Most Popular Movies 1974
This chart shows the 1974 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1974 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1974 - Top 1974 Worldwide
| Most Popular Overall | 1975 → |
1
| Chinatown |
| Director: Roman Polanski |
| Lead Roles: Jack Nicholson as J.J. Gittes, Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Cross Mulwray |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 21, 1974 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Film Noir, Private Investigator, Surprise Twist, Sex Crimes, Dysfunctional Family, Directing Yourself, Government Corruption, Corporate Malfeasance, False Identity, Incest, Inspired by a True Story, Crime Thriller, 1975 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $23,169,837 |
|
International BO: $492 |
Synopsis
When Los Angeles private eye J.J. “Jake” Gittes is hired by Evelyn Mulwray to investigate her husband’s activities, he believes it’s a routine infidelity case. Jake’s investigation soon becomes anything but routine when he meets the real Mrs. Mulwray and realizes he was hired by an imposter. Mr. Mulwray’s sudden death sets Gittes on a tangled trail of corruption, deceit and sinister family secrets as Evelyn’s father becomes a suspect in the case.
2
| Blazing Saddles |
| Director: Mel Brooks |
| Lead Roles: Cleavon Little as Bart, Gene Wilder as Jim, The Waco Kid |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 7, 1974 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Spoof, Same Actor, Multiple Roles, Government Corruption, Trains, Gangs, Bigotry, African Americans, Comedy Westerns |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $119,500,000 |
|
International BO: $603 |
3
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| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre |
| Director: Tobe Hooper |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 18, 1974 (Wide) by New Line |
| Keywords: Cannibalism, Hicksploitation, Remade, Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $26,572,439 |
|
International BO: $722 |
4
| The Conversation |
| Director: Francis Ford Coppola |
| Lead Roles: Gene Hackman as Harry Caul |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 7, 1974 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Psychological Thriller, Witnessing a Crime, Infidelity, Surprise Twist, Unnamed Character, Paranoia, Set in San Francisco, Catholic, Corporate Malfeasance, Loss of Privacy, 1975 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $4,574,909 |
Synopsis
Lonely wiretapping expert Harry Caul is hired to record a seemingly innocuous conversation between two lovers. Upon re-hearing the tapes, however, Caul believes he may be putting the couple in danger if he turns the material over to his client. But what one hears can ultimately turn out to be quite different from what was actually recorded.
5
| The Longest Yard |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 30, 1974 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Football, Prison |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $43,008,075 |
6
| Earthquake |
| Director: Mark Robson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 15, 1974 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Disaster, Survival Drama |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $79,700,000 |
7
| Young Frankenstein |
| Director: Mel Brooks |
| Lead Roles: Gene Wilder as Dr. Frankenstein |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 15, 1974 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Monster, Retro Black and White, Spoof, Mad Scientist, Father’s Footsteps |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $86,300,000 |
|
International BO: $489 |
Synopsis
The grandson of Victor Frankenstein, a neurosurgeon, has spent his life living down the legend of his grandfather, even changing the pronunciation of his name. When he discovers his grandfather's diary, he begins to feel differently, and returns to the family castle to satisfy his curiosity by replicating his ancestor’s experiments. In the process, he creates one very unique monster.
8
| Thunderbolt and Lightfoot |
| Director: Michael Cimino |
| Lead Roles: Clint Eastwood as John 'Thunderbolt' Doherty |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 1, 1974 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Action Comedy, Heist, Crime, Bank Robbery, Gangs, Fugitive / On the Run, No Honor Among Thieves, Death of a Partner |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $25,000,000 |
9
| Claudine |
| Director: John Berry |
| Lead Roles: Diahann Carroll as Claudine, James Earl Jones as Roop |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1974 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: African Americans, Comedy Drama, Romance, Divorcée Romance, Poverty, Set in Harlem, Set in New York City, Set in New York, Relationships Gone Wrong, Dysfunctional Family, Single Parent |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $6,000,000 |
10
| Murder on the Orient Express |
| Director: Sidney Lumet |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 22, 1974 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Murder Mystery, Mystery Drama, Trains, Surprise Twist, Revenge |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $35,733,867 |
|
International BO: $1,974,270 |
11
| Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 17, 1974 (Wide) |
|
Domestic BO: $28,401,735 |
12
| Promised Lands |
| Initial Theatrical Release: 1974 (Wide) by The Film Desk |
|
Domestic BO: $4,546 |
13
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| Stavisky |
| Director: Alain Resnais |
| Lead Roles: Jean-Paul Belmondo as Serge Alexandre Stavisky |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 22, 1974 (Limited) by Cinemation Industries |
| Keywords: Confidence Men, Infidelity, Non-Chronological, Government Corruption, 1930s, Faked Suicide, Corrupt Cops, Breaking the Fourth Wall |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Drama, Live Action |
|
Domestic BO: $13,139 |
Synopsis
From money laundering to influence-peddling, casino gambling to dabbling in controversial politics, the life of Serge Alexandre, aka Stavisky, flashes before our eyes and we see the making and unmaking of the theatrically charming con man who made turn-of-the-century France his playground.
14
| The Great Gatsby |
| Director: Jack Clayton |
| Lead Roles: Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 29, 1974 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Romantic Drama, Romance, Love Triangle, Relationships Gone Wrong, Obsession, Cross-Class Romance, 1920s, Set in New York, Set in New York City |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $26,533,200 |
15
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| The Midnight Man |
| Director: Burt Lancaster, Roland Kibbee |
| Lead Roles: Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Cameron Mitchell, Robert Quarry, Ed Lauter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 10, 1974 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Live Action |
16
| Erinnerungen an die Zukunft |
| Director: Harald Reinl |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 27, 1974 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Academic Documentary, Religious, Alien Encounters, Based on an UNTRUE Story, Voiceover/Narration |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Documentary, Live Action, Factual |
|
Domestic BO: $25,900,000 |
17
| De la part des copains |
| Director: Terence Young |
| Lead Roles: Charles Bronson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 30, 1974 (Limited) by Self Distributed, released as Cold Sweat |
| Classification: Live Action |
18
| The Front Page |
| Director: Billy Wilder |
| Lead Roles: Jack Lemmon as Hildebrand ‘Hildy’ Johnson, Walter Matthau as Walter Burns/Otto Fishbine |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 17, 1974 (Wide) by Universal |
| Classification: Based on Play, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $15,000,000 |
19
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| The Godfather: Part II |
| Director: Francis Ford Coppola |
| Lead Roles: Al Pacino as Michael |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 11, 1974 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Mafia, Crime Drama, 1975 Oscars Best Picture Nominee, Oscars Best Picture Winner |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $57,300,000 |
|
International BO: $86,952 |
20
| Macon County Line |
| Director: Richard Compton |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 1, 1974 (Wide) |
|
Domestic BO: $18,800,000 |
21
| The Man with the Golden Gun |
| Director: Guy Hamilton |
| Lead Roles: Roger Moore as James Bond |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1974 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Secret Agent, Action Thriller, Hitmen, MI6, Dwarfism, No Honor Among Thieves |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $21,000,000 |
|
International BO: $76,600,000 |
22
| Towering Inferno |
| Director: John Guillermin |
| Lead Roles: Paul Newman as Doug Roberts, Steve McQueen as Chief O'Hallorhan |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 17, 1974 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Disaster, Visual Effects, 1975 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $116,000,000 |
|
International BO: $23,700,000 |
23
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| Newman’s Law |
| Director: Richard T. Heffron |
| Lead Roles: George Peppard as Vince Newman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 21, 1974 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |