List Rules Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
List of the best Joseph Cotten movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Joseph Cotten'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 Joseph Cotten movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Joseph Cotten movies will be at the top of the list. Joseph Cotten has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Joseph Cotten movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Joseph Cotten films to end the squabble once and for all.
If you think the best Joseph Cotten role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Joseph Cotten performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.
The list you're viewing is made up of different films like Hers to Hold and Guyana: Crime of the Century.
"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Joseph Cotten movies?" and "What are the greatest Joseph Cotten roles of all time?"
Is Joseph Cotten your favorite person to watch on the big screen? You might also want to vote on our best Ray Milland and John Barrymore films lists too.
list ordered by
1
76 8
Shadow of a DoubtAlfred Hitchcock, Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten Shadow of a Doubt is a 1943 American psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten. Written by Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson, and Alma ...more
2
70 7
The Third ManOrson Welles, Trevor Howard, Joseph Cotten The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. It is considered one of the greatest films of all ...more
3
51 6
Citizen KaneOrson Welles, Alan Ladd, Agnes Moorehead Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film produced by, co-written by, directed by and starring Orson Welles. The picture was Welles's first feature film. The film was nominated for Academy ...more
4
43 5
GaslightIngrid Bergman, Angela Lansbury, Charles Boyer Gaslight is an American 1944 mystery-thriller film adapted from Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play Gas Light. It was the second version to be filmed, following the British film Gaslight, directed by ...more
5
41 5
NiagaraMarilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters Niagara is an American 1953 thriller-film noir, released by Twentieth Century-Fox, directed by Henry Hathaway, and starring Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Casey Adams, and Marilyn Monroe. Unlike ...more
6
43 6
Portrait of JennieNancy Reagan, Anne Francis, Jennifer Jones Portrait of Jennie is a 1948 fantasy film based on the novella by Robert Nathan. The film was directed by William Dieterle and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Jennifer Jones and Joseph
7
38 5
The Magnificent AmbersonsOrson Welles, Anne Baxter, Agnes Moorehead The Magnificent Ambersons is a 1942 American period drama, the second feature film produced and directed by Orson Welles. Welles adapted Booth Tarkington's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1918 novel, ...more
8
35 8
Hush… Hush, Sweet CharlotteBette Davis, Joan Crawford, Olivia de Havilland Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a 1964 American thriller film directed and produced by Robert Aldrich, and starring Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, and Agnes Moorehead, as well ...more
9
30 7
Since You Went AwayShirley Temple, Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones Since You Went Away is a 1944 American film directed by John Cromwell for Selznick International Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It is an epic about the American home front during ...more
10
30 8
Duel in the SunOrson Welles, Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones Duel in the Sun is a Technicolor 1946 Western film directed by King Vidor, produced and written by David O. Selznick, which tells the story of a Mestiza girl who goes to live with her caucasian ...more
11
29 8
Touch of EvilCharlton Heston, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich Touch of Evil is a 1958 American crime thriller film, written, directed by, and co-starring Orson Welles. The screenplay was loosely based on the novel Badge of Evil by Whit Masterson. Along ...more
12
27 9
The Farmer's DaughterJames Arness, Loretta Young, Ethel Barrymore The Farmer's Daughter is a 1947 movie that tells the story of a farmgirl who ends up working as a maid for a Congressman and his politically powerful mother. It stars Loretta Young, Joseph ...more
13
18 3
Journey into FearOrson Welles, Dolores del Río, Joseph Cotten Journey into Fear is a 1943 American spy film based on the Eric Ambler novel of the same name. The film broadly follows the plot of the book, but the protagonist was changed to an American ...more
14
25 10
Tora! Tora! Tora!Jason Robards Jr., Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten Tora! Tora! Tora! is a 1970 American–Japanese war film that dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer and stars an ensemble cast, including ...more
15
15 2
A Blueprint for MurderJoseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Mae Marsh A Blueprint for Murder is a 1953 thriller film noir starring Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, and Gary Merrill. Andrew L. Stone wrote and directed the film.
