Stanley Donen (1924-2019) was an American director and producer. Donen is best remembered for his many classic musicals like Singin’ In The Rain, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and On The Town. In my world, he is best known for his work with Cary Grant. With Charade being one of my all-time favorite movies. His IMDb page shows 32 directing credits from 1949 to 2003. This page will rank 28 Stanley Donen Movies in 6 different statistical categories. Sadly this page was done after hearing of his passing. Rest in Peace Mr. Stanley Donen.
Stanley Donen 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
1952
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
1954
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
AA Best Picture Nom
1963
Charade (1963)
1949
On the Town (1949)
1958
Indiscreet (1958)
1951
Royal Wedding (1951)
1957
Funny Face (1957)
1957
The Pajama Game (1957)
1960
The Grass is Greener (1960)
1958
Damn Yankees (1958)
1975
Lucky Lady (1975)
1954
Deep In My Heart (1954)
1955
It's Always Fair Weather (1955)
1967
Two For The Road (1967)
1966
Arabesque (1966)
1955
Kismet (1955)
1967
Bedazzled (1967)
1960
Once More, with Feeling! (1960)
1953
Give a Girl a Break (1953)
1974
The Little Prince (1974)
1957
Kiss Them For Me (1957)
1960
Surprise Package (1960)
1952
Fearless Fagan (1952)
1978
Movie Movie (1978)
1969
Staircase (1969)
1952
Love Is Better Than Ever (1952)
1984
Blame it on Rio (1984)
1980
Saturn 3 (1980)
Stanley Donen 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 Stanley Donen movies by co-stars of his movies.
Sort Stanley Donen movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
Sort Stanley Donen movies by domestic yearly box office rank or trivia
Sort Stanley Donen 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 Stanley Donen movie received.
Sort Stanley Donen 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.
Use the sort and search buttons to make this a very interactive table.
| 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 | Singin' in the Rain (1952) | Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds |
12.40 | 242.4 | 371.30 | 6 | 93 | 02 / 00 | 99.1 | |
| 2 | Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) AA Best Picture Nom |
Howard Keel & Jane Powell |
15.80 | 370.0 | 629.60 | 8 | 78 | 05 / 01 | 98.9 | |
| 3 | Charade (1963) | Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn |
18.70 | 235.0 | 235.00 | 8 | 88 | 01 / 00 | 98.7 | |
| 4 | On the Town (1949) | Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly |
8.20 | 204.3 | 308.40 | 19 | 82 | 01 / 01 | 98.1 | |
| 5 | Indiscreet (1958) | Cary Grant & Ingrid Bergman |
9.80 | 175.4 | 291.20 | 15 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 95.5 | |
| 6 | Royal Wedding (1951) | Fred Astaire & Jane Powell |
7.30 | 157.0 | 240.40 | 27 | 77 | 01 / 00 | 93.6 | |
| 7 | Funny Face (1957) | Audrey Hepburn & Fred Astaire |
7.10 | 137.5 | 222.70 | 30 | 78 | 04 / 00 | 93.0 | |
| 9 | The Pajama Game (1957) | Doris Day & John Raitt |
7.70 | 147.5 | 219.90 | 26 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 91.8 | |
| 8 | The Grass is Greener (1960) | Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr |
8.60 | 133.9 | 133.90 | 32 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 91.1 | |
| 10 | Damn Yankees (1958) | Tab Hunter & Gwen Verdon |
7.40 | 133.5 | 133.50 | 30 | 75 | 01 / 00 | 90.7 | |
| 11 | Lucky Lady (1975) | Gene Hackman & Liza Minnelli |
38.50 | 202.3 | 202.30 | 14 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 90.1 | |
| 12 | Deep In My Heart (1954) | Gene Kelly & Walter Pidgeon |
7.10 | 165.4 | 266.40 | 47 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 87.9 | |
| 13 | It's Always Fair Weather (1955) | Gene Kelly & Dan Dailey |
3.90 | 81.7 | 140.60 | 85 | 78 | 02 / 00 | 86.0 | |
| 14 | Two For The Road (1967) | Audrey Hepburn & Albert Finney |
7.50 | 66.8 | 66.80 | 39 | 79 | 01 / 00 | 84.0 | |
| 15 | Arabesque (1966) | Gregory Peck & Sophia Loren |
10.00 | 98.0 | 98.00 | 32 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 82.5 | |
| 16 | Kismet (1955) | Howard Keel & Ann Blyth |
3.50 | 72.1 | 108.20 | 94 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 70.9 | |
| 17 | Bedazzled (1967) | Peter Cook & Dudley Moore |
3.80 | 33.4 | 33.40 | 63 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 67.5 | |
