The 60+ Best Walter Matthau Movies
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1Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Sam WaterstonWhen CIA operative Miles Kendig (Walter Matthau) deliberately lets KGB agent Yaskov (Herbert Lom) get away, his boss (Ned Beatty) threatens to retire him. Kendig beats him to it, however, destroying his own records and traveling to Austria where he begins work on a memoir that will expose all his former agency's covert practices. The CIA catches wind of the book and sends other agents after him, initiating a frenetic game of cat and mouse that spans the globe.
2Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, John FiedlerWhen fussy Felix (Jack Lemmon) becomes suicidal over his impending divorce, he accepts an offer to move in with his best friend, messy Oscar (Walter Matthau). Felix drives Oscar crazy with his obsession over his soon-to-be ex. Oscar tries to get him out of his funk by arranging a double date with two wacky British neighbors, Cecily (Monica Evans) and Gwendolyn (Carole Shelley). When the plan backfires and Felix grows even more despondent, his friendship with Oscar is put to the test.More The Odd Couple
- #359 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #52 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #10 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
3Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-MargretJohn Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau) are two curmudgeonly neighbors who have been at each other's throats for years. The rivalry of the former friends intensifies when Ariel (Ann-Margret) comes along and provides a love interest for both of them. When Max finds out that John is experiencing family troubles and financial ruin, however, he steps in to help. Their bond is further cemented when John has a health scare and Max makes the ultimate sacrifice for his friend.More Grumpy Old Men- #296 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #32 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #16 of 168 onThe Best '90s Comedy Movies, Ranked
4Cary 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
5Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Dan O'HerlihyDuring the Cold War, U.S. bomber jets are equipped with fail-safe boxes that instruct pilots when and if to attack. When an attack order is inadvertently administered due to a system malfunction, the President of the United States (Henry Fonda) must scramble to fix the mistake before the bombs are dropped on Moscow. He manages to stop almost all the bombers headed for Moscow, except for one determined pilot who manages to complete his mission, with deadly consequences.More Fail Safe- #193 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #72 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
- #35 of 165 onThe Best Political Films Of All Time
6Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin BalsamIn New York City, a criminal gang led by the ruthless "Mr. Blue" (Robert Shaw) hijacks a subway car and threatens to start shooting one passenger per minute unless they receive a million dollars in cash from the city within an hour. On the other end of the line, crusty veteran transit policeman Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) has his hands full dealing with the mayor's office and his hotheaded fellow cops, while also trying to deliver the ransom before the deadline expires.- Dig Deeper...Famous Movies Filmed in New York City
- And Deeper...List of All Movies Released in 1974
- #79 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
7Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Felicia FarrWhen small-time criminal Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) leads a crew to rob a bank, things don't exactly go according to plan. Not only are there casualties, but also, he and his surviving cohort, Harman Sullivan (Andy Robinson), discover that they've snagged far more cash than they were expecting --and it's money that belongs to the mob. Hunted by both the police and a ruthless killer named Molly (Joe Don Baker), Charley and Harman may not live long enough to enjoy their small fortune.
8Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Vic MorrowThe Bad News Bears is an American sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. The movie pivots around the character of Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau), a washed-up, minor league ballplayer turned pool cleaner. Desperate for cash, he agrees to coach a ragtag youth baseball team, the Bears. The motley crew includes Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal), a skilled pitcher and the estranged daughter of one of Buttermaker's ex-girlfriends. Despite their initial struggles, the Bears slowly gain competence under Buttermaker's unorthodox coaching methods and strive to compete in the league championship against their well-trained rivals. The film was nominated for multiple awards during its release year.More The Bad News Bears- #40 of 53 onThe Best Movies Where The Bad Guy Wins
- #398 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #167 of 278 on'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
9Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ron RichWhile taping a football game, cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) ends up slightly injured after a collision with star player "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich). When Hinkle's scheming brother-in-law, lawyer Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau), catches wind of the incident, he wants Hinkle to feign paralysis to scam the insurance company. Hinkle agrees to the plan, if only to win back his ex (Judi West). But Hinkle's growing friendship with a guilt-ridden Jackson has him questioning the ploy.
10Kirk 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).
