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.
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)
| Year | Movie (Year) | Rating | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Movie (Year) | Rating | S |
| 1931 | Cimarron (1931) AA Best Picture Win |
|
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| 1931 | City Lights (1931) | |
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| 1931 | The Champ (1931) AA Best Picture Nom |
|
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| 1931 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Dracula (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Arrowsmith (1931) AA Best Picture Nom |
|
|
| 1931 | Frankenstein (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Dishonored (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Palmy Days (1931) | |
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| 1931 | The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) AA Best Picture Nom |
|
|
| 1931 | Trader Horn (1931) AA Best Picture Nom |
|
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| 1931 | Possessed (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Monkey Business (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Little Caesar (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Daddy Long Legs (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Bad Girl (1931) AA Best Picture Nom |
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|
| 1931 | The Public Enemy (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Hell Divers (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Platinum Blonde (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Merely Mary Ann (1931) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 1931 | The Man Who Came Back (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Delicious (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Street Scene (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Pardon Us (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Mata Hari (1931) | |
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| 1931 | City Streets (1931) | |
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| 1931 | An American Tragedy (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Blonde Crazy (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Dirigible (1931) | |
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| 1931 | East Lynne (1931) AA Best Picture Nom |
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| 1931 | Politics (1931) | |
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| 1931 | The Easiest Way (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Unfaithful (1931) | |
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| 1931 | The Miracle Woman (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Private Lives (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Strangers May Kiss (1931) | |
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| 1931 | I Take This Woman (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Inspiration (1931) | |
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| 1931 | The Unholy Garden (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) | |
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| 1931 | The Man in Possession (1931) | |
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| 1931 | Young As You Feel (1931) | |
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| 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 |
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:
- Trader Horn (1931) $529,631,856.00
- Mata Hari (1931) $291,670,350.00
- The Lady Who Dared (1931) $139,390,077.00
- Hell Divers (1931) $273,093,399.00
- Bought! (1931) $173,763,773.00
- Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) $190,318,670.00
- Local Boy Makes Good (1931) $144,445,058.00
- Alexander Hamilton (1931) $131,302,224.00
- A Free Soul (1931) $179,703,311.00
- Parlor Bedroom and Bath (1931) $124,478,018.00
- Possessed (1931) $192,340,633.00
- Sidewalks of New York (1931) $108,049,463.00
- Dance Fools Dance (1931) $160,241,793.00
- Inspiration (1931) $142,423,050.00
- The Mad Genius (1931) $85,681,305.00
- Reducing (1931) $190,192,273.00
- Sporting Blood (1931) $112,851,651.00
- Private Lives (1931) $142,170,311.00
- The Millionaire (1931) $105,521,967.00
- Strangers May Kiss (1931) $160,747,226.00
- The Secret Six (1931) $125,615,414.00
- Politics (1931) $172,752,764.00
- The Phantom of Paris (1931) $82,269,252.00
- Cimarron (1931) $185,642,815.00
- The Easiest Way (1931) $114,115,353.00
- The Squaw Man (1931) $88,335,142.00
- Guilty Hands (1931) $86,692,314.00
- Born To Love (1931) $82,016,459.00
- Beau Ideal (1931) $72,664,822.00
- This Modern Age (1931) $112,598,912.00
- Young Donovan’s Kid (1931) $78,098,893.00
- Kiss Me Again (1931) $48,527,449.00
- Sit Tight (1931) $97,813,150.00
- Laughing Sinners (1931) $96,675,844.00
- The Common Law (1931) $90,117,024.00
- Svengali (1931) $62,934,076.00
- Gentleman’s Fate (1931) $64,324,166.00
- West of Broadway (1931) $58,890,140.00
- The Star Witness (1931) $82,016,513.00
- Smart Money (1931) $76,203,271.00
- Stepping Out (1931) $57,626,357.00
- Cracked Nuts (1931) $77,972,542.00
- Peace O’Reno (1931) $72,032,948.00
- Father’s Son (1931) $61,417,599.00
- Caught Plastered (1931) $69,379,111.00
- Little Caeser (1931) $132,945,051.00
- The Finger Points (1931) $79,741,757.00
- The Road To Singapore (1931) $66,346,175.00
- Chances (1931) $62,049,464.00
- The Guardsman (1931) $64,450,518.00
- Devotion (1931) $68,494,534.00
- The Public Enemy (1931) $118,412,073.00
- Night Nurse (1931) $86,818,701.00
- Men Call It Love (1931) $48,780,188.00
- Broadminded (1931) $59,774,716.00
- Children of Dreams (1931) $59,774,716.00
- Millie (1931) $80,247,244.00
- Everything’s Rosie (1931) $34,752,767.00
- Safe In Hell (1931) $41,324,145.00
- The Maltese Falcon (1931) $50,928,539.00
- The Hot Heiress (1931) $59,965,687.00
- The Reckless Hour (1931) $39,175,829.00
- Gold Dust Gertie (1931) $56,109,871.00
- Compromised (1931) $31,087,930.00
- Illicit (1931) $69,252,715.00
- I Like Your Nerve (1931) $39,428,568.00
- The Last Flight (1931) $56,868,141.00
- Transgression (1931) $39,175,838.00
- The Bargain (1931) $32,857,155.00
- Captain Applejack (1931) $24,769,202.00
- Men Of The Sky (1931) $28,939,525.00
- Party Husband (1931) $38,417,577.00
- The Gay Diplomat (1931) $16,554,942.00
- 50 Million Frenchmen (1931) $54,340,691.00
- Woman Hungry (1931) $32,983,498.00
- 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
(Visited 1 times)
I have seen just 5 of the Top 10 Best Reviewed films in this 1931 Annual Survey- City Lights, Monkey Business, Little Caesar, The Public Enemy and Dracula. I had at least heard of the other 5 with the exception of Barbara Stanwyck’s The miracle Woman. Fine vintage miniature still of Chaplin in City Lights
Hey Bob Roy. Thanks for the comment and tally count on the 1931 Top Ten Reviewed Movies. I have seen 8 of the Top 10….and 9 of the Top 11. Actually have seen the first 8 movies. The Miracle Woman was one of Stanwyck’s first really good movies…..that was the 7th movie of her career. The review % on this page are for research done in 2011……so I image the scores have modestly changed a little bit……though it still has a 7.3 on IMDb. Glad you like the City Lights photo. Good stuff.
