List of the best movies of 1948, with movie trailers when available. Rock Hudson made his big screen debut in 1948 with the film Fighter Squadron. These top movies of 1948 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 1948. You can filter this list of films that came out in 1948 for various bits of information, such as who directed the movie and what genre it is. Think the best 1948 movie isn't as high as it should be? Vote up your favorite so it will rise to the top.
List includes Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Red River, more.
This list answers the questions, "What are the best movies from 1948?" and "What are the most popular movies of 1948?"
1948 was a great year for movies, since a lot of classic films were released in 1948. This is a crowd sourced list that has been voted on by many people, so these top films of 1948 aren't just one persons opinion.
list ordered by
1
36 4
Bicycle ThievesEnzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Lamberto Maggiorani Bicycle Thieves, is a 1948 film directed by Vittorio De Sica. The film follows the story of a poor father searching post-World War II Rome for his stolen bicycle, without which he will lose the ...more
2
30 7
Red RiverJohn Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Shelley Winters Red River is a 1948 Western film directed and produced by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift, giving a fictional account of the first cattle drive from Texas to Kansas ...more
3
28 6
The Red ShoesAnton Walbrook, Robert Helpmann, Esmond Knight The Red Shoes is a British feature film about a ballet dancer, written, directed and produced by the team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, known collectively as The Archers. The movie ...more
4
18 2
They Live by NightFarley Granger, Howard Da Silva, Ian Wolfe They Live by Night is a 1948 American film noir, based on Edward Anderson's Depression era novel Thieves Like Us. The film was directed by Nicholas Ray and starred Farley Granger as ...more
5
33 12
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a 1927 adventure novel by the mysterious German-English bilingual author B. Traven, in which two destitute Americans of the 1920s join with an old-timer, in ...more
6
17 2
The Naked CityBarry Fitzgerald, Howard Duff, Don Taylor The Naked City is a black-and-white film noir directed by Jules Dassin. Based on a story by Malvin Wald, the film depicts the police investigation that follows the murder of a young model. A ...more
7
17 2
PitfallRaymond Burr, Dick Powell, Jane Wyatt Pitfall is a 1948 black-and-white film noir drama directed by André De Toth. The film was based on a novel of the same name by Jay Dratler, and was titled Tragedia a Santa Monica for its ...more
8
20 3
Abbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinVincent Price, Bela Lugosi, Lou Costello Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein, or Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein —although the film is usually referred to as simply Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein—is a 1948 ...more
9
18 3
The PirateJudy Garland, Gene Kelly, Gladys Cooper The Pirate is a 1948 American Technicolor musical feature film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. With songs by Cole Porter, it stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly with co-stars Walter Slezak, Gladys ...more
10
18 3
Adventures of Don JuanErrol Flynn, Raymond Burr, Ann Rutherford Adventures of Don Juan, known in the United Kingdom as The New Adventures of Don Juan, is a 1948 American adventure Technicolor romance film made by Warner Bros. It was directed by Vincent ...more
11
29 13
Key LargoLauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson Key Largo is a 1948 film noir directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson and Lauren Bacall and featuring Lionel Barrymore and Claire Trevor. The movie was adapted ...more
12
16 3
Johnny BelindaJane Wyman, Agnes Moorehead, Lew Ayres Johnny Belinda is a 1948 American drama film based on the 1940 Broadway stage hit of the same name, by Elmer Blaney Harris. The play was adapted for the screen by writers Allen Vincent and Irma ...more
13
16 3
Act of ViolenceJanet Leigh, Ricardo Montalbán, Robert Ryan Act of Violence is a 1948 American film noir directed by Fred Zinnemann and adapted for the screen by Robert L. Richards from a story by Collier Young, featuring performances by Van Heflin, ...more
14
16 3
MacbethOrson Welles, Roddy McDowall, Alan Napier Macbeth is a 1948 American film adaptation by Orson Welles of William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth.
