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Box office · 1939

1939 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1939

The Wizard of Oz (1939) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1939, with $25.6M worldwide, ahead of Wuthering Heights (1939) at $624.6K and The Rules of the Game (1939) at $273.6K. 14 films released in 1939 report a worldwide gross, $26.7M 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 $26.1M across 7 releases.

1939 releases with a gross
14
combined worldwide
$26.7M
The Wizard of Oz (1939), the #1
$25.6M
vs 1938
−86%
The Wizard of Oz (1939) movie poster #1 of 14
#1 movie of 1939

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

1939 · Adventure, Fantasy

$25.6M worldwide · 96% of the chart's total

$24.7M US & Canada · 96% $969K elsewhere · 4%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Hits of 1939?

The Wizard of Oz (1939) leads with $25.6M, 96% of the total. The top 5 together took $26.7M, almost all of what the 14 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Wizard of Oz (1939) movie poster Number 1
    $25.6M The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    $24.7M US & Canada · 96% $969K elsewhere · 4%
  2. Wuthering Heights (1939) movie poster Number 2
    $624.6K Wuthering Heights (1939)
    $624.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. The Rules of the Game (1939) movie poster Number 3
    $273.6K The Rules of the Game (1939)
    $273.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) movie poster Number 4
    $146.1K Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
    $144.7K US & Canada · 99% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
  5. The Foundling (1939) movie poster Number 5
    $21.9K The Foundling (1939)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every 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. 1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) movie poster
    The Wizard of Oz (1939) Aug 25, 1939 · English · Adventure, Fantasy $25.6M worldwide
    Aug 25, 1939 US and Canada: $24.7M Rest of the world: $969K Worldwide: $25.6M
  2. 2 Wuthering Heights (1939) movie poster
    Wuthering Heights (1939) Mar 24, 1939 · English · Drama, Romance $624.6K worldwide
    Mar 24, 1939 US and Canada: $624.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $624.6K
  3. 3 The Rules of the Game (1939) movie poster
    The Rules of the Game (1939) Jul 8, 1939 · French · Drama, Comedy $273.6K worldwide
    Jul 8, 1939 US and Canada: $273.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $273.6K
  4. 4 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) movie poster
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Oct 19, 1939 · Drama, Comedy $146.1K worldwide
    Oct 19, 1939 US and Canada: $144.7K Rest of the world: $1.4K Worldwide: $146.1K
  5. 5 The Foundling (1939) movie poster
    The Foundling (1939) Nov 18, 1939 · Russian · Comedy, Drama $21.9K worldwide
    Nov 18, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.9K
  6. 6 Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) movie poster
    Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) Nov 2, 1939 · English · Drama, War $10.4K worldwide
    Nov 2, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.4K
  7. 7 Fifth Avenue Girl (1939) movie poster
    Fifth Avenue Girl (1939) Aug 25, 1939 · English · Romance, Comedy $9.6K worldwide
    Aug 25, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.6K
  8. 8 Only Angels Have Wings (1939) movie poster
    Only Angels Have Wings (1939) May 12, 1939 · English · Adventure, Drama $8.6K worldwide
    May 12, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.6K
  9. 9 The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (1939) movie poster
    The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (1939) Oct 13, 1939 · Japanese · Drama, Romance $6.1K worldwide
    Oct 13, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.1K
  10. 10 Bachelor Mother (1939) movie poster
    Bachelor Mother (1939) Jun 30, 1939 · English · Comedy, Romance $4.1K worldwide
    Jun 30, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.1K
  11. 11 Jesse James (1939) movie poster
    Jesse James (1939) Jan 14, 1939 · English · Western $3.4K worldwide
    Jan 14, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4K
  12. 12 Ninotchka (1939) movie poster
    Ninotchka (1939) Nov 9, 1939 · English · Comedy, Romance $2.5K worldwide
    Nov 9, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5K
  13. 13 Dark Victory (1939) movie poster
    Dark Victory (1939) Apr 20, 1939 · English · Drama, Romance $345 worldwide
    Apr 20, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $345
  14. 14 Son of Frankenstein (1939) movie poster
    Son of Frankenstein (1939) Jan 13, 1939 · English · Sci-Fi, Horror $127 worldwide
    Jan 13, 1939 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $127
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1939?

