This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

List of Ethel Merman Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. Airplane! (1980)
12
2
Airplane!
PG
12
2

Ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker with a drinking problem is dumped by his stewardess girlfriend Elaine. He buys a ticket on her flight to win her back. Unfortunately, the entire crew and passengers are incapacitated by food poisoning. Ted, along with Elaine and the autopilot, an inflatable doll named Otto must find a way to land the plane safely. 

Directed By:
Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
2. Kid Millions (1934)
11
2
Kid Millions
11
2

A poor Brooklyn boy inherits $77 million from his biological father; but to get it he must travel to Egypt. Traveling in the same ship is his father’s common-law wife and her rogue boyfriend, intending to lay claim on the booty and so is his sponsor, who is also expecting a share.  Then there is a local sheikh who is unwilling to give up the money. 

Role:
Dot Clark
Starring:
Lucille Ball, Ann Sothern, Paulette Goddard, Eddie Cantor, Warren Hymer
Directed By:
Roy Del Ruth, Willy Pogany
4. Strike Me Pink (1936)
11
2
Strike Me Pink
11
2

Strike me Pink is a comedy musical film, which tells the story of a shy and meek man named Eddie Pink, who becomes manager of an amusement park which is filled with mobsters.

Role:
Joyce Lennox
Starring:
William Frawley, Eddie Cantor, Sally Eilers, Harry Parke
Directed By:
Norman Taurog
5. Call Me Madam (1953)
10
2
Call Me Madam
10
2

Sally Adams is appointed as US Ambassador in Lichtenburg. However, she eventually seems to forget her political obligations and starts focusing on her romance with Cosmo Constantine, the country’s foreign minister.

Role:
Sally Adams
Starring:
George Chakiris, George Sanders, Donald O'Connor, Billy De Wolfe, Vera-Ellen
Directed By:
Walter Lang
Awards:
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
6. Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)
10
2
Alexander's Ragtime Band
10
2
Role:
Jerry Allen
Starring:
John Carradine, Don Ameche, Jack Haley, Alice Faye
Directed By:
Henry King
7. Happy Landing (1938)
10
2
Happy Landing
10
2

Happy Landing is a musical comedy film which tells the story of a bandleader named Duke Sargent, who sets off to pilot a plane to Paris, as a publicity stunt, along with Jimmy Hall, his manager. However, due to bad weather conditions, they are forced to land near a small village in Norway, where a woman named Trudy starts developing feelings for Duke, and thinks of him as a possible husband. After Duke leaves, she follows him all the way to the US.

Role:
Flo Kelly
Starring:
Don Ameche, Jean Hersholt, Cesar Romero, Sonja Henie
Directed By:
Roy Del Ruth
8. Old Man Blues (1931)
10
2
Old Man Blues
10
2
Role:
Helen
Starring:
Hal Forde, Hal Young
Directed By:
Aubrey Scotto
9. Anything Goes (1936)
10
2
Anything Goes
10
2

Smitten by beautiful blonde Hope Harcourt, singer-stockbroker Billy Crockett follows her when he sees her being forced on an ocean liner. Believing that she is being kidnapped, he decides to rescue her; however, soon realizes that she is a runaway English heiress being returned home. But when Billy finds that his boss is also on board, he poses as a gangster’s accomplice.

Role:
Reno Sweeney
Starring:
Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, John Carradine, Ida Lupino, Charles Ruggles, Grace Bradley
Directed By:
Lewis Milestone
11. There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
10
2
There's No Business Like Show Business
10
2

This musical comedy drama film takes us to 1919 and revolves around the lives and careers of Terence and Molly Donahue, a husband-and-wife vaudeville team. Over the years, their children Steve, Katy and Tim begin to join the act one by one as well. Things get complicated when Tim falls for a performer named Vicky. After things go sour between them, Tim abandons the act, and disappears.   

Role:
Molly Donahue
Starring:
Marilyn Monroe, Mitzi Gaynor, George Chakiris, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Johnnie Ray
Directed By:
Walter Lang
12. The Art of Love (1965)
9
2
The Art of Love
9
2

Struggling American artist Paul Sloane tries unsuccessfully to earn money in Paris, but wishes to return home and marry fiancée Laurie. Hatching a plan with his friend Casey, he fakes his death to boost the worth of his paintings, which leads to Casey amassing wealth. Not only that, when Laurie comes to Paris, Casey starts courting her thus infuriating Paul into taking revenge.  