11Walter Matthau, George Burns, Richard BenjaminAl Lewis (George Burns) and Willy Clark (Walter Matthau) are a pair of feuding vaudeville comedians (Lewis and Clark, naturally) who performed together for 47 years before finally calling it quits. A network genius then has the brilliant idea of reuniting the duo for a TV special about the history of comedy. Once the reunion is on, the sparks and one-liners start to fly with equal speed. But can Lewis and Clark put aside their differences long enough to collect one last paycheck?More The Sunshine Boys- #223 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #6 of 35 on35+ Movies And Shows With Sunshine In The Title
- #55 of 74 onThe Best '70s Comedy Movies, Ranked
12Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-MargretElderly, angling and contentious friends Max (Walter Matthau) and John (Jack Lemmon) back-burner their bickering when their kids (Kevin Pollak, Daryl Hannah) get engaged, but fishing season opens a can of romantic worms as newcomer Maria (Sophia Loren) plans to turn their beloved bait shop into a restaurant. Botched matchmaking leads to some major romantic mix-ups, until an unexpected death in the family helps everyone realize that the most important thing in life is love.More Grumpier Old Men- #267 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #58 of 168 onThe Best '90s Comedy Movies, Ranked
- #144 of 632 onThe 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time
13Walter Matthau, Elaine May, Jack WestonA spoiled and self-absorbed man who has squandered his inheritance, Henry Graham (Walter Matthau) is desperate to find a way to maintain his lavish lifestyle. Henry sees an opportunity when he meets Henrietta Lowell (Elaine May), an awkward and bookish heiress. Though Henry courts Henrietta, he has no intention of remaining with her, and he develops a surprisingly sinister scheme. As Henry attempts to execute his plan, he finds that seeing it through may not be as easy as he had thought.
14Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Carol BurnettSuccessful Chicago newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson (Jack Lemmon) is hanging up his journalist's hat to marry Peggy Grant (Susan Sarandon). When his editor, the arrogant, self-important Walter Burns (Walter Matthau), learns of Hildy's plans, he goes to great lengths to keep his star writer. They learn that the notorious (but possibly wrongfully accused) criminal, Earl Williams (Austin Pendleton), has escaped on the eve of his execution, and Hildy can't resist this one last sensational story.More The Front Page- #263 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #64 of 74 onThe Best '70s Comedy Movies, Ranked
- #59 of 61 onThe 60+ Best PG Slapstick Movies
15Walter Matthau, Maureen Stapleton, Barbara HarrisIn a film based on Neil Simon's hit play, Walter Matthau portrays three unconnected roles. Sam Nash reluctantly joins his wife, Karen (Maureen Stapleton), in the suite where they spent their honeymoon, hoping to revive their flagging marriage. Then Jesse Kiplinger, an aging movie producer, is determined to seduce his old flame, Muriel (Barbara Harris). Finally, Matthau is beleaguered father Roy Hubley who, with his wife, Norma (Lee Grant), struggles to get their daughter to her own wedding.
16Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, Goldie HawnDistraught when her middle-aged lover breaks a date with her, 21-year-old Toni Simmons (Goldie Hawn) attempts suicide. Impressed by her action, her lover, dentist Julian Winston (Walter Matthau) reconsiders marrying Toni, but he worries about her insistence on honesty. Having fabricated a wife and three children, Julian readily accepts when his devoted nurse, Stephanie (Ingrid Bergman), who has secretly loved Julian for years, offers to act as his wife and demand a divorce.More Cactus Flower- #121 of 167 onThe Greatest '60s Movies, Ranked
- #45 of 79 onThe Best '60s Comedy Movies, Ranked
- #213 of 419 onThe 400+ Best Movies Produced By Columbia Pictures
17Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Walter MatthauCatherine Boyd (Meg Ryan) is a highly intelligent doctoral student at Princeton University and is engaged to stuffy Professor James Moreland (Stephen Fry). Ed Walters (Tim Robbins), a mechanic and all-around regular guy, falls for Catherine and searches for a way to impress her. Believing that the key to Catherine's heart is his IQ, Ed passes himself off as a physicist with the help of Catherine's uncle, who just happens to be Albert Einstein (Walter Matthau).More I.Q.- #64 of 85 onThe Best Movies Of 1994
- #8 of 14 on14 Times A Real Historical Figure Is A Character In An Extremely Fictional Movie
- #23 of 62 onThe Best Romantic Comedies Rated PG
18Walter Matthau, Robert Morse, Inger StevensIn this playful comedy, Paul Manning (Walter Matthau) is happily married to his beautiful wife, Ruth (Inger Stevens), but he still has a wandering eye. When he finds out that his good friend Ed Stander (Robert Morse) has been regularly cheating on his spouse, Harriet (Claire Kelly), Paul becomes intrigued by how his buddy gets away with such indiscretions, leading to a list of humorous "rules" for successful affairs presented by a number of high-profile guest stars.
19Kevin Costner, Sissy Spacek, Joe PesciIn Oliver Stone's political thriller, JFK, the spotlight shines on New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). He is drawn into a complex web of conspiracy theories surrounding the 1963 assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The film, a fascinating blend of fact and speculation, features a star-studded cast including names like Tommy Lee Jones as Clay Shaw and Gary Oldman in the role of Lee Harvey Oswald. Snagging eight Academy Award nominations, it stands as an intriguing exploration of this notorious historical event.More JFK- #739 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #11 of 54 onThe Best Movies 'Loosely' Based On True Stories
- #156 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
20Jack Lemmon, Christine Baranski, Amy YasbeckThe Odd Couple II is the 1998 sequel to 1968's The Odd Couple. Written by Neil Simon, the film reunites Jack Lemmon as Felix Unger and Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison in their last film together. The film is also significant among sequels for having one of the longest gaps between the release of the original and a sequel in which all leads return. Each actor made only one more theatrical film after this: The Legend of Bagger Vance for Lemmon and Hanging Up for Matthau, in which neither actor played a leading role, both in 2000.
21Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Dyan CannonRetired friends Charlie (Walter Matthau) and Herb (Jack Lemmon) pose as dance instructors on a cruise ship in this comedy. The underhanded Charlie coaxes his recently widowed brother-in-law to join him on board without disclosing the two will need to dance. Instead Charlie promises there will be plenty of available and lonely women at sea. Once on the ship, Charlie's promise proves accurate, and he starts romancing the wealthy Liz (Dyan Cannon), while Herb falls for Vivian (Gloria DeHaven).
22Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Art CarneyWidower Dr. Charles Nichols (Walter Matthau) is trying to get back into the dating game, but he's having a hard time adjusting to life as a single man. Every attempt at meeting women seems to end in disaster. It isn't until he meets Ann (Glenda Jackson) as a patient at the hospital that he begins to think he might be able to find love once again. But both Charles and Ann have issues with commitment, and neither want to be the first to take the plunge into another long-term relationship.
23Walter Matthau, Mason Gamble, Joan PlowrightMischievous Dennis Mitchell (Mason Gamble) makes the life of neighbor George Wilson (Walter Matthau) miserable with his overactive energy and inadvertent troublemaking. Because his parents must leave town for work and can't find a baby sitter for Dennis, they ask George and his wife, Martha (Joan Plowright), to take care of him. But when burglar Switchblade Sam (Christopher Lloyd) breaks in to steal George's gold coin collection, he takes Dennis as a hostage, and crusty George must save the boy.More Dennis the Menace- #3 of 12 onClassic '90s Kids Movies You Forgot Are Actually Super Messed Up
- #2 of 14 onMovies From Your Childhood That Taught You Bad Lessons
- #116 of 136 onThe Best Bromance Movies
24Jack Nicholson, Walter Matthau, Larry HagmanEnsign Pulver is a 1964 American Technicolor film in Panavision and a sequel to the 1955 film Mister Roberts. The movie stars Robert Walker, Jr., Burl Ives, Walter Matthau and Tommy Sands and features Millie Perkins, Larry Hagman, Kay Medford, Peter Marshall, Jack Nicholson, Richard Gautier, George Lindsey, James Farentino, and James Coco. The film was directed and co-written by Joshua Logan, who had directed and co-written the Mister Roberts stage play on Broadway, and also shot scenes for the 1955 film after director John Ford fell ill. The story concerns the U.S.S. Reluctant, which is at anchor beside a tropical island. The ship's captain is as much of a "Captain Bligh" as ever. Several of the film's events – such as attacking the Captain while he is watching a film, and one the sailors trying to obtain compassionate leave to deal with a dying child – are taken from Thomas Heggen's original novel Mister Roberts. The characters of Pulver, Doc and several crewmen return from the first film, but played by different actors.
25Charlton 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.
26Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony FranciosaAmbitious young radio producer Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal) finds a charming rogue named Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes (Andy Griffith) in an Arkansas drunk tank and puts him on the air. Soon, Rhodes' local popularity gets him an appearance on television in Memphis, which he parlays into national network stardom that he uses to endorse a presidential candidate for personal gain. But the increasingly petulant star's ego, arrogance and womanizing threaten his rise to the top.More A Face in the Crowd- #16 of 18 on18 Great Movies Based On Obscure Short Stories
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- #12 of 70 onThe 70 Best Movies of 1957
27Alan Alda, Jane Fonda, Maggie SmithFour comedic scenarios play out at a hotel in this adaptation of the Neil Simon play. Divorced couple Hannah (Jane Fonda) and Bill (Alan Alda) argue over custody of their daughter; an actress (Maggie Smith) frets over her Oscar nomination as her gay husband (Michael Caine) comes out of the closet; a businessman (Walter Matthau) finds a comatose prostitute in his bed, and two competitive doctors (Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby) settle their differences with a free-for-all tennis game.
28Walter Matthau, Carol Burnett, Geraldine PagePete (Walter Matthau) and Tillie (Carol Burnett) are middle-aged and meet at a time in their lives when both have developed a layer of cynicism about love and relationships. Wisecracking Pete hides behind an almost pathological need to tell jokes, while Tillie is a bit too uptight to let herself go. Gradually, through various ups and downs, they become a couple, get married -- despite Pete's reservations -- and have a child. After tragedy strikes, their marriage is tested.
29Gregory 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.
30Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard HughesThe Supreme Court's first woman (Jill Clayburgh), a conservative, debates and dates her grumpy colleague (Walter Matthau), a liberal.
