Top Grossing Movies of 1954

Marlon Brando in 1954’s On The Waterfront

This movie page looks at The Top Grossing Movies of 1954.   Currently when you type in the search words….”Top Grossing Movies of 1954″ you do not get much information.  Wikipedia provides 10 movies.  The Numbers.com provides 10 movies.  Stats-a-mania offers up 7 movies.   UMR.com is the 10th search result as it offers up our Jerry Lewis UMR Page.  So in an effort to get more information out there…we have decided to unlock our 1954 movie database vault and share the information we have collected over the years.

To make this list a movie had to be made in 1954 (as listed on IMDB.com).  Obviously many movies made in 1953 earned box office dollars in 19543.  On the other side many movies made in 1954 made money in 1955 and later.  This page will looks at 148 Top Grossing Movies of 1954.  The movies are listed in a massive table that shows who starred in the movie, had much the movie grossed when it was released and how that gross means in today’s money.

Obviously this is not all of the 1954 movies…..but since our website is dynamic, ever time we add a 1953 movie….it will automatically be added to this page.

1954’s The Caine Mutiny

Top Grossing Movies of 1954 Can Be Sorted 6 Ways In This Table

Our UMR Top 50 of 1954

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort Top Grossing Movies of 1954 by the stars or in some cases the director of the movie.
  • Sort Top Grossing Movies of 1954 by domestic actual box office grosses (in millions)
  • Sort Top Grossing Movies of 1954 by domestic adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort Top Grossing Movies of 1954 by critic and audience rating
  • Sort Top Grossing Movies of 1954 by Oscar wins and Oscar nominations
  • Sort Top Grossing Movies of 1954 by it’s Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score
James Stewart and Grace Kelly in 1954’s Rear Window

1954 Box Office Grosses – Adjusted World Wide

The top 25 earners in World Wide Box Office for 1954

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35 thoughts on “Top Grossing Movies of 1954”

  1. My totals are dropping off, these are the 84 1954 films I’ve seen between December 1992 when I saw the 8000th film of my life and the end of 2016 (yes these lists are updated next year if I saw any 1954 film this year).Of course the more recent the year I’ve seen the films before 1992 like On the Waterfront or Brigadoon. Key is film, studio, stars when I used to list them, date seen and source (DVD, tape or TV with channel listed, number channels are local NYC).

