1972 American Box Office: The Year of The Godfather
The cinematic landscape of 1972 was defined by a mix of sweeping crime epics, high-tension disaster movies, and provocative independent cinema. During this era, the domestic box office gross—the total revenue generated from ticket sales within the United States—served as the primary metric for a film's commercial success.
The year was dominated by a few powerhouse studios, with Paramount and Warner Bros. securing multiple spots in the top ten, reflecting a period of significant growth for major studio productions.
Key Facts
- The Godfather was the highest-grossing film of the year, earning over $133 million.
- Paramount Pictures held two positions in the top ten.
- Warner Bros. also secured two spots among the top ten earners.
- The top five films all surpassed $45 million in domestic revenue.
The Top Earners of 1972
At the pinnacle of the 1972 charts was The Godfather, distributed by Paramount. It stood far above its competitors, grossing $133,698,921 and cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon.
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Following the crime epic was The Poseidon Adventure, a disaster film from 20th Century Fox that earned $93,300,000. The third spot was taken by the comedy What's Up, Doc?, which brought in $57,142,740 for Warner Bros.
Mid-Tier Successes and Independent Hits
The middle of the rankings featured a diverse array of genres. Deliverance and Deep Throat both earned roughly $45 million to $46 million, while Jeremiah Johnson (Warner Bros.) followed closely at $44,693,786.
Rounding out the top ten were Cabaret, The Getaway, Last Tango in Paris, and Lady Sings the Blues, with the latter earning $19,726,490.
1972 Domestic Box Office Summary
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the top ten highest-grossing American films of 1972, based on estimates from The Numbers.
| Rank | Title | Distributor | Domestic Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Godfather | Paramount | $133,698,921 |
| 2 | The Poseidon Adventure | 20th Century Fox | $93,300,000 |
| 3 | What's Up, Doc? | Warner Bros. | $57,142,740 |
| 4 | Deliverance | N/A | $46,122,355 |
| 5 | Deep Throat | Bryanston Distributing Company | $45,000,000 |
| 6 | Jeremiah Johnson | Warner Bros. | $44,693,786 |
| 7 | Cabaret | Allied Artists | $41,326,446 |
| 8 | The Getaway | National General | $36,734,619 |
| 9 | Last Tango in Paris | United Artists | $36,144,824 |
| 10 | Lady Sings the Blues | Paramount | $19,726,490 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film was the most successful in 1972?
The Godfather was the most successful film of the year, earning a domestic gross of $133,698,921.
Which distributors had multiple films in the top ten?
Both Paramount and Warner Bros. had two films each in the top ten list for 1972.
How much did The Poseidon Adventure earn?
The Poseidon Adventure, distributed by 20th Century Fox, earned $93,300,000.
What was the lowest grossing film in the top ten?
Lady Sings the Blues was the lowest grossing film in the top ten, with a domestic gross of $19,726,490.
Who distributed the film Deep Throat?
Deep Throat was distributed by the Bryanston Distributing Company.