The Best Bette Davis Movies, Ranked
152 credits from 1931 to 2023, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is Return from Witch Mountain (1978) with $16.4M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Bette Davis Box Office Hits
Bette Davis's films have made $37.8M worldwide in total. Return from Witch Mountain (1978) is the biggest hit at $16.4M, ahead of Death on the Nile (1978) ($14.6M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
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Return from Witch Mountain 1978 · Adventure $16.4M $16.4M dom. - 2
Death on the Nile 1978 · Drama $14.6M $14.6M dom. - 3
The Watcher in the Woods 1981 · Mystery $5M $5M dom. - 4
The Whales of August 1987 · Drama $1.34M $1.34M dom. - 5
All About Eve 1950 · Drama $155K $63.5K dom. - 6
Now, Voyager 1942 · Drama $10.4K - 7
Pocketful of Miracles 1961 · Comedy $10.2K - 8
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962 · Drama $4.45K - 9
Dark Victory 1939 · Drama $345
The Best Bette Davis Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Bette Davis has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 56 films, and Death on the Nile (1978) is the pick of them.
The Best Bette Davis Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Bette Davis's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1930s to 1980s.
Most Awarded Bette Davis Movies
Bette Davis's films with wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database, the most decorated first. All About Eve (1950) leads with 8 wins from 21 nominations.
The Latest Bette Davis Movies
The most recent films Bette Davis is credited on, newest first — starting with Footsteps on the Ceiling (2013). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
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Footsteps on the Ceiling 2013 · Margo Channing (archive footage) -
The Adventures of Errol Flynn 2005 · Queen Elizabeth (archive footage) -
Wicked Stepmother 1989 · Miranda Pierpoint - The Whales of August 1987 · Libby Strong
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As Summers Die 1986 · Hannah Loftin -
Murder with Mirrors 1985 · Carrie Louise Serrocold -
Murder with Mirrors 1985 · Carrie Louise Serrocold -
Right of Way 1983 · Miniature Dwyer -
Showbiz Goes to War 1982 · (archive footage) -
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino 1982 · Esther McDonald Cimino -
Little Gloria… Happy at Last 1982 · Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt -
Family Reunion 1981 · Elizabeth Winfield
The Best Bette Davis Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Bette Davis films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing Bette Davis movie?
Return from Witch Mountain (1978) made the most at the box office, with $16.4M worldwide, followed by Death on the Nile (1978) with $14.6M. Together, Bette Davis's films with box office figures have made $37.8M.
Which Bette Davis movie won the most awards?
All About Eve (1950) is the most decorated Bette Davis film, with 8 wins from 21 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Bette Davis drama movie?
Death on the Nile (1978) is the best-rated of Bette Davis's drama films. In other genres: Pocketful of Miracles (comedy), The Watcher in the Woods (mystery) and Return from Witch Mountain (adventure).
What is the newest Bette Davis movie?
The newest film on Bette Davis's filmography is AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special (2023), with Bette Davis as Self (archive footage).
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