 The film became a blockbuster upon its release, grossing over $ 32 million, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 1971 and one of the most successful films in history, with an expense-to-profit ratio of 1: 32; beyond that, it is estimated video rentals and purchases in the United States since the 1980s have produced an additional $ 20.5 million. On this point, Raucher said in May 2002 that his ten percent of the gross, in addition to royalties from book sales, "has paid bills ever since."
