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Orson Welles, actor
Actor · Best movies

The Best Orson Welles Movies, Ranked

175 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 Touch of Evil (1958) with $2.29M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.

Full Orson Welles profile & filmography

One pick per genre

The Best Orson Welles Movie in Every Genre

The best-rated film in each genre Orson Welles has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 28 films, and Touch of Evil (1958) is the pick of them.

One pick per decade

The Best Orson Welles Movie of Each Decade

One pick per decade of Orson Welles's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1940s to 1960s.

FAQ

The Best Orson Welles Movies: Questions & Answers

The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Orson Welles films, answered from the rankings on this page.

What is the highest-grossing Orson Welles movie?

Touch of Evil (1958) made the most at the box office, with $2.29M worldwide, followed by Citizen Kane (1941) with $1.71M. Together, Orson Welles's films with box office figures have made $26.1M.

Which Orson Welles movie won the most awards?

A Man for All Seasons (1966) is the most decorated Orson Welles film, with 18 wins from 21 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.

What is the best Orson Welles drama movie?

Touch of Evil (1958) is the best-rated of Orson Welles's drama films. In other genres: Casino Royale (comedy), The Third Man (mystery) and The Lady from Shanghai (crime).

What is the newest Orson Welles movie?

The newest film on Orson Welles's filmography is The Scorpion and the Frog (2025), with Orson Welles as Narrator (archive footage).

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