15
11 1
Whispering SmithAlan Ladd, Robert Preston, William Demarest Whispering Smith is a Western film starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers. The supporting cast includes Robert Preston and Brenda Marshall. The ...more
16
25 12
Fort ApacheHenry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Ward Bond Fort Apache is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed ...more
17
17 5
Tarzan and the MermaidsJohnny Weissmuller, George Zucco, Brenda Joyce Tarzan and the Mermaids is a 1948 adventure film based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Directed by Robert Florey, it was the last of twelve Tarzan movies to star Johnny ...more
18
13 2
The Iron CurtainGene Tierney, Dana Andrews The Iron Curtain is a 1948 black-and-white thriller film starring Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney, directed by William Wellman. The film was based on the memoirs of Igor Gouzenko. Principal ...more
19
14 3
Another Part of the ForestFredric March, Edmond O'Brien, Dan Duryea Another Part of the Forest is a 1948 American drama film starring Fredric March and directed by Michael Gordon. The screenplay by Vladimir Pozner is based on the 1946 play of the same name by ...more
20
14 3
Under California StarsRoy Rogers, Andy Devine, Bob Nolan Under California Stars is a 1948 American film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers, Jane Frazee and Andy Devine. The film was shot in Trucolor. After returning from Hollywood ...more
21
14 3
Cry of the CityShelley Winters, Debra Paget, Victor Mature Cry of the City is a 1948 black-and-white film noir directed by Robert Siodmak based on the novel by Henry Edward Helseth, The Chair for Martin Rome. Veteran film noir-writer Ben Hecht worked on ...more
22
15 4
Words and MusicJudy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Janet Leigh Words and Music is a 1948 film loosely based on the creative partnership of the composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The film stars Mickey Rooney as Hart and Tom Drake as Rodgers, ...more
23
18 7
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream HouseCary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is an American comedy film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. The film was written and produced by the team of Melvin Frank and ...more
24
20 9
3 GodfathersJohn Wayne, Ward Bond, Harry Carey 3 Godfathers is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Ford and filmed primarily in Death Valley, California. The screenplay, written by Frank S. Nugent and Laurence Stallings, is based ...more
25
23 12
RopeJames Stewart, Alfred Hitchcock, Cedric Hardwicke Rope is a 1948 American psychological crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the 1929 play of the same name by Patrick Hamilton and adapted by Hume Cronyn and Arthur ...more
26
12 2
The Luck of the IrishTyrone Power, Anne Baxter, Lee J. Cobb The Luck of the Irish is a 1948 film with Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter, Lee J. Cobb, Cecil Kellaway, and Jayne Meadows.
27
12 2
Blanche FuryStewart Granger, Michael Gough, Valerie Hobson Blanche Fury is a 1948 British Technicolor drama film directed by Marc Allégret and starring Valerie Hobson, Stewart Granger and Michael Gough. It was adapted from a novel by Joseph ...more
28
11 2
London Belongs to MeRichard Attenborough, Alastair Sim, Hugh Griffith London Belongs to Me is a British film released in 1948, directed by Sidney Gilliat, and starring Richard Attenborough and Alastair Sim. It was based on the novel London Belongs to Me by Norman ...more
29
11 2
So Dear to My HeartBurl Ives, Bobby Driscoll, Harry Carey So Dear to My Heart is a 1949 feature film produced by Walt Disney, whose world premiere was in Indianapolis on January 19, 1949, released by RKO Radio Pictures. Like 1946's Song of the South, ...more
30
12 3
He Walked by NightRichard Basehart, Jack Webb, Whit Bissell He Walked by Night is a 1948 black-and-white police procedural film noir, directed by Alfred L. Werker and Anthony Mann. The film, shot in semidocumentary tone, was loosely based on newspaper ...more
31
10 2
MirandaMargaret Rutherford, Glynis Johns, Googie Withers Miranda is a 1948 British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin and written by Peter Blackmore, who also wrote the play of the same name from which the film was adapted. Denis Waldock provided ...more
32
11 3
Easter ParadeLiza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire Easter Parade is a 1948 American musical film starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, featuring music by Irving Berlin, including some of Astaire and Garland's best-known songs, such as ...more
33
11 3
Portrait of JennieNancy Reagan, Anne Francis, Jennifer Jones Portrait of Jennie is a 1948 fantasy film based on the novella by Robert Nathan. The film was directed by William Dieterle and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Jennifer Jones and Joseph
34
9 2
Road HouseRichard Widmark, Celeste Holm, Ida Lupino Road House is a 1948 film noir drama directed by Jean Negulesco, with cinematography by Joseph LaShelle. The picture features Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Celeste Holm, Richard Widmark, among ...more
35
7 1
Bonnie Prince CharlieDavid Niven, Jack Hawkins, John Laurie Bonnie Prince Charlie is a 1948 British historical film depicting the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and the role of Bonnie Prince Charlie within it. Filmed in Technicolor, it starred David Niven, Jack ...more
36
7 1
MickeyHattie McDaniel, Irene Hervey, Skip Homeier Mickey is a coming of age comedy drama film starring Lois Butler, Bill Goodwin, Skip Homeier and Academy Award-winning actress Hattie McDaniel. The film was based on the novel Clementine by ...more
37
7 1
The Black ArrowEdgar Buchanan, Louis Hayward, Halliwell Hobbes The Black Arrow is a 1948 swashbuckler film.
