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Every James Stewart Movie, Ranked Best to Worst

14.7k votes 2.2k voters 97.5k views85 items

List RulesVote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

The best James Stewart movies of all time prove that he was one of the top actors of his generation. Active from the 1930s up to the ‘90s, Stewart has appeared in plenty of blockbusters and critically-acclaimed movies, earning awards and accolades along the way. His highest grossing movies have been well-received at the box office as well, as he was voted as one of the most popular stars for a number of years.

Born in 1908, James Stewart was the oldest of three children. While he wanted to attend the United States Naval Academy, his father was able to persuade him into enrolling in Princeton University. At Princeton, he became attracted to drama and eventually joined a troupe.

During World War II, he enlisted in the Army and went on to serve in the Army Air Force. While he did not see combat for several years—much to his chagrin—he eventually had the opportunity to lead air combat missions over Europe. After the war, he returned to acting and became a leading man. Some of his best work, such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Vertigo, were from this period.

So what are the best James Stewart movies of all time? Is it Rear Window or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? See what fans have ranked as their favorite James Stewart movies below. Movie trailers have been included below if you want a preview of the film. If you think the best James Stewart role isn't at the top, then vote it up. Don’t see it listed? Add it so that others may vote for it. After all, this list of the best James Stewart movies should be as comprehensive as possible.

James Stewart worked with many famous directors, including big names like Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford. Is Stewart your favorite person to watch on the big screen? If so, you might also want to vote on our best Gregory Peck and Henry Fonda films lists too.

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It's a Wonderful Life
James Stewart, Donna Reed
Released: 1946
Directed by: Frank Capra
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy comedy-drama film produced and... more
More It's a Wonderful Life
It's A Wonderful Life Is Not The Heartwarming Movie You Remember#22 of 549 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made
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555
86
Rear Window
Grace Kelly, James Stewart
Released: 1954
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Rear Window is a 1954 American mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and written... more
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#32 of 230 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time#201 of 246 The Best Rainy Day Movies
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461
91
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
James Stewart, Claude Rains
Released: 1939
Directed by: Frank Capra
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American political comedy-drama film, starring James... more
4
424
90
Vertigo
James Stewart, Kim Novak
Released: 1958
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Vertigo is a 1958 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by Alfred... more
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#45 of 369 The Best Movies Based On Books#84 of 557 The Greatest Film Scores of All Time
5
404
82
Harvey
James Stewart, Fess Parker
Released: 1950
Directed by: Henry Koster
Harvey is a 1950 film based on Mary Chase's play of the same name, directed by Henry Koster,... more
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#103 of 933 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films#239 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time
6
395
86
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
John Wayne, James Stewart
Released: 1962
Directed by: John Ford
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford... more
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#47 of 99 The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time#28 of 175 The Best Movies Of The '60s
7
278
54
Shenandoah
James Stewart, Katharine Ross
Released: 1965
Directed by: Andrew V. McLaglen
Shenandoah is a 1965 American film starring James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett,... more
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#6 of 28 Civil War Movies List#5 of 72 The Best US Civil War Movies Ever Made
8
272
51
Anatomy of a Murder
James Stewart, George C. Scott
Released: 1959
Directed by: Otto Preminger
This film is a 1959 American courtroom drama film. It was directed by Otto Preminger and... more
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#152 of 261 The Best Ensemble Movies#8 of 27 Actual Lawyers Explain Which Legal Movies They Like The Best
9
309
69
The Philadelphia Story
Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Released: 1940
Directed by: George Cukor
The Philadelphia Story is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor,... more
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#21 of 75 The Greatest Classic Romance Movies#37 of 57 The Funniest Movies About Marriage
10
278
55
Winchester '73
James Stewart, Rock Hudson
Released: 1950
Directed by: Anthony Mann
Winchester '73 is a 1950 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James... more
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#9 of 63 The Best Western Movies of the 1950s#23 of 66 The Best Rock Hudson Movies
11
241
51
The Man Who Knew Too Much
James Stewart, Doris Day
Released: 1956
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
The Man Who Knew Too Much is a 1956 suspense thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock,... more
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#24 of 247 The Best Whodunit Movies#64 of 102 The 100+ Best Movies Streaming On The Criterion Channel
12
275
53
The Shop Around the Corner
James Stewart, Frank Morgan
Released: 1940
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
The Shop Around the Corner is a 1940 American romantic comedy film produced and directed by... more
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#424 of 781 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made#44 of 75 50+ Quirky Romance Movies That Are Unique in Their Own Way
13
211
39
The Flight of the Phoenix
James Stewart, Richard Attenborough
Released: 1965
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
The Flight of the Phoenix is a 1965 American drama film starring James Stewart, produced and... more
More The Flight of the Phoenix
#910 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies#6 of 24 The Best Action & Adventure Movies Set in the Desert

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229
54
The Glenn Miller Story
James Stewart, Louis Armstrong
Released: 1953
Directed by: Anthony Mann
The Glenn Miller Story is a 1954 American film about the eponymous American band-leader,... more
More The Glenn Miller Story
#862 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#56 of 192 The Best Movies About Music
15
217
51
Rope
James Stewart, Alfred Hitchcock
Released: 1948
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Rope is a 1948 American psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the... more
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#10 of 13 13 Movies That Launched Their Own Genre#7 of 32 The Best Movies That Take Place in Real Time
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169
36
You Can't Take It With You
James Stewart, Jean Arthur
Released: 1938
Directed by: Frank Capra
You Can't Take It With You is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Capra and... more
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#82 of 92 The Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture#42 of 133 The Best Movies Based on Plays
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181
39
The Spirit of St. Louis
James Stewart, Murray Hamilton
Released: 1957
Directed by: Billy Wilder
The Spirit of St. Louis is a 1957 biographical film directed by Billy Wilder and starring... more
18
162
34
Broken Arrow
James Stewart, Debra Paget
Released: 1950
Directed by: Delmer Daves
Broken Arrow is a western Technicolor film released in 1950. It was directed by Delmer Daves... more
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#140 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#65 of 111 The Best Native American Movies
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141
25
Call Northside 777
James Stewart, Thelma Ritter
Released: 1948
Directed by: Henry Hathaway
Call Northside 777 is a 1948 documentary-style film noir directed by Henry Hathaway. It is... more
20
137
42
Bell, Book and Candle
James Stewart, Kim Novak
Released: 1958
Directed by: Richard Quine
Bell, Book and Candle is a 1958 American romantic comedy Technicolor film directed by Richard... more
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232
23
After the Thin Man
James Stewart, Myrna Loy
Released: 1936
Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
After the Thin Man is a 1936 American film, starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, and James... more
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105
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The Shopworn Angel
James Stewart, Gary Cooper
Released: 1938
Directed by: H. C. Potter
The Shopworn Angel is a 1938 American drama film directed by H. C. Potter and starring James... more
23
131
48
The Cheyenne Social Club
James Stewart, Henry Fonda
Released: 1970
Directed by: Gene Kelly
The Cheyenne Social Club is a 1970 Western comedy, written by James Lee Barrett, directed and... more
More The Cheyenne Social Club
#100 of 175 The Best Comedy Movies Of The 1970s#25 of 51 The Best Movies About Wyoming

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Dear Brigitte
Brigitte Bardot, James Stewart
Released: 1965
Directed by: Henry Koster
Dear Brigitte is a 1965 American DeLuxe Color family-comedy in CinemaScope starring James... more
25
128
47
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
James Stewart, Maureen O'Hara
Released: 1962
Directed by: Henry Koster
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation is a 1962 American comedy film directed by Henry Koster and... more