1,556 movie summaries
Movie Summaries & Endings Explained from the 1940s
1,556 movies from the 1940s, each with a full plot summary, timeline, character guide and the ending explained. Combine filters to narrow it down.
Movie Summaries Matching Your Filters
Showing 1–40 of 1,556 movies · newest release first
For Whom the Bell Tolls
1943 · Adventure
Meet Me in St. Louis
1945 · Drama
Dumbo
1941 · Animation
Casablanca
1943 · Drama
Star in the Night
1945 · Western
Hangover Square
1945 · Thriller
The Lost Moment
1947 · Drama
Once Upon a Honeymoon
1942 · Comedy
Stand by for Action
1942 · Action
Mourning Becomes Electra
1947 · Drama
North West Mounted Police
1940 · Western
Three Wise Fools
1946 · Comedy
Squatter’s Rights
1946 · Animation
Tokyo Joe
1949 · Drama
The Spiral Staircase
1946 · Horror
Without Reservations
1946 · Romance
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
1941 · Comedy
This Is the Army
1943 · Romance
I Taw a Putty Tat
1948 · Animation
Kolberg
1945 · Drama
Band Waggon
1940 · Music
Days of Glory
1945 · Documentary
Embraceable You
1948 · Drama
City for Conquest
1940 · Drama
East of the River
1940 · Drama
Mr. Skeffington
1944 · Romance
O.S.S.
1946 · Thriller
Fright Night
1947 · Comedy
A Coy Decoy
1941 · Comedy
The Fighting Lady
1944 · Documentary
An Angel from Texas
1940 · Romance
Block Busters
1944 · Comedy
In the Meantime, Darling
1944 · War
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
1944 · Comedy
Pin Up Girl
1944 · Romance
Hold That Woman!
1940 · Comedy
Bullet Scars
1942 · Crime
Paying the Piper
1949 · Comedy
Pirates of Monterey
1947 · Western
The Courtship of Andy Hardy
1942 · Comedy
Can't Find Your Movie? Request a Summary
Tell us which movie to explain next – we'll prioritize it and give it the full Plot Explained treatment.
Browse by genre
Browse Movies Explained by Genre
Pick a genre and read what happens in its newest and most searched movies, from fan-favourite classics to this week's releases: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines.
- Action Explosive set pieces and last-minute rescues, untangled.
- Horror Who survives, what the monster was and why it ends that way.
- Thriller Twists, double-crosses and reveals in plain order.
- Sci-Fi Time loops, multiverses and big ideas made clear.
- Mystery Every clue, red herring and the final reveal.
- Drama Character arcs and emotional turning points, explained.
- Comedy The jokes, the chaos and how it all wraps up.
- Romance Who ends up together, and everything in the way.
- Crime Heists, betrayals and who really did it.
- Fantasy Magic, prophecies and epic endings decoded.
- Adventure Quests, journeys and how the heroes make it home.
- Animation Family favourites and anime stories, scene by scene.
Browse by mood
Find Movies by Mood, Pacing & Ending
Not sure what to watch or read next? Start from how a movie feels: dark or feel-good, slow burn or fast-paced, mind-bending or easy to follow, and whether it has a happy, sad or ambiguous ending.
- Dark Movies Grim worlds, moral grey zones and heavy atmospheres.
- Movies with a Happy Ending Stories that leave you smiling when the credits roll.
- Mind-Bending Movies Confusing, twisting stories you need to watch twice.
- Fast-Paced Movies No slow scenes: the story never stops moving.
- Slow-Burn Movies Patient storytelling that builds to something big.
- Tense Movies Edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish.
- Movies with Ambiguous Endings Open endings that people still argue about.
- Bittersweet Movies Bittersweet endings: the win comes at a real cost.
- Emotionally Heavy Movies Movies that make you cry and stay with you.
- Light & Easy Movies Easy watching with low emotional stakes.
- Intense Movies Relentless action and constant pressure.
- Whimsical Movies Playful, imaginative and a little bit odd.
Beyond genre
Movie Lists by Mood, Theme & Story Type
Looking for something more specific? Movie categories group films by emotion, atmosphere and story type, from mind-bending twists to quiet character studies. Every movie in them is fully explained.
Coming soon on iOS and Android
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.
Learn more about the app