Most Popular Movies 1940
This chart shows the 1940 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1940 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1940 - Top 1940 Worldwide
| Most Popular Overall | 1941 → |
| The Philadelphia Story |
| Director: George Cukor |
| Lead Roles: Cary Grant as C.K. Dexter Haven, Katharine Hepburn as Tracey Samantha Lord, James Stewart as Mike Connor |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 5, 1940 (Limited) by MGM |
| Keywords: Romance |
| Classification: Based on Play, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,000,000 |
|
International BO: $7,145 |
| Rebecca |
| Director: Alfred Hitchcock |
| Lead Roles: Laurence Olivier as George Fortescu Maximillian "Maxim" de Winter, Joan Fontaine as The second Mrs. De Winter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 21, 1940 (Limited) by MGM |
| Keywords: Film Noir, Voiceover/Narration, Romance, Orphan, Unnamed Character, Directing Yourself, Infidelity, Suicide, Relationships Gone Wrong, Surprise Twist, Terminal Illness, Cross-Class Romance, LGBTQ+, Accidental Death, Prologue, Psychological Thriller, Remade |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $6,000,000 |
|
International BO: $2,370 |
Synopsis
After a whirlwind romance, mysterious widower Maxim de Winter brings his shy, young bride home to his imposing estate, Manderley. But the new Mrs. de Winter finds her married life dominated by the sinister, almost spectral influence of Maxim's late wife: the brilliant, ravishingly beautiful Rebecca, who, she suspects, still rules both Manderley and Maxim from beyond the grave!
| Fantasia |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 13, 1940 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Family Musical, Segments, Animated Inanimate Objects, Demons, Dinosaurs, Limited Dialogue |
| Classification: Compilation, Musical, Hand Animation, Multiple Creative Types |
|
Domestic BO: $83,320,000 |
|
International BO: $832 |
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| The Ghost Breakers |
| Director: George Marshall |
| Lead Roles: Bob Hope as Larry Lawrence, Paulette Goddard as Mary Carter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 21, 1940 (Limited) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Horror Comedy, Haunted House |
| Classification: Based on Play, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
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| My Little Chickadee |
| Director: Edward F. Cline |
| Lead Roles: Mae West as Flower Belle Lee, W.C. Fields as Cuthbert J. Twillie |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 9, 1940 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Compilation, Western, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
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| Arise, My Love |
| Director: Mitchell Leisen |
| Lead Roles: Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 8, 1940 (Limited) by Paramount Pictures |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
| They Drive by Night |
| Director: Raoul Walsh |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 3, 1940 (Limited) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action |
| Boom Town |
| Director: Jack Conway |
| Lead Roles: Clark Gable as Big John “The Moose”, Spencer Tracy as Jonathan ‘Square John’/‘Shorty’ Sand, Claudette Colbert as Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Bartlett McMasters, Hedy Lamarr as Karen Vanmeer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 30, 1940 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Romance, Rags to Riches, Romantic Drama, Love Triangle, Relationships Gone Wrong, Riches to Rags, Suicide, Infidelity |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $9,172,000 |
| Gli ultimi della strada |
| Director: Domenico Paolella |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 12, 1940 (Wide) (Italy) |
|
International BO: $640,596 |
| Comrade X |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 13, 1940 (Limited) |
| Classification: Comedy, Live Action |
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| Strike Up the Band |
| Director: Busby Berkeley |
| Lead Roles: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 27, 1940 (Limited) by MGM |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
| The Gay Caballero |
| Director: Otto Brower |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 4, 1940 (Limited) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Western, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
Synopsis
When the Kid rides into town with his faithful friend Gordito he finds that he is believed to be dead. What's even more shocking is that, in a mix-up of identity, he was accused of stealing Susan Weatherby's land. So in a race against time, he must prove his innocence and that he is the true Cisco Kid.