1932 Top Box Office Movies

This movie page looks at 1932 Top Box Office Movies. Finding box office information for movies made in the 1930s and 1940s is extremely difficult. For somebody looking for box office information on 1932 it is very very frustrating. Over the years, we have researched and collected information on over 36,000 movies. So we figured we would show all the 1932 movies in our database.

To make this list a movie had to be made in 1932. Obviously many movies made in 1931 earned box office dollars in 1932. On the other side many movies made in 1932 made money in 1933 and later. This page will looks at 132 1932 Top Box Office Movies. The movies are listed in a massive table that lets you rank the movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information.

The following massive table only includes the movies made in 1932 that are in our database. Since we are constantly adding new movies to our database….this page will quickly become obsolete. We will try and update this page on a regular basis.

Our UMR Top 50 of 1932

Year Movie (Year) Rating S

Year Movie (Year) Rating S

1932 Grand Hotel (1932)
AA Best Picture Win

1932 Shanghai Express (1932)
AA Best Picture Nom

1932 Horse Feathers (1932)

1932 A Farewell To Arms (1932)
AA Best Picture Nom

1932 The Kid From Spain (1932)

1932 One Hour with You (1932)
AA Best Picture Nom

1932 Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)

1932 If I Had a Million (1932)

1932 Emma (1932)

1932 The Sign of the Cross (1932)

1932 I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
AA Best Picture Nom

1932 The Mummy (1932)

1932 Smilin' Through (1932)
AA Best Picture Nom

1932 One Way Passage (1932)

1932 Love Me Tonight (1932)

1932 Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)

1932 Red Dust (1932)

1932 Kongo (1932)

1932 Scarface (1932)

1932 Prosperity (1932)

1932 Forbidden (1932)

1932 The Big Broadcast (1932)

1932 Trouble in Paradise (1932)

1932 The Crowd Roars (1932)

1932 Island of Lost Souls (1932)

1932 Air Mail (1932)

1932 The Old Dark House (1932)

1932 Merrily We Go To Hell (1932)

1932 Red-Headed Woman (1932)

1932 As You Desire Me (1932)

1932 Rain (1932)

1932 The Lost Squadron (1932)

1932 Too Busy to Work (1932)

1932 Blondie of the Follies (1932)

1932 American Madness (1932)

1932 State's Attorney (1932)

1932 Shopworn (1932)

1932 Letty Lynton (1932)

1932 Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

1932 Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932)

1932 Taxi (1932)

1932 Bring Em' Back Alive (1932)

1932 Virtue (1932)

1932 The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)

1932 Freaks (1932)

1932 Blonde Venus (1932)

1932 Back Street (1932)

1932 What Price Hollywood? (1932)

1932 Arsène Lupin (1932)

1932 Polly of the Circus (1932)

Year	Movie (Year)	Rating	S
1932	Grand Hotel (1932) AA Best Picture Win
1932	Shanghai Express (1932) AA Best Picture Nom
1932	Horse Feathers (1932)
1932	A Farewell To Arms (1932) AA Best Picture Nom
1932	The Kid From Spain (1932)
1932	One Hour with You (1932) AA Best Picture Nom
1932	Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)
1932	If I Had a Million (1932)
1932	Emma (1932)
1932	The Sign of the Cross (1932)
1932	I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) AA Best Picture Nom
1932	The Mummy (1932)
1932	Smilin' Through (1932) AA Best Picture Nom
1932	One Way Passage (1932)
1932	Love Me Tonight (1932)
1932	Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
1932	Red Dust (1932)
1932	Kongo (1932)
1932	Scarface (1932)
1932	Prosperity (1932)
1932	Forbidden (1932)
1932	The Big Broadcast (1932)
1932	Trouble in Paradise (1932)
1932	The Crowd Roars (1932)
1932	Island of Lost Souls (1932)
1932	Air Mail (1932)
1932	The Old Dark House (1932)
1932	Merrily We Go To Hell (1932)
1932	Red-Headed Woman (1932)
1932	As You Desire Me (1932)
1932	Rain (1932)
1932	The Lost Squadron (1932)
1932	Too Busy to Work (1932)
1932	Blondie of the Follies (1932)
1932	American Madness (1932)
1932	State's Attorney (1932)
1932	Shopworn (1932)
1932	Letty Lynton (1932)
1932	Rasputin and the Empress (1932)
1932	Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932)
1932	Taxi (1932)
1932	Bring Em' Back Alive (1932)
1932	Virtue (1932)
1932	The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)
1932	Freaks (1932)
1932	Blonde Venus (1932)
1932	Back Street (1932)
1932	What Price Hollywood? (1932)
1932	Arsène Lupin (1932)
1932	Polly of the Circus (1932)