I haven’t commented on other early 1930s pages as I have seen relatively few movies from that era, but 1931 seems to be a particularly strong year, with significantly more box office hits than 1932-1934. And while I have seen only 6 films on this list, they were each highly memorable: Dracula, Public Enemy, Monkey Business, Frankenstein, M (interesting to see a German film on the list, though the box office figure suggests it did not do much business in the US) – and one of my all-time favorites, City Lights.
1931 saw not only the breakthrough of the horror genre, as mentioned by Steve, but also the breakthrough of the serial killer genre with M, James Cagney’s breakthrough role with The Public Enemy, Edward G. Robinson’s breakthrough role with Little Caesar, and what some consider to be Chaplin’s greatest film, City Lights (though for me it’s a tie with Modern Times).
Overall, a great year for the movies. Thanks for the page and great work as usual, Bruce!
Hey PhilHoF17…..glad to see you on this yearly page…..the plan is to do 1930…..and then working my way from 1964 to 1980….so this will be the second to last “classic” report. Eventually 1929 might happen…..that is not for a very long time.
Of the 6 movies that you have seen…they are all-time classics. I am right there with you about City Lights…..that is probably my favorite Chaplin movie…..with Limelight being up there too. Modern Times is a fun movie….but the story seems to be set around the sight gags…..which are awesome….just not my favorite. Thanks for the kind words and the visit. Good stuff as always.
These are the 139 1931 films I have seen between December 1992 through the end of 2017.
ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED (GER.) 1931 UNIVERSITY ARTS FILM 9/24 2013 TCM
ALEXANDER HAMILTON 1931 WB GEORGE ARLISS DORIS KENYON 11/2 2004 TCM
ALIAS THE BADMAN 1931 TIFANY KEN MAYNARD 6/6 2017 DVD
AMBASSADOR BILL 1931 FOX WILL ROGERS MARGUERITE CHURCHILL 5/3 2005 FXM
ARIZONA 1931 COL LAURA LA PLANTE JOHN WAYNE 12/8 2001 WEST
BACHELOR APARTMENT 1931 RKO IRENE DUNNE 7/13 1994 AMC
BACHELOR FATHER 1931 MGM MARION DAVIES RALPH FORBES 1/3 2001 TCM
BAD COMPANY 1931 RKO RICARDO CORTEZ HELEN TWELVETREES 10/28 1997 ROM
BEAU IDEAL 1931 RKO LORETTA YOUNG 1/16 1994 AMC
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR RICARDO CORTEZ 5/4 2006 TCM
BEYOND VICTORY 1931 RKO PATHE WILLIAM BOYD 1/16 1993 AMC
BIG BUSINESS GIRL 1931 FN LORETTA YOUNG JOAN BLONDELL 1/7 2006 TCM
BIG SHOT 1931 RKO PATHE MAUREEN O’SULLIVAN EDDIE QUILLAN 5/18 2004 TCM
BORDER LAW 1931 COL BUCK JONES 11/9 2006 WEST
BORN TO LOVE 1931 RKO CONSTANCE BENNETT JOEL MCCREA 2/3 1993 AMC
BRANDED MEN 1931 TIFFANY KEN MAYNARD JUNE CLYDE 10/10 2013 DVD
BROADMINDED 1931 FN JOE E. BROWN ONA MUNSON 7/22 2004 TCM
CAPTAIN APPLEJACK 1931 WB MARY BRIAN 4/19 1999 TCM
CAVALIER OF THE WEST 1931 SUPREME/ARTCLASS HARRY CAREY KANE RICHMOND 10/14 2013 DVD
CHANCES 1931 FN DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. ROSE HOBART 5/20 2003 TCM
CHEAT, THE 1931 PAR TALLULAH BANKHEAD IRVING PICHEL 3/26 2012 DVD
CHINATOWN AFTER DARK 1931 ACTION XXX XXX 4/24 1994 TAPE
