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 Jean Arthur Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. The More the Merrier (1943)
32
3
The More the Merrier
TV-G
32
3
Role:
Connie Milligan
Starring:
Joel McCrea, Bruce Bennett, Charles Coburn, Richard Gaines
Directed By:
George Stevens
2. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
28
2
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
TV-G
28
2

This romantic comedy drama film tells the story of a small-town poet who inherits a large fortune, after which he is forced to deal with the corruption of city life.  He finds himself constantly hounded by people who wish to take advantage of him.

 

Role:
Babe Bennett
Starring:
Gary Cooper, Lionel Stander, Douglass Dumbrille, George Bancroft
Directed By:
Frank Capra
3. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
24
3
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
24
3

An Idealized, young Jefferson Smith is selected to be a U.S. Senator and is being mentored by the socially revered Senator Joseph Paine. But, Paine is secretly crooked and is somewhat forced by political boss Jim Taylor to destroy Smith politically. Smith must survive the political onslaught. 

Role:
Saunders
Starring:
James Stewart, Claude Rains, Guy Kibbee, Edward Arnold
Directed By:
Frank Capra
4. You Can't Take It with You (1938)
25
4
You Can't Take It with You
25
4

This Academy award-winning film features Tony Kirby, son of the snobbish Kirby family and his fiancée, stenographer Alice Sycamore, who hails from a friendly, eccentric family. When the two families meet, the pretentious Kirbys makes their disapproval very clear. Kirby Sr. is buying all properties to expand his business for the biggest possible deal, but Alice’s Grandpa Vanderof is holding out, adding to the existing clash. 

Role:
Alice Sycamore
Starring:
Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer
Directed By:
Frank Capra
5. Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
29
2
Only Angels Have Wings
29
2

A tiny airline is run by rough and tough Geoff Carter. Despite the dangers along many of the routes, the airline cannot afford to miss any flight. In order to deliver the mail in a mountainous South American country, a team of flyers risk it.

Role:
Bonnie Lee
Starring:
Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Thomas Mitchell, Richard Barthelmess, Cary Grant
Directed By:
Howard Hawks
6. The Devil and Miss Jones (1941)
24
2
The Devil and Miss Jones
24
2
Role:
Mary Jones
Starring:
Edmund Gwenn, Robert Cummings, Spring Byington, Charles Coburn
Directed By:
Sam Wood
7. Shane (1953)
25
5
Shane
25
5

A skilled gunfighter named Shane, having a mysterious past, rides into an isolated valley, sometime after the American Civil War. He is eventually hired as a farmhand by a local rancher Joe. Shane soon learns that the settlers of the valley are being harassed by rogues and henchmen of a ruthless cattle baron. 

Role:
Marian Starrett
Starring:
Alan Ladd, Jack Palance, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde
Directed By:
George Stevens
8. The Talk of the Town (1942)
23
2
The Talk of the Town
23
2

Leopold Dilg is a mill worker and political activist who gets accused of setting fire to a wool mill and killing its foreman Clyde. Dilg escapes from prison in the middle of the trial, and soon seeks shelter with Nora, a former schoolmate living in a remote village. Nora decides to hide him in the attic till the authorities stop looking for Dilg. The case takes a complete turn when it seems that Clyde is still alive.

Role:
Nora Shelley
Starring:
Lloyd Bridges, Ronald Colman, Cary