Top 10 movies of the 1940s. Sep 1, 2025 · This list answers the questions, "What are the best movies from 1940?" and "What are the most popular movies of 1940?" 1940 was a great year for movies, since a lot of classic films were released in 1940. A private eye escapes his past to run a gas station in a small town, but his past catches up with him. Out of the Past. Aug 24, 2025 · The 1940s saw the rise of the Western genre with John Wayne and John Ford at the forefront, and here are the best genre movies from that decade. They also provide a window into the era when the film was originally released. For our series of the Best Movies of All Time, we've chosen ten movies per decade based on their iconic status, critical acclaim, box-office success, and watchability. Because pre-1940s films are Sep 1, 2025 · Over 400 filmgoers have voted on the 50 Best Horror Movies Of The '40s, Ranked. These are the ten biggest male names that were in Hollywood and most of the movies throughout the decade in the 40’s. "Fantasia", "Miracle on 34th Street", "Pinocchio", "Bambi", & "Dumbo" are on The Best Family Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. WatchMojo. We’ve gathered a list of the best and the greatest movie icons of the 1940s. The world spent half of the 1940s locked in a bloody and brutal global conflict, one that was seen as a battle between good and evil. com, and today, in this installment of our series on the greatest movies of all time, we're counting down our picks for the top 10 movies of the 1940s. This collection showcases ten films that not only defined the era but continue to captivate audiences with their storytelling, innovation, and cultural impact. [Critics' Top 10] Best Movies of the 1940s Movies are ranked by percentage of top 10 lists that movie was on across all lists for it's respective year from highest to lowest. The movies I consider to be the absolute best motion pictures of the 1940s. Mar 27, 2016 · His film career spanned about thirty years, and he appeared in more than seventy-five films throughout this entire time span. Jan 15, 2021 · The forties was not a good time for SF movies. After two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in. Oct 4, 2023 · Here is a snippet of our episode titled: "Top 10 Films of the 1940s" where Adam and Anders Holmes list their ten favourite films of that decade. A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco. Updated regularly, it’s your go-to guide for what to watch in 1940, whether you're Criteria: These Greatest Movies of the '40s chosen for their quality, direction, script, cinematography, acting, storyline, originality, and success. "The Third Man", "Notorious", "Out of the Past", "The Big Sleep", & "The Maltese Falcon" are on The Best Mystery Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. Welcome to WatchMojo. Apr 9, 2024 · This post is all about the Best Comedy Movies in the 1940s The 1940s saw a range of popular movie genres. "Black Narcissus", "The Bells of St. Apr 20, 2014 · There were some great movie actors around in the 1940s, it truly was the golden age of cinema! Here are my top 10 leading men of that decade – have I missed anyone crucial out? 1. Finding box office information for movies made in the 1930s and 1940s is extremely difficult. "Casablanca", "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Citizen Kane", & "The Red Shoes" are on The Top 250 Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. My List of my favorite films from the 40's. This list is by no means complete as I will add new worthwhile films as I stumble across them. A middle-aged butcher and a school teacher who have given up on the idea of love meet at a dance and fall for each other. Needless to say, it was a star-studded decade. Major movies from this decade include the Maltese Apr 26, 2024 · The 1940s were dominated by the second world war, as the nation recovered from the Great Depression in the ‘30s. The decade produced none of the immortal classics of the twenties and thirties, but hidden among the low-budget dregg, one can find a few genuine gems worthy of more recognition. May 23, 2014 · This then is a list of the 15 essential films that one must be familiar with in order to understand the early, ‘classic’ period of film noir that thrived from 1940 to 1949. Also known as Jimmy Stewart (although he seldom used that name in formal credits The sequel to Going My Way is a sprightly McCarey concoction again featuring the ever-likeable Crosby. But that is far from reality. Check it out. