Want to know the best Joan Bennett movies? How about the worst Joan Bennett movies? Curious about Joan Bennett box office grosses or which Joan Bennett movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Joan Bennett movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Joan Bennett (1910-1990) was an American stage, film and television actress. Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies, well into the sound era. Her IMDb page shows 98 acting credits from 1916-1982. This page will rank 56 Joan Bennett movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Her television appearances and some movies made between 1928 and 1932 were not included in the rankings. This page comes from a request by Brando90.
Joan Bennett 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 Joan Bennett films by co-stars of her movies
- Sort Joan Bennett films by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Joan Bennett films by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Joan Bennett films by 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 Joan Bennett film received.
- Sort Joan Bennett films by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. 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) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | 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 |
| 1 | Father of the Bride (1950) AA Best Picture Nom |
Spencer Tracy & Elizabeth Taylor |
11.50 | 259.0 | 390.40 | 6 | 82 | 03 / 00 | 98.9 | |
| 2 | Little Women (1933) AA Best Picture Nom |
Katharine Hepburn | 4.00 | 187.1 | 277.20 | 13 | 82 | 03 / 01 | 98.7 | |
| 3 | Scarlet Street (1945) | Edward G. Robinson & Dan Duryea |
6.90 | 220.2 | 259.70 | 41 | 87 | 00 / 00 | 98.6 | |
| 4 | The Woman in the Window (1944) | Edward G. Robinson & Dan Duryea |
6.50 | 218.4 | 361.30 | 36 | 85 | 01 / 00 | 98.4 | |
| 5 | Father's Little Dividend (1951) | Spencer Tracy & Elizabeth Taylor |
9.10 | 197.1 | 289.50 | 13 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 95.5 | |
| 6 | We're No Angels (1955) | Humphrey Bogart & Peter Ustinov |
8.60 | 177.7 | 177.70 | 35 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 95.0 | |
| 8 | Man Hunt (1941) | Walter Pidgeon | 4.50 | 173.9 | 173.90 | 37 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 94.7 | |
| 10 | The Man In The Iron Mask (1939) | Louis Hayward | 4.40 | 169.4 | 169.40 | 44 | 71 | 01 / 00 | 93.1 | |
| 8 | Nob Hill (1945) | George Raft | 8.60 | 273.4 | 273.40 | 26 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 90.6 | |
| 11 | Vogues of 1938 (1937) | Warner Baxter | 4.40 | 182.7 | 182.70 | 29 | 58 | 02 / 00 | 90.3 | |
| 10 | Mississippi (1935) | Bing Crosby & W.C. Fields |
2.70 | 121.9 | 121.90 | 40 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 90.2 | |
| 12 | The Macomber Affair (1947) | Gregory Peck | 4.30 | 126.0 | 126.00 | 80 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 89.3 | |
| 14 | Trade Winds (1938) | Fredric March | 3.90 | 154.9 | 216.20 | 42 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 87.3 | |
| 15 | The Texans (1938) | Randolph Scott | 3.50 | 138.2 | 138.20 | 54 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 85.7 | |
| 15 | Disraeli (1929) AA Best Picture Nom |
George Arliss | 3.00 | 90.9 | 147.40 | 34 | 61 | 03 / 01 | 83.3 | |
| 16 | For Heaven's Sake (1950) | Clifton Webb | 4.90 | 109.1 | 109.10 | 55 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 80.3 | |
| 17 | There's Always Tomorrow (1955) | Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray |
2.90 | 59.2 | 59.20 | 109 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 79.0 | |
| 18 | Bulldog Drummond (1929) | Ronald Colman | 3.30 | 100.2 | 153.80 | 26 | 57 | 02 / 00 | 78.2 | |
| 19 | Wild Geese Calling (1941) | Henry Fonda | 2.40 | 93.1 | 93.10 | 98 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 77.9 | |
| 22 | 13 Hours By Air (1936) | Fred MacMurray | 2.40 | 104.2 | 104.20 | 82 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 77.1 | |
| 21 | Moby Dick (1930) | John Barrymore | 1.80 | 96.0 | 132.20 | 70 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 77.0 | |