Of the top 10, Wuthering Heights (1939) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Wizard of Oz (1939) made 4% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $25.7M (96%) came from the US & Canada. 6 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 The Wizard of Oz (1939) $25.6M
    $24.7M US & Canada · 96% $969K elsewhere · 4%
  2. 2 Wuthering Heights (1939) $624.6K
    $624.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 The Rules of the Game (1939) $273.6K
    $273.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  4. 4 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) $146.1K
    $144.7K US & Canada · 99% $1.4K elsewhere · <1%
  5. 5 The Foundling (1939) $21.9K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) $10.4K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  7. 7 Fifth Avenue Girl (1939) $9.6K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 Only Angels Have Wings (1939) $8.6K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (1939) $6.1K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 Bachelor Mother (1939) $4.1K
    No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands

How Many 1939 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 14 films reached $100M. 13 films, 93% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $26.7M 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 1 film, 7% of the list $25.6M · 96% of the gross
  • Under $10M 13 films, 93% of the list $1.1M · 4% 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.

  1. January Jan Jesse James (1939) $3.6K Jesse James (1939)
  2. February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  3. March Mar Wuthering Heights (1939) $624.6K Wuthering Heights (1939)
  4. April Apr Dark Victory (1939) $345 Dark Victory (1939)
  5. May May Only Angels Have Wings (1939) $8.6K Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
  6. June Jun Bachelor Mother (1939) $4.1K Bachelor Mother (1939)
  7. July Jul The Rules of the Game (1939) $273.6K The Rules of the Game (1939)
  8. August Aug The Wizard of Oz (1939) $25.6M The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) $152.2K Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
  11. November Nov The Foundling (1939) $34.7K The Foundling (1939)
  12. 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 8 films, led by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938). 1939 took $26.7M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1930 4 films 4 $6.1K – The Blue Angel (1930) $4.4K
1931 6 films · +2136% 6 $135.8K +2136% Drácula (1931) $89.2K
1932 10 films · −62% 10 $51.1K −62% The Old Dark House (1932) $34.6K
1933 8 films · +222% 8 $164.8K +222% Duck Soup (1933) $106.3K
1934 7 films · −71% 7 $47.3K −71% It Happened One Night (1934) $17K
1935 10 films · +124% 10 $105.9K +124% The 39 Steps (1935) $54.1K
1936 12 films · +1356% 12 $1.5M +1356% Born to Dance (1936) $941.8K
1937 7 films · −98% 7 $32.8K −98% Stage Door (1937) $8.8K
1938 8 films · +564466% 8 $185.2M +564466% Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938) $185.1M
1939 14 films · −86% 14 $26.7M −86% The Wizard of Oz (1939) $25.6M
Genres & languages

Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1939?

Comedy took $26.1M across 7 films, 98% of the total, ahead of Adventure ($25.6M) and Family ($25.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $26.3M across 10 films, 98% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($273.6K) and Russian-language films ($21.9K).

1939 Box Office by Genre

  1. Comedy $26.1M
    7 films · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  2. Adventure $25.6M
    2 films · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  3. Family $25.6M
    1 film · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  4. Fantasy $25.6M
    1 film · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  5. Musical $25.6M
    1 film · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  6. Drama $1.1M
    8 films · #1 Wuthering Heights (1939)
  7. Romance $929.6K
    8 films · #1 Wuthering Heights (1939)
  8. History $10.4K
    1 film · #1 Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
  9. War $10.4K
    1 film · #1 Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
  10. Western $3.4K
    1 film · #1 Jesse James (1939)

1939 Box Office by Language

  1. English $26.3M
    10 films · #1 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  2. French $273.6K
    1 film · #1 The Rules of the Game (1939)
  3. Russian $21.9K
    1 film · #1 The Foundling (1939)
  4. Japanese $6.1K
    1 film · #1 The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (1939)
Archive

Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2019 leads with $37.1B, led by Avengers: Endgame (2019).

2020s 7 years · $134B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
2000s 10 years · $201.4B
1990s 10 years · $91.9B
1980s 10 years · $36B
1970s 10 years · $11.1B
1960s 10 years · $1.8B
1950s 10 years · $801.3M
1940s 10 years · $936.9M
1930s 10 years · $214M
1920s 9 years · $10M
1910s 2 years · $9.8K
FAQ

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 14 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing 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 The Rules of the Game (1939) at $273.6K.

How much did movies released in 1939 earn?

14 films released in 1939 report a worldwide gross, $26.7M in all, or $1.9M per film on average. 1938 releases took $185.2M.

How many movies released in 1939 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Wizard of Oz (1939), earned $25.6M.

How much of the 1939 box office came from the US and Canada?

$25.7M of the $26.7M total, or 96%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 10 films of the 14 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1939 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.

How often is the 1939 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.