List of American films of 1961

A list of American films released in 1961.

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

1961 Rank	Title	Studio	Gross
1.	The Guns of Navarone*	Columbia	$28,900,000
2.	West Side Story	United Artists	$19,646,000
3.	One Hundred and One Dalmatians	Disney	$14,000,000
4.	El Cid	Allied Artists	$12,000,000
5.	The Absent-Minded Professor*	Disney	$11,426,000
6.	The Parent Trap*	Disney	$11,322,000
7.	La Dolce Vita*	Astor/AIP	$8,000,000
8.	Lover Come Back	Universal	$7,625,000
9.	King of Kings	MGM	$6,520,000
10.	Poor White Trash*	CDA/United Artists	$6,000,000

A–B

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
20,000 Eyes	Jack Leewood	Gene Nelson, Merry Anders	Thriller	20th Century Fox
The Absent-Minded Professor	Robert Stevenson	Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Ed Wynn, Edward Andrews, Leon Ames, Elliott Reid	Comedy	Disney; remade in 1997; 3 Oscar nominations
Ada	Daniel Mann	Susan Hayward, Dean Martin	Drama	MGM; based on novel by Wirt Williams
All in a Night's Work	Joseph Anthony	Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, Cliff Robertson	Comedy	Paramount
All Hands on Deck	Norman Taurog	Pat Boone, Barbara Eden, Buddy Hackett	Musical	20th Century Fox
Angel Baby	Paul Wendkos	George Hamilton, Mercedes McCambridge, Joan Blondell	Drama	Allied Artists; film debut of Burt Reynolds
Atlas	Roger Corman	Michael Forest, Barboura Morris	Adventure	American International Pictures
Armored Command	Byron Haskin	Howard Keel, Tina Louise, Earl Holliman	War	Allied Artists
Atlantis, the Lost Continent	George Pal	John Dall, Edward Platt	Science fiction	MGM
Babes in Toyland	Jack Donohue	Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello, Ray Bolger, Ed Wynn	Musical	Disney; based on Victor Herbert operetta
Bachelor in Paradise	Jack Arnold	Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Paula Prentiss, Janis Paige	Comedy	MGM
Back Street	David Miller	Susan Hayward, John Gavin, Vera Miles	Drama	Universal; from Fannie Hurst novel; remake of 1932 and 1941 films
Battle at Bloody Beach	Herbert Coleman	Audie Murphy, Dolores Michaels	War	20th Century Fox
The Beast of Yucca Flats	Coleman Francis	Tor Johnson	Science fiction
The Big Bankroll	Joseph M. Newman	David Janssen, Dianne Foster, Diana Dors	Crime	Allied Artists
The Big Gamble	Richard Fleischer	Stephen Boyd, Juliette Gréco, David Wayne	Adventure	20th Century Fox
The Big Show	James B. Clark	Esther Williams, Cliff Robertson, Robert Vaughn	Drama	20th Century Fox
Blast of Silence	Allen Baron	Allen Baron, Larry Tucker	Thriller	Universal
Bloodlust!	Ralph Brooke	Robert Reed, June Kenney	Horror	Crown International
Blue Hawaii	Norman Taurog	Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury, Roland Winters	Musical	Paramount
Blueprint for Robbery	Jerry Hopper	J. Pat O'Malley, Robert Gist	Crime	Paramount Pictures
Boy Who Caught a Crook	Edward L. Cahn	Wanda Hendrix, Roger Mobley	Adventure	United Artists
Breakfast at Tiffany's	Blake Edwards	Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Buddy Ebsen, Patricia Neal, Martin Balsam, Mickey Rooney	Drama	Paramount; based on Truman Capote story; won two Oscars
Bridge to the Sun	Étienne Périer	Carroll Baker, James Shigeta	Drama	MGM
Buffalo Gun	Albert C. Gannaway	Webb Pierce, Wayne Morris, Mary Ellen Kay	Western	Independent
By Love Possessed	John Sturges	Lana Turner, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Jason Robards	Drama	United Artists