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Winning Washington D. Here are the best one hundred films of the 1940’s. From visually stunning musicals to seminal film noir works, you need to see 19 iconic movies from the 40s and 50s. A group of professors working on a new encyclopedia while living in a Manhattan mansion take in a mouthy nightclub singer who is wanted by the police to help bring down her mob boss lover. The comedies showcased were not only full with humor, but also deftly laced with wit, satire, and "The Philadelphia Story", "His Girl Friday", "The Great Dictator", "Rebecca", & "The Shop Around the Corner" are on The Top 100 Movies of 1940 on Flickchart. Popular film genres in the 1940s included screwball comedies, film noir, dramas, suspense and westerns. This decade saw Hollywood reflect the changes in society and technology in some landmark films. For somebody looking for box office information on the 1940s it is very very frustrating. What resulted was a movie that Roger Ebert believed was as good as The Wizard of Oz, if not better. Jul 1, 2021 · Harry lists his top ten films of the year 1940 "Casablanca", "Citizen Kane", "The Red Shoes", "Bicycle Thieves", & "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" are on The Best Dramas of the 1940s on Flickchart. We already have a separate article all about the best WW2 movies of all time! These are my ten favourite films released in the 1940s, from best (#1) to worst. The 1940s was a decade of groundbreaking cinema, with films that revolutionized storytelling, cinematography, and filmmaking techniques. Regarded as the golden-age of film, this vibrant era witnessed an evolution in the laughter industry. In this countdown we take a look at the Top 10 Romance Movies of the 1940s-1960s. May 30, 2016 · Hundreds of full-length films were produced during the decade of the 1940s. The Results of this poll are directly from The Film Daily annual poll that asked newspapers around the nation to submit a top 10 list. com, and today, in this installment of our series on the greatest movies of all time, we' re counting down our picks for the top 10 movies of the 1940s. If you missed my article on The Top 10 Films of the 1930s, you can read it here. The Maltese Falcon (1941) is one of the earliest examples. Citizen Kane made use of matte paintings, miniatures and optical printing techniques. Calculated based on members' top movie list and ratings. Some of the best movies of the 1940s, like The Best Years of Our Lives and Casablanca, also happened to be the ones that most defined the decade. May 14, 2024 · The 1940s was a significant era in film history, marked by the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood and the emergence of new cinematic genres, techniques, and innovations. From film noir to epic dramas, these movies offer a glimpse into the past while remaining relevant today. But the genre sputtered along with mad scientist B-movies turned out by Hollywood. Top 10 Movies of 1940’s | Best 1940's movies of all time | KM ClassicsIn this video we ll look into the top 10 masterpiece movies of the decade of 1940s#top1 As such, most movies set in the 1940s are World War II movies—but we aren't going to touch on those in this article. Dec 27, 2022 · The 1940s had a lot to offer in terms of holiday movies, and what better way to get into the holiday mood than by watching some of the best Christmas movies from that time period? Here are the top 10 best 1940s Christmas movies that are sure to bring a smile to your face and warm your heart this "The Philadelphia Story", "His Girl Friday", "The Great Dictator", "Rebecca", & "The Shop Around the Corner" are on The Best Movies of 1940 on Flickchart. Top 1000 Horror Movies Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Winning Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award Winning Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary Feature Winning Tribeca Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Winning Washington D. It also isn't "The Philadelphia Story", "His Girl Friday", "The Shop Around the Corner", "The Lady Eve", & "Ball of Fire" are on The Best Romantic Comedies of the 1940s on Flickchart. This list includes movies that are the best out of their respective years, from the year 1940 and up to 1950. Oct 27, 2021 · The fog, the atmosphere, the monsters, and the terrors in the dark made these best 1940s horror movies some of the most memorable of all time. In this outing, Father O'Malley finds himself at cross-purposes with Bergman's Sister Superior. This collection highlights standout titles across all genres—from major studio blockbusters and festival winners to breakout indie films and audience favorites. Feel free to comment on my choice of movies. The 40s romance movies brim with emotion, capturing the Join http://www. 2. With Hey everyone! I decided to make this the first in a series of videos, where I will be compiling the top 10 films for each decade. This classic fantasy film from the Golden Age is a story similar to the Arabian Nights tales. Aug 19, 2025 · But they were also about Disney getting freaky, avant-garde shorts getting spooky, Alec Guinness playing eight parts in one movie, and a pair of British directors doing whatever the