US Release date: 18 November 1949
First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 26 August 1950
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Country: USA.
Running time: 101 minutes.
Director: George Cukor
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn & Judy Holliday
Australian Distributor: MGM
Melbourne Premiere Venue: Two weeks at Union’s Metro Collins St. Theatre from 19 May 1950 as a feature only presentation.
Suburban Release Type: Union 8-W-1
Rankings
| Rank | ||
| EF Points | 353 | 34 |
| EF PPE | 7.51 | 31 |
| Metres Travelled | 529,493 | 84 |
| Average MT | 11,266 | 36 |
| Engagements | 47 | 144 |
| Slots | 77 | 41 |
| Weeks | 29 | 45 |
| Weeks as % of engagements | 61.70% | 60 |
| Saturdays | 12 | 185 |
| Sats as % of engagements | 25.53% | 244 |
| Tuesdays | 6 | 236 |
| Tues as % of engagements | 12.77% | 275 |
| First billed | 46 | 68 |
| Second billed | 0 | 293* |
| Feature only | 1 | 20 |
Independent ratios
| Engagements weeks 1-10 | 46 |
| Ratio | 97.87% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 11.20% |
| Eng weeks 11-26 | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -7.62% |
| Eng weeks 27-52 | 1 |
| Ratio | 2.13% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -3.58% |
| Hoyts eng | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -0.84% |
| Independent eng | 35 |
| Ratio | 74.47% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -2.64% |
| Suburban eng | 12 |
| Ratio | 25.53% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 3.48% |
NOTES: In terms of exhibitor faith, Adam’s Rib was the year’s 35th ranked film and among the highest ranked romantic comedies of 1950. However, in terms of A-grade MGM product a number of titles performed far better with more weeks and FO engagements. The canine b-flick Kazan was the most regular support.
Adam’s Rib engagements
| SUBURB | VENUE | CHAIN | DATE | W | D | B | CO-FEATURE |
| Collingwood | Austral | Suburban | 26/8/50 | 1 | T | 1 | Savage Splendor |
| Albert Park | Kinema | Independent | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | London By Night |
| Burnley | Burnley | Independent | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| North Carlton | Adelphi | Independent | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Richmond | National | Independent | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| St. Kilda | Astor | Independent | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Young Ideas |
| Toorak | Village | Independent | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Fast Company |
| St. Kilda | Palais | Suburban | 26/8/50 | 1 | W | 1 | State Department File 649 |
| Elsternwick | Esquire | Independent | 2/9/50 | 2 | S | 1 | Kazan |
| West Brunswick | Western | Independent | 2/9/50 | 2 | S | 1 | Kazan |
| Malvern | Embassy | Suburban | 2/9/50 | 2 | T | 1 | Joe Smith American |
| Newmarket | Newmarket | Suburban | 2/9/50 | 2 | T | 1 | Savage Splendor |
| Brunswick | Empire | Independent | 2/9/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Air Hostess |
| Caulfield | Camden | Independent | 2/9/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Moonee Ponds | Moonee | Independent | 2/9/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Westgarth | Westgarth | Independent | 2/9/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Preston | Planet | Suburban | 2/9/50 | 2 | W | 1 | The Show Off |
| Essendon | Regal | Independent | 9/9/50 | 3 | S | FO | FO |
| Brunswick East | Liberty | Independent | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Boston Blackie’s Chinese Venture |
| East Malvern | Waverley | Independent | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Rage In Heaven |
| Glenferrie | Glen | Independent | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Hullabaloo |
| Hawthorn | Vogue | Independent | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Hullabaloo |
| Balwyn | Balwyn | Suburban | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Camberwell | Rivoli | Suburban | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | High Conquest |
| Ormond | Plaza | Suburban | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Fear |
| Preston | St. James | Suburban | 9/9/50 | 3 | W | 1 | The Show Off |
| Ashburton | Civic | Independent | 16/9/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Air Hostess |
| North Brighton | Gardenvale | Independent | 16/9/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Blondie’s Big Deal |
| Elwood | Broadway | Independent | 16/9/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Flaxy Martin |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | Suburban | 16/9/50 | 4 | T | 1 | Savage Splendor |
| Middle Brighton | Dendy | Independent | 16/9/50 | 4 | W | 1 | King of the Gamblers |
| Sandringham | Roxy | Independent | 16/9/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Noose |
| Coburg | Plaza | Independent | 23/9/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Kazan |
| Newport | Plaza | Independent | 23/9/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Kazan |
| Williamstown | Empress | Independent | 23/9/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Kazan |
| Box Hill | Rialto | Suburban | 23/9/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Kazan |
| Heidelberg | Orient | Independent | 23/9/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Secret of St Ives |
| Oakleigh | Plaza | Independent | 30/9/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| Port Melbourne | Port | Independent | 30/9/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Kazan |
| North Richmond | Victoria | Independent | 7/10/50 | 7 | T | 1 | Make Mine Laughs |
| Surrey Hills | Surrey | Independent | 7/10/50 | 7 | W | 1 | Border Incident |
| Murrumbeena | Argosy | Suburban | 14/10/50 | 8 | S | 1 | Four Girls in White |
| West Preston | Rivoli | Independent | 14/10/50 | 8 | T | 1 | Blonde Ice |
| Chelsea | Plaza | Independent | 21/10/50 | 9 | W | 1 | One Night With You |
| Footscray | Grand | Independent | 21/10/50 | 9 | W | 1 | The Bad Man |
| Yarraville | Sun | Independent | 28/10/50 | 10 | W | 1 | The Bad Man |
| Reservoir | Plaza | Independent | 31/3/50 | 32 | S | 1 | Colorado Territory |
The 1950 Project 