The Best John Ford Movies, Ranked
115 credits from 1915 to 2023, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) with $141K worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest John Ford Box Office Hits
John Ford's films have made $292K worldwide in total. The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) is the biggest hit at $141K, ahead of How the West Was Won (1963) ($76.7K). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
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The Tales of Hoffmann 1951 · Music $141K $91.9K dom. - 2
How the West Was Won 1963 · Western $76.7K $76.7K dom. - 3
My Darling Clementine 1946 · Romance $16.4K - 4
Fort Apache 1948 · Western $11.9K - 5
Cheyenne Autumn 1964 · Western $11K - 6
Drums Along the Mohawk 1939 · Drama $10.4K - 7
The Grapes of Wrath 1940 · Drama $7.3K - 8
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon 1949 · Western $5.92K - 9
Two Rode Together 1961 · Western $5.89K - 10
Sergeant Rutledge 1960 · Crime $3.05K
The Best John Ford Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre John Ford has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 35 films, and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) is the pick of them.
- Drama 35 films Drums Along the Mohawk 1939 · Director
- Western 18 films How the West Was Won 1963 · Director
- Romance 10 films My Darling Clementine 1946 · Director
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Adventure 5 films The Searchers 1956 · Director - Crime 4 films Sergeant Rutledge 1960 · Director
- Music 1 film The Tales of Hoffmann 1951 · as Nathanaël (uncredited)
The Best John Ford Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of John Ford's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1930s to 1960s.
Most Awarded John Ford Movies
John Ford's films with wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database, the most decorated first. How Green Was My Valley (1941) leads with 5 wins from 10 nominations.
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Awards: 5 wins How Green Was My Valley 1941 · 10 nominations -
Awards: 4 wins The Informer 1935 · 6 nominations -
Awards: 3 wins The Quiet Man 1952 · 10 nominations - Awards: 3 wins How the West Was Won 1963 · 8 nominations
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Awards: 2 wins Stagecoach 1939 · 7 nominations - Awards: 2 wins The Grapes of Wrath 1940 · 7 nominations
- Awards: 1 win She Wore a Yellow Ribbon 1949 · 1 nominations
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Awards: 1 win Mister Roberts 1955 · 4 nominations
The Latest John Ford Movies
The most recent films John Ford is credited on, newest first — starting with Jett Jackson: The Movie (2001). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
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Jett Jackson: The Movie 2001 · Dr. Robert Deloria -
The Oracle 1985 · Mental Patient -
7 Women 1965 · Director - Cheyenne Autumn 1964 · Director
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Donovan's Reef 1963 · Director - How the West Was Won 1963 · Director
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Flashing Spikes 1962 · Director -
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962 · Director - Two Rode Together 1961 · Director
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The Colter Craven Story 1960 · Director - Sergeant Rutledge 1960 · Director
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The Last Hurrah 1958 · Director
The Best John Ford Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest John Ford films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing John Ford movie?
The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) made the most at the box office, with $141K worldwide, followed by How the West Was Won (1963) with $76.7K. Together, John Ford's films with box office figures have made $292K.
Which John Ford movie won the most awards?
How Green Was My Valley (1941) is the most decorated John Ford film, with 5 wins from 10 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best John Ford drama movie?
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) is the best-rated of John Ford's drama films. In other genres: How the West Was Won (western), My Darling Clementine (romance) and The Searchers (adventure).
What is the newest John Ford movie?
The newest film on John Ford's filmography is AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special (2023), with John Ford as Self (archive footage).
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