Every Nora Ephron Movie, Ranked Best to Worst

Ranker Film
Updated October 12, 2018 852 votes 201 voters
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Every Nora Ephron Movie, Ranked Best to Worst
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Vote up the funniest, most heartwarming films written, directed, and/or produced by Nora Ephron.

Until her death in 2012, Nora Ephron was a prolific writer and filmmaker who produced many of the best romantic comedies of all time. The top Nora Ephron films feature complex characters finding love despite a variety of complicated obstacles. This is a list of the greatest Nora Ephron movies including everything from Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail to Julie & Julia and Bewitched.

What films will you find on this best Nora Ephron movie list? When Harry Met Sally has to be near the top. Nora Ephron received an Oscar nomination for writing the screenplay to this Rob Reiner directed film. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan played the title characters over the course of many years of love and friendship. Heartburn – starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep – is another good Nora Ephron film.

Ephron's movie You've Got Mail addressed love in the age of email. Other good films featured on this best Nora Ephron movies list include Julie & Julia, Lucky Numbers, and Hanging Up.

Do you have a favorite Nora Ephron film? Give your favorites a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

Ranked by
  • You've Got Mail
    1

    You've Got Mail

    Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey
    94 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Nora Ephron

    Director, Screenwriter, and Producer

    In the romantic comedy You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is a charming bookstore owner in New York City. She finds herself enamored with an anonymous pen pal she meets online, unaware he is none other than her business rival, Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), who owns a large bookselling chain. As their digital love story unfolds amidst the backdrop of the bustling Big Apple, their real-life animosity takes a surprising turn. This delightful film, directed by Nora Ephron, explores themes of modern romance and identity in the age of the internet.

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  • When Harry Met Sally...
    2

    When Harry Met Sally...

    Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher
    107 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Rob Reiner

    Screenwriter and Producer

    In the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally..., Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) find their lives intertwined over a span of 12 years. Initially meeting during a shared car ride from Chicago to New York, their relationship transforms from strangers to friends, challenging the question - can men and women be just friends? Directed by Rob Reiner, this film offers a humorous and touching portrayal of friendship and love. Nora Ephron's witty screenplay, which won a BAFTA award for Best Original Screenplay, brilliantly captures the complexity of modern relationships.

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  • Sleepless in Seattle
    3

    Sleepless in Seattle

    Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman
    79 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Nora Ephron

    Director and Screenwriter

    In Sleepless in Seattle, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks), a widower, sparks nationwide interest when his son Jonah (Ross Malinger) calls into a radio talk show. Across the country, Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), a journalist, hears Sam's poignant story and becomes intrigued by him. As fate would have it, their paths cross in a climactic meeting atop the Empire State Building. This romantic drama, directed by Nora Ephron, garnered two Oscar nominations and is hailed for its charming blend of comedy and pathos. It's a testament to love transcending boundaries.

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  • Julie & Julia
    4

    Julie & Julia

    Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
    60 votes
    • Released: 2009
    • Directed by: Nora Ephron

    Director, Screenwriter, and Producer

    In Julie & Julia, Julie Powell (Amy Adams) embarks on an ambitious culinary project, cooking her way through Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) iconic cookbook. As she stirs, sautés, and simmers, her life intertwines with that of Child's in the 1950s, who was finding her own footing in the French culinary world. This comedy-drama explores the transformative power of food and passion, weaving two parallel narratives into a delightful feast for viewers. Meryl Streep's performance won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film is a poignant tribute to two women who found their calling in the kitchen.

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  • Michael
    5

    Michael

    John Travolta, Andie MacDowell, William Hurt
    51 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Nora Ephron

    Director, Screenwriter, and Producer

    When jaded journalists Frank (William Hurt) and Huey (Robert Pastorelli), along with "angel expert" Dorothy (Andie MacDowell), travel to a small town in Iowa to investigate a story, they find Michael (John Travolta), a disheveled man claiming to be an angel. But Michael is less than angelic: he drinks, smokes and basks in the attention of women. As the group travels to Chicago, Michael teaches them about relationships, faith and miracles, suggesting that he may be exactly whom he says he is.

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  • Silkwood
    6

    Silkwood

    Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher
    40 votes
    • Released: 1983
    • Directed by: Mike Nichols

    Screenwriter

    This drama is based on the true story of Karen Silkwood (Meryl Streep), who works at a nuclear facility, along with her boyfriend, Drew Stephens (Kurt Russell), and their roommate, Dolly Pelliker (Cher). When Karen becomes concerned about safety practices at the plant, she begins raising awareness of violations that could put workers at risk. Intent on continuing her investigation, Karen discovers a suspicious development: She has been exposed to high levels of radiation.