Most Popular Movies 1972
This chart shows the 1972 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 1972 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1972 - Top 1972 Worldwide
| Most Popular Overall | 1973 → |
1
| The Godfather |
| Director: Francis Ford Coppola |
| Lead Roles: Al Pacino as Michael Corleone |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 15, 1972 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Mafia, Crime Drama, Oscars Best Picture Winner, 1973 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $136,479,994 |
|
International BO: $133,527,400 |
2
| Super Fly |
| Director: Gordon Parks |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 4, 1972 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: African Americans |
| Classification: Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
3
| Frenzy |
| Director: Alfred Hitchcock |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 21, 1972 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Crime Thriller, Falsely Accused, Serial Killer, Death of a Spouse or Fiancée / Fiancé, Relationships Gone Wrong, Directing Yourself, Director Cameo, Fugitive / On the Run, Sex Crimes |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $12,600,000 |
4
| Deep Throat |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 30, 1972 (Wide) |
|
Domestic BO: $45,000,000 |
5
| Silent Running |
| Director: Douglas Trumbull |
| Lead Roles: Bruce Dern as Freeman Lowell |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 10, 1972 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
International BO: $331 |
6
| The Last House on the Left |
| Director: Wes Craven |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 30, 1972 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Sex Crimes, Serial Killer, Fugitive / On the Run, Revenge, Torture Porn, Based on an UNTRUE Story, Suicide, Dysfunctional Family |
|
Domestic BO: $3,100,000 |
7
| Conquest of the Planet of the Apes |
| Director: Jack Lee Thompson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 30, 1972 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
|
Domestic BO: $9,700,000 |
8
| Drácula contra Frankestein |
| Director: Jesus Franco |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 4, 1972 (Festival Screening) (Spain) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
9
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| Images |
| Director: Robert Altman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 18, 1972 (Limited) by Columbia |
| Classification: Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
10
| Shaft’s Big Score |
| Director: Gordon Parks |
| Lead Roles: Richard Roundtree as John Shaft |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 8, 1972 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Action Thriller, Blaxploitation, Set in Queens NY, Money Troubles, Death of a Partner, Gambling, Mafia, No Honor Among Thieves |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $10,000,000 |
11
| I Racconti di Canterbury |
| Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 16, 1972 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Multiple Genres, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
International BO: $1,067 |
12
| Grave of the Vampire |
| Director: John Hayes |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 23, 1972 (Limited) |
| Classification: Horror, Live Action |
13
| 1776 |
| Director: Peter H. Hunt |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 9, 1972 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Classification: Based on Play, Musical, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
14
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| Blood From the Mummy’s Tomb |
| Director: Seth Holt |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 17, 1972 (Limited) by American International Pictures |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Science Fiction |
15
| Hammersmith Is Out |
| Director: Peter Ustinov |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 12, 1972 (Limited) by Cinerama |
| Classification: Comedy |
16
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| La course du lièvre à travers les champs |
| Director: René Clément |
| Lead Roles: Jean-Louis Trintignant as Tony, Robert Ryan as Charley, Aldo Ray as Mattone, Jean Gaven as Rizzio |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 15, 1972 (Wide) (France) |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
Synopsis
Antoine “Froggy” Cardot, a French criminal on the run, heads to Canada where he joins a gang of criminals, Charley, Mattone and Rizzio, who are plotting a complicated robbery. Their foolproof plan blows up in their faces when they end up kidnapping a crime lord’s daughter and accidently killing her.
17
| Nous ne viellirons pas ensemble |
| Director: Maurice Pialat |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 3, 1972 (Limited) (France) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $14,104 |
|
International BO: $734 |
18
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| Trick Baby |
| Director: Larry Yust |
| Lead Roles: Kiel Martin as White Folks, Mel Stewart as Blue Howard |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 22, 1972 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
19
| Un flic |
| Director: Jean-Pierre Melville |
| Lead Roles: Alain Delon as Commissaire Edouard Coleman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 25, 1972 (Wide) (France) |
| Keywords: Film Noir, Heist, Voiceover/Narration, Organized Crime, Narcotics, Smuggler, Suicide, Confidential Informant, Limited Dialogue, Love Triangle, LGBTQ+ |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $48,040 |
Synopsis
Edouard Coleman spends his days and nights chasing criminals, but doesn't see the crook right under his nose. Simon, a smooth nightclub owner, works with a small crew to execute daring heists with big payoffs, while the beautiful Cathy is torn between them. As cop and criminal do what they do best, paths converge and old scores must be settled.
20
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| F.T.A. |
| Director: Francine Parker |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 21, 1972 (Limited) by American International Pictures |
| Classification: Based on Factual Book/Article, Documentary, Live Action, Factual |
Synopsis
“The Show the Pentagon Couldn’t Stop!” In 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War, Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland toured an anti-war comedy show across Southeast Asia. It was directly engaged with and inspired by veterans against the war and, naturally, it upset U.S. military higher-ups. The F.T.A. tour was highly controversial and was a huge success among stationed soldiers. In spite of positive reviews and business, director Francine Parker’s film version was quickly taken out of circulation due to political pressures and has been difficult to see for decades.
21
| Lady Sings the Blues |
| Director: Sidney J. Furie |
| Lead Roles: Diana Ross as Billie Holiday |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 20, 1972 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: African Americans, Biographical Drama, Biography, Autobiographical, Singers, Prologue, 1920s, 1930s, Narcotics, Sex Crimes, Prostitution, Big Break, Romance, Addiction, Prison |
| Classification: Based on Factual Book/Article, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $19,726,490 |
22
| Fuzz |
| Director: Richard A. Colla |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 12, 1972 (Limited) (United Kingdom) |
| Classification: Comedy |
23
| The Go-Between |
| Director: Joseph Losey |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 22, 1972 (Wide), released as O Mensageiro (Portugal) |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
International BO: $3,293 |
24
| Everything You Always Wanted to Know |
| Director: Woody Allen |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 11, 1972 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Same Actor, Multiple Roles, Segments, Sex Comedy, Directing Yourself, Screenplay Written By the Star, Spoof |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Multiple Creative Types |
|
Domestic BO: $18,016,290 |
25
| Man of La Mancha |
| Director: Arthur Hiller |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 11, 1972 (Limited) by United Artists |
| Classification: Musical |