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1931 Top Box Office Movies

This movie page looks at 1931 Top Box Office Movies.  Finding box office information for movies made in the 1930s and 1940s is extremely difficult.   For somebody looking for box office information on 1931 it is very very frustrating.  Over the years, we have researched and collected information on over 36,000 movies.  So we figured we would show all the 1931 movies in our database.

To make this list a movie had to be made in 1931.  Obviously many movies made in 1930 earned box office dollars in 1931.  On the other side many movies made in 1931 made money in 1932 and later.  This page looks at 141 1931 Top Box Office Movies.  The movies are listed in a massive table that lets you rank the movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information.

The following massive table only includes the movies made in 1931 that are in our database.  Since we are constantly adding new movies to our database….this page will quickly become obsolete.  We will try and update this page on a regular basis.

Charlie Chaplin in 1931’s City Lights

Our UMR Top 50 of 1931

Year Movie (Year) Rating S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1931 Cimarron (1931)
AA Best Picture Win
1931 City Lights (1931)
1931 The Champ (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
1931 Dracula (1931)
1931 Arrowsmith (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Frankenstein (1931)
1931 Dishonored (1931)
1931 Palmy Days (1931)
1931 The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Trader Horn (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Possessed (1931)
1931 Monkey Business (1931)
1931 Little Caesar (1931)
1931 Daddy Long Legs (1931)
1931 Bad Girl (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 The Public Enemy (1931)
1931 Hell Divers (1931)
1931 Platinum Blonde (1931)
1931 Merely Mary Ann (1931)
1931 The Front Page (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 A Free Soul (1931)
1931 Skippy (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Five Star Final (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Reducing (1931)
1931 A Connecticut Yankee (1931)
1931 The Man Who Came Back (1931)
1931 Delicious (1931)
1931 Street Scene (1931)
1931 Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931)
1931 Pardon Us (1931)
1931 Mata Hari (1931)
1931 City Streets (1931)
1931 An American Tragedy (1931)
1931 Blonde Crazy (1931)
1931 Dirigible (1931)
1931 East Lynne (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
1931 Politics (1931)
1931 The Easiest Way (1931)
1931 Unfaithful (1931)
1931 The Miracle Woman (1931)
1931 Private Lives (1931)
1931 Strangers May Kiss (1931)
1931 I Take This Woman (1931)
1931 Inspiration (1931)
1931 The Unholy Garden (1931)
1931 Dance, Fools, Dance (1931)
1931 The Man in Possession (1931)
1931 Young As You Feel (1931)
1931 Secrets of a Secretary (1931)

