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[]
| Rank | Title | Studio | Actors | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Frankenstein | Universal | Boris Karloff | $12,000,000 |
| 2. | Cimarron | RKO | Richard Dix and Irene Dunne | $1,383,000 |
| 3. | Mata Hari | MGM | Greta Garbo | $2,227,000 |
| 4. | City Lights | United Artists | Charlie Chaplin | $5,019,181 |
| 5. | A Free Soul | MGM | Norma Shearer | |
| 6. | Dracula | Universal | Bela Lugosi | |
| 7. | Private Lives | MGM | Norma Shearer | |
| 8. | No Limit | Paramount | Clara Bow | |
| 9. | The Public Enemy | Warner Bros. | James Cagney and Jean Harlow | |
| 10. | The Smiling Lieutenant | Paramount | Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins |
Academy Awards[]
Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Best Actress: Marie Dressler - Min and Bill Best Actress: Helen Hayes - The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Note: Prior to 1933, awards were not based on calendar years. And there were two awards given in 1932 for 'Best Actor'. That's how there are 3 'Best Actor', 2 'Best Actress' awards for 1931 films.
Notable films released in 1931[]
Serials[]
Battling with Buffalo Bill Danger Island Finger Prints The Galloping Ghost, starring Harold Grange Heroes of the Flames King of the Wild The Lightning Warrior, starring Rin Tin Tin The Mystery Trooper The Phantom of the West The Sign of the Wolf The Spell of the Circus The Vanishing Legion
Short film series[]
Laurel and Hardy (1921–1943) Charley Chase (1924–1940) Buster Keaton (1917–1941) Our Gang (1922–1944)
Animated short film series[]
Aesop's Film Fables (1921–1933) Krazy Kat (1925–1940) Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (1927–1938) Mickey Mouse The Birthday Party Traffic Troubles The Castaway The Moose Hunt The Delivery Boy Mickey Steps Out Blue Rhythm Fishin' Around The Barnyard Broadcast The Beach Party Mickey Cuts Up Mickey's Orphans
Silly Symphonies Birds of a Feather Mother Goose Melodies The China Plate The Busy Beavers The Cat's Out Egyptian Melodies The Clock Store The Spider and the Fly The Fox Hunt The Ugly Duckling
Screen Songs (1929–1938) Talkartoons (1929–1932) Mask a Raid (featuring Betty Boop)
Looney Tunes (1930–1969) Flip the Frog (1930–1933) Terrytoons (1930–1964) Toby the Pup (1930-1931) Merrie Melodies (1931-1969) Scrappy (1931-1941) Tom and Jerry (Van Beuren) (1931-1933)
Births[]
Deaths[]
Film debuts[]
Bruce Cabot - Heroes of the Flames Bette Davis - Bad Sister Lotte Lenya - The Threepenny Opera Otto Preminger director, producer - The Great Love Simone Simon - Durand contre Durand