| 23 | The House Across The Bay (1940) | George Raft | 2.20 | 86.1 | 86.10 | 88 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 75.4 | |
| 22 | Suspiria (1977) | Jessica Harper | 4.90 | 23.5 | 23.50 | 85 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 75.2 | |
| 24 | Two For Tonight (1935) | Bing Crosby | 1.40 | 64.0 | 64.00 | 93 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 74.0 | |
| 25 | The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935) | Ronald Colman & Colin Clive |
1.50 | 67.6 | 67.60 | 83 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 72.7 | |
| 26 | The Woman on the Beach (1947) | Robert Ryan | 2.50 | 72.1 | 72.10 | 127 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 71.6 | |
| 27 | She Couldn't Take It (1935) | George Raft | 1.20 | 53.8 | 53.80 | 116 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 70.6 | |
| 29 | She Knew All The Answers (1941) | Franchot Tone | 2.00 | 75.6 | 75.60 | 121 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 70.5 | |
| 28 | The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934) | Claude Rains | 1.20 | 58.3 | 58.30 | 93 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 70.1 | |
| 30 | Wedding Present (1936) | Cary Grant | 1.50 | 65.6 | 65.60 | 119 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 69.6 | |
| 31 | The Trial of Vivienne Ware (1932) | Zasu Pitts | 0.90 | 43.4 | 43.40 | 125 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 69.1 | |
| 31 | The Man I Married (1940) | Lloyd Nolan | 1.70 | 64.8 | 64.80 | 123 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 68.8 | |
| 32 | Girl Trouble (1942) | Don Ameche | 1.80 | 68.5 | 68.50 | 131 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 68.5 | |
| 33 | Hush Money (1931) | Myrna Loy & George Raft |
1.10 | 54.5 | 54.50 | 143 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 67.8 | |
| 35 | The Son Of Monte Cristo (1940) | Louis Hayward & George Sanders |
2.00 | 75.3 | 75.30 | 101 | 56 | 01 / 00 | 67.5 | |
| 35 | Big Brown Eyes (1936) | Cary Grabt | 1.20 | 51.6 | 69.60 | 134 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 67.3 | |
| 36 | Green Hell (1940) | Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. | 2.00 | 76.4 | 76.40 | 98 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 66.2 | |
| 38 | The Pursuit of Happiness (1934) | Francis Lederer | 1.20 | 55.6 | 55.60 | 99 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 66.2 | |
| 40 | Colonel Effingham's Raid (1946) | Charles Coburn | 2.20 | 67.8 | 67.80 | 117 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 64.1 | |
| 40 | Two In A Crowd (1936) | Joel McCrea | 1.00 | 42.4 | 42.40 | 148 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 62.5 | |
| 40 | House Of Dark Shadows (1970) | Jonathan Frid | 5.60 | 38.7 | 38.70 | 51 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 62.3 | |
| 43 | The Housekeeper's Daughter (1939) | Victor Mature | 1.60 | 63.4 | 63.40 | 142 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 61.1 | |
| 42 | Hollow Triumph (1948) | Paul Henreid | 1.40 | 38.4 | 38.40 | 155 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 59.9 | |
| 45 | I Met My Love Again (1938) | Henry Fonda | 1.70 | 69.6 | 95.10 | 135 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 59.6 | |
| 44 | Secret Beyond the Door... (1947) | Michael Redgrave | 1.10 | 33.5 | 33.50 | 156 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 59.6 | |
| 44 | Me And My Gal (1932) | Spencer Tracy | 0.50 | 24.6 | 24.60 | 163 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 57.3 | |
| 46 | Margin For Error (1943) | Milton Berle | 1.80 | 63.8 | 63.80 | 120 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 57.2 | |
| 49 | Artists and Models Abroad (1938) | Jack Benny | 1.70 | 67.3 | 67.30 | 141 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 56.6 | |
| 49 | The Reckless Moment (1949) | James Mason | 2.00 | 49.9 | 49.90 | 144 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 56.6 | |
| 50 | The Guy Who Came Back (1951) | Linda Darnell | 1.20 | 26.2 | 26.20 | 188 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 55.0 | |
