The Best Groucho Marx Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 630 votes 157 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Groucho Marx Movies
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

List of the best Groucho Marx movies, ranked best to worst. The order of these top Groucho Marx movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Groucho Marx movies will be at the top of the list. Groucho Marx is a legend, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Groucho Marx movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Groucho Marx films to end the squabble once and for all. These are the best Marx Brothers movies!

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

Duck Soup and Animal Crackers are only the beginning of the films on this list.

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

Is Groucho Marx your favorite person to watch on the big screen? You might also want to vote on our best Buster Keaton and Boris Karloff films lists too.

Most divisive: Skidoo
Ranked by
  • Duck Soup
    1

    Duck Soup

    Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx
    83 votes
    • Released: 1933
    • Directed by: Leo McCarey
    When the tiny nation of Freedonia goes bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), insists that the wacky Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) become the country's president. Sensing a weakness in leadership, the bordering nation of Sylvania sends in the spies Pinky (Harpo Marx) and Chicolini (Chico Marx) to set the stage for a revolution. As Firefly clashes with the Sylvanian ambassador (Louis Calhern), plenty of mayhem ensues, and the countries verge on all-out war.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • A Night at the Opera
    2

    A Night at the Opera

    Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle Hart
    74 votes
    • Released: 1935
    • Directed by: Sam Wood
    The Marx Brothers run amuck in the world of opera when Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) meets aspiring singer Ricardo (Allan Jones), who is determined to win the love of fellow performer Rosa (Kitty Carlisle). Aided by Fiorello (Chico Marx) and Tomasso (Harpo Marx), Otis attempts to unite the young couple, but faces opposition from the preening star Lassparri (Walter Woolf King), who also has his sights on Rosa. Traveling from Italy to New York, Otis and friends rally to try and win the day.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • A Day at the Races
    3

    A Day at the Races

    Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx
    62 votes
    • Released: 1937
    • Directed by: Sam Wood
    Hugo Hackenbush (Groucho Marx) is a veterinarian who masquerades as a lead doctor at Standish Sanitarium to aid the wealthy patient Emily Upjohn (Margaret Dumont). In order to save the financially failing sanitarium and its beautiful owner, Judy Standish (Maureen O'Sullivan), Hackenbush, employee Tony (Chico Marx) and jockey Stuffy (Harpo Marx) must find ingenious ways to help Gil Stewart (Allan Jones) and his inept racehorse, Hi-Hat, win the big race.

    Available On:

  • Animal Crackers
    4

    Animal Crackers

    Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx
    63 votes
    • Released: 1930
    • Directed by: Victor Heerman
    The well-known explorer and hunter Captain Spaulding has just returned from Africa, and is being welcomed home with a lavish party at the estate of influential society matron Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont) when a valuable painting goes missing. The intrepid Captain Spaulding attempts to solve the crime with the help of his silly secretary Horatio Jamison, while sparring with the anarchic Signor Emanuel Ravelli and his nutty sidekick The Professor.
  • Monkey Business
    5

    Monkey Business

    Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx
    57 votes
    • Released: 1931
    • Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod
    The four Marx Brothers star in their first film written specifically for the screen as stowaways on an ocean liner bound for New York. Each of them has a separate adventure on board; from matinee idol Zeppo's romancing of a bootlegger's daughter to Groucho having to avoid the attentions of gangster's moll Lucille Briggs.
  • Horse Feathers
    6

    Horse Feathers

    Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx
    64 votes
    • Released: 1932
    • Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod
    The Marx Brothers take on higher education and football in this riotous comedy. The newly minted president of Huxley University, Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho Marx), is getting pressure from his son Frank (Zeppo Marx) to improve the football squad at the school. Frank thinks his father should recruit two professional ball players so Huxley can finally defeat their gridiron rival, Darwin. But when Wagstaff hires the wrong guys, suddenly a pair of bootleggers are wreaking havoc as undergrads.