The best John Ford films
The top 3 according to 96 votes from people: How Green Was My Valley (1941) · The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) · My Darling Clementine (1946). (Updated Feb 4, 2025.)
From Stagecoach to The Searchers: the John Ford films critics and fans rank highest, by the director with a record four Best Director Oscars (BFI, Gold Derby, Ranker).
Top 14
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1
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
A Welsh mining family; Best Picture and Best Director.
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2
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
James Stewart, John Wayne and a legend printed instead of the facts.
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3
My Darling Clementine (1946)
Wyatt Earp and the O.K. Corral.
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4
The Searchers (1956)
John Wayne hunts for his kidnapped niece for years.
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5
The Informer (1935)
An informer in Dublin; Best Director Oscar.
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6
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, from Steinbeck; Best Director Oscar.
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7
Stagecoach (1939)
Nine passengers through Apache territory; John Wayne's breakthrough.
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8
The Quiet Man (1952)
John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in Ireland; Best Director Oscar.
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9
Fort Apache (1948)
Henry Fonda as a rigid colonel.
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10
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
A cavalry captain's last patrol, in Technicolor.
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11
Mister Roberts (1955)
Henry Fonda on a cargo ship in the Pacific (co-directed).
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12
Rio Grande (1950)
The third film of the cavalry trilogy.
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13
They Were Expendable (1945)
PT boat crews in the Philippines.
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14
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
Henry Fonda as the young lawyer Lincoln.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 14… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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15
Wagon Master (1950)
Mormon settlers heading west.
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)
The Searchers first, no debate. That final doorway shot.