1932 Top Box Office Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

Sort 1932 Top Box Office Movies by the stars or in some cases the director of the movie.
Sort 1932 Top Box Office Movies by domestic actual box office grosses
Sort 1932 Top Box Office Movies by domestic adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost.
Sort 1932 Top Box Office Movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each 1932 Top Box Office Movies received.
Sort 1932 Top Box Office Movies by Ultimate Movie Ranking Score (UMR). Our UMR score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.

R	Movie (Year)	UMR Co-Star Links			Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil)				UMR Score
R	Movie (Year)	UMR Co-Star Links	Actual B.O. Domestic (mil)	Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil)	Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil)	B.O. Rank by Year	Review	Oscar Nom / Win	UMR Score	S
2	Grand Hotel (1932) AA Best Picture Win	Joan Crawford & Greta Garbo	3.5	172.9	363.20	9	81	01 / 01	99.5
1	Shanghai Express (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Marlene Dietrich & Directed by Josef Von Sternberg	6.9	336.0	336.00	3	82	03 / 01	99.0
3	Horse Feathers (1932)	Marx Brothers	4.3	210.0	210.00	5	84	00 / 00	98.1
3	A Farewell To Arms (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Gary Cooper	4.6	224.0	224.00	4	71	04 / 02	98.0
5	The Kid From Spain (1932)	Robert Young	7.5	366.9	366.90	2	78	00 / 00	97.0
4	One Hour with You (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Jeanette MacDonald	3.3	161.0	161.00	11	79	01 / 00	96.0
7	Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)	Johnny Weissmuller & Maureen O'Sullivan	3.8	187.2	387.10	7	75	00 / 00	95.5
8	If I Had a Million (1932)	Gary Cooper & Charles Laughton	3.6	177.0	177.00	8	77	00 / 00	95.0
9	Emma (1932)	Marie Dressler & Myrna Loy	4.0	197.3	276.10	6	66	01 / 00	94.0
9	The Sign of the Cross (1932)	Fredric March & Charles Laughton	7.8	383.5	383.50	1	62	01 / 00	93.2
11	I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Paul Muni	1.9	91.0	223.90	44	86	03 / 00	92.3
13	The Mummy (1932)	Boris Karloff	3.0	147.0	147.00	13	75	00 / 00	91.8
12	Smilin' Through (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Norma Shearer & Leslie Howard	2.9	140.6	284.60	15	70	01 / 00	91.7
14	One Way Passage (1932)	William Powell & Kay Francis	2.3	110.7	162.70	28	81	01 / 01	90.5
15	Love Me Tonight (1932)	Jeanette MacDonald & Myrna Loy	2.1	104.3	104.30	32	84	00 / 00	90.4
16	Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)	Laurel and Hardy	2.7	134.7	134.70	17	73	00 / 00	89.7
17	Red Dust (1932)	Clark Gable & Jean Harlow	2.2	109.3	171.20	29	79	00 / 00	89.2
20	Kongo (1932)	Walter Huston	3.1	153.7	242.30	12	64	00 / 00	88.7
19	Scarface (1932)	Paul Muni & Boris Karloff	1.7	84.0	136.50	50	85	00 / 00	88.3
22	Prosperity (1932)	Marie Dressler	3.3	163.2	212.00	10	58	00 / 00	87.8
21	Forbidden (1932)	Barbara Stanwyck & Frank Capra	2.3	114.1	114.10	22	74	00 / 00	87.8
