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Highlights
- Paul Newman's biggest hit, The Sting, grossed $705 million worldwide in 1973, making it his highest-grossing film.
- Several of Paul Newman's movies grossed over $75 million worldwide, proving his star power and ability to attract audiences.
- Newman's successful films spanned various genres, including dramas, action, and comedies.
Paul Newman was one of the most successful performers of the 20th century, starring in many blockbusters across his storied career.
Newman's films' global box office revenues evidence his consistent commercial and critical success.
The Sting, Newman's biggest hit, grossed $705 million worldwide in 1973.
Other successful films for Newman included Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Hustler, HUD, Cool Hand Luke, and The Towering Inferno.
More than ten Paul Newman films grossed over $75 million worldwide between 1954 and 2002, proving his star power and ability to lure crowds; his most successful films were dramas, action, and comedies.
Join us as we uncover the magic of Paul Newman's movies, his unparalleled talent, and the commercial triumphs that have made him a true legend in the movie industry.
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The Hustler (1961) | $77,720,000 |
Harper (1966) | $95,230,000 |
HUD (1963) | $101,760,000 |
Torn Curtain (1966) | $103,960,000 |
Cool Hand Luke (1967) | $105,240,000 |
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1974) | $154,060,000 |
Exodus (1960) | $282,620,000 |
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969) | $356,960,000 |
The Towering Inferno (1974) | $451,820,000 |
The Sting (1973) | $705,980,000 |
10 The Hustler (1961)
The Hustler Movie Total Box Office Gross, The Hustler: $77,720,000
In 1961's The Hustler, Paul Newman played pool shark Fast Eddie Felson, garnering his first Academy Award nomination.
A $7.7 million domestic hit, the dark drama embodied Newman's antihero appeal.
With average cinema ticket costs of $0.69 in 1961, nearly eleven million American moviegoers saw The Hustler.
The picture grossed approximately $77 million worldwide, including overseas profits.
The Hustler became a classic due to its popularity and critical praise, highlighting Paul Newman's acting and star power.
9 Harper (1966)
Harper (1966) Paul NewmanTotal Box Office Gross, Harper: $95,230,000
Paul Newman exuded his signature sense of coolness as he portrayed the tough and determined private investigator Lew Harper in the gripping neo-noir detective film Harper, released in 1966.
With a production budget of $4 million, the film proved to be a triumphant commercial success, grossing over $12 million at the global box office during its initial release.
After its release, Harper managed to amass a staggering $95 million worldwide when accounting for inflation.
Viewers were captivated by Newman's captivating performance, the gripping mystery storyline, and the film's unique artistic approach.
Harper solidified Newman's status as a versatile leading actor, sparking a revival of detective movies in Hollywood during the 1960s and 1970s.
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Paul NewmanTotal Box Office Gross, HUD: $101,760,000
In the 1963 film HUD, Paul Newman delivered one of his most captivating performances as the ruthless, conceited title character:
HUD struck a chord with both audiences and critics. The unwavering examination of a character grossed a domestic total of $10 million during its inaugural run in theaters.
HUD, a cinematic mainstay throughout the 1960s and 1970s, ultimately amassed an international revenue exceeding $100 million after accounting for inflation.
Presently, Newman's portrayal of the evil Hud Bannon is considered one of his most exemplary and nuanced performances as an antihero.
This undoubtedly contributed to the film's six decades of box office success.
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PAUL NEWMANTotal Box Office Gross, Torn Curtain: $103,960,000
The collaboration between Paul Newman and Alfred Hitchcock in the 1966 Cold War thriller Torn Curtain proved to be a successful partnership at the box office.
With a small budget of $4 million, the film realized surprising success, generating more than $12 million globally upon its initial release.
Thanks to the audience's fascination with seeing Newman in a different kind of role and Hitchcock's well-known reputation, Torn Curtain ended up making an impressive $104 million worldwide when adjusted for inflation.
Newman's popularity and financial success demonstrate his ability to captivate large audiences, even when starring in political spy films that deviate from his usual roles.