1931 Top Box Office Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort 1931 Top Box Office Movies by the stars or in some cases the director of the movie.
  • Sort 1931 Top Box Office Movies by domestic actual box office grosses
  • Sort 1931 Top Box Office Movies by domestic adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost.
  • Sort 1931 Top Box Office Movies how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each 1931 Top Box Office Movies received.
  • Sort 1931 Top Box Office Movies by Ultimate Movie Ranking Score (UMR).  Our UMR score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
R Movie (Year) UMR Co-Star Links Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) UMR Score
R Movie (Year) UMR Co-Star Links Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) B.O. Rank by Year Review Oscar Nom / Win UMR Score S
1 Cimarron (1931)
AA Best Picture Win
Richard Dix &
Irene Dunne
3.6 200.0 243.20 14 59 07 / 03 99.1
2 City Lights (1931) Charles Chaplin 9.9 551.2 551.20 1 88 00 / 00 98.6
1 The Champ (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Wallace Beery 4.4 248.3 248.30 5 74 04 / 02 98.3
4 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) Fredric March 3.6 198.6 198.60 16 81 03 / 01 98.1
6 Dracula (1931) Bela Lugosi 4.2 234.3 234.30 8 83 00 / 00 97.9
6 Arrowsmith (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Myrna Loy &
Directed by John Ford
3.8 215.2 215.20 11 72 04 / 00 97.6
7 Frankenstein (1931) Boris Karloff 5.3 298.0 298.00 3 81 00 / 00 97.4
7 Dishonored (1931) Marlene Dietrich &
Directed by Josef Von Sternberg
4.4 248.3 248.30 7 80 00 / 00 97.3
7 Palmy Days (1931) Charlotte Greenwood 4.7 264.9 264.90 4 77 00 / 00 96.6
12 The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Claudette Colbert &
Maurice Chevalier
2.9 161.4 161.40 26 78 01 / 00 95.7
11 Trader Horn (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Harry Carey 6.4 360.9 693.80 2 66 01 / 00 95.6
13 Possessed (1931) Clark Gable &
Joan Crawford
3.0 170.5 252.00 21 82 00 / 00 95.6
14 Monkey Business (1931) Marx Brothers 2.8 155.6 155.60 30 84 00 / 00 94.9
15 Little Caesar (1931) Edward G. Robinson 2.8 156.8 174.10 29 83 01 / 00 94.8
15 Daddy Long Legs (1931) Janet Gaynor 4.4 248.3 248.30 6 70 00 / 00 94.8
16 Bad Girl (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Frank Borzage 3.3 182.1 182.10 18 62 03 / 02 94.1
17 The Public Enemy (1931) James Cagney &
Jean Harlow
2.5 139.7 155.10 36 83 01 / 00 93.2
20 Hell Divers (1931) Clark Gable &
Wallace Beery
3.7 205.9 357.70 12 63 00 / 00 92.7
19 Platinum Blonde (1931) Jean Harlow 3.0 165.5 165.50 24 73 00 / 00 92.5
22 Merely Mary Ann (1931) Janet Gaynor &
Charles Farrell
3.8 215.2 215.20 10 62 00 / 00 92.4
18 The Front Page (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Adolphe Menjou 2.1 116.6 116.60 52 80 03 / 00 92.4
21 A Free Soul (1931) Norma Shearer &
Clark Gable
2.6 147.2 235.40 32 75 03 / 01 92.4
25 Skippy (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Jackie Cooper &
Norman Taurog
3.0 165.5 165.50 23 62 04 / 01 92.2
23 Five Star Final (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Edward G. Robinson 2.0 110.1 136.10 54 82 01 / 00 92.0
27 Reducing (1931) Marie Dressler 3.3 187.4 249.10 17 63 00 / 00 91.3
26 A Connecticut Yankee (1931) Myrna Loy &
Maureen O'Sullivan
3.6 198.6 198.60 15 59 00 / 00 91.1
27 The Man Who Came Back (1931) Janet Gaynor &
Charles Farrell
4.1 231.8 231.80 9 57 00 / 00 90.6
30 Delicious (1931) 3.6 201.9 201.90 13 56 00 / 00 90.3
28 Street Scene (1931) Sylvia Sidney 2.3 126.7 126.70 43 78 00 / 00 89.8
30 Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) Clark Gable &
Greta Garbo