C–I

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
The Cat Burglar	William Witney	Jack Hogan, June Kenney	Thriller	United Artists
The Children's Hour	William Wyler	Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner	Drama	United Artists; from Lillian Hellman play; five Oscar nominations
The Choppers	Leigh Jason	Arch Hall Jr.	Crime	Fairway International Pictures
Claudelle Inglish	Gordon Douglas	Diane McBain, Arthur Kennedy, Chad Everett	Drama	Warner Bros.
The Clown and the Kid	Edward L. Cahn	John Lupton, Michael McGreevey, Mary Webster	Drama	United Artists
A Cold Wind in August	Alexander Singer	Lola Albright, Scott Marlowe	Drama	United Artists
The Comancheros	Michael Curtiz	John Wayne, Stuart Whitman, Ina Balin	Western	20th Century Fox; Curtiz's final film
Come September	Robert Mulligan	Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee	Comedy	Universal
The Continental Twist	William J. Hole Jr.	Louis Prima, June Wilkinson, Gertrude Michael	Comedy	American International Pictures
Creature from the Haunted Sea	Roger Corman	Antony Carbone, Betsy Jones-Moreland	Science fiction	Independent
Cry for Happy	George Marshall	Glenn Ford, Donald O'Connor, James Shigeta	Comedy	Columbia
The Deadly Companions	Sam Peckinpah	Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, Chill Wills	Western	Pathé America; Peckinpah's first film
The Devil at 4 O'Clock	Mervyn LeRoy	Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Grégoire Aslan	Adventure	Columbia
The Devil's Hand	William J. Hole Jr.	Robert Alda, Linda Christian, Ariadna Welter	Horror	Crown International Pictures
Diary of a Nudist	Doris Wishman	Davee Decker, Norman Casserly	Comedy
Dondi	Albert Zugsmith	David Janssen, Patti Page, Walter Winchell	Comedy	Allied Artists; based on comic strip
El Cid	Anthony Mann	Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone, Geneviève Page, Herbert Lom	Historical epic	Allied Artists; three Oscar nominations
The Errand Boy	Jerry Lewis	Jerry Lewis, Brian Donlevy	Comedy	Paramount
Everything's Ducky	Don Taylor	Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Jackie Cooper	Comedy	Columbia
The Exiles	Kent Mackenzie		Documentary	Contemporary Films
The Explosive Generation	Buzz Kulik	William Shatner, Patty McCormack	Drama	United Artists
Fanny	Joshua Logan	Leslie Caron, Charles Boyer	Drama	Warner Bros.; five Oscar nominations
Fear No More	Bernard Wiesen	Mala Powers, Jacques Bergerac, Anna Lee Carroll	Thriller	Astor Pictures
A Fever in the Blood	Vincent Sherman	Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Angie Dickinson, Don Ameche	Drama	Warner Bros.
The Fiercest Heart	George Sherman	Stuart Whitman, Juliet Prowse, Geraldine Fitzgerald	Drama	20th Century Fox
Five Minutes to Live	Bill Karn	Johnny Cash, Cay Forrester	Drama	Somera Productions-Flower Film Productions
Flight of the Lost Balloon	Nathan Juran	Mala Powers, Marshall Thompson	Science fiction	A.I.P.
The Flight That Disappeared	Reginald Le Borg	Craig Hill, Paula Raymond	Drama	United Artists
Flower Drum Song	Henry Koster	Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Jack Soo, Miyoshi Umeki	Musical	Universal; based on play; five Oscar nominations
Force of Impulse	Saul Swimmer	Robert Alda, Jeff Donnell, J. Carrol Naish	Drama	Astor Pictures
Francis of Assisi	Michael Curtiz	Bradford Dillman, Dolores Hart, Stuart Whitman	Drama	Fox
Frontier Uprising	Edward L. Cahn	Jim Davis, Nestor Paiva	Western	United Artists
The Gambler Wore a Gun	Edward L. Cahn	Jim Davis, Merry Anders	Western	United Artists
The George Raft Story	Joseph M. Newman	Ray Danton, Jayne Mansfield, Julie London	Biography	Allied Artists
Gidget Goes Hawaiian	Paul Wendkos	Deborah Walley, James Darren	Comedy	Columbia Pictures; sequel to Gidget
Go Naked in the World	Ranald MacDougall	Gina Lollobrigida, Anthony Franciosa, Ernest Borgnine	Drama	MGM
Gold of the Seven Saints	Gordon Douglas	Clint Walker, Roger Moore	Adventure	Warner Bros.
Goodbye Again	Anatole Litvak	Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins	Drama	United Artists; based on Françoise Sagan novel
The Great Impostor	Robert Mulligan	Tony Curtis, Edmond O'Brien, Karl Malden	Biography	Universal; based on Robert Crichton book
Greyfriars Bobby	Don Chaffey	Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith	Drama	Disney
Gun Fight	Edward L. Cahn	James Brown, Joan Staley	Western	United Artists
Gun Street	Edward L. Cahn	James Brown, Jean Willes, John Clarke	Western	United Artists
The Happy Thieves	George Marshall	Rex Harrison, Rita Hayworth	Comedy	United Artists
Hey, Let's Twist!	Greg Garrison	Joey Dee, Jo Ann Campbell	Musical	Paramount
Homicidal	William Castle	Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich	Thriller	Columbia
The Honeymoon Machine	Richard Thorpe	Steve McQueen, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss	Comedy	MGM; based on play by Lorenzo Semple Jr.
The Hoodlum Priest	Irvin Kershner	Don Murray, Keir Dullea	Biography	United Artists
The Hustler	Robert Rossen	Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Myron McCormick	Drama	20th Century Fox; based on novel by Walter Tevis; nine Oscar nominations

