The Top 250 Movies of the 1940s

2

Double Indemnity https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B7F3394B12 1944, 107 min.

Billy Wilder  •   Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Crime Thriller  •  Crime

4

The Third Man https://www.flickchart.com/movie/AA52A85D37 1949, 93 min.

Carol Reed  •   Starring: Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles

British Noir  •  Film Noir  •  Mystery

6

The Red Shoes https://www.flickchart.com/movie/DFC99EC31B 1948, 133 min.

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger  •   Starring: Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring

Based-on-19th-Century-Literature  •  Dance Film  •  Drama

8

Notorious https://www.flickchart.com/movie/1FA387B025 1946, 101 min.

Alfred Hitchcock  •   Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains

Film Noir  •  Mystery  •  Political Thriller

10

Shadow of a Doubt https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F6C7CF4E47 1943, 108 min.

Alfred Hitchcock  •   Starring: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, MacDonald Carey

Crime Thriller  •  Crime  •  Film Noir

12

The Maltese Falcon https://www.flickchart.com/movie/942DE5FFBC 1941, 100 min.

John Huston  •   Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Crime  •  Detective Film

14

The Great Dictator https://www.flickchart.com/movie/42DB28D1D3 1940, 125 min.

Charles Chaplin  •   Starring: Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Reginald Gardiner

Anti-War Film  •  Comedy Drama  •  Comedy

16

Out of the Past https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F2BED87EEF 1947, 97 min.

Jacques Tourneur  •   Starring: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Crime  •  Femme Fatale

18

A Matter of Life and Death https://www.flickchart.com/movie/2FFAA80833 1946, 104 min.

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger  •   Starring: David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey

Fantasy  •  Romance  •  Romantic Fantasy

20

Rebecca https://www.flickchart.com/movie/8EABFCAC39 1940, 130 min.

Alfred Hitchcock  •   Starring: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Gothic Film  •  Mystery

22

The Best Years of Our Lives https://www.flickchart.com/movie/344753A451 1946, 172 min.

William Wyler  •   Starring: Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Virginia Mayo

Americana  •  Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Drama

24

To Be or Not to Be https://www.flickchart.com/movie/04127A6E5F 1942, 99 min.

Ernst Lubitsch  •   Starring: Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack

Comedy  •  Farce  •  Satire

26

The Shop Around the Corner https://www.flickchart.com/movie/8E62197FE3 1940, 99 min.

Ernst Lubitsch  •   Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan

Comedy  •  Drama  •  Romance

28

Black Narcissus https://www.flickchart.com/movie/262BD7E934 1947, 100 min.

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger  •   Starring: Deborah Kerr, Flora Robson, Jean Simmons

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Drama  •  Melodrama

30

Late Spring https://www.flickchart.com/movie/C3867076AD 1949, 108 min.

Yasujirô Ozu  •   Starring: Setsuko Hara, Haruko Sugimura, Chishu Ryu

Drama  •  Family Drama  •  Foreign Language Film

32

The Lady Eve https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F4CD13B0A7 1941, 94 min.

Preston Sturges  •   Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn

Comedy  •  Con Artist / Hustler  •  Romance

34

The Grapes of Wrath https://www.flickchart.com/movie/1A477A0B91 1940, 129 min.

John Ford  •   Starring: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine

Americana  •  Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Drama

36

Red River https://www.flickchart.com/movie/4514B02011 1948, 133 min.

Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson  •   Starring: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru

Adventure  •  Epic  •  Western

38

The Lost Weekend https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B40D44E83C 1945, 101 min.

Billy Wilder  •   Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry

Addiction Drama  •  Drama  •  Film Noir

40

Stray Dog https://www.flickchart.com/movie/32F1F8B79C 1949, 122 min.

Akira Kurosawa  •   Starring: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Awaji

Drama  •  Film Noir  •  Foreign Language Film

42

To Have and Have Not https://www.flickchart.com/movie/316A98599B 1944, 100 min.

Howard Hawks  •   Starring: Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Moran

Drama  •  Romance  •  Romantic Drama

44

Gaslight https://www.flickchart.com/movie/08420CDB6B 1944, 114 min.

