The Highest Grossing Action Movie For Each Year Of The 1970s

Cinema was changi2ng throughout the 1970s. A country filled with paranoia and anger centered around the controversial Vietnam War, combined with the growing decay of urban cities and a rise in crime, resulted in a far grittier decade for film. Gone were the fun musicals and comedies of the 50s and 60s, replaced mainly with gritty crime dramas and violent action films.

The 1970s proved to be a huge decade for action cinema, as innovations in technology and filmmaking allowed for better and more exciting action films. They also proved incredibly popular, and these films proved the absolute best of the best.

10 1970: Airport – $100 Million

Based on the 1968 novel of the same name, Airport was directed by George Seaton and concerns a suicide bomber’s attempt to blow up a Boeing 707. The movie was an enormous critical success, earning 10 Academy Award nominations, with Helen Hayes winning Best Supporting Actress.

It was also a huge commercial success, grossing $100 million throughout its original domestic run. In 2020, this would account for just under $670 million.

9 1971: The French Connection – $51.7 Million

Directed by William Friedkin, The French Connection tells the story of two NYPD detectives hunting a French heroin smuggler. The film was incredibly gritty and violent for its time, and its famous car chase still ranks among the best in movie history. The movie took home five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

It earned $51.7 million throughout its original domestic box office run – the equivalent of $326 million today. It’s an incredible amount for an original drama film, and it proved one of the most popular films of 1971.

8 1972: The Poseidon Adventure – $84.5 Million

Airport proved an enormous success, and a slew of similar disaster films followed in its wake. One of the most famous is The Poseidon Adventure. Directed by Ronald Neame, The Poseidon Adventure is based on a 1969 novel and concerns the survivors of a luxury cruise liner that has been flipped by a tsunami.

Like Airport, The Poseidon Adventure was nominated for a slew of Oscars, eventually winning four. The film grossed $84.5 million in its original domestic run ($523 million), making it the second highest-grossing film of 1972.

7 1973: Live And Let Die – $35.3 Million

Serving as Roger Moore’s first film as James Bond, Live and Let Die was released to a generally positive critical reception and great commercial success in the summer of 1973.

Despite some hesitation regarding Moore’s introduction (having taken over from the incredibly popular Sean Connery), Live and Let Die still grossed a respectable $35.3 million in its domestic run ($205 million today). 1973 was not a great year for action films, and Live and Let Die was the ninth highest-grossing film of the year.

6 1974: The Towering Inferno – $116 Million

Another byproduct of the disaster craze, The Towering Inferno proved to be another enormous commercial success. Starring Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, the movie concerns the occupants of an office building who are trapped by a raging fire.

Despite running a hefty 165 minutes, The Towering Inferno scored a huge $116 million in its original domestic run ($608 million today), making it the highest-grossing film of 1974. It was followed by Blazing Saddles.

5 1975: Jaws – $200 Million

Steven Spielberg effectively changed cinema forever with Jaws. Released in June of 1975, it became an instant hit and effectively introduced the concept of a summer blockbuster. From this moment on, all the big studio movies were released in the summer in an attempt to replicate Jaws‘s unbelievable commercial success.

The movie reportedly made $200 million in its original domestic release – roughly the equivalent of $960 million today. It was by far the highest-grossing movie of 1975, and it introduced audiences to one of the greatest directors in movie history.

4 1976: King Kong – $52.6 Million

1976 was a great year for dramas, as Rocky and A Star Is Born earned the first and second spot in the end-of-year box office takings. Taking third place was the remake of King Kong, starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange.

Despite earning mixed reviews from critics, King Kong proved a huge commercial success owing to the power of its name and the legacy of the 1933 original. The movie took in $52.6 million in its domestic run – roughly the equivalent of $240 million today.

3 1977: Star Wars – $307 Million

Jaws may have been a big hit and spawned the concept of a summer blockbuster, but Star Wars was absolutely history-making. It quickly became one of the most popular franchises in movie history (if not the most popular), it took full advantage of summer blockbuster escapism, and it launched a craze of its own – that of the science fiction adventure (a craze that even James Bond would follow in the coming years).

The movie grossed a staggering $307 million in its original domestic box office run – the equivalent of $1.3 billion today.

2 1978: Superman – $134.2 Million

Directed by Richard Donner, Superman proved yet another brilliant bit of action escapism. It earned widespread acclaim for its then-groundbreaking visual effects, John Williams’s typically excellent score, and Christopher Reeve’s performance as Superman.

While it may seem primitive today, Superman made for spectacular viewing back in 1978. Released in December of 1978, it ended up grossing $134.2 million in its original domestic run ($530 million today), making it the highest-grossing movie of 1978.

1 1979: Star Trek: The Motion Picture – $82.2 Million

1979 was filled with dramas that contained elements of action, including Rocky II and Apocalypse Now. But in terms of straight action-adventure, Star Trek: The Motion Picture proved the most commercially successful. Coming 10 years after the conclusion of the original television series, the hype was quite high for the first official motion picture.

Throughout 1979 and 1980, the film grossed $82.2 million in the domestic market – just under $300 million today. And with that, the science fiction craze continued.

About The Author

Nathan Sharp
(852 Articles Published)

Nathan Sharp is a writer from outside Toronto, Ontario. He has a love of movies and television, having enjoyed them for more than twenty years. His preferences include drama, action, and horror, with the former being a particular point of interest and fascination.

He also has a love of video games, particularly those of Rockstar.

Whether it be about film, television, or video games, Nathan loves a good discussion and has written hundreds of articles for Screen Rant.

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