The Best Movies of 1936

Ranker Film
Updated February 2, 2022 3.8K votes 112 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies of 1936

List of the best movies of 1936, with movie trailers when available. These top movies of 1936 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 1936. You can filter this list of films that came out in 1936 for various bits of information, such as who directed the movie and what genre it is. Think the best 1936 movie isn't as high as it should be? Vote up your favorite so it will rise to the top.

This list includes Modern Times, The Bohemian Girl and more movies.

This list answers the questions, "What are the best movies from 1936?" and "What are the most popular movies of 1936?"

1936 was a great year for movies, since a lot of classic films were released in 1936. This is a crowd sourced list that has been voted on by many people, so these top films of 1936 aren't just one persons opinion.
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  • After the Thin Man
    1

    After the Thin Man

    William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart
    30 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
    Recently returned home from vacation, private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his socialite wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), are back on the case when Nora's cousin, Selma (Elissa Landi), reports ...more

    Available On:

  • My Man Godfrey
    2

    My Man Godfrey

    William Powell, Carol Lombard, Alice Brady
    37 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Gregory La Cava
    Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one fits that description more than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires ...more

    Available On:

    free

  • Modern Times
    3

    Modern Times

    Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman
    43 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Charlie Chaplin
    This comedic masterpiece finds the iconic Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) employed at a state-of-the-art factory where the inescapable machinery completely overwhelms him, and where various mishaps ...more

    Available On:

    subscription

  • The Lawless Nineties
    4

    The Lawless Nineties

    John Wayne, Ann Rutherford, George "Gabby" Hayes
    16 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Joseph Kane
    The Lawless Nineties is a 1936 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring John Wayne and Lane Chandler as federal agents in Wyoming. The film also stars a 19-year-old Ann Rutherford ...more
  • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
    5

    Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

    Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft
    33 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Frank Capra
    Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), a resident of small-town Vermont, leads a simple life until he inherits a vast fortune from a late uncle. Soon, unscrupulous lawyer John Cedar (Douglas Dumbrille) ...more

    Available On:

  • Movie Maniacs
    6

    Movie Maniacs

    Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard
    15 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Del Lord
    Movie Maniacs is the 13th short subject film starring American slapstick comedy trio the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.