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The Best Robert Duvall Movies

Updated October 16, 2019 14.9k votes 2.6k voters 155.5k views95 items

List RulesVote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

This list of the best Robert Duvall movies is ranked best to worst and includes movie trailers when available. With roles in To Kill a Mockingbird and an Oscar-winning performance in Tender Mercies, Robert Duvall has become known as one of the best actors of his generation. Robert Duvall's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world, but the order of this Robert Duvall movies list is decided by how many votes they receive, so only his most highly rated films will be at the top of the list.

This list answers the questions, "What are the best Robert Duvall movies?" and "What are the greatest Robert Duvall roles of all time?" And features some of his most famous films like The Godfather starring a young Robert Duvall as well as the more recent The Judge. He certainly has animpressive filmography, but it's up to fans like you to decide whether his classic flicks or latest films best showcase his talent. If you think the best Robert Duvall role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one.

And if you are a fan of good ol' Bob Duvall's Coppola collaborations, you might also enjoy our list of best Al Pacino movies and best Marlon Brando movies.

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Lonesome Dove
Anjelica Huston, Timothy Scott
Released: 1989
Directed by: Simon Wincer
Lonesome Dove is a 1989 American epic Western adventure television miniseries directed by Simon Wincer. It is a four part adaptation of the 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Larry... more
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#119 of 342 The Greatest TV Dramas of All Time#153 of 202 The TV Shows with the Best Writing
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Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford
Released: 1979
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War. Produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, and Robert Duvall. The... more
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15 Stories From The Wild Life Of David Hackworth, Who Inspired Two 'Apocalypse Now' Characters#170 of 302 The Best Movies Based On True Stories
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Open Range
Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall
Released: 2003
Directed by: Kevin Costner
Open Range is a 2003 American western film directed and co-produced by Kevin Costner, starring Robert Duvall and Costner, with Annette Bening and Michael Gambon appearing in supporting roles. The... more
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#16 of 401 The Best Western Movies Ever Made#3 of 77 The Best Modern Western Movies
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The Godfather Part II
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro
Released: 1974
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Partially... more
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#6 of 549 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made#3 of 123 The Best Mafia Films Of All Time
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Robert Duvall, Gregory Peck
Released: 1962
Directed by: Robert Mulligan
To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 American drama film directed by Robert Mulligan. The screenplay by Horton Foote was based on the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Harper Lee. It... more
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'To Kill a Mockingbird' Quotes That'll Change How You Think#27 of 174 The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
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The Godfather
Al Pacino, Marlon Brando
Released: 1972
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by Mario Puzo. The aging patriarch (Marlon Brando) of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of... more
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How 'The Godfather' Became An American Classic Even Though It Was 'Nightmarish' Behind The Scenes#108 of 1,195 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever
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609
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Secondhand Lions
Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment
Released: 2003
Directed by: Tim McCanlies
Secondhand Lions, a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tim McCanlies, tells the story of an introverted young boy who is sent to live with his eccentric great-uncles on a farm in... more
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#146 of 246 The Best Movies For Kids#42 of 149 The Best Bromance Movies
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The Natural
Kim Basinger, Robert Redford
Released: 1984
Directed by: Barry Levinson
The Natural is a 1984 sports drama. It is a film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert... more
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#7 of 14 Movies That Threw Book Endings Out The Window Completely#122 of 512 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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Sling Blade
Robert Duvall, Billy Bob Thornton
Released: 1996
Directed by: Billy Bob Thornton
Sling Blade is a 1996 American drama film set in rural Arkansas, written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also stars in the lead role. It tells the story of a man named Karl Childers with a... more
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#35 of 126 The Greatest Directorial Debuts Of All Time#12 of 134 The Best Directorial Debuts Of Famous Actors
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Tender Mercies
Robert Duvall, Ellen Barkin
Released: 1983
Directed by: Bruce Beresford
Tender Mercies is a 1983 American drama film directed by Bruce Beresford. The screenplay by Horton Foote focuses on Mac Sledge, a recovering alcoholic country music singer who seeks to turn his life... more
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#28 of 50 The Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the '80s#15 of 50 The Best Country Movies, Ranked