23	The Big Broadcast (1932)	Bing Crosby & Stuart Erwin	2.3	112.0	112.00	23	72	00 / 00	86.8
24	Trouble in Paradise (1932)	Kay Francis	1.4	66.5	66.50	78	84	00 / 00	86.1
25	The Crowd Roars (1932)	James Cagney & Joan Blondell	1.5	73.4	107.70	59	81	00 / 00	85.7
26	Island of Lost Souls (1932)	Charles Laughton & Bela Lugosi	1.6	79.8	79.80	53	78	00 / 00	85.3
27	Air Mail (1932)	Ralph Bellamy & Pat O'Brien	1.8	87.5	87.50	47	76	00 / 00	85.3
29	The Old Dark House (1932)	Boris Karloff & Melvyn Douglas	1.8	87.0	87.00	49	75	00 / 00	84.8
30	Merrily We Go To Hell (1932)	Fredric March & Cary Grant	2.3	111.5	111.50	25	65	00 / 00	84.0
31	Red-Headed Woman (1932)	Jean Harlow & Lewis Stone	1.8	89.9	106.50	45	71	00 / 00	83.5
33	As You Desire Me (1932)	Greta Garbo & Melvyn Douglas	2.0	98.7	190.80	35	68	00 / 00	83.4
32	Rain (1932)	Joan Crawford & Walter Huston	1.5	75.3	98.60	55	75	00 / 00	83.2
35	The Lost Squadron (1932)	Joel McCrea	2.0	96.7	125.20	39	67	00 / 00	82.6
36	Too Busy to Work (1932)	Dick Powell & Will Rogers	2.7	134.4	134.40	18	55	00 / 00	82.3
39	Blondie of the Follies (1932)	Robert Montgomery	1.7	82.3	82.30	52	71	00 / 00	82.0
37	American Madness (1932)	Frank Capra	1.2	58.1	58.10	99	78	00 / 00	81.9
38	State's Attorney (1932)	John Barrymore	2.1	101.0	101.00	34	65	00 / 00	81.9
41	Shopworn (1932)	Barbara Stanwyck	2.6	126.0	126.00	20	57	00 / 00	81.8
42	Letty Lynton (1932)	Joan Crawford & Robert Montgomery	2.2	105.6	164.10	30	62	00 / 00	81.3
43	Rasputin and the Empress (1932)	Lionel Barrymore & John Barrymore	1.9	94.8	193.10	40	64	01 / 00	81.0
47	Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932)	Walter Wanger	1.9	94.5	94.50	41	65	00 / 00	80.7
48	Taxi (1932)	James Cagney	1.3	64.1	80.20	86	73	00 / 00	80.1
49	Bring Em' Back Alive (1932)	Frank Buck	2.0	96.9	146.20	37	62	00 / 00	79.3
51	Virtue (1932)	Carole Lombard & Pat O'Brien	1.9	91.0	91.00	43	63	00 / 00	79.1
51	The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)	Myrna Loy & Boris Karloff	1.1	52.8	87.50	111	75	00 / 00	79.0
53	Freaks (1932)	Leila Hyams	0.8	40.5	47.70	132	79	00 / 00	78.8
53	Blonde Venus (1932)	Marlene Dietrich & Cary Grant	1.4	66.5	66.50	77	70	00 / 00	78.3
55	Back Street (1932)	Irene Dunne	2.3	111.8	111.80	24	55	00 / 00	78.2
55	What Price Hollywood? (1932)	George Cukor	1.2	60.2	79.90	93	71	01 / 00	78.2
58	Arsène Lupin (1932)	Lionel Barrymore & John Barrymore	1.7	83.3	155.40	51	64	00 / 00	77.8
59	Polly of the Circus (1932)	Clark Gable	1.5	74.2	98.00	58	66	00 / 00	77.5
60	Unashamed (1932)	Robert Young	2.3	111.4	111.40	27	54	00 / 00	77.0
59	The Most Dangerous Game (1932)	Joel McCrea	0.8	36.8	62.00	143	77	00 / 00	76.9
62	Downstairs (1932)	John Gilbert	0.8	40.5	51.20	133	76	00 / 00	76.4
63	Flesh (1932)	Wallace Beery	1.6	79.1	79.10	54	63	00 / 00	76.2
66	Night After Night (1932)	Mae West & George Raft	2.9	140.3	140.30	16	44	00 / 00	76.2
65	Fast Life (1932)	William Haines	1.0	50.3	94.80	117	72	00 / 00	75.7
69	Two Seconds (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	1.1	51.5	68.50	115	71	00 / 00	75.1
