The Best Eli Wallach Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 1.5K votes 219 voters
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Eli Wallach Movies
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List of the best Eli Wallach movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Eli Wallach'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 Eli Wallach movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Eli Wallach movies will be at the top of the list. Eli Wallach has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Eli Wallach movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Eli Wallach films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

This list features films like The Impossible Spy and Tough Guys.

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

Roman Polanski and Natalie Portman have both worked with Eli Wallach over the years, as have plenty of other well-known directors. If Eli Wallach movies are your thing, then check out the greatest movies by Rod Steiger and Lee Remick too.

Most divisive: Mama's Boy
Ranked by
  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
    1

    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef
    91 votes
    • Released: 1967
    • Directed by: Sergio Leone
    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a classic spaghetti western that transcends time. Set amidst the chaos of the American Civil War, it stars Clint Eastwood as 'Blondie' (The Good), Lee Van Cleef as 'Angel Eyes' (The Bad), and Eli Wallach as 'Tuco' (The Ugly). The trio embarks on a thrilling quest for buried Confederate gold, each driven by their own unique motives. Directed by Sergio Leone, this film combines intense gunfights with strategic mind games. Boasting a memorable score by Ennio Morricone, it won the 1967 BAFTA Award for Best Original Score. This film is a must-see for fans of the genre and cinema history alike.

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  • The Magnificent Seven
    2

    The Magnificent Seven

    Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen
    58 votes
    • Released: 1960
    • Directed by: John Sturges
    In The Magnificent Seven, a band of seven disparate outlaws unite for an audacious cause. Led by the steely-eyed Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), they include the sharpshooter Vin Tanner (Steve McQueen) and knife-wielding Brit, Harry Luck (Brad Dexter). Hired by desperate villagers to protect their homes from marauding bandits, these unlikely heroes find themselves in an epic battle for survival. This 1960 Western, directed by John Sturges, is a thrilling tale of camaraderie, courage, and sacrifice, which garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score.

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  • Baby Doll
    3

    Baby Doll

    Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach
    31 votes
    • Released: 1956
    • Directed by: Elia Kazan
    Based on a play by Tennessee Williams, "Baby Doll" centers on Archie Lee Meighan (Karl Malden), a failing cotton gin owner who is married to Baby Doll (Carroll Baker), a 19-year old childlike beauty whose father arranged the marriage for financial reasons. As Archie awaits the arrival of Baby Doll's 20th birthday, the day that they are supposed to consummate their marriage, he faces interference from business rival Silva Vacarro (Eli Wallach), who plots to seduce Baby Doll away from Meighan.

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  • The Holiday
    4

    The Holiday

    Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law
    27 votes
    • Released: 2006
    • Directed by: Nancy Meyers
    In The Holiday, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), a successful workaholic from Los Angeles, and Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet), a lovelorn society columnist from Surrey, England, decide to swap homes for the Christmas season. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they meet and fall in love with two local men: Graham (Jude Law), Iris's brother, and Miles (Jack Black), a film composer. This romantic comedy-drama, directed by Nancy Meyers, weaves together stories of self-discovery and love against the backdrop of two picturesque locations. The movie is celebrated for its heartwarming narrative and charming performances.

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  • The Misfits
    5

    The Misfits

    Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift
    38 votes
    • Released: 1961
    • Directed by: John Huston
    While filing for a divorce, beautiful ex-stripper Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe) ends up meeting aging cowboy-turned-gambler Gay Langland (Clark Gable) and former World War II aviator Guido Racanelli (Eli Wallach). The two men instantly become infatuated with Roslyn and, on a whim, the three decide to move into Guido's half-finished desert home together. When grizzled ex-rodeo rider Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift) arrives, the unlikely foursome strike up a business capturing wild horses.

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  • Mackenna's Gold
    6

    Mackenna's Gold

    Omar Sharif, Gregory Peck, Julie Newmar
    21 votes
    • Released: 1969
    • Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
    Mackenna's Gold is a 1969 western film directed by J. Lee Thompson, starring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Ted Cassidy, Camilla Sparv, and Julie Newmar. It was photographed in Super Panavision 70 and Technicolor by Joseph MacDonald, with original music by Quincy Jones. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Heck Allen using the penname Will Henry, telling the story of how the lure of gold corrupts a diverse group of people. The novel was loosely based on the legend of the Lost Adams Diggings, crediting the Frank Dobie account of the legend in the Author's Note.