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English box office · 1949

English Box Office 1949: Highest-Grossing English Movies

The Third Man (1949) is the highest-grossing English-language movie released in 1949, with $1.4M worldwide, ahead of Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) at $147.2K and The Passionate Friends (1949) at $40.3K. 16 English-language films released in 1949 report a worldwide gross, $1.7M in all, 68% of it from the US & Canada. By genre, Mystery leads with $1.4M across 2 English releases.

1949 releases with a gross
16
combined worldwide
$1.7M
The Third Man (1949), the #1
$1.4M
earned in the US & Canada
68%
The Third Man (1949) movie poster #1 of 16
#1 English-language movie of 1949

The Third Man (1949)

1949 · Mystery, Thriller

$1.4M worldwide · 82% of the chart's total

$1.1M US & Canada · 75% $354.5K elsewhere · 25%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest English Hits of 1949?

The Third Man (1949) leads with $1.4M, 82% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.6M, 96% of what all 16 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Third Man (1949) movie poster Number 1
    $1.4M The Third Man (1949)
    $1.1M US & Canada · 75% $354.5K elsewhere · 25%
  2. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) movie poster Number 2
    $147.2K Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    $35.9K US & Canada · 24% $111.2K elsewhere · 76%
  3. The Passionate Friends (1949) movie poster Number 3
    $40.3K The Passionate Friends (1949)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. The Small Back Room (1949) movie poster Number 4
    $25.1K The Small Back Room (1949)
    $25.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. A Letter to Three Wives (1949) movie poster Number 5
    $14.8K A Letter to Three Wives (1949)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every English Release of 1949, 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 1949.

  1. 1 The Third Man (1949) movie poster
    The Third Man (1949) Sep 3, 1949 · Mystery, Thriller $1.4M worldwide
    Sep 3, 1949 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $354.5K Worldwide: $1.4M
  2. 2 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) movie poster
    Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) Jun 21, 1949 · Comedy, Crime $147.2K worldwide
    Jun 21, 1949 US and Canada: $35.9K Rest of the world: $111.2K Worldwide: $147.2K
  3. 3 The Passionate Friends (1949) movie poster
    The Passionate Friends (1949) Jan 26, 1949 · Drama, Romance $40.3K worldwide
    Jan 26, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.3K
  4. 4 The Small Back Room (1949) movie poster
    The Small Back Room (1949) Jan 21, 1949 · Romance, Drama $25.1K worldwide
    Jan 21, 1949 US and Canada: $25.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.1K
  5. 5 A Letter to Three Wives (1949) movie poster
    A Letter to Three Wives (1949) Jan 20, 1949 · Romance, Mystery $14.8K worldwide
    Jan 20, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.8K
  6. 6 Fast and Furry-ous (1949) movie poster
    Fast and Furry-ous (1949) Sep 17, 1949 · Animation, Comedy $14.8K worldwide
    Sep 17, 1949 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K
  7. 7 For Scent-imental Reasons (1949) movie poster
    For Scent-imental Reasons (1949) Nov 12, 1949 · Comedy, Animation $14.8K worldwide
    Nov 12, 1949 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K
  8. 8 High Diving Hare (1949) movie poster
    High Diving Hare (1949) Apr 30, 1949 · Animation, Western $14.8K worldwide
    Apr 30, 1949 US and Canada: $14.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.8K
  9. 9 Whisky Galore! (1949) movie poster
    Whisky Galore! (1949) Jun 16, 1949 · Comedy, Crime $11.4K worldwide
    Jun 16, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.4K
  10. 10 She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) movie poster
    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) Oct 22, 1949 · Western $5.9K worldwide
    Oct 22, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.9K
  11. 11 White Heat (1949) movie poster
    White Heat (1949) Sep 3, 1949 · Action, Drama $5.5K worldwide
    Sep 3, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.5K
  12. 12 Colorado Territory (1949) movie poster
    Colorado Territory (1949) Jun 3, 1949 · Crime, Romance $4.8K worldwide
    Jun 3, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.8K
  13. 13 On the Town (1949) movie poster
    On the Town (1949) Dec 30, 1949 · Comedy, Romance $3.7K worldwide
    Dec 30, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7K
  14. 14 Tokyo Joe (1949) movie poster
    Tokyo Joe (1949) Oct 26, 1949 · Drama, Thriller $207 worldwide
    Oct 26, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $207
  15. 15 The Heiress (1949) movie poster
    The Heiress (1949) Oct 6, 1949 · Romance, History $158 worldwide
    Oct 6, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $158
  16. 16 The File on Thelma Jordon (1949) movie poster
    The File on Thelma Jordon (1949) Nov 4, 1949 · Thriller, Crime $63 worldwide
    Nov 4, 1949 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $63
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1949?