70	The Beast of the City (1932)	Jean Harlow & Walter Huston	1.2	57.1	85.40	102	69	00 / 00	74.8
71	Three on a Match (1932)	Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart	1.0	47.3	62.20	119	71	00 / 00	74.2
74	No More Orchids (1932)	Carole Lombard & Lyle Talbot	1.8	88.9	88.90	46	58	00 / 00	73.9
74	Doctor X (1932)	Fay Wray & Directed by Michael Curtiz	1.2	56.7	83.20	104	68	00 / 00	73.8
74	No Man of Her Own (1932)	Clark Gable & Carole Lombard	1.4	67.9	67.90	75	64	00 / 00	73.4
77	20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932)	Spencer Tracy & Bette Davis	1.4	70.6	130.90	68	63	00 / 00	73.2
79	Silver Dollar (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	1.5	72.2	93.70	61	62	00 / 00	73.1
78	Lady With A Past (1932)	Constance Bennett	1.4	66.5	83.30	76	64	00 / 00	72.9
79	Jewel Robbery (1932)	Kay Francis & William Powell	0.9	44.2	59.60	122	71	00 / 00	72.8
82	Devil and the Deep (1932)	Gary Cooper & Cary Grant	1.5	72.1	72.10	63	62	00 / 00	72.7
83	The Hatchet Man (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	1.4	68.7	103.90	71	63	00 / 00	72.6
84	Union Depot (1932)	Joan Blondell	1.4	68.3	89.20	72	63	00 / 00	72.5
86	The Rich Are Always with Us (1932)	Bette Davis	1.1	54.9	54.90	107	66	00 / 00	71.6
88	Blessed Event (1932)	Dick Powell	1.4	68.2	82.30	73	62	00 / 00	71.3
91	The Conquerors (1932)	Richard Dix	1.3	64.7	82.00	82	62	00 / 00	70.0
91	Tiger Shark (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	1.2	61.0	123.10	90	63	00 / 00	69.9
93	A Successful Calamity (1932)	George Arliss	1.1	52.9	89.90	110	65	00 / 00	69.7
97	Strange Interlude (1932)	Clark Gable & Norma Shearer	2.7	134.0	173.20	19	39	00 / 00	69.3
96	Westward Passage (1932)	Laurence Olivier & Ann Harding	1.4	70.2	70.20	70	59	00 / 00	69.2
98	The Man Who Played God (1932)	Bette Davis & George Arliss	1.5	75.0	116.90	56	58	00 / 00	69.0
99	The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)	Ricardo Cortez	1.0	48.7	61.00	118	65	00 / 00	68.0
99	A Woman Commands (1932)	Basil Rathbone	0.5	26.0	33.90	161	72	00 / 00	67.7
101	Winner Take All (1932)	James Cagney & Boxing Movies	1.2	58.1	81.10	98	62	00 / 00	67.3
103	Girl Crazy (1932)	Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey	1.2	60.5	77.70	92	61	00 / 00	67.0
107	Payment Deferred (1932)	Maureen O'Sullivan & Ray Milland	0.5	23.7	42.60	165	72	00 / 00	66.1
107	Hold Em' Jail (1932)	Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey	1.2	58.2	71.50	97	61	00 / 00	66.0
107	The Wet Parade (1932)	Robert Young	1.3	65.3	65.30	80	58	00 / 00	65.7
109	Fireman Save My Child (1932)	Joe E. Brown	1.4	70.7	84.60	67	56	00 / 00	65.3
111	Lovers Courageous (1932)	Robert Montgomery	1.5	72.1	72.10	62	56	00 / 00	65.1
111	Two Against The World (1932)	Constance Bennett	1.2	59.6	78.70	95	59	00 / 00	64.7
113	Bird of Paradise (1932)	Joel McCrea	1.4	70.4	105.40	69	55	00 / 00	63.8
117	Alias The Doctor (1932)	Directed by Michael Curtiz	1.3	64.4	89.70	83	57	00 / 00	63.1
120	Lawyer Man (1932)	William Powell & Joan Blondell	0.9	42.0	56.70	129	63	00 / 00	61.6
