1931 in film


The following is an overview of 1931 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten 1931 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:
RankTitleStudioBox office gross rental
1City LightsUnited Artists$2,000,000
2Trader HornMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer$1,642,000
3Palmy DaysUnited Artists$1,600,000
4The Champ
Daddy Long Legs		Metro-Goldwyn Mayer
Fox Film Corporation		$1,500,000
5The Man Who Came BackFox Film Corporation$1,400,000
6Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Merely Mary Ann		Paramount Pictures
Fox Film Corporation		$1,300,000
7ArrowsmithUnited Artists$1,250,000
8Hell DiversMetro-Goldwyn Mayer$1,244,000
9A Connecticut YankeeUnited Artists$1,200,000
10Cimarron
Bad Girl		RKO Radio Pictures
Fox Film Corporation		$1,100,000

Events

Variety reported the following as the biggest male stars in the U.S. in alphabetical order although grouped George Arliss and Ronald Colman together as having equal ranking.
Actor
George Arliss
Ronald Colman
Wallace Beery
Maurice Chevalier
Clark Gable
Edward G. Robinson
Will Rogers

The following were the biggest women names in the U.S. in alphabetical order but again grouped two actresses together to denote they were ranked the same.
Actress
Constance Bennett
Joan Crawford
Marlene Dietrich
Greta Garbo
Marie Dressler
Janet Gaynor
Norma Shearer

Academy Awards

The 4th Academy Awards were awarded to films completed and screened released between August 1, 1930, and July 31, 1931, by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Most Nominations: Cimarron – 7
Major Awards
Most Awards: Cimarron – 3
Cimarron was the first Western to win Best Picture, and would remain the only one to do so for 59 years. It received a then-record seven nominations, and was the first film to win more than two awards.
The 5th Academy Awards were conducted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on November 18, 1932, at a ceremony held at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Conrad Nagel. Films screened in Los Angeles between August 1, 1931, and July 31, 1932, were eligible to receive awards.
Most nominations: Arrowsmith and The Champ – 4
Major Awards
Most Awards: Bad Girl and The Champ – 2

Note: The Academy Award for Best Picture went to 1932's Grand Hotel''.

1931 film releases

January–March

unless stated

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