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Frank Capra

Frank Capra

Director, producer and writer, also actor · Died September 3, 1991, aged 94 · Bisacquino, Sicilia, Italia

Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was a Sicilian-born American film director and a creative force behind a number of films of the 1930s and 1940s, including It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can't Take It With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). His films often deal with rags-to-riches stories wich has led film historians such as Ian Freer to consider him the "American Dream personified".

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 18, 1897
Died
September 3, 1991 (aged 94)
From
Bisacquino, Sicilia, Italia
Works as
Director, producer and writer, also actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 92 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 27% in 30 days

What are Frank Capra's films like?

Across their 37 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
20%
Bonds
19%
Survival
16%
Society
15%
Self
13%
Power
13%
Ideas
4%
Community11 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 8 · Dark 12

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 31 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 17 · Intense 8

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 24 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 36 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Warm
13
Hopeful
13
Joyful
8
Contemplative
9
Other
33

How their films linger

Hopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Frank Capra's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Capra's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

92 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 20 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hollywood sul Tevere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Why We Fight: World War II: The Battle of China / War Comes to America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Clarence(1990)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey(1984)

    as Self · as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Men Who Made the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rendezvous in Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Pocketful of Miracles(1961)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • A Hole in the Head(1959)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Unchained Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Producer · Writer

  • The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Hemo the Magnificent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Our Mr. Sun(1956)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Bell System Science Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • The Fallbrook Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director · Producer

  • Westward the Women(1951)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Here Comes the Groom(1951)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Riding High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Producer

  • State of the Union(1948)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • It's a Wonderful Life(1946)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Here Is Germany(1945)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Know Your Enemy - Japan(1945)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • War Comes to America(1945)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Two Down and One to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Your Job in Germany (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director · Producer

  • Our Job in Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • San Pietro(1945)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • G.I. Journal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director · Producer

  • Why We Fight: The Battle of China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Arsenic and Old Lace(1944)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Attack! Battle of New Britain(1944)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Negro Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Producer

  • Tunisian Victory(1944)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Attack in the Pacific(1944)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Battle of Russia(1943)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Battle of Britain(1943)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Director · Producer

  • The Nazis Strike(1943)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Why We Fight(1942)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Meet John Doe(1941)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Supervisor of Production Resources · as Self

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • You Can't Take It with You(1938)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Frank Capra

  • Lost Horizon(1937)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town(1936)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Broadway Bill(1934)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • It Happened One Night(1934)

    Director · Producer · as Bus Singer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Lady for a Day(1933)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Bitter Tea of General Yen(1932)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • American Madness(1932)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden(1932)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Platinum Blonde(1931)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Miracle Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · Producer

  • Dirigible(1931)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Rain or Shine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · Producer

  • Ladies of Leisure(1930)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Dialogue

  • The Donovan Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • The Younger Generation(1929)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Submarine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • The Power of the Press (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • The Burglar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Writer

  • Say It with Sables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Story

  • The Way of the Strong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • The Matinee Idol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Producer

  • The Swim Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Writer

  • So This Is Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • That Certain Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Fiddlesticks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Story

  • For the Love of Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • His First Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Story

  • Long Pants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • The Strong Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Writer

  • Saturday Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Story

  • Cold Turkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Scenario Writer

  • Lucky Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Story

  • The Iron Nag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • Sneezing Beezers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • Good Morning, Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Story

  • The Marriage Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • Boobs in the Wood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • The Wild Goose Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Writer

  • All Night Long (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Writer

  • Riders of the Purple Cows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Writer

  • Little Robinson Corkscrew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Writer

  • Jubilo, Jr. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Scenario Writer

  • 3 Days to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Editor · Writer

  • Fulta Fisher's Boarding House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • The Italian Warship Libia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director · Writer

  • The Outcasts of Poker Flat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 90 titles from 1919 to 2009.

Biggest box office

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting6 of 90: 5 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting61 of 90: 26 only directing, 35 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thWriting32 of 90: 20 only writing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdProducing34 of 90: 1 only producing, 33 with another role · typical Midcredits score86thEditing1 of 90: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 90: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

90 titles, 37 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 32 of them.

By decade

1910s1 · acting1920s35 · crew1930s16 · 2 acting · 15 crew1940s22 · crew1950s10 · crew1960s2 · crew1970s1 · acting1980s1 · acting2000s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Frank Capra's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 75th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · director, writer, producer

Our Mr. Sun (1956)

65th percentile spread · 12% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer, producer

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 68/100 and the pacing 53/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Frank Capra's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles9–35 · median 29 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles2–23 · median 8 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles1–13 · median 4 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles29–32 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles7–33 · median 17 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Frank Capra work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Capra's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Walker shares the most, 14.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Joseph Walker14 titles    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Joseph Walker
  • Dimitri Tiomkin12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Dimitri Tiomkin
  • William Hornbeck7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with William Hornbeck
  • Gene Havlick7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Gene Havlick

Producers