Want to know the best James Stewart movies? How about the worst James Stewart movies? Curious about James Stewart’s box office grosses or which James Stewart movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which James Stewart 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. James “Jimmy” Stewart (1908-1997) is considered one of the greatest actors to ever exist. He was named the third Greatest Male Star of All-Time by the American Film Institute. He made almost 80 movies in his acting career that lasted over seven decades. Stewart received five Academy Award® nominations for Best Actor. He won an Oscar® for The Philadelphia Story.
Shortly after winning his Academy Award®, James Stewart enlisted in the Air Force. His accomplishments in World War II outshine his movie career in my opinion. Stewart started as a private, but moved up the ranks rapidly. Stewart was assigned to the 445th Bombardment Group and flew combat missions. He flew as command pilot in the lead B-24 on numerous missions deep into Germany. At the end of the war, Stewart had earned the rank of Colonel.
James Stewart’s first movie after the war was one of the great all time classics…. It’s A Wonderful Life. From 1946 until 1971 Stewart starred in 45 movies, including classic movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, Rear Window and Vertigo. His last starring role was Fools’ Parade with a very young Kurt Russell.
His IMDb page shows 98 acting credits from 1934-1991. This page will rank James Stewart movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television appearances, cameos and some of his very early 1930s movies were not included in the rankings.
James Stewart Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Actor Nom
1940
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Actor Win
1946
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Actor Nom
1938
You Can't Take It with You (1938)
AA Best Picture Win
1959
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Actor Nom
1954
Rear Window (1954)
1952
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
AA Best Picture Win
1962
How the West Was Won (1962)
AA Best Picture Nom
1936
After the Thin Man (1936)
1958
Vertigo (1958)
1950
Harvey (1950)
AA Best Actor Nom
1955
The Man From Laramie (1955)
1956
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
1954
The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
1949
The Stratton Story (1949)
1948
Rope (1948)
1938
Vivacious Lady (1938)
1965
Shenandoah (1965)
1954
The Far Country (1954)
1952
Bend of the River (1952)
1936
Rose-Marie (1936)
1950
Broken Arrow (1950)
1950
Winchester '73 (1950)
1948
Call Northside 777 (1948)
1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
1936
Born To Dance (1936)
1936
Wife vs. Secretary (1936)
1941
Ziegfeld Girl (1941)
1962
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
1959
The FBI Story (1959)
1940
The Mortal Storm (1940)
1953
The Naked Spur (1953)
1955
Strategic Air Command (1955)
1957
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
1939
Destry Rides Again (1939)
1940
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
1936
Small Town Girl (1936)
1937
Navy Blue and Gold (1937)
1957
Night Passage (1957)
1976
The Shootist (1976)
1958
Bell Book and Candle (1958)
1936
The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)
1938
The Shopworn Angel (1938)
1941
Come Live with Me (1941)
1953
Thunder Bay (1953)
1965
The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
1949
Malaya (1949)
1937
Seventh Heaven (1937)
1977
Airport '77 (1977)
1939
It's a Wonderful World (1939)
1970
The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)
1937
The Last Gangster (1937)
1948
You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)
1964
Cheyenne Autumn (1964)
1952
Carbine Williams (1952)
1963
Take Her, She's Mine (1963)
1951
No Highway in the Sky (1951)
1940
No Time For Comedy (1940)
1939
The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939)
1950
The Jackpot (1950)
1947
Magic Town (1947)
1968
Bandolero! (1968)
1948
On Our Merry Way (1948)
1961
Two Rode Together (1961)
1939
Made For Each Other (1939)
1936
Next Time We Love (1936)
1935
The Murder Man (1935)
1938
Of Human Hearts (1938)
1965
Dear Brigitte (1965)
1983
Right of Way (1983)
HBO Movie
1991
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)
1968
Firecreek (1968)
1966
The Rare Breed (1966)
1941
Pot O' Gold (1941)
1971
Fools' Parade (1971)
1978
The Magic of Lassie (1978)
1960
The Mountain Road (1960)
1978
The Big Sleep (1978)
James Stewart 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 anyway you want.
- Sort James Stewart movies by co-stars of his movies
- Sort James Stewart movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort James Stewart movies by yearly box office rank
- Sort James Stewart 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 James Stewart movie received.