2.4 133.4 249.30 40 75 00 / 00 89.7
31 Pardon Us (1931) Laurel and Hardy 2.7 151.5 151.50 31 69 00 / 00 89.5
32 Mata Hari (1931) Greta Garbo &
Lionel Barrymore
3.0 167.5 382.10 22 62 00 / 00 88.9
33 City Streets (1931) Gary Cooper &
Sylvia Sidney
2.3 126.7 126.70 44 75 00 / 00 88.8
36 An American Tragedy (1931) Josef Von Sternberg &
Sylvia Sidney
2.9 161.4 161.40 27 64 00 / 00 88.8
34 Blonde Crazy (1931) James Cagney &
Ray Milland
2.3 130.6 130.60 41 73 00 / 00 88.5
37 Dirigible (1931) Frank Capra 2.9 161.4 161.40 28 63 00 / 00 88.5
37 East Lynne (1931)
AA Best Picture Nom
Ann Harding 2.2 124.2 194.20 47 67 01 / 00 88.2
39 Politics (1931) Marie Dressler 3.2 178.9 226.30 19 56 00 / 00 87.9
40 The Easiest Way (1931) Clark Gable &
Robert Montgomery
3.1 171.4 212.60 20 57 00 / 00 87.7
42 Unfaithful (1931) 2.6 146.9 146.90 33 63 00 / 00 86.9
41 The Miracle Woman (1931) Barbara Stanwyck &
Frank Capra
1.6 86.9 86.90 82 81 00 / 00 86.5
42 Private Lives (1931) Norma Shearer &
Robert Montgomery
2.4 134.7 186.20 39 64 00 / 00 85.9
43 Strangers May Kiss (1931) Norma Shearer &
Robert Montgomery
2.9 162.2 210.60 25 55 00 / 00 85.8
44 I Take This Woman (1931) Gary Cooper &
Carole Lombard
2.4 134.9 134.90 38 63 00 / 00 85.3
43 Inspiration (1931) Greta Garbo &
Robert Montgomery
2.1 120.0 186.60 48 67 00 / 00 85.0
46 The Unholy Garden (1931) Ronald Colman &
Fay Wray
2.5 139.9 139.90 35 60 00 / 00 84.9
47 Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) Clark Gable &
Joan Crawford
2.5 140.4 209.90 34 60 00 / 00 84.8
48 The Man in Possession (1931) Robert Montgomery 2.1 118.4 118.40 49 67 00 / 00 84.8
51 Young As You Feel (1931) Will Rogers 2.3 126.4 126.40 45 63 00 / 00 84.5
50 Secrets of a Secretary (1931) Herbert Marshall &
Claudette Colbert
1.8 98.8 98.80 66 71 00 / 00 84.1
51 Night Nurse (1931) Barbara Stanwyck &
Clark Gable
1.8 98.7 113.70 67 71 00 / 00 84.0
52 Touchdown! (1931) Jack Oakie 2.3 130.1 130.10 42 61 00 / 00 83.9
53 The Magnificent Lie (1931) Ralph Bellamy 1.8 103.1 103.10 60 68 00 / 00 83.0
53 Bought! (1931) Constance Bennett &
Ray Milland
1.8 99.0 128.60 65 69 00 / 00 82.8
56 The Cheat (1931) Tallulah Bankhead 1.8 102.1 102.10 62 68 00 / 00 82.8
56 Seed (1931) Bette Davis 1.7 97.4 97.40 69 69 00 / 00 82.6
56 The Secret 6 (1931) Clark Gable &
Jean Harlow
2.1 117.2 164.50 50 62 00 / 00 82.3
58 The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) Robert Young &
Helen Hayes
1.9 107.6 107.60 55 61 01 / 01 81.2
61 Ladies' Man (1931) Carole Lombard &
William Powell
1.9 103.5 103.50 58 64 00 / 00 81.1
59 The Star Witness (1931) Walter Huston 1.6 87.6 107.40 78 68 01 / 00 80.9
61 Stolen Heaven (1931) Nancy Carroll 1.9 104.8 104.80 56 63 00 / 00 80.8
61 The Vice Squad (1931) Kay Francis &
Paul Lukas
1.4 76.4 76.40 100 72 00 / 00 80.7
63 The Last Flight (1931) Richard Barthelmess 1.2 67.0 74.50 125 74 00 / 00 80.2
64 The Cisco Kid (1931) 1.3 71.6 71.60 115 72 00 / 00 79.9
65 Svengali (1931) John Barrymore &
Donald Crisp
1.1 59.4 82.40 142 73 02 / 00 79.4
64 M (1931) Peter Lorre 0.2 14.0 14.00 205 89 00 / 00 79.1
69 24 Hours (1931) 2.1 116.5 116.50 53 56 00 / 00 78.7
71 This Modern Age (1931) Joan Crawford &
Neil Hamilton
2.1 117.2 147.50 51 55 00 / 00 78.3
66 The Phantom of Paris (1931) John Gilbert 1.1 60.8 107.80 140 73 00 / 00 78.3
67 Over The Hill (1931) James Dunn 1.2 68.9 68.90 121 70 00 / 00 78.3
71 Gentleman's Fate (1931) John Gilbert 1.1 62.1 84.30 139 72 00 / 00 78.0
70 Kiki (1931) Mary Pickford &
Reginald Denny
1.3 70.6 70.60 116 69 00 / 00 77.7
73 Peach-O-Reno (1931) Robert Woolsey &
Bert Wheeler
1.4 76.3 94.40 101 67 00 / 00 77.5
74 The Common Law (1931) Joel McCrea 1.7 94.9 118.00 71 61 00 / 00 77.5
