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The Best Movies of 1949

Updated June 19, 2020 5.6k votes 177 voters 7.4k views205 items

List of the best movies of 1949, with movie trailers when available. Bob Hope was the highest paid actor in 1949, earning more money than actors like John Wayne and Bing Crosby. These top movies of 1949 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 1949. You can filter this list of films that came out in 1949 for various bits of information, such as who directed the movie and what genre it is. Think the best 1949 movie isn't as high as it should be? Vote up your favorite so it will rise to the top.

List features movies like The Third Man, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and more!

This list answers the questions, "What are the best movies from 1949?" and "What are the most popular movies of 1949?"

1949 was a great year for movies, since a lot of classic films were released in 1949. This is a crowd sourced list that has been voted on by many people, so these top films of 1949 aren't just one persons opinion.

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1
48
10
The Fighting Kentuckian
John Wayne, Oliver Hardy
Released: 1949
Directed by: George Waggner
The Fighting Kentuckian is an American comedy action film starring John Wayne and Oliver... more on Wikipedia
2
60
24
Sands of Iwo Jima
John Wayne, Forrest Tucker
Released: 1949
Directed by: Allan Dwan
Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 film starring John Wayne that follows a group of United States... more on Wikipedia
3
63
28
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
John Wayne, Ben Johnson
Released: 1949
Directed by: John Ford
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring... more on Wikipedia
More She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
#27 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#41 of 81 The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time
4
41
13
I Shot Jesse James
John Ireland, Preston Foster
Released: 1949
Directed by: Samuel Fuller
I Shot Jesse James is a 1949 American film directed by Samuel Fuller about the murder of Jesse... more on Wikipedia
5
57
30
Twelve O'Clock High
Gregory Peck, Dean Jagger
Released: 1949
Directed by: Henry King
Twelve O'Clock High is a 1949 American film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth... more on Wikipedia
6
31
7
The Doolins of Oklahoma
Randolph Scott
Released: 1949
Directed by: Gordon Douglas
The Doolins of Oklahoma is a film directed by Gordon Douglas released on May 27, 1949.
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44
20
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff, Lou Costello
Released: 1949
Directed by: Charles Barton
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff is a 1949 comedy horror film starring... more on Wikipedia

8
37
13
Africa Screams
Lou Costello, Shemp Howard
Released: 1949
Directed by: Charles Barton
Africa Screams is a 1949 American adventure comedy film starring Abbott and Costello and... more on Wikipedia
More Africa Screams
#38 of 51 Free Movies! The Best Films in the Public Domain#49 of 61 The Best Comedies of the 1940s
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40
18
Samson and Delilah
Angela Lansbury, Hedy Lamarr
Released: 1949
Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
Samson and Delilah is a 1949 American romantic religious epic film produced and directed by... more on Wikipedia
10
34
14
Mighty Joe Young
Ben Johnson, Terry Moore
Released: 1949
Directed by: Ernest B. Schoedsack
Mighty Joe Young is a 1949 American black-and-white fantasy film from RKO Radio Pictures made... more on Wikipedia
11
31
14
The Hasty Heart
Ronald Reagan, Richard Todd
Released: 1949
Directed by: Vincent Sherman
The Hasty Heart is a 1949 Anglo-American co-production directed by Vincent Sherman and... more on Wikipedia
12
23
10
The Forbidden Street
Maureen O'Hara, Dana Andrews
Released: 1949
Directed by: Jean Negulesco
The Forbidden Street is a 1949 British melodrama film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring... more on Wikipedia
13
47
39
The Third Man
Orson Welles, Trevor Howard
Released: 1949
Directed by: Carol Reed
The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten,... more on Wikipedia
More The Third Man
#154 of 242 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time#1304 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies
14
21
10
Dancing in the Dark
William Powell, Adolphe Menjou
Released: 1949
Directed by: Irving Reis
Dancing In the Dark is a 1949 Technicolor musical comedy film directed by Irving Reis,... more on Wikipedia
15
31
24
The Blue Lagoon
Jean Simmons, Cyril Cusack
Released: 1949
Directed by: Frank Launder
The Blue Lagoon is a 1949 British romance and adventure film produced and directed by Frank... more on Wikipedia
16
38
33
The Heiress
Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift
Released: 1949
Directed by: William Wyler
The Heiress is a 1949 American drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Olivia de... more on Wikipedia
More The Heiress
#29 of 70 The Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the 1940s#123 of 127 The Best Oscar-Winning Scores
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20
12
Chicago Deadline
Donna Reed, Alan Ladd
Released: 1949
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Chicago Deadline is a 1949 film directed by Lewis Allen.
18
18
9
Father was a Fullback
Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara
Released: 1949
Directed by: John M. Stahl
Father was a Fullback is a 1949 black-and-white Twentieth Century Fox film based on a comedy... more on Wikipedia
19
19
12
The Story of Seabiscuit
Shirley Temple, Barry Fitzgerald
Released: 1949
Directed by: David Butler
The Story of Seabiscuit is a 1949 American drama film directed by David Butler and starring... more on Wikipedia
20
27
24
Adam's Rib
Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy
Released: 1949
Directed by: George Cukor
Adam's Rib is a 1949 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor. Domestic and... more on Wikipedia
More Adam's Rib
#431 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time#193 of 925 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
21
21
16
Strange Bargain
Harry Morgan, Henry O'Neill
Released: 1949
Directed by: Will Price
Strange Bargain is a 1949 crime drama film-noir film based on the story by J.H. Wallis,... more on Wikipedia
22
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19
The Undercover Man
Glenn Ford, James Whitmore
Released: 2005
Directed by: Joseph H. Lewis, Gail Rorant, Kenya Cagle, Sherman Jones
The Undercover Man is a 2005 action drama film written by Kenya Cagle and Sheila G. Wheeler... more on Wikipedia
23
39
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White Heat
James Cagney, Edmond O'Brien
Released: 1949
Directed by: Raoul Walsh
White Heat is a 1949 film noir starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo and Edmond O'Brien and... more on Wikipedia
More White Heat
#43 of 123 The Best Mafia Films Of All Time#95 of 224 The Best Black and White Movies Ever Made
24
16
10
Battleground
Ricardo Montalbán, James Arness
Released: 1949
Directed by: William A. Wellman
Battleground is a 1949 American war film that follows a company in the 327th Glider Infantry... more on Wikipedia
More Battleground
#919 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#118 of 374 The 50+ Best War Movies Ever Made, Ranked
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Gun Crazy
Russ Tamblyn, Peggy Cummins
Released: 1950
Directed by: Joseph H. Lewis
Gun Crazy is a 1950 film noir feature film directed by Joseph H. Lewis, and produced by Frank... more on Wikipedia