The 70+ Best George Kennedy Movies

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Updated April 16, 2024 31.3K views 74 items
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List of the best George Kennedy movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. George Kennedy's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top George Kennedy movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated George Kennedy movies will be at the top of the list. George Kennedy has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest George Kennedy movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining George Kennedy films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best George Kennedy role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest George Kennedy performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

This list features films like Bolero and Cats Don't Dance.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best George Kennedy movies?" and "What are the greatest George Kennedy roles of all time?"

George Kennedy is no stranger to working with popular directors, including Stanley Kubrick, Clint Eastwood and Peter Segal.

Most divisive: Wacko
Over 300 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 70+ Best George Kennedy Movies
  • Strait-Jacket
    31
    Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif Erickson
    20 votes
    Though still mentally shaky, convicted axe-murderess Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) is released from the asylum where she was sent 20 years ago for slaying her unfaithful husband. Lucy goes to stay at her brother's farm and reconnect with her grown daughter, Carol (Diane Baker), who saw her mother chop her father to pieces as a tot. Carol helps Lucy regain her old glamorous look -- but suspects that history might be repeating itself when anyone who angers her mother turns up hacked to death.
  • Three Bad Men
    32

    Three Bad Men

    George Kennedy, June Wilkinson, Peter Brown
    12 votes
    Three Bad Men is a 2005 Western film written and directed by Jeff Hathcock.
  • Creepshow 2
    33
    George Kennedy, Lois Chiles, Dorothy Lamour
    18 votes
    This second horror anthology presents more eerie tales based on Stephen King stories. One episode finds a cigar-store Native American statue coming to life to avenge the death of the shop owner (George Kennedy) and his wife (Dorothy Lamour). Another features a group of teens menaced by a blob-like creature. The final installment follows a wealthy and callous woman (Lois Chiles) who hits a hitchhiker with her car and decides to flee the scene, but the victim isn't inclined to remain dead.
  • The Ballad of Josie
    34
    Doris Day, Peter Graves, George Kennedy
    19 votes
    Recently acquitted for the accidental death of her abusive, alcoholic husband, Josie Minick (Doris Day) attempts to rejuvenate her dilapidated ranch with insurance money and fails. She begins to turn things around after employing a couple of ranch hands and buying a flock of sheep, but neighboring cattle ranchers don't take kindly to her new enterprise and reignite a local range war. With help from handsome fellow rancher Jason Meredith (Peter Graves), she shows them how tough a woman can be.
  • Good Cops, Bad Cops
    35

    Good Cops, Bad Cops

    Ed Asner, George Kennedy, James Morrison
    11 votes
    Good Cops, Bad Cops is a film directed by Paul Wendkos released on December 9, 1990.
  • Small Soldiers
    36
    Kirsten Dunst, Gregory Smith, Jay Mohr
    23 votes
    Small Soldiers is a thrilling blend of action, comedy, and fantasy. It follows the unexpected adventure of teenager Alan Abernathy (Gregory Smith), who finds himself in the midst of a war between two factions of sentient action figures - the heroic Commando Elite, led by Major Chip Hazard (Tommy Lee Jones), and the peaceful Gorgonites, headed by Archer (Frank Langella). The toys, products of advanced military technology gone awry, bring chaos to Alan's small town. Directed by Joe Dante, this 1998 film cleverly critiques consumer culture and militarism through its engaging plotline and memorable characters.
  • The Delta Force
    37
    Chuck Norris, Lee Marvin, Hanna Schygulla
    33 votes
    Five years after Maj. Scott McCoy (Chuck Norris) resigned from the U.S. Delta Force due to bureaucracy issues, he returns with Col. Alexander (Lee Marvin) to take down Lebanese terrorists who have hijacked a Boeing 707. Terrorist leader Abdul Rifi (Robert Forster) takes the crew and passengers hostage as he reroutes the plane to Beirut. When McCoy and Alexander attempt to save the hostages once the plane lands, they are forced to battle a terrorist group that's larger than expected.
  • Dallas: J.R. Returns
    38

    Dallas: J.R. Returns

    George Kennedy, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray
    9 votes
    Dallas: J.R. Returns is a 1996 television movie. It is the first of two Dallas reunion movies, produced after the series went off the air in 1991. It originally aired on CBS on November 15, 1996, and was rerun as part of TV Land's salute to 50 years of Warner Bros. Television.
  • Virus
    39
    Masao Kusakari, Tsunehiko Watase, Isao Natsuyagi
    14 votes
    Survivors of a worldwide catastrophe attempt to rebuild civilization from their Antarctic stronghold.
  • Bolero
    40
    Bo Derek, George Kennedy, Andrea Occhipinti
    17 votes
    A 1920s English heiress (Bo Derek) seeks ecstasy with a sheik in Morocco and a bullfighter (Andrea Occhipinti) in Spain.
  • Cats Don't Dance
    41
    Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, Ashley Peldon
    13 votes
    A world of cats and Danny (Scott Bakula) is trying to break into '30s Hollywood. His only problem is that he's a cat and he can't understand why he's only getting parts playing an animal. He gets into trouble with a human star and almost sees his chance at a movie career disappear.
  • Chattanooga Choo Choo
    42
    Joe Namath, Barbara Eden, George Kennedy
    16 votes
    Chattanooga Choo Choo is a 1984 film released as a light summer comedy featuring the eponymous train, starring Barbara Eden and George Kennedy. The film follows the story of football team owner Burt who will inherit one million dollars from a railroad tycoon if he can successfully drive a steam train from New York City to its namesake of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 24 hours. He invites his girlfriend and his team on the train, who invite their own guests and pick up new ones along the trip. The comedy is derived from numerous delays along the way.
  • Savage Dawn
    43
    George Kennedy, Karen Black, Lance Henriksen
    11 votes
    A war hero (Lance Henriksen) visits his weapons-expert buddy (George Kennedy) in a Western town at the mercy of a motorcycle gang.
  • Monster Makers
    44

