Meet John Doe poster

Meet John Doe

All America wants to meet the “Mr. Deeds” of 1941!

7.3(294)19412h 3m3

As a parting shot, fired reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from unemployed "John Doe," who threatens suicide in protest of social ills. The paper is forced to rehire Ann and hires John Willoughby to impersonate "Doe." Ann and her bosses cynically milk the story for all it's worth, until the made-up "John Doe" philosophy starts a whole political movement.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
$2M
Language
English
  • baseball player
  • radio broadcast
  • suicide note
  • domain
  • enchant

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Frank Capra

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

Still from Meet John DoeStill from Meet John DoeStill from Meet John DoeStill from Meet John DoeStill from Meet John DoeStill from Meet John DoeStill from Meet John Doe

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereLos Angeles12 Mar 1941
    • Theatrical (limited)San Francisco, California14 Mar 1941
    • TheatricalNR3 May 1941
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical (limited)3 Oct 1941
    • Theatrical12 Jan 1942
  • CanadaCA

    • TheatricalPG14 Mar 1941
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical14IMDB14 May 1942
    • TVLColumbia Tristar30 Dec 1998
  • FranceFR

    • TVTPCiné+ Classic23 Sept 2026
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1611 Jul 1947
  • MexicoMX

    • TheatricalB14 Mar 1941
  • NetherlandsNL

    • PhysicalDVD22 Dec 2003
  • RussiaSU

    • Theatrical24 Aug 1951

Frequently asked questions

Meet John Doe was released on 14 March 1941.

Audience reviews

2
  • J

    John Chard

    4/7/2019

    9/10

    The meek can only inherit the earth when the John Doe's start loving their neighbours. After crafting Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington for Columbia, Capra quit and made this third film about an average Joe who is thrust into a powerful world where exploitation is high on the agenda. Thus, in true Capra style the story unfolds to a customary flip flop triumph. ​ Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwy…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    6/6/2025

    7/10

    Anyone else think there is a shade of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939) about this? Journalist “Ann” (Barbara Stanwyck) is shown the door when a new owner decides to sack just about everyone at the paper she works at, but as a parting shot she creates a letter that suggests that a hapless member of the public - one “John Doe” - is so fed up with his lot that he intends to commit suicide from the city hall on Chri…

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