COMMON LAW 1931 RKO CONSTANCE BENNETT JOEL MCCREA 7/18 2002 TCM
CONNECTICUT YANKEE 1931 FOX WILL ROGERS 6/27 1993 DIS
CONSOLATION MARRIAGE 1931 RKO IRENE DUNNE PAT O’BRIEN 7/20 2010 TCM
CRACKED NUTS 1931 RKO WHEELER & WOOLSEY 5/9 1993 AMC
CUBAN LOVE SONG 1931 MGM LUPE VELEZ JIMMY DURANTE 3/23 2006 TCM
DAYBREAK 1931 MGM RAMON NOVARRO HELEN CHANDLER 11/19 2012 TCM
DELICIOUS 1931 FOX JANET GAYNOR CHARLES FARRELL 12/30 1992 13
DRACULA (SP.) 1931 UNI XXX XXX 11/2 1997 SCI
EASIEST WAY 1931 MGM CONSTANCE BENNETT ROBERT MONTGOMERY 6/5 1999 TCM
EAST OF BORNEO 1931 UNI CHARLES BICKFORD 11/13 1994 CUNY
EVERYTHING’S ROSIE 1931 RKO ANITA LOUISE ROBERT WOOLSEY 1/9 2002 TCM
EXPENSIVE WOMEN 1931 WB DOLORES COSTELLO H.B. WARNER 12/3 2011 TCM
FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN 1931 WB WILLIAM GAXTON OLSEN AND JOHNSON 4/11 2005 TCM
FIGHTING CARAVANS 1931 PAR GARY COOPER 5/11 2000 WEST
FIGHTING MARSHAL 1931 COL TIM MCCOY 3/23 2014 WEST
FINGER POINTS 1931 FN RICHARD BARTHELMESS FAY WRAY 2/20 2000 TCM
FIVE AND TEN 1931 MGM LESLIE HOWARD IRENE RICH 1/4 2000 TCM
FLYING HIGH 1931 MGM BERT LAHR HEDDA HOPPER 9/15 2003 TCM
FREE SOUL 1931 MGM NORMA SHEARER LIONEL BARRYMORE 3/9 1999 TCM
FRIENDS AND LOVERS 1931 RKO LAURENCE OLIVIER ADOLPHE MENJOU 5/22 2002 TCM
GAY DIPLOMAT 1931 RKO XXX XXX 4/5 1994 AMC
GENTLEMAN’S FATE 1931 MGM JOHN GILBERT LEILA HYAMS 10/13 1999 TCM
GOD’S GIFT TO WOMEN 1931 WB FRANK FAY JOAN BLONDELL 12/7 1998 TCM
GOLD DUST GERTIE 1931 WB OLSEN & JOHNSON WINNIE LIGHTNER 4/5 2001 TCM
GOOD BAD GIRL 1931 COL MAE CLARKE 7/9 2009 TCM
GUILTY HANDS 1931 MGM LIONEL BARRYMORE MADGE EVANS 5/24 2002 TCM
HARD HOMBRE 1931 ALLIED 2/16 2017 DVD
HELL DIVERS 1931 MGM WALLACE BEERY CLARK GABLE 7/28 2000 TCM
HER MAJESTY LOVE 1931 FN MARILYN MILLER BEN LYON 7/15 2003 TCM
HOT HEIRESS 1931 FN WALTER PIDGEON ONA MUNSON 7/21 2004 TCM
HURRICANE HORSEMAN 1931 WILLIS KENT 3/6 2017 DVD
I LIKE YOUR NERVE 1931 FN DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. LORETTA YOUNG 10/22 2003 TCM
ILLEGAL (U.K.) 1931 WB MARGOT GRAHAME ISOBEL ELSOM 2/25 2002 TCM
JUST A GIGOLO 1931 MGM XXX XXX 9/12 1993 TNT
KEPT HUSBANDS 1931 RKO JOEL MCCREA DOROTHY MACKAILL 10/7 1997 ROM
KING OF THE WILD 1931 MASCOT WALTER MILLER XXX 7/3 2010 DVD
LADY REFUSES 1931 RKO BETTY COMPSON JOHN DARROW 9/5 1997 ROM
LAST FLIGHT 1931 FN RICHARD BARTHELMESS JOHNNY MACK BROWN 3/15 2004 TCM
LAUGH AND GET RICH 1931 RADIO HUGH HERBERT EDNA MAY OLIVER 3/10 2005 TCM
LAUGHING SINNERS 1931 MGM JOAN CRAWFORD CLARK GABLE 10/9 2003 TCM
LAW OF THE RIO GRANDE 1931 SYNDICATE 10/14 2013 DVD
LES CARUTTIERS (1931) 1931 MGM 5/13 2013 TCM
LIGHTNING WARRIOR 1931 MASCOT RIN-TIN-TIN XXX 10/5 2011 DVD
LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD 1931 FN JOE E. BROWN DOROTHY LEE 10/14 1999 TCM
LONELY WIVES 1931 PATHE EDWARD EVERETT HORTON ESTHER RALSTON 12/16 2003 TCM
LOS CALAVERAS 1931 MGM 5/13 2013 TCM
MAD GENIUS 1931 WB JOHN BARRYMORE MARION MARSH 6/21 2001 TCM
MALTESE FALCON 1931 WB RICARDO CORTEZ BEBE DANIELS 6/1 2000 TCM
MAN IN POSSESSION 1931 MGM ROBERT MONTGOMERY C. AUBREY SMITH 7/21 2005 TCM
MEN CALL IT LOVE 1931 MGM ADOLPHE MENJOU LEILA HYAMS 10/13 2008 TCM
