David Carradine Movies

Want to know the best David Carradine movies?  How about the worst David Carradine movies?  Curious about David Carradine box office grosses or which David Carradine movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which David Carradine movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.

David Carradine (1936-2009) was an American actor.   Carradine is  best known as the star of the 1970s television series Kung Fu (1972-1975) and for playing the titular character in both of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies. His IMDb page shows over 235 acting credits from 1947 to 2021.   This page will rank David Carradine movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos, uncredited roles, and movies that were not released in North American were not included in the rankings.

Bound for Glory (1976)

David Carradine Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews, and awards.

Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)

David Carradine Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies any way you want.

  • Sort David Carradine movies by his co-stars
  • Sort David Carradine movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort David Carradine movies by yearly domestic rank
  • Sort David Carradine movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each David Carradine movie received.
  • Sort David Carradine movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR puts box office, reviews, and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Possibly Interesting Facts About David Carradine

  1. John Arthur Carradine was born in Hollywood, California in 1936.  Growing up he was called Jack.  Legally changed his name from John to David, to not only become a professional actor but also to avoid confusion with his famous father.

2.  David Carradine was the son of actor John Carradine.  He was the half brother of actors Keith and Robert Carradine.  He was the uncle of actresses Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

David Carradine with his brothers and his father.

3. David Carradine lived with Barbara Hershey from 1972-1975 (she changed her last name to Seagull during this time).  They have a son they named Free Carradine at birth, but who has since changed his name to Tom Carradine.

4. To date, David Carradine is the only actor who has appeared in films directed by Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman, and Quentin Tarantino.

5. Quentin Tarantino had originally envisioned the character “Bill” in the “Kill Bill” films as a suave “James Bond-type” man and had first approached Warren Beatty for the role. Beatty turned it down and suggested that he get David Carradine for the role.

Check out David Carradine‘s career compared to current and classic actors.  Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.

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13 thoughts on “David Carradine Movies”

  1. I have seen David in just 2 big-screen movies: The Good Guys and the Bad Guys and Heaven with a Gun.

    I actually last saw him -very recently in fact – in an episode of TV’s Matlock in which he has the main supporting role to Bruce Cogerson’s old real-life grocery store pally customer Andy Griffith: 1989’s two-parter The Prisoner.

    However as Bruce’s lead-in paragraphs above say David is probably most remembered for the TV series Kung Fu which I liked so I am pleased that WH has given a new page to a performer who is more remembered for work on the small rather than on the big screen; so “Voted Up!” with nostalgia – and here’s why.

    My wife and I used to watch Kung Fu all the time in the early days of our marriage [indeed it first aired in Oct 72 a few weeks before our wedding day] and as David’s Kung Fu teacher in the series nicknamed him “Grasshopper” that’s how WE too referred to David’s character.

    “Grasshopper, the main thing is the fact that death doesn’t come with any victory of its own.”

    “Grasshopper, can any person afford this type of arrogance?”

    “Grasshopper a good teacher has the ability to transform the life of any man. Learn from a good teacher who can guide you in your life.” [Fading scene shows Grasshopper heading for Virginia.]

    Reply

  2. David Carradine is # 15 on the 2020 Oracle of Bacon Top 1000. He has been as a high as # 4. These are the other actors on the list he has appeared with.

