The best Orson Welles films
The top 3 according to 118 votes from people: Touch of Evil (1958) · Chimes at Midnight (1966) · The Trial (1962). (Updated Aug 9, 2025.)
From Citizen Kane to F for Fake: the films Orson Welles directed, as ranked by critics and film lovers (MovieWeb, No Film School, Wikipedia).
Top 12
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1
Touch of Evil (1958)
A border town noir that opens with a famous long take.
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2
Chimes at Midnight (1966)
Welles as Falstaff, and the battle of Shrewsbury.
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3
The Trial (1962)
Anthony Perkins as Josef K.
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4
Citizen Kane (1941)
The rise and fall of a press baron; often called the greatest film ever made.
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5
The Stranger (1946)
Edward G. Robinson hunts a Nazi hiding in a New England town.
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6
Othello (1951)
Shakespeare shot over three years in Morocco and Italy; Cannes Grand Prix.
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7
F for Fake (1973)
An essay film on art forgery and storytelling.
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8
Mr. Arkadin (1955)
A tycoon hires a smuggler to investigate his own past.
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9
The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Rita Hayworth and the hall of mirrors.
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10
Macbeth (1948)
A low-budget Shakespeare on Republic's sets.
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11
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
A wealthy Indianapolis family's decline, recut by the studio.
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12
The Immortal Story (1968)
A rich merchant in Macau and a story he wants to make real.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
The Other Side of the Wind (2018)
His unfinished last film, completed decades later.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
Chimes at Midnight is the hidden masterpiece. The battle scene is incredible for the budget.