1939 in film

1939 is considered by some critics to be the greatest year in the history of Hollywood. The ten films nominated for Best Picture at the 12th Academy AwardsDark Victory, Gone with the Wind, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Love Affair, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, and Wuthering Heights—range in genre and are considered classics. Hollywood produced a total of 527 feature films in 1939.

The Empire of Japan possessed a major national film industry in 1939, producing 582 films overall. Over the course of the year, the Film Law brought film production under the direct control of the Japanese government.