121	The Miracle Man (1932)	Sylvia Sidney & Boris Karloff	0.8	38.6	38.60	137	64	00 / 00	61.5
123	The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)	Bette Davis	1.2	60.1	60.10	94	56	00 / 00	59.4
122	The Dark Horse (1932)	Bette Davis	0.9	42.3	51.20	126	61	00 / 00	59.2
123	Three Wise Girls (1932)	Jean Harlow & Mae Clarke	0.8	39.9	39.90	134	62	00 / 00	58.9
125	Love Is A Racket (1932)	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.	0.8	37.5	43.40	140	62	00 / 00	57.6
131	High Pressure (1932)	William Powell	1.1	54.5	72.00	108	56	00 / 00	57.4
132	Faithless (1932)	Robert Montgomery	1.1	52.6	52.60	112	57	00 / 00	57.1
132	The Animal Kingdom (1932)	Leslie Howard & Myrna Loy	1.3	61.5	73.90	89	54	00 / 00	57.0
133	So Big! (1932)	Barbara Stanwyck & Bette Davis	1.1	55.2	66.20	105	56	00 / 00	56.7
133	Cynara (1932)	Ronald Colman & Kay Francis	1.1	51.6	51.60	113	57	00 / 00	56.5
137	Play Girl (1932)	Loretta Young	0.9	42.1	49.00	127	59	00 / 00	54.9
142	Speak Easily (1932)	Buster Keaton & Jimmy Durante	1.3	64.3	103.90	85	51	00 / 00	53.9
141	The Passionate Plumber (1932)	Buster Keaton & Jimmy Durante	1.2	57.8	109.10	100	53	00 / 00	53.9
143	Man Wanted (1932)	Kay Francis	0.7	36.1	44.40	145	59	00 / 00	52.4
147	The Crash (1932)	Ruth Chatterton & George Brent	0.8	37.4	45.90	141	58	00 / 00	51.2
148	It's Tough To Be Famous (1932)	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.	0.9	42.1	53.30	128	57	00 / 00	50.9
150	The Tenderfoot (1932)	Ginger Rogers	1.3	63.6	79.20	87	50	00 / 00	50.7
151	Sinners in the Sun (1932)	Carole Lombard & Cary Grant	1.2	56.7	56.70	103	52	00 / 00	50.2
154	The Expert (1932)	Charles 'Chic' Sale	0.7	33.0	40.30	148	59	00 / 00	49.3
156	A Bill of Divorcement (1932)	Katharine Hepburn & Directed by George Cukor	1.1	53.6	74.30	109	52	00 / 00	48.3
160	The Heart of New York (1932)	Joe Smith	0.6	27.7	33.60	157	60	00 / 00	47.8
162	Night Mayor (1932)	Walter Wanger	0.4	17.5	17.50	176	62	00 / 00	45.3
165	The Purchase Price (1932)	Barbara Stanwyck & Lyle Talbot	0.9	41.9	48.20	131	53	00 / 00	42.9
164	Disorderly Conduct (1932)	Spencer Tracy & Ralph Bellamy	0.6	29.5	29.50	154	57	00 / 00	42.8
169	Week-End Marriage (1932)	Loretta Young	0.6	30.7	37.40	151	55	00 / 00	39.4
170	Saddle Buster (1932)	Tom Keene	0.2	8.8	8.80	184	61	00 / 00	38.2
172	Street of Women (1932)	Kay Francis	0.7	35.0	47.50	146	52	00 / 00	35.2
175	New Morals For Old (1932)	Myrna Loy & Robert Young	0.7	36.5	46.90	144	49	00 / 00	31.2
176	Come On Danger! (1932)	Tom Keene	0.2	11.1	14.80	182	56	00 / 00	28.0
177	Ghost Valley (1932)	Tom Keene	0.2	10.4	14.10	183	54	00 / 00	24.1
178	Haunted Gold (1932)	John Wayne	0.4	21.3	29.30	173	50	00 / 00	23.8
180	The Woman from Monte Carlo (1932)	Directed by Michael Curtiz	0.6	27.6	45.50	158	47	00 / 00	22.0
181	Partners (1932)	Tom Keene	0.2	11.5	15.30	180	51	00 / 00	19.0
182	Ride Him Cowboy (1932)	John Wayne	0.5	23.0	31.40	166	47	00 / 00	18.4
183	The Big Stampede (1932)	John Wayne	0.5	22.7	31.20	167	47	00 / 00	18.1
184	Rockabye (1932)	Walter Pidgeon & Joel McCrea	0.6	31.0	31.00	150	42	00 / 00	14.6

