The Best Henry Fonda Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 15, 2023 5.1K votes 727 voters 60.4K views
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List of the best Henry Fonda movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Henry Fonda'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 Henry Fonda movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Henry Fonda movies will be at the top of the list. Henry Fonda has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Henry Fonda movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Henry Fonda films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

A list made up of films like Spawn of the North and Bernice Bobs Her Hair.

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

Notable directors that worked with Henry Fonda include names like Alfred Hitchcock, Fritz Lang and John Ford. If you're a fan of Henry Fonda, then check out our lists of the best Gregory Peck and Rod Steiger movies as well.

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  • The Grapes of Wrath
    1

    The Grapes of Wrath

    Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine
    161 votes
    • Released: 1940
    • Directed by: John Ford
    The Joad clan, introduced to the world in John Steinbeck's iconic novel, is looking for a better life in California. After their drought-ridden farm is seized by the bank, the family -- led by just-paroled son Tom (Henry Fonda) -- loads up a truck and heads West. On the road, beset by hardships, the Joads meet dozens of other families making the same trek and holding onto the same dream. Once in California, however, the Joads soon realize that the promised land isn't quite what they hoped.

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  • 12 Angry Men
    2

    12 Angry Men

    Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley
    186 votes
    • Released: 1957
    • Directed by: Sidney Lumet
    Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a room, one juror (Henry Fonda) casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy's fate.

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  • Once Upon a Time in the West
    3

    Once Upon a Time in the West

    Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, Charles Bronson
    167 votes
    • Released: 1969
    • Directed by: Sergio Leone
    In the sprawling epic Once Upon a Time in the West, Harmonica (Charles Bronson), a mysterious harmonica-playing gunman, faces off against cruel assassin Frank (Henry Fonda) amidst the dust and danger of the American frontier. As these two forces clash, Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale), a newly widowed woman, finds herself caught in their deadly game. Directed by Sergio Leone, this iconic western won the David di Donatello for Best Director and is renowned for its stirring Ennio Morricone score and stunning cinematography that paints a vivid picture of life on the untamed frontier.
  • The Ox-Bow Incident
    4

    The Ox-Bow Incident

    Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Harry Morgan
    111 votes
    • Released: 1943
    • Directed by: William A. Wellman
    In this classic Western, wanderers Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) and Art Croft (Henry Morgan) ride into a small Nevada town plagued by cattle thieves. Initially suspected of being the rustlers themselves, Carter and Croft eventually join a posse out to get the criminals, who also may be involved in a recent shooting. When the posse closes in on a group that could be the fugitives, they must decide on a course of action, with numerous lives hanging in the balance.

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  • Mister Roberts
    5

    Mister Roberts

    Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, James Cagney
    121 votes
    • Released: 1955
    • Directed by: John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy
    Bittersweet film about a supply officer aboard a decrepit cargo ship during World War II who yearns for a transfer into a combat zone but is thwarted by the ship's captain, a petty tyrant. Forced to endure various humiliations in exchange for privileges, the crew engage in minor acts of resistance, and look to Mr. Roberts for inspiration and moral support. Based on the hit Broadway play.

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  • My Darling Clementine
    6

    My Darling Clementine

    Henry Fonda, Linda Darnell, Victor Mature
    103 votes
    • Released: 1946
    • Directed by: John Ford
    In the middle of a long cattle drive, Wyatt Earp (Henry Fonda) and his brothers stop off for a night in the town of Tombstone. The next morning they find their cattle stolen, and one of the brothers is dead. Earp suspects the Clanton family, owners of the O.K. Corral, but wants his revenge to be legal. He becomes sheriff of Tombstone and forges a rough peace with an alcoholic gambler, Doc Holiday (Victor Mature). Earp also takes a liking to Holiday's former girlfriend, Clementine (Cathy Downs).

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