List of the best movies of 1930, with movie trailers when available. These top movies of 1930 are listed by popularity, so the movies with the most votes are at the top. This list consists of all different movie genres, but each film was released in 1930. You can filter this list of films that came out in 1930 for various bits of information, such as who directed the movie and what genre it is. Think the best 1930 movie isn't as high as it should be? Vote up your favorite so it will rise to the top.
This list features All Quiet on the Western Front, Woman Hungry and more.
This list answers the questions, "What are the best movies from 1930?" and "What are the most popular movies of 1930?"
1930 was a great year for movies, since a lot of classic films were released in 1930. This is a crowd sourced list that has been voted on by many people, so these top films of 1930 aren't just one persons opinion.
list ordered by
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All Quiet on the Western FrontFred Zinnemann, Lew Ayres, ZaSu Pitts All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 American epic war film based on the Erich Maria Remarque novel of the same name. It was directed by Lewis Milestone, and stars Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, ...more
2
15 2
Animal CrackersGroucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Zeppo Marx Animal Crackers is a 1930 Marx Brothers comedy film, in which mayhem and zaniness ensue when a valuable painting goes missing during a party in honor of famed African explorer Captain Spaulding. ...more
3
11 1
The Big TrailJohn Wayne, Tully Marshall, El Brendel The Big Trail is a 1930 lavish early widescreen movie shot on location across the American West starring John Wayne in his first leading role and directed by Raoul Walsh. In 2006, the United ...more
4
13 2
The Blue AngelMarlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, Roland Varno The Blue Angel is a 1930 German tragicomedic film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Emil Jannings, Marlene Dietrich and Kurt Gerron. Written by Carl Zuckmayer, Karl Vollmöller ...more
5
14 3
Another Fine MessStan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Thelma Todd Another Fine Mess is a 1930 short comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. It is based on the 1908 play Home From The Honeymoon by Arthur J. Jefferson, Stan Laurel's father, and is a talkie remake ...more
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10 2
KismetLoretta Young, Sidney Blackmer, David Manners Kismet is a 1930 costume drama photographed entirely in an early widescreen process using 65mm film that Warner Bros. called Vitascope. The film, now considered lost, was based on Edward ...more
7
10 2
MoroccoMarlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, Adolphe Menjou Morocco is a 1930 American romance drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, and Adolphe Menjou. Based on the novel Amy Jolly by Benno Vigny and ...more
8
10 2
Whoopee!Betty Grable, Eddie Cantor, Eleanor Hunt Whoopee! is a 1930 American "All-Talking All-Color" musical comedy film photographed in two-color Technicolor. The plot of the film closely followed the 1928 stage show produced by
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8 1
Kiss Me AgainWalter Pidgeon, Edward Everett Horton, Frank McHugh Kiss Me Again is a musical operetta film filmed entirely in Technicolor. It was originally released in the United States as Toast of the Legion late in 1930, but was quickly withdrawn when ...more
10
8 1
Abraham LincolnWalter Huston, Una Merkel, Hobart Bosworth Returning to the historic era of his greatest success, Griffith paid homage to the sixteenth President in this moving drama starring Walter Huston. Focusing on Lincoln’s personal tragedies, as ...more
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9 2
The King of JazzBing Crosby, Paul Whiteman, John Boles King of Jazz is a 1930 American color film starring Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. The film's title was taken from Whiteman's controversial, self-conferred appellation. Although using the word ...more
12
9 2
The Laurel-Hardy Murder CaseStan Laurel, Oliver Hardy The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case is a Laurel and Hardy comedy film released in 1930. It is one of a handful of three-reel comedies they made, running 28 minutes. It was directed by James Parrott, ...more
The Big HouseRobert Montgomery, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone The Big House is a 1930 American film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by George Hill, with stars Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery, Leila Hyams, ...more
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10 3
The Dawn PatrolDouglas Fairbanks, Jr., Frank McHugh The Dawn Patrol is a 1930 World War I film starring Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. It was directed by Howard Hawks, a former World War I flight instructor, who even flew in the ...more
