A list of American films released in 1961. __TOC__
Top-grossing films (U.S.) 1961Rank 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. Bayou (film)* CDA/United Artists $6,000,000 Box office
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
A–B Title Director Cast Genre Note 20,000 Eyes Jack Leewood Gene Nelson, Merry Anders Thriller 20th Century FoxThe 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 nominationsAda Daniel Mann Susan Hayward, Dean Martin Drama MGM; based on novel by Wirt WilliamsAll in a Night's Work Joseph Anthony Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, Cliff Robertson Comedy ParamountAll Hands on Deck Norman Taurog Pat Boone, Barbara Eden, Buddy Hackett Musical 20th Century FoxAngel 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 PicturesArmored Command Byron Haskin Howard Keel, Tina Louise, Earl Holliman War Allied ArtistsAtlantis, the Lost ContinentGeorge Pal John Dall, Edward Platt Science fiction MGMBabes in Toyland Jack Donohue Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello, Ray Bolger, Ed Wynn Musical Disney; based on Victor Herbert operettaBachelor in Paradise Jack Arnold Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Paula Prentiss, Janis Paige Comedy MGMBack Street David Miller Susan Hayward, John Gavin, Vera Miles Drama Universal; from Fannie Hurst novel; remake of 1932 and 1941 filmsBattle at Bloody Beach Herbert Coleman Audie Murphy, Dolores Michaels War 20th Century FoxThe Beast of Yucca Flats Coleman Francis Tor Johnson Science fictionThe Big Bankroll Joseph M. Newman David Janssen, Dianne Foster, Diana Dors Crime Allied ArtistsThe Big Gamble Richard Fleischer Stephen Boyd, Juliette Gréco, David Wayne Adventure 20th Century FoxThe Big Show James B. Clark Esther Williams, Cliff Robertson, Robert Vaughn Drama 20th Century FoxThe Big Wave Tad Danielewski Sessue Hayakawa, Mickey Curtis, Koji Shitara, Hiroyuki Ota Drama Allied Artists; Co-production with Japan.Blast of Silence Allen Baron Allen Baron, Larry Tucker Thriller UniversalBloodlust! Ralph Brooke Robert Reed, June Kenney Horror Crown InternationalBlue Hawaii Norman Taurog Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury, Roland Winters Musical ParamountBlueprint for Robbery Jerry Hopper J. Pat O'Malley, Robert Gist Crime Paramount PicturesBoy Who Caught a Crook Edward L. Cahn Wanda Hendrix, Roger Mobley Adventure United ArtistsBreakfast at Tiffany's Blake Edwards Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Buddy Ebsen, Patricia Neal, Martin Balsam, Mickey RooneyDramaParamount; based on Truman Capote story; won two OscarsBridge to the Sun Étienne Périer Carroll Baker, James Shigeta Drama MGMBuffalo Gun Albert C. Gannaway Webb Pierce, Wayne Morris, Mary Ellen Kay Western IndependentBy 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, John Baer Thriller United ArtistsThe Children's HourWilliam Wyler Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner Drama United Artists; from Lillian Hellman play; five Oscar nominationsThe Choppers Leigh Jason Arch Hall Jr. Crime Fairway International PicturesClaudelle 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 ArtistsA Cold Wind in August Alexander Singer Lola Albright, Scott Marlowe, Joe De Santis Drama United ArtistsThe Comancheros Michael Curtiz John Wayne, Stuart Whitman, Ina Balin Western 20th Century Fox; Curtiz's final film Come SeptemberRobert 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 PicturesCreature from the Haunted SeaRoger Corman Antony Carbone, Betsy Jones-Moreland, Robert Towne Science fiction IndependentCry for Happy George Marshall Glenn Ford, Donald O'Connor, James Shigeta Comedy ColumbiaThe Deadly CompanionsSam PeckinpahMaureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, Chill WillsWestern Pathé America; Peckinpah's first filmThe 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 PicturesDiary 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 stripEl Cid Anthony Mann Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone, Geneviève Page, Herbert Lom Historical epic Allied Artists; three Oscar nominationsThe Errand BoyJerry Lewis Jerry Lewis, Brian Donlevy, Howard McNearComedy ParamountEverything's DuckyDon TaylorBuddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Jackie CooperComedy ColumbiaThe Exiles Kent Mackenzie Documentary Contemporary FilmsThe Explosive Generation Buzz Kulik William Shatner, Patty McCormack, Virginia Field Drama United ArtistsFanny 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 PicturesA 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 FoxFive Minutes to Live Bill Karn Johnny Cash, Cay Forrester Drama Somera Productions-Flower Film ProductionsFlight of the Lost Balloon Nathan Juran Mala Powers, Marshall Thompson Science fiction A.I.P.The Flight That Disappeared Reginald LeBorg Craig Hill, Paula Raymond Drama United ArtistsFlower 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 PicturesFrancis 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 ArtistsThe George Raft Story Joseph M. Newman Ray Danton, Jayne Mansfield, Julie London Biography Allied ArtistsGidget Goes HawaiianPaul 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 MGMGold of the Seven SaintsGordon Douglas Clint Walker, Roger Moore Adventure Warner Bros.Goodbye AgainAnatole Litvak Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins Drama United Artists; based on Françoise Sagan novelThe Great ImpostorRobert Mulligan Tony Curtis, Edmond O'Brien, Karl Malden Biography Universal; based on Robert Crichton book Greyfriars Bobby Don Chaffey Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Kay Walsh Drama DisneyGun Fight Edward L. Cahn James Brown, Joan Staley Western United ArtistsGun Street Edward L. Cahn James Brown, Jean Willes, John Clarke Western United ArtistsThe Happy Thieves George Marshall Rex Harrison, Rita Hayworth Comedy United ArtistsHey, Let's Twist! Greg Garrison Joey Dee, Jo Ann Campbell Musical ParamountHomicidalWilliam Castle Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich Thriller ColumbiaThe Honeymoon MachineRichard Thorpe Steve McQueen, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss Comedy MGM; based on play by Lorenzo Semple Jr.The Hoodlum PriestIrvin Kershner Don Murray, Keir Dullea Biography United ArtistsThe HustlerRobert 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