James Dean: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 46
- as director
- 2
- on screen
- 1951–2025
- box office
- $35.2M
- nominations
- 4
The Best James Dean Movies
The films of James Dean that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Giant (1956) leads with $32.9M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
James Dean's Career in Numbers
James Dean's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Dean works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Fixed Bayonets! (1951) to First Moon (2025), and the 1950s were the busiest decade.
James Dean Movies by Decade
- 1950s 18
- 1980s 1
- 1990s 3
- 2000s 6
- 2020s 3
The 1950s were James Dean's busiest decade, with 18 films.
James Dean Movies by Genre
- Drama 11
- Documentary 5
- Comedy 5
- Horror 4
- Tv movie 3
- Action 2
- Romance 1
Drama is the genre James Dean has worked in most, with 11 films, ahead of documentary (5).
James Dean Career Milestones
- First film
- Fixed Bayonets! 1951
- Biggest box office hit
- Giant $32.9M worldwide
- Newest film
- First Moon 2025
James Dean Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Dean is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 2 as director and 29 as actor. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by James Dean
2
James Dean Movies as an Actor
29- 2025
First Moon as James · Horror - 2009
I.C.U. as Ricky Dickson · Horror - 2008
Vigilante as Matt · Action - 2005
James Dean: Little Prince, Little Bastard Documentary - 2005
James Dean: Forever Young Documentary - 2003
Tempted as Neil · Romance - 2001
James Dean: Born Cool Documentary - 1993
Darkness Before Dawn as Mr. Conklin · Drama - 1990
Death In Hollywood as (archive footage) · Documentary - 1990
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths as (archive footage) · Documentary - 1982
One from the Heart as Understudy · Drama Worldwide box office: $720K - 1956
Giant Drama Worldwide box office: $32.9M - 1955
Rebel Without a Cause Drama Worldwide box office: $219K - 1955
The Unlighted Road as Jeffrey Latham · Drama - 1955
East of Eden Drama Worldwide box office: $29.5K - 1955
The Thief as Fernand Lagarde · Comedy - 1954
Padlocks as The Man (Jack) · Drama - 1954
I’m a Fool as The Boy · Comedy - 1953
The Bells of Cockaigne as Joey · Drama - 1953
A Long Time Till Dawn as Joe Harris · Drama - 1953
Keep Our Honor Bright as Jim Cooper · Tv movie - 1953
Death Is My Neighbor as J.B. · Drama - 1953
Sentence of Death as Joe Palica · Tv movie - 1953
Trouble Along the Way as Football Spectator (uncredited) · Comedy - 1952
Has Anybody Seen My Gal? as Youth at Soda Fountain (uncredited) · Comedy - 1952
Deadline - U.S.A. as Press Boy (uncredited) · Drama Worldwide box office: $5.23K - 1952
Sailor Beware as Boxing Opponent's Second (uncredited) · Comedy - 1951
Fixed Bayonets! as Doggie (uncredited) · Action - 1951
Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration as John · Tv movie
James Dean in Documentaries & Specials
15- 2015
Children of ‘Giant’ as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2005
James Dean: Sense Memories as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 2005
Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents as Himself (uncredited) · Documentary - 1995
The Celluloid Closet as Self (archive footage) · History Worldwide box office: $1.4M - 1995
James Dean and Me as Self (archive footage) · Tv movie - 1992
Death Scenes 2 as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 1988
Hello Actors Studio as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1988
Forever James Dean as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 1985
George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Comedy - 1975
James Dean: The First American Teenager as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1974
James Dean Remembered as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Tv movie - 1972
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · Documentary - 1957
The James Dean Story as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere as Self · Documentary
James Dean: Awards & Nominations
4 nominations across 2 award bodies, from 1956 to 1957. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
Oscars 2 nominations -
BAFTA 2 nominations
- The 29th Academy Awards
- James Dean: Nominated Best Actor Giant
- 10th British Academy Film Awards
- James Dean: Nominated Best Foreign Actor Rebel Without a Cause
- The 28th Academy Awards
- James Dean: Nominated Best Actor East of Eden
- 9th British Academy Film Awards
- James Dean: Nominated Best Foreign Actor East of Eden
Who James Dean Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Dean shares the most films with. Natalie Wood comes first, with 9 films together, followed by Rock Hudson (8).
James Dean: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Dean has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Dean been in?
James Dean is credited on 46 films, from 1951 to 2025. 29 of them as an actor and 2 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is James Dean's highest-grossing movie?
Giant (1956) is James Dean's biggest box office hit, with $32.9M worldwide, ahead of The Celluloid Closet (1995) ($1.4M). Across every film with box office figures, James Dean's movies have made $35.2M.
James Dean's biggest hits Has James Dean won an Oscar?
James Dean has been nominated for 2 Oscars but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, James Dean has 0 wins from 4 nominations.
What is James Dean's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Dean's filmography is First Moon (2025), in the role of James.
Who does James Dean work with most often?
James Dean shares the most films with Natalie Wood (9 films), Rock Hudson (8 films) and Dennis Hopper (6 films).
The Best James Dean Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 46 credits.
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