672 |
| 21. | Herbie Rides Again | Buena Vista | 477 | 4,769,028 |
| 22. | Earthquake | Universal | 153 | 4,535,053 |
| 23. | The Way We Were | Columbia | 943 | 4,489,653 |
| 24. | Buck and the Preacher | 20th Century Fox | 685 | 4,234,429 |
| 25. | Return of the Dragon | Bryanston | 398 | 4,223,269 |
· Chronology
| Preceded by1973 | 1974 | Succeeded by1975 |
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_1974-01-16_273_10/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-01-16_273_10/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-01-23_273_11/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-01-30_273_12/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-02-06_273_13/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-02-13_274_1/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-02-20_274_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-02-27_274_3/page/9
- Variety
- Variety
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-03-27_274_7/page/9
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-04-10_274_9/page/n8
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-04-24_274_11/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-01_274_12/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-08_274_13/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-15_275_1/page/15
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-22_275_2/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-05-29_275_3/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-06-05_275_4/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-06-12_275_5/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-06-19_275_6/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-06-26_275_7/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-07-03_275_8/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-07-10_275_9/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-07-17_275_10/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-07-24_275_11/page/14
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-07-31_275_12/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-08-07_275_13/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-08-14_276_1/page/10
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-08-28_276_3/page/n13
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-09-04_276_4/page/11
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-09-18_276_6/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-09-25_276_7/page/n9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-10-02_276_8/page/9
- Variety
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-10-16_276_10/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-10-23_276_11/page/25
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-10-30_276_12/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-11-06_276_13/page/n8/mode/1up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-11-13_277_1/page/11
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-11-20_277_2/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-11-27_277_3/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-12-04_277_4/page/n8
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-12-11_277_5/page/12
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-12-18_277_6/page/n8/mode/1up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1974-12-25_277_7/page/n9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1975-01-01_277_8/page/9
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1975-05-07_278_13/page/132/mode/2up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1975-05-07_278_13/page/132/mode/2up