The Best Fred Astaire Movies, Ranked
67 credits from 1933 to 2025, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is The Towering Inferno (1974) with $116M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Fred Astaire Box Office Hits
Fred Astaire's films have made $171M worldwide in total. The Towering Inferno (1974) is the biggest hit at $116M, ahead of That's Entertainment! (1974) ($26.9M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
- 1
The Towering Inferno 1974 · Action $116M $116M dom. - 2
That's Entertainment! 1974 · Family $26.9M $26.9M dom. - 3
Ghost Story 1981 · Thriller $23.4M $23.4M dom. - 4
That's Entertainment, Part II 1976 · Family $4.98M $4.98M dom. - 5
The Band Wagon 1953 · Comedy $15K - 6
Top Hat 1935 · Comedy $13.6K - 7
On the Beach 1959 · Sci-Fi $11.3K - 8
Silk Stockings 1957 · Music $9.76K - 9
The Gay Divorcee 1934 · Comedy $6.88K - 10
Shall We Dance 1937 · Romance $6.66K
The Best Fred Astaire Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Fred Astaire has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Comedy leads with 19 films, and The Band Wagon (1953) is the pick of them.
- Comedy 19 films The Band Wagon 1953
- Romance 5 films Shall We Dance 1937 · as Petrov
- Music 5 films Silk Stockings 1957 · as Steve Canfield
- Family 3 films That's Entertainment! 1974
- Thriller 1 film Ghost Story 1981 · as Ricky Hawthorne
- Action 1 film The Towering Inferno 1974
- Sci-Fi 1 film On the Beach 1959
The Best Fred Astaire Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Fred Astaire's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1930s to 1980s.
Most Awarded Fred Astaire Movies
Fred Astaire's films with wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database, the most decorated first. The Towering Inferno (1974) leads with 6 wins from 16 nominations.
The Latest Fred Astaire Movies
The most recent films Fred Astaire is credited on, newest first — starting with Showbiz Goes to War (1982). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
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Showbiz Goes to War 1982 · (archive footage) - Ghost Story 1981 · Ricky Hawthorne
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The Man in the Santa Claus Suit 1979 · Santa Claus -
A Family Upside Down 1978 · Ted Long -
The Purple Taxi 1977 · Dr. Seamus Scully -
The Easter Bunny Is Comin’ to Town 1977 · S.D. Kluger (narrator) (voice) -
The Amazing Dobermans 1976 · Daniel Hughes - That's Entertainment, Part II 1976 · Family
- The Towering Inferno 1974 · Action
- That's Entertainment! 1974 · Family
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Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town 1970 · S.D. Kluger (voice) -
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again 1970 · The Baltimore Kid
The Best Fred Astaire Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Fred Astaire films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing Fred Astaire movie?
The Towering Inferno (1974) made the most at the box office, with $116M worldwide, followed by That's Entertainment! (1974) with $26.9M. Together, Fred Astaire's films with box office figures have made $171M.
Which Fred Astaire movie won the most awards?
The Towering Inferno (1974) is the most decorated Fred Astaire film, with 6 wins from 16 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Fred Astaire comedy movie?
The Band Wagon (1953) is the best-rated of Fred Astaire's comedy films. In other genres: Shall We Dance (romance), Silk Stockings (music) and That's Entertainment! (family).
What is the newest Fred Astaire movie?
The newest film on Fred Astaire's filmography is Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood (2025), with Fred Astaire as Self (archive footage).
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