- Sort James Stewart movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Claude Rains & Directed by Frank Capra |
9.60 | 402.9 | 402.90 | 3 | 89 | 11 / 01 | 99.6 | |
| 2 | The Philadelphia Story (1940) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Win |
Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn |
6.80 | 284.6 | 390.70 | 7 | 91 | 06 / 02 | 99.6 | |
| 3 | It's a Wonderful Life (1946) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Donna Reed & Directed by Frank Capra |
8.90 | 299.4 | 299.40 | 27 | 94 | 05 / 00 | 99.6 | |
| 4 | You Can't Take It with You (1938) AA Best Picture Win |
Jean Arthur & Directed by Frank Capra |
8.00 | 348.1 | 348.10 | 7 | 63 | 07 / 02 | 99.3 | |
| 5 | Anatomy of a Murder (1959) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
George C. Scott & Lee Remick |
15.70 | 307.7 | 307.70 | 13 | 86 | 07 / 00 | 99.3 | |
| 6 | Rear Window (1954) | Grace Kelly & Directed by Alfred Hitchcock |
23.20 | 592.5 | 592.50 | 2 | 94 | 04 / 00 | 99.3 | |
| 7 | The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) AA Best Picture Win |
Charlton Heston & Directed by Cecil B. DeMille |
32.90 | 703.2 | 703.20 | 1 | 64 | 05 / 02 | 99.3 | |
| 8 | How the West Was Won (1962) AA Best Picture Nom |
John Wayne & Henry Fonda |
36.10 | 565.4 | 1,348.80 | 2 | 76 | 08 / 03 | 99.0 | |
| 9 | After the Thin Man (1936) | William Powell & Myrna Loy |
6.60 | 312.1 | 495.80 | 6 | 87 | 01 / 00 | 98.6 | |
| 10 | Vertigo (1958) | Kim Novak & Directed by Alfred Hitchcock |
9.10 | 179.0 | 179.00 | 19 | 91 | 02 / 00 | 98.4 | |
| 11 | Harvey (1950) AA Best Actor Nom |
Josephine Hull | 7.40 | 181.8 | 181.80 | 17 | 87 | 02 / 01 | 97.9 | |
| 12 | The Man From Laramie (1955) | Donald Crisp & Anthony Mann |
9.40 | 213.0 | 213.00 | 31 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 97.9 | |
| 13 | The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) | Doris Day & Directed by Alfred Hitchcock |
11.70 | 250.3 | 250.30 | 21 | 81 | 01 / 01 | 97.9 | |
| 14 | The Glenn Miller Story (1954) | June Allyson & Directed by Anthony Mann |
18.30 | 467.1 | 467.10 | 5 | 79 | 03 / 01 | 97.7 | |
| 15 | The Stratton Story (1949) | June Allyson & Frank Morgan |
10.30 | 280.8 | 280.80 | 8 | 78 | 01 / 01 | 97.2 | |
| 16 | Rope (1948) | Farley Grangers & Directed by Alfred Hitchcock |
5.80 | 170.7 | 227.90 | 50 | 89 | 00 / 00 | 97.1 | |
| 17 | Vivacious Lady (1938) | Ginger Rogers | 4.20 | 181.4 | 257.30 | 37 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 96.3 | |
| 18 | Shenandoah (1965) | Patrick Wayne & Katharine Ross |
19.20 | 221.1 | 221.10 | 10 | 75 | 01 / 00 | 96.2 | |
| 19 | The Far Country (1954) | Walter Brennan & Directed by Anthony Mann |
7.10 | 182.5 | 182.50 | 43 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 96.2 | |
| 20 | Bend of the River (1952) | Rock Hudson | 8.30 | 178.0 | 178.00 | 16 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 95.9 | |
| 21 | Rose-Marie (1936) | Jeanette MacDonald | 5.60 | 265.6 | 550.70 | 8 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 95.7 | |
| 22 | Broken Arrow (1950) | Jeff Chandler & Will Greer |
10.10 | 248.3 | 248.30 | 7 | 71 | 03 / 00 | 95.7 | |
| 23 | Winchester '73 (1950) | Shelley Winters & Directed by Anthony Mann |
6.40 | 157.4 | 157.40 | 32 | 87 | 00 / 00 | 95.7 | |
| 24 | Call Northside 777 (1948) | Lee J. Cobb | 7.10 | 208.7 | 208.70 | 32 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 95.4 | |
| 25 | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) | John Wayne & Directed by John Ford |
10.10 | 158.9 | 313.30 | 22 | 84 | 01 / 00 | 95.3 | |
| 26 | Born To Dance (1936) | Eleanor Powell | 5.40 | 255.7 | 378.00 | 11 | 70 | 02 / 00 | 95.1 | |
| 27 | Wife vs. Secretary (1936) | Clark Gable & Jean Harlow |
4.50 | 211.5 | 323.80 | 23 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 94.8 | |