6 Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)Total Box Office Gross, Cool Hand Luke: $105,240,000
Paul Newman's combative portrayal of the obstinate in-mate Luke in 1967's Cool Hand Luke became one of his most legendary roles.
The picture, which cost only $3.2 million to produce, grossed more than $16 million worldwide during its initial theatrical run:
Cool Hand Luke became a cultural icon, propelled by Newman's charismatic, Oscar-nominated performance, and continued to rake in box office earnings for years.
The unique jail drama grossed an average of $105 million over time, demonstrating Newman's ongoing appeal as a prominent antihero rebel and the film's own.
Westerns!The Highest Grossing Western Films, Ranked
Western films have been consistently popular and successful, from the sweeping epic Dances with Wolves to the gritty realism of The Revenant.5 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (Re-Issue, 1974)
Wanted - Butch Cassidy & The Sundance KidTotal Box Office Gross, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1974): $154,060,000
The film Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid became a classic after earning $102 million worldwide ... in addition to four Oscars in 1969.
Butch Cassidy was re-released by 20th Century Fox in 1974 due to its continued popularity.
The re-release added roughly $50 million to the film's lifetime gross, due primarily to nostalgia and the public's love for Paul Newman and Robert Redford's screen chemistry.
When factoring in inflation, Butch Cassidy has grossed over $350 million worldwide, with the 1974 re-release accounting for $154 million of that total.
4 Exodus (1960)
Exodus (1960) FilmTotal Box Office Gross, Exodus: $282,620,000
Paul Newman's presence elevated the 1960 historical drama Exodus, where he portrayed the courageous freedom fighter Ari Ben Canaan alongside a talented ensemble cast.
Exodus was a massive success at the box office, raking in a staggering $65 million worldwide during its initial theatrical run.
This impressive feat is even more remarkable, considering the film's production budget was a mere $14 million.
Exodus has generated an impressive global revenue of almost $283 million as of early 2024.
Newman's captivating performance propelled him to fame as a charismatic leading man capable of carrying ambitious, large-scale films.
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidTotal Box Office Gross, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid: $356,960,000
When the Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid film was released in 1969, it became an instant hit:
It brought in $102 million in revenue globally, on the strengths of its masterful screenplay, George Roy Hill's skill as a director, and Paul Newman and Robert Redford's camaraderie on screen.
The heartbreaking yet funny Western captivated the public's attention and sold out theaters for years.
Butch Cassidy's total lifetime box office receipts have increased over time due to inflated earnings from numerous theater re-releases and TV airings, to the tune of a staggering $357 million.
When inflation and the lasting value of the cherished American classic are taken into account, they make Butch Cassidy the highest-grossing Paul Newman film.
2 The Towering Inferno (1974)
The Towering InfernoTotal Box Office Gross, The Towering Inferno: $451,820,000
Teaming Hollywood heavyweights Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, 1974's star-studded disaster thriller The Towering Inferno became a massive box office success.
The $14 million film earned a record-breaking $116 million internationally upon release.
Fueled by an immense audience appetite for big-budget spectacle entertainment, The Towering Inferno enjoyed wild popularity for years as both a cultural phenomenon and a cinema staple.
Lifetime gross ticket sales now total $452 million globally, making this Newman and McQueen vehicle the second-highest-grossing film (adjusted for inflation) from Newman's extensive movie catalog.
1 The Sting (1973)
The Sting Movie CLIPTotal Box Office Gross, The Sting: $705,980,000
Reuniting Paul Newman and Robert Redford after their smash hit Butch Cassidy, 1973's The Sting captured audiences' imaginations to become Newman's highest-grossing film ever.
The comedic caper earned over $156 million globally in its initial run on a $5 million budget.
The Sting's powerful standing as an enduring and beloved classic which continued entertaining generations of moviegoers for decades is what truly makes its box office record shine.
With theatrical release and more, total ticket sales now stand at a whopping $706 million —making the unforgettable con artist tale Paul Newman's most commercially successful picture to date.
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