Frank Capra: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 60
- on screen
- 1921–2023
- box office
- $10.8M
- award wins
- 2
- Born
- May 18, 1897
- Birthplace
- Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy
- Full name
- Francesco Rosario Capra
- Citizenship
- Italy until 1920, United States from 1920
- Occupations
- Film director, producer, screenwriter
- Years active
- 1922-1964
- Spouses
- Helen Howell, Lucille Warner
- Children
- 4
The Best Frank Capra Movies
The films of Frank Capra that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: It's a Wonderful Life (1947) leads with $10.6M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $10.6M It's a Wonderful Life 1947 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $146K Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $17K It Happened One Night 1934 · Comedy -
Worldwide box office: $10.2K Pocketful of Miracles 1961 · Comedy -
Worldwide box office: $8.36K Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1936 · Romance -
Worldwide box office: $2.92K A Hole in the Head 1959 · Comedy
Frank Capra's Career in Numbers
Frank Capra's films in numbers — as a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Frank Capra works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Italian Warship Libia (1921) to Rendezvous in Space (1964), and the 1930s were the busiest decade.
Frank Capra Movies by Decade
- 1920s 12
- 1930s 14
- 1940s 13
- 1950s 5
- 1960s 2
The 1930s were Frank Capra's busiest decade, with 14 films.
Frank Capra Movies by Genre
- Comedy 11
- Drama 9
- Documentary 6
- Romance 6
- War 5
- Crime 2
- Animation 1
- Family 1
- Music 1
- History 1
Comedy is the genre Frank Capra has worked in most, with 11 films, ahead of drama (9).
Frank Capra Career Milestones
- First film
- The Italian Warship Libia 1921
- Biggest box office hit
- It's a Wonderful Life $10.6M worldwide
- Newest film
- Rendezvous in Space 1964
Frank Capra Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Frank Capra is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Frank Capra
46- 1964
Rendezvous in Space Documentary - 1961 Pocketful of Miracles Comedy Worldwide box office: $10.2K
- 1959 A Hole in the Head Comedy Worldwide box office: $2.92K
- 1957
The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays Animation - 1957
Hemo the Magnificent Family - 1951
Here Comes the Groom Music - 1950
Riding High Comedy - 1948
State of the Union Comedy - 1947 It's a Wonderful Life Drama Worldwide box office: $10.6M
- 1945
Know Your Enemy: Japan History - 1945
War Comes to America War - 1944
Why We Fight: The Battle of China Documentary - 1944
Arsenic and Old Lace Crime - 1944
Attack! The Battle for New Britain War - 1944
Tunisian Victory Documentary - 1943
Why We Fight: The Battle of Britain War - 1943
Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer Documentary - 1943
Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike Documentary - 1942
Why We Fight: Prelude to War War - 1941
Meet John Doe Comedy - 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Drama Worldwide box office: $146K
- 1938
You Can’t Take It with You Romance - 1937
Lost Horizon Adventure - 1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Romance Worldwide box office: $8.36K
- 1934
Broadway Bill Comedy - 1934 It Happened One Night Comedy Worldwide box office: $17K
- 1932
The Bitter Tea of General Yen Drama - 1932
American Madness Drama - 1932
Forbidden Romance - 1931
Platinum Blonde Comedy - 1931
The Miracle Woman Drama - 1931
Dirigible War - 1930
Rain or Shine Comedy - 1930
Ladies of Leisure Romance - 1929
Flight Action - 1929
The Donovan Affair Mystery - 1929
The Younger Generation Drama - 1928
The Power of the Press Drama - 1928
Submarine Drama - 1928
The Way of the Strong Crime - 1928
The Matinee Idol Comedy - 1928
So This Is Love Comedy - 1928
That Certain Thing Romance - 1926
The Strong Man Romance - 1922
Fulta Fisher’s Boarding House Drama - 1921
The Italian Warship Libia Documentary
Frank Capra in Documentaries & Specials
14- 2023
AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2023
Frank Capra: Mr. America as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2020
Frank Capra, il était une fois l’Amérique as Self (archive footage) · Tv movie - 2019
Hollywood’s Second World War as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2014
And the Oscar Goes To… as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2009
1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1997
Frank Capra’s American Dream as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1990
The Making of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1987
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1985
George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey as Self · Documentary - 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Comedy - 1951
The Screen Director as Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 1940
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards as Self · Documentary - 1938
Another Romance of Celluloid as Self (uncredited) · Documentary
Frank Capra: Awards & Nominations
2 wins from 4 nominations across 2 award bodies, from 1935 to 1947. That includes an Oscar: Best Director for It Happened One Night. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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Oscars 1 win from 3 nominations -
Golden Globes 1 win from 1 nomination
- The 19th Academy Awards
- Frank Capra: Nominated Best Director It's a Wonderful Life
- 4th Golden Globe Awards
- Frank Capra: Win Best Director It's a Wonderful Life
- The 12th Academy Awards
- Frank Capra: Nominated Best Director Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- 7th Academy Awards
- Frank Capra: Win Best Director It Happened One Night
Who Is Frank Capra?
Frank Capra was born in Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy in 1897. Credited on films since 1921, as a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Frank Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind several major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Italy and raised in Los Angeles from the age of five, his rags-to-riches story has led film historians such as Ian Freer to consider him the "American Dream personified". Capra became one of America's most influential directors during the 1930s, winning three Academy Awards for Best Director from six nominations, along with three other Oscar wins from nine nominations in other categories. His leading films included It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). During World War II, Capra served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and produced propaganda films, such as the Why We Fight series. His career declined in the post-war years, but his earlier works have since been recognized as classics of Hollywood's golden age.
Who Frank Capra Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Frank Capra shares the most films with. James Stewart comes first, with 11 films together, followed by Irving Bacon (8).
Frank Capra: Questions & Answers
How many movies Frank Capra has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Frank Capra been in?
Frank Capra is credited on 60 films, from 1921 to 2023. All of them as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Frank Capra's highest-grossing movie?
It's a Wonderful Life (1947) is Frank Capra's biggest box office hit, with $10.6M worldwide, ahead of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) ($146K). Across every film with box office figures, Frank Capra's movies have made $10.8M.
Frank Capra's biggest hits Has Frank Capra won an Oscar?
Frank Capra has won an Oscar: Best Director for It Happened One Night at the 1935 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Frank Capra has 2 wins from 4 nominations.
What is Frank Capra's newest movie?
The most recent film on Frank Capra's filmography is AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special (2023), in the role of Self (archive footage).
Who does Frank Capra work with most often?
Frank Capra shares the most films with James Stewart (11 films), Irving Bacon (8 films) and Spencer Tracy (8 films).
The Best Frank Capra Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 60 directing credits.
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