George Cukor  •   Starring: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten

Based-on-Theatre  •  Film Noir  •  Period Film

46

Gilda https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B908D64334 1946, 110 min.

Charles Vidor  •   Starring: Joseph Calleia, Steven Geray, Rita Hayworth

Drama  •  Femme Fatale  •  Film Noir

48

Lifeboat https://www.flickchart.com/movie/06B1F6FD33 1944, 96 min.

Alfred Hitchcock  •   Starring: Tallulah Bankhead, William Bendix, Walter Slezak

Adventure  •  Drama  •  Ensemble Film

50

Ball of Fire https://www.flickchart.com/movie/C5086B9E9C 1941, 111 min.

Howard Hawks  •   Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, S.Z. Sakall

Comedy of Manners  •  Comedy  •  Crime Comedy

52

Suspicion https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B844B06775 1941, 99 min.

Alfred Hitchcock  •   Starring: Cary Grant, Cedric Hardwicke, Nigel Bruce

Film Noir  •  Mystery  •  Psychological Thriller

54

Cat People https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F8178A2F19 1942, 73 min.

Jacques Tourneur  •   Starring: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway

Horror  •  Mystery  •  Romance

56

Meet Me in St. Louis https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F9F6D879B8 1944, 113 min.

Vincente Minnelli  •   Starring: Margaret O'Brien, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake

Americana  •  Drama  •  Family Drama

58

The Wolf Man https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F46953A5F4 1941, 70 min.

George Waggner  •   Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy

Horror  •  Monster Film  •  Werewolf Film

60

The Stranger https://www.flickchart.com/movie/997CEDCD3E 1946, 95 min.

Orson Welles  •   Starring: Richard Long, Edward G. Robinson, Philip Merivale

Detective Film  •  Drama  •  Film Noir

62

Murder, My Sweet https://www.flickchart.com/movie/EF88C7373F 1944, 95 min.

Edward Dmytryk  •   Starring: Mike Mazurki, Anne Shirley, Dick Powell

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Detective Film  •  Femme Fatale

64

Detour https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9488415C70 1945, 67 min.

Edgar G. Ulmer  •   Starring: Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

66

Letter From An Unknown Woman https://www.flickchart.com/movie/491B1AAAC2 1948, 86 min.

Max Ophüls  •   Starring: Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan, Mady Christians

Costume Romance  •  Drama  •  Melodrama

68

The Postman Always Rings Twice https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9C4CA8CA41 1946, 113 min.

Tay Garnett  •   Starring: Leon Ames, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

70

The Palm Beach Story https://www.flickchart.com/movie/412AAF241F 1942, 88 min.

Preston Sturges  •   Starring: Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor

Comedy of Manners  •  Comedy  •  Romance

72

High Sierra https://www.flickchart.com/movie/A1186AFFEE 1941, 100 min.

Raoul Walsh  •   Starring: Joan Leslie, Ida Lupino, Humphrey Bogart

Caper  •  Crime Drama  •  Crime

74

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir https://www.flickchart.com/movie/6580036D1A 1947, 104 min.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz  •   Starring: Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders

Drama  •  Fantasy  •  Romance

76

Day of Wrath https://www.flickchart.com/movie/F01E892CC7 1943, 97 min.

Carl Theodor Dreyer  •   Starring: Kirsten Andreasen, Sigurd Berg, Albert Høeberg

Costume Romance  •  Drama  •  Foreign Language Film

78

Mrs. Miniver https://www.flickchart.com/movie/84033D7A42 1942, 134 min.

William Wyler  •   Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright

Drama  •  Family Drama  •  Romance

80

Meet John Doe https://www.flickchart.com/movie/6A263A2690 1941, 122 min.

Frank Capra  •   Starring: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold

Americana  •  Comedy Drama  •  Drama

82

Pinocchio https://www.flickchart.com/movie/48F5F7F68F 1940, 88 min.

Hamilton Luske  •   Starring: Christian Rub, Dick Jones, Cliff Edwards

Animated Musical  •  Animation  •  Based-on-19th-Century-Literature

84

Miracle on 34th Street https://www.flickchart.com/movie/116D2D68F3 1947, 96 min.

