The 25+ Best Gene Wilder Movies of All Time, Ranked

5.5k votes 1.3k voters 62.9k views28 items

List RulesThe best Gene Wilder movies, regardless of box office or how big his role.

The best Gene Wilder movies often succeed at bringing the emotion and comedy, as he was one of the best comedic actors of his generation. He’s probably best known by younger audiences for his portrayal as Willy Wonka, but his film credits include so much more. So what are the best Gene Wilder movies of all time? The audience has voted for their favorites below, so be sure to add your vote as well!

Gene Wilder's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. While he was not as active during the later years of his life, he enjoyed much success in the 1970s and 1980s. By the 2000s, Gene Wilder was semi-retired and turning to writing.

The following list of the best Gene Wilder movies is ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. The order of these top Gene Wilder movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Gene Wilder movies will be at the top of the list. Gene Wilder has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Gene Wilder movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Gene Wilder films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Gene Wilder role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Gene Wilder performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

The list you're viewing contains films like Expo: Magic of the White City and Haunted Honeymoon.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Gene Wilder movies?" and "What are the greatest Gene Wilder roles of all time?"

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1
442
49
Young Frankenstein
Gene Hackman, Mel Brooks
Released: 1974
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Young Frankenstein is a 1974 American comedy film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene... more
2
402
46
Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder
Released: 1974
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Blazing Saddles is a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Starring... more
3
423
62
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson
Released: 1971
Directed by: Mel Stuart
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart, and... more
More Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka Fan Theories That Are Pure ImaginationEverything You Need To Know About That Terrifying 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' Tunnel Scene
4
263
52
Stir Crazy
Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder
Released: 1980
Directed by: Sidney Poitier
Stir Crazy is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Sidney Poitier and starring Gene Wilder... more
More Stir Crazy
#409 of 480 The Greatest Movies For Guys#199 of 925 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
5
219
29
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
Woody Allen, Burt Reynolds
Released: 1972
Directed by: Woody Allen
This film is a comedy film that is Woody Allen's fourth film as director. It consists of a... more
More Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
#182 of 261 The Best Ensemble Movies#24 of 60 The Best Woody Allen Movies
6
242
51
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Kevin Spacey, Richard Pryor
Released: 1989
Directed by: Arthur Hiller
See No Evil, Hear No Evil is a 1989 American comedy film directed by Arthur Hiller. The film... more
7
213
38
Silver Streak
Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder
Released: 1976
Directed by: Arthur Hiller
Silver Streak is a 1976 comedy-thriller film about an event on a Los Angeles-to-Chicago train... more

8
190
36
The Producers
Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars
Released: 1967
Directed by: Mel Brooks
The Producers is a 1968 American satirical dark comedy film written and directed by Mel... more
9
155
39
The Frisco Kid
Harrison Ford, Gene Wilder
Released: 1979
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
The Frisco Kid is a 1979 movie directed by Robert Aldrich. The movie is a Western comedy... more
More The Frisco Kid
#202 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#234 of 553 The Best '70s Movies
10
122
33
The Woman in Red
Kelly LeBrock, Gene Wilder
Released: 1984
Directed by: Gene Wilder
The Woman in Red is a 1984 romantic comedy film starring and directed by Gene Wilder, who... more
More The Woman in Red
#290 of 372 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime#149 of 314 The Funniest '80s Movies
11
158
71
Alice in Wonderland
Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley
Released: 1999
Directed by: Nick Willing
Alice in Wonderland is a television film first broadcast in 1999 on NBC and then shown on... more
12
155
80
Start the Revolution Without Me
Gene Wilder, Orson Welles
Released: 1970
Directed by: Bud Yorkin
Start the Revolution Without Me is a 1970 film directed by Bud Yorkin, starring Gene Wilder,... more
13
116
65
Hanky Panky
Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner
Released: 1982
Directed by: Sidney Poitier
Hanky Panky is a 1982 comedy film directed by Sidney Poitier, and starring Gene Wilder and... more
More Hanky Panky
#251 of 280 The Best Whodunit Movies#234 of 383 The Greatest Romantic Comedies Of All Time
14
88
70
Bonnie and Clyde
Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway
Released: 1967
Directed by: Arthur Penn
Bonnie and Clyde is a 1967 American biographical film directed by Arthur Penn and starring... more
More Bonnie and Clyde
This Gruesome Photo Shows The Moment Bonnie And Clyde Were Riddled With Bullets#207 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever
15
89
56
The Little Prince
Gene Wilder, Bob Fosse
Released: 1974
Directed by: Stanley Donen
The Little Prince is a 1974 American–British fantasy-musical film with screenplay and lyrics... more
More The Little Prince
#53 of 106 The Best Kids Movies Of The 1970s#89 of 111 The Best Aviation Movies
16
75
54
The Scarecrow
Gene Wilder, Blythe Danner
Released: 1972
Directed by: Boris Sagal
The Scarecrow is a 1972 drama tv fim directed by Boris Sagal....
17
96
80
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn
Released: 1975
Directed by: Gene Wilder
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is a 1975 American musical comedy film with... more
18
94
104
Haunted Honeymoon
Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner
Released: 1986
Directed by: Gene Wilder
Haunted Honeymoon is a 1986 comedy movie starring Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, Dom DeLuise, and... more
19
78
60
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx
Gene Wilder, Margot Kidder
Released: 1970
Directed by: Waris Hussein
Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx is a 1970 Irish-American comedy film directed by... more
20
65
55
Rhinoceros
Gene Wilder, Karen Black
Released: 1974
Directed by: Tom O'Horgan
Rhinoceros is a 1974 comedy film based on the play by Eugène Ionesco. The film was produced... more
21
53
58
Funny About Love
Patrick Ewing, Gene Wilder
Released: 1990
Directed by: Leonard Nimoy
Funny About Love is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Leonard Nimoy and... more
22
43
50
Sunday Lovers
Gene Wilder, Lynn Redgrave
Released: 1980
Directed by: Gene Wilder, Bryan Forbes, Dino Risi, Édouard Molinaro
Sunday Lovers is a 1980 internationally co-produced romantic comedy film directed by Bryan... more
23
43
52
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: The 1970s
John Travolta, Liza Minnelli
Released: 2008
24
32
53
The World's Greatest Lover
Danny DeVito, Gene Wilder
Released: 1977
Directed by: Gene Wilder
The World's Greatest Lover is a 1977 comedy film directed, written by and starring Gene... more
More The World's Greatest Lover
#106 of 135 The Best Movies About Movies#125 of 175 The Best Comedy Movies Of The 1970s
25
40
70
Another You
Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder
Released: 1991
Directed by: Maurice Phillips
Another You is a 1991 American comedy film. It was the final film pairing of Richard Pryor and... more

The Scarecrow