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    Home/Browse/1940s Movies/1940s Romance Movies

    1940s Romance Movies

    The 40 most popular 1940s romance movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    Casablanca
    TMDB4.1

    Casablanca

    1943 · 1h 42m

    country: United States

    In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.

    Rebecca
    TMDB3.9

    Rebecca

    1940 · 2h 10m

    country: United States

    Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.

    Phantom of the Opera
    TMDB3.1

    Phantom of the Opera

    1943 · 1h 29m

    country: United States

    Following a tragic accident that leaves him disfigured, crazed composer Erique Claudin transformed into a masked phantom who schemes to make beautiful young soprano Christine Dubois the star of the opera and wreak revenge on those who stole his music.

    His Girl Friday
    TMDB3.7

    His Girl Friday

    1940 · 1h 32m

    country: United States

    Walter Burns is an irresistibly conniving newspaper publisher desperate to woo back his paper’s star reporter, who also happens to be his estranged wife. She’s threatening to quit and settle down with a new beau, but, as Walter knows, she has a weakness: she can’t resist a juicy scoop.

    Notorious
    TMDB3.9

    Notorious

    1946 · 1h 43m

    country: United States

    In order to help bring Nazis to justice, U.S. government agent T.R. Devlin recruits Alicia Huberman, the American daughter of a convicted German war criminal, as a spy. As they begin to fall for one another, Alicia is instructed to win the affections of Alexander Sebastian, a Nazi hiding out in Brazil. When Sebastian becomes serious about his relationship with Alicia, the stakes get higher, and Devlin must watch her slip further undercover.

    Spellbound
    TMDB3.7

    Spellbound

    1945 · 1h 51m

    country: United States

    When Dr. Anthony Edwardes arrives at a Vermont mental hospital to replace the outgoing hospital director, Dr. Constance Peterson, a psychoanalyst, discovers Edwardes is actually an impostor. The man confesses that the real Dr. Edwardes is dead and fears he may have killed him, but cannot recall anything. Dr. Peterson, however is convinced his impostor is innocent of the man's murder, and joins him on a quest to unravel his amnesia through psychoanalysis.

    Rosewood Cane
    TMDB4.0

    Rosewood Cane

    1940 · 1h 26m

    country: Hungary

    After having spent 22 months in prison, Viktor Pálos returns to his homeland, where he is going to be involved in the robbery committed by his relatives.

    Samson and Delilah
    TMDB3.3

    Samson and Delilah

    1949 · 2h 14m

    country: United States

    When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.

    The Best Years of Our Lives
    TMDB3.9

    The Best Years of Our Lives

    1946 · 2h 51m

    country: United States

    It's the hope that sustains the spirit of every GI: the dream of the day when he will finally return home. For three WWII veterans, the day has arrived. But for each man, the dream is about to become a nightmare.

    Little Women
    TMDB3.7

    Little Women

    1949 · 2h 1m

    country: United States

    Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.

    Waterloo Bridge
    TMDB3.8

    Waterloo Bridge

    1940 · 1h 48m

    country: United States

    On the eve of World War II, a British officer revisits Waterloo Bridge and recalls the young man he was at the beginning of World War I and the young ballerina he met just before he left for the front.

    The Red Shoes
    TMDB4.0

    The Red Shoes

    1948 · 2h 13m

    country: United Kingdom

    A fledgling ballerina falls in love with a brilliant composer, but the jealous head of the ballet company plots to drive them apart.

    To Be or Not to Be
    TMDB3.9

    To Be or Not to Be

    1942 · 1h 39m

    country: United States

    During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.

    Brief Encounter
    TMDB3.9

    Brief Encounter

    1945 · 1h 26m

    country: United Kingdom

    Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey. Their casual friendship soon develops during their weekly visits into something more emotionally fulfilling than either expected, and they must wrestle with the potential havoc their deepening relationship would have on their lives and the lives of those they love.

    Suspicion
    TMDB3.6

    Suspicion

    1941 · 1h 39m

    country: United States

    A sheltered heiress falls for a charming playboy and elopes with him, but soon discovers his gambling vice and mounting debts. As his lies deepen and those around them meet mysterious ends, she begins to suspect that her husband’s affection may conceal a deadly motive—and that she could be his next victim.

    The Shop Around the Corner
    TMDB4.0

    The Shop Around the Corner

    1940 · 1h 39m

    country: United States

    Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand one another, without realising that they are falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal.

    Meet Me in St. Louis
    TMDB3.5

    Meet Me in St. Louis

    1944 · 1h 54m

    country: United States

    A year in the life of a turn-of-the-century middle class family, leading up to the opening of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

    The Philadelphia Story
    TMDB3.8

    The Philadelphia Story

    1940 · 1h 53m

    country: United States

    When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.

    Children of Paradise
    TMDB4.0

    Children of Paradise

    1945 · 3h 10m

    country: France

    In a chaotic 19th-century Paris teeming with aristocrats, thieves, psychics, and courtesans, theater mime Baptiste is in love with the mysterious actress Garance. But Garance, in turn, is loved by three other men: pretentious actor Frederick, conniving thief Lacenaire, and Count Edouard of Montray.

    The Bishop's Wife
    TMDB3.5

    The Bishop's Wife

    1947 · 1h 49m

    country: United States

    An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham, has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for primarily by a wealthy, stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place. Enter Dudley, an angel sent to help him. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. With the exception of Henry, everyone loves him, but Henry begins to believe that Dudley is there to replace him, both at work and in his family's affections, as Christmas approaches.