MILLIE 1931 RKO JOAN BLONDELL ANITA LOUISE 1/9 2014 TCM
MILLIONAIRE, THE 1931 WB GEORGE ARLISS JAMES CAGNEY 4/9 2001 TCM
MIRACLE WOMAN 1931 COL BARBARA STANWYCK DAVID MANNERS 2/23 1998 AMC
MONTANA KID 1931 MON BILL CODY 9/20 2017 DVD
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT 1931 TIFFANY ALICE WHITE LESLIE FENTON 5/29 2014 DVD
MY PAST 1931 WB BEBE DANIELS LEWIS STONE 11/15 2005 TCM
NAUGHTY FLIRT 1931 MGM MYRNA LOY ALICE WHITE 8/25 2003 TCM
NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET 1931 MGM LESLIE HOWARD CONCHITA MONTENEGRO 7/22 2005 TCM
NIGHT LIFE IN RENO 1931 ARTCLASS JAMESON THOMAS DOROTHY CHRISTY 1/11 1997 TAPE
NIGHT NURSE 1931 WB BARBARA STANWYCK JOAN BLONDELL 2/2 2002 TCM
ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT 1931 UA EVELYN LAYE JOHN BOLES 11/15 2008 TCM
ONE WAY TRAIL 1931 COL 8/30 2014 WEST
OTHER MEN’S WOMEN 1931 WB JAMES CAGNEY GRANT WITHERS 4/4 2000 TCM
PARDON US 1931 MGM LAUREL & HARDY 8/4 1996 AMC
PARTY HUSBAND 1931 FN XXX XXX 7/26 1998 TCM
PENROD AND SAM 1931 FN XXX XXX 1/8 1999 TCM
PHANTOM OF PARIS 1931 MGM JOHN GILBERT LEWIS STONE 3/21 2006 TCM
PHANTOM, THE 1931 WEISS BROS./ARTCLASS XXX XXX 3/12 2010 DVD
POLITICS 1931 MGM MARIE DRESSLER ROSCOE ATES 4/30 2005 TCM
POSSESSED 1931 MGM JOAN CRAWFORD CLARK GABLE 10/9 2003 TCM
PRODIGAL, THE 1931 MGM LAWRENCE TIBBETT 10/3 TCM
PUBLIC DEFENDER 1931 RKO BORIS KARLOFF RICHARD DIX 1/9 1993 AMC
RANGE FEUD 1931 COL BUCK JONES JOHN WAYNE 5/2 2002 WEST
REBOUND 1931 RKO PATHE MYRNA LOY ROBERT AMES 10/2 2004 TCM
RECKLESS HOUR 1931 FN CONRAD NAGEL 7/12 2006 TCM
RED FORK RANGE 1931 BIG 4 3/1 2017 DVD
REDUCING 1931 MGM MARIE DRESSLER POLLY MORAN 11/6 1999 TCM
RIDERS OF THE NORTH 1931 SYNDICATE 3/13 2017 DVD
RIGHT OF WAY 1931 FN CONRAD NAGEL LORETTA YOUNG 10/5 2005 TCM
RIVER’S END 1931 WB CHARLES BICKFORD EVELYN KNAPP 6/21 2001 TCM
ROAD TO SINGAPORE 1931 WB WILLIAM POWELL DORIS KENYON 9/29 1998 TCM
ROYAL BED 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR LOWELL SHERMAN 1/28 2013 TCM
RULING VOICE 1931 FN WALTER HUSTON LORETTA YOUNG 11/15 2004 TCM
SAFE IN HELL 1931 FN DONALD COOK DOROTHY MACKAIL 4/4 2000 TCM
SECRET SERVICE 1931 RKO RICHARD DIX SHIRLEY GREY 7/24 2003 TCM
SHIPMATES 1931 MGM ROBERT MONTGOMERY 5/24 2006 TCM
SIDE SHOW 1931 WB DONALD COOK 12/23 2005 TCM
SIN OF MADELON CLAUDET 1931 MGM HELEN HAYES LEWIS STONE 3/22 1994 TNT
SIN SHIP 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR 5/7 2006 TCM
SIT TIGHT 1931 WB JOE E. BROWN 7/28 2010 TCM
SKIN GAME (U.K.) 1931 BRITISH INTL. XXX XXX 4/30 1995 21
SKIPPY 1931 PAR JACKIE COOPER 2/22 2011 TCM
SMART MONEY 1931 WB EDWARD G. ROBINSON JAMES CAGNEY 10/4 1999 TCM
SMART WOMAN 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR 6/5 1993 AMC
SMILING LIEUTENANT 1931 PAR MAURICE CHEVALIER CLAUDETTE COLBERT 3/27 2003 TCM
SON OF INDIA 1931 MGM CONRAD NAGEL MADGE EVANS 8/31 1998 TCM
SPORTING BLOOD 1931 MGM CLARK GABLE MADGE EVANS 11/2 1998 TCM
STAR WITNESS 1931 WB WALTER HUSTON 4/7 2000 TCM
STRANGERS MAY KISS 1931 MGM NORMA SHEARER ROBERT MONTGOMERY 12/15 1998 TCM
STREET SCENE 1931 UA SYLVIA SIDNEY 10/6 1994 31
SUICIDE FLEET 1931 RKO PATHE WILLIAM BOYD GINGER ROGERS 7/25 2003 TCM