73 The Millionaire (1931) George Arliss &
James Cagney
1.6 89.7 138.20 76 62 00 / 00 77.3
78 Quick Millions (1931) Spencer Tracy 1.8 101.5 101.50 63 58 00 / 00 77.2
79 Personal Maid (1931) Pat O'Brien 1.7 93.0 93.00 73 61 00 / 00 77.0
78 The Lawyer's Secret (1931) Jean Arthur &
Fay Wray
1.6 88.4 88.40 77 62 00 / 00 77.0
80 Guilty Hands (1931) Kay Francis &
Lionel Barrymore
1.3 74.8 113.60 106 66 00 / 00 76.9
81 A House Divided (1931) Walter Huston &
Charles Middleton
1.7 96.8 96.80 70 59 00 / 00 76.8
81 Daybreak (1931) 1.5 81.5 81.50 90 64 00 / 00 76.6
82 The Maltese Falcon (1931) Bebe Daniels 1.0 55.8 66.70 148 72 00 / 00 76.4
85 Sporting Blood (1931) Clark Gable 1.6 90.6 147.80 75 61 00 / 00 76.4
83 My Sin (1931) Tallulah Bankhead &
Fredric March
1.6 87.1 87.10 80 62 00 / 00 76.4
84 The Finger Points (1931) Fay Wray 1.6 87.1 104.50 81 62 00 / 00 76.4
87 Rich Man’s Folly (1931) George Bancroft 1.5 85.0 85.00 83 62 00 / 00 76.2
89 Local Boy Makes Good (1931) Joe E. Brown 1.5 82.8 106.40 86 63 00 / 00 76.1
87 Just A Gigolo (1931) Ray Milland 1.4 79.8 79.80 93 64 00 / 00 76.1
88 Fighting Caravans (1931) Gary Cooper 2.4 137.0 137.00 37 46 00 / 00 76.0
90 Transatlantic (1931) Myrna Loy 0.8 45.3 45.30 164 72 01 / 01 75.6
90 Strictly Dishonorable (1931) Paul Lukas 1.6 87.5 87.50 79 61 00 / 00 75.6
92 The Spirit of Notre Dame (1931) Lew Ayres 2.2 125.2 125.20 46 49 00 / 00 75.5
93 Devotion (1931) Leslie Howard 1.3 74.2 89.70 107 65 00 / 00 75.3
94 Sit Tight (1931) Joe E. Brown 1.9 104.6 128.10 57 55 00 / 00 75.1
95 The Guardsman (1931) Lynn Fontanne 1.2 68.4 84.40 123 65 02 / 00 75.1
96 It's a Wise Child (1931) 1.0 56.1 56.10 147 70 00 / 00 74.8
97 Women of All Nations (1931) Victor McLaglen &
Directed by Raoul Walsh
1.8 102.6 102.60 61 55 00 / 00 74.6
99 Chances (1931) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. 1.2 64.6 81.30 133 67 00 / 00 74.4
98 West of Broadway (1931) John Gilbert 1.0 55.0 77.10 149 70 00 / 00 74.4
99 Iron Man (1931) Jean Harlow &
Lew Ayres
1.2 68.7 68.70 122 65 00 / 00 74.3
100 Caught Plastered (1931) Robert Woolsey &
Bert Wheeler
1.3 73.2 90.90 112 64 00 / 00 74.3
102 Tonight or Never (1931) Melvyn Douglas &
Boris Karloff
1.1 60.6 60.60 141 68 00 / 00 74.2
101 Girls About Town (1931) Kay Francis 1.5 84.3 84.30 84 60 00 / 00 74.2
103 Cracked Nuts (1931) Boris Karloff 1.5 83.6 102.10 85 60 00 / 00 73.9
103 Son Of India (1931) 1.4 76.3 76.30 102 62 00 / 00 73.7
106 Illicit (1931) Barbara Stanwyck &
Joan Blondell
1.5 82.6 90.70 87 60 00 / 00 73.2
107 Kick In (1931) 1.2 66.0 66.00 128 65 00 / 00 73.0
109 Don't Bet On A Woman (1931) Jeanette MacDonald 1.5 82.0 82.00 88 59 00 / 00 72.1
108 Five and Ten (1931) 1.3 75.3 75.30 103 61 00 / 00 72.0
111 Laughing Sinners (1931) Clark Gable &
Joan Crawford
1.8 103.3 126.60 59 52 00 / 00 71.9
111 The Yellow Ticket (1931) Lionel Barrymore &
Laurence Olivier
1.3 73.6 73.60 111 61 00 / 00 71.9
111 Tarnished Lady (1931) Tallulah Bankhead 1.5 81.9 81.90 89 58 00 / 00 71.5
111 No One Man (1932) Carole Lombard &
Ricardo Cortez
1.3 67.0 67.00 88 63 00 / 00 71.4
113 Friends and Lovers (1931) Laurence Olivier &
Adolphe Menjou
1.4 80.0 80.00 92 58 00 / 00 70.3
116 Smart Money (1931) Edward G. Robinson &
James Cagney
1.4 80.6 99.80 91 56 01 / 00 69.8
118 Millie (1931) Joan Blondell 1.7 93.4 105.10 72 53 00 / 00 69.6
117 Gold Dust Gertie (1931) Winnie Lightner 1.2 64.9 73.50 131 62 00 / 00 69.6
118 Safe In Hell (1931) Dorothy Mackaill 0.8 42.9 54.10 168 69 00 / 00 69.6
120 Shipmates (1931) Robert Montgomery 1.8 99.5 99.50 64 51 00 / 00 69.4
120 Young Donovan's Kid (1931) Boris Karloff 1.3 73.7 102.30 109 59 00 / 00 69.2
121 Hush Money (1931) Myrna Loy &