    1 CHRISTOPHER LEE Circle of Iron (1978)
    1 CHRISTOPHER LEE Safari 3000 (1982)
    2 HARVEY KEITEL Mean Streets (1973)
    7 ROBERT DE NIRO Mean Streets (1973)
    12 SAMUEL L. JACKSON Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
    16 DENNIS HOPPER Hell Ride (2008)
    16 DENNIS HOPPER The Good Life (1997)
    17 MICHAEL MADSEN Break (2008/III)
    17 MICHAEL MADSEN Hell Ride (2008)
    17 MICHAEL MADSEN Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
    17 MICHAEL MADSEN Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
    17 MICHAEL MADSEN Last Hour (2008)
    17 MICHAEL MADSEN Road of No Return (2009)
    23 ROD STEIGER Try This One for Size (1989)
    33 SYLVESTER STALLONE Cannonball! (1976)
    33 SYLVESTER STALLONE Death Race 2000 (1975)
    33 SYLVESTER STALLONE The Good Life (1997)
    34 FRANCO NERO Run for Your Life (1988)
    35 ELLIOTT GOULD The Long Goodbye (1973)
    38 CHARLTON HESTON Gray Lady Down (1978)
    39 RODDY MCDOWELL Circle of Iron (1978)
    39 RODDY MCDOWELL Double Trouble (1992/I)
    40 UDO KIER Fall Down Dead (2007)
    45 GEORGE KENNEDY Distant Justice (1992)
    45 GEORGE KENNEDY The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    52 NED BEATTY Gray Lady Down (1978)
    58 ELI WALLACH Circle of Iron (1978)
    68 JOHN CARRADINE Boxcar Bertha (1972)
    68 JOHN CARRADINE The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    68 JOHN CARRADINE The Long Riders (1980)
    68 JOHN CARRADINE The McMasters (1970)
    77 JOHN SAVAGE The Golden Boys (2008)
    81 ROBERT MITCHUM The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    81 ROBERT MITCHUM Young Billy Young (1969)
    84 BRUCE DERN The Golden Boys (2008)
    89 DANNY TREJO Richard III (2008)
    92 BRAD DOURIF Sonny Boy (1989)
    96 JACK PALANCE The McMasters (1970)
    99 RIP TORN The Golden Boys (2008)
    101 M. EMMET WALSH Big Stan (2007)
    101 M. EMMET WALSH Bound for Glory (1976)
    101 M. EMMET WALSH Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1990)
    111 STACY KEACH Gray Lady Down (1978)
    111 STACY KEACH The Long Riders (1980)
    115 IAN MCSHANE DEATH RACE (2008)
    122 DENNIS QUAID The Long Riders (1980)
    134 ERIC ROBERTS Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter (2007)
    138 FAYE DUNAWAY Last Goodbye (2004)
    155 SCOTT GLENN Camille (2008)
    168 JAMES HONG Bound for Glory (1976)
    171 MEL GIBSON Bird on a Wire (1990)
    175 GEORGE SEGAL Run for Your Life (1988)
    177 KATHY BATES The Effects of Magic (1998)
    189 ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER The Long Goodbye (1973)
    194 CHARLES DURNING Break (2008/III)
    194 CHARLES DURNING The Golden Boys (2008)
    197 VINNIE JONES HELL RIDE (2008)
    198 JOHN CUSACK Roadside Prophets (1992)
    200 MARTIN BALSAM The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    207 JEFF COREY Bird on a Wire (1990)
    219 OLIVER REED The Misfit Brigade (1987)
    234 RANDY QUAID Bound for Glory (1976)
    234 RANDY QUAID The Long Riders (1980)
    235 KEITH CARRADINE Hair High (2004)
    235 KEITH CARRADINE The Long Riders (1980)
    235 KEITH CARRADINE You and Me (1975)
    236 PAUL SORVINO Last Hour (2008)
    237 PETER FALK Too Many Thieves (1967)
    244 ED LAUTER Brothers in Arms (2005)
    244 ED LAUTER Camille (2008)
    253 RANCE HOWARD Miracle at Sage Creek (2005)
    260 STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY Bird on a Wire (1990)
    260 STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY Roadside Prophets (1992)
    285 BOB BALABAN Natural Selection (1999)
    287 JAMES REMAR The Long Riders (1980)
    307 TOM ARNOLD Homo Erectus (2007)
    308 ED BEGLEY JR. Hair High (2004)
    311 SCOTT WILSON Big Stan (2007)
    334 PETER JASON Hair High (2004)
    334 PETER JASON Richard III (2008)
    334 PETER JASON The Long Riders (1980)
    334 PETER JASON Trick or Treats (1982)
    336 UMA THURMAN Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
    336 UMA THURMAN Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
    338 BRUCE DAVISON The Misfit Brigade (1987)
    346 GARY BUSEY Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter (2007)
    346 GARY BUSEY Down ‘n Dirty (2001)
    346 GARY BUSEY Homo Erectus (2007)
    346 GARY BUSEY The Rage (1997)
    346 GARY BUSEY You and Me (1975)
    356 STOCKARD CHANNING Safari 3000 (1982)
    363 JEAN-PIERRE CASSEL I’ve Got You, You’ve Got Me by the Chin Hairs (1979)
    366 ANN-MARGRET Bus Riley’s Back in Town (1965)
    370 DARYL HANNAH Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