J–R

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Judgment at Nuremberg	Stanley Kramer	Spencer Tracy, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Burt Lancaster	Drama	United Artists; Academy Awards for Schell, screenplay; eleven nominations
King of Kings	Nicholas Ray	Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Ryan, Hurd Hatfield, Rip Torn	Biblical drama	MGM; remake of 1927 film
The Ladies Man	Jerry Lewis	Jerry Lewis, Lillian Briggs, Helen Traubel	Comedy	Paramount
The Last Sunset	Robert Aldrich	Rock Hudson, Kirk Douglas, Dorothy Malone	Western	Universal; based on Howard Rigsby novel
The Last Time I Saw Archie	Jack Webb	Robert Mitchum, Jack Webb, Martha Hyer	Comedy	United Artists
The Lawbreakers	Joseph M. Newman	Jack Warden, Vera Miles	Drama	MGM
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come	Andrew McLaglen	Jimmie Rodgers, Luana Patten	Drama	20th Century Fox
The Long Rope	William Witney	Hugh Marlowe. Alan Hale, Jr.	Western	20th Century Fox
Look in Any Window	William Alland	Paul Anka, Gigi Perreau	Drama	Allied Artists
Love in a Goldfish Bowl	Jack Sher	Tommy Sands, Fabian	Comedy	Paramount
Lover Come Back	Delbert Mann	Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, Edie Adams	Comedy	Universal
Mad Dog Coll	Burt Balaban	John Davis Chandler, Brooke Hayward, Jerry Orbach	Drama	Columbia Pictures
Madison Avenue	H. Bruce Humberstone	Dana Andrews, Eleanor Parker, Jeanne Crain	Drama	20th Century Fox
A Majority of One	Mervyn LeRoy	Rosalind Russell, Alec Guinness	Comedy	Warner Bros.; based on Leonard Spigelgass play
Man-Trap	Edmond O'Brien	Jeffrey Hunter, David Janssen, Stella Stevens	Drama	Paramount
Marines, Let's Go	Raoul Walsh	Tom Tryon, David Hedison	War	20th Century Fox
The Marriage-Go-Round	Walter Lang	Julie Newmar, James Mason, Susan Hayward	Comedy	Fox; based on Leslie Stevens play
Master of the World	William Witney	Vincent Price, Charles Bronson	Adventure	A.I.P.
The Misfits	John Huston	Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift	Drama, Romance, Western	United Artists; final film for Gable, Monroe
A Matter of Morals	John Cromwell	Maj-Britt Nilsson, Mogens Wieth, Eva Dahlbeck	Drama	United Artists
Misty	James B. Clark	Arthur O'Connell, Anne Seymour, David Ladd	Family	20th Century Fox
Most Dangerous Man Alive	Allan Dwan	Ron Randell, Debra Paget	Science fiction	Columbia; Dwan's final film
Mr. Sardonicus	William Castle	Oskar Homolka, Ronald Lewis, Audrey Dalton. Guy Rolfe	Horror	Columbia
Mysterious Island	Cy Endfield	Gary Merrill, Herbert Lom, Beth Rogan	Science fiction	Columbia; based on Jules Verne novel
The Naked Edge	Michael Anderson	Gary Cooper, Deborah Kerr	Suspense	United Artists; Cooper's final film
Night Tide	Curtis Harrington	Dennis Hopper, Marjorie Cameron, Linda Lawson	Fantasy	A.I.P.
Nude on the Moon	Doris Wishman		Adult
Ole Rex	Robert Hinkle	Bill Coontz, Billy Hughes	Western	Universal
