Every Marlon Brando Movie, Ranked Best to Worst

6.2k votes 1.1k voters 49.2k views44 items

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

The best Marlon Brando movies of all time prove that he was one of the top actors of all time. Active from the ‘40s up until late in his life, Brando 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.

Originally from Omaha Nebraska, Marlon Brando moved to New York and studied acting under Stella Adler. After performing in local plays, he made his Broadway debut with the drama I Remember Mama. His first on-screen role was in the 1950 movie The Men. Following that role, he starred in one of his greatest movies, A Streetcar Named Desire. For the rest of the ‘50s, Marlon Brando remained a top box office earner and critics generally agree that the best Marlon Brando movies come from his period in his career.

During the 60s, critics noted a decline in the quality of his performances while his personal life seemed to be more and more troubled. In 1962, he made his directorial debut with the western One-Eyed Jacks, which he also starred in. However, he managed to turn his career around with his portrayal of Vito Corleone in The Godfather.

Charlie Chaplin and Bryan Singer are among those who directed Marlon Brando at one point or another during their careers in the film industry. If Marlon Brando movies are your thing, then check out the greatest movies by James Dean and Paul Newman too.

So what are the best Marlon Brando movies of all time? Is it The Godfather or On the Waterfront? See what fans have ranked as their favorite Marlon Brando movies below. Movie trailers have been included below if you want a preview of the film. If you think the best Marlon Brando 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 Marlon Brando movies should be as comprehensive as possible.

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On the Waterfront
Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint
Released: 1954
Directed by: Elia Kazan
On the Waterfront is a 1954 American drama film about union violence and corruption amongst... more on Wikipedia
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A Streetcar Named Desire
Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh
Released: 1951
Directed by: Elia Kazan
A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1951 American drama film adaptation of Tennessee Williams's... more on Wikipedia
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#84 of 170 The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made#662 of 836 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made
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The Godfather
Al Pacino, Marlon Brando
Released: 1972
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the... more on Wikipedia
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How 'The Godfather' Became An American Classic Even Though It Was 'Nightmarish' Behind The Scenes#18 of 46 Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
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Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford
Released: 1979
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced... more on Wikipedia
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15 Stories From The Wild Life Of David Hackworth, Who Inspired Two 'Apocalypse Now' CharactersBehind-The-Scenes Stories About Marlon Brando In 'Apocalypse Now'
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The Wild One
Marlon Brando, Lee Marvin
Released: 1953
Directed by: László Benedek
The Wild One is a 1953 American film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley... more on Wikipedia
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Julius Caesar
Marlon Brando, Deborah Kerr
Released: 1953
Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Julius Caesar is a 1953 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adaptation of the play by Shakespeare,... more on Wikipedia
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#351 of 553 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made#107 of 347 The Most Important Leaders In World History
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Sayonara
Marlon Brando, James Garner
Released: 1957
Directed by: Joshua Logan
Sayonara is a 1957 color American film starring Marlon Brando. The picture tells the story of... more on Wikipedia
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#87 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#49 of 50 The Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the 1950s

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The Young Lions
Marlon Brando, Dean Martin
Released: 1958
Directed by: Edward Dmytryk
The Young Lions is a 1958 CinemaScope war drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk, based upon... more on Wikipedia
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The Chase
Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda
Released: 1966
Directed by: Arthur Penn
The Chase is a 1966 Technicolor American drama film in Panavision directed by Arthur Penn and... more on Wikipedia
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Morituri
Marlon Brando, Yul Brynner
Released: 1965
Directed by: Bernhard Wicki
Morituri is a 1965 film about the sabotage of a German merchant ship full of rubber. The film... more on Wikipedia
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The Fugitive Kind
Marlon Brando, Joanne Woodward
Released: 1959
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
For the 1937 Tennessee Williams play, see Fugitive Kind.The Fugitive Kind is a 1960 American... more on Wikipedia
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Last Tango in Paris
Marlon Brando, Jean Piere Leaud
Released: 1972
Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci
Last Tango in Paris is a 1972 Franco-Italian romantic drama film directed by Bernardo... more on Wikipedia
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#278 of 553 The Best '70s Movies#20 of 45 The Most Controversial Movies of All Time
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Reflections in a Golden Eye
Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando
Released: 1967
Directed by: John Huston
Reflections in a Golden Eye is a film directed by John Huston based on the 1941 novel of the... more on Wikipedia
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120
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One-Eyed Jacks
Marlon Brando, Karl Malden
Released: 1961
Directed by: Marlon Brando
One-Eyed Jacks, a 1961 Western, is the only film directed by actor Marlon Brando. The picture... more on Wikipedia
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#143 of 399 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#174 of 176 The Best Movies of the '60s
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Mutiny on the Bounty
Marlon Brando, Richard Harris
Released: 1962
Directed by: Lewis Milestone, Carol Reed
Mutiny on the Bounty is a 1962 historical drama film starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard... more on Wikipedia
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The Men
Marlon Brando, Teresa Wright
Released: 1950
Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
The Men is a 1950 film directed by Fred Zinnemann. It tells the story of a World War II... more on Wikipedia
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The Night of the Following Day
Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno
Released: 1968
Directed by: Hubert Cornfield
The Night of the Following Day is a 1968 film starring Marlon Brando and Richard Boone. Filmed... more on Wikipedia
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Burn!
Marlon Brando, Renato Salvatori
Released: 1969
Directed by: Gillo Pontecorvo
Burn! is a 1969 Italian drama film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo and starring Marlon Brando,... more on Wikipedia
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The Appaloosa
Marlon Brando, John Saxon
Released: 1966
Directed by: Sidney J. Furie
The Appaloosa is a 1966 American Western film Technicolor from Universal Pictures starring... more on Wikipedia
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Guys and Dolls
Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra
Released: 1955
Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Guys and Dolls is a 1955 musical film starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and... more on Wikipedia
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Don Juan DeMarco
Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando
Released: 1995
Directed by: Jeremy Leven
Don Juan DeMarco is a 1994 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Johnny Depp as John... more on Wikipedia
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#316 of 372 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime#465 of 541 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies
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The Ugly American
Marlon Brando, Pat Hingle
Released: 1963
Directed by: George Englund
The Ugly American is a 1963 drama film directed by George Englund.
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A Countess from Hong Kong
Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren
Released: 1967
Directed by: Charlie Chaplin
A Countess from Hong Kong is a 1967 British comedy film and the last film directed, written,... more on Wikipedia
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The Missouri Breaks
Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando
Released: 1976
Directed by: Arthur Penn
The Missouri Breaks is a 1976 American western film starring Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson.... more on Wikipedia
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Viva Zapata!
Marlon Brando, Anthony Quinn
Released: 1952
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Viva Zapata! is a 1952 biographical film starring Marlon Brando and directed by Elia Kazan.... more on Wikipedia

Last Tango in Paris

One-Eyed Jacks