Of the top 10, The Small Back Room (1949) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) made 76% of its gross abroad. Across all 16 films, $1.2M (68%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 The Third Man (1949) $1.4M
    $1.1M US & Canada · 75% $354.5K elsewhere · 25%
  2. 2 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) $147.2K
    $35.9K US & Canada · 24% $111.2K elsewhere · 76%
  3. 3 The Passionate Friends (1949) $40.3K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. 4 The Small Back Room (1949) $25.1K
    $25.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 A Letter to Three Wives (1949) $14.8K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 Fast and Furry-ous (1949) $14.8K
    $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 For Scent-imental Reasons (1949) $14.8K
    $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 High Diving Hare (1949) $14.8K
    $14.8K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Whisky Galore! (1949) $11.4K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) $5.9K
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1949 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 16 films reached $100M. 16 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $1.7M total.

  • $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • Under $10M 16 films, 100% of the list $1.7M · 100% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1949 Earned the Most?

September releases took the most, $1.4M from 3 films, led by The Third Man (1949). December was the quietest month ($3.7K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan The Passionate Friends (1949) $80.2K The Passionate Friends (1949)
  2. February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  3. March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  4. April Apr High Diving Hare (1949) $14.8K High Diving Hare (1949)
  5. May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  6. June Jun Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) $163.4K Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  9. September Sep The Third Man (1949) $1.4M The Third Man (1949)
  10. October Oct She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) $6.3K She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
  11. November Nov For Scent-imental Reasons (1949) $14.8K For Scent-imental Reasons (1949)
  12. December Dec On the Town (1949) $3.7K On the Town (1949)
Last 10 years

How Does 1949 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1940 earned the most: $527.8M from 14 films, led by Gone with the Wind (1940). 1949 took $1.7M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1940 14 films 14 $527.8M – Gone with the Wind (1940) $402.4M
1941 11 films · −99% 11 $4.2M −99% Charley’s Aunt (1941) $2.3M
1942 14 films · −53% 14 $2M −53% Reunion in France (1942) $1.9M
1943 6 films · +207% 6 $6M +207% Casablanca (1943) $4.7M
1944 13 films · −98% 13 $117.4K −98% Henry V (1944) $62.6K
1945 14 films · +18667% 14 $22M +18667% The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) $21.3M
1946 20 films · +336% 20 $96.2M +336% Song of the South (1946) $37.5M
1947 16 films · −99% 16 $1.4M −99% The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) $956.6K
1948 17 films · −49% 17 $707.7K −49% The Fallen Idol (1948) $373.2K
1949 16 films · +144% 16 $1.7M +144% The Third Man (1949) $1.4M
By genre

Which English Genres Earned the Most in 1949?

Mystery took $1.4M across 2 films, 83% of the total, ahead of Thriller ($1.4M) and Comedy ($206.6K). A film counts once for each of its genres.

1949 English Box Office by Genre

  1. Mystery $1.4M
    2 films · #1 The Third Man (1949)
  2. Thriller $1.4M
    3 films · #1 The Third Man (1949)
  3. Comedy $206.6K
    6 films · #1 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
  4. Crime $169.2K
    6 films · #1 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
  5. Romance $88.8K
    6 films · #1 The Passionate Friends (1949)
  6. Drama $86.2K
    7 films · #1 The Passionate Friends (1949)
  7. Animation $44.3K
    3 films · #1 Fast and Furry-ous (1949)
  8. Western $25.4K
    3 films · #1 High Diving Hare (1949)
  9. War $25.1K
    1 film · #1 The Small Back Room (1949)
  10. Action $5.5K
    1 film · #1 White Heat (1949)
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
2000s 10 years · $170.2B
1990s 10 years · $84.5B
1980s 10 years · $33.4B
1970s 10 years · $9.6B
1960s 10 years · $1.4B
1950s 10 years · $770.2M
1940s 10 years · $662.1M
1930s 10 years · $217.4M
1920s 4 years · $718.5K
1910s 1 year · $160
FAQ

English Box Office 1949: 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 16 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing English-language movie in 1949?

The Third Man (1949) leads with $1.4M worldwide, $1.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) at $147.2K and The Passionate Friends (1949) at $40.3K.

How much did English-language movies released in 1949 earn?

16 English-language films released in 1949 report a worldwide gross, $1.7M in all, or $107.8K per film on average.

How many English-language movies released in 1949 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Third Man (1949), earned $1.4M.

How much of the 1949 English box office came from the US and Canada?

$1.2M of the $1.7M total, or 68%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 10 films of the 16 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1949 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 1949. 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 1949 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.