16
25 11
Under CapricornIngrid Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, Joseph Cotten Under Capricorn is a 1949 British historical thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film was based on the novel Under Capricorn by Helen Simpson, with a screenplay by James Bridie. It ...more
17
21 8
I'll Be Seeing YouGinger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Joseph Cotten I'll Be Seeing You is a 1944 drama film made by Selznick International Pictures, Dore Schary Productions, and Vanguard Pictures, and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by William ...more
18
17 5
OthelloOrson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Hilton Edwards Othello is a 1952 drama film based on the Shakespearean play, made by Mercury Productions Inc. and Les Films Marceau and distributed by United Artists when released in the United States in 1955. ...more
19
16 5
Beyond the ForestBette Davis, Joseph Cotten, Frances Charles Beyond the Forest is a 1949 American film noir directed by King Vidor and featuring Bette Davis, Joseph Cotten, David Brian and Ruth Roman. The screenplay is written by Lenore J. Coffee based on ...more
20
18 7
The Abominable Dr. PhibesVincent Price, Caroline Munro, Joanna Lumley The Abominable Dr. Phibes is a 1971 British horror film starring Vincent Price and American actor Joseph Cotten. Its art deco sets, dark humour and performance by Price have made the film and ...more
21
19 9
Soylent GreenCharlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Dick Van Patten Soylent Green is a 1973 American science fiction film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, and, in his final film, Edward G. Robinson. The film ...more
22
13 5
The Steel TrapTeresa Wright, Joseph Cotten The Steel Trap is a 1952 thriller film noir written and directed by Andrew L. Stone, and starring Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright.
23
14 7
Two Flags WestLinda Darnell, Joseph Cotten, Jeff Chandler Two Flags West is a 1950 Western drama set during the American Civil War, directed by Robert Wise and starring Joseph Cotten, Jeff Chandler, Linda Darnell, and Cornell Wilde. The opening credits ...more
24
17 10
Love LettersJennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Anita Louise Love Letters is a 1945 film adapted by Ayn Rand from the novel Pity My Simplicity by Christopher Massie. It was directed by William Dieterle and stars Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Ann ...more
25
8 2
The Killer Is LooseRhonda Fleming, Alan Hale, Jr. The Killer Is Loose is a 1956 American crime film noir directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Joseph Cotten, Rhonda Fleming and Wendell Corey.
26
14 8
Airport '77Christopher Lee, James Stewart, Olivia de Havilland Airport '77 is a 1977 disaster film and third movie in the Airport franchise. The film stars a number of veteran actors, including Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Joseph Cotten, Christopher Lee and ...more
27
14 9
Heaven's GateMickey Rourke, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Bridges Heaven's Gate is a 1980 American epic Western film written and directed by Michael Cimino. Loosely based on the Johnson County War, it portrays a fictional dispute between land barons and ...more
28
12 7
F for FakePeter Bogdanovich, Joseph Cotten, Elmyr de Hory F for Fake is the last major film completed by Orson Welles, who directed, co-wrote, and starred in the film. Initially released in 1974, it focuses on Elmyr de Hory's recounting of his career ...more
29
8 4
Twilight's Last GleamingBurt Lancaster, Charles Durning, Richard Widmark Twilight's Last Gleaming is a 1977 film directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Burt Lancaster and Richard Widmark. The film was a West German/US co-production, shot mainly at the Bavaria ...more
30
9 7
Walk Softly, StrangerJoseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Jack Paar Walk Softly, Stranger is a 1950 film starring Joseph Cotten and Alida Valli, directed by Robert Stevenson. It tells the story of a small-time crook on the run who later becomes reformed by the ...more
31
9 7
The Last SunsetKirk Douglas, Rock Hudson, Piper Laurie The Last Sunset is a 1961 western movie starring Rock Hudson, Kirk Douglas, and Dorothy Malone, and was directed by Robert Aldrich. The film was released by Universal Studios, shot in Eastman ...more
32
8 6
The Man with a CloakBarbara Stanwyck, Leslie Caron, Joseph Cotten The Man with a Cloak is a drama film directed by Fletcher Markle and starring Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck, Louis Calhern, and Leslie Caron, and based on "The Gentleman from Paris", ...more
33
8 6
From the Earth to the MoonGeorge Sanders, Joseph Cotten, Debra Paget From the Earth to the Moon is a Technicolor science fiction film adaptation of the Jules Verne novel From the Earth to the Moon. It stars Joseph Cotten, George Sanders, Debra Paget, and Don ...more
34
4 2
The Devil's DaughterShelley Winters, Diane Ladd, Joseph Cotten The Devil's Daughter is a TV horror movie that originally aired on ABC on January 9, 1973. It was an early screenwriting credit for Colin Higgins.
