#1 of 10 #1 English-language movie of 1939
1939 · Adventure, Fantasy
$25.6M worldwide · 97% of the chart's total
$24.7M US & Canada · 96% $969K elsewhere · 4%
English box office · 1939
English Box Office 1939: Highest-Grossing English Movies
The Wizard of Oz (1939) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1939, with $25.6M worldwide, ahead of Wuthering Heights (1939) at $624.6K and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) at $10.4K. 10 English-language films released in 1939 report a worldwide gross, $26.3M in all, 96% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 86% on 1938, whose releases took $185.2M. By genre, Comedy leads with $25.7M across 4 English releases.
- 1939 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $26.3M
- The Wizard of Oz (1939), the #1
- $25.6M
- vs 1938
- −86%
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1939?
The Wizard of Oz (1939) leads with $25.6M, 97% of the total. The top 5 together took $26.3M, almost all of what the 10 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every English Release of 1939, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1939.
- 1 Aug 25, 1939 US and Canada: $24.7M Rest of the world: $969K Worldwide: $25.6M
- 2 Mar 24, 1939 US and Canada: $624.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $624.6K
- 3 Nov 2, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.4K
- 4 Aug 25, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.6K
- 5 May 12, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.6K
- 6
Nov 9, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4K - 7
Jun 30, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.1K - 8
Jan 14, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4K - 9
Apr 20, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $345 - 10
Jan 13, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $127
Gross bands
How Many 1939 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 10 films reached $100M. 9 films, 90% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $26.3M total.
97%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 1 film, 10% of the list $25.6M · 97% of the gross
- Under $10M 9 films, 90% of the list $665.7K · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1939 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $25.6M from 2 films, led by The Wizard of Oz (1939). April was the quietest month ($345). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Jesse James (1939) $3.6K Jesse James (1939)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Wuthering Heights (1939) $624.6K Wuthering Heights (1939)
- April Apr Dark Victory (1939) $345 Dark Victory (1939)
- May May Only Angels Have Wings (1939) $8.6K Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
- June Jun Bachelor Mother (1939) $4.1K Bachelor Mother (1939)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug The Wizard of Oz (1939) $25.6M The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) $14.8K Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1939 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1938 earned the most: $185.2M from 5 films, led by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938). 1939 took $26.3M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 2 films | 2 | $1.2K | – | Madam Satan (1930) $1K |
| 1931 2 films · −75% | 2 | $299 | −75% | Transgression (1931) $216 |
| 1932 7 films · +13289% | 7 | $40K | +13289% | The Old Dark House (1932) $34.6K |
| 1933 8 films · +1369% | 8 | $588.1K | +1369% | Baby Face (1933) $451K |
| 1934 5 films · −94% | 5 | $37.5K | −94% | It Happened One Night (1934) $17K |
| 1935 11 films · +1508% | 11 | $602.9K | +1508% | Sylvia Scarlett (1935) $497K |
| 1936 7 films · +662% | 7 | $4.6M | +662% | After the Thin Man (1936) $3.2M |
| 1937 6 films · −99% | 6 | $27.1K | −99% | Stage Door (1937) $8.8K |
| 1938 5 films · +684078% | 5 | $185.2M | +684078% | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938) $185.1M |
| 1939 10 films · −86% | 10 | $26.3M | −86% | The Wizard of Oz (1939) $25.6M |
By genre
Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1939?
Comedy took $25.7M across 4 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Adventure ($25.6M) and Family ($25.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
1939 English Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $25.7M4 films · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) -
Adventure $25.6M2 films · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) -
Family $25.6M1 film · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) -
Fantasy $25.6M1 film · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) -
Musical $25.6M1 film · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) -
Romance $651.8K6 films · #1 Wuthering Heights (1939) -
Drama $643.9K4 films · #1 Wuthering Heights (1939) -
History $10.4K1 film · #1 Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) -
War $10.4K1 film · #1 Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) -
Western $3.4K1 film · #1 Jesse James (1939)
Archive
English Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1919 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $28.7B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).
