If you need movie trivia questions and answers about classic films, this collection is ready to play right away. It mixes easy, medium, and slightly harder questions from Hollywood’s golden age, so it works well for family game night, a film club, a classroom warm-up, or a party for movie lovers.
The questions focus on widely known classic films, famous lines, iconic stars, awards, and memorable scenes. Each answer is included immediately after the question so you can quiz a group, study on your own, or print the list for a hosted game.
Classic film trivia questions and answers
- Question: In Gone with the Wind, what is the name of Scarlett O’Hara’s plantation?
Answer: Tara. - Question: Which 1942 film features the line, “Here’s looking at you, kid”?
Answer: Casablanca. - Question: Who played Rick Blaine in Casablanca?
Answer: Humphrey Bogart. - Question: In The Wizard of Oz, what color are Dorothy’s slippers in the original book and film adaptation?
Answer: Ruby red. - Question: What is the name of the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz?
Answer: He is usually called the Cowardly Lion; he is not given a personal name in the film. - Question: Which actress played Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind?
Answer: Vivien Leigh. - Question: In Singin’ in the Rain, what kind of career is Don Lockwood trying to protect?
Answer: His film career as a silent movie star transitioning to talkies. - Question: Which song title is also the name of one of the most famous classic movie musicals?
Answer: Singin’ in the Rain. - Question: What is the name of the giant ape in King Kong?
Answer: Kong. - Question: In It’s a Wonderful Life, what is the name of the angel who helps George Bailey?
Answer: Clarence. - Question: Which actor played George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life?
Answer: James Stewart. - Question: In Rear Window, what is the profession of the main character played by James Stewart?
Answer: He is a photographer. - Question: What Alfred Hitchcock film stars Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint and involves mistaken identity?
Answer: North by Northwest. - Question: Which classic film features the line, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse”?
Answer: The Godfather. - Question: Who directed The Godfather?
Answer: Francis Ford Coppola. - Question: What is the name of the hotel in The Shining?
Answer: The Overlook Hotel. - Question: Which classic horror film features the character Norman Bates?
Answer: Psycho. - Question: Who directed Psycho?
Answer: Alfred Hitchcock. - Question: In Some Like It Hot, what are the names of the two male leads played by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon?
Answer: Joe and Jerry. - Question: Which actress starred as Sugar Kane in Some Like It Hot?
Answer: Marilyn Monroe. - Question: In Roman Holiday, which actress plays Princess Ann?
Answer: Audrey Hepburn. - Question: What city serves as the setting for much of Roman Holiday?
Answer: Rome. - Question: Which 1950 film is famous for the line, “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night”?
Answer: All About Eve. - Question: Who played Margo Channing in All About Eve?
Answer: Bette Davis. - Question: In Sunset Boulevard, what is the name of the faded silent-film star?
Answer: Norma Desmond. - Question: Which actor narrates and stars in Sunset Boulevard as Joe Gillis?
Answer: William Holden. - Question: What classic 1939 film takes place in a fictional land called Oz?
Answer: The Wizard of Oz. - Question: What is the name of the ship in Mutiny on the Bounty that becomes the center of the conflict?
Answer: The HMS Bounty. - Question: Which film stars Charlie Chaplin as the Little Tramp wandering through the city?
Answer: City Lights. - Question: In which classic film does Charlie Chaplin’s character try to help a blind flower girl?
Answer: City Lights. - Question: What 1951 film stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn on a river journey in Africa?
Answer: The African Queen. - Question: Which film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1959 and is set during the time of Jesus?
Answer: Ben-Hur. - Question: Who played Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur?
Answer: Charlton Heston. - Question: In Lawrence of Arabia, which actor plays T. E. Lawrence?
Answer: Peter O’Toole. - Question: Which classic film includes the famous chariot race and the character Messala?
Answer: Ben-Hur. - Question: In To Kill a Mockingbird, what is the name of the lawyer played by Gregory Peck?
Answer: Atticus Finch. - Question: Which classic film is based on Harper Lee’s novel?
Answer: To Kill a Mockingbird. - Question: What 1940 suspense film features the character Maxim de Winter and a haunting estate called Manderley?
Answer: Rebecca. - Question: Who directed Rebecca?
Answer: Alfred Hitchcock. - Question: In Double Indemnity, what is the profession of Walter Neff?