Role:
Madame Coco La Fontaine
Starring:
James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Angie Dickinson, Carl Reiner, Elke Sommer
Directed By:
Norman Jewison
13. We're Not Dressing (1934)
9
2
We're Not Dressing
9
2

Wealthy and spoiled socialite Doris Worthington is being courted by two princes Michael and Alexander, while having a yacht trip. When the yacht capsizes all of the rich spoiled aristocrats take refuge in a tropical island. They are forced to depend on sailor Stephen Jones who Doris dislikes but secretly loves. 

Role:
Edith
Starring:
Ray Milland, Carole Lombard, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bing Crosby
Directed By:
Norman Taurog
14. Be Like Me (1931)
9
2
Be Like Me
9
2
Role:
Eve
Starring:
Sidney Easton
Directed By:
Aubrey Scotto
15. Follow the Leader (1930)
9
2
Follow the Leader
9
2

Follow the Leader is a romantic musical comedy film which tells the story of a waiter, who has a burning desire to become ‘someone of significance’. He soon finds himself becoming the leader of a gang.

Starring:
Ginger Rogers, Ed Wynn, Stanley Smith, Lou Holtz, Lida Kane
Directed By:
Norman Taurog
16. The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)
9
2
The Big Broadcast of 1936
9
2

This comedy film tells us the story of Spud Miller who tries to save his struggling radio station by winning a broadcast competition.

Starring:
Dorothy Dandridge, Gracie Allen, George Burns, Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Wendy Barrie
Directed By:
Norman Taurog
17. Her Future (1930)
9
2
Her Future
9
2
Role:
Defendant
Directed By:
Mort Blumenstock
18. Straight Place and Show (1938)
9
2
Straight Place and Show
9
2
Role:
Linda Tyler
Starring:
Richard Arlen, George Barbier, Brothers The Ritz, Phyllis Brooks
Directed By:
David Butler
19. Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
7
1
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
PG
7
1

Known for the large number of cameo appearances by Hollywood's golden age actors and actresses, the movie is loosely based on the film debut of Rin Tin Tin, a male German shepherd, who follows an aspiring actress to Hollywood; but himself becomes an international star. 

Starring:
Zsa Zsa Gabor, Bruce Dern, Art Carney, Victor Mature, Sterling Holloway, Rory Calhoun, Ron Leibman
Directed By:
Michael Winner
20. Muppet Video: Muppet Treasures (1985)
12
2
Muppet Video: Muppet Treasures
12
2
Role:
Herself (archiveFootage)
Starring:
Paul Simon, Frank Oz, Zero Mostel, Jim Henson
Directed By:
Philip Casson, Peter Harris
21. Ireno (1932)
10
2
Ireno
10
2
Role:
Irene
Starring:
Brian Donlevy
Directed By:
Aubrey Scotto

TV Movie(s)

1. A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978)
11
2
A Special Sesame Street Christmas
11
2
Role:
Herself
Starring:
Imogene Coca, Dick Smothers, Anne Murray, Caroll Spinney
Directed By:
Russ Petranto
2. Annie Get Your Gun (1967)
12
2
Annie Get Your Gun
12
2
Role:
Annie Oakley
Starring:
Benay Venuta, Bruce Yarnell, Jerry Orbach, Rufus Smith
Directed By:
Clark Jones
3. Panama Hattie (1954)
11
2
Panama Hattie
11
2
Role:
Hattie Maloney
Starring:
Art Carney, Ray Middleton, Janis Carter

Animation(s)

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
TV-G
Role:
Lilly Loraine (voice)
Starring:
Shelley Winters, Mickey Rooney, Jackie Vernon, Red Buttons
Directed By:
Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Journey Back to Oz (1972)
Journey Back to Oz
G
Plot:

A tornado in Kansas causes a girl named Dorothy to become unconscious, and she re-appears in the Land of Oz.  She encounters the cousin of the Wicked Witch of the West, who is attacking the Emerald City, with an army of monstrous green elephants. 