Top earners in 1932 for Adjusted USA Box Office:


Charles Laughton	6	842.0	823.1
Lewis Stone	10	1,046.1	735.6
Robert Young	5	763.7	714.1
Zasu Pitts	11	707.7	707.7
George Raft	8	800.6	703.1
Myrna Loy	8	679.6	543.3
John Barrymore	5	887.0	505.6
Fredric March	2	495.0	495.0
Ernst Lubitsch	4	491.6	491.6
Claudette Colbert	2	487.1	487.1
Jack Oakie	6	485.4	485.4
Walter Huston	7	632.7	474.6
Gary Cooper	3	473.1	473.1
Barbara Stanwyck	5	472.8	455.5
Lionel Barrymore	4	798.8	438.1
Boris Karloff	5	496.6	409.4
Bette Davis	7	542.4	405.4
Cary Grant	7	405.1	405.1
Josef Von Sternberg	2	402.5	402.5
Marlene Dietrich	2	402.5	402.5
Joseph L. Mankiewicz	3	390.3	390.3
Clark Gable	4	510.3	385.4
Adolphe Menjou	4	384.8	384.8
Paul Lukas	6	389.3	378.6
Jimmy Durante	5	464.2	373.3

My Main Sources

Source 1: Eddie Mannix MGM Ledgers

Source 2: C.J. Tevlin RKO Ledgers

Source 3: William Schaefer Warner Brothers Ledgers

Source 4: Year In Review Variety Editions

Source 5: Grand Design: Hollywood As A Modern Business Enterprise 1930-1942 by Tino Balio

Source 6: Twentieth Century-Fox A Corporate and Financial History by Aubrey Solomon

