In the 1940s, Hollywood produced stirring dramas and glittering musicals, but some of the most beloved films of that era are romantic comedies. The best 1940s romantic comedies featured witty banter and swoon-worthy scenes, all delivered by some of the greatest stars to ever grace the silver screen. Whether the plots focused on the screwball complications of love triangles or the smoldering chemistry of a will-they, won't-they relationship, the top 1940s romantic comedies still win over audiences today.
What film should win the top spot on this list of good '40s romantic comedies? The Philadelphia Story, starring Cary Grant, James Stewart, and Katharine Hepburn, is an enduring favorite. This 1940 classic took home Oscars for Best Actor (Stewart) and Best Writing (Donald Ogden Stewart). His Girl Friday, also starring Grant, is another great romantic comedy from the 1940s.
Real life couple Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy appeared in several romantic films of the '40s, including Adam's Rib and Woman of the Year. Holiday Inn, The Lady Eve, and I Married a Witch also appear on this top '40s romantic comedies list.
It's up to you to determine which movie will earn the number-one spot on this list. Give your favorite films a thumbs up and add any of the era's romantic comedies that are missing.1
6814His Girl Friday
Cary Grant, Rosalind RussellReleased: 1940
Directed by: Howard Hawks
His Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, from an... more2
6016The Philadelphia Story
Katharine Hepburn, Cary GrantReleased: 1940
Directed by: George Cukor
The Philadelphia Story is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor,... more3
5313The Shop Around the Corner
James Stewart, Frank MorganReleased: 1940
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
The Shop Around the Corner is a 1940 American romantic comedy film produced and directed by... more4
3710The Lady Eve
Henry Fonda, Barbara StanwyckReleased: 1941
Directed by: Preston Sturges
The Lady Eve is a 1941 American screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges... more5
3613Adam's Rib
Katharine Hepburn, Spencer TracyReleased: 1949
Directed by: George Cukor
Adam's Rib is a 1949 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor. Domestic and... more6
3113Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Cary Grant, Myrna LoyReleased: 1948
Directed by: H. C. Potter
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is an American comedy film directed by H. C. Potter and... more7
3012Holiday Inn
Bing Crosby, Fred AstaireReleased: 1942
Directed by: Mark Sandrich
Holiday Inn is a 1942 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Bing Crosby... more8
3317Pride and Prejudice
Laurence Olivier, Greer GarsonReleased: 1940
Directed by: Robert Z. Leonard
Pride and Prejudice is a 1940 American film adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Pride and... more9
2814The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Cary Grant, Shirley TempleReleased: 1947
Directed by: Irving Reis
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer is a 1947 American comedy, directed by Irving Reis and... more10
2411The More the Merrier
Jean Arthur, Joel McCreaReleased: 1943
Directed by: George Stevens
The More the Merrier is a 1943 American comedy film made by Columbia Pictures which makes fun... more11
2312Woman of the Year
Katharine Hepburn, Spencer TracyReleased: 1942
Directed by: George Stevens
Woman of the Year is an American romantic comedy-drama film starring Spencer Tracy and... more12
2312I Married a Witch
Veronica Lake, Susan HaywardReleased: 1942
Directed by: René Clair
I Married a Witch is a 1942 fantasy romantic comedy film, directed by René Clair, and starring... more13
157The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Boris Karloff, Danny KayeReleased: 1947
Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a 1947 Technicolor comedy film, loosely based on the short... more14
2016Remember the Night
Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurrayReleased: 1940
Directed by: Mitchell Leisen
Remember the Night is a 1940 American romantic comedy/drama Christmas film directed by... more15
1915Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Alfred Hitchcock, Carole LombardReleased: 1941
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a 1941 screwball comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by... more16
1210Cover Girl
Rita Hayworth, Gene KellyReleased: 1944
Directed by: Charles Vidor
Cover Girl is a 1944 American Technicolor musical film starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly.... more17
1111The Major and the Minor
Ginger Rogers, Ray MillandReleased: 1942
Directed by: Billy Wilder
The Major and the Minor is a 1942 American comedy film starring Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland.... more18
910You Were Never Lovelier
Rita Hayworth, Fred AstaireReleased: 1942
Directed by: William A. Seiter
You Were Never Lovelier is a 1942 Hollywood musical romantic comedy film set in Buenos Aires.... more19
910The Bride Came C.O.D.
Bette Davis, James CagneyReleased: 1941
Directed by: William Keighley
The Bride Came C.O.D. is a 1941 Warner Bros. screwball romantic comedy starring James Cagney... more20
89That Wonderful Urge
Gene Tierney, Tyrone PowerReleased: 1948
Directed by: Robert B. Sinclair
That Wonderful Urge is a 1948 20th Century Fox screwball comedy film, directed by Robert... more21
68The Devil and Miss Jones
Jean Arthur, Charles CoburnReleased: 1941
Directed by: Sam Wood
The Devil and Miss Jones is a 1941 comedy film starring Jean Arthur and Charles Coburn.... more22
1014A Yank in the R.A.F.
Betty Grable, Tyrone PowerReleased: 1941
Directed by: Henry King
A Yank in the R.A.F. is a 1941 American black-and-white war film directed by Henry King, and... more23
813Blithe Spirit
Rex Harrison, Noël CowardReleased: 1945
Directed by: David Lean
Blithe Spirit is a 1945 English fantasy-comedy film directed by David Lean. The screenplay by... more24
711Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Claude Rains, Lloyd BridgesReleased: 1941
Directed by: Alexander Hall
Here Comes Mr. Jordan is a romantic comedy-fantasy film in which a boxer, mistakenly taken to... more25
915The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Betty Hutton, William DemarestReleased: 1944
Directed by: Preston Sturges
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is a 1944 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston... more
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