Starring:
Liza Minnelli, Paul Lynde, Mel Blanc, Danny Thomas, Mickey Rooney, Milton Berle, Margaret Hamilton
Directed By:
Hal Sutherland

TV Shows and Videos

The Red Skelton Show (1951)
The Red Skelton Show
TV-G
Starring:
Barbara Feldon, Julie London, Cliff Robertson, Jane Russell, Eva Gabor, Clayton Moore, Arthur Godfrey
Directed By:
Seymour Berns, Bill Hobin, John Gaunt, Terry Kyne, Martin Rackin
The United States Steel Hour (1953)
The United States Steel Hour
Starring:
Carol Burnett, Betty White, James Dean, Paul Newman, Vincent Price, Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman
Directed By:
Alex Segal, Paul Bogart, Tom Donovan, Daniel Petrie, Bruce Minnix
That's Life (1968)
That's Life
Starring:
Agnes Moorehead, Rodney Dangerfield, Phyllis Diller, Sid Caesar, Betty White, Liza Minnelli, Shelley Winters
Directed By:
Stan Harris
Vacation Playhouse (1963)
Vacation Playhouse
Starring:
Charles Bronson, Michael Landon, Harry Dean Stanton, Bea Benaderet, Joel Grey, Bobby Troup, Nicholas Parsons
Directed By:
Don Taylor, Jack Donohue
Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963)
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Starring:
Dina Merrill, Gena Rowlands, Eddie Albert, Eric Braeden, James Whitmore, Ben Gazzara, John Forsythe
Directed By:
Walter Grauman, Don Weis, Alex March, Ralph Senensky, Buzz Kulik
Shower of Stars (1954)
Shower of Stars
Starring:
Hedy Lamarr, Jayne Mansfield, Shirley MacLaine, Betty Grable, Glenn Ford, Vivian Vance, Red Skelton
Directed By:
Ralph Levy, Seymour Berns
The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Starring:
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Carolyn Jones, Peggy Lee, Scatman Crothers, Jerry Lewis, Agnes Moorehead
Directed By:
Fred Hamilton, Ernest D. Glucksman, Jim Jordan, Kingman T. Moore, Bud Yorkin
Batman (1966)
Batman
TV-G
Starring:
Eli Wallach, Werner Klemperer, Steve Allen, Jerry Mathers, Edward G. Robinson, Otto Preminger, Rob Reiner
Directed By:
Oscar Rudolph, James B. Clark, George Waggner, Sam Strangis, Robert Butler
The Best of Broadway (1954)
The Best of Broadway
Starring:
Buster Keaton, Jackie Gleason, Peter Lorre, Claudette Colbert, Dorothy McGuire, Keenan Wynn, Elsa Lanchester
Directed By:
Sidney Lumet, Paul Nickell, David Alexander
Tarzan (1966)
Tarzan
Starring:
Diana Ross, James Earl Jones, Nichelle Nichols, George Harris Kennedy, Jr, Fernando Lamas, James Whitmore, Helen Hayes
Directed By:
Earl Bellamy, Lawrence Dobkin, Paul Stanley, Anton Leader, Barry Shear
That Girl (1966)
That Girl
TV-PG
Starring:
Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, John Aniston, William Christopher, Slim Pickens, Richard Dreyfuss, George Carlin
Directed By:
James Frawley, Seymour Robbie, John Rich, Russ Mayberry, Danny Arnold
The Love Boat (1977)
The Love Boat
TV-G
Starring:
Abe Vigoda, Adam West, Andy Griffith, Corey Feldman, Michael J. Fox, Andy Warhol, Tom Hanks
Directed By:
Richard Kinon, Roger Duchowny, Robert Scheerer, Allen Baron, Ted Lange
General Electric Theater (1953)
General Electric Theater
Starring:
Ron Howard, Angela Lansbury, Dennis Hopper, Ryan O'Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Bob Crane, James Coburn
Directed By:
Herschel Daugherty, Don Medford, James Neilson, Jules Bricken, Mitchell Leisen

Ethel Merman Awards

Golden Globe Awards
Call Me Madam Best Actress - Comedy or Musical 1954
Grammy Awards
Winner Best Broadway Show Album 1959