| 50 | Confirm Or Deny (1941) | Don Ameche | 1.10 | 42.1 | 42.10 | 166 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 54.1 | |
| 51 | Private Worlds (1935) | Claudette Colbert | 1.50 | 68.3 | 105.10 | 81 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 52.9 | |
| 51 | Maybe It's Love (1930) | Joe E. Brown | 1.40 | 76.6 | 84.70 | 88 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 52.8 | |
| 55 | The Wife Takes A Flyer (1942) | Franchot Tone | 1.10 | 39.5 | 39.50 | 174 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 48.3 | |
| 53 | Careless Lady (1932) | Josephine Hull | 0.40 | 22.0 | 22.00 | 170 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 48.3 | |
| 55 | Highway Dragnet (1954) | Richard Conte | 1.00 | 22.4 | 22.40 | 152 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 46.6 | |
| 57 | Desire In The Dust (1960) | Raymond Burr | 1.20 | 19.3 | 19.30 | 119 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 40.5 | |
| 57 | Arizona to Broadway (1933) | James Dunn | 0.60 | 29.4 | 29.40 | 158 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 31.6 | |
| 57 | Twin Beds (1942) | George Brent | 1.20 | 44.8 | 44.80 | 165 | 40 | 00 / 00 | 18.9 | |
| 58 | Navy Wife (1956) | Gary Merrill | 1.10 | 22.2 | 22.20 | 174 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 17.9 |
Stats and Possibly Interesting Things From The Above Joan Bennett Table
- Thirteen Joan Bennett movies crossed the magical $100 million domestic gross mark. That is a percentage of 23.21% of her movies listed. Her biggest hit was Nob Hill (1945)
- An average Joan Bennett movie grosses an average of $74.02 million in adjusted domestic gross.
- Using RottenTomatoes.com’s 60% fresh meter. 30 Joan Bennett movies are rated as good movies…or 53.57% of her movies. Scarlet Street (1945) was her highest rated movie while Twin Beds (1942) was her lowest rated movie.
- Eight Joan Bennett movies received at least one Oscar® nomination in any category…..or 14.28% of her movies.
- Two Joan Bennett movies won at least one Oscar® in any category…..or 3.57% of her movies.
- An average Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score is 40.00. 20 Joan Bennett movies scored higher than that average….or 35.71% of her movies. Father of the Bride (1950) got the the highest UMR Score while Twin Beds (1942) got the lowest UMR Score.
Possibly Interesting Facts About Joan Bennett
- Joan Geraldine Bennett was born in Fort Lee, New Jersey in 1910.
2. Joan Bennett was born into a theatrical family. Her father, mother and two older sisters (Constance & Barbara) were all involved in acting…so real surprise when Joan followed their footprints.
3. Filming on 1932’s She Wanted a Millionaire was interrupted for 6 months when Joan Bennett broke her leg in a fall from a horse.
4. Joan Bennett made five films for Fritz Lang, more than any other American actor or actress who worked with him.
5. Joan Bennett was a finalist for the part of Scarlett O’Hara in 1939’s Gone with the Wind. Vivien Leigh got the role at the last minute. Her thoughts on that? “I wish Vivien would have stayed in England.”
6. Joan Bennett was married four times and had four children. Her second marriage was to producer Walter Wanger.
7. In 1951 Walter Wanger was convicted of attempted murder in the shooting of talent agent Jennings Lang. Lang was the agent of Joan Bennett, then Wanger’s wife, and Wanger discovered the two of them were having an affair. He caught them in the act, and wound up shooting Lang. Wanger served a four-month sentence.
8. Billy Wilder came up with the idea for 1960’s The Apartment after reading all the details of Wanger and Bennett’s personal lives that were revealed in the scandal in interesting fact #7. Some of the details revealed included how executives were using people’s apartments as “meeting places”. So the next time you see The Apartment….think of Joan Bennett.
9. Joan Bennett’s movies from 1930 to 1939 earned $1.81 billion in adjusted domestic gross. That puts him in 47th place when looking at all the stars of that decade. 1930’s Top Box Office Stars.