    ARROW IN THE DUST 1954 AA STERLING HAYDEN COLEEN GRAY 5/9 1994 TBS
    BAD FOR EACH OTHER 1954 COL CHARLTON HESTON LIZABETH SCOTT 3/3 1994 TNT
    BAIT 1954 COL 6/18 2015 TCM
    BAMBOO PRISON 1954 COL ROBERT FRANCIS DIANNE FOSTER 6/25 2010 TCM
    BITTER CREEK 1954 AA BILL ELLIOTT BEVERLY GARLAND 6/14 2000 WEST
    BOB MATHIAS STORY 1954 AA BOB MATHIAS WARD BOND 5/18 2013 TCM
    BORDER RIVER 1954 UNI JOEL MCCREA YVONNE DE CARLO 6/14 2012 WEST
    BOUNTY HUNTER 1954 WB RANDOLPH SCOTT ERNEST BORGNINE 3/3 2000 WEST
    CAPTAIN KIDD AND THE SLAVE GIRL 1954 UA EVA GABOR ANTHONY DEXTER 11/21 2014 ANT
    CAROLINE AND THE REBELS (FR.) 1954 CINEPHINE/ GAUMONT BRIGITTE BARDOT 8/6 1994 55
    CARTOUCHE (IT.) 1954 RKO RICHARD BASEHART PATRICIA ROC 4/15 2000 LOVE
    CEASE FIRE 1954 PAR XXX XXX 6/8 1998 AMC
    CHARGE OF THE LANCERS 1954 COL JEAN-PIERRE AUMONT PAULETTE GODDARD 11/14 1992 TNT
    CREST OF THE WAVE 1954 MGM GENE KELLY JOHN JUSTIN 1/7 2001 TCM
    CRIME WAVE 1954 WB STERLING HAYDEN GENE NELSON 9/13 2000 MYST
    DESIREE 1954 FOX MARLON BRANDO JEAN SIMMONS 12/19 1994 AMC
    DOWN THREE DARK STREETS 1954 UA BRODERICK CRAWFORD RUTH ROMAN 5/16 1999 TCM
    DRIVE A CROOKED ROAD 1954 COL MICKEY ROONEY DIANNE FOSTER 11/28 2003 MYST
    FAST AND LOOSE (U.K.) 1954 RANK STANLEY HOLLOWAY KAY KENDALL 5/22 2007 TCM
    FORBIDDEN 1954 UNI TONY CURTIS JOANNE DRU 6/4 1994 AMC
    FORTY NINERS 1954 AA BILL ELLIOTT VIRGINIA GREY 3/4 2000 WEST
    GARDEN OF EVIL 1954 FOX GARY COOPER SUSAN HAYWARD 3/6 1994 AMC
    GOG 1954 UA RICHARD EGAN 2/27 1994 TNT
    GOLDEN COACH (FR. – IT.) 1954 I.F.E. 4/13 2015 TCM
    GOOD DIE YOUNG (U.K.) 1954 UA LAURENCE HARVEY GLORIA GRAHAME 9/21 2003 TCM
    HEAT WAVE (U.K.) 1954 LIP 3/27 2015 TCM
    HELL AND HIGH WATER 1954 FOX RICHARD WIDMARK BELLA DARVI 4/17 2000 FXM
    HER TWELVE MEN 1954 MGM GREER GARSON ROBERT RYAN 9/29 1993 TNT
    HIGH AND THE MIGHTY 1954 WB JOHN WAYNE CLAIRE TREVOR 7/20 2005 AMC
    JESSE JAMES WOMEN’ 1954 UA 12/1 2013 DVD
    JIVARO 1954 PAR FERNANDO LAMAS RHONDA FLEMING 6/23 1997 AMC
    JOHNNY DARK 1954 UNI TONY CURTIS PIPER LAURIE 6/5 1994 AMC
    JUNGLE MAN-EATERS 1954 COL JOHNNY WEISSMULLER 1/4 1998 AMC
    LA STRADA (IT.) 1954 TRANS LUX ANTHONY QUINN 1/1 1996 BRAVO
    LIFE AT STAKE 1954 GIBRALTER 2/12 2013 DVD
    LONE GUN 1954 UA GEORGE MONTGOMERY DOROTHY MALONE 12/5 1994 TNT
    LONG JOHN SILVER (AUSTRALIAN) 1954 NEW TRENDS ROBERT NEWTON 11/24 1992 A & E
    MA AND PA KETTLE AT HOME 1954 UNI XXX XXX 6/15 1996 TAPE
    MAD ABOUT MEN (U.K.) 1954 GFD GLYNIS JOHNS DONALD SINDEN 5/22 2007 TCM
    MAN WITH A MILLION (U.K.) 1954 UA GREGORY PECK 10/21 1999 TCM
    MASSACRE CANYON 1954 COL PHILIP CAREY AUDREY TOTTER 2/9 2004 WEST
    MISS ROBIN CRUSOE 1954 FOX AMANDA BLAKE GEORGE NADER 1/22 2012 TCM
    MR. HULOT’S HOLIDAY (FR.) 1954 GBD INTL. JACQUES TATI NATALIE PASCUAD 6/13 2011 TCM
    NAKED ALIBI 1954 UNI STERLING HAYDEN GLORIA GRAHAME 11/21 1995 AMC
    NAKED STREET 1954 UA ANTHONY QUINN ANNE BANCROFT 1/28 2003 TCM
    OUTLAW STALLION 1954 COL PHIL CAREY 5/15 2000 WEST
    OVERLAND PACIFIC 1954 UA JOCK MAHONEY PEGGIE CASTLE 1/7 1995 TNT
    PAID TO KILL (U.K.) 1954 LIP 3/27 2015 TCM
    PASSION 1954 RKO CORNEL WILDE YVONNE DE CARLO 8/8 1993 AMC
    PRINCESS OF THE NILE 1954 FOX JEFFREY HUNTER DEBRA PAGET 2/22 2004 AMC
    PRISONER OF WAR 1954 MGM RONALD REAGAN STEVE FORREST 12/5 1992 TNT
    PRIZE OF GOLD 1954 COL RICHARD WIDMARK MAI ZETTERLING 5/16 1994 TNT
    REBELLION OF THE HANGED (MEX.) 1954 UA XXX XXX 6/3 2008 TCM
    RETURN FROM THE SEA 1954 AA JAN STERLING NEVILLE BRAND 8/24 2000 LOVE
    RETURN TO TREASURE ISLAND 1954 UA TAB HUNTER DAWN ADDAMS 7/11 1993 TNT
    RIDE CLEAR OF DIABLO 1954 UNI AUDIE MURPHY DAN DURYEA 1/2 1995 AMC
    RIDERS TO THE STARS 1954 UA WILLIAM LUNDIGAN HERBERT MARSHALL 4/19 2012 TCM
    RIDING WITH BUFFALO BILL 1954 COL 5/25 2013 DVD (serial)
    ROBINSON CRUSOE (MEX.) 1954 UA 4/30 2012 TCM
    RUNAWAY BUS (U.K.) 1954 EROS MARGARET RUTHERFORD FRANKIE HOWERD 5/12 2005 TCM
    SALT OF THE EARTH 1954 IND. PRODS. XXX XXX 9/3 1996 55
    SHIELD FOR MURDER 1954 UA EDMOND O’BRIEN JOHN AGAR 7/25 1999 TCM
    SIEGE AT RED RIVER 1954 FOX VAN JOHNSON JOANNE DRU 10/20 1999 MMAX
    SILVER LODE 1954 RKO JOHN PAYNE DAN DURYEA 12/19 1993 AMC
    SLEEPING TIGER (U.K.) 1954 ASTOR DIRK BOGARDE ALEXANDER KNOX 2/11 2007 DVD
    SNOW CREATURE 1954 UA XXX XXX 10/8 1995 SCI
    SOUTHWEST PASSAGE 1954 UA ROD CAMERON JOANNE DRU 12/7 1995 TNT
    STRANGER’S HAND (U.K. -IT.) 1954 DCA TREVOR HOWARD ALIDA VALLI 6/26 1994 BRAVO
    TENNESSEE CHAMP 1954 MGM SHELLEY WINTERS 11/12 2002 TCM
    THE BEACHCOMBER (U.K.) 1954 UA ROBERT NEWTON GLYNNIS JOHNS 9/8 2004 TCM
    THE EGYPTIAN 1954 FOX EDMUND PURDOM JEAN SIMMONS 11/2 1994 AMC
    THE SECRET (U.K.) 1954 EROS MANDY MILLER 2/22 2002 AMC
    THEY RODE WEST 1954 COL DONNA REED 1/30 1993 TNT
    THREE HOURS TO KILL 1954 COL DANA ANDREWS DONNA REED 1/30 1994 TNT
    TOP BANANA 1954 UA PHIL SILVERS 6/14 1993 7
    TRACK OF THE CAT 1954 WB ROBERT MITCHUM TERESA WRIGHT 6/28 1995 TNT
    TWIST OF FATE (U.K.) 1954 UA GINGER ROGERS 5/21 1995 21
    UNHOLY FOUR (U.K.) 1954 LIP L 6/17 2014 TCM
    VANISHING WILDERNESS (DOC.) 1954 BV 4/18 1996 DIS
    WHITE ORCHID 1954 UA 12/27 2012 DVD
    WICKED WOMAN 1954 UA RICHARD EGAN 2/19 2001 TCM
    WITNESS TO MURDER 1954 UA BARBARA STANWYCK GEORGE SANDERS 6/23 1993 TNT
    WORLD FOR RANSOM 1954 AA DAN DURYEA 9/13 2000 MYST
    YELLOW TOMAHAWK 1954 UA RORY CALHOUN PEGGIE CASTLE 7/23 1995 TNT

