The Best Movies Directed By Penny Marshall

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Updated March 10, 2023 7 items
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418 votes
115 voters

Over a hundred movie fans have come together to vote on this list of the best movies directed by the legendary Penny Marshall. As one of Hollywood's most respected directors, Marshall has left an indelible mark on cinema with her unique vision and storytelling prowess.

Marshall started out as a successful actress before transitioning to directing in the 1980s. Her films often center around themes of family, love, and overcoming adversity - all delivered with wit and humor that make them easy favorites for audiences across generations.

From her iconic debut film Jumpin' Jack Flash to her critically acclaimed dramas like Awakenings, Marshall's work has touched millions of hearts over the years. And it's not just about making great movies - she was also a trailblazer for women directors in Hollywood, paving the way for future generations.

So without further ado, let's dive into our ranking of the best movies directed by Penny Marshall. Whether you're already a fan or new to her work, there's something here for everyone. Be sure to vote up your favorites on this list.

  • Big
    1

    Big

    Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia
    57 votes
    In the classic comedy-drama Big, Josh Baskin (Tom Hanks) is an everyday 12-year-old boy who yearns for adulthood. After making a wish on a mystical arcade machine, he wakes up in the body of a 30-year-old man. Now navigating the adult world with a child's heart, Josh encounters everything from finding a job at a toy company to experiencing his first love with coworker Susan Lawrence (Elizabeth Perkins). Directed by Penny Marshall, Big earned Hanks an Academy Award nomination and solidified his status as a leading man in Hollywood. The movie gracefully explores the contrast between childhood innocence and adult responsibilities, serving both laughter and thought-provoking moments.
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  • A League of Their Own
    2

    A League of Their Own

    Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna
    59 votes
    In the heart of World War II, A League of Their Own unfolds. This comedy-drama, brimming with historical significance and a dash of humor, is directed by Penny Marshall. Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and Kit Keller (Lori Petty), two sisters from Oregon, are recruited to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league was formed when the male baseball players were drafted into the war. Under the guidance of their hard-drinking coach Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), they and their teammates struggle to keep the league alive amidst societal expectations and personal conflicts. Their journey redefines women's roles in sports and society, challenging stereotypes along the way. To this day, it remains a classic for its portrayal of a significant chapter in American history.
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  • Awakenings
    3

    Awakenings

    Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner
    45 votes
    In Awakenings, Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) is a dedicated and innovative neurologist at a Bronx hospital in the late 1960s. Stumbling upon a group of patients who have been catatonic for decades, victims of a severe form of encephalitis, he finds hope in an experimental drug, L-Dopa. One patient, Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), emerges from his life-long stupor, inspiring Sayer to administer the treatment to others with miraculous results. As Leonard grapples with a world drastically changed, and Sayer faces the implications of his medical breakthrough, the film explores human resilience and the power of medical science. This drama, based on a true story, was nominated for three Academy Awards.
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  • The Preacher's Wife
    4

    The Preacher's Wife

    Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance
    31 votes
    A cleric begins to doubt himself and is visited by an angel. The heavenly emissary is supposed to help the good reverend over his midlife crisis, but he is distracted by the cleric's lovely young wife. A remake with gospel music of the "The Bishop's Wife".
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  • Jumpin' Jack Flash
    5

    Jumpin' Jack Flash

    Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, John Wood
    33 votes
    Terry Doolittle (Whoopi Goldberg) works with computers in a bank office. She routinely talks with others via her computer, but one day she connects with a mysterious user by the name of Jumpin' Jack Flash (Jonathan Pryce). It takes her a while to decode his message, but Terry figures out that Jack is a British secret agent trapped behind enemy lines. Terry agrees to help him, but her activities attract the attention of the KGB, who want to know Jack's real identity -- and will kill to get it.
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  • Riding in Cars with Boys
    6

    Riding in Cars with Boys

    Drew Barrymore, Steve Zahn, Brittany Murphy
    31 votes
    The fresh, funny, touching and true story of writer Beverly Donofrio (played by Drew Barrymore, who ages from 15 to 35 in the role), reveals her coming of age in the late 1960s and her whole life colored by an event that happened when she was 15. The events span more than two decades, as the young heroine experiences often-humorous, sometimes-irreverent, but certainly a unique personal journey to make something meaningful of her life.
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  • Renaissance Man
    7

    Renaissance Man

    Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines, James Remar
    27 votes
    After getting canned from his advertising job, down-and-out divorcé Bill Rago (Danny DeVito) gets a gig teaching English at a nearby army base. There, he takes on a group of underachieving students from poor backgrounds who seem apathetic about their education. Bill becomes frustrated, but finally turns the class around when he begins discussing "Hamlet." However, Sgt. Cass (Gregory Hines), a hardened drill instructor, is skeptical of Bill's teaching methods.