The 70 Best John Savage Movies
Ranked By
350 votes
120 voters
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
1Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John SavageThe Deer Hunter is a gritty war drama that explores the lives of three steelworkers whose existences are irrevocably shaken by the Vietnam War. Michael (Robert De Niro), Steven (John Savage), and Nick (Christopher Walken) are drawn into the heart of darkness, their friendships tested against a backdrop of horror and heroism. Directed by Michael Cimino, this 1978 film scooped five Academy Awards including Best Picture. Notable for its harrowing Russian roulette scenes, The Deer Hunter delivers an unflinching portrayal of war's impact on ordinary lives.More The Deer Hunter
- #63 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #22 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #36 of 126 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
2John Savage, James Woods, Franklyn SealesCharismatic psychopath Greg Powell (James Woods) teams up with Jimmy Youngblood (Franklyn Seales), a petty thief. Driving in Los Angeles in 1963, they are pulled over by Detective Hettinger (John Savage) and his partner, Campbell (Ted Danson), for an illegal U-turn. Panicked, Powell kidnaps the officers and kills Campbell. Hettinger escapes, and his description of the men leads to their arrest. As both men evade prosecution with legal tricks, Hettinger is racked with guilt over his survival.
3John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'AngeloIn New York City for the first time while on his way to enlist in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Oklahoma farm hand Claude Hooper Bukowski (John Savage) meets up with a freewheeling group of Central Park hippies led by the irrepressible George Berger (Treat Williams). When the unlikely friends meet upper-middle-class debutante Sheila Franklin (Beverly D'Angelo), sparks fly between the country boy and the city girl, and Berger's troupe attempts to keep the young lovers together.More Hair- #110 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #354 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #40 of 56 onThe 50+ Best Movies Of 1979
4John Savage, David Morse, Diana ScarwidDepressed and suffering from low self-esteem, Roary (John Savage) attempts to kill himself by jumping out of a building. When his failed suicide attempt leaves him crippled, he turns to drink, favoring a local dive bar frequented by the handicapped. There, he befriends the bartender (David Morse), an ex-basketball player saving up for corrective surgery in hopes of returning to the court, and meets a kind young lady (Diana Scarwid) who aids him with his physical and mental rehabilitation.
5Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby DeeBrooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, a sweltering summer day: the setting for Spike Lee's 1989 classic, Do the Right Thing. Conflict brews in this racially tense community, centering around Sal's Pizzeria, owned by Sal (Danny Aiello). Mookie (Spike Lee), a young African-American pizza delivery man, serves as our guide through this intricate urban tapestry. The narrative unfolds, exploring issues of race and prejudice with unflinching honesty. This provocative drama garnered two Academy Award nominations and remains a pivotal film in American cinema, embodying the struggle for racial harmony in an environment where doing the right thing is never black or white.More Do the Right Thing- #295 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #31 of 83 onThe Best Movies Of 1989, Ranked
- #95 of 468 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
6Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim CaviezelThe Thin Red Line, a war drama directed by Terrence Malick, paints a visceral picture of the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. The film's narrative primarily revolves around Private Witt (Jim Caviezel), who is forced to confront his own morality amidst the chaos of battle. Other central characters include First Sgt. Welsh (Sean Penn) and Lt. Col. Tall (Nick Nolte), each grappling with their roles within the brutal realities of war. The movie garnered seven Academy Award nominations, testament to its impactful storytelling and powerful performances.More The Thin Red Line- #48 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #127 of 156 onThe Best Ensemble Movies Of All Time
- #203 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
7Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Bridget FondaThe Godfather Part III is a 1990 American film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his empire. The film also weaves into its plot a fictionalized account of two real-life events; both are linked with the affairs of Michael Corleone. The film stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and Andy GarcÃa, and features Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, and Sofia Coppola.More The Godfather Part III- #254 of 279 on'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