George Seaton  •   Starring: Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn

Comedy  •  Family  •  Family-Oriented Comedy

86

And Then There Were None https://www.flickchart.com/movie/24D417BDB4 1945, 97 min.

René Clair  •   Starring: Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward

Ensemble Film  •  Mystery  •  Whodunit

88

I Know Where I'm Going! https://www.flickchart.com/movie/01FA382FD8 1945, 91 min.

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger  •   Starring: Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, Pamela Brown

Drama  •  Romance  •  Romantic Drama

90

How Green Was My Valley https://www.flickchart.com/movie/6C643A02CF 1941, 118 min.

John Ford  •   Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee

Coming-of-Age  •  Drama  •  Family Drama

92

Sergeant York https://www.flickchart.com/movie/E8F2067AE2 1941, 134 min.

Howard Hawks  •   Starring: Joan Leslie, Walter Brennan, Gary Cooper

Based-on-a-True-Story  •  Biopic  •  Drama

94

On the Town https://www.flickchart.com/movie/8078D6A483 1949, 98 min.

Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly  •   Starring: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett

Based-on-Theatre  •  Comedy  •  Musical Comedy

96

The Set-Up https://www.flickchart.com/movie/86B0CB8EBE 1949, 72 min.

Robert Wise  •   Starring: Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias

Drama  •  Film Noir  •  Sports Drama

98

Hamlet https://www.flickchart.com/movie/25DC41A5A5 1948, 155 min.

Laurence Olivier  •   Starring: Laurence Olivier, Basil Sydney, Norman Wooland

Based-on-Shakespeare  •  Based-on-Theatre  •  Drama

100

Bambi https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9C2DE0B9C1 1942, 70 min.

David Hand  •   Starring: Bobby Stewart, Hardie Albright, Perce Pearce

Animated Musical  •  Animation  •  Family

102

The Fallen Idol https://www.flickchart.com/movie/EA3AA82216 1948, 95 min.

Carol Reed  •   Starring: Ralph Richardson, Michèle Morgan, Sonia Dresdel

British Noir  •  Childhood Drama  •  Drama

104

Meshes of the Afternoon https://www.flickchart.com/movie/8F00E91577 1943, 14 min.

Maya Deren, Alexander Hammid  •   Starring: Maya Deren, Alexander Hammid

Avant-garde / Experimental  •  Fantasy  •  Female-Directed Film

106

Odd Man Out https://www.flickchart.com/movie/E467CE62FC 1947, 116 min.

Carol Reed  •   Starring: James Mason, Robert Newton, Cyril Cusack

Chase Movie  •  Crime Drama  •  Crime

108

The Bishop's Wife https://www.flickchart.com/movie/5C2C5EEC72 1947, 109 min.

Henry Koster  •   Starring: Cary Grant, James Gleason, Loretta Young

Comedy  •  Fantasy  •  Heavenly Comedy

110

The Uninvited https://www.flickchart.com/movie/70F3F9394F 1944, 99 min.

Lewis Allen  •   Starring: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Drama  •  Ghost Film

112

Paisan https://www.flickchart.com/movie/57E8CE8410 1946, 134 min.

Roberto Rossellini  •   Starring: Carmela Sazio, Robert Van Loon, Benjamin Emanuel

Combat Films  •  Drama  •  Foreign Language Film

114

Easter Parade https://www.flickchart.com/movie/BB155A9C6F 1948, 107 min.

Charles Walters  •   Starring: Judy Garland, Peter Lawford, Fred Astaire

Comedy  •  Musical Comedy  •  Musical

116

The Body Snatcher https://www.flickchart.com/movie/0085F652C9 1945, 77 min.

Robert Wise  •   Starring: Boris Karloff, Henry Daniell, Russell Wade

Based-on-19th-Century-Literature  •  Gothic Film  •  Horror

118

Le Corbeau https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B47EE1C5D8 1943, 92 min.

