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Box office · 1940

1940 Box Office: The Highest-Grossing Movies of 1940

Gone with the Wind (1940) is the highest-grossing movie released in 1940, with $402.4M worldwide, ahead of Pinocchio (1940) at $121.9M and The Great Dictator (1940) at $972.2K. 15 films released in 1940 report a worldwide gross, $525.9M in all, 54% of it from the US & Canada. 2 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 19.7 times the total of 1939, whose releases took $26.7M. By genre, War leads with $403.4M across 4 releases.

1940 releases with a gross
15
combined worldwide
$525.9M
films crossed $100M
2
vs 1939
×19.7
Gone with the Wind (1940) movie poster #1 of 15
#1 movie of 1940

Gone with the Wind (1940)

1940 · Drama, History

$402.4M worldwide · 77% of the chart's total

$200.9M US & Canada · 50% $201.5M elsewhere · 50%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Hits of 1940?

Gone with the Wind (1940) leads with $402.4M, 77% of the total. The top 5 together took $525.8M, almost all of what the 15 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Gone with the Wind (1940) movie poster Number 1
    $402.4M Gone with the Wind (1940)
    $200.9M US & Canada · 50% $201.5M elsewhere · 50%
  2. Pinocchio (1940) movie poster Number 2
    $121.9M Pinocchio (1940)
    $84.3M US & Canada · 69% $37.6M elsewhere · 31%
  3. The Great Dictator (1940) movie poster Number 3
    $972.2K The Great Dictator (1940)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. The Philadelphia Story (1940) movie poster Number 4
    $415K The Philadelphia Story (1940)
    $404.5K US & Canada · 97% $10.5K elsewhere · 3%
  5. Rebecca (1940) movie poster Number 5
    $113.3K Rebecca (1940)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Release of 1940, 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 1940.

  1. 1 Gone with the Wind (1940) movie poster
    Gone with the Wind (1940) Jan 17, 1940 · English · Drama, History $402.4M worldwide
    Jan 17, 1940 US and Canada: $200.9M Rest of the world: $201.5M Worldwide: $402.4M
  2. 2 Pinocchio (1940) movie poster
    Pinocchio (1940) Feb 23, 1940 · English · Fantasy, Comedy $121.9M worldwide
    Feb 23, 1940 US and Canada: $84.3M Rest of the world: $37.6M Worldwide: $121.9M
  3. 3 The Great Dictator (1940) movie poster
    The Great Dictator (1940) Oct 15, 1940 · English · Comedy, War $972.2K worldwide
    Oct 15, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $972.2K
  4. 4 The Philadelphia Story (1940) movie poster
    The Philadelphia Story (1940) Dec 5, 1940 · Comedy, Romance $415K worldwide
    Dec 5, 1940 US and Canada: $404.5K Rest of the world: $10.5K Worldwide: $415K
  5. 5 Rebecca (1940) movie poster
    Rebecca (1940) Apr 12, 1940 · English · Drama, Mystery $113.3K worldwide
    Apr 12, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $113.3K
  6. 6 The Shop Around the Corner (1940) movie poster
    The Shop Around the Corner (1940) Jan 12, 1940 · English · Drama, Comedy $42.2K worldwide
    Jan 12, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.2K
  7. 7 Waterloo Bridge (1940) movie poster
    Waterloo Bridge (1940) May 17, 1940 · English · Drama, Romance $31.1K worldwide
    May 17, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $31.1K
  8. 8 The Mark of Zorro (1940) movie poster
    The Mark of Zorro (1940) Nov 1, 1940 · English · Romance, Adventure $10.2K worldwide
    Nov 1, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.2K
  9. 9 The Grapes of Wrath (1940) movie poster
    The Grapes of Wrath (1940) Mar 15, 1940 · English · Drama, History $7.3K worldwide
    Mar 15, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.3K
  10. 10 From Mayerling to Sarajevo (1940) movie poster
    From Mayerling to Sarajevo (1940) Jan 27, 1940 · French · Romance, Drama $5.2K worldwide
    Jan 27, 1940 US and Canada: $5.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.2K
  11. 11 Foreign Correspondent (1940) movie poster
    Foreign Correspondent (1940) Aug 16, 1940 · English · Mystery, Thriller $782 worldwide
    Aug 16, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $782
  12. 12 Christmas in July (1940) movie poster
    Christmas in July (1940) Oct 25, 1940 · English · Romance, Comedy $471 worldwide
    Oct 25, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $471
  13. 13 His Girl Friday (1940) movie poster
    His Girl Friday (1940) Jan 11, 1940 · English · Romance, Comedy $330 worldwide
    Jan 11, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $330
  14. 14 Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet (1940) movie poster
    Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet (1940) Feb 8, 1940 · English · Drama $205 worldwide
    Feb 8, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $205
  15. 15 His Girl Friday (1940) movie poster
    His Girl Friday (1940) Jan 18, 1940 · English · Comedy, Drama $149 worldwide
    Jan 18, 1940 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $149
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1940?

