The Best Nathan Lane Movies

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Updated August 11, 2023 513 votes 124 voters
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List of the best Nathan Lane movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Nathan Lane'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 Nathan Lane movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Nathan Lane movies will be at the top of the list. Nathan Lane has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Nathan Lane movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Nathan Lane films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

The list you're viewing has a variety of films, like MouseHunt and The Producers, in it.

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

Is Nathan Lane your favorite person to watch on the big screen? You might also want to vote on our best Matthew Broderick and Jeremy Irons films lists too.

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  • The Lion King
    1

    The Lion King

    Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones
    40 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
    In The Lion King, a young lion prince named Simba (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas when young and Matthew Broderick as an adult) is destined to become king of the Pride Lands. His wicked uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons), however, has other plans. The film, an animated musical drama produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, presents a tale of betrayal, exile and ultimately redemption. Aided by a meerkat Timon (Nathan Lane) and a warthog Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), Simba reclaims his birthright. It won two Academy Awards in 1995 for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.

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  • The Producers
    2

    The Producers

    Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman
    25 votes
    • Released: 2005
    • Directed by: Susan Stroman
    Failing producer Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) and his accountant, Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick), scam a group of elderly women out of their nest eggs by convincing them to invest in a horrendously offensive Third Reich-themed musical secretly intended to bomb the moment it opens. But when high-brow Broadway audiences mistakenly assume "Springtime for Hitler" is a satire, Bialystock finds himself with the critical acclaim that has long eluded him -- and the biggest hit of his career.

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  • The Birdcage
    3

    The Birdcage

    Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane
    37 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Mike Nichols
    The Birdcage, a comedic drama, is a flamboyant spectacle of love and acceptance. Armand Goldman (Robin Williams), owner of a gay nightclub in South Beach, shares his life with Albert (Nathan Lane), the club's star performer. When Armand's son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing senator, chaos ensues as they try to pass off as a traditional family. Directed by Mike Nichols, this film won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. The Birdcage delves into societal norms with humor, delivering laughs while pushing boundaries.

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  • The Lion King 1½
    4

    The Lion King 1½

    Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Julie Kavner
    21 votes
    • Released: 2004
    • Directed by: Bradley Raymond
    This retelling of "The Lion King" is conveyed from the perspective of meerkat Timon (Nathan Lane) and warthog Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) and shows how the pair became friends. When Timon leaves his colony because he doesn't fit in, he meets the lonely Pumbaa. Together Timon and Pumbaa search for a new home, having adventures along the way and eventually meeting up with lion prince Simba (Matthew Broderick), who is in exile from his home and must challenge the evil Scar for the title of Lion King.

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  • The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
    5

    The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

    Matthew Broderick, Neve Campbell, Andy Dick
    23 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Darrell Rooney
    Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala, loves the son of exiled lioness Zira, who is out for revenge.

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  • MouseHunt
    6

    MouseHunt

    Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Vicki Lewis
    26 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Gore Verbinski
    When their string magnate father, Rudolf Smuntz, dies, brothers Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (Lee Evans) move into his decrepit mansion. Struggling to keep a promise to never sell the now unprofitable string factory, the brothers decide that restoring the house, the last built by a famous architect, could bring them a great deal of money. But during their restoration attempts, Ernie and Lars are continually frustrated by a malicious mouse that keeps destroying their efforts.

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