The Best Donna Reed Movies

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Updated August 11, 2023 928 votes 124 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Donna Reed Movies
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List of the best Donna Reed movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Donna Reed's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Donna Reed movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Donna Reed movies will be at the top of the list. Donna Reed has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Donna Reed movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Donna Reed films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

List films include Shadow of the Thin Man, See Here, Private Hargrove and many additional films as well.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Donna Reed movies?" and "What are the greatest Donna Reed roles of all time?"
Ranked by
  • It's a Wonderful Life
    1

    It's a Wonderful Life

    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
    47 votes
    • Released: 1946
    • Directed by: Frank Capra
    In the heartwarming film It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (James Stewart) teeters on the brink of despair. His small-town existence, full of missed opportunities and financial struggles, seems unbearable. Luckily, his guardian angel Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) steps in, showing George what life would be like if he'd never been born. This 1946 classic, directed by Frank Capra, brilliantly blends elements of drama and fantasy. It won an Academy Technical Achievement Award and has been lauded for its enduring message about the value of every individual life.

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  • From Here to Eternity
    2

    From Here to Eternity

    Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr
    26 votes
    • Released: 1953
    • Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
    At an Army barracks in Hawaii in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor, lone-wolf soldier and boxing champion "Prew" Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) refuses to box, preferring to play the bugle instead. Hard-hearted Capt. Holmes (Philip Ober) subjects Prew to a grueling series of punishments while, unknown to Holmes, the gruff but fair Sgt. Warden (Burt Lancaster) engages in a clandestine affair with the captain's mistreated wife (Deborah Kerr).

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  • The Man from Down Under
    3

    The Man from Down Under

    Charles Laughton, Binnie Barnes, Richard Carlson
    13 votes
    • Released: 1943
    • Directed by: Robert Z. Leonard
    As World War I ends, Jocko Wilson (Charles Laughton), a soldier returning to Australia, rescues two small orphans in Belgium, sneaking them aboard his transport ship home. Two decades later, prosperous hotelier Jocko and the kids, rising young boxer Nipper (Richard Carlson) and studious Mary (Donna Reed), find their lives torn apart by the start of World War II, the reappearance of Jocko's former flame, Aggie (Binnie Barnes), and a secret that could affect the brother and sister's lives forever.
  • The American Film Institute Salute to Frank Capra
    4

    The American Film Institute Salute to Frank Capra

    Donna Reed, Claudette Colbert, Frank Capra
    12 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Marty Pasetta
  • Green Dolphin Street
    5

    Green Dolphin Street

    Lana Turner, Donna Reed, Richard Hart
    12 votes
    • Released: 1947
    • Directed by: Victor Saville
    The year is 1840, and siblings Marianne (Lana Turner) and Marguerite Patourel (Donna Reed) have found love; the problem is, both women want William Ozone (Richard Hart). Ozone has eyes for Marguerite, but the jealous Marianne steps in to prevent her sister's happiness. Through Marianne's scheming and a bit of bad luck, William finds himself back in his native New Zealand. Though this distance cannot keep the Patourels away from Ozone, a sudden natural disaster alters the sisters' lives forever.

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  • They Were Expendable
    6

    They Were Expendable

    Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed
    16 votes
    • Released: 1945
    • Directed by: John Ford, Robert Montgomery
    After a demonstration of new PT boats, navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan (John Wayne) frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley (Robert Montgomery) are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.

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