SUNDOWN TRAIL 1931 RKO XXX XXX 10/10 1993 AMC
SUSAN LENNOX – HER FALL AND RISE 1931 MGM GRETA GARBO CLARK GABLE 2/10 2000 TCM
THE TIP-OFF 1931 RKO GINGER ROGERS ROBERT ARMSTRONG 11/9 1992 AMC
THIS MODERN AGE 1931 MGM JOAN CRAWFORD PAULINE FREDERICK 4/26 2000 TCM
THREE WHO LOVED 1931 RKO BETTY COMPSON CONRAD NAGEL 10/2 1997 ROM
TOO MANY COOKS 1931 RKO XXX XXX 4/5 1993 AMC
TRADER HORN 1931 MGM HARRY CAREY DUNCAN RENALDO 9/17 1998 TCM
TRAVELING HUSBANDS 1931 RKO FRANK ALBERTSON 1/4 2012 TCM
UNHOLY GARDEN 1931 UA RONALD COLMAN FAY WRAY 8/5 2011 TCM
VIKING, THE 1931 J.D. WILLIAMS 3/30 2012 TCM
WATERLOO BRIDGE 1931 UNI MAE CLARKE 12/5 2006 TCM
WEST OF BROADWAY 1931 MGM JOHN GILBERT 11/23 1998 TCM
WEST OF CHEYENNE 1931 SYNDICATE 2/25 2017 DVD
WILD HORSE 1931 ALLIED 10/21 2013 DVD
WOMAN BETWEEN 1931 RKO ANITA LOUISE 8/19 1993 AMC
WOMAN OF EXPERIENCE 1931 RKO HELEN TWELVETREES 4/24 2002 TCM
Now after having difficulty posting my response appears 3 times, please delete 2 of them.
Hey Dan….actually it looks like it went through 4 times….about to delete the last clone….sorry once again.
Hey Dan…..sorry it took so long to get this list on the page….but your efforts are greatly appreciated. 139 movies from 1931 seen….as I have said many many more times before…..you are the man! Looking at your list….I would say a good 70% of them made the page….so we feel glad that our page has done a good job of covering the year. Once again….sorry for the issues…..hopefully we will get things back on track very very soon.
These are the 139 1931 films I have seen since December 1992 when I saw for me film 8000 and the end of 2017. Key – title, studio, stars if listed, date seen and source (DVD, TV channel or tape).
ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED (GER.) 1931 UNIVERSITY ARTS FILM 9/24 2013 TCM
ALEXANDER HAMILTON 1931 WB GEORGE ARLISS DORIS KENYON 11/2 2004 TCM
ALIAS THE BADMAN 1931 TIFFANY KEN MAYNARD 6/6 2017 DVD
AMBASSADOR BILL 1931 FOX WILL ROGERS MARGUERITE CHURCHILL 5/3 2005 FXM
ARIZONA 1931 COL LAURA LA PLANTE JOHN WAYNE 12/8 2001 WEST
BACHELOR APARTMENT 1931 RKO IRENE DUNNE 7/13 1994 AMC
BACHELOR FATHER 1931 MGM MARION DAVIES RALPH FORBES 1/3 2001 TCM
BAD COMPANY 1931 RKO RICARDO CORTEZ HELEN TWELVETREES 10/28 1997 ROM
BEAU IDEAL 1931 RKO LORETTA YOUNG 1/16 1994 AMC
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR RICARDO CORTEZ 5/4 2006 TCM
BEYOND VICTORY 1931 RKO PATHE WILLIAM BOYD 1/16 1993 AMC
BIG BUSINESS GIRL 1931 FN LORETTA YOUNG JOAN BLONDELL 1/7 2006 TCM
BIG SHOT 1931 RKO PATHE MAUREEN O’SULLIVAN EDDIE QUILLAN 5/18 2004 TCM
BORDER LAW 1931 COL BUCK JONES 11/9 2006 WEST
BORN TO LOVE 1931 RKO CONSTANCE BENNETT JOEL MCCREA 2/3 1993 AMC
BRANDED MEN 1931 TIFFANY KEN MAYNARD JUNE CLYDE 10/10 2013 DVD
BROADMINDED 1931 FN JOE E. BROWN ONA MUNSON 7/22 2004 TCM
CAPTAIN APPLEJACK 1931 WB MARY BRIAN 4/19 1999 TCM
CAVALIER OF THE WEST 1931 SUPREME/ARTCLASS HARRY CAREY KANE RICHMOND 10/14 2013 DVD
CHANCES 1931 FN DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. ROSE HOBART 5/20 2003 TCM
CHEAT, THE 1931 PAR TALLULAH BANKHEAD IRVING PICHEL 3/26 2012 DVD
