Given the legacy of the actor, the best John Wayne movies rank among some of the most influential movies of all time. Known as “The Duke,” he was one of the top box office draws for three decades during Hollywood’s Golden Age of cinema. He appeared in over 150 movies during his career. He was iconic in countless roles. Whether he was playing a cowboy, a colonel, or a marshal, “The Duke” was always the hero. Wayne’s legacy continues today, even several decades since his death in 1979. Fans still love his films, and the best John Wayne movies continue to be heavily revisited.
Few actors in the history of movies have reached the kind of iconic status as Wayne. He helped define a certain type of hero in movies in his era and there is still a certain influence from Wayne that can be found in modern movies. Though John Wayne western movies are a genre of their own, he showed versatility in some other projects. With a career spanning many decades, Wayne has starred in so many classics as well as some underrated projects. Even those who may not be a fan of the actor may be interested in how the best John Wayne movies have helped shape cinema in general.
20 Hatari! (1962)
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Many fans would likely have a hard time picturing Wayne in a comedy, but the adventure movie Hatari! does have a more comedic edge than most of his more famous roles. The movie tells the story of a group of men who make a living trapping wild animals in Africa and selling them to zoos. Modern audiences might not be too keen to cheer for a protagonist like this even if Wayne brings his typical gruffness to the character. But the adventure aspects might offer enough fun to distract from the things that have aged poorly. It ranks among John Wayne's favorites of his own movies.
19 In Harm's Way (1965)
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In Harm's Way is a realistic view of American Naval Officers during Pearl Harbor and in the years after America became fully involved in World War II after the event. John Wayne stars as a disgraced Naval Captain who is removed from his command after he didn't follow the rules of combat or orders when in pursuit of the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. Captain Torrey (Wayne) is given a second chance to redeem himself in this war epic. Though not regarded as one of Wayne's better war movies, its stunning black-and-white look and seeing Wayne alongside Kirk Douglas is still effective.
18 Big Jake (1971)
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Even as Wayne entered the final decade of his career before his death, he continued to shine in the kinds of roles fans had always enjoyed seeing him in. Big Jake was one of his final hit movies and played to those strengths. The movie follows the kidnapping of a young boy by a gang of outlaws who demand a ransom. Wayne plays the titular hero and the one man who stands a chance of rescuing the boy. The movie is held together by Wayne's commanding performance up until the exciting climax which alone makes the movie worthwhile.
17 McLintock! (1963)
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McLintock is unique among Westerns, and stands out not only in of the best John Wayne movies but the actor's career in general. Instead of being the usual action-oriented Western adventure, it is focused on a daily story with Wayne playing a hero who is attempting to reconcile with his wife and daughter. In the Western, Wayne plays the titular land baron who is a respected man in the lands. He uses the influence he has in an attempt to keep peace among the various rivals and enemies while also dealing with his own family issues. The box office success came at a time when Wayne was in need of a hit and migth have kept the icon's career alive.
16 The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965)
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As big of a star as Wayne is, it is fun to see him sharing the screen with other notable actors of the time. In the Western revenge story The Sons of Katie Elder, Wayne and Dean Martin make for a fun team of brothers in the story. The movie follows four brothers who return to their family home for their father's funeral only to find a conman is attempting to take the home from their mother. Wayne plays the eldest brother and a gunfighter. The movie holds up as a solid Western action movie with some unexpected roughness as aell as humor delivered by Wayne's costars.
15 The Horse Soldiers (1959)
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John Wayne and John Ford collaborated a number of times in their illustrious careers including this Western war epic set during the American Civil War. In The Horse Soldier, Colonel John Marlowe (Wayne) is a Union soldier sent on a mission to attack behind Confederate lines. Along with the various skirmishes between the Union and Confederate soldiers, there is another storyline between Colonel Marlowe and Major Henry Kendall (William Holden) as the Major is on the medical staff and is struggling to reckon with the horrors of war.
14 She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949)
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John Wayne stars in this Western movie set in the late 1800s after the end of the American Civil War, as a Calvary Captain who is tasked with safely escorting two women out of the enemy territory. Captain Brittles (Wayne) is about to retire but he goes on this one last mission to help out the commanding officer of his unit. Various troops fall for Olivia Dandridge (Joanne Dru) as Brittles tries to escort her safely and protect her as she wears a yellow ribbon signaling she's already in a relationship. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon has been praised for the smart and engrossing script that makes it more than just an average Western.
13 The Cowboys (1972)
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By the 1970s, Wayne’s career was slowly dwindling as movie viewers were growing less interested in Western films. However, his 1972 film, The Cowboys, still remains one of his best performances. Veteran cattle rancher Wil Andersen (Wayne) embarks on a cattle drive when his crew unexpectedly quits. Needing workers, Wil enlists the help of local schoolboys and the grumpy old man grows to form a bond with them. Wayne is perfectly cast as the bitter and stony elder who grows a heart over the course of the story. It is one of the more charming entries from later in the actor's career.
12 El Dorado (1966)
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The 1966 film El Dorado is a collaboration between Wayne and another memorable Western movie star, Robert Mitchum. The film centers on gunslinger Cole Thorton (Wayne), who returns to the town of El Dorado to work for a heartless landowner, Bart Jason (Ed Asner). However, he realizes he will have to fight his old friend, J.P. Harrah (Mitchum). So, he turns down the offer. Instead, he teams up with J.P. to protect the citizens of El Dorado from Bart. At the same time, he helps J.P. with his alcoholism. A story about friendship with plenty of gunfights, El Dorado is a Western fans don’t want to miss, especially to see Wayne and Mitchum sharing the screen.
11 The Longest Day (1962)
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As much as Wayne might be best ed in the Western genre, he also appeared in a number of war movies. He was featured as one of the many cast in the star-studded ensemble for The Longest Day. The movie explores the D-Day invasion from the Allied troops against the German military in World War II. The movie focuses on many different stories and characters taking back in the historic operation, with Wayne ed by the likes of Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, and Sean Connery.