| 28 | Ziegfeld Girl (1941) | Judy Garland & Lana Turner |
6.10 | 256.0 | 419.80 | 14 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 94.8 | |
| 29 | Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) | Maureen O'Hara | 11.40 | 179.0 | 179.00 | 18 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 94.2 | |
| 30 | The FBI Story (1959) | Vera Miles | 10.00 | 195.8 | 195.80 | 23 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 93.5 | |
| 31 | The Mortal Storm (1940) | Margaret Sullavan & Robert Young |
3.30 | 139.0 | 139.00 | 44 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 92.9 | |
| 32 | The Naked Spur (1953) | Robert Ryan | 6.80 | 133.5 | 133.50 | 38 | 84 | 01 / 00 | 92.7 | |
| 33 | Strategic Air Command (1955) | June Allyson & Directed by Anthony Mann |
18.60 | 419.6 | 419.60 | 8 | 61 | 01 / 00 | 92.2 | |
| 34 | The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) | Directed by Billy Wilder | 7.40 | 155.9 | 155.90 | 27 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 91.9 | |
| 35 | Destry Rides Again (1939) | Marlene Dietrich | 2.90 | 121.7 | 121.70 | 82 | 84 | 00 / 00 | 91.4 | |
| 36 | The Shop Around the Corner (1940) | Margaret Sullavan & Directed by Ernst Lubitsch |
2.40 | 100.7 | 100.70 | 81 | 88 | 00 / 00 | 90.2 | |
| 37 | Small Town Girl (1936) | Robert Taylor & Janet Gaynor |
3.70 | 173.6 | 251.40 | 36 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 90.1 | |
| 38 | Navy Blue and Gold (1937) | Robert Young | 3.50 | 159.8 | 159.80 | 58 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 89.4 | |
| 39 | Night Passage (1957) | Audie Murphy & Dan Duryea |
7.40 | 155.9 | 155.90 | 28 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 88.7 | |
| 40 | The Shootist (1976) | John Wayne & Lauren Bacall |
18.10 | 100.1 | 100.10 | 38 | 81 | 01 / 00 | 88.1 | |
| 41 | Bell Book and Candle (1958) | Jack Lemmon & Kim Novak |
7.10 | 138.5 | 138.50 | 35 | 68 | 02 / 00 | 87.9 | |
| 42 | The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) | Joan Crawford | 4.90 | 228.4 | 316.30 | 18 | 48 | 02 / 00 | 87.7 | |
| 43 | The Shopworn Angel (1938) | Margaret Sullavan & Directed by Ernst Lubitsch |
2.90 | 125.7 | 181.40 | 74 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 87.7 | |
| 44 | Come Live with Me (1941) | Hedy Lamarr | 2.70 | 114.4 | 114.40 | 92 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 86.8 | |
| 45 | Thunder Bay (1953) | Dan Duryea & Directed by Anthony Mann |
7.30 | 142.4 | 142.40 | 33 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 86.2 | |
| 46 | The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) | Richard Attenborough & Directed by Ernst Lubitsch |
7.30 | 84.1 | 84.10 | 40 | 79 | 02 / 00 | 85.8 | |
| 47 | Malaya (1949) | Spencer Tracy | 5.40 | 148.7 | 234.30 | 48 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 85.6 | |
| 48 | Seventh Heaven (1937) | Simon Simone | 2.80 | 126.5 | 126.50 | 88 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 85.0 | |
| 49 | Airport '77 (1977) | Jack Lemmon & Lee Grant |
40.80 | 214.9 | 214.90 | 17 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 84.7 | |
| 50 | It's a Wonderful World (1939) | Claudette Colbert | 2.20 | 90.6 | 90.60 | 109 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 84.2 | |
| 51 | The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) | Henry Fonda & Directed by Gene Kelly |
15.90 | 120.6 | 120.60 | 23 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 84.2 | |
| 52 | The Last Gangster (1937) | Edward G. Robinson | 2.80 | 126.5 | 126.50 | 87 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 83.0 | |
| 53 | You Gotta Stay Happy (1948) | Joan Fontaine & Eddie Albert |
5.10 | 150.7 | 150.70 | 69 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 82.6 | |
| 54 | Cheyenne Autumn (1964) | Richard Widmark & Directed by John Ford |