| 19 | Once More, with Feeling! (1960) | Yul Brynner | 4.30 | 67.0 | 67.00 | 64 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 61.5 | |
| 18 | Give a Girl a Break (1953) | Marge Champion & Gower Champion |
2.30 | 42.0 | 42.00 | 150 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 60.7 | |
| 19 | The Little Prince (1974) | Richard Kiley & Steven Warner |
3.00 | 17.5 | 17.50 | 85 | 67 | 02 / 00 | 57.9 | |
| 22 | Kiss Them For Me (1957) | Cary Grant & Jayne Mansfield |
3.70 | 71.5 | 71.50 | 66 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 57.2 | |
| 24 | Surprise Package (1960) | Yul Brynner | 3.10 | 49.1 | 49.10 | 73 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 53.3 | |
| 23 | Fearless Fagan (1952) | Janet Leigh & Carleton Carpenter |
2.00 | 39.3 | 51.70 | 158 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 53.2 | |
| 24 | Movie Movie (1978) | George C. Scott & Trish Van Devere |
1.90 | 8.7 | 8.70 | 116 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 47.7 | |
| 25 | Staircase (1969) | Michael Rogers & Royston Starr |
5.30 | 40.1 | 40.10 | 51 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 29.4 | |
| 26 | Love Is Better Than Ever (1952) | Larry Parks & Elizabeth Taylor |
1.80 | 34.5 | 53.00 | 168 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 16.3 | |
| 27 | Blame it on Rio (1984) | Michael Caine & Michelle Johnson |
18.60 | 59.8 | 59.80 | 56 | 31 | 00 / 00 | 12.3 | |
| 28 | Saturn 3 (1980) | Farrah Fawcett & Kirk Douglas |
11.40 | 47.2 | 47.20 | 67 | 30 | 00 / 00 | 7.3 |
Stanley Donen has passed. At age 94. That’s a wonderful life.
Quite a career. Musicals. Thrillers(a couple.) Comedies. Dramas.
Reviewing his list, I was surprised at how many times he was a CO-director: Singin’ in the Rain most famously. But also my favorite of 1958(Damn Yankees) and its companion piece Pajama Game(1957)…same team, same songwriters.
Singin’ in the Rain, I suppose is the BIG one. But Donen rather has to share the glory on that with Gene Kelly.
Charade has been called “the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock didn’t make,” but its only kinda/sorta like Hitchcock. Its got a Henry Mancini score for one thing. Hitch fired Mancini off off Frenzy, but Donen used him for both “Charade” and the other (lesser) thriller “Arabesque” and ended up with two thrillers that sounded like Blake Edwards directed them(given that Mancini scored Edwards TV show Peter Gunn and every Edwards movie ever made from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.)
Charade is my favorite movie of 1963(when Its a Mad Mad World isn’t). We get Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn together, perfectly. Hitchcock always wanted to work with Audrey Hepburn and almost did on “No Bail for the Judge,” and certainly never got Hepburn with Grant. We got Walter Matthau in his “pre-star top supporting guy phase”(and he’s got the most interesting role in the movie.) We got pre-star James Coburn, he of the lanky walk and the stereophonic deep voice as “Tex” the subvillain. And we got a great romantic thriller.
Damn Yankees is my favorite movie of 1958. (“Verti-WHAT?”) Fast on its feet, sexy and with the surefire centerpiece of “Mr. Applegate”(Ray Walston as the Devil, actually) to keep the proceedings macabre and mean. Its also got one of my favorite musical songs of all time: “Heart.” As in “You Gotta Have Heart” — uplift, comedy, barbershop quartet harmonies, the whole nine yards.
One sleeper gem: “The Little Prince” a 70’s musical with a very abstract whimsical quality, and two nifty musical cameos — Gene Wilder (as a fox), and Bob Fosse(as a snake). Each man projects his animal in costume and manner only. Its magical. And the song “The Little Prince” is heartbreaking.
One naughty guilty pleasure(Donen’s final film): Blame it on Rio. Michael Caine in his usual British manner, and the underrated Joe Bologna(all macho New Yawk) are male buddies who take their two teenage daughters on vacation in Rio. Caine’s daughter is a prim young Demi Moore. Bologna’s daughter is va-va-voom, often seen topless and in total sexual pursuit of Caine. Which means if tough guy Bologna finds out — trouble for Mr. Caine. The father figure sex stuff outraged some critics and the movie isn’t very good but — its on-the-edge sexual and very funny: Caine is perfect as the man who strays and goes nuts trying to cover it up.