- #219 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #38 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
8James Woods, Jim Belushi, Michael MurphyUnable to find work in America because of his penchant for booze and drugs, photojournalist Richard Boyle (James Woods) heads to El Salvador with his DJ friend Doctor Rock (James Belushi) to see if he can get a gig covering the country's ongoing civil war. Boyle decides it's time to flee the country when the violence escalates to a level that even he is uncomfortable with, but his relationship with an El Salvadorian woman (Elpidia Carrillo) complicates matters.More Salvador- #240 of 263 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #57 of 87 onThe Best Movies of 1986
- #16 of 19 onWar Movies About Wars You Don't Know Anything About
9Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, Scott WolfIn 1960, a hardy group of prep school students boards an old-fashioned sailing ship. With Capt. Christopher Sheldon (Jeff Bridges) at the helm, the oceangoing voyage is intended to teach the boys fortitude and discipline. But the youthful crew -- among them confident Chuck Gieg (Scott Wolf), timid Gil Martin (Ryan Phillippe) and self-satisfied Frank Beaumont (Jeremy Sisto) -- are about to get some unexpected instruction in survival when they get caught in the clutches of a white squall storm.More White Squall- #91 of 117 onThe Best Movies Of 1996
- #20 of 44 onThe 40+ Best Lost At Sea Movies
- #24 of 91 onThe Best Movies About Being Stranded
10John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira SorvinoDuring the summer of 1977, a killer known as the Son of Sam keeps all of New York City on edge with a series of brutal murders. The philandering Vinny (John Alberto Leguizamo) unwittingly almost becomes a victim of the psychopath, and soon he and numerous people in his orbit -- including his wife, Dionna (Mira Sorvino), his punk-rocker friend, Ritchie (Adrien Brody), and aspiring porn star Ruby (Jennifer Esposito) -- are trying to figure out the identity of the killer, before it's too late.More Summer of Sam- #8 of 35 onThe Best Movies Based on Real Murders
- #14 of 25 onThe Best Movies About the Search for a Serial Killer
- #37 of 93 onThe Best Movies With The Most F-Bombs
11John Savage, Sandi Schultz, Mary CoulsonDoor to Silence, also known as Door Into Silence, is a 1991 Italian horror film written and directed by Lucio Fulci and produced by Joe D'Amato. It starrs John Savage.
12Jeff Bridges, Barry Brown, Jim DavisOut of the frying pan and into the fire: Civil War draft dodger Drew Dixon (Barry Brown) avoids the horrors of war by fleeing west, only to become mixed up with a gang of lawless youths led by the debonair con man Jake Rumsey (Jeff Bridges). The allure of a free-spirited desperado life is quickly spoiled by a series of mishaps that leave the bandits lacking food and money, and in constant fear of more sinister criminals like Big Joe (David Huddleston).
13John Goodman, Robert Mitchum, Nastassja KinskiMaria's Lovers is a 1984 drama film directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and starring Nastassja Kinski, John Savage, and Robert Mitchum. The plot follows a soldier returning from World War II who marries the woman of his dreams, but he is unable to consummate his marriage ruining the couples chances of a shared happiness.
14Stacy Keach, Robby Benson, Samantha EggarAll the Kind Strangers is a 1974 American film directed by Burt Kennedy.
15John Savage, William McNamara, Markus FlanaganThe Beat is a film released in the U.S. in 1988.
16Flavor Flav, Quinton Jackson, Robert MianoConfessions of a Pit Fighter is a 2005 American martial arts action film directed by Art Camacho and starring Hector Echavarria, Armand Assante, Flavor Flav, James Russo and John Savage. It was filmed in Los Angeles, California and produced by Alliance Group Entertainment. It was distributed in by Lions Gate Entertainment.
17John Goodman, John Cusack, Drake BellThe Jack Bull is a television western movie, produced for HBO, and directed by John Badham. It is loosely based on Michael Kohlhaas, a novel by Heinrich von Kleist, with the script by Dick Cusack. Much of the movie was filmed at the CL Ranch and the Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary, Alberta.
18Jack Nicholson, David Morse, Anjelica HustonFor six excruciating years, Freddy Gale (Jack Nicholson) has fantasized about taking bloody revenge on John Booth (David Morse), the drunk driver responsible for the traffic accident that killed his daughter. On the last day of Booth's prison sentence, a grief-stricken Gale informs his ex-wife, Mary (Anjelica Huston), of his intentions, then follows Booth to a mobile home in the suburbs. There, with hands shaking, Gale draws his gun -- and steps into a dark and uncertain future.
