6 Best Pre-Code Hollywood Classics

By Vlad Zakh · June 18, 2026

Before the Hays Code, Hollywood tackled sex, crime and morality with startling frankness. Baby Face has a woman seducing her way up the corporate ladder, She Done Him Wrong has a brassy saloon singer working her admirers, and Design for Living has a woman refusing to choose between two friends. Employees’ Entrance, Red-Headed Woman and Blonde Venus round out the six.

Design for Living (1933)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A woman refuses to choose between two close friends and proposes they all three live together.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch · 1h 31m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

She Done Him Wrong (1933)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A brassy, wisecracking saloon singer navigates a web of admirers, criminals and an undercover cop.

Directed by Lowell Sherman · 1h 05m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Employees' Entrance (1933)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A ruthless department store manager's predatory treatment of his female employees comes back to haunt him.

Directed by Roy Del Ruth · 1h 15m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Baby Face (1933)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A woman ruthlessly uses seduction to climb the corporate ladder out of poverty.

Directed by Alfred E. Green · 1h 16m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Red-Headed Woman (1932)

TMDB ★ 6.6

An ambitious secretary ruthlessly seduces her way up the social ladder through a string of wealthy men.

Directed by Jack Conway · 1h 19m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blonde Venus (1932)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A struggling mother turns to nightclub singing and a rich admirer to support her family.

Directed by Josef von Sternberg · 1h 33m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Pre-Code Hollywood Classics

Design for Living (1933)

She Done Him Wrong (1933)

Employees' Entrance (1933)

Baby Face (1933)

Red-Headed Woman (1932)

Blonde Venus (1932)

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