Most Popular Movies 1961
This chart shows the 1961 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1961 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1961 - Top 1961 Worldwide
| Most Popular Overall | 1962 → |
1
| Babes in Toyland |
| Director: Jack Donohue |
| Lead Roles: Annette Funicello as Mary Contrary, Tommy Sands as Tom Piper, Ray Bolger as Barnaby |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 14, 1961 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Living Toys, Family Musical, Christmas, Romance, Kidnap, Romani |
| Classification: Based on Musical or Opera, Musical, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $10,218,316 |
2
| Victim |
| Director: Basil Dearden |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 31, 1961 (Limited) (United Kingdom) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
International BO: $25,564 |
3
| The Hustler |
| Lead Roles: Paul Newman as Eddie Felson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 25, 1961 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Gambling, Confidence Men |
|
Domestic BO: $7,600,000 |
4
| West Side Story |
| Director: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins |
| Lead Roles: Natalie Wood as Maria, Richard Beymer as Tony |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 18, 1961 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Gangs, Romantic Musical, 1950s, Set in New York City, Set in New York, Modern Adaptation, Romeo and Juliet Romance |
| Classification: Based on Play, Musical, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $43,700,000 |
|
International BO: $3,896,274 |
5
| Breakfast at Tiffany's |
| Director: Blake Edwards |
| Lead Roles: Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly (Lulamae Barnes), George Peppard as Paul 'Fred' Varjak |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 5, 1961 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Romance, Sugar Daddy, Whitewashed Casting, Yellowface |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $9,551,904 |
|
International BO: $234,737 |
6
| 101 Dalmatians |
| Director: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman |
| Lead Roles: Rod Taylor as Pongo |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 25, 1961 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Animal Lead, Talking Animals, Voiceover/Narration, Fashion, Kidnap, Rescue, Family Adventure |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Hand Animation, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $153,000,000 |
|
International BO: $302,565 |
7
| A Thunder of Drums |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 26, 1961 (Limited) by MGM |
| Classification: Western |
8
| rivolta degli schiavi La |
| Director: Nunzio Malasomma |
| Lead Roles: Rhonda Fleming |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June, 1961 (Limited) by United Artists, released as The Revolt of the Slaves |
| Classification: Live Action |
9
| Lover Come Back |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1961 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Romance |
| Classification: Romantic Comedy |
|
Domestic BO: $16,937,969 |
10
| Narayama bushiko |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 19, 1961 (Limited), released as The Ballad of Narayama |
11
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| The Secret Ways |
| Director: Phil Karlson |
| Lead Roles: Richard Widmark |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 30, 1961 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
12
| Come September |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 9, 1961 (Wide) by Universal |
|
Domestic BO: $12,710,696 |
13
| Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea |
| Director: Allen Irwin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 12, 1961 (Limited) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
14
| Chunhyangjeon |
| Director: Seong-ki Hong |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 28, 1961 (Wide), released as Seong Chun-Hyang (South Korea) |
| Classification: Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
International BO: $17,685 |
15
| Blue Hawaii |
| Director: Norman Taurog |
| Lead Roles: Elvis Presley as Chad Gates |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 22, 1961 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Romantic Musical, Romance, Unrequited Love, Set in Hawaii, Fired |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Musical, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $10,440,453 |
16
| The Young Savages |
| Director: John Frankenheimer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 24, 1961 (Limited) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
17
| El analfabeto |
| Director: Miguel M. Delgado |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 7, 1961 (Limited) (Mexico) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
18
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| Back Street |
| Director: David Miller |
| Lead Roles: Susan Hayward, John Gavin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 12, 1961 (Limited) by Universal |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
19
| Return to Peyton Place |
| Director: José Ferrer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 5, 1961 (Wide) |
| Keywords: Life Drama, Life in a Small Town, Scandal, Writing and Writers, You Can't Go Home Again |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $9,996,178 |
20
| La Notte |
| Director: Michelangelo Antonioni |
| Lead Roles: Marcello Mastroianni as Giovanni Pontano, Jeanne Moreau as Lidia, Monica Vitti as Valentina Gherardini |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 24, 1961 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Keywords: Writing and Writers, Infidelity, Terminal Illness, Medical and Hospitals, Nightclub, Jazz |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $39,236 |
|
International BO: $3,859 |
Synopsis
A talented but callow novelist enjoys the acclaim afforded his just-published novel, while his marriage to a well-to-do Milanese woman deteriorates. As she grieves for a dying friend she once loved, he is both bemused by and attracted to the advances of other women, particularly the ravishing daughter of a potential new benefactor. An empty evening of visiting decrepit neighborhoods, exotic nightclubs, and a swanky villa party leads to a final confrontation, which reveals the somber truth that love does not always conquer all.
21
| I mongoli |
| Director: André De Toth |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 31, 1961 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
International BO: $2,233 |
22
| One-Eyed Jacks |
| Director: Marlon Brando |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 30, 1961 (Limited) |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Western, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
23
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| Una vita difficile |
| Director: Dino Risi |
| Lead Roles: Alberto Sordi as Silvio, Lea Massari as Elena |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 22, 1961 (Limited) (Italy) |
| Keywords: Comedy Drama, Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Investigative Journalist, Political |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $71,630 |
Synopsis
Silvio, a leftist resistance fighter turned journalist, clings to his political convictions at the cost of providing for his wife Elena and family. When she leaves him, Silvio tries to win her back by agreeing to a compromise with a rich industrialist.
24
| The Misfits |
| Director: John Huston |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 1, 1961 (Wide) by United Artists |
| Keywords: Romance, Divorcée Romance, May / December Romance, Directing Yourself, Posthumous Release |
|
Domestic BO: $8,200,000 |
25
| Something Wild |
| Director: Jack Garfein |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1961 (Limited) |
| Classification: Drama |