Source 7: Wikipedia

Source 8: IMDb.com

Source 9: “Revenue sharing and the coming of sound” by H. Mark Glancy

Source 10: Hollywood Power Stats by Christopher Reynolds

1932 Box Office Grosses – Adjusted World Wide

Movie (Year)	UMR Co-Star Links	World-Wide Box Office Adjusted (mil)
Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)	Johnny Weissmuller & Maureen O'Sullivan	387.10
Grand Hotel (1932) AA Best Picture Win	Joan Crawford & Greta Garbo	363.20
Smilin' Through (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Norma Shearer & Leslie Howard	284.60
Emma (1932)	Marie Dressler & Myrna Loy	276.10
Kongo (1932)	Walter Huston	242.30
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) AA Best Picture Nom	Paul Muni	223.90
Prosperity (1932)	Marie Dressler	212.00
Rasputin and the Empress (1932)	Lionel Barrymore & John Barrymore	193.10
As You Desire Me (1932)	Greta Garbo & Melvyn Douglas	190.80
Strange Interlude (1932)	Clark Gable & Norma Shearer	173.20
Red Dust (1932)	Clark Gable & Jean Harlow	171.20
Letty Lynton (1932)	Joan Crawford & Robert Montgomery	164.10
One Way Passage (1932)	William Powell & Kay Francis	162.70
Arsène Lupin (1932)	Lionel Barrymore & John Barrymore	155.40
Bring Em' Back Alive (1932)	Frank Buck	146.20
Scarface (1932)	Paul Muni & Boris Karloff	136.50
20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932)	Spencer Tracy & Bette Davis	130.90
The Lost Squadron (1932)	Joel McCrea	125.20
Tiger Shark (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	123.10
The Man Who Played God (1932)	Bette Davis & George Arliss	116.90
The Passionate Plumber (1932)	Buster Keaton & Jimmy Durante	109.10
The Crowd Roars (1932)	James Cagney & Joan Blondell	107.70
Red-Headed Woman (1932)	Jean Harlow & Lewis Stone	106.50
Bird of Paradise (1932)	Joel McCrea	105.40
The Hatchet Man (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	103.90
Speak Easily (1932)	Buster Keaton & Jimmy Durante	103.90
Rain (1932)	Joan Crawford & Walter Huston	98.60
Polly of the Circus (1932)	Clark Gable	98.00
Fast Life (1932)	William Haines	94.80
Silver Dollar (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	93.70
A Successful Calamity (1932)	George Arliss	89.90
Alias The Doctor (1932)	Directed by Michael Curtiz	89.70
Union Depot (1932)	Joan Blondell	89.20
The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)	Myrna Loy & Boris Karloff	87.50
The Beast of the City (1932)	Jean Harlow & Walter Huston	85.40
Fireman Save My Child (1932)	Joe E. Brown	84.60
Lady With A Past (1932)	Constance Bennett	83.30
Doctor X (1932)	Fay Wray & Directed by Michael Curtiz	83.20
Blessed Event (1932)	Dick Powell	82.30
The Conquerors (1932)	Richard Dix	82.00
Winner Take All (1932)	James Cagney & Boxing Movies	81.10
Taxi (1932)	James Cagney	80.20
What Price Hollywood? (1932)	George Cukor	79.90
The Tenderfoot (1932)	Ginger Rogers	79.20
Two Against The World (1932)	Constance Bennett	78.70
Girl Crazy (1932)	Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey	77.70
A Bill of Divorcement (1932)	Katharine Hepburn & Directed by George Cukor	74.30
The Animal Kingdom (1932)	Leslie Howard & Myrna Loy	73.90
High Pressure (1932)	William Powell	72.00
Hold Em' Jail (1932)	Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey	71.50
Two Seconds (1932)	Edward G. Robinson	68.50
So Big! (1932)	Barbara Stanwyck & Bette Davis	66.20
Three on a Match (1932)	Bette Davis & Humphrey Bogart	62.20
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)	Joel McCrea	62.00
The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)	Ricardo Cortez	61.00
Jewel Robbery (1932)	Kay Francis & William Powell	59.60
Lawyer Man (1932)	William Powell & Joan Blondell	56.70
It's Tough To Be Famous (1932)	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.	53.30
The Dark Horse (1932)	Bette Davis	51.20
Downstairs (1932)	John Gilbert	51.20
Play Girl (1932)	Loretta Young	49.00
The Purchase Price (1932)	Barbara Stanwyck & Lyle Talbot	48.20
Freaks (1932)	Leila Hyams	47.70
Street of Women (1932)	Kay Francis	47.50
New Morals For Old (1932)	Myrna Loy & Robert Young	46.90
The Crash (1932)	Ruth Chatterton & George Brent	45.90
The Woman from Monte Carlo (1932)	Directed by Michael Curtiz	45.50
Man Wanted (1932)	Kay Francis	44.40
Love Is A Racket (1932)	Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.	43.40
Payment Deferred (1932)	Maureen O'Sullivan & Ray Milland	42.60
The Expert (1932)	Charles 'Chic' Sale	40.30
Week-End Marriage (1932)	Loretta Young	37.40
A Woman Commands (1932)	Basil Rathbone	33.90
The Heart of New York (1932)	Joe Smith	33.60
Ride Him Cowboy (1932)	John Wayne	31.40
The Big Stampede (1932)	John Wayne	31.20
Haunted Gold (1932)	John Wayne	29.30
Partners (1932)	Tom Keene	15.30
Come On Danger! (1932)	Tom Keene	14.80
Ghost Valley (1932)	Tom Keene	14.10

(Visited 1 times)

34 thoughts on “1932 Top Box Office Movies”

Steve Lensman says:

March 6, 2018 at 9:09 am

Just noticed this new page in the forum section, it wasn’t listed at the top.

I’ve seen 22 of the 131 films listed on the chart. Favorites include – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. X, Horse Feathers, I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Island of Lost Souls, Mask of Fu Manchu, The Mummy, The Most Dangerous Game, The Old Dark House, Scarface and Tarzan the Ape Man.

