BEFORE JUNE 1982…
According to Variety in July 1977, Disney’s Robert Stevenson was Hollywood’s leading director with a total of $188 million in domestic rentals.
And then according to the Hollywood Reporter Book Of Box-Office Hits, George Lucas soon surpassed Robert Stevenson’s $188 million in domestic rentals.
By early 1981, director George Lucas was on top with the success of his two hit films American Graffiti and Star Wars.
- THX 1138: $2.4 million
- American Graffiti: $55 million
- Star Wars: $193.7 million
- Total for Lucas in early 1981: roughly $251 million
By early 1981, director Steven Spielberg was the runner-up director.
- The Sugarland Express: Well less than $7.5 million, since that was the domestic box-office gross
- Jaws: $129.5 million
- Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: $82.7 million
- 1941: $23.4 million
- Estimated total for Spielberg in early 1981: Less than $242 million
And so in June of 1981, Spielberg’s directed film Raiders Of The Lost Ark was released. Its marathon run at the box-office in 1981 easily put him on top with $115.5 million in domestic rentals.
Hollywood’s Leading Director
July 25, 2025 by Blogging For 20 Years • Entertainment, Financial, Success • 0 Comments
BEFORE JUNE 1982…
According to Variety in July 1977, Disney’s Robert Stevenson was Hollywood’s leading director with a total of $188 million in domestic rentals.
And then according to the Hollywood Reporter Book Of Box-Office Hits, George Lucas soon surpassed Robert Stevenson’s $188 million in domestic rentals.
By early 1981, director George Lucas was on top with the success of his two hit films American Graffiti and Star Wars.
By early 1981, director Steven Spielberg was the runner-up director.
And so in June of 1981, Spielberg’s directed film Raiders Of The Lost Ark was released. Its marathon run at the box-office in 1981 easily put him on top with $115.5 million in domestic rentals.