    Cat People
    TMDB3.5

    Cat People

    1942 · 1h 13m

    country: United States

    A Serbian émigré in Manhattan believes that, because of an ancient curse, any physical intimacy with the man she loves will turn her into a feline predator.

    Adam's Rib
    TMDB3.6

    Adam's Rib

    1949 · 1h 41m

    country: United States

    A woman's attempted murder of her uncaring husband results in everyday quarrels in the lives of Adam and Amanda, a pair of happily married lawyers who end up on opposite sides of the case in court.

    Mrs. Miniver
    TMDB3.5

    Mrs. Miniver

    1942 · 2h 14m

    country: United States

    Middle-class housewife Kay Miniver deals with petty problems. She and her husband Clem watch her Oxford-educated son Vin court Carol Beldon, the charming granddaughter of the local nobility as represented by Lady Beldon. Then the war comes and Vin joins the RAF.

    Gilda
    TMDB3.7

    Gilda

    1946 · 1h 50m

    country: United States

    A gambler discovers an old flame while in Argentina, but she's married to his new boss.

    The Pirate
    TMDB3.3

    The Pirate

    1948 · 1h 42m

    country: United States

    A girl is engaged to the local richman, but meanwhile she has dreams about the legendary pirate Macoco. A traveling singer falls in love with her and to impress her he poses as the pirate.

    Silent Monastery
    TMDB4.5

    Silent Monastery

    1941 · 1h 26m

    country: Hungary

    Count Vághelyi Gusztáv is now a member of the Carthusan order. He has to be there at her ex-sweetheart's, Betti's deathbed. Longing for penitence, he recalls his life so far.

    Pride and Prejudice
    TMDB3.5

    Pride and Prejudice

    1940 · 1h 58m

    country: United States

    In early 19th century England, Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters vie for the affections of rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, who have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to eldest daughter Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with second-eldest Elizabeth.

    Querida Suzana
    TMDB5.0

    Querida Suzana

    1947

    country: Brazil

    Romantic comedy...

    Fallen Angel
    TMDB3.3

    Fallen Angel

    1945 · 1h 38m

    country: United States

    An unemployed drifter, Eric Stanton wanders into a small California town and begins hanging around the local diner. While Eric falls for the lovely waitress Stella, he also begins romancing a quiet and well-to-do woman named June Mills. Since Stella isn't interested in Eric unless he has money, the lovelorn guy comes up with a scheme to win her over, and it involves June. Before long, murder works its way into this passionate love triangle.

    The Thief of Bagdad
    TMDB3.6

    The Thief of Bagdad

    1940 · 1h 47m

    country: United Kingdom

    When Prince Ahmad is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar, he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess.

    To Have and Have Not
    TMDB3.7

    To Have and Have Not

    1945 · 1h 40m

    country: United States

    A Martinique charter boat skipper gets mixed up with the underground French resistance operatives during WWII.

    Great Expectations
    TMDB3.6

    Great Expectations

    1946 · 1h 58m

    country: United Kingdom

    In this Dickens adaptation, orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.

    Jane Eyre
    TMDB3.5

    Jane Eyre

    1943 · 1h 37m

    country: United States

    After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meets the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Edward Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Happiness seems to have found Jane at last, but could Rochester's terrible secret be about to destroy it forever?

    The Mark of Zorro
    TMDB3.6

    The Mark of Zorro

    1940 · 1h 34m

    country: United States

    In 1820 Spain, the son of a California nobleman comes home to find his native land under a villainous dictatorship. On one hand, he plays the useless fop, while on the other, he is the masked avenger Zorro.

    The Postman Always Rings Twice
    TMDB3.5

    The Postman Always Rings Twice

    1946 · 1h 53m

    country: United States

    A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband.

    Mr. Skeffington
    TMDB3.4

    Mr. Skeffington

    1944 · 2h 25m

    country: United States

    A beautiful but vain woman who rejects the love of her older husband must face the loss of her youth and beauty.

    Woman of the Year
    TMDB3.5

    Woman of the Year

    1942 · 1h 54m

    country: United States

    Rival reporters Sam Craig and Tess Harding fall in love and get married, only to find their relationship strained when Sam comes to resent Tess' hectic lifestyle.

    Duel in the Sun
    TMDB3.2

    Duel in the Sun

    1946 · 2h 24m

    country: United States

    Beautiful half-breed Pearl Chavez becomes the ward of her dead father's first love and finds herself torn between her sons, one good and the other bad.

    The Magnificent Ambersons
    TMDB3.7

    The Magnificent Ambersons

    1942 · 1h 28m

    country: United States

    The spoiled young heir to the decaying Amberson fortune comes between his widowed mother and the man she has always loved.

    The Fountainhead
    TMDB3.4

    The Fountainhead

    1949 · 1h 52m

    country: United States

    An uncompromising, visionary architect struggles to maintain his integrity and individualism despite personal, professional and economic pressures to conform to popular standards.

    About 1940s Romance Movies

    The 1940s

    1940s cinema is split by the war: propaganda and home-front melodrama, then the darker, more cynical film noir that followed. Italian neorealism emerged from the rubble at the decade's end.

    Romance

    Romance is the genre most shaped by its era's ideas about intimacy, which makes watching across decades a genuine education. It spans the screwball comedies, the sweeping melodramas, and the modern indie two-hander.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Casablanca (8.1)
    Often also
    Drama, Comedy, Mystery

    Common questions

    What are the best 1940s romance movies?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Casablanca, Rebecca, and Phantom of the Opera. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any movie for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1940s romance movies are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these movies?
    Every movie page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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