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7 1
Follow ThruThelma Todd, Eugene Pallette, Buddy Rogers Follow Thru is a 1930 musical comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor. It was the second all-color all-talking feature to be produced by Paramount Pictures. The film was based on the ...more
16
7 1
School's OutJackie Cooper, Norman Chaney, Creighton Hale School's Out is a 1930 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 102nd Our Gang short to be
17
7 1
The Office WifeJoan Blondell, Lewis Stone, Dickie Moore The Office Wife is a 1930 American Pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon, released by Warner Bros., and based on the novel of the same name by Faith Baldwin. It was the talkie ...more
The Big PondClaudette Colbert, Maurice Chevalier The Big Pond is a 1930 American romantic comedy film based on a 1928 play of the same name by George Middleton and A.E. Thomas. The film was written by Garrett Fort, Robert Presnell Sr. and ...more
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8 2
The Indians Are ComingTim McCoy, Edmund Cobb, Francis Ford The Indians Are Coming is a Universal movie serial based on the book The Great West That Was by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The serial was the first "all-talking" film of ...more
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8 2
The Life of the PartyCharles Butterworth, Charles Judels, Winnie Lightner The Life of the Party is a 1930 American musical comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor. The musical numbers of this film were cut out before general release in the United States ...more
21
8 2
Puttin' On the RitzJoan Bennett, Bess Flowers, James Gleason Puttin' On the Ritz is a musical film, directed by Edward Sloman and starred Harry Richman, Joan Bennett, and James Gleason. The screenplay was written by James Gleason and William K. Wells, ...more
22
9 3
The CuckoosBert Wheeler, Dorothy Lee, Robert Woolsey The Cuckoos is a musical comedy film, released by RKO Radio Pictures and partially filmed in two-strip Technicolor. Directed by Paul Sloane, the screenplay was adapted by Cyrus Wood, from the ...more
Hell's AngelsJean Harlow, Ben Lyon, James Hall Hell's Angels is a 1930 American war film, directed and produced by Howard Hughes and starring Ben Lyon, James Hall and Jean Harlow. The film, which was written by Harry Behn and Howard ...more
24
6 1
RafflesRonald Colman, Kay Francis Raffles is a comedy-mystery film produced by Samuel Goldwyn. It stars Ronald Colman as the titular character, a proper English gentleman who moonlights as a notorious jewel thief, and Kay ...more
25
8 3
Night OwlsStan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Edgar Kennedy Night Owls is a Laurel and Hardy short film. It was filmed in October and November 1929, and released January 4, 1930. The film was also made in two foreign-language versions: Ladrones in ...more
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7 2
Song of the WestAnn Sothern, Joe E. Brown, John Boles Song of the West is a musical operetta film produced by Warner Brothers, and photographed entirely in Technicolor. It was based on the 1928 Broadway musical Rainbow by Vincent Youmans, Oscar ...more
27
7 2
Son of the GodsConstance Bennett, Richard Barthelmess, Frank Albertson Son of the Gods is an all-talking pre-code romantic drama film with Technicolor sequences, produced and released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros.. It was adapted from the ...more
No, No, NanetteZaSu Pitts, Louise Fazenda, Lucien Littlefield No, No, Nanette is an all-talking pre-code musical comedy film with Technicolor sequences produced and released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros.. It was adapted from the ...more
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7 2
RomanceGreta Garbo, Lewis Stone Romance is a 1930 film directed by Clarence Brown starring Greta Garbo, Lewis Stone, and Gavin Gordon. The movie was adapted by Edwin Justus Mayer and Bess Meredyth from the 1913 play by Edward ...more
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7 2
Montana MoonJoan Crawford, Johnny Mack Brown, Dorothy Sebastian Montana Moon is a 1930 Pre-Code comedy, drama, musical, western film starring Joan Crawford, Johnny Mack Brown, and Ricardo Cortez. The film focuses on the budding relationship between a city ...more
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7 2
Woman HungrySidney Blackmer, Raymond Hatton, Lila Lee Woman Hungry is a musical Western film photographed entirely in Technicolor. The film was based on the play The Great Divide which was written by William Vaughn Moody. The story was filmed as a ...more
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7 2
Danger LightsJean Arthur, Robert Edeson, Robert Armstrong Danger Lights is a 1930 American drama film, directed by George B. Seitz, from a screenplay by James Ashmore Creelman. It stars Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong, and Jean Arthur. The plot ...more