George Raft
1.1 59.4 59.40 143 63 00 / 00 69.2
121 Doctors' Wives (1931) Warner Baxter 1.4 78.8 78.80 96 57 00 / 00 68.6
125 His Woman (1931) Gary Cooper &
Claudette Colbert
1.3 73.7 73.70 108 58 00 / 00 67.9
123 Ambassador Bill (1931) Ray Milland &
Will Rogers
1.3 73.7 73.70 110 58 00 / 00 67.9
125 Goldie (1931) Jean Harlow &
Spencer Tracy
1.1 63.7 63.70 135 61 00 / 00 67.8
126 June Moon (1931) Jack Oakie 1.2 69.4 69.40 120 59 00 / 00 67.5
128 The Road To Singapore (1931) William Powell 1.3 70.2 86.90 118 58 00 / 00 67.3
128 Beyond Victory (1931) Zasu Pitts 1.1 64.2 64.20 134 60 00 / 00 67.2
130 Alexander Hamilton (1931) George Arliss 1.3 75.0 97.00 104 57 00 / 00 67.2
129 Huckleberry Finn (1931) Directed by Norman Taurog 1.1 63.1 63.10 137 60 00 / 00 66.8
131 The Bad Sister (1931) Bette Davis &
Humphrey Bogart
0.8 46.8 46.80 161 65 00 / 00 66.7
133 Never the Twain Shall Meet (1931) Leslie Howard 1.4 77.0 77.00 98 56 00 / 00 66.7
134 Surrender (1931) 1.3 71.9 71.90 114 57 00 / 00 66.7
134 Once A Lady (1931) 1.6 91.8 91.80 74 51 00 / 00 66.5
135 Flying High (1931) Pat O'Brien 1.4 78.8 108.80 95 55 00 / 00 66.4
136 Party Husband (1931) Dorothy Mackaill 0.8 44.4 50.30 166 66 00 / 00 66.3
137 Stepping Out (1931) Charlotte Greenwood 1.0 56.3 75.50 146 62 00 / 00 66.2
136 The Bachelor Father (1931) Ray Milland 0.9 51.5 51.50 157 63 00 / 00 65.5
138 New Adventures of Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford (1931) William Haines &
Jimmy Durante
1.3 71.9 71.90 113 56 00 / 00 65.5
140 Born To Love (1931) Joel McCrea 1.3 74.8 107.40 105 55 00 / 00 64.8
141 Children of Dreams (1931) Margaret Schilling 1.2 65.7 78.30 130 58 00 / 00 64.8
141 Broadminded (1931) Bela Lugosi 1.2 65.7 78.30 129 58 00 / 00 64.8
143 Sooky (1931) 1.7 97.6 97.60 68 47 00 / 00 64.4
144 Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931) Buster Keaton &
Charlotte Greenwood
1.4 78.8 163.10 94 53 00 / 00 64.4
145 The Black Camel (1931) Robert Young 1.0 54.7 54.70 152 61 00 / 00 64.3
146 The Mad Genius (1931) John Barrymore &
Boris Karloff
0.8 46.0 66.20 162 63 00 / 00 63.7
146 Annabelle's Affairs (1931) Jeanette MacDonald 0.9 52.1 52.10 155 61 00 / 00 63.7
148 Body and Soul (1931) Myrna Loy &
Humphrey Bogart
0.7 38.8 38.80 173 65 00 / 00 63.5
148 Man of the World (1931) Carole Lombard &
William Powell
1.3 70.1 70.10 119 55 00 / 00 63.4
148 The Hot Heiress (1931) Walter Pidgeon 1.2 68.3 78.60 124 55 00 / 00 62.6
151 The Brat (1931) Sally O'Neill 1.1 63.5 63.50 136 56 00 / 00 60.9
151 Indiscreet (1931) Gloria Swanson &
Directed by Leo McCarey
0.8 45.8 45.80 163 61 00 / 00 60.2
153 Other Men's Women (1931) James Cagney 1.0 57.7 57.70 144 57 00 / 00 59.6
152 Transgression (1931) Kay Francis 0.8 44.5 51.30 165 61 00 / 00 59.4
153 Finn And Hattie (1931) Zasu Pitts 0.7 37.5 37.50 178 63 00 / 00 59.2
156 Kiss Me Again (1931) Walter Pidgeon 0.7 38.1 63.60 176 62 00 / 00 58.4
155 Sob Sister (1931) 0.7 41.1 41.10 171 61 00 / 00 58.3
159 Suicide Fleet (1931) Ginger Rogers 1.2 66.8 66.80 126 53 00 / 00 57.9
158 Ten Cents a Dance (1931) Barbara Stanwyck 0.6 35.3 35.30 181 62 00 / 00 56.3
162 The Cuban Love Song (1931) Directed by W.S. Van Dyke 1.4 77.6 77.60 97 48 00 / 00 56.2
160 Men Call It Love (1931) Adolphe Menjou 0.9 50.7 63.90 158 57 00 / 00 55.8
161 The Reckless Hour (1931) Joan Blondell 0.8 42.7 51.30 169 59 00 / 00 55.1
161 No Limit (1931) 1.0 57.6 57.60 145 54 00 / 00 54.8
165 Father's Son (1931) Lewis Stone 1.1 62.7 80.50 138 52 00 / 00 54.7
166 The Squaw Man (1931) Warner Baxter 1.4 76.8 115.70 99 48 00 / 00 54.7
166 Beau Ideal (1931) Loretta Young 1.2 64.6 95.20 132 51 00 / 00 53.3
168 Heartbreak (1931) 1.0 54.7 54.70 153 54 00 / 00 53.2