Henri-Georges Clouzot  •   Starring: Pierre Fresnay, Ginette Leclerc, Micheline Francey

Foreign Language Film  •  Mystery  •  Psychological Thriller

120

The Bank Dick https://www.flickchart.com/movie/984FF07919 1940, 72 min.

Edward F. Cline  •   Starring: W.C. Fields, Cora Witherspoon, Una Merkel

Absurd Comedy  •  Comedy  •  Crime

122

They Live by Night https://www.flickchart.com/movie/6B87D5E9AD 1948, 95 min.

Nicholas Ray  •   Starring: Howard Da Silva, Jay C. Flippen, Cathy O'Donnell

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

124

Germany Year Zero https://www.flickchart.com/movie/72D6441AED 1948, 78 min.

Roberto Rossellini  •   Starring: Edmund Moeschke, Ernst Pittschau, Ingetraud Hinze

Coming-of-Age  •  Drama  •  Foreign Language Film

126

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House https://www.flickchart.com/movie/C0972C0171 1948, 94 min.

H.C. Potter  •   Starring: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas

Comedy  •  Comedy of Errors  •  Romance

128

Sahara https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9384933F85 1943, 97 min.

Zoltan Korda  •   Starring: Rex Ingram, J. Carrol Naish, Humphrey Bogart

Adventure  •  Combat Films  •  War

130

Gentleman's Agreement https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9650D70ED1 1947, 118 min.

Elia Kazan  •   Starring: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield

Drama  •  Message Movie

132

Twelve O'Clock High https://www.flickchart.com/movie/C65DA7D212 1949, 132 min.

Henry King  •   Starring: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill

Combat Films  •  Drama  •  War Drama

134

The Picture of Dorian Gray https://www.flickchart.com/movie/2D65F0AD4B 1945, 110 min.

Albert Lewin  •   Starring: Hurd Hatfield, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury

Based-on-19th-Century-Literature  •  Costume Horror  •  Drama

136

Sands of Iwo Jima https://www.flickchart.com/movie/13187A33F7 1949, 109 min.

Allan Dwan  •   Starring: John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Arthur Franz

Action  •  Combat Films  •  Drama

138

Call Northside 777 https://www.flickchart.com/movie/942704E775 1948, 112 min.

Henry Hathaway  •   Starring: James Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb

Based-on-a-True-Story  •  Crime Drama  •  Crime

140

A Letter to Three Wives https://www.flickchart.com/movie/DFDEF0C3B0 1949, 103 min.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz  •   Starring: Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern

Comedy Drama  •  Comedy of Manners  •  Drama

142

Anchors Aweigh https://www.flickchart.com/movie/0BAB80E8AC 1945, 140 min.

George Sidney  •   Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Stockwell

Comedy  •  Musical Comedy  •  Musical Romance

144

Henry V https://www.flickchart.com/movie/FA51F8DF4C 1944, 137 min.

Laurence Olivier  •   Starring: Laurence Olivier, Harcourt Williams, Renee Asherson

Based-on-Shakespeare  •  Based-on-Theatre  •  Drama

146

Road to Morocco https://www.flickchart.com/movie/90F90ED8FE 1942, 82 min.

David Butler  •   Starring: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour

Adventure  •  Adventure Comedy  •  Buddy Film

148

The Major and the Minor https://www.flickchart.com/movie/D20F134524 1942, 100 min.

Billy Wilder  •   Starring: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Rita Johnson

Comedy  •  Comedy of Errors  •  Farce

150

Christmas in Connecticut https://www.flickchart.com/movie/4917125C1F 1945, 102 min.

Peter Godfrey  •   Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner

Comedy  •  Drama  •  Holiday Film

152

Kiss of Death https://www.flickchart.com/movie/D99CC20432 1947, 98 min.

Henry Hathaway  •   Starring: Victor Mature, Richard Widmark, Brian Donlevy

Crime Drama  •  Crime Thriller  •  Crime

154

A Night in Casablanca https://www.flickchart.com/movie/49206641A9 1946, 85 min.

Archie Mayo  •   Starring: Harpo Marx, Groucho Marx, Lois Collier

Comedy  •  Farce  •  Satire

156

They Were Expendable https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B85429F581 1945, 135 min.

