John Wayne Top Movies

From John Ford, starring James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin
Rated Approved

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a 1962 American Western directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles and Lee Marvin. Set in the Wild West of the late 19th century, the film tells the story of Ransom "Ranse" Stoddard (Stewart), a lawyer who arrives in the small town of Shinbone, bringing civilization and the law with him. He soon finds himself at odds with the vicious outlaw Liberty Valance (Marvin), and must team up with the local marshal, Tom Doniphon (Wayne), to fight for justice. As the story unfolds, the true identity of the man who shot Liberty Valance is revealed, and Stoddard must decide what he values more: the law, or a sense of justice.

From Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson
Rated Passed

Rio Bravo is a 1959 western directed by Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan, Angie Dickinson and Ward Bond. The plot follows Sheriff John T. Chance (Wayne), who must deal with a dangerous gang of outlaws, led by the notorious Joe Burdette (Claude Akins). Chance enlists the help of his old friend, the drunken deputy Dude (Martin), a young gunslinger Colorado Ryan (Nelson) and an old crippled man (Brennan). Together, they must use all their skill and guile to defeat the gang and protect the town of Rio Bravo. As the movie progresses, the group learns to work together and helps the townspeople fight against the criminals. In the end, the good guys triumph and justice prevails.

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond
Rated Passed

The Searchers is a classic western directed by John Ford, released in 1956. It stars John Wayne in one of his defining roles as Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who spends years searching for his niece, Debbie, who was kidnapped by Comanches. Along his journey, he is accompanied by Martin Pawley, a mixed-race adopted son of the family, who helps him search for Debbie. The film offers a complex look at the moral ambiguity of life on the frontier, and critiques the racism and violence of the era. Ethan's search for Debbie is ultimately a journey of redemption, as he struggles to come to terms with his past and the new world he finds himself in.

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carradine
Rated Passed

Stagecoach is a 1939 Western film directed by John Ford starring John Wayne in his breakthrough role. Set in 1880s Arizona, the film follows a group of strangers travelling on a stagecoach through dangerous Apache territory. Forced to face their own personal demons, these travelers find themselves in a fight for survival against both nature and a dangerous outlaw gang. As their journey progresses, a romance develops between two of the passengers and the stagecoach driver, and the passengers must come together to protect one another from the dangers of the Wild West.

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond
Rated Passed

The Quiet Man is a 1952 romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The film tells the story of Sean Thornton (Wayne), an Irish-born American who returns to his native village of Inisfree in search of peace and solace. He falls in love with the fiery-tempered Mary Kate Danaher (O'Hara), but in order to win her hand in marriage, he must face off against her brother, the malicious landowner Squire "Red" Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). With the help of his friend Michaleen Oge Flynn (Barry Fitzgerald), Sean must battle both Red and his own inner demons as he attempts to reclaim his lost heritage and win Mary Kate's hand. Along the way, he rekindles an old feud and finds that love and reconciliation are more powerful than any fight.

From Don Siegel, starring John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart
Rated PG

The Shootist is a 1976 American western film directed by Don Siegel and starring John Wayne in his final film role. Set in 1901, the film tells the story of J.B. Books, an aging gunfighter who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and seeks medical help from a renowned doctor. He also seeks a place to die with dignity, eventually finding it at the home of a lifelong friend. Books is soon confronted by a number of people from his past who seek to take advantage of him, including a young gunslinger, a gambler, and a sheriff. As Books comes to terms with his mortality, he reflects on his past and finds the courage to stand up for what he believes in one last time, facing his enemies and his own mortality.

From Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt
Rated Passed

El Dorado is a 1966 Western film directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and James Caan. The story follows two unlikely allies, Sheriff J.P. Harrah (Wayne) and drunken gunslinger Cole Thornton (Mitchum), who team up to protect the town of El Dorado from the powerful and ruthless rancher Bart Jason (Caan). Along the way, they enlist the help of the local sheriff's niece (Charlene Holt), a former gunslinger (Edward Asner), and an old friend (Arthur Hunnicutt). Together, they must stand up against Jason and his gang of thugs to protect the town and its people. In the end, the battle between good and evil comes down to a classic showdown, with our heroes emerging victorious.

From Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Jeremy Slate
Rated G

From Mark Rydell, starring John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern, Colleen Dewhurst
Rated GP

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar, Ben Johnson
Rated Passed

From Directors: George Sherman, John Wayne, starring John Wayne, Richard Boone, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne
Rated PG-13

From Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Martha Hyer, Michael Anderson Jr.
Rated Passed

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, Harry Carey Jr., Ward Bond
Rated Passed

From John Farrow, starring John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate
Rated PG

From Allan Dwan, starring John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara, Forrest Tucker
Rated Approved

From Directors: Michael Curtiz, John Wayne, starring John Wayne, Stuart Whitman, Ina Balin, Nehemiah Persoff
Rated Approved

From Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O'Neill, Jack Elam
Rated G

From Andrew V. McLaglen, starring John Wayne, George Kennedy, Gary Grimes, Neville Brand
Rated PG

From Nicholas Ray, starring John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter
Rated Approved

From Douglas Hickox, starring John Wayne, Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, Mel Ferrer
Rated PG