169 Are These Our Children? (1931) Eric Linden 0.9 50.4 50.40 159 55 00 / 00 52.4
169 A Woman Of Experience (1931) Zasu Pitts 0.4 21.8 21.80 195 64 00 / 00 52.3
170 Everything's Rosie (1931) Robert Woolsey &
Anita Louise
0.6 33.9 45.50 182 60 00 / 00 51.8
171 The Conquering Horde (1931) Fay Wray 0.6 32.6 32.60 183 60 00 / 00 51.0
172 The Lady Who Dared (1931) Sidney Blackmer 0.5 30.3 182.60 187 60 00 / 00 50.2
175 The Gang Buster (1931) Jean Arthur 1.0 53.4 53.40 154 53 00 / 00 50.1
173 50 Million Frenchmen (1931) Bela Lugosi 1.2 66.4 71.20 127 49 00 / 00 50.1
174 I Like Your Nerve (1931) Boris Karloff 0.8 44.0 51.60 167 56 00 / 00 50.0
176 White Shoulders (1931) Mary Astor 0.7 37.5 37.50 177 58 00 / 00 49.9
179 Sidewalks of New York (1931) Buster Keaton &
Anita Page
1.3 70.2 141.50 117 47 00 / 00 49.7
178 6 Cylinder Love (1931) 1.0 54.8 54.80 150 52 00 / 00 49.2
180 Prestige (1931) 0.9 49.9 49.90 160 53 00 / 00 48.0
180 Manhattan Parade (1931) Winnie Lightner 1.0 54.8 54.80 151 51 00 / 00 47.8
181 Working Girls (1931) Paul Lukas 0.2 11.8 11.80 207 65 00 / 00 47.7
181 Hell Bound (1931) Directed by Walter Lang 0.7 41.1 41.10 170 55 00 / 00 47.4
182 Confessions of a Co-Ed (1931) Sylvia Sidney 0.6 32.4 32.40 185 58 00 / 00 46.8
183 Not Exactly Gentlemen (1931) Victor McLaglen &
Fay Wray
0.1 7.8 7.80 210 65 00 / 00 46.1
186 The Bargain (1931) Lewis Stone 0.7 36.7 43.00 179 56 00 / 00 45.4
185 Captain Applejack (1931) Mary Brian 0.5 26.3 32.40 190 59 00 / 00 45.2
187 The Great Lover (1931) Irene Dunne 0.4 19.6 19.60 200 61 00 / 00 45.0
187 Three Girls Lost (1931) Loretta Young &
John Wayne
0.5 29.7 29.70 188 56 00 / 00 41.1
190 Always Goodbye (1931) Lewis Stone 0.7 38.6 38.60 174 52 00 / 00 38.4
189 Men Of The Sky (1931) Irene Delroy 0.6 31.8 37.90 186 54 00 / 00 38.1
191 Newly Rich (1931) Directed by Norman Taurog 0.4 20.3 20.30 199 57 00 / 00 37.5
191 The Royal Bed (1931) Mary Astor 0.1 6.2 6.20 212 61 00 / 00 34.9
192 Compromised (1931) Ben Lyon 0.6 32.4 40.70 184 52 00 / 00 33.7
193 Woman Hungry (1931) Sidney Blackmer 0.7 38.6 43.20 175 50 00 / 00 33.5
195 Too Young To Marry (1931) Loretta Young &
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
0.3 16.8 16.80 202 56 00 / 00 32.5
194 Her Majesty Love (1931) W.C. Fields 0.4 20.3 20.30 198 55 00 / 00 32.2
196 Wicked (1931) Victor McLaglen 0.4 21.3 21.30 197 54 00 / 00 31.7
198 Up For Murder (1931) Lew Ayres 0.3 14.7 14.70 204 56 00 / 00 31.5
197 The Ruling Voice/Upper Underworld (1931) Loretta Young &
Walter Huston
0.4 24.1 24.10 193 53 00 / 00 31.3
200 Up Pops The Devil (1931) Carole Lombard &
Norman Foster
0.9 51.5 51.50 156 44 00 / 00 30.5
201 The Night Angel (1931) Fredric March 0.4 19.6 19.60 201 54 00 / 00 29.7
202 A Holy Terror (1931) 0.4 22.1 22.10 194 53 00 / 00 29.3
202 Consolation Marriage (1931) Irene Dunne &
Myrna Loy
0.4 21.6 21.60 196 51 00 / 00 26.1
204 The Secret Witness (1931) Zasu Pitts 0.1 6.4 6.40 211 56 00 / 00 25.2
204 Presitge (1931) 0.6 36.2 36.20 180 46 00 / 00 25.2
205 The Gay Diplomat (1931) Genevieve Tobin 0.3 15.9 21.70 203 52 00 / 00 23.9
206 The Tip-Off (1931) Ginger Rogers 0.1 6.1 6.10 213 55 00 / 00 23.9
206 It Pays To Advertise (1931) Carole Lombard &
Norman Foster
0.7 40.6 40.60 172 44 00 / 00 23.2
208 Dude Ranch (1931) 0.5 29.1 29.10 189 47 00 / 00 22.2
210 The Speckled Band (1931) 0.2 8.4 8.40 209 53 00 / 00 21.3
210 The Prodigal (1931) 0.2 14.0 14.00 206 51 00 / 00 20.8
212 Penrod and Sam (1931) Leon Janney 0.2 10.5 10.50 208 52 00 / 00 20.7
211 Heaven On Earth (1931) Lew Ayres 0.4 24.5 24.50 192 45 00 / 00 17.3
212 God's Gift to Women (1931) Joan Blondell 0.4 24.8 27.80 191 41 00 / 00 11.4