Viennese NightsBela Lugosi, Walter Pidgeon, Louise Fazenda Viennese Nights is an American all-talking pre-code musical operetta film photographed entirely in Technicolor and released by Warner Brothers. Viennese Nights was the first original operetta ...more
34
7 2
Under a Texas MoonMyrna Loy, Noah Beery, Sr. Under A Texas Moon is a 1930 musical western film photographed entirely in Technicolor. It was based on the novel Two-Gun Man which was written by Stewart Edward White. It was the second ...more
35
8 3
The Cat CreepsNeil Hamilton, Helen Twelvetrees, Raymond Hackett The Cat Creeps is a crime/mystery film, and a sound remake of The Cat and the Canary. Starring Helen Twelvetrees, Raymond Hackett, Neil Hamilton, Lilyan Tashman, Jean Hersholt, and Montagu Love, ...more
36
7 2
The DivorceeNorma Shearer, Ethel Barrymore, Robert Montgomery The Divorcee is a 1930 American Pre-Code drama film written by Nick Grindé, John Meehan and Zelda Sears, based on the novel Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. It was directed by Robert Z. ...more
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8 3
The Green GoddessGeorge Arliss, H.B. Warner, Alice Joyce The Green Goddess is an American talking motion picture released in 1930 and directed by Alfred E. Green. It was a remake of the 1923 silent film, which was in turn based on the play of the same ...more
Bright LightsFrank McHugh, Noah Beery, Sr. Bright Lights is an all-talking pre-code American musical comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor and produced and released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers. ...more
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8 3
BratsStan Laurel, Oliver Hardy Brats is a 1930 Laurel and Hardy comedy short. The film was directed by James Parrott. Laurel and Hardy play dual roles as their own children. It also inspired a helper group for the Michigan ...more
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8 3
Just ImagineMaureen O'Sullivan, El Brendel, Marjorie White Just Imagine is a 1930 science fiction musical comedy directed by David Butler. The film is known for its art direction and special effects in its portrayal of New York City in an imagined
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7 3
Our Blushing BridesJoan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Dorothy Sebastian Our Blushing Brides is a 1930 American Pre-Code society comedy/romantic melodrama directed and produced by Harry Beaumont, and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Anita Page, and Dorothy ...more
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7 3
General CrackJohn Barrymore, Armida, Marian Nixon General Crack is a part-talkie historical costume drama film with Technicolor sequences which was produced by Warner Bros., filmed in 1929 and released early in 1930. The film was directed by ...more
Paramount on ParadeGary Cooper, Jean Arthur, Fay Wray Paramount on Parade is an all-star revue released by Paramount Pictures, directed by several directors including Edmund Goulding, Dorothy Arzner, Ernst Lubitsch, Rowland V. Lee, A. Edward ...more
44
6 2
The Bad OneDolores del RĂo, Edmund Lowe, Henry Kolker The Bad One is a 1930 American black-and-white musical film directed by George Fitzmaurice, starring Dolores del Río and featuring Boris Karloff and is a romantic prison drama film. The ...more
45
6 2
The Lone DefenderJosef Swickard, Lafe McKee, Bob Kortman The Lone Defender is a 1930 American Mascot movie serial starring Rin Tin Tin. This was Mascot's first all sound serial. This was Rin Tin Tin's first serial at Mascot, after being dropped by ...more
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6 2
The Rogue SongLawrence Tibbett, Catherine Dale Owen The Rogue Song is a 1930 romantic musical film which tells the story of a Russian bandit who falls in love with a princess, but takes his revenge on her when her brother rapes and kills his ...more
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6 2
Murder!Alfred Hitchcock, Herbert Marshall, Edward Chapman Murder! is a 1930 British drama film co-written and directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring and Edward Chapman. Written by Hitchcock, his wife Alma Reville and ...more
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6 2
MambaEleanor Boardman, Ralph Forbes Mamba was released by Tiffany Pictures. It was shot entirely in Technicolor and stars Jean Hersholt, Eleanor Boardman, Ralph Forbes, Josef Swickard, Claude Fleming, William Stanton and William ...more
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6 2
BlottoStan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Baldwin Cooke Blotto is a comedy film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
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People on SundayKurt Gerron, Valeska Gert, Heinrich Gretler People on Sunday is a 1930 German silent drama film directed by Curt and Robert Siodmak from a screenplay by Billy Wilder. The film follows the lives of a group of residents of Berlin on a ...more