CHINATOWN AFTER DARK 1931 ACTION XXX XXX 4/24 1994 TAPE
COMMON LAW 1931 RKO CONSTANCE BENNETT JOEL MCCREA 7/18 2002 TCM
CONNECTICUT YANKEE 1931 FOX WILL ROGERS 6/27 1993 DIS
CONSOLATION MARRIAGE 1931 RKO IRENE DUNNE PAT O’BRIEN 7/20 2010 TCM
CRACKED NUTS 1931 RKO WHEELER & WOOLSEY 5/9 1993 AMC
CUBAN LOVE SONG 1931 MGM LUPE VELEZ JIMMY DURANTE 3/23 2006 TCM
DAYBREAK 1931 MGM RAMON NOVARRO HELEN CHANDLER 11/19 2012 TCM
DELICIOUS 1931 FOX JANET GAYNOR CHARLES FARRELL 12/30 1992 13
DRACULA (SP.) 1931 UNI XXX XXX 11/2 1997 SCI
EASIEST WAY 1931 MGM CONSTANCE BENNETT ROBERT MONTGOMERY 6/5 1999 TCM
EAST OF BORNEO 1931 UNI CHARLES BICKFORD 11/13 1994 CUNY
EVERYTHING’S ROSIE 1931 RKO ANITA LOUISE ROBERT WOOLSEY 1/9 2002 TCM
EXPENSIVE WOMEN 1931 WB DOLORES COSTELLO H.B. WARNER 12/3 2011 TCM
FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN 1931 WB WILLIAM GAXTON OLSEN AND JOHNSON 4/11 2005 TCM
FIGHTING CARAVANS 1931 PAR GARY COOPER 5/11 2000 WEST
FIGHTING MARSHAL 1931 COL TIM MCCOY 3/23 2014 WEST
FINGER POINTS 1931 FN RICHARD BARTHELMESS FAY WRAY 2/20 2000 TCM
FIVE AND TEN 1931 MGM LESLIE HOWARD IRENE RICH 1/4 2000 TCM
FLYING HIGH 1931 MGM BERT LAHR HEDDA HOPPER 9/15 2003 TCM
FREE SOUL 1931 MGM NORMA SHEARER LIONEL BARRYMORE 3/9 1999 TCM
FRIENDS AND LOVERS 1931 RKO LAURENCE OLIVIER ADOLPHE MENJOU 5/22 2002 TCM
GAY DIPLOMAT 1931 RKO XXX XXX 4/5 1994 AMC
GENTLEMAN’S FATE 1931 MGM JOHN GILBERT LEILA HYAMS 10/13 1999 TCM
GOD’S GIFT TO WOMEN 1931 WB FRANK FAY JOAN BLONDELL 12/7 1998 TCM
GOLD DUST GERTIE 1931 WB OLSEN & JOHNSON WINNIE LIGHTNER 4/5 2001 TCM
GOOD BAD GIRL 1931 COL MAE CLARKE 7/9 2009 TCM
GUILTY HANDS 1931 MGM LIONEL BARRYMORE MADGE EVANS 5/24 2002 TCM
HARD HOMBRE 1931 ALLIED 2/16 2017 DVD
HELL DIVERS 1931 MGM WALLACE BEERY CLARK GABLE 7/28 2000 TCM
HER MAJESTY LOVE 1931 FN MARILYN MILLER BEN LYON 7/15 2003 TCM
HOT HEIRESS 1931 FN WALTER PIDGEON ONA MUNSON 7/21 2004 TCM
HURRICANE HORSEMAN 1931 WILLIS KENT 3/6 2017 DVD
I LIKE YOUR NERVE 1931 FN DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. LORETTA YOUNG 10/22 2003 TCM
ILLEGAL (U.K.) 1931 WB MARGOT GRAHAME ISOBEL ELSOM 2/25 2002 TCM
JUST A GIGOLO 1931 MGM XXX XXX 9/12 1993 TNT
KEPT HUSBANDS 1931 RKO JOEL MCCREA DOROTHY MACKAILL 10/7 1997 ROM
KING OF THE WILD 1931 MASCOT WALTER MILLER XXX 7/3 2010 DVD (serial)
LADY REFUSES 1931 RKO BETTY COMPSON JOHN DARROW 9/5 1997 ROM
LAST FLIGHT 1931 FN RICHARD BARTHELMESS JOHNNY MACK BROWN 3/15 2004 TCM
LAUGH AND GET RICH 1931 RADIO HUGH HERBERT EDNA MAY OLIVER 3/10 2005 TCM
LAUGHING SINNERS 1931 MGM JOAN CRAWFORD CLARK GABLE 10/9 2003 TCM
LAW OF THE RIO GRANDE 1931 SYNDICATE 10/14 2013 DVD
LES CARUTTIERS (1931) 1931 MGM 5/13 2013 TCM
LIGHTNING WARRIOR 1931 MASCOT RIN-TIN-TIN XXX 10/5 2011 DVD (serial)
LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD 1931 FN JOE E. BROWN DOROTHY LEE 10/14 1999 TCM
LONELY WIVES 1931 PATHE EDWARD EVERETT HORTON ESTHER RALSTON 12/16 2003 TCM
LOS CALAVERAS 1931 MGM 5/13 2013 TCM
MAD GENIUS 1931 WB JOHN BARRYMORE MARION MARSH 6/21 2001 TCM
MALTESE FALCON 1931 WB RICARDO CORTEZ BEBE DANIELS 6/1 2000 TCM
MAN IN POSSESSION 1931 MGM ROBERT MONTGOMERY C. AUBREY SMITH 7/21 2005 TCM