    370 DARYL HANNAH Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
    377 GLENN FORD Heaven with a Gun (1969)
    384 BEVERLY D’ANGELO Hair High (2004)
    384 BEVERLY D’ANGELO The Good Life (1997)
    392 KAREN BLACK Light Speed (1998)
    392 KAREN BLACK The Donor (2000)
    396 ROY SCHEIDER The Rage (1997)
    412 RICHARD RIEHLE Big Stan (2007)
    423 BO HOPKINS Macho Callahan (1970)
    432 RICHARD ROUNDTREE Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004)
    432 RICHARD ROUNDTREE Q (1982)
    436 BARBARA HERSHEY Americana (1983)
    436 BARBARA HERSHEY Boxcar Bertha (1972)
    436 BARBARA HERSHEY Heaven with a Gun (1969)
    436 BARBARA HERSHEY You and Me (1975)
    445 JAMES GAMMON Macho Callahan (1970)
    456 BEN STILLER HOMO ERECTUS (2007)
    465 STEPHEN ROOT Natural Selection (1999)
    466 CHARLES NAPIER Down ‘n Dirty (2001)
    466 CHARLES NAPIER Future Zone (1990)
    466 CHARLES NAPIER Macon County Jail (1997)
    466 CHARLES NAPIER Thunder and Lightning (1977)
    475 BRITT EKLAND Too Many Thieves (1967)
    477 LIN SHAYE Homo Erectus (2007)
    477 LIN SHAYE Roadside Prophets (1992)
    477 LIN SHAYE The Long Riders (1980)
    479 MARIO ADORF Try This One for Size (1989)
    480 DIANE LADD Macho Callahan (1970)
    485 DICK MILLER Armed Response (1986)
    485 DICK MILLER Cannonball! (1976)
    485 DICK MILLER Evil Toons (1992)
    510 JOHN IRELAND Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1990)
    510 JOHN IRELAND Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992)
    522 MICHAEL PARKS Bus Riley’s Back in Town (1965)
    522 MICHAEL PARKS Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
    522 MICHAEL PARKS Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
    522 MICHAEL PARKS Miracle at Sage Creek (2005)
    552 DON CHEADLE Roadside Prophets (1992)
    591 CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA ARMED RESPONSE (1986)
    591 CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA BLIZHNIY BOY: THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER (2007)
    592 ANGIE DICKINSON Young Billy Young (1969)
    597 PAUL FIX Young Billy Young (1969)
    598 DERMOT MULRONEY HAIR HIGH (2004)
    614 ROB SCHNEIDER Big Stan (2007)
    621 COLLEEN CAMP Cloud Dancer (1980)
    623 BRION JAMES Bound for Glory (1976)
    632 MARTIN SCORSESE Boxcar Bertha (1972)
    632 MARTIN SCORSESE Cannonball! (1976)
    632 MARTIN SCORSESE Mean Streets (1973)
    640 DREW BARRYMORE Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992)
    643 JAMES WHITMORE The Serpent’s Egg (1977)
    650 CLYDE KUSATSU Bird on a Wire (1990)
    666 SID HAIG KILL BILL: VOL. 2 (2004)
    666 SID HAIG WARLORDS (1988)
    666 SID HAIG WIZARDS OF THE LOST KINGDOM II (1989)
    673 C. THOMAS HOWELL Shepherd (1999)
    676 JAY O. SANDERS Hair High (2004)
    676 JAY O. SANDERS The Misfit Brigade (1987)
    686 ROSCOE LEE BROWNE Epic Movie (2007)
    687 STEPHEN MCHATTIE GRAY LADY DOWN (1978)
    690 CRISPIN GLOVER EPIC MOVIE (2007)
    692 JAMES FRANCO Camille (2008)
    695 SALLY KIRKLAND Big Stan (2007)
    695 SALLY KIRKLAND Richard III (2008)
    697 JANE SEYMOUR The New Swiss Family Robinson (1998)
    729 MATT CLARK Macho Callahan (1970)
    730 VICTOR ARGO Boxcar Bertha (1972)
    730 VICTOR ARGO Mean Streets (1973)
    740 GERT FROBE The Serpent’s Egg (1977)
    749 KATHLEEN FREEMAN The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    755 JASON STATHAM Crank: High Voltage (2009)
    755 JASON STATHAM Death Race (2008)
    760 LEE VAN CLEEF Armed Response (1986)
    776 LUCY LIU KILL BILL: VOL. 1 (2003)
    776 LUCY LIU KILL BILL: VOL. 2 (2004)
    801 RICHARD KIND Big Stan (2007)
    806 HENRY GIBSON Big Stan (2007)
    806 HENRY GIBSON The Long Goodbye (1973)
    825 NEHEMIAH PERSOFF Too Many Thieves (1967)
    835 BILL COBBS Roadside Prophets (1992)
    836 JAMES RUSSO Break (2008/III)
    847 CORBIN BERNSEN Kiss of a Stranger (1999)
    851 ALDO RAY Crime of Crimes (1989)
    851 ALDO RAY The Violent Ones (1967)
    896 TOM NOONAN HAIR HIGH (2004)
    897 PATRICK MACNEE Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992)
    915 STERLING HAYDEN The Long Goodbye (1973)
    934 RICHARD ANDERSON Macho Callahan (1970)
    943 BERT REMSEN Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1990)
    963 DEXTER FLETCHER AUTUMN (2009/I)
    972 PEDRO ARMENDARIZ JR. Frontera Sur (1993)
    972 PEDRO ARMENDARIZ JR. Macho Callahan (1970)
    982 LIV ULLMANN The Serpent’s Egg (1977)
    987 MARY KAY PLACE BOUND FOR GLORY (1976)
    1000 FRED WILLARD EPIC MOVIE (2007)

