In a world where there was no major distribution for black films, THE MACK soared. It played in a total of only 22 theaters in seventeen cities and grossed S3.5 million at an average ticket price of one dollar. The distributor, Cinerama, caught by surprise by the incredible and controversial success, did not have the theaters or know how to take advantage of the film's overwhelming rollout.

As an example, THE MACK grossed an amazing $552,478 on only two screens in Los Angeles against The Poseiden Adventure's $103,805 in 19 theaters. In New York, THE MACK grossed an astounding $543,415 in only two screens against Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter, which made $533,000 in two theaters and Steve McQueen's big hit, The Getaway, which garnered $72,000 on 25 screens. This pattern was repeated in every city THE MACK played, even at its low box office ticket price.

Kevin Thomas of The Los Angeles Times said at that time: "The film has a ring of authenticity to it. It is an honest, well-acted effort of considerable insight, pertinent yet entertaining and neither preachy nor exploitive. The films large cast is outstanding under Campus' firm, sensitive direction. THE MACK possesses both a pulsating vitality, underlined by Willie Hutch's dynamic score, and a keen sense of tragedy. Its highlight is an authentic pimp's ball, in which handsome men and beautiful women fairly glow in their dazzling finery. It is a sight as spectacular as it is ephemeral and is likely to linger in the memory long after the movie is over."

The audience for THE MACK was almost exclusively African-American. There was no home video and no cable marketplace. Therefore the white audience, unwilling to venture out to the totally black oriented downtown theaters in their cities, had no place to discover it.

In today's distribution realities, a 550 theater release at the same ticket price would have grossed $87.5 million. At even S1.50, THE MACK would have grossed over $131 million. In today's mass distribution and crossover marketplace, there is no telling how high the film grosses would have gone.

Success