38
7 1
Esther WatersDirk Bogarde, Cyril Cusack, Kathleen Ryan Esther Waters is a 1948 British drama film directed by Ian Dalrymple and Peter Proud and starring Kathleen Ryan, Dirk Bogarde and Cyril Cusack. It is an adaptation of the 1894 novel Esther ...more
39
7 1
EscapeRex Harrison, William Hartnell, Peggy Cummins Escape is a 1948 British-American thriller film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It follows a RAF Second World War veteran who goes to prison and then escapes and meets a woman who persuades ...more
40
8 2
Coroner CreekForrest Tucker, Edgar Buchanan, Randolph Scott Coroner Creek is an American 1948 Cinecolor western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Randolph Scott and Marguerite Chapman. It was based on the novel of the same name by Luke Short.
41
8 2
SaigonVeronica Lake, Alan Ladd, Luther Adler Saigon is a 1948 film starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in their fourth and final film together. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures and was one of the last films Veronica Lake made ...more
42
9 3
PanhandleBlake Edwards, Francis McDonald, Rod Cameron Panhandle is a 1948 film directed by Lesley Selander. This Western marked the writing and producing debuts of Blake Edwards and John C. Champion. Champion later reworked the story as the 1966 ...more
43
9 3
Hills of HomeJanet Leigh, Edmund Gwenn, Donald Crisp Hills of Home is a 1948 Technicolor drama film, the fourth in a series of seven MGM Lassie films. It starred Edmund Gwenn, Donald Crisp, and Tom Drake.
44
9 3
Night Has a Thousand EyesEdward G. Robinson, Gail Russell, Virginia Bruce Night Has a Thousand Eyes is a 1948 film noir, starring Edward G. Robinson and directed by John Farrow. The screenplay was written by Barré Lyndon and Jonathan Latimer. The film is based ...more
45
9 3
State of the UnionKatharine Hepburn, Angela Lansbury, Spencer Tracy Members of Congress may not come to the floor armed with pistols as they did in the days leading up to the Civil War, but their words are as toxic as any time since then. And we are - in many ...more
46
9 3
A Foreign AffairMarlene Dietrich, Jean Arthur, Millard Mitchell A Foreign Affair is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich, and John Lund. The screenplay by Wilder, Charles Brackett, and ...more
47
10 4
Anna KareninaVivien Leigh, Ralph Richardson, Sally Ann Howes Anna Karenina [p] is a 1948 British film based on the 19th-century novel, Anna Karenina, by the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. The film was directed by Julien Duvivier, and starred Vivien Leigh in ...more
48
10 4
Raw DealClaire Trevor, John Ireland, Marsha Hunt Raw Deal is a 1948 film noir directed by Anthony Mann and shot by cinematographer John Alton.
49
13 7
The Treasure of the Sierra MadreHumphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Barton MacLane The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is an American dramatic adventurous neo-western written and directed by John Huston. It is a feature film adaptation of B. Traven's 1927 novel of the same name, ...more
50
15 10
Sorry, Wrong NumberBarbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, William Conrad Sorry, Wrong Number is a 1948 American suspense film noir directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster. It tells the story of a woman who overhears a murder plot. ...more