Answer: He is an insurance salesman. - Question: Which actress plays Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity?
Answer: Barbara Stanwyck. - Question: What classic 1931 horror film features a monster brought to life by a scientist?
Answer: Frankenstein. - Question: Who played the monster in the 1931 film Frankenstein?
Answer: Boris Karloff. - Question: Which 1927 film is often credited as the first successful feature-length “talkie”?
Answer: The Jazz Singer. - Question: In The Philadelphia Story, which actress plays Tracy Lord?
Answer: Katharine Hepburn. - Question: Which actor stars opposite Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story?
Answer: Cary Grant. - Question: What classic 1954 film centers on a ballerina and the rivalry around a production of Swan Lake?
Answer: The Red Shoes. - Question: What 1948 film stars Ingrid Bergman as a woman accused of madness by her husband?
Answer: Gaslight. - Question: Which classic film features a famous dance number performed by Fred Astaire on the ceiling?
Answer: Royal Wedding. - Question: In North by Northwest, what is Cary Grant’s character’s name?
Answer: Roger Thornhill.
Easy round for casual players
If you want a quicker game, start with these lighter questions. They work well for mixed-age groups or anyone who loves classic movies but does not want a very hard quiz.
- Which movie features Dorothy, Toto, and the Yellow Brick Road? The Wizard of Oz.
- Who starred as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Audrey Hepburn.
- What classic film includes the line “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”? Gone with the Wind.
- Which actor played Rick Blaine in Casablanca? Humphrey Bogart.
- What is the name of the angel in It’s a Wonderful Life? Clarence.
- Which film stars Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon? Some Like It Hot.
- Who directed many suspense classics including Psycho and Rear Window? Alfred Hitchcock.
- What classic film features the song “Singin’ in the Rain”? Singin’ in the Rain.
Harder questions for film buffs
These are better for a group that knows studio-era Hollywood, famous directors, and memorable supporting characters. They add a little more challenge without getting obscure.
- Question: In Sunset Boulevard, what is Joe Gillis’s job before he becomes involved with Norma Desmond?
Answer: He is a screenwriter. - Question: Which director made Rear Window, Vertigo, and North by Northwest?
Answer: Alfred Hitchcock. - Question: What is the name of the nightclub in Casablanca owned by Rick Blaine?
Answer: Rick’s Café Américain. - Question: In The Maltese Falcon, who played detective Sam Spade?
Answer: Humphrey Bogart. - Question: Which classic film is set largely aboard a ship and stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn?
Answer: The African Queen. - Question: What 1946 film noir stars Rita Hayworth as Gilda?
Answer: Gilda. - Question: In All About Eve, what is Eve Harrington’s ambition?
Answer: She wants to become a stage star. - Question: Which classic film is based on the novel by Emily Brontë and stars Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon?
Answer: Wuthering Heights.
Answer-key format for hosting a quiz
If you are reading the questions aloud, it helps to keep the answer key separate from the main round. That way, players can focus on the questions without seeing the answers too early.
| Question number | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tara |
| 2 | Casablanca |
| 3 | Humphrey Bogart |
| 4 | Ruby red |
| 5 | The Cowardly Lion |
| 6 | Vivien Leigh |
| 7 | A silent movie star transitioning to talkies |
| 8 | Singin’ in the Rain |
| 9 | Kong |
| 10 | Clarence |
Tips for making the trivia game more fun
- Mix easy and hard questions so more players stay engaged.
- Read each question slowly, especially if the group includes casual movie fans.
- Allow partial credit for close answers when the meaning is clearly correct.
- Use teams if you want the game to feel less intimidating.
- For a themed night, pair the quiz with black-and-white décor, old Hollywood music, or a classic-film screening.
Bonus lightning round
Use these as quick tie-breakers or rapid-fire questions at the end of the game. Keep the pace brisk and let players answer without overthinking.
- Who played Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird? Gregory Peck.
- What city is central to Casablanca? Casablanca.
- Who starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard? Gloria Swanson.
- What classic film features the line “We’ll always have Paris”? Casablanca.
- Which film features the Overlook Hotel? The Shining.
- Who directed Rebecca? Alfred Hitchcock.
- What is the name of the leading lady in Roman Holiday? Princess Ann.
- Which film includes the song “Moon River”? Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
For a smooth finish, choose one easy question, one medium question, and one hard question as your final three so every player gets a fair chance to make a comeback.