8.80 | 109.8 | 279.40 | 30 | 64 | 01 / 00 | 82.3 | |
| 55 | Carbine Williams (1952) | Jean Hagen & James Arness |
4.90 | 103.9 | 103.90 | 64 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 81.5 | |
| 56 | Take Her, She's Mine (1963) | Sandra Dee | 9.30 | 126.9 | 126.90 | 30 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 81.5 | |
| 57 | No Highway in the Sky (1951) | Marlene Dietrich | 3.30 | 77.2 | 77.20 | 108 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 80.5 | |
| 58 | No Time For Comedy (1940) | Rosalind Russell | 2.50 | 105.5 | 140.40 | 75 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 80.4 | |
| 59 | The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939) | Joan Crawford | 2.90 | 121.7 | 196.90 | 80 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 75.6 | |
| 60 | The Jackpot (1950) | Barbara Hale | 4.40 | 106.7 | 106.70 | 70 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 74.7 | |
| 61 | Magic Town (1947) | Jane Wyman | 4.20 | 134.8 | 156.60 | 81 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 74.2 | |
| 62 | Bandolero! (1968) | Dean Martin & Raquel Welch |
15.70 | 140.9 | 140.90 | 23 | 43 | 00 / 00 | 74.1 | |
| 63 | On Our Merry Way (1948) | Henry Fonda & Fred MacMurray |
4.10 | 119.8 | 178.70 | 87 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 73.8 | |
| 64 | Two Rode Together (1961) | Richard Widmark & Directed by John Ford |
4.10 | 65.8 | 65.80 | 55 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 71.2 | |
| 65 | Made For Each Other (1939) | Carole Lombard | 1.30 | 55.4 | 55.40 | 156 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 70.5 | |
| 66 | Next Time We Love (1936) | Margaret Sullavan & Ray Milland |
1.60 | 74.6 | 74.60 | 116 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 69.8 | |
| 67 | The Murder Man (1935) | Spencer Tracy | 1.00 | 48.1 | 76.40 | 132 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 66.3 | |
| 68 | Of Human Hearts (1938) | Charles Coburn | 0.90 | 40.0 | 40.00 | 171 | 66 | 01 / 00 | 64.6 | |
| 69 | Dear Brigitte (1965) | Fabian | 4.70 | 54.5 | 54.50 | 56 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 59.3 | |
| 70 | Right of Way (1983) HBO Movie |
Bette Davis | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 175 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 59.2 | |
| 71 | An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) | John Cleese | 22.20 | 61.9 | 113.80 | 59 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 53.3 | |
| 72 | Firecreek (1968) | Henry Fonda | 3.10 | 28.2 | 28.20 | 90 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 51.1 | |
| 73 | The Rare Breed (1966) | Maureen O'Hara & Brian Keith |
5.00 | 53.4 | 53.40 | 56 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 50.4 | |
| 74 | Pot O' Gold (1941) | Paulette Goddard | 1.00 | 42.3 | 42.30 | 175 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 46.8 | |
| 75 | Fools' Parade (1971) | Kurt Russell | 3.00 | 21.6 | 21.60 | 90 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 45.0 | |
| 76 | The Magic of Lassie (1978) | Mickey Rooney | 4.00 | 19.9 | 19.90 | 88 | 57 | 01 / 00 | 37.8 | |
| 77 | The Mountain Road (1960) | Lisa Lu | 1.30 | 22.1 | 22.10 | 118 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 27.2 | |
| 78 | The Big Sleep (1978) | Robert Mitchum | 2.20 | 11.2 | 11.20 | 112 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 17.2 |
Possibly Interesting Facts About James Stewart
1. James Stewart’s father ran a hardware store. Three generations of his family had run the store. Stewart was supposed to take over for his father….it did not work out that way. When Stewart won his Oscar® in 1941, he gave the Oscar® to his dad who place the Oscar® in the hardware store front window….I am sure many people went to that hardware store just see that Oscar® statue.