heaven and hell they wanted with cinema, making magic in the process. RefineSee titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc 10 titles A list of the 100 greatest movies of the 1940s compiled by Digital Dream Door. S. "Casablanca", "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Citizen Kane", & "The Red Shoes" are on The Best Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. From Holiday Inn to Miracle on 34st Street, we settle down and reminiscence over our top ten festive flicks from the 40s. NOTE: I am basing this list on the UK theatrical release date of each film. The actor Humphrey Bogart made his most renowned films in this decade. "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Notorious", "Shadow of a Doubt", & "Out of the Past" are on The Best Films Noir of the 1940s on Flickchart. This decade produced some of the This decade saw Hollywood overcome the Great Depression to begin its Golden Age. The best 1940s gangster movies offer a by whittleboy615 • Created 10 years ago • Modified 10 years ago Blu-ray. Feel free to comment and debate. Things go awry when the supposedly late Ellen returns and attempts to win him back. In 1910s London, snobbish phonetics The top movies of 1940 list is calculated by community movie ratings and members' "Top Movies List". Aug 25, 2024 · These horror movies, including Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and The Wolf Man, are the best to come out throughout the 1940s. Films have been recategorized to U. FilmCrave's top movies of 1940s includes Casablanca, Citizen Kane, It's a Wonderful Life and more. release dates, as the poll often took place prior to year-end. However, they do not necessarily reflect the best (or greatest) films of the year or decade. So we figured we would show all the movies in our database from 1940 to 1949. The best movies of the 1940s were not just films, they were legendary stories that set the standard for Hollywood cinema! Beauty and the Beast spun a dark, magical fantasy tale. Charts are updated every day. The film stars Katharine Hepburn as a feisty socialite who finds herself in, not a love triangle, but a love quadrilateral—stuck between her ex-husband, played by Cary Grant, a tabloid journalist Jun 26, 2022 · Including works by Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Orson Welles, David Lean and Howard Hawks, this is a list ranking the 50 greatest films of the 1940s. Alfred Hitchcock also established his iconic status as the master of suspense as he made his mark on Hollywood with iconic films like Rebecca and Notorious. "Red River", "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", "Fort Apache", "They Were Expendable", & "Sands of Iwo Jima" are on The Top 10 Movies of the 1940s Starring John Wayne on Jul 29, 2025 · A caveat: Even the most forward thinking movies of the 1940s trafficked in portrayals that seem retrograde and stereotypical today — though, at the time, audiences likely saw them as a neutral reflection of real life. Nov 20, 2022 · From film noirs to satire to romantic comedies, here are the best movies of the 1940s. ) The top ten 1940 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: The 1940s saw the rise of the Western genre with John Wayne and John Ford at the forefront, and here are the best genre movies from that decade. The Domestic Market is defined as the North American movie territory (consisting of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam). List your movie, TV & celebrity picks. Without further ado (and in no particular order)…The Top 10 Films of the 1940s! The world may have been at war, but these men ensured that not all was doom and danger! Welcome to WatchMojo. While helping the nuns educate and discipline the local children, and improving a little girl's unhappy family life, he also finds time to save the school from demolition by a greedy land developer Sep 22, 2020 · The use of dark settings and shady characters in films was a notable shift from the common film narrative. Exploring the world of classic cinema Aug 22, 2023 · The 10 Best Movies Set in the 1940s, Ranked The 1940s was a transitionary decade due to the impact of World War II. In this video, we ex #3: “The Philadelphia Story” (1940) Nominated for six Oscars and usually ranked as one of the best movies of all time, this Broadway-based comedy is a must-see for all fans of classic romances. 