    Reply

    1. Hey Dan…..you are slacking…lol. But it is ok….you are forgiven…even though you are down in the double digits versus your normal triple digits…your total of 84 is still easily the most of the tally counts collected so far. As always…when I see your detailed lists…I kick myself for not being as detailed oriented when it comes to my personal viewing habits.

      I have been thinking about doing a list of movies that got me to theaters….I am thinking that number has to be between 500 and 1000 movies. Heck lately…I have not even had time to update my letterboxd.com account.

      Lots of TCM in your logs…..that is a source I have not used…..I rarely even turn on the tv….unless of course it is to watch football.

      As always…your lists are fun to read. Good stuff.

      Reply

      1. No more B series westerns (they proliferate more in the 30’s & 40’s). Again the more modern years (say to 1979 for me) were probably seen closer to their time on TV. Most of the classics and more modern ones were seen on regular TV (pre cable) or in revival theaters (about 800 on cinemas). This is all pre 1992 and are in the first 7999 movies I saw.

        Reply

        1. Hey Dan…..thanks for the clarification. Those pre 1992 days were when TCM actually had classic movies playing….lol.

          Reply

  2. I have seen 58 of these 1954 movies.

    The highest rated film I have NOT seen is 17 – Knock on Wood

    The Lowest Rated film I have seen is Her Twelve Men at 109.