35
9 8
Dr. Phibes Rises AgainVincent Price, Peter Cushing, Joseph Cotten Dr. Phibes Rises Again! is a sequel to The Abominable Dr. Phibes. It was directed by Robert Fuest, and stars Vincent Price as Dr. Anton Phibes.
36
7 6
September AffairJoan Fontaine, Jessica Tandy, Joseph Cotten September Affair is a 1950 film, directed by William Dieterle, starring Joan Fontaine, Joseph Cotten and Jessica Tandy. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis.
37
4 3
The TramplersFranco Nero, Joseph Cotten, Gordon Scott The Tramplers is a 1965 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Albert Band and Mario Sequi based on the novel Guns of North Texas by Will Cook.
38
3 2
Hers to HoldDeanna Durbin, Joseph Cotten, Iris Adrian Hers to Hold is a 1943 film directed by Frank Ryan.
39
2 1
Concorde Affaire '79Dennis Hopper, Donald Pleasence, Joseph Cotten Concorde Affaire '79, also known as The Concorde Affair, is an Italian action thriller directed by Ruggero Deodato and was written by Ernesto Gastaldi and Renzo Genta.
40
6 6
The Money TrapRita Hayworth, Elke Sommer, Glenn Ford The Money Trap is a 1965 drama film directed by Burt Kennedy, written by Walter Bernstein based on the novel of the same name by Lionel White, and starring Glenn Ford, Elke Sommer and Rita ...more
41
5 5
The Angel Wore RedAva Gardner, Dirk Bogarde, Joseph Cotten The Angel Wore Red, also known as La Sposa Bella in its Italian version, is a 1960 Italian-American romantic war drama starring Ava Gardner and Dirk Bogarde made by MGM and Titanus. It was ...more
42
5 5
PetuliaJulie Christie, George C. Scott, Richard Chamberlain Petulia is an American drama film directed by Richard Lester. The screenplay by Lawrence B. Marcus is based on the novel Me and the Arch Kook Petulia by John Haase. The film stars Julie ...more
43
5 5
The HellbendersJoseph Cotten, Aldo Sambrell, Norma Bengell The Hellbenders is a Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci in 1966.
44
4 4
Peking ExpressJoseph Cotten, Edmund Gwenn, Marvin Miller Peking Express is a 1951 adventure film made by Paramount Pictures. It is the second remake of Paramount's earlier Shanghai Express, remade as Night Plane from Chungking. It was directed by ...more
45
3 3
Untamed FrontierShelley Winters, Lee Van Cleef, Fess Parker Untamed Frontier is a 1952 film directed by Hugo Fregonese.
46
3 3
The HearseJoseph Cotten, Perry Lang, George Bowers The Hearse is an American 1980 horror film starring Trish Van Devere and Joseph Cotten.
47
2 2
A Delicate BalanceKatharine Hepburn, Lee Remick, Paul Scofield A Delicate Balance is a 1973 drama film directed by Tony Richardson. The screenplay by Edward Albee is based on his 1966 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The film was the second in ...more
48
2 2
Baron BloodElke Sommer, Joseph Cotten, Massimo Girotti Baron Blood is a 1972 horror film directed by Mario Bava. It is one of Bava's least critically popular films.
49
2 2
Brighty of the Grand CanyonJoseph Cotten, Dick Foran, Karl Swenson Brighty of the Grand Canyon is a 1953 children's novel by Marguerite Henry and a 1967 film of the same name based on the novel. They present a fictionalized account of a real-life burro named ...more