    Monster Makers

    Linda Blair, George Kennedy, Adam Baldwin
    9 votes
  • Fools' Parade
    45
    Kurt Russell, James Stewart, George Kennedy
    15 votes
    Fools' Parade is a 1971 crime drama film directed by Andrew McLaglen, and stars James Stewart, George Kennedy, Kurt Russell and Strother Martin. It was based on the novel of the same name by Davis Grubb. The film is also known as Dynamite Man from Glory Jail.
  • Uninvited
    46

    Uninvited

    George Kennedy, Clu Gulager, Clare Carey
    10 votes
    Uninvited is a 1988 American horror film written and directed by Greydon Clark.
  • Nightmare At Noon
    47
    George Kennedy, Bo Hopkins, Brion James
    10 votes
    Nightmare at Noon is a 1998 Portugal action, sci-fi horror film directed by Nico Mastorakis. Scientists poison the water supply of a small town, turning the residents into homicidal maniacs who kill each other and anybody who passes through.
  • The 'Human' Factor
    48
    George Kennedy, John Mills, Raf Vallone
    12 votes
    The 'Human' Factor is a 1975 film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring George Kennedy and John Mills. It was Dmytryk's final film. The soundtrack is by composer Ennio Morricone.
  • Hurry Sundown
    49
    Jane Fonda, Michael Caine, Faye Dunaway
    16 votes
    Hurry Sundown is a 1967 American drama film produced and directed by Otto Preminger. It stars Jane Fonda and Michael Caine. The screenplay by Horton Foote and Thomas C. Ryan is based on the 1965 novel of the same title by K.B. Gilden, a pseudonym for married couple Katya and Bert Gilden.
  • The Man Who Came Back
    50

    The Man Who Came Back

    Carol Alt, Sean Young, Billy Zane
    10 votes
    The Man Who Came Back is a 2008 western film directed by Glen Pitre. It stars Eric Braeden, Billy Zane, George Kennedy, and Armand Assante.
  • The Gunfighters
    51

    The Gunfighters

    George Kennedy, Art Hindle, Reiner SchĂśne
    10 votes
    The Gunfighters is a 1987 television Western film, starring Art Hindle and George Kennedy, directed by Clay Borris.
  • Dennis the Menace Strikes Again
    52
    Don Rickles, George Kennedy, Justin Cooper
    20 votes
    Mischievous tyke Dennis (Justin Cooper) is stirring up trouble as usual for his long-suffering neighbor, Mr. Wilson (Don Rickles). When Dennis delivers an unwanted birthday surprise that leaves the old man feeling that much older, the crotchety Wilson buys a youth potion from con artist Sylvester (Carrot Top). With the bogus potion doing nothing to restore his vigor, and at risk of being swindled out of even more money, it's up to Mr. Wilson and Dennis to beat the crooks at their own game.
  • Dirty Dingus Magee
    53
    Frank Sinatra, George Kennedy, Anne Jackson
    20 votes
    While traveling in New Mexico, Hoke Birdsill (George Kennedy) is robbed by Dirty Dingus Magee (Frank Sinatra), a bumbling criminal. So when Hoke arrives in the nearest town, Yerkey's Hole, he demands justice from Belle Nops (Anne Jackson), the town's mayor and the madam of the local bordello. In response, Belle deputizes Hoke. Despite Hoke's best efforts, however, Dirty Dingus Magee continues to stir up trouble, aided by his American Indian lover, Anna Hot Water (Michele Carey).
  • Lost Horizon
    54
    John Gielgud, George Kennedy, Liv Ullmann
    21 votes
    Lost Horizon is a 1973 American musical film directed by Charles Jarrott and starring Peter Finch, John Gielgud, Liv Ullmann, Michael York, Sally Kellerman, Bobby Van, George Kennedy, Olivia Hussey, James Shigeta and Charles Boyer. The film is a remake of Frank Capra's film of the same name, with a screenplay by Larry Kramer. Both the 1937 version and this one adapted their story from James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. This was the final film produced by Ross Hunter.
  • Don't Come Knocking
    55
    Jessica Lange, Tim Roth, Eva Marie Saint
    13 votes
    Don't Come Knocking is a 2005 film, a comedy-drama road movie directed by German director Wim Wenders and written by Wenders and actor/playwright Sam Shepard. The two had previously collaborated on the film Paris, Texas. It was entered into the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
  • Men in White
    56

    Men in White

    Jennifer Coolidge, Ben Stein, Donna D'Errico
    7 votes
    National Lampoon's Men in White is a straight-to-television satirical parody of contemporary science fiction movies, mainly spoofing Men in Black and Independence Day. It debuted in 1998 on the Fox Family Channel.
  • Ministry of Vengeance
    57

    Ministry of Vengeance

    George Kennedy, Ned Beatty, Robert Miano
    9 votes
  • Brain Dead
    58
    Bill Paxton, George Kennedy, Bill Pullman
    9 votes
    Brain Dead is a 1990 horror/psychological thriller starring Bill Pullman, Bill Paxton and George Kennedy and written by Charles Beaumont.
  • Zig Zag
    59

    Zig Zag

    Eli Wallach, George Kennedy, Anne Jackson
    7 votes
    Zig Zag is a 1970 film directed by Richard A. Colla and starring George Kennedy.
  • Modern Romance
    60
    Albert Brooks, Kathryn Harrold, Bruno Kirby
    8 votes
    A film editor (Albert Brooks) breaks up and makes up with his girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold), unsure if he is in love.