Of the top 10, From Mayerling to Sarajevo (1940) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Gone with the Wind (1940) made 50% of its gross abroad. Across all 15 films, $285.5M (54%) came from the US & Canada. 6 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Gone with the Wind (1940) $402.4M
    $200.9M US & Canada · 50% $201.5M elsewhere · 50%
  2. 2 Pinocchio (1940) $121.9M
    $84.3M US & Canada · 69% $37.6M elsewhere · 31%
  3. 3 The Great Dictator (1940) $972.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. 4 The Philadelphia Story (1940) $415K
    $404.5K US & Canada · 97% $10.5K elsewhere · 3%
  5. 5 Rebecca (1940) $113.3K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 The Shop Around the Corner (1940) $42.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  7. 7 Waterloo Bridge (1940) $31.1K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 The Mark of Zorro (1940) $10.2K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  9. 9 The Grapes of Wrath (1940) $7.3K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 From Mayerling to Sarajevo (1940) $5.2K
    $5.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1940 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

2 of 15 films crossed $100M and took $524.3M between them, 100% of the total. 13 films, 87% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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 2 films, 13% of the list $524.3M · 100% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • Under $10M 13 films, 87% of the list $1.6M · <1% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1940 Earned the Most?

January releases took the most, $402.4M from 5 films, led by Gone with the Wind (1940). August was the quietest month ($782). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Gone with the Wind (1940) $402.4M Gone with the Wind (1940)
  2. February Feb Pinocchio (1940) $121.9M Pinocchio (1940)
  3. March Mar The Grapes of Wrath (1940) $7.3K The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
  4. April Apr Rebecca (1940) $113.3K Rebecca (1940)
  5. May May Waterloo Bridge (1940) $31.1K Waterloo Bridge (1940)
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  8. August Aug Foreign Correspondent (1940) $782 Foreign Correspondent (1940)
  9. September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  10. October Oct The Great Dictator (1940) $972.7K The Great Dictator (1940)
  11. November Nov The Mark of Zorro (1940) $10.2K The Mark of Zorro (1940)
  12. December Dec The Philadelphia Story (1940) $415K The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Last 10 years

How Does 1940 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1940 earned the most: $525.9M from 15 films, led by Gone with the Wind (1940).

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1931 6 films 6 $135.8K – 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
1940 15 films · +1866% 15 $525.9M +1866% Gone with the Wind (1940) $402.4M
Genres & languages

Which Genres and Languages Earned the Most in 1940?

War took $403.4M across 4 films, 77% of the total, ahead of Romance ($403M) and Drama ($402.6M). A film counts once for each of its genres. English-language films took $525.5M across 13 films, 100% of the total, ahead of French-language films ($5.2K).

1940 Box Office by Genre

  1. War $403.4M
    4 films · #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
  2. Romance $403M
    11 films · #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
  3. Drama $402.6M
    8 films · #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
  4. History $402.4M
    3 films · #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
  5. Comedy $123.3M
    7 films · #1 Pinocchio (1940)
  6. Animation $121.9M
    1 film · #1 Pinocchio (1940)
  7. Family $121.9M
    1 film · #1 Pinocchio (1940)
  8. Fantasy $121.9M
    1 film · #1 Pinocchio (1940)
  9. Musical $121.9M
    1 film · #1 Pinocchio (1940)
  10. Mystery $114.1K
    2 films · #1 Rebecca (1940)

1940 Box Office by Language

  1. English $525.5M
    13 films · #1 Gone with the Wind (1940)
  2. French $5.2K
    1 film · #1 From Mayerling to Sarajevo (1940)
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 · $134.1B
2010s 10 years · $325.6B
2000s 10 years · $201.3B
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 1940: 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 15 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing movie in 1940?

Gone with the Wind (1940) leads with $402.4M worldwide, $200.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Pinocchio (1940) at $121.9M and The Great Dictator (1940) at $972.2K.

How much did movies released in 1940 earn?

15 films released in 1940 report a worldwide gross, $525.9M in all, or $35.1M per film on average. 1939 releases took $26.7M.

How many movies released in 1940 made $1 billion?

None. 2 films crossed $100 million, led by Gone with the Wind (1940) with $402.4M.

How much of the 1940 box office came from the US and Canada?

$285.5M of the $525.9M total, or 54%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 11 films of the 15 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1940 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 1940. 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 1940 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.