William Friedkin

Best known as a Director based on credits in that role in 19 films, with $719,908,885 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #271)

Best-known technical roles: Rules of Engagement (Director), The Exorcist (Director), The Hunted (Director), Bug (Director), The Guardian (Director)

Best-known acting roles: Himself (Making the Boys), Himself (A Decade Under the Influence), Himself (Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Wells)

Born: August 29, 1935

Died: August 7, 2023

Summary
News
Acting Credits
Technical Credits

Career Summary

		Movies	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
As an Actor	Inverviewee	3	$49,361	$4,977	$54,338
	Documentary Subject	1	$0	$0	$0
	(Unclassified)	1	$34,514	$0	$34,514
In Technical Roles	Director	19	$493,991,337	$225,917,548	$719,908,885
	Screenwriter	4	$53,252,131	$283	$53,252,414
	Producer	1	$12,000,000	$7,464	$12,007,464

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 72,601-72,700)	72,658	$83,875
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 70,901-71,000)	70,959	$4,977
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 78,501-78,600)	78,574	$88,852
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200)	176	$493,991,337
Top Grossing Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,101-3,200)	3,125	$12,000,000
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,801-1,900)	1,853	$53,252,131
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 401-500)	453	$225,917,548
Top Grossing Producer at the International Box Office (Rank 9,801-9,900)	9,805	$7,464
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 8,901-9,000)	8,961	$283
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 201-300)	271	$719,908,885
Top Grossing Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100)	4,048	$12,007,464
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800)	2,715	$53,252,414

See the Acting Credits tab for all Acting Box Office Records and the Technical Credits tab for all Technical Box Office Records.

Limited and VOD Releases: Ghost of a Chance

April 20th, 2018

It is not a particularly good week for limited releases, as there are a number of them with reviews that are good, but not good enough for limited release. There are some that I’m interested in seeing, Ghost Stories, Little Pink House, and Imitation Girl among them. More...

Featured Blu-ray / DVD Review: Killer Joe

December 31st, 2012

Killer Joe came out in limited release in July. It earned good buzz initially and it started really well, but as it expanded, it struggled. Granted, it still managed to hit $1 million, but it didn't come close to expanding wide. Was it as good as its opening couple weekends? Or was there a reason it only thrived in very limited release? More...

Featured Blu-ray Review: Filmmakers Signature Series

October 10th, 2012

A few weeks ago, there a number of films were released on Blu-ray as part of the Filmmakers Signature Series, including Hoffa on Blu-ray. I received The French Connection, Wall Street, and The War of the Roses, the first of which I previously reviewed. Are any of the three worth picking up? More...

All Acting Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Apr 13, 2021	Leap of Faith: William…	Himself
Aug 23, 2019	Friedkin Uncut	Himself
Dec 10, 2014	Magician: The Astonish…	Himself	$15,528	$4,977	$20,505
Mar 11, 2011	Making the Boys	Himself	$33,833		$33,833
Apr 25, 2003	A Decade Under the Inf…	Himself	$34,514		$34,514

Averages			$27,958	$4,977	$29,617
Totals	5		$83,875	$4,977	$88,852

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 69,401-69,500)	69,467	$83,875
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 16,801-16,900)	16,842	$33,833
Top Below the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 61,701-61,800)	61,774	$15,528
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 72,601-72,700)	72,658	$83,875
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 67,401-67,500)	67,450	$4,977
Top Below the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 56,101-56,200)	56,132	$4,977
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 70,901-71,000)	70,959	$4,977
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 75,001-75,100)	75,057	$88,852
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400)	21,357	$33,833
Top Below the Line Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 64,201-64,300)	64,206	$20,505
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 78,501-78,600)	78,574	$88,852