Bela Lugosi in 1931’s Dracula

Top earners in 1931 for Adjusted USA Box Office:

Name Number of Movies Total Adj World Wide (mil) Total Adj USA (mil)
Clark Gable 11 2,174.0 1,465.7
Janet Gaynor 4 897.2 897.2
Robert Montgomery 6 1,013.9 806.2
Lewis Stone 9 1,198.2 798.6
Boris Karloff 8 916.7 796.6
Charles Farrell 5 742.4 742.4
Ward Bond 5 613.9 613.9
Joan Blondell 7 674.3 612.5
Myrna Loy 6 578.9 578.9
Wallace Beery 3 770.5 571.4
Jean Harlow 5 617.5 554.8
Charles Chaplin 1 551.2 551.2
Florence Lee 1 551.2 551.2
Virginia Cherrill 1 551.2 551.2
Harry Myers 1 551.2 551.2
Warner Baxter 5 586.3 547.4
Joan Crawford 4 736.0 531.4
Fay Wray 6 534.6 517.2
James Cagney 5 581.4 498.3
George Raft 4 489.5 489.5
Adolphe Menjou 6 542.6 488.2
Miriam Hopkins 3 476.5 476.5
Gary Cooper 4 472.3 472.3
Lionel Barrymore 4 804.7 463.1
Paul Lukas 5 449.3 449.3

Adjusted Worldwide Box Office:

  1. Trader Horn (1931) $529,631,856.00
  2. Mata Hari (1931) $291,670,350.00
  3. The Lady Who Dared (1931) $139,390,077.00
  4. Hell Divers (1931) $273,093,399.00
  5. Bought! (1931) $173,763,773.00
  6. Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) $190,318,670.00
  7. Local Boy Makes Good (1931) $144,445,058.00
  8. Alexander Hamilton (1931) $131,302,224.00
  9. A Free Soul (1931) $179,703,311.00
  10. Parlor Bedroom and Bath (1931) $124,478,018.00
  11. Possessed (1931) $192,340,633.00
  12. Sidewalks of New York (1931) $108,049,463.00
  13. Dance Fools Dance (1931) $160,241,793.00
  14. Inspiration (1931) $142,423,050.00
  15. The Mad Genius (1931) $85,681,305.00
  16. Reducing (1931) $190,192,273.00
  17. Sporting Blood (1931) $112,851,651.00
  18. Private Lives (1931) $142,170,311.00
  19. The Millionaire (1931) $105,521,967.00
  20. Strangers May Kiss (1931) $160,747,226.00
  21. The Secret Six (1931) $125,615,414.00
  22. Politics (1931) $172,752,764.00
  23. The Phantom of Paris (1931) $82,269,252.00
  24. Cimarron (1931) $185,642,815.00
  25. The Easiest Way (1931) $114,115,353.00
  26. The Squaw Man (1931) $88,335,142.00
  27. Guilty Hands (1931) $86,692,314.00
  28. Born To Love (1931) $82,016,459.00
  29. Beau Ideal (1931) $72,664,822.00
  30. This Modern Age (1931) $112,598,912.00
  31. Young Donovan’s Kid (1931) $78,098,893.00
  32. Kiss Me Again (1931) $48,527,449.00
  33. Sit Tight (1931) $97,813,150.00
  34. Laughing Sinners (1931) $96,675,844.00
  35. The Common Law (1931) $90,117,024.00
  36. Svengali (1931) $62,934,076.00
  37. Gentleman’s Fate (1931) $64,324,166.00
  38. West of Broadway (1931) $58,890,140.00
  39. The Star Witness (1931) $82,016,513.00
  40. Smart Money (1931) $76,203,271.00
  41. Stepping Out (1931) $57,626,357.00
  42. Cracked Nuts (1931) $77,972,542.00
  43. Peace O’Reno (1931) $72,032,948.00
  44. Father’s Son (1931) $61,417,599.00
  45. Caught Plastered (1931) $69,379,111.00
  46. Little Caeser (1931) $132,945,051.00
  47. The Finger Points (1931) $79,741,757.00
  48. The Road To Singapore (1931) $66,346,175.00
  49. Chances (1931) $62,049,464.00
  50. The Guardsman (1931) $64,450,518.00
  51. Devotion (1931) $68,494,534.00
  52. The Public Enemy (1931) $118,412,073.00
  53. Night Nurse (1931) $86,818,701.00
  54. Men Call It Love (1931) $48,780,188.00
  55. Broadminded (1931) $59,774,716.00
  56. Children of Dreams (1931) $59,774,716.00
  57. Millie (1931) $80,247,244.00
  58. Everything’s Rosie (1931) $34,752,767.00
  59. Safe In Hell (1931) $41,324,145.00
  60. The Maltese Falcon (1931) $50,928,539.00
  61. The Hot Heiress (1931) $59,965,687.00
  62. The Reckless Hour (1931) $39,175,829.00
  63. Gold Dust Gertie (1931) $56,109,871.00
  64. Compromised (1931) $31,087,930.00
  65. Illicit (1931) $69,252,715.00
  66. I Like Your Nerve (1931) $39,428,568.00
  67. The Last Flight (1931) $56,868,141.00
  68. Transgression (1931) $39,175,838.00
  69. The Bargain (1931) $32,857,155.00
  70. Captain Applejack (1931) $24,769,202.00
  71. Men Of The Sky (1931) $28,939,525.00
  72. Party Husband (1931) $38,417,577.00
  73. The Gay Diplomat (1931) $16,554,942.00
  74. 50 Million Frenchmen (1931) $54,340,691.00
  75. Woman Hungry (1931) $32,983,498.00
  76. God’s Gift to Women (1931) $21,230,752.00

