Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesVote for your favorite Michael Douglas movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big his role was.
Here are the best Michael Douglas movies, ranked best to worst, with movie trailers and clips. Michael Douglas has acted in some amazing films, but he also worked behind the scenes on several award-winning movies including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Michael Douglas'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 Michael Douglas movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Michael Douglas movies will be at the top of the list.
When Michael Douglas first started acting in Hollywood, he was not considered a great actor, but Douglas proved everyone wrong after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as the money-hungry corporate raider Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone's Wall Street. Douglas then went on to star in box office hits Basic Instinct with Sharon Stone and Disclosure with Demi Moore. Thanks to his hugely successful and prolific career, Michael Douglas received both the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award and the AFI Life Achievement Award.
This list answers the questions, "What are the best Michael Douglas movies?," "What are the greatest Michael Douglas roles of all time?," and "How do Michael Douglas's recent movies compare to his first?" The greatest Michael Douglas performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand. Everything from Falling Down to The Game is included on this Michael Douglas filmography, but it's up to fans like you to decide upon the best. If you think the best Michael Douglas role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one.
If you love Michael Douglas's intensity, you might also enjoy our list of best Sean Penn movies and best Charlie Sheen movies.
list.itemsDescription
1
25463Falling Down
Robert Duvall, Michael DouglasReleased: 1993
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Falling Down is a 1993 drama film directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Ebbe Roe Smith. The film stars Michael Douglas in the lead role of William Foster, a divorcé and unemployed former defense... more2
17734Wall Street
Charlie Sheen, Michael DouglasReleased: 1987
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Wall Street is a 1987 American drama film, directed and co-written by Oliver Stone, which stars Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah and Martin Sheen. The film tells the story of Bud Fox, a... more- 316037
Romancing the Stone
Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVitoReleased: 1984
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Romancing the Stone is a 1984 American action-adventure romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The film was followed by a 1985... more - 410223
Basic Instinct
Sharon Stone, Michael DouglasReleased: 1992
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Basic Instinct is a 1992 French-American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, and starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The film is about a... more - 519947
The Game
Sean Penn, Michael DouglasReleased: 1997
Directed by: David Fincher, Pedro Coutinho
The Game is a 1997 American mystery thriller film directed by David Fincher, starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn, and produced by Propaganda Films and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. It tells the... more - 610937
The American President
Annette Bening, Michael J. FoxReleased: 1995
Directed by: Rob Reiner
The American President is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin. The film stars Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox... more - 79333
Traffic
Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta-JonesReleased: 2000
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Traffic is a 2000 American drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Stephen Gaghan. It explores the trade from a number of perspectives: a user, an enforcer, a politician and a... more - 810944
The War of the Roses
Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVitoReleased: 1989
Directed by: Danny DeVito, Thomas Lofaro
This film is a 1989 American black comedy film based upon the 1981 novel of the same name by Warren Adler. The film follows a wealthy couple with a seemingly perfect marriage. When their marriage... more - 910343
A Perfect Murder
Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo MortensenReleased: 1998
Directed by: Andrew Davis
This film is a 1998 American thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen. Loosely based on the play by Frederick Knott, the screenplay... more - 108730
The Jewel of the Nile
Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVitoReleased: 1985
Directed by: Lewis Teague, David Teague
The Jewel of the Nile is a 1985 action-adventure romantic comedy and a sequel to the 1984 film Romancing the Stone, with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reprising their roles.... more - 113813
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVitoReleased: 1975
Directed by: Miloš Forman
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 drama film written by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman and directed by Miloš Forman. A criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where... more - 124112
Ant-Man
Paul Rudd, Michael DouglasReleased: 2015
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Ant-Man is a 2015 American superhero film directed by Peyton Reed, based on the Marvel Comics character. Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in... more - 138067
The Ghost and the Darkness
Val Kilmer, Michael DouglasReleased: 1996
Directed by: Stephen Hopkins
The Ghost and the Darkness is a 1996 historical adventure film starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas set in Africa at the end of the 19th century. It was directed by Stephen Hopkins and the... more - 14267
Starman
Jeff Bridges, John CarpenterReleased: 1984
Directed by: John Carpenter
Starman is a 1984 American romantic science fiction film, directed by John Carpenter, that tells the story of an alien who has come to Earth in response to the invitation found on the gold phonograph... more - 153418
Disclosure
Demi Moore, Michael DouglasReleased: 1994
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Disclosure is a 1994 thriller film directed by Barry Levinson, starring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. It is based on Michael Crichton's novel Disclosure. The cast also includes Donald Sutherland,... more - 167365
The China Syndrome
Jane Fonda, Michael DouglasReleased: 1979
Directed by: James Bridges
The China Syndrome is a 1979 American thriller film that tells the story of a television reporter and her cameraman who discover safety coverups at a nuclear power plant. It stars Jane Fonda, Jack... more - 173926
Behind the Candelabra
Matt Damon, Michael DouglasReleased: 2013
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Behind the Candelabra is a 2013 American drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh. It dramatizes the last ten years in the life of pianist Liberace and the relationship he had with Scott Thorson. It... more - 184329
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Charlie Sheen, Shia LaBeoufReleased: 2010
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a 2010 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone, a sequel to Wall Street. The film takes place in New York, 23 years after the original and revolves around the... more - 194034
The Star Chamber
Michael Douglas, Hal HolbrookReleased: 1983
Directed by: Peter Hyams
The Star Chamber is a 1983 American thriller film written by Roderick Taylor and directed by Peter Hyams. It stars Michael Douglas and Hal Holbrook. Its title is taken from the name of the notorious... more - 203311
Hail, Hero!
Michael Douglas, Teresa WrightReleased: 1969
Directed by: David Miller
Hail, Hero! is a 1969 film directed by David Miller, starring Michael Douglas, Deborah Winters and Peter Strauss. David Manber wrote the screenplay based on the novel by John Weston. The picture was... more - 212912
Adam at 6 A.M.
Michael Douglas, Joe Don BakerReleased: 1970
Directed by: Robert Scheerer
Adam at 6 A.M. is a 1970 American film directed by Robert Scheerer. The film did not receive much attention when it was released, but was the second starring role for Michael Douglas. The movie was... more - 221811
The Rainmaker
Matt Damon, Claire DanesReleased: 1997
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Rainmaker is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon, based on the 1995 novel of the same name by John Grisham. Danny DeVito, Danny Glover,... more - 232812
Summertree
Michael Douglas, Teri GarrReleased: 1971
Directed by: Anthony Newley
Summertree is a 1971 film directed by Anthony Newley. The screenplay was written by Edward Hume and Stephen Yafa, based on the 1967 play of the same name by Ron Cowen.... more - 245256
Don't Say a Word
Famke Janssen, Michael DouglasReleased: 2001
Directed by: Gary Fleder
Don't Say a Word is a 2001 psychological thriller film starring Michael Douglas, Brittany Murphy and Sean Bean based on the novel of the same title by Andrew Klavan. Don't Say a Word was directed by... more - 257385
Black Rain
Michael Douglas, Andy GarciaReleased: 1989
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Black Rain is a 1989 American action thriller film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Michael Douglas, Andy García, Ken Takakura, Kate Capshaw and Yusaku Matsuda. The story centers on two New York... more