    My top ten favourites are:

    Rear Window
    Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
    The Glenn Miller Story
    The Caine Mutiny
    Dial ‘M’ For Murder
    Garden of Evil
    The Barefoot Contessa
    Sabrina
    A Star is Born
    Human Desire

    Reply

    1. Hey Flora….thanks for checking out and commenting on our latest yearly review….we are now 60% done with the 1950s….with 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1958 to go. Your 58 1954 movies watched is first….ahead of Steve’s 45, my 29 and Laurent’s 25. My lowest rated movie was at #63….and then I get shut out the rest of the way.

      I have seen all of your favorites with the exception of Human Desire….Rear Window, The Caine Mutiny, Sabrina and Garden of Evil….would make my Top 10 too. I just recently watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers….there are some very impressive dance routines in that one.

      As always your feedback is greatly appreciated.

      Reply

  3. In France 20 000 Leagues Under The Sea was easily the biggest success of the year. Vera Cruz (very good western. 1954 was avery good year for the western) was a very big success too. 4.5 millions people saw this movie in theatre. Same for La Strada.

    Another big success in France, Rear Window and Ulisses.

    Reply

    1. Hey Laurent….thanks for the box office information for some of the big box office movies of 1954….it is greatly appreciated. Wow….La Strada was huge!

      Reply

  4. Let’s see… I’ve seen 45 of the 144 films on the chart, probably more.

    I have 65 films from 1954 in my movie collection. Some of them not listed here, such as Gojira aka Godzilla King of the Monsters (1956 US release title), Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Phantom of the Rue Morgue, Jailbait, Gog and Target Earth.

    Rear Window the no.1 American film on the critics chart, beaten by the Japanese classic Seven Samurai. On the Waterfront at no.3

    I thought 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea would probably be no.1 at the box office for the year but it was beaten by Rear Window, The Caine Mutiny and White Christmas.

    Top rated films I haven’t seen include – The Country Girl, Three Coins in the Fountain, Magnificent Obsession and Sabrina.

    1954 saw the release of three low-rated historical adventures I’ve watched a bunch of times over the decades, usually on sunday afternoons – Prince Valiant starring Robert Wagner, The Black Knight starring Alan Ladd and The Black Shield of Falworth starring Tony Curtis. Looking at the box office chart – Prince Valiant drew the most crowds. which is ironic since it starred the least famous of the three, maybe James Mason was the draw, or the title itself.

    Another epic page Bruce. Vote Up!

    Reply

    1. Hey Steve.
      1. The movies listed here do not include any movies in our sources that have not been fully researched…..I quickly put this page together….using the movies already in the database…so I am sure that we have another 30 or so we could include….and they might include some of the ones you mentioned that are not here.
      2. Tally count…45 for you….to my 29…..to Laurent’s 25…..to Flora’s 58…..so looks like Flora sits in the Top Spot….currently.
      3. Rear Window and Seven Samurai are two of the best reviewed movies in our database….WoC has been adding in more critic resources…..and it is changing some of the rankings…at one point Rear Window was 5th to Seven Samurai’s 12th (of 36,000 plus movies)…now Seven is higher….maybe WoC needs to add some sources to that movie.
      4. The Country Girl is a very good drama….but not a movie that begs for a re-watch…one and done…Grace Kelly got the Oscar….but Bing gives the best performance…in my humble opinion.
      5. I think Robert Wagner’s bowl cut in Prince Valiant is the reason it was so successful….lol.
      6. Thanks for the kind words about our latest page.

      Reply

  5. Hello Bruce,

    Of the 25 films I saw in this list, I love Garden Of Evil, and River With No return, both excellent westerns. But I consider Barefoot Comtessa and On The Waterfront as masterpieces.

    Humphrey Bogart finds his best role in Caine Mutiny. He is simply masterful.

    If I didn’t like Rear Window, I found Dial M For Murder very successful.

    A question, Bruce:
    The figures of Seven Samourai and La Strada are those of their first issue or reissues.

    As usual, a great job.

    P.S : Coming soon, the next top of 1925 😉

    Reply

    1. Hey Laurent.
      1. Your 25 is not too far behind my total of 29.
      2. Thanks for the comment, tally count, compliment and visit…all greatly appreciated.
      3. I like On The Waterfront much more than Marlon Brando’s A Streetcar Named Desire…..so I have no issue agreeing with you about On The Waterfront being a masterpiece.
      4. The figures for Seven Samuri and La Strada are combined totals…..they are like Disney movies…..been re-released for years and years.
      5. Rear Window is one of my favorites from this year…..but I also liked Dial M For Murder….the 1950s were when Hitchcock was at this peak.
      6. Look forward to your 1925 upcoming stats.
      Good stuff.

      Reply

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