My Main Sources

Source 1: Eddie Mannix MGM Ledgers

Source 2: C.J. Tevlin RKO Ledgers

Source 3: William Schaefer Warner Brothers Ledgers

Source 4: Year In Review Variety Editions

Source 5: Grand Design: Hollywood As A Modern Business Enterprise 1930-1942 by Tino Balio

Source 6: Twentieth Century-Fox A Corporate and Financial History by Aubrey Solomon

Source 7:  Wikipedia

Source 8:  IMDb.com

Source 9:  “Revenue sharing and the coming of sound” by H. Mark Glancy

Source 10: Hollywood Power Stats by Christopher Reynolds

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41 thoughts on “1931 Top Box Office Movies”

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Older comments
  1. Anonymous says:
    April 29, 2020 at 2:49 am

    Hi Mr. Cogerson,
    Can you please add the following 1931 films.

    1.The Struggle (1931), Hal Skelly and Zita Johann. Box office $100,000. source-Wikipedia

    2.Huckleberry Finn (1931),Jackie Coogan and Junior Durkin. Box office $2.5 million.
    source-Wikipedia
    3.Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931),Matahi and Anne Chevalier. Box office $472,000 worldwide. source-Wikipedia

    Thx

    mike

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    April 19, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    Hi Mr. Cogerson,
    Can you please add the following 1931 films.

    1.The Struggle (1931), Hal Skelly and Zita Johann. Box office $100,000.
    2.Huckleberry Finn (1931),Jackie Coogan and Junior Durkin. Box office $2.5 million.
    3.Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931),Matahi and Anne Chevalier. Box office $472,000 worldwide.

    Thx

    mike

    Reply
  3. Chris says:
    April 19, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    FYI… I don’t see Feet First in 1930 or 1931 movie list.

    Reply
    1. Cogerson says:
      April 19, 2018 at 7:02 pm

      Hey Chris….Feet First is now on the 1930 page…coming in at #64. Got the box office number from IMDb…..but they do not say where the figure came from……but we used it.

      Reply
  4. Max says:
    April 1, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    Hello Bruce, i just have some questions about your worldwide grosses estimation for the yearly reviews in general :

    1) Where do they come from? The studios ledgers ? Because i know that variety , imdb and box office mojo only give US gross for the films of this period until the 80’s….

    2) And why do you have worldwide grosses for some movies and not for others?
    Is it because the ledgers of the different studios that you consulted do not always give the worldwide gross or because when you consulted them you could not take all the infos ?

    3)Do you have all the gross figures available (domestic and foreign) in the various studios ledgers that can currently be consulted ?

    Thanks a lot !!

    Reply
    1. Cogerson says:
      April 1, 2018 at 4:48 pm

      Hey Max…..thanks for the comment and the visit. So to answer your questions….(1) MGM, RKO, and Warner Brothers worldwide box office come from the ledgers for those companies. Fox has some good sources as well. Using the rental numbers they have let’s us come up with an adjusted worldwide gross. It is far from an exact science….but given the limited resources….we feel they are at least in the neighborhood. The actual numbers will probably never been known.

      (2) So for studios like Paramount, Columbia and Universal….we rarely have worldwide box office numbers. (3) At the end of many of the classic pages and yearly reviews we post the movies we have numbers for….we are working on doing something that will put these numbers together. Hope that answers you questions.

      Reply

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