One big bomb: Lucky Lady. Top seventies stars Burt Reynolds and Gene Hackman buddy it up, with Liza Minnelli as the woman in between. It was meant to be a “Sting”-like period action comedy about rumrunning; it just played horribly, start to finish. (I blame the husband-and-wife screenwriters, who also wrote bad movies like Howard the Duck and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.)
To linger on the little-known Donens is probably wrong, but The Little Prince and Blame it on Rio were memorable to me(for different reasons) and Lucky Lady saddened me — and in all three cases, I KNEW Donen was their maker. And I was rooting for the man who made Charade and Damn Yankees.
And that Rain movie.
But this one, too: “Two for the Road” — Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney in a very adult tale of marriage and all it entails, with a Mancini score and not a scare in sight in the year Hepburn also made Wait Until Dark.
And this one: Funny Face. I’ve spoken ill of it, but I don’t know why. Only saw it once. I know its pretty major. I know its highly ranked. I know its very sophisticated. Maybe its because Fred Astaire doesn’t much send me. Likely its simple: versus the peppy, sexy Damn Yankees, its just TOO sophisticated.
And wait, THIS one: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. That was on the CBS Friday Night Movie, it seemed, in constant rotation. I remember the big barnstorming dance number in the middle, and how each brother wore a different bright colored outfit. Liked it, didn’t love it.
No, its Charade and Damn Yankees for me, personally. And Singin’ in the Rain as the Psycho-level acknowledged classic(I love the title number — its like the crop duster scene of dance.)
And I like that for a year or two as an “old man,” Stanley Donen was married to the hot Yvette Mimieux. Good for you, Stanley!
A great career. An interesting man. RIP, Stanley Donen.
Hey ecarle. Great comment…I agree with lots of what you said. I always thought Blame it on Rio had some funny parts. It plays as a comedy….not sure why people took it as a drama. I am not a huge musical fan….but I do remember the barndance scene…it was quite impressive. As for Lucky Lady the star power of Reynolds, Minnelli and Hackman actually made it hit….14th biggest hit of the year….but one of Donen’s worst reviewed movies of his career. Once again…great comment.
Singin’ in the Rain was not nominated for Best Picture. The winner that year was The Greatest Show on Earth, perhaps the worst Best Picture winner ever. And Stanley Donen was never nominated for an Oscar. Something to hold onto tomorrow.
Hey Mark H. Great thoughts on Stanley Donen. RIP!
Life is fragile. We will all die and it will be at any moment from anything. When we draw our last God given breath, the only things that will matter is love and what we did in this life with Jesus Christ. Nothing else will matter in that final moment. Peace be with you.
Hey Daily….thanks for sharing these message. Good stuff.
I did not catch this error right away, but:
In the introduction, you have listed Donen’s well known musicals to include Seven Brides For Seven SISTERS. It should read “Seven Brides for Seven BROTHERS.”
Hey Flora….I fixed that error….I was rushing out the door and quickly….and I mean quickly put this page together. Not only did I screw up the title of Seven Brides….I misspelled his name as Donan in many places. But when I got home…I fixed those errors. Thanks for the headsup.
FYI….As WoC and I were driving…I mentioned to her about Donen’s passing…and I said he directed “Seven Brides For Seven SISTERS” verbally as well…..now that would be a very different movie….lol.
Ironically, I watched Seven Brides For Seven Brothers last night. I have also recently seen Arabesque, Royal Wedding, and On The Town.
You have problems with your numbering system. The first few say 0 then start at 1.
Sad news indeed. I love Stanley Donen movies. I have seen 18 Donen movies.
The HIGHEST rated movie I have seen is Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
The highest rated movie I have NOT seen is Once More With Feeling.
The LOWEST rated movie I have seen is Love Is Better Than Ever.
Favourite Stanley Donen Movies:
Charade (in my top 5 overall)
Singin’ in the Rain
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
On The Town
Royal Wedding
Indiscreet
Funny Face
Damn Yankees!
Arabesque
Kismet
It’s Always Fair Weather
Other Stanley Donen Movies I Have Seen:
Deep in My Heart
The Pajama Game (not seen in years)
Two For the Road
Bedazzled
The Little Prince
Kiss Them For Me
Love Is Better Than Ever
Rest in Peace Mr. Donen. You have given my life a lot of joyful hours.
Hey Flora. Tally counts. Flora 18 , Steve and Cogerson 13. I just watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 2018. I liked the movie too. Funny Face is currently sitting in my que of movies to watch….I think I had seen it before….but I was going to see how much of the movie that I remember. Of your favorites…I have seen 7 of them. Arabesque is one I want to see….but so far I have not been able to track that one down. Two For The Road has recently lost two of the three main players in that movie….as Finney just died a few weeks ago. A classic….but not a movie that I love. I agree Mr. Donen has given lots of joyful hours to so many people.