The Best Fred Astaire Movies

Ranker Film
Updated September 16, 2023 3.0K votes 499 voters 34.8K views
Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Fred Astaire Movies
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List of the best Fred Astaire movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Fred Astaire'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 Fred Astaire movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Fred Astaire movies will be at the top of the list. Fred Astaire has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Fred Astaire movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Fred Astaire films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

Examples include A Damsel in Distress and Broadway Melody of 1940.

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

Fred Astaire was in some really popular films, and is right up there with stars like Gene Kelly and David Bowie in terms of fame and success.

Most divisive: The Notorious Landlady
Ranked by
  • Top Hat
    1

    Top Hat

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton
    125 votes
    • Released: 1935
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    The story centers on wealthy Dale Tremont (Ginger Rogers), on holiday in London and Venice. She assumes that American entertainer Jerry Travers (Fred Astaire) is the husband of her friend Madge (Helen Broderick) -- who's actually the wife of Jerry's business manager Horace Hardwick (Edward Everett Horton).

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  • Swing Time
    2

    Swing Time

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore
    109 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: George Stevens
    Dexterous and risk-taking Lucky Garnett (Fred Astaire) pursues dancing and gambling with equal verve. Engaged to the pretty Margaret Watson (Betty Furness), Lucky gets pre-wedding nerves, which leads to the ceremony being called off. Margaret's father decides that Lucky can have a second chance at marrying her if he can make $25,000, so he heads to New York City to seek his fortune. When Lucky meets the beautiful dance teacher Penny Carroll (Ginger Rogers), however, his priorities soon change.

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  • Shall We Dance
    3

    Shall We Dance

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Eric Blore
    86 votes
    • Released: 1937
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    Peter P. Peters (Fred Astaire) is an American ballet dancer working in Paris. After happening across a photograph of tap-dance sensation Linda Keene (Ginger Rogers), Peters falls instantly in love and, using his connections, arranges for a meeting. Unfortunately, Peters's overzealous nature leaves Keene unimpressed and a rumor begins circulating that the two are secretly married. In order to quell the rumor Peters and Keene decide to actually get married and then seek a prompt divorce.

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  • Holiday Inn
    4

    Holiday Inn

    Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds
    92 votes
    • Released: 1942
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    In this Irving Berlin musical, Jim (Bing Crosby) and Lila are members of a performing trio who plan to quit and run a country hotel. When Lila says she has fallen in love with the dancer in the act, Ted (Fred Astaire), Jim leaves town with a broken heart. After turning the inn into a holidays-only live entertainment venue, Jim winds up booking -- and falling for -- Linda (Marjorie Reynolds). But when Ted shows up at the place after being dumped by Lila, he too sets his sights on beautiful Linda.

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  • The Gay Divorcee
    5

    The Gay Divorcee

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Alice Brady
    79 votes
    • Released: 1934
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    In this beloved musical, Mimi Glossop (Ginger Rogers) journeys to England to seek a divorce from her absentee husband. When Mimi meets dashing performer Guy Holden (Fred Astaire), sparks fly, and, most importantly, lavish song-and-dance numbers ensue. While romance and comedy factor into the film, the production is largely a showcase for the legendary talents of Rogers and Astaire, most notably displayed in an extended sequence during the third act.
  • Easter Parade
    6

    Easter Parade

    Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford
    80 votes
    • Released: 1948
    • Directed by: Charles Walters
    In this lavish musical, Broadway star Don Hewes' (Fred Astaire) dancing partner (Ann Miller) goes solo, and Don declares that he can make a hit performer out of the next dancer he sees. This turns out to be the inexperienced Hannah (Judy Garland), who bristles as Don tries to make her into his old partner. But as he realizes that he is falling in love with Hannah, Don knows that he must let her grow into her own kind of dancer if he wants her to reach her full potential.

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