The Best John Cassavetes Movies, Ranked
43 credits from 1951 to 2021, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is Big Trouble (1986) with $11.1M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest John Cassavetes Box Office Hits
John Cassavetes's films have made $33.5M worldwide in total. Big Trouble (1986) is the biggest hit at $11.1M, ahead of Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) ($8.21M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
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Big Trouble 1986 · Comedy $11.1M $11.1M dom. - 2
Whose Life Is It Anyway? 1981 · Drama $8.21M $8.21M dom. - 3
Brass Target 1978 · Action $5.01M $5.01M dom. - 4
Tempest 1982 · Comedy $5.01M $5.01M dom. - 5
Gloria 1980 · Drama $4.06M $4.06M dom. - 6
Opening Night 1977 · Drama $32.2K $23.5K dom. - 7
A Woman Under the Influence 1974 · Drama $25.6K - 8
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie 1976 · Drama $19.4K - 9
Love Streams 1984 · Drama $10.8K - 10
Faces 1968 · Drama $7.24K
The Best John Cassavetes Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre John Cassavetes has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 21 films, and Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) is the pick of them.
The Best John Cassavetes Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of John Cassavetes's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1950s to 1980s.
The Latest John Cassavetes Movies
The most recent films John Cassavetes is credited on, newest first — starting with 150 Miles of Rotting, Rutted, Lumpy, Dilapidated Pavement (2021). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
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150 Miles of Rotting, Rutted, Lumpy, Dilapidated Pavement 2021 · Man Talking - Big Trouble 1986 · Director
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Marvin & Tige 1985 · Marvin - Love Streams 1984 · Robert Harmon
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The Haircut 1982 · Music Industry Executive - Tempest 1982 · Phillip
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Incubus 1982 · Dr. Sam Cordell - Whose Life Is It Anyway? 1981 · Dr. Michael Emerson
- Gloria 1980 · Director
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Flesh & Blood 1979 · Gus Caputo - Brass Target 1978 · Maj. Joe De Lucca
- Opening Night 1977 · Director
The Best John Cassavetes Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest John Cassavetes films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing John Cassavetes movie?
Big Trouble (1986) made the most at the box office, with $11.1M worldwide, followed by Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) with $8.21M. Together, John Cassavetes's films with box office figures have made $33.5M.
Which John Cassavetes movie won the most awards?
A Woman Under the Influence (1974) is the most decorated John Cassavetes film, with 1 win from 6 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best John Cassavetes drama movie?
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) is the best-rated of John Cassavetes's drama films. In other genres: Big Trouble (comedy) and Brass Target (action).
What is the newest John Cassavetes movie?
The newest film on John Cassavetes's filmography is 150 Miles of Rotting, Rutted, Lumpy, Dilapidated Pavement (2021), with John Cassavetes as Man Talking.
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