19John Savage, Gina Philips, Johnny WhitworthThe Anarchist Cookbook is a 2002 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Jordan Susman. The film follows a young honors student-turned-anarchist, Puck, and his group of anarchist friends living peacefully in a Dallas commune until a nihilist, Johnny Black, appears with a copy of The Anarchist Cookbook and completely destroys their way of life. The film was heavily criticized by anarchists for its poor presentation of anarchist theory, philosophy, and ethics, which they felt amounted to anti-anarchist propaganda.
20Sean Young, John Savage, Marc Vann
21Cindy Williams, Ann Sothern, John SavageThe Killing Kind is a 1973 American psychological horror directed by Curtis Harrington, and starring Ann Sothern and John Savage. The film is based on a screenplay by Tony Crechales, whose screenplay was revised by producer George Edwards, an associate producer on Harrington's previous film, What's the Matter with Helen?. Cindy Williams, who had previously done a small number of films, plays a new tenant named Lori, while Luana Anders, a Harrington regular, plays Louise, a suspicious librarian next door. Harrington extensively researched studies of serial murderers and says he has been complimented on the film's accuracy. The film features music by Andrew Belling and cinematography by Italian cameraman Mario Tosi.
22John Savage, Christopher Plummer, Marthe KellerWhen the wife of CIA agent Charles Heller (John Savage) is killed by a group of terrorists in Munich, Germany, he decides to hunt down the escaped killers. However, he is only a code specialist without combat expertise, and he does not have agency permission. Using classified information, Heller blackmails the CIA into training him and sending him into Czechoslovakia, where the killers are currently located. Once he arrives, Heller discovers that he may be their target after all.
23Message in a Bottle
Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul NewmanDuring her morning jog on the beach, journalist Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn) discovers a bottle protruding from the sand. Inside it, she finds a heartbreaking, anonymous love letter. After her paper publishes the letter, Osborne tracks down the letter's reclusive author, world-weary widower Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), in the Carolinas. But, as Osborne finds herself falling hopelessly in love with Blake, she becomes wracked with guilt over the real impetus for her visit.More Message in a Bottle- #103 of 134 onThe 100+ Best Movies For Date Night
- #11 of 32 onGreat Movies Set Along the Coast
- #10 of 38 onGreat Movies About the Death of a Spouse
24Natasha Henstridge, Marshall Allman, John SavageA middle-American teenage boy who is affected by 9/11, terrorism, and the war in Iraq becomes involved in an isolated high school altercation that escalates into a hate crime that shocks the entire nation.
25Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, Titus WelliverHandsome Harry is an American film written by Nicholas T. Proferes and directed by Bette Gordon. The first project produced by Worldview Entertainment, it stars Jamey Sheridan, Steve Buscemi and Aidan Quinn. It premiered at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically in 2010 by Paladin/Emerging Pictures and on DVD/VOD by Screen Media Films.
26Eliza Dushku, Alison Brie, Mark PellegrinoThe Coverup, previously known as The Thacker Case, is a crime-thriller film directed by Brian Jun and starring Gabriel Mann and Eliza Dushku.
27Stone Cold Steve Austin, Valerie Bertinelli, Melissa LeoSilent Witness is a 1985 television film directed by Michael Miller. The film is based on a true rape case in Massachusetts.
28The Sister-in-Law
John Savage, Meridith Baer, Will MacMillanThe Sister-in-Law is a 1974 film written and directed by Joseph Ruben. The film was his directorial debut and was shot in New York City. The film received an R rating from the MPAA.
29Dean Stockwell, John Savage, Thomas CalabroThey Nest is a 2000 thriller / horror film directed by Ellory Elkayem.
30The Golden Boys
David Carradine, Rip Torn, Bruce DernRetired sea captains Zeb (David Carradine), Jerry (Rip Torn) and Perez (Bruce Dern) live together in 1905 Cape Cod. Deciding that they need a woman's touch around the place but don't want to pay for a maid, the men decide to place an ad for a mail-order bride. Jerry, the loser of a coin toss, is the one designated to marry whomever answers the ad, but all plans go by the wayside when the very appealing Martha Snow (Mariel Hemingway) is the one who steps off the train and into the men's lives.