10. Joan Bennett’s movies from 1940 to 1949 earned $1.56 billion in adjusted domestic gross. That puts him in 86th place when looking at all the stars of that decade. 1940’s Top Box Office Stars.
Check out Joan Bennett’s movie career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
Check Out Steve’s Joan Bennett You Tube Video
Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences.
Hey Bob…I think DDL’s potential retirement was talked about a few times in comments…and probably a tweet. Our tweets always so up on the page. That being said…not thinking we have seen the last of DDL…..I think he will do another movie in the next few years. I would think he would be a national treasure in your neck of the woods…so you know probably better than I do. Hope your weekend is going well.
HI BRUCE
Thanks. I’m not sure I’ll get a response from Steve as Sir Dan has become
part-Irish !!
If only we could have gotten Sir Maurice over here to reside as well.
When Bud was in Ireland for that movie that collapsed through lack of finance about 20 years ago he talked about staying here permanently and shipping all his belongings including a grand piano across. My father who as I’ve told you detested Marlon was furious at the suggestion.
It turned out to be all twaddle because when the movie folded Buddy boy hot-footed it back to the States with the last million in the production’s kitty leaving co-stars Debs Winger, John Hurt etc behind to sing for their supper! If he HAD stayed I’m sure you wouldn’t have gotten him mending shoes!
Hope your right about DDL making another flick. Anyway it’s great the way you can pull these stats tables quickly together to give us the bigger picture about decades or eras when you chose. Very helpful.
Take care
Hey Bob…good story about Buddy Hurt (I like that combined name). I think DDL has two more movies in him….one for each of the next 5 years….that will put him at 70ish…then he can retire. Good stuff.
HI Teach
Thanks for your attention to my “Irish residency” stories You indicated that generally you thought actors shouldn’t mix their fame with presumptions to lecture others about politics.
However when Bud first announced his intentions to remain here he said that he proposed to intervene with local politicians in Ireland to bring about peace in our divided country which had just avoided civil war because of the arrival of Steve’s soldiers from the mainland.
Probably more nonsense from Bud but it shows you the wire these celebs have about their perceived influence when they will even talk about being possibly being able to make the difference in a highly complex and dangerous political situation.
Hey Bob….the greater the star…the more influence they have….I can only imagine the power Brando had in the 1950s. Good stuff.
Added Steve’s Joan Bennett You Tube Video To The Page. Our comment that is on Steve’s video.
“Only 30? Come on….we have 56 of movies listed here …what a slacker….lol. Actually have not seen many of her movies…a grand total of 9 But at least most are highly rated. Seen 1 & 2…..those two movies have the same cast, the same sets and the same director. I think I liked Woman in the Window more than Scarlett Street…but both are memorable…..EGR has a tough time in both movies. #4 Little Women…seen so many versions of this movie…I tend to forget the performances in the movie…heck a new version is in theaters right now. #5 Father of the Bride…good movie…not much of a role for Bennett. #6 There’s Always Tomorrow…..Stanwyck and MacMurray get the better roles….but Bennett is good too. #10 We’re No Angels….this one is growing on me with each additional viewing…I originally did not like this one at all. #13 Wedding Present…seen it…but barely remember it. #23 Disraeli…seems we both have it rated low….but it is a very good movie. I have also seen her other Cary Grant movie…but Big Brown Eyes did not make your 30…I think. Good video…voted up and shared.
Hi Bruce, well I only list the films that matter [Bruce growls]. I think we have the same top two, not sure, I’ll check your page later. Your tally of 9 more than doubles my 4. Flora and Greg have seen 14. Thanks as ever for the comment, vote and share, it is appreciated.
Hey Steve…I think not listing Big Brown Eyes is ok…I mean it is not a Cary Grant classic….it is a Grant B movie made before he was “Cary Grant”…his early 1930s career is a lot like John Wayne’s 1930 career…..lots of B movies that are quickly forgettable. I am impressed with my 9….I had no idea I had seen that many Joan Bennett movies.