The Best James Garner Movies
List of the best James Garner movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. James Garner may be best known for his roles in great TV series like Maverick and The Rockford Files, but his filmography is equally as impressive. James Garner'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 James Garner movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated James Garner movies will be at the top of the list. James Garner has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest James Garner movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining James Garner films to end the squabble once and for all.
If you think the best James Garner role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest James Garner performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.
List films range from The Great Escape to The Notebook.
"This list answers the questions, "What are the best James Garner movies?" and "What are the greatest James Garner roles of all time?" If you are a fan of Garner's early work, you might also enjoy our list of best Steve McQueen movies and best Bruce Dern movies, as well as our list on incredibly macho facts about the man himself.
Robert Altman and Clint Eastwood are among those who have directed James Garner at one point or another during their careers in the film industry. If you're a fan of James Garner, then check out our lists of the best Rod Steiger and Brian Dennehy movies as well.
- In 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Madison (James Garner) prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to step foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts Englishwoman Emily Barham ...more
- The Great Escape is a 1963 American WWII epic film based on an escape by British and Commonwealth POW from a German POW camp during WWII, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard ...more
- Emma (Sally Field), a divorced single mother seeking to start her life over, moves to a small town in Arizona. She builds a relationship with Murphy (James Garner), the older local pharmacist but, ...more
- A small-scale gold rush erupts in a Colorado town after treasure is found in a grave. The area quickly becomes a magnet for criminals and other ne'er-do-wells, but everyone is too intent on searching ...more
- In occupied Germany in 1949, American military officer Jefferson Pike (James Garner) wakes up in a U.S. Army hospital with no memory of the previous five years. A kindly military psychiatrist (Rod ...more
- Nicholas Arden (James Garner) has struggled to get over the absence of his wife, Ellen (Doris Day), but when it seems clear that she's perished in a plane crash, he decides to move on. Nicholas ...more
- Up Periscope is a 1959 World War II drama starring James Garner as a U.S. Navy Frogman fighting the Japanese. The supporting cast includes Edmond O'Brien, Andra Martin, and Alan Hale, Jr.. The film ...more
- Apache Natives are after Ellen (Bibi Andersson), her baby, and her husband, William (Dennis Weaver). The family crosses paths with Jess (James Garner), a man who is trying to find out who killed his ...more
- Skin Game is a 1971 American independent comedy western starring James Garner and Louis Gossett, Jr. and directed by Paul Bogart and Gordon Douglas, The supporting cast features Susan Clark, Edward ...more
- Victor Victoria is a 1982 film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Karras, and John Rhys-Davies. The film was produced by ...more
- The most daring drivers in the world have gathered to compete for the 1966 Formula One championship. After a spectacular wreck in the first of a series of races, American wheelman Pete Aron (James ...more
- Successful OB-GYN Gerald Boyer (James Garner) and his wife, Beverly (Doris Day), are happily married with two children. At a dinner gathering, Beverly discusses her favorite soap, Happy Soap, and how ...more
- When traveling con man Latigo Smith (James Garner) drifts into a small Western town, he decides to take advantage of a local rivalry between gold-mining factions. Recruiting the shifty Jug May (Jack ...more
- Barbarians at the Gate is a television movie based upon the book by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, about the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan and written by ...more
- Mysterious Orfamay Quest (Sharon Farrell) hires Los Angeles private investigator Philip Marlowe (James Garner) to find her missing brother, Orrin. Though the job seems simple enough, it leads Marlowe ...more
- When a woman is mysteriously killed in the small coastal town of Eden Landing, Police Chief Abel Marsh (James Garner) investigates. Initially, he's inclined to believe the town rumor that she was ...more
- This film update of the "Maverick" TV series finds the title cardsharp (Mel Gibson) hoping to join a poker contest with an impressive payoff. In order to enter, Maverick must first put up a large ...more
- In 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. When Noah goes off to serve in World War ...more
- Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) lives a life of wealth and privilege. When his grandfather (James Garner) dies, Jason expects to receive a hefty inheritance. Instead, however, Jason must set out on a ...more
- Stationed in Scotland, Maj. William Darby (James Garner) and the men under his command are trained by British commandos, becoming the U.S. Army's 1st Ranger Battalion. Their drilling period is ...more
- Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner star as a group of pilots whose time has come to serve their country and fulfill their dream of going to space. In 1958, the ...more
- While the Earp brothers may have won the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, they didn't escape unscathed for long. Seeking revenge over their fallen comrades, members of the Clanton gang go after the Earp ...more
- Wealthy hotshot Cash McCall (James Garner) makes his money by purchasing unsuccessful businesses, whipping them into shape and then selling them for a huge profit. When Cash comes across Austen ...more
- Ex-presidents Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Douglas (James Garner) have hated each other for years. But when the current administration of President Haney (Dan Aykroyd) -- Kramer's former vice president ...more
- Just discharged from service, Capt. Devlin (Randolph Scott) and his cavalry pals Maitland (James Garner) and Clegg (Gordon Jones) travel to Devlin's brother's home, but arrive to see the place ...more
