The Best William Powell Movies

Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best William Powell Movies
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Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

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

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

Use every item on this list for yours, from The Thin Man to Ziegfeld Follies.

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

Is William Powell your favorite person to watch on the big screen? You might also want to vote on our best Fredric March and John Garfield films lists too.

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  • The Thin Man
    1
    William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan
    111 votes
    • Released: 1934
    • Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
    The recently divorced Gilbert discovers that his new girlfriend has stolen $50,000 and is carrying on with other men. Not long afterward, he disappears. Anxious to locate her father, Gilbert's ...more

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  • My Man Godfrey
    2
    William Powell, Carol Lombard, Alice Brady
    110 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Gregory La Cava
    Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one fits that description more than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires ...more

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  • After the Thin Man
    3
    William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart
    81 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
    Recently returned home from vacation, private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his socialite wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), are back on the case when Nora's cousin, Selma (Elissa Landi), reports ...more

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  • Life with Father
    4
    William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor
    73 votes
    • Released: 1947
    • Directed by: Michael Curtiz
    In late 19th-century New York City, stockbroker Clarence Day (William Powell) strives to maintain order in his bustling household. Despite his attempts to be the chief authority over his four sons, ...more

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  • Another Thin Man
    5
    William Powell, Myrna Loy, Virginia Grey
    72 votes
    • Released: 1939
    • Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
    In this third film in the "Thin Man" series based on characters created by mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), accept an ...more

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  • The Thin Man Goes Home
    6
    William Powell, Myrna Loy, Lucile Watson
    65 votes
    • Released: 1944
    • Directed by: Richard Thorpe
    Famous retired detective Nick Charles (William Powell) takes his wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), and their dog, Asta, to visit Nick's parents in their small, quiet town. Determined that Nick's father respect ...more

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