Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesVote for your favorite John Wayne movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
List of the best John Wayne movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. John Wayne has become known as the epitome of a cowboy, but many of his first roles were as a football player in films like Brown of Harvard and The Drop Kick. John Wayne'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 John Wayne movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated John Wayne movies will be at the top of the list. John Wayne has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest John Wayne movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining John Wayne films to end the squabble once and for all.
If you think the best John Wayne role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest John Wayne performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.
This list includes mocies like True Grit and The Quiet Man and answers the questions, "What are the best John Wayne movies?" and "What are the greatest John Wayne roles of all time?" And if you're a fan of John Wayne's Old West films, you might also enjoy our list of best Clint Eastwood movies and best Gene Hackman movies.
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1,585275She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
John Wayne, Ben JohnsonReleased: 1949
Directed by: John Ford
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring... more
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1,923376The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
John Wayne, James StewartReleased: 1962
Directed by: John Ford
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford... more3
2,173479Rio Bravo
John Wayne, Dean MartinReleased: 1959
Directed by: Howard Hawks
Rio Bravo is a 1959 American Western film produced and directed by Howard Hawks and starring... more4
1,513286Red River
John Wayne, Montgomery CliftReleased: 1948
Directed by: Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson
Red River is a 1948 Western film directed and produced by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne... more5
2,375531The Searchers
John Wayne, Natalie WoodReleased: 1956
Directed by: John Ford
The Searchers is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision Western film directed by John Ford,... more6
1,315227Rio Grande
John Wayne, Maureen O'HaraReleased: 1950
Directed by: John Ford
Rio Grande is a 1950 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen... more7
1,797384Big Jake
John Wayne, Maureen O'HaraReleased: 1971
Directed by: George Sherman
Big Jake is a 1971 Western film directed by George Sherman, written by Harry Julian Fink and... more8
1,173225Fort Apache
Henry Fonda, Shirley TempleReleased: 1948
Directed by: John Ford
Fort Apache is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and... more9
2,148482True Grit
John Wayne, Robert DuvallReleased: 1969
Directed by: Henry Hathaway
True Grit is a 1969 American western Technicolor film written by Marguerite Roberts, directed... more10
1,306255Hondo
John Wayne, James ArnessReleased: 1953
Directed by: John Farrow, John Ford
Hondo is a 1953 Warnercolor 3D Western film starring John Wayne and directed by John Farrow.... more11
1,819395The Shootist
John Wayne, Lauren BacallReleased: 1976
Directed by: Don Siegel
The Shootist is a 1976 Western film directed by Don Siegel and starring John Wayne in his... more12
1,850410El Dorado
John Wayne, James CaanReleased: 1966
Directed by: Howard Hawks
El Dorado is a 1966 American Western film produced and directed by Howard Hawks and starring... more13
1,693369The Sons of Katie Elder
John Wayne, Dean MartinReleased: 1965
Directed by: Henry Hathaway
The Sons of Katie Elder is a 1965 Technicolor Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and... more14
1,484317Stagecoach
John Wayne, John CarradineReleased: 1939
Directed by: John Ford
Stagecoach is a 1939 American Western film directed by John Ford, starring Claire Trevor and... more15
2,017471McLintock!
John Wayne, Maureen O'HaraReleased: 1963
Directed by: John Wayne, Andrew V. McLaglen
McLintock! is a 1963 comedy Western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring John Wayne,... more16
1,104220In Harm's Way
John Wayne, Kirk DouglasReleased: 1965
Directed by: Otto Preminger
In Harm's Way is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by Otto Preminger and... more17
1,385289Sands of Iwo Jima
John Wayne, Forrest TuckerReleased: 1949
Directed by: Allan Dwan
Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 film starring John Wayne that follows a group of United States... more18
2,299595The Quiet Man
John Wayne, Maureen O'HaraReleased: 1952
Directed by: John Ford
The Quiet Man is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars... more19
1,188260The Horse Soldiers
John Wayne, William HoldenReleased: 1959
Directed by: John Ford
The Horse Soldiers is a 1959 film that was directed by John Ford and starred John Wayne,... more20
1,558336The Cowboys
John Wayne, Bruce DernReleased: 1972
Directed by: Mark Rydell
The Cowboys is a 1972 Western motion picture starring John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Slim... more21
1,257284Chisum
John Wayne, Ben JohnsonReleased: 1970
Directed by: Andrew V. McLaglen
Chisum is a 1970 Warner Bros. Technicolor Western film starring John Wayne. The large cast... more22
1,070262North to Alaska
John Wayne, Stewart GrangerReleased: 1960
Directed by: John Wayne, Henry Hathaway
North to Alaska is a 1960 comedic Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and John Wayne. The... more23
1,086271The Longest Day
Sean Connery, John WayneReleased: 1962
Directed by: Darryl F. Zanuck, Ken Annakin, Bernhard Wicki, Andrew Marton, Gerd Oswald
The Longest Day is a 1962 film based on the 1959 history book The Longest Day by Cornelius... more24
960223The Comancheros
John Wayne, Lee MarvinReleased: 1961
Directed by: John Wayne, Michael Curtiz
The Comancheros is a 1961 Western Deluxe CinemaScope color film directed by Michael Curtiz,... more25
1,140317The Alamo
John Wayne, Richard WidmarkReleased: 1960
Directed by: John Wayne
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic film about the 1836 Battle of the Alamo produced... more
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