These 15 Movie Stars Ruled the Box Office in the 1970s

A black-and-white split image shows a smiling man with short hair on the left and a woman with shoulder-length hair wearing a dark turtleneck and skirt on the right, both looking away from the camera.

Dominated by larger-than-life stars who drew in massive crowds with their charisma and talent, the 1970s were a golden age of cinema. From anti-heroes we loved to hate to glamorous leading ladies adorned in the finest of gowns, these icons dominated the box office and set the standard for what it meant to be a bona fide movie star. Audiences flocked to theaters not just for the films, but for the chance to see their favorite stars light up the big screen and cement their place in Hollywood history.

From Robert Redford and Gene Hackman to Barbra Streisand and Diane Keaton, let’s take a look back at the 15 biggest box office stars of the ’70s. We’ve also included insights into how much they made at the box office and the number of movies they made over the decade, according to Ultimate Movie Rankings.

1. Robert Redford

A black-and-white portrait of a man with light hair wearing an open-collared jacket and a necklace, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
eaglemaxie/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $3,154,900,000
Number of Movies: 12

2. Burt Reynolds

A middle-aged man with short, wavy dark hair and a mustache poses against a plain background. He wears a black collared shirt and looks confidently at the camera with a neutral expression.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $3,084,600,000
Number of Movies: 20

3. Harrison Ford

A man with short brown hair wearing a white button-up shirt with sleeves rolled up and black suspenders sits in front of stacked wooden planks, looking calmly at the camera.
hauntingvacay96/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,882,800,000
Number of Movies: 9

4. Richard Dreyfuss

A man with curly hair and a beard wears a paint-stained sweatshirt, looking serious while standing indoors with blurred furniture in the background.
Bettmann/Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,773,100,000
Number of Movies: 9

5. Robert Shaw

A man with a mustache wearing a cap, jacket, and denim shirt smiles while sitting on a boat, holding a fishing reel on a sunny day.
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,671,100,000
Number of Movies: 14

6. Robert Duvall

A man with a receding hairline, wearing a patterned shirt and a leather jacket, leans against a metal bed frame, looking directly at the camera with one hand on his hip. The image is in black and white.
Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,610,700,000
Number of Movies: 20

7. Gene Hackman

Black and white photo of a man in a suit and tie, standing outdoors and looking slightly to his left with a neutral expression. The background shows large windows or glass doors.
AuntWacky1976/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,581,200,000
Number of Movies: 19

8. Roy Scheider

A man in a short-sleeved shirt and jeans stands on a boat, holding onto a railing with one hand and a rope with the other, looking into the distance with a serious expression. The image is in black and white.
Bettmann/Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,460,900,000
Number of Movies: 13

9. Barbra Streisand

A woman with light skin and styled brown hair wears a sparkling, beaded gown and smiles while looking to the side, illuminated by soft indoor lighting.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,250,000,000
Number of Movies: 9

10. Clint Eastwood

A black and white portrait of a man with dark, thick hair, wearing a button-up shirt, smiling slightly, and looking directly at the camera. The background is softly blurred with natural light.
FormerFruit/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,146,100,000
Number of Movies: 16

11. Ryan O’Neal

A man in a plaid suit and a young girl wearing a headscarf and sweater sit side by side, looking forward with serious expressions in a black-and-white setting.
Garlic-Butter-Sauce/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,137,000,000
Number of Movies: 12

12. Richard Pryor

A man with a mustache stands on stage holding a microphone, wearing a loose jacket and pants, performing under a spotlight with a "Bourbon St" sign blurred in the background.
Bettmann/Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,122,300,000
Number of Movies: 21

13. Paul Newman

A smiling, fit man in swim trunks walks on a beach, with people in swimsuits and casual clothes behind him. The ocean and waves are visible in the background. The image is in black and white.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,047,200,000
Number of Movies: 13

14. Diane Keaton

A woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a black turtleneck sweater and a belted skirt, stands in front of vertical blinds, looking slightly to the side. The photo is in black and white.
John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,037,100,000
Number of Movies: 12

15. Faye Dunaway

Black and white photo of a woman with long hair wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sweater, gazing directly at the camera with her chin resting on her hand.
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $2,003,000,000
Number of Movies: 13

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Author
Alina Wang

From Queens, New York, Alina has a Bachelors degree in Corporate Communications from CUNY Baruch and enjoys writing and creating content on a variety of topics, including lifestyle, politics, and, of course, wealth trends. Find her on X @atlasseventeen