Looking at my files I have 38 films from 1932 in my movie collection –

Big Stampede ,The
Bird of Paradise
Blonde Venus
Chandu the Magician
Crowd Roars ,The
Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde (1932)
Doctor X
Farewell to Arms ,A
Forbidden Trail
Freaks
Grand Hotel
Haunted Gold
Horse Feathers
Hurricane Express
I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Island of Lost Souls
Mask of Fu Manchu ,The
Mata Hari
Most Dangerous Game ,The
Mummy ,The (1932)
Murders in the Rue Morgue
Night World
Old Dark House ,The
Red Dust
Ride Him Cowboy
Scarface (1932)
Shadow of the Eagle
Sign of the Cross ,The
Speak Easily
Tarzan the Ape Man
Texas Cyclone
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Two-Fisted Law
Vampyr
Vanity Fair
Westward Passage
White Zombie

I have yet to see A Farewell to Arms, Love Me Tonight or Shanghai Express.

Looking at the adjusted worldwide grosses, Tarzan was huge, but I’m assuming DeMille’s Sign of the Cross was bigger going by the domestic grosses.

Another epic movie page Bruce. Plenty of stats for moviestatsfreaks to lap up.

Vote Up.

Laurent says:

March 6, 2018 at 1:53 am

Hello Bruce,

Nice work again ! I haven’t seen this page before because it doesn’t appear on the top.
I have seen 13 movies only, but I liked all of them. My favorites are the master piece Scarface and Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde. Fredric March was very good in this movie.

I have a question, are you sure The Most Dangerous Game was release in 1932 ? I thought it was released in 1933.

1. Anonymous says:
  
  February 11, 2019 at 1:49 pm
  
  SEP 16 1932 according to IMDB.
  Verified looking at old 1932 Newspaper Articles.
  
Cogerson says:

March 5, 2018 at 11:24 pm

Hey Flora
1. Thanks for the visit, the tally count and the comment.
2. The Beery/Berry error has been fixed.
3. As for the rankings…there seems to an error that can not big fixed easily.
4. 52 movies watched…that beats my total of 12 by 40 movies.
5. I appreciate the breakdown by percentages.
6. I have seen 6 of your favorites….with Grand Hotel being my favorite.
Great feedback as always.

Bobby says:

March 5, 2018 at 7:45 pm

Thanks for creating this page! One error I’ve discovered: The Champ was released in November of 1931.

EDIT: In addition, Arrowsmith was released on December 26, 1931.

1. Cogerson says:
  
  March 5, 2018 at 11:14 pm
  
  Hey Bobby…glad you like this page. I have fixed the years on Arrowsmith and The Champ…..but it will probably be a little bit before the movie disappears on the table. It takes out longer update to fix errors like this…..but good catch.
  
  1. Chris says:
    
    June 11, 2018 at 11:08 am
    
    I’ve noticed ‘Five Star Final’ Worldwide in the 1932 listing, but the U.S. Release in the 1931 listing. Error? By Design?
    
    1. Cogerson says:
      
      June 12, 2018 at 10:29 am
      
      Hey Chris…Five Star Final was originally on the 1932 page…but when we discovered our mistake we moved it to the 1931 page. Since the worldwide numbers are not dynamic…..I forget to do the manual edit it out…..but it has been corrected. Thank for heads up.
      
Flora Breen Robison says:

March 5, 2018 at 4:50 pm

Before I comment on the movies I have seen, I noticed that there are several movies where you have doubled the rank number. The first time this happens is #6 and #7 as #7 and #7. It happens again at 39, 51, 61, 70 and 79.

Also, for the movie The Flesh at 59 you have the stars of the film as Wallace Beery and Wallace Beery.

Now, for my viewings.

I have seen 52 movies from 1932.

The percentage of my seen ranked films are:

7/10
15/20
21/30
25/40
28/50
33/60
38/70
40/80
43/90
44/100
50/110
52 films overall.

The Highest ranking film I have seen is Shanghai Express at number 1. I thought that Grand Hotel and Shanghai Express ranks would be switched. I enjoy them both.

The highest ranking film I have NOT seen is The Kid From Spain at number 6.

The Lowest ranking film I have seen is The Purchase Price at 120.

My Top Ten Favourite 1932 Movies Are:

Grand Hotel
Red Dust
Shanghai Express
The Champ
Arsene Lupin
I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang
Arrowsmith
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
No Man of Her Own
Red Headed Woman

1. Flora Breen Robison says:
  
  March 6, 2018 at 2:26 pm
  
  I see by Bobby’s comment and Cogerson’s reply that The Champ and Arrowsmith that were in my top ten were 1931 movies. So I replace them with One Way Passage and Jewel Robbery.

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