2. James Stewart got married for the first and only time in 1949. He was married to Gloria McClean from 1949 to 1994. Stewart adopted McClean’s two sons, Ronald and Michael, from her previous marriage and in 1951 they had twin girls, Judy and Kelly.
3. During Stewart’s long career he worked with many directors numerous times. His two most famous collaborations were with Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Mann. Stewart appeared in 4 Hitchcock movies and 8 Anthony Mann movies.
4. Speaking of Alfred Hitchcock….James Stewart really wanted to play Roger Thornhill in 1959’s North by Northwest. Hitchcock felt that Cary Grant would be better for the role and delayed making North by Northwest until Stewart had started filming Bell, Book and Candle.
5. James Stewart was nominated 5 times for a Best Actor Oscar®. Those movies were Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The Philadelphia Story, It’s A Wonderful Life, Harvey and Anatomy of a Murder. He won for The Philadlephia Story in 1941.
6. James Stewart was the first major star to negotiate a percentage of the his movies grosses. Stewart decided it was worth the gamble to lower his salary and get a percentage. The first two movies he tried this approach on were 1950’s Winchester 73 and Broken Arrow. Both movies became very big hits and Stewart changed the way stars negotiated their contracts.
7. James Stewart’s best friend was Henry Fonda. Henry Fonda arrived in Hollywood first and convinced Stewart to follow his footsteps. One time the two friends got into a fist fight over politics. They decided to never discuss politics ever again amongst themselves.
8. In 1985 James Stewart was presented an Honorary Oscar®. During his acceptance speech he said “This was the greatest award I received, to know that, after all these years, I haven’t been forgotten.”…..26 years later and he is still not forgotten.
9. Famous roles James Stewart turned down or was seriously considered for: The Wild Bunch, The Seven Year Itch, On Golden Pond, North by Northwest, My Darling Clementine, The Last Picture Show, and I Confess.
10. Check out James Stewart‘ career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
Still searching for box office grosses for 3 James Stewart movies. 1936’s Speed, 1936’s Born To Dance and 1938’s Of Human Hearts.
AFI’s Top 25 Screen Legend Actors….with links to my movie pages on the Screen Legend
STEVE
JIMMY STEWART VIDEO 1-25
BEST POSTERS Shenandoah, foreign language one for Broken Arrow, The Man from Laramie, The Naked Spur [Stewart’s hero cried in that one when he was told he was loved – I wonder what The Duke thought of that!] Rope, Call Northside 777 [which I used to confuse with Cagney’s 13 Rue Madeline] Winchester 73 [with Rock’s Young Bull a large menacing background figure] The Philadelphia Story, Rear Window and a very original foreign language one for The Man who Shot Liberty Valance which was breathtaking.
BRUCE
1 Weird messages keep appearing on my Cogerson pages giving me E Mail addresss which it is implied belong to other viewers. I go one this morning attributed to Flora.
2 I am immediately destroying all traces of the addresses concerned and now have no record of them but I thought you should know about the matter.
STEVE
1 Yes, they were the ones that disappeared. Sorry about my poor maths as I mean 52-26.
2 I’ll send you 1-25 comments in 2 parts tomorrow.
STEVE
Two sets of comments lodged on your Stewart video but they seem to have disappeared despite being as brief as I could keep them
Bob, I can see your two posts for Video 50-26 were they the ones that disappeared?
Thanks for reviewing the first half of my Jimmy Stewart video, much appreciated!
JAMES STEWART VIDEO 50-26 – STILLS
Only 4 listed in my notes but they were superb – (1) Stewart with Hank – The Cheyenne Social Club of the title was a brothel and the film was produced and directed by Gene Kelly (2) Jimmy with Carole Lombard (3) him with Hedy (4) the lobby card for Vivacious Lady.