Universal

This movie was produced by three folks: Tony Bill, Michael Phillips, and Julia Phillips. And once they got Universal Pictures involved with distribution, they knew that the movie was going to have a big audience. Done, and done.

(It certainly didn't hurt things that Robert Redford and Paul Newman were gracing the movie with their handsome mugs.)

Overall, 1973 wasn't a bad year for Universal. The Sting would go on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, beating out another Universal production from that year, American Graffiti.