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The Eagle Has Landed
Robert Duvall, Michael Caine
Released: 1976
Directed by: John Sturges
The Eagle Has Landed is a 1976 British film directed by John Sturges and starring Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall. Based on the novel The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins, the film... more
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#72 of 376 The 50+ Best War Movies Ever Made, Ranked#146 of 552 The Best '70s Movies
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The Great Santini
Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner
Released: 1979
Directed by: Lewis John Carlino
The Great Santini is a 1979 film directed by Lewis John Carlino, written by Lewis John Carlino and Herman Raucher, and based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Pat Conroy. The film stars Robert... more
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The Apostle
Farrah Fawcett, Robert Duvall
Released: 1997
Directed by: Robert Duvall
The Apostle is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Robert Duvall, who stars in the title role. John Beasley, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter Cash, Miranda Richardson... more
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#57 of 94 The Best Movies With Christian Themes#53 of 92 The Best Movies Directed by the Star
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True Grit
John Wayne, Robert Duvall
Released: 1969
Directed by: Henry Hathaway
True Grit is a 1969 American western Technicolor film written by Marguerite Roberts, directed by Henry Hathaway, and starring John Wayne as U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn; Wayne won his only Academy... more
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#55 of 675 The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars#19 of 175 The Best Movies Of The '60s
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Colors
Sean Penn, Robert Duvall
Released: 1988
Directed by: Dennis Hopper
Colors is a 1988 American police procedural action film starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall, and directed by Dennis Hopper. The film takes place in the gang ridden neighborhoods of South Central Los... more
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#32 of 85 The Best Movies About Corrupt Cops#23 of 132 The Best Films Directed by Famous Actors
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Falling Down
Robert Duvall, Michael Douglas
Released: 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... more
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#56 of 232 The Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time#65 of 440 The Best Movies Of The 1990s
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MASH
Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland
Released: 1970
Directed by: Robert Altman
MASH is a 1970 American satirical black comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. The picture is... more
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Dramatic Stories From Behind The Scenes Of ‘M.A.S.H.’#36 of 55 The Best Memorial Day Movies
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Four Christmases
Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall
Released: 2008
Directed by: Seth Gordon
Four Christmases is a Christmas-themed romantic comedy film about a couple visiting all four of their divorced parents' homes on Christmas Day. The film is produced by Spyglass Entertainment released... more
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#526 of 783 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made#45 of 127 The Best Christmas Movies of All Time
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Days of Thunder
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman
Released: 1990
Directed by: Tony Scott
Days of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole... more
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#63 of 205 The Best Sports Movies Ever Made#369 of 541 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies
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Joe Kidd
Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall
Released: 1972
Directed by: John Sturges
Joe Kidd is a 1972 American western film starring Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall, written by Elmore Leonard and directed by John Sturges. The film is about an ex-bounty hunter hired by a wealthy... more
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#27 of 45 The Best Movies Starring Clint Eastwood#9 of 44 The Best Western Movies of the '70s

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Bullitt
Robert Duvall, Steve McQueen
Released: 1968
Directed by: Peter Yates
Bullitt is a 1968 American action police procedural film directed by Peter Yates and produced by Philip D'Antoni. It stars Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset. The screenplay by Alan... more
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#152 of 386 The Best Movies Based On Books#83 of 627 The Greatest Action Movies Of All Time
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Thank You for Smoking
Katie Holmes, Robert Duvall
Released: 2006
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Thank You for Smoking is a 2006 comedy-drama film written and directed by Jason Reitman and starring Aaron Eckhart, based on the 1994 satirical novel of the same name by Christopher Buckley. It... more
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#1317 of 1,506 The Most Rewatchable Movies#883 of 924 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
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The Killer Elite
Robert Duvall, James Caan
Released: 1975
Directed by: Sam Peckinpah
The Killer Elite is a 1975 American action thriller film starring James Caan and Robert Duvall and directed by Sam Peckinpah. The screenplay was written by Marc Norman and Stirling Silliphant adapted... more
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We Own the Night
Eva Mendes, Mark Wahlberg
Released: 2007
Directed by: James Gray
We Own the Night is a 2007 American drama film written and directed by James Gray and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. It is the third film directed by Gray, and... more
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Deep Impact
Morgan Freeman, Robert Duvall
Released: 1998
Directed by: Mimi Leder
Deep Impact is a 1998 American science fiction disaster film directed by Mimi Leder, written by Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin, and starring Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa... more
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#3 of 318 The Greatest Disaster Movies of All Time#193 of 277 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry

Joe Kidd