All Technical Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Oct 6, 2023	The Caine Mutiny Court Martial	Director
Sep 25, 2018	Good Times	Director
Apr 20, 2018	The Devil and Father Amorth	Director Screenwriter	$20,449		$20,449
Jul 27, 2012	Killer Joe	Director	$1,291,645	$3,367,465	$4,659,110
May 25, 2007	Bug	Director	$7,006,708	$1,296,287	$8,302,995
Mar 14, 2003	The Hunted	Director	$34,234,008	$12,979,087	$47,213,095
Apr 7, 2000	Rules of Engagement	Director	$61,322,858	$10,397,073	$71,719,931
Oct 13, 1995	Jade	Director	$9,812,870		$9,812,870
Feb 18, 1994	Blue Chips	Director	$22,359,041		$22,359,041
Oct 30, 1992	Rampage	Director	$796,368		$796,368
Apr 27, 1990	The Guardian	Director Screenwriter	$16,140,440		$16,140,440
Nov 1, 1985	To Live and Die in L.A.	Director Screenwriter	$17,307,019	$283	$17,307,302
Nov 4, 1983	Deal of the Century	Director	$10,400,000		$10,400,000
Jan 1, 1980	Cruising	Director Screenwriter	$19,784,223		$19,784,223
1978	The Brink's Job	Director	$9,400,000		$9,400,000
Jun 24, 1977	Sorcerer	Director Producer	$12,000,000	$7,464	$12,007,464
Dec 26, 1973	The Exorcist	Director	$230,956,951	$197,867,132	$428,824,083
Oct 9, 1971	The French Connection	Director	$41,158,757	$2,757	$41,161,514
Mar 17, 1970	The Boys in the Band	Director

Averages			$30,874,459	$28,239,694	$44,994,305
Totals	19		$493,991,337	$225,917,548	$719,908,885

Director Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Oct 6, 2023	The Caine Mutiny Court…
Sep 25, 2018	Good Times
Apr 20, 2018	The Devil and Father A…	$7,814	8	$20,449	$20,449	100.0%
Jul 27, 2012	Killer Joe	$37,864	73	$1,291,645	$4,659,110	27.7%
May 25, 2007	Bug	$3,245,556	1,661	$7,006,708	$8,302,995	84.4%
Mar 14, 2003	The Hunted	$13,482,638	2,517	$34,234,008	$47,213,095	72.5%
Apr 7, 2000	Rules of Engagement	$15,011,181	3,220	$61,322,858	$71,719,931	85.5%
Oct 13, 1995	Jade	$4,284,246	2,164	$9,812,870	$9,812,870	100.0%
Feb 18, 1994	Blue Chips	$10,123,605	1,980	$22,359,041	$22,359,041	100.0%
Oct 30, 1992	Rampage			$796,368	$796,368	100.0%
Apr 27, 1990	The Guardian	$5,565,620	1,736	$16,140,440	$16,140,440	100.0%
Nov 1, 1985	To Live and Die in L.A.	$3,551,761	1,130	$17,307,019	$17,307,302	100.0%
Nov 4, 1983	Deal of the Century	$3,520,605	1,226	$10,400,000	$10,400,000	100.0%
Jan 1, 1980	Cruising			$19,784,223	$19,784,223	100.0%
1978	The Brink's Job			$9,400,000	$9,400,000	100.0%
Jun 24, 1977	Sorcerer			$12,000,000	$12,007,464	99.9%
Dec 26, 1973	The Exorcist		1,708	$230,956,951	$428,824,083	53.9%
Oct 9, 1971	The French Connection			$41,158,757	$41,161,514	100.0%
Mar 17, 1970	The Boys in the Band

Averages		$5,883,089	1,584	$30,874,459	$44,994,305	89.0%
Totals	19			$493,991,337	$719,908,885

Producer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Jun 24, 1977	Sorcerer			$12,000,000	$12,007,464	99.9%

Averages		n/a	n/a	$12,000,000	$12,007,464	99.9%
Totals	1			$12,000,000	$12,007,464

Writer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Apr 20, 2018	The Devil and Father A…	$7,814	8	$20,449	$20,449	100.0%
Apr 27, 1990	The Guardian	$5,565,620	1,736	$16,140,440	$16,140,440	100.0%
Nov 1, 1985	To Live and Die in L.A.	$3,551,761	1,130	$17,307,019	$17,307,302	100.0%
Jan 1, 1980	Cruising			$19,784,223	$19,784,223	100.0%

Averages		$3,041,732	958	$13,313,033	$13,313,104	100.0%
Totals	4			$53,252,131	$53,252,414

Latest Ranking on All Technical Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200)	176	$493,991,337
Top Grossing Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,101-3,200)	3,125	$12,000,000
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,801-1,900)	1,853	$53,252,131
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 401-500)	453	$225,917,548
Top Grossing Producer at the International Box Office (Rank 9,801-9,900)	9,805	$7,464
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 8,901-9,000)	8,961	$283
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 201-300)	271	$719,908,885
Top Grossing Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,001-4,100)	4,048	$12,007,464
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800)	2,715	$53,252,414