On the Double	Melville Shavelson	Danny Kaye, Dana Wynter	Comedy	Paramount
One-Eyed Jacks	Marlon Brando	Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Katy Jurado	Western	Paramount; only film directed by Brando
One Hundred and One Dalmatians	Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman	Ben Wright, Betty Lou Gerson, Rod Taylor (voices)	Animated	Disney; live-action remake in 1996
One, Two, Three	Billy Wilder	James Cagney, Horst Bucholtz, Pamela Tiffin	Comedy	United Artists; Cagney's last film until 1981
Operation Bottleneck	Edward L. Cahn	Ron Foster, Miiko Taka	War	United Artists
Operation Eichmann	R.G. Springsteen	Werner Klemperer, Ruta Lee	Drama	Allied Artists
The Outsider	Delbert Mann	Tony Curtis, James Franciscus, Bruce Bennett	Biography	Universal; story of Ira Hayes
The Parent Trap	David Swift	Hayley Mills, Brian Keith, Maureen O'Hara	Comedy	Disney; remade in 1998
Paris Blues	Martin Ritt	Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward	Comedy	United Artists
Parrish	Delmer Daves	Troy Donahue, Claudette Colbert, Karl Malden	Drama	Warner Bros.
The Phantom Planet	William Marshall	Coleen Gray, Anthony Dexter	Science fiction	A.I.P.
Pirates of Tortuga	Robert D. Webb	Ken Scott, Letícia Román	Adventure	20th Century Fox
The Pit and the Pendulum	Roger Corman	Vincent Price, John Kerr	Horror	A.I.P.; from Edgar Allan Poe story
The Pleasure of His Company	George Seaton	Fred Astaire, Debbie Reynolds, Lilli Palmer, Tab Hunter	Comedy	Paramount; Golden Globe for Astaire
Pocketful of Miracles	Frank Capra	Bette Davis, Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, Arthur O'Connell, Thomas Mitchell, Peter Falk, Ann-Margret	Comedy	United Artists; Capra's final film; based on a story by Damon Runyon
Police Dog Story	Edward L. Cahn	James Brown, Merry Anders	Crime	United Artists
Portrait of a Mobster	Joseph Pevney	Vic Morrow, Leslie Parrish	Crime	Warner Bros.
Posse from Hell	Herbert Coleman	Audie Murphy, Lee Van Cleef, Vic Morrow	Western	Universal
The Purple Hills	Maury Dexter	Gene Nelson, Kent Taylor	Western	20th Century Fox
Question 7	Stuart Rosenberg	Michael Gwynn, Erik Schumann	Drama
A Raisin in the Sun	Daniel Petrie	Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee	Drama	Columbia; based on Lorraine Hansberry play; remade in 2008
Reptilicus	Sidney W. Pink	Carl Ottosen	Science fiction	Saga Studios; Danish-American production
Return to Peyton Place	José Ferrer	Carol Lynley, Jeff Chandler, Eleanor Parker	Drama	20th Century Fox; sequel to Peyton Place
The Right Approach	David Butler	Frankie Vaughan, Martha Hyer, Juliet Prowse	Drama	20th Century Fox
Ring of Fire	Andrew L. Stone	David Janssen, Joyce Taylor	Drama	MGM
Romanoff and Juliet	Peter Ustinov	John Gavin, Sandra Dee	Comedy	Universal
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone	Jose Quintero	Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty	Drama	Warner Bros.; based on Tennessee Williams play