    With all the schlock he was in he has only appeared with 10 Oscar winners.

    BURL IVES The McMasters (1970)
    CHARLTON HESTON Gray Lady Down (1978)
    FAYE DUNAWAY Last Goodbye (2004)
    GEORGE KENNEDY Distant Justice (1992)
    GEORGE KENNEDY The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    GOLDIE HAWN Bird on a Wire (1990)
    JACK PALANCE The McMasters (1970)
    KATHY BATES The Effects of Magic (1998)
    MARTIN BALSAM The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)
    ROBERT DE NIRO Mean Streets (1973)
    ROD STEIGER Try This One for Size (1989)

    Reply

    1. Hey Dan. Good trivia lists on David Carradine. All the way to 15th. All of those low budget never seen movies really helped his Oracle rating. When I originally saw his 200 plus credits I thought he might end up with 100 movies on the page. The reality was I had a hard time reaching 40 movies for him. I like that John Carradine made so many movies with his son…so even if it is not true…I am giving John the title of most frequent Oracle co-star. Looking at the second list….wow…that is a very low total of Oscar winning co-stars. Good stuff as always.

      Reply

  4. Put #403 on the board…as this was the 403rd subject in Joel’s book to get an UMR page.

    So what do you get when you have a Hungarian, a English woman, 2 Frenchmen, 2 English gentlemen and a group of famous young Brits from the 1960s? You get the last 7 Joel subjects that need UMR pages. Hard to believe this project is almost over….I hear Bob rejoicing all the way across the big pond.

    Reply

  5. I have seen 4 David Carradine movies.

    None of the films I have seen are favourites. In UMR order, they are:

    Bird on a Wire
    Bound For Glory
    Mean Streets
    The Long Goodbye

    Reply

    1. Hey Flora….you bet me to the punch….lol. I was about to do the first comment and got distracted by a new member of our household. We have a new kitten named Maggie. Maggie the Cat…..which I thought WoC was naming for Elizabeth Taylor in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof….turns out that was me thinking about movies too much…as WoC was not aware of Maggie the Cat in the world of Tennesse Williams.

      Thanks for the feedback on Mr. David Carradine. I have seen 12 of his movies compared to your 4. Like you I do not have any favorites…I did not really like either Kill Bill movie. I have not seen probably his best performance in Bound For Glory. Of the 12 I have seen….I would say Q is the one I liked best….but I have not seen it in over 30 years. Good stuff as always.

      Reply

        1. Hey Flora. Yep three cats. One for every female in the house. Emily has a Pringle. Samantha has a Tom. And now WoC has a Maggie.

          Reply

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