MEN CALL IT LOVE 1931 MGM ADOLPHE MENJOU LEILA HYAMS 10/13 2008 TCM
MILLIE 1931 RKO JOAN BLONDELL ANITA LOUISE 1/9 2014 TCM
MILLIONAIRE, THE 1931 WB GEORGE ARLISS JAMES CAGNEY 4/9 2001 TCM
MIRACLE WOMAN 1931 COL BARBARA STANWYCK DAVID MANNERS 2/23 1998 AMC
MONTANA KID 1931 MON BILL CODY 9/20 2017 DVD
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT 1931 TIFFANY ALICE WHITE LESLIE FENTON 5/29 2014 DVD
MY PAST 1931 WB BEBE DANIELS LEWIS STONE 11/15 2005 TCM
NAUGHTY FLIRT 1931 MGM MYRNA LOY ALICE WHITE 8/25 2003 TCM
NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET 1931 MGM LESLIE HOWARD CONCHITA MONTENEGRO 7/22 2005 TCM
NIGHT LIFE IN RENO 1931 ARTCLASS JAMESON THOMAS DOROTHY CHRISTY 1/11 1997 TAPE
NIGHT NURSE 1931 WB BARBARA STANWYCK JOAN BLONDELL 2/2 2002 TCM
ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT 1931 UA EVELYN LAYE JOHN BOLES 11/15 2008 TCM
ONE WAY TRAIL 1931 COL 8/30 2014 WEST
OTHER MEN’S WOMEN 1931 WB JAMES CAGNEY GRANT WITHERS 4/4 2000 TCM
PARDON US 1931 MGM LAUREL & HARDY 8/4 1996 AMC
PARTY HUSBAND 1931 FN XXX XXX 7/26 1998 TCM
PENROD AND SAM 1931 FN XXX XXX 1/8 1999 TCM
PHANTOM OF PARIS 1931 MGM JOHN GILBERT LEWIS STONE 3/21 2006 TCM
PHANTOM, THE 1931 WEISS BROS./ARTCLASS XXX XXX 3/12 2010 DVD
POLITICS 1931 MGM MARIE DRESSLER ROSCOE ATES 4/30 2005 TCM
POSSESSED 1931 MGM JOAN CRAWFORD CLARK GABLE 10/9 2003 TCM
PRODIGAL, THE 1931 MGM LAWRENCE TIBBETT 10/3 TCM
PUBLIC DEFENDER 1931 RKO BORIS KARLOFF RICHARD DIX 1/9 1993 AMC
RANGE FEUD 1931 COL BUCK JONES JOHN WAYNE 5/2 2002 WEST
REBOUND 1931 RKO PATHE MYRNA LOY ROBERT AMES 10/2 2004 TCM
RECKLESS HOUR 1931 FN CONRAD NAGEL 7/12 2006 TCM
RED FORK RANGE 1931 BIG 4 3/1 2017 DVD
REDUCING 1931 MGM MARIE DRESSLER POLLY MORAN 11/6 1999 TCM
RIDERS OF THE NORTH 1931 SYNDICATE 3/13 2017 DVD
RIGHT OF WAY 1931 FN CONRAD NAGEL LORETTA YOUNG 10/5 2005 TCM
RIVER’S END 1931 WB CHARLES BICKFORD EVELYN KNAPP 6/21 2001 TCM
ROAD TO SINGAPORE 1931 WB WILLIAM POWELL DORIS KENYON 9/29 1998 TCM
ROYAL BED 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR LOWELL SHERMAN 1/28 2013 TCM
RULING VOICE 1931 FN WALTER HUSTON LORETTA YOUNG 11/15 2004 TCM
SAFE IN HELL 1931 FN DONALD COOK DOROTHY MACKAIL 4/4 2000 TCM
SECRET SERVICE 1931 RKO RICHARD DIX SHIRLEY GREY 7/24 2003 TCM
SHIPMATES 1931 MGM ROBERT MONTGOMERY 5/24 2006 TCM
SIDE SHOW 1931 WB DONALD COOK 12/23 2005 TCM
SIN OF MADELON CLAUDET 1931 MGM HELEN HAYES LEWIS STONE 3/22 1994 TNT
SIN SHIP 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR 5/7 2006 TCM
SIT TIGHT 1931 WB JOE E. BROWN 7/28 2010 TCM
SKIN GAME (U.K.) 1931 BRITISH INTL. XXX XXX 4/30 1995 21
SKIPPY 1931 PAR JACKIE COOPER 2/22 2011 TCM
SMART MONEY 1931 WB EDWARD G. ROBINSON JAMES CAGNEY 10/4 1999 TCM
SMART WOMAN 1931 RKO MARY ASTOR 6/5 1993 AMC
SMILING LIEUTENANT 1931 PAR MAURICE CHEVALIER CLAUDETTE COLBERT 3/27 2003 TCM
SON OF INDIA 1931 MGM CONRAD NAGEL MADGE EVANS 8/31 1998 TCM
SPORTING BLOOD 1931 MGM CLARK GABLE MADGE EVANS 11/2 1998 TCM
STAR WITNESS 1931 WB WALTER HUSTON 4/7 2000 TCM
STRANGERS MAY KISS 1931 MGM NORMA SHEARER ROBERT MONTGOMERY 12/15 1998 TCM
STREET SCENE 1931 UA SYLVIA SIDNEY 10/6 1994 31