S–Z

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Note
Sail a Crooked Ship	Irving Brecher	Robert Wagner, Dolores Hart, Ernie Kovacs	Comedy	Columbia
Sanctuary	Tony Richardson	Lee Remick, Yves Montand	Drama	20th Century Fox
The Second Time Around	Vincent Sherman	Debbie Reynolds, Steve Forrest, Andy Griffith	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Secret of Deep Harbor	Edward L. Cahn	Ron Foster, Merry Anders	Thriller	United Artists
The Secret Ways	Phil Karlson	Richard Widmark, Sonja Ziemann	Thriller	Universal
The Sergeant Was a Lady	Bernard Glasser	Venetia Stevenson, Bill Williams	Comedy	Universal
Seven Women from Hell	Robert D. Webb	Patricia Owens, Denise Darcel, Yvonne Craig	Drama	20th Century Fox
The Silent Call	John A. Bushelman	Gail Russell, David McLean	Drama	20th Century Fox
The Sinister Urge	Ed Wood	Kenne Duncan, Jean Fontaine	Drama	Headliner Productions
The Sins of Rachel Cade	Gordon Douglas	Angie Dickinson, Peter Finch, Roger Moore	Drama	Warner Bros.
Sniper's Ridge	John A. Bushelman	Jack Ging, Stanley Clements	War	20th Century Fox
Snow White and the Three Stooges	Walter Lang	The Three Stooges, Carol Heiss	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Something Wild	Jack Garfein	Carroll Baker, Ralph Meeker	Drama	United Artists
Splendor in the Grass	Elia Kazan	Warren Beatty, Natalie Wood, Barbara Loden	Drama	Warner Bros.; Oscar for writer William Inge
Square of Violence	Leonardo Bercovici	Broderick Crawford, Valentina Cortese, Bibi Andersson	War	MGM
The Steel Claw	George Montgomery	George Montgomery	Action	Warner Bros.
Stop! Look! and Laugh!	Don Appell, Louis Brandt	The Three Stooges, Paul Winchell	Comedy	Columbia
Summer and Smoke	Peter Glenville	Laurence Harvey, Geraldine Page, Rita Moreno, Thomas Gomez, Una Merkel	Drama	Paramount; from play by Tennessee Williams; four Oscar nominations
Susan Slade	Delmer Daves	Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Dorothy McGuire	Drama	Warner Bros.
Swingin' Along	Charles Barton	Peter Marshall, Tommy Noonan, Barbara Eden	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Tammy Tell Me True	Harry Keller	Sandra Dee, John Gavin	Romance	Universal; second film in Tammy series
Teenage Millionaire	Lawrence Doheny	Jimmy Clanton, Diane Jergens	Comedy	United Artists
Three Blondes in His Life	Leon Chooluck	Jock Mahoney, Greta Thyssen	Comedy	Golden Film Productions
A Thunder of Drums	Joseph M. Newman	Richard Boone, George Hamilton, Luana Patten	Western	MGM
Tomboy and the Champ	Francis D. Lyon	Candy Moore, Ben Johnson	Western	Universal
Too Late Blues	John Cassavetes	Bobby Darin, Stella Stevens	Drama	Paramount
Town Without Pity	Gottfried Reinhardt	Kirk Douglas, E. G. Marshall, Robert Blake	Drama	United Artists
Twenty Plus Two	Joseph M. Newman	David Janssen, Jeanne Crain, Dina Merrill	Drama	Allied Artists
Twist Around the Clock	Oscar Rudolph	Chubby Checker, Dion DiMucci	Musical	Columbia
The Two Little Bears	Randall Hood	Eddie Albert, Jane Wyatt	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Two Loves	Charles Walters	Shirley MacLaine, Laurence Harvey	Romance	MGM
Two Rode Together	John Ford	James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Shirley Jones	Western	Columbia
Underworld U.S.A.	Samuel Fuller	Cliff Robertson, Beatrice Kay	Film noir	Columbia
Valley of the Dragons	Edward Bernds	Cesare Danova, Sean McClory, Joan Staley	Science fiction	Columbia
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea	Irwin Allen	Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden	Science fiction	20th Century Fox; became TV series
War Is Hell	Burt Topper	Audie Murphy, Judy Dan	War	Allied Artists
West Side Story	Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins	Richard Beymer, Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, Simon Oakland	Musical	United Artists; won 10 Oscars; based on stage musical and Romeo and Juliet
When the Clock Strikes	Edward L. Cahn	James Brown, Merry Anders	Crime	United Artists
Wild in the Country	Philip Dunne	Elvis Presley, Tuesday Weld, Hope Lange, Millie Perkins, John Ireland, Gary Lockwood	Drama	20th Century Fox
Wings of Chance	Eddie Dew	James Brown, Frances Rafferty	Action	Universal
The Wizard of Baghdad	George Sherman	Dick Shawn, Diane Baker	Comedy	20th Century Fox
X-15	Richard Donner	Charles Bronson, Kenneth Tobey, David McLean, Mary Tyler Moore	Adventure	United Artists
You Have to Run Fast	Edward L. Cahn	Craig Hill, Grant Richards	Drama	United Artists
The Young Doctors	Phil Karlson	Ben Gazzara, Fredric March, Dick Clark	Drama	United Artists
The Young Savages	John Frankenheimer	Burt Lancaster, Dina Merrill, Shelley Winters	Drama	United Artists

See also

• 1961 in the United States

External links

• 1961 films at the Internet Movie Database
• List of 1961 box office number-one films in the United States