The 70+ Best George Kennedy Movies
Ranked By
2.7K votes
399 voters
1 reranks
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
- 1Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles BronsonIn the heart of World War II, Major Reisman (Lee Marvin) is tasked with an impossible mission in The Dirty Dozen. His orders: to mould twelve hardened criminals into a cohesive fighting unit. The eclectic crew, notable for characters like arrogant Robert Jefferson (Jim Brown) and psychopathic Archer Maggott (Telly Savalas), must infiltrate an enemy chateau to assassinate high-ranking Nazi officials. A gripping blend of war film and suspense thriller, this 1967 classic earned four Academy Award nominations. As the tension mounts, it's clear - success isn't guaranteed, and survival hangs by a thread.More The Dirty Dozen
- #22 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #448 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #38 of 191 onThe Best Movies For Men
2Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. CannonWhen petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.More Cool Hand Luke- #465 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #76 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #12 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
3John Wayne, Dean Martin, Martha HyerFour ne'er-do-well sons reunite in their Texas hometown to attend their mother's funeral. Led by older brothers John (John Wayne), a gunfighter, and Tom (Dean Martin), a gambler, the four soon learn that their father gambled away the family ranch, which was the cause of his murder. The brothers decide to avenge their father's death and win back the ranch, a situation that quickly leads to trouble with the local sheriff and violent conflict with the rival Hastings clan.More The Sons of Katie Elder- #23 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #12 of 46 onThe Best 1960s Western Movies, Ranked
- #6 of 13 onThe Best Western Movies Streaming On Hulu
4James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter FinchTense tale about a group of men who are left stranded in the middle of the Arabian desert after a plane crash. Their only hope of survival is to rebuild the craft so that, phoenix-like, she may fly again and carry them to safety, but can the captain and navigator calm the passengers as tension mounts and time starts to run out?- #44 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
- #63 of 91 onThe Best Movies About Being Stranded
- #15 of 85 onThe Best James Stewart Movies
5Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGeeFormer government assassin Jonathan Hemlock (Clint Eastwood) now devotes his time to teaching and collecting paintings, but his quiet life is interrupted when he is persuaded by his former employers work for them again. Hemlock has to join a crew of explorers (George Kennedy, Jack Cassidy) on a trip up the Eiger, a treacherous Swiss mountain. Hemlock must simultaneously determine which of his fellow climbers is a Soviet spy, kill his target and scale the deadly peak.
6Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George KennedyWhile stealing a car, free-spirited drifter Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) crosses paths with legendary thief Thunderbolt (Clint Eastwood) in the midst of his own escape. Thunderbolt's old partners in crime, Red (George Kennedy) and Eddie (Geoffrey Lewis), believe he double-crossed them after they robbed a Montana bank vault several years ago. After Thunderbolt successfully pleads his innocence and is let off the hook, Lightfoot rallies them together as a group to rob the very same bank again.- Dig Deeper...Malpaso Productions Movies List
- And Deeper...List of All Movies Released in 1974
- #84 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
7Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline BissetIn this large-ensemble disaster movie, Mel Bakersfeld (Burt Lancaster), the general manager of a Chicago-area airport, must contend with a massive snowstorm and other issues, both work-related and personal, while the troubled D.O. Guerrero (Van Heflin) threatens to blow up an airliner. As pilot Vernon Demerest (Dean Martin) attempts to calm Guerrero down and dissuade him from setting off explosives on the plane, tensions increase in the air and on the ground, and danger is imminent.More Airport- Dig Deeper...Famous Movies Filmed in Illinois
- And Deeper...Famous Movies Filmed in Chicago
- #114 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
8Peter Ustinov, Bette Davis, David NivenOn a luxurious cruise on the Nile River, a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles), is murdered. Fortunately, among the passengers are famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) and his trusted companion, Colonel Race (David Niven), who immediately begin their investigation. But just as Poirot identifies a motley collection of would-be murderers, several of the suspects also meet their demise, which only deepens the mystery of the killer's identity.More Death on the Nile- #768 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #104 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
- #10 of 81 onThe 75+ Best Whodunit Murder Mystery Movies
9John Wayne, George Kennedy, Scott WalkerCahill U.S. Marshal is a 1973 American Western film in Technicolor starring John Wayne as a driven lawman in a black hat. The film was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and filmed on location in Durango, Mexico.More Cahill U.S. Marshal- #68 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #6 of 44 onThe Best 1970s Westerns, Ranked
- #31 of 59 onThe 55+ Best Movies Of 1973
10Jack Lemmon, Lee Grant, George KennedyThe story about the mid-air hijack of a multi-millionaire's private 747 carrying a collection of priceless works of art. The terrified pilot is forced by the hijackers to fly low to avoid radar detection and, as a result, the plane hits an oil rig and crashes into the sea. As the stricken airliner sinks, its passengers and crew are faced with a nightmare fight for survival.