SUICIDE FLEET 1931 RKO PATHE WILLIAM BOYD GINGER ROGERS 7/25 2003 TCM
SUNDOWN TRAIL 1931 RKO XXX XXX 10/10 1993 AMC
SUSAN LENNOX – HER FALL AND RISE 1931 MGM GRETA GARBO CLARK GABLE 2/10 2000 TCM
THE TIP-OFF 1931 RKO GINGER ROGERS ROBERT ARMSTRONG 11/9 1992 AMC
THIS MODERN AGE 1931 MGM JOAN CRAWFORD PAULINE FREDERICK 4/26 2000 TCM
THREE WHO LOVED 1931 RKO BETTY COMPSON CONRAD NAGEL 10/2 1997 ROM
TOO MANY COOKS 1931 RKO XXX XXX 4/5 1993 AMC
TRADER HORN 1931 MGM HARRY CAREY DUNCAN RENALDO 9/17 1998 TCM
TRAVELING HUSBANDS 1931 RKO FRANK ALBERTSON 1/4 2012 TCM
UNHOLY GARDEN 1931 UA RONALD COLMAN FAY WRAY 8/5 2011 TCM
VIKING, THE 1931 J.D. WILLIAMS 3/30 2012 TCM
WATERLOO BRIDGE 1931 UNI MAE CLARKE 12/5 2006 TCM
WEST OF BROADWAY 1931 MGM JOHN GILBERT 11/23 1998 TCM
WEST OF CHEYENNE 1931 SYNDICATE 2/25 2017 DVD
WILD HORSE 1931 ALLIED 10/21 2013 DVD
WOMAN BETWEEN 1931 RKO ANITA LOUISE 8/19 1993 AMC
WOMAN OF EXPERIENCE 1931 RKO HELEN TWELVETREES 4/24 2002 TCM
Those 2 Spanish titles on the list are Laurel and Hardy films (there was no dubbing yet, so they remade the films in Spanish for that audience).
Hey Dan…..good information on the two Spanish Laurel and Hardy titles…..I read about their dubbing practices back then…..gotta give Hollywood credit….for not easily giving up on ways to make money. Left this comment on the page…even though it was originally caught in the spam filter…..anything to talk about L & H.
I haven’t commented on early 30s annual pages so far given the relatively few films I have seen from that era. However, 1931 seems to be a particularly strong year, with a significantly higher number of box office hits than 1932-1934. And while I have only seen 6 of the films on this list, they were each highly memorable: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Public Enemy, M (interesting to see a German film on the list, even though the box office figure suggests it did not do much business in the US), Monkey Business, and one of my all-time favorites, City Lights.
Apart from the breakthrough of the horror genre with Dracula and Frankenstein, already mentioned by Steve, 1931 saw the serial killer genre breakthrough with M, James Cagney’s breakthrough role with The Public Enemy, Edward G. Robinson’s breakthrough role in Little Caesar, and what many consider Chaplin’s best film, City Lights. So it was certainly a great year for the movies.
I note from the table that City Lights is also by far the biggest box office hit of the year – is this figure for its initial release only, or does it include any releases?
Anyway, thanks for the page, and great job as usual!
Hey PhilHoF17…I see that this comment got caught up in the comment mess….but in the original comment you asked about the grosses of City Lights….that includes all of the re-releases…..as the main number is the Variety totals used in their All Time Hit lists…..we tried to break it down to so the different releases.
Hi Bruce, yes my original comment was lost and I typed it again forgetting about the question, but thanks for answering it!
Hey Phil…no problem…just sorry that the comment box has become such a frustrating problem these days.