2020s 7 years · $105.1B
2010s 10 years · $261B
- 2019 $28.7B #1 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- 2018 $28.3B #1 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- 2017 $27.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- 2016 $27.3B #1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- 2015 $27.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- 2014 $24.6B #1 Transformers: Age Of Extinction (2014)
- 2013 $26B #1 Frozen (2013)
- 2012 $26B #1 The Avengers (2012)
- 2011 $24.2B #1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
- 2010 $21B #1 Toy Story 3 (2010)
2000s 10 years · $170.2B
- 2009 $23B #1 Avatar (2009)
- 2008 $20B #1 The Dark Knight (2008)
- 2007 $20.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- 2006 $17.7B #1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- 2005 $16.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- 2004 $15.9B #1 Shrek 2 (2004)
- 2003 $17.1B #1 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
- 2002 $13.9B #1 Spider-Man (2002)
- 2001 $13.4B #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
- 2000 $12.2B #1 Mission: Impossible II (2000)
1990s 10 years · $84.5B
- 1999 $12.9B #1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- 1998 $10B #1 Armageddon (1998)
- 1997 $11.8B #1 Titanic (1997)
- 1996 $9.2B #1 Independence Day (1996)
- 1995 $8.9B #1 Toy Story (1995)
- 1994 $7.3B #1 The Lion King (1994)
- 1993 $6.3B #1 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- 1992 $5.5B #1 The Bodyguard (1992)
- 1991 $5.9B #1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- 1990 $6.5B #1 Ghost (1990)
1980s 10 years · $33.4B
- 1989 $6B #1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 1988 $4.3B #1 Rain Man (1988)
- 1987 $3.7B #1 Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 1986 $3.3B #1 Top Gun (1986)
- 1985 $3.5B #1 Back to the Future (1985)
- 1984 $3.4B #1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- 1983 $2.6B #1 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- 1982 $2.2B #1 Tootsie (1982)
- 1981 $2.1B #1 Superman II (1981)
- 1980 $2.3B #1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1970s 10 years · $9.6B
- 1979 $2B #1 Moonraker (1979)
- 1978 $1.5B #1 Grease (1978)
- 1977 $2.1B #1 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- 1976 $624.6M #1 A Star Is Born (1976)
- 1975 $955.1M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $694.9M #1 Blazing Saddles (1974)
- 1973 $928.9M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $369.2M #1 The Godfather (1972)
- 1971 $182.9M #1 The French Connection (1971)
- 1970 $346.9M #1 The Aristocats (1970)
1960s 10 years · $1.4B
- 1969 $244.6M #1 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- 1968 $147.2M #1 Funny Girl (1968)
- 1967 $342.7M #1 The Jungle Book (1967)
- 1966 $28.1M #1 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- 1965 $227.4M #1 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- 1964 $241M #1 Mary Poppins (1964)
- 1963 $75.1M #1 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- 1962 $49.6M #1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- 1961 $952.7K #1 Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- 1960 $42.4M #1 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
1950s 10 years · $770.2M
- 1959 $126.4M #1 Ben-Hur (1959)
- 1958 $5.1M #1 Touch of Evil (1958)
- 1957 $31.3M #1 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- 1956 $149.5M #1 The Ten Commandments (1956)
- 1955 $95.8M #1 Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- 1954 $70.6M #1 Rear Window (1954)
- 1953 $150.9M #1 Peter Pan (1953)
- 1952 $38.6M #1 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
- 1951 $4.4M #1 Ace in the Hole (1951)
- 1950 $97.5M #1 Cinderella (1950)
1940s 10 years · $662.1M
- 1949 $1.7M #1 The Third Man (1949)
- 1948 $707.7K #1 The Fallen Idol (1948)
- 1947 $1.4M #1 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
- 1946 $96.2M #1 Song of the South (1946)
- 1945 $22M #1 The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
- 1944 $117.4K #1 Henry V (1944)
- 1943 $6M #1 Casablanca (1943)
- 1942 $2M #1 Reunion in France (1942)
- 1941 $4.2M #1 Charley’s Aunt (1941)
- 1940 $527.8M #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
1930s 10 years · $217.4M
- 1939 $26.3M #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- 1938 $185.2M #1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
- 1937 $27.1K #1 Stage Door (1937)
- 1936 $4.6M #1 After the Thin Man (1936)
- 1935 $602.9K #1 Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
- 1934 $37.5K #1 It Happened One Night (1934)
- 1933 $588.1K #1 Baby Face (1933)
- 1932 $40K #1 The Old Dark House (1932)
- 1931 $299 #1 Transgression (1931)
- 1930 $1.2K #1 Madam Satan (1930)
1920s 4 years · $718.5K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ
English Box Office 1939: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 10 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1939?
The Wizard of Oz (1939) leads with $25.6M worldwide, $24.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Wuthering Heights (1939) at $624.6K and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) at $10.4K.
How much did English-language movies released in 1939 earn?
10 English-language films released in 1939 report a worldwide gross, $26.3M in all, or $2.6M per film on average. 1938 releases took $185.2M.
How many English-language movies released in 1939 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Wizard of Oz (1939), earned $25.6M.
How is the 1939 English box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 1939. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the 1939 English box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.