1. The Top 10 'Time Out: London's 100 Top 10 British Films' Movies of the 1940s Best Movies of the '40s All Rankings Top 100 movies of the 40s decade rated on FilmAffinity 1 The Great Dictator 1940 Aug 9, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links Best 1940s and 1950s Christmas Movies and their Vintage Christmas Fashion Top image: The Shop Around the Corner, 1940, Bottom image: The Bishops Wife, 1947 A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco. On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London. "Casablanca", "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Citizen Kane", & "The Red Shoes" are on The Top 100 Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. Discover the best movies released in 1940, including blockbusters and critically acclaimed classics. These films, ranging from gripping dramas to dark comedies, not only reflect the social and cultural landscape of the 1940s but also showcase the exceptional talent and vision of British directors This is a list of 100 great movies from the 1940s based on Academy Award best picture winners, nominees, box office, and personal choice. Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, postwar Vienna, only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, Harry Lime. "Casablanca", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "The Big Sleep", "The Maltese Falcon", & "Key Largo" are on The Top 10 Movies of the 1940s Starring Humphrey Bogart Apr 30, 2022 · The 1940s weren't just a golden era for Hollywood but Britain too where the nation's filmmakers produced some of the country's greatest ever films. Jul 10, 2024 · The 1940s and 1950s cinema remains a cultural snapshot of times gone by, encapsulating exciting decades for the film industry as it found its feet. These are the best 1940s Western movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. Best 1940s Movies: Discover the unforgettable stories and iconic stars of the 40s with our collection of cinema classics from this decade. 23Films of the 1940s Lists that rank the top movies to grace the silver screen between 1940 and 1949. The 1940s-1960s sure captured the essence of true romance. The 1940s saw the rise of the Western genre with John Wayne and John Ford at the forefront, and here are the best genre movies from that decade. Feb 24, 2005 · List of 250 Greatest Movies of the 1940s including the Year, Director, and Leading Actors as compiled and ranked by digitaldreamdoor. Although box Dec 21, 2023 · The 1940s was enriched with jazz and big band music styles. Sep 10, 2025 · While many fantasy movies of the 1930s and 1940s hid their fantasy leanings behind horror or musical tags, The Thief of Bagdad chose to go all in on the fantastical elements of the genre. C Explore the best movies of 1940 so far, featuring top-rated hits, critically acclaimed releases, and the most talked-about films of the year. Feb 1, 2021 · However, I feel these following features best represent this time period topically, inventively, and artistically. [1] The film noir genre was at its height. com, and today, in this installment of See Movie Index 1940 for an overview of all movies released in 1940. Disclaimer: I am including documentaries and shorts — anything shorter than forty minutes — on another list, and they won’t be featured here. Jun 1, 2025 · Step into the beauty of 1940s romance movies, where the silver screen shimmered with tales that have touched generations. Here’s our starter list of 20 of the greatest films of the 1940s… Jun 7, 2025 · While many are heartbreaking romances or twisty film noirs, the best '40s films come from many genres, from laugh-out-loud comedies to Christmas movies. Aug 3, 2023 · Here are the greatest movies of the 1940s that still hold up today. Top 10 Movies of the 1940s: WatchMojo counts down the top 10 movies of the 1940s. Film noirs emerged as a popular genre, along with war dramas, westerns, musicals and comedies. Some of these great 1940s Westerns "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Notorious", "Shadow of a Doubt", & "Out of the Past" are on The Top 100 Films Noir of the 1940s on Flickchart. "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Notorious", "Shadow of a Doubt", & "Rope" are on The Best Thrillers of the 1940s on Flickchart. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "Red River", "Lifeboat", "The Thief of Bagdad", & "The Sea Hawk" are on The Best Adventure Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. We've rounded up the 30 best songs from the 40s, these are the most popular. In this movie, Grant as Nick Arden is about to remarry after his first wife disappeared and has been presumed dead in a shipwreck. These movies explore the era from all kinds of angles. These classic romance movies are household names. So yes, many of these classic movies have different expectations of men and women, for example. Alfred Hitchcock made his American Jul 27, 2024 · Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and The Ox-Bow Incident are among the best Western movies from the 1940s. Directors and Actors. Apr 20, 2024 · Cinephiles and casual viewers alike should all check out 1940s classics like Double Indemnity and The Best Years of Our Lives at least once. He was also ranked the greatest male star of classic American cinema. The best '40s gangster movies, remain popular and show nostalgia for Prohibition Era crimes. PS: The movies are sorted by year and not necessarily by my preference. Lists are updated daily. Casablanca. Frank Capra 's It's a Wonderful Life and Orson Welles 's Citizen Kane were released. Current Top 3: The Wolf Man, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Apr 7, 2025 · The 1940s and 1950s were a golden era for cinema, producing films that have stood the test of time. Over the years, we have researched and collected information on over 33,000 movies. In this clip, Adams reviews and discusses with The Best Mystery Movies of the 1940s Rank This Chart Best | Worst Detailed | List | Gallery Here they are. Top Grossing Movies of 1940 Our Theatrical Market pages are based on the Domestic Theatrical Market performance only. All-Time (Domestic) Box-Office Hits and Top Films By Decade and Year: Box-office earnings have often been a great predictor of the feature-length films that have been the most favorite, successful, and popular. com. Your vote counts!Rate your favorite 1940’s films now The Top 10 Movies of the 1940s Rank This Chart Best | Worst Detailed | List | Gallery Top-grossing films (U. com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Decade Defining Actors of the 1940s! For our series on the Top 10 Decade Defining Male Actors Per Period, we’ve made our choices based on a combination of their commercial success, their box-office scores, their Thousands of full-length films were produced during the decade of the 1940s. Here are some of the best movies of the Apr 15, 2025 · The Western genre is truly what took movies to new heights, and in the '40s, Western movies took over cineplexes as a form of escapism during a tumultuous time in global politics. Humphrey Bogart Bogart was ranked the greatest male movie star in history by the American Film Institute, and he made the majority of his movies during the 1940s. The 1940’s is packed full of old time Christmas classics. Sep 15, 2025 · Step back in time and immerse yourself in 1940s comedy movies, a delightful realm of film. Aug 26, 2024 · Rebecca, Citizen Kane, and The Best Years of Our Lives are all among the best 1940s movies that are truly flawless. Mary's", "Going My Way", "The Song of Bernadette", & "Joan of Arc" are on The Best Religious Dramas of the 1940s on Flickchart. May 6, 2017 · This movie page looks at 1940s Top Grossing Movies. Feb 15, 2025 · The best ‘40s sci-fi movies feature a whole host of monsters and heroes, villains and saviors. These classics are not only captivating love stories but also offer remarkable artistry and peerless performances. "Casablanca", "Double Indemnity", "The Third Man", "Citizen Kane", & "The Red Shoes" are on The Top 50 Movies of the 1940s on Flickchart. This is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of comedic films from the 19more #10: “My Favorite Wife” (1940) It’s no accident that Cary Grant is going to show up a lot on this list; in the ‘40s, he was at the forefront of romance and comedy. Sep 15, 2025 · With the days of speakeasies and rumrunners long passed, you’d think that gangster movies would have gone the way of anti-alcohol laws. com, and today, in this installment of our series on the greatest movies of all time, we're counting down our picks for the top 10 movies of the 1930s. This is a crowd sourced list that has been voted on by many people, so these top films of 1940 aren't just one persons opinion. C. . One industry that still thrived was the movie industry, and Hollywood produced some all time classic movies during this time period. com forum's Top 100 Movies of the 1940s List activity 201views • 1 this week Create a new list Mar 22, 2014 · This decade saw Hollywood reflect the changes in society and technology in some landmark films. A series of eight famous pieces of classical music, conducted by Leopold Stokowski and interpreted in animation by Walt Disney's team of artists. The 1940s were a unique decade in British filmmaking, characterized by daring storytelling, an innovative use of technology, and the emergence of new thematic explorations that resonate to this day. The 1940s saw Hollywood reflect the changes in society and technology in some landmark films. If you haven’t seen these yet, you should! They’re worth watching. com as we count down our picks for the top 10 comedy movies of the 1940s. These are my ten favourite films released in the 1940s, from best (#1) to worst. Watching the same Christmas movies can become a little tiring (there’s only so many times you can watch Home Alone without wanting to scream at Kevin!) so this year, try something a little different, pop in one Explore the most popular movies of 1940 with our complete list of top films. Nov 24, 2024 · Some of the best movies of the 1940s, like The Best Years of Our Lives and Casablanca, also happened to be the ones that most defined the decade. smykqfz ugmgf beoapr mlmqzzw xydcj hljhsq srey qcwjdem jdrdsz wcqmf