John Ford  •   Starring: Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed

Combat Films  •  Drama  •  War Drama

158

The Big Clock https://www.flickchart.com/movie/51BF2CEF9E 1948, 95 min.

John Farrow  •   Starring: Ray Milland, Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sullivan

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

160

3 Godfathers https://www.flickchart.com/movie/C172B36F0F 1948, 106 min.

John Ford  •   Starring: John Wayne, Ward Bond, Pedro Armendáriz

Drama  •  Traditional Western  •  Western

162

The Glass Key https://www.flickchart.com/movie/A6F3593CDE 1942, 85 min.

Stuart Heisler  •   Starring: Brian Donlevy, Alan Ladd, Richard Denning

Based-on-20th-Century-Literature  •  Crime  •  Detective Film

164

They Drive By Night https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9D958E02FD 1940, 95 min.

Raoul Walsh  •   Starring: George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

166

The Seventh Victim https://www.flickchart.com/movie/AD2CEEC1A6 1943, 71 min.

Mark Robson  •   Starring: Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, Isabel Jewell

Gothic Film  •  Psychological Thriller  •  Thriller

168

Born to Kill https://www.flickchart.com/movie/D179FE549D 1947, 92 min.

Robert Wise  •   Starring: Claire Trevor, Lawrence Tierney, Walter Slezak

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

170

Jane Eyre https://www.flickchart.com/movie/48F296CB17 1943, 97 min.

Robert Stevenson  •   Starring: Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine, Margaret O'Brien

Based-on-19th-Century-Literature  •  Costume Romance  •  Drama

172

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers https://www.flickchart.com/movie/01D0DB77A9 1946, 116 min.

Lewis Milestone  •   Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

174

Force of Evil https://www.flickchart.com/movie/1680FD31A3 1948, 78 min.

Abraham Polonsky  •   Starring: Roy Roberts, Howland Chamberlain, Thomas Gomez

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

176

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B145676599 1947, 95 min.

Irving Reis  •   Starring: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple

Comedy  •  Farce  •  Romance

178

Christmas in July https://www.flickchart.com/movie/316F9A5E15 1940, 67 min.

Preston Sturges  •   Starring: Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, Raymond Walburn

Comedy  •  Comedy of Errors  •  Romance

180

Crossfire https://www.flickchart.com/movie/8695BC68A7 1947, 86 min.

Edward Dmytryk  •   Starring: Robert Mitchum, Robert Young, Robert Ryan

Crime  •  Drama  •  Film Noir

182

They Died With Their Boots On https://www.flickchart.com/movie/3325E26E60 1941, 140 min.

Raoul Walsh  •   Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Arthur Kennedy

Based-on-a-True-Story  •  Biopic  •  Epic

184

Portrait of Jennie https://www.flickchart.com/movie/4A5D8AF458 1948, 86 min.

William Dieterle  •   Starring: Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore, Jennifer Jones

Drama  •  Fantasy  •  Romance

186

49th Parallel https://www.flickchart.com/movie/B421A80BA4 1941, 105 min.

Michael Powell  •   Starring: Richard George, Eric Portman, Raymond Lovell

Drama  •  Thriller  •  War

188

Blithe Spirit https://www.flickchart.com/movie/4A7CE23AC5 1945, 96 min.

David Lean  •   Starring: Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond

Based-on-Theatre  •  Comedy Drama  •  Fantasy

190

Thieves' Highway https://www.flickchart.com/movie/CD8071C1AB 1949, 94 min.

Jules Dassin  •   Starring: Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese, Lee J. Cobb

Crime Drama  •  Crime  •  Drama

192

Remember the Night https://www.flickchart.com/movie/C7592CBB01 1940, 94 min.

Mitchell Leisen  •   Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi

Comedy  •  Drama  •  Holiday Film

194

The Mortal Storm https://www.flickchart.com/movie/A707F60AB1 1940, 100 min.

Frank Borzage  •   Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Robert Young

Drama  •  Political Drama

196

Night Train to Munich https://www.flickchart.com/movie/9C7CB661DA 1940, 90 min.