Movies Like It Happened One Night (1934)

It Happened One Night is a 1934 comedy, romance film from Frank Capra with a MovieMagicScore of 7.8/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Philadelphia Story and Sullivan's Travels.

Comedy Romance

The Philadelphia Story

1940

When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.

7.6

MagicScore

Sullivan's Travels

1941

Successful movie director John L. Sullivan, convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion, he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.

7.4

MagicScore

The Front Page

1931

Hildy Johnson is an investigative reporter looking for a bigger paycheck. When an accused murderer escapes from custody, Hildy sees an opportunity for the story of a lifetime. But when he finds the criminal, he learns that the man may not be guilty. With the help of his editor, Hildy attempts to hide the convict, uncover the conspiracy and write the scoop of his career.

6.5

MagicScore

Libeled Lady

1936

When a major newspaper accuses wealthy socialite Connie Allenbury of being a home-wrecker, and she files a multi-million-dollar libel lawsuit, the publication's frazzled head editor, Warren Haggerty, must find a way to turn the tables on her. Soon Haggerty's harried fiancée, Gladys Benton, and his dashing friend Bill Chandler are in on a scheme that aims to discredit Connie, with amusing and unexpected results.

7.3

MagicScore

Nothing Sacred

1937

When a small-town girl is incorrectly diagnosed with a rare, deadly disease, an unknowing newspaper columnist turns her into a national heroine.

6.3

MagicScore

Bombshell

1933

A glamorous film star rebels against the studio, her pushy press agent and a family of hangers-on.

6.4

MagicScore

The Cabin in the Cotton

1932

Sharecropper's son Marvin tries to help his community overcome poverty and ignorance.

6.3

MagicScore

Marley & Me

2008

A newly married couple, in the process of starting a family, learn many of life's important lessons from their trouble-loving retriever, Marley. Packed with plenty of laughs to lighten the load, the film explores the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and confronting one's own mortality, as seen through the lens of family life with a dog.

7.2

MagicScore

Runaway Bride

1999

Having already left three grooms at the altar, Maggie Carpenter is branded "the runaway bride" by jaded New York journalist Ike Graham. But, after his facts are called into question, Ike races to Maggie's hometown to save his reputation and report on her upcoming fourth trip down the aisle – during which he's convinced she'll run again. Though he's there on a muckraking mission, Ike can't help but fall for this breathtaking heartbreaker.

6.1

MagicScore

#10

My Man Godfrey

1936

Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one is more forgotten than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two.

7.5

MagicScore

#11

How to Train Your Dragon

2010

As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless – much to the chagrin of his warrior father.

7.9

MagicScore

#12

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936

Longfellow Deeds lives in a small town, leading a small town kind of life. When a relative dies and leaves Deeds a fortune, Longfellow moves to the big city where he becomes an instant target for everyone. Deeds outwits them all until Babe Bennett comes along. When small-town boy meets big-city girl anything can, and does, happen.

7.5

MagicScore

#13

Bringing Up Baby

1938

David Huxley is waiting to get a bone he needs for his museum collection. Through a series of strange circumstances, he meets Susan Vance, and the duo have a series of misadventures which include a leopard called Baby.

7.5

MagicScore

#14

All the King's Men

1949

A man of humble beginnings and honest intentions rises to power by nefarious means. Along for the wild ride are an earnest reporter, a heretofore classy society girl, and a too-clever-for-her-own-good political flack.

7.0

MagicScore

#15

The Thin Man

1934

A husband and wife detective team takes on the search for a missing inventor and almost get killed for their efforts.

7.5

MagicScore

#16

Duck Soup

1933

Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.

7.3

MagicScore

#17

Tetsuo: The Iron Man

1989

A "metal fetishist", driven mad by the maggots wriggling in the wound he's made to embed metal into his flesh, runs out into the night and is accidentally run down by a Japanese businessman and his girlfriend. The pair dispose of the corpse in hopes of quietly moving on with their lives. However, the businessman soon finds that he is now plagued by a vicious curse that transforms his flesh into iron.

7.0

MagicScore

#18

Cimarron

1931

When the government opens up the Oklahoma territory for settlement, restless Yancey Cravat claims a plot of the free land for himself and moves his family there from Wichita. A newspaperman, lawyer, and just about everything else, Cravat soon becomes a leading citizen of the boom town of Osage. Once the town is established, however, he begins to feel confined once again, and heads for the Cherokee Strip, leaving his family behind. During this and other absences, his wife Sabra must learn to take care of herself and soon becomes prominent in her own right.

5.6

MagicScore

#19

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

1944

A small-town girl with a soft spot for American soldiers wakes up the morning after a wild farewell party for the troops to find that she married someone she can't remember.

6.7

MagicScore

#20

Shanghai Express

1932

A beautiful temptress re-kindles an old romance while trying to escape her past during a tension-packed train journey.

6.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like It Happened One Night?

The top films similar to It Happened One Night by MovieMagicScore are The Philadelphia Story (7.6), Sullivan's Travels (7.4), The Front Page (6.5). Each shares comedy/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is It Happened One Night worth watching?

It Happened One Night holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.8/10 from 1,336 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is It Happened One Night?

It Happened One Night (1934) is a comedy, romance film directed by Frank Capra, starring Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly.

Where can I find more recommendations like It Happened One Night?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more comedy recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like The Philadelphia Story Movies like Sullivan's Travels Movies like The Front Page Movies like Libeled Lady Movies like Nothing Sacred Movies like Bombshell

About movies like It Happened One Night

This ranked list pairs It Happened One Night (1934), a comedy and romance film from Frank Capra, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Clark Gable take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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