11James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn CorbettAmerican Civil War film about a wealthy widower who has remained steadfast in his opposition to the war on moral grounds. However, he is forced to become involved in the conflict when his son-in-law is called upon to serve in the Confederate forces, his youngest son is captured by the Union army, and another son and his pregnant daughter-in-law are killed by looters.More Shenandoah- #7 of 27 onThe 25+ Best Civil War Movies Of All Time, Ranked
- #49 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #245 of 308 onThe 295+ Best Movies For Guys
12John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia NealNaval Captain Torrey (John Wayne) manages to bring his ship through the bombing of Pearl Harbor unscathed, but is later demoted when it is damaged in a subsequent battle due to his negligence. Back on land, he begins a reconciliation with his estranged son (Brandon de Wilde) and a romance with nurse Maggie (Patricia Neal), but duty calls him away when he and his firebrand friend, Cmdr. Paul Eddington (Kirk Douglas), are tasked with salvaging a dangerous and important mission.More In Harm's Way- #91 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #95 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
- #4 of 8 onThe Best Movies About Pearl Harbor, Ranked By History Buffs
13Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George KennedyWhen a major earthquake hits Los Angeles, the various residents of the city cope with the chaos and destruction. Successful architect Stewart Graff (Charlton Heston) argues with his demanding wife, Remy Royce-Graff (Ava Gardner), as the disaster hits. Later, when he checks in on his flirtatious friend Denise Marshall (Geneviève Bujold), they begin an affair. As the personal dramas continue, the city is threatened by aftershocks and possibly even greater quakes.
14Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George KennedyWhen an in-flight collision incapacitates the pilots of an airplane bound for Los Angeles, stewardess Nancy Pryor (Karen Black) is forced to take over the controls. From the ground, her boyfriend Alan Murdock (Charlton Heston), a retired test pilot, tries to talk her through piloting and landing the 747 aircraft. Worse yet, the anxious passengers -- among which are a noisy nun (Helen Reddy) and a cranky man (Sid Caesar) -- are aggravating the already tense atmosphere.
15O. J. Simpson, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Reggie JacksonThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a comedic whirlwind, blending elements of crime and slapstick humor. The film revolves around bumbling cop Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), whose antics often cause more harm than good. When his colleague, Officer Nordberg (O.J. Simpson), falls into a coma under suspicious circumstances, Drebin takes it upon himself to solve the case. As he stumbles through a web of intrigue involving a wealthy businessman named Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban) and his secretary Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley), Drebin leaves no stone unturned - or unbroken. This movie's unique blend of comedy and action has made it an enduring classic in its genre.- #362 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #86 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #13 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
16Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter MatthauAfter Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) falls for the dashing Peter Joshua (Cary Grant) on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex (James Coburn), Scobie (George Kennedy) and Gideon (Ned Glass), who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines. But why does Peter keep changing his name?More Charade- #187 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #710 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #136 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
17Jim Brown, George Kennedy, Fredric March...tick...tick...tick... is an American crime drama movie made in 1970 directed by Ralph Nelson. Racially provocative for its time, it stars Jim Brown in the role of an African-American man elected as the sheriff of a rural county in the American South. It has become something of a cult classic for its cutting-edge portrayal of racial relations and its tense narrative.
18Kirk Douglas, Gena Rowlands, Walter MatthauRanch hand Jack Burns (Kirk Douglas) feels out of place in the modern world. Jack deliberately gets into a bar room fight to be imprisoned alongside friend Paul (Michael Kane), arrested for helping illegal aliens. Jack tries to convince Paul to flee with him, but, as a family man, Paul has too much at stake. Jack escapes after a beating from a sadistic police deputy (George Kennedy) and heads for the hills. An extensive manhunt breaks out, led by sympathetic Sheriff Johnson (Walter Matthau).
19Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George KennedyWhen a string of women in Boston start turning up dead, the police launch an investigation headed by John Bottomly (Henry Fonda). Through chance, Bottomly gets the evidence he needs to arrest Albert DeSalvo (Tony Curtis). Though DeSalvo denies having any connection to the murders at first, the police use hypnosis, pressured interrogation, and interviews with the only surviving victim (Sally Kellerman) to coax him into confessing. Still, whether he is truly guilty remains a mystery to many.More The Boston Strangler- #22 of 35 onThe Best Movies Based on Real Murders
- #84 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
- #15 of 27 onThe Best Movies Based On Real Serial Killers
20Robert Mitchum, George Kennedy, David CarradineOlder lawman Marshal Flagg (Robert Mitchum) is struggling to transition from the Old West to the more modernized one -- so much so that Mayor Wilker (Martin Balsam) forces him into retirement. Not one to go away easily, Flagg quickly fixates on his old nemesis, McKay (George Kennedy), formerly believed to be dead, who is now back in town and up to no good. But Flagg soon discovers that McKay might be his greatest ally in a fight to prove that the old-timers aren't useless in the New West.
21Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, Robert WagnerJournalist Maggie Whelan (Susan Blakely) discovers that her married boyfriend, Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner), heads a company that is involved in illegal arms sales. To stop her from going public, Harrison decides to kill her by bringing down the Concorde she is taking from Paris and Moscow. It is up to pilots Paul Metrand (Alain Delon) and Joe Patroni (George Kennedy) to keep the plane aloft and intact in the face of repeated missile attacks from jets sent by Harrison.
22O. J. Simpson, Raquel Welch, Anna Nicole SmithNaked Gun 33â…“: The Final Insult is a 1994 comedy film, the third and final film in the Naked Gun series, which was based on the Police Squad! television series. It was marketed with the tagline: "Mostly All New Jokes." The "33â…“" of the title is a reference to the speed at which long playing phonograph records play. The film was originally going to be titled Naked Gun 33â…“: Just for the Record, but was changed after the studio felt not many understood the joke. It was also going to be called "The Naked Gun III: The Final Insult", according to some Christmas 1993 video previews. Leslie Nielsen returns as Lieutenant Frank Drebin, along with Priscilla Presley as Jane Spencer Drebin, O. J. Simpson as Officer Nordberg and George Kennedy as Captain Ed Hocken. Newcomers to the series Fred Ward, Anna Nicole Smith, and Kathleen Freeman co-star as a gang of bombers set to blow up the Academy Awards ceremony. Raye Birk reprises his role as the villainous "Pahpshmir" from The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!.- #205 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #209 of 278 on'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
- #25 of 98 onThe Best Movies Based On TV Shows
23James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel WelchThere is little hope for bandit Dee Bishop (Dean Martin) and his gang as they wait to be hanged. But at the last second, the hangman -- Dee's brother, Mace (James Stewart), in disguise -- helps them escape. After kidnapping a rancher's wife (Raquel Welch) and with the vengeful sheriff (George Kennedy) in pursuit, they retreat to an abandoned town. Tired of their desperado life, the brothers consider going straight. But when a gang of bandoleros attacks, their chances at starting over seem dim.More Bandolero!- #183 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #45 of 85 onThe Best James Stewart Movies
- #24 of 47 onThe 45+ Best Movies of 1968
24George Kennedy, James Whitmore, Monte MarkhamWhen Quintero (Fernando Rey), a Mexican revolutionary leader, is left to rot in jail by the forces of President Diaz, it's up to his subordinate, Max (Reni Santoni), to bust him out. With $600 in hand, he crosses the border into America and hires Chris Adams (George Kennedy), a mercenary of considerable skill, who uses the rest of the cash on more hired guns. After the team is rounded out by experts on close-combat fighting, explosives and knife-throwing, they set off to free Quintero.
25Sophia Loren, Max von Sydow, George KennedyBrass Target is a 1978 American post war suspense film, based on the novel The Algonquin Project by Frederick Nolan and directed by John Hough. It stars John Cassavetes, Robert Vaughn, George Kennedy, Patrick McGoohan and Max von Sydow. The film revolves around the actual historical event of Gen. George S. Patton's fatal automobile crash. It suggests it was not an accident but a conspiracy.
26George Kennedy, Lee Majors, Jennifer O'NeillSteel is a 1979 film directed by Steve Carver.
27Gregory Peck, Diane Baker, Walter MatthauAfter a blackout in his office building, accountant David Stillwell (Gregory Peck) finds he can't remember the past two years of his life. Discovering that a rich humanitarian died after falling from the same building, and that there are shady gunmen out to get him, Stillwell must piece together the missing memories of his life. Enlisting the help of a rookie private eye (Walter Matthau) and a reluctant old flame (Diane Baker), Stillwell uncovers the mystery detail by unexpected detail.
28Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Olivia de HavillandHush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a 1964 American thriller film directed and produced by Robert Aldrich, and starring Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, and Agnes Moorehead, as well as Mary Astor in her final film. The movie was adapted for the screen by Henry Farrell and Lukas Heller, from Farrell's unpublished short story, "What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?" It received seven Academy Award nominations.- #86 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
- #17 of 75 onThe 75 Best '60s Horror Movies, Ranked
- #30 of 46 onThe 45+ Best Movies of 1964
29Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif EricksonThough 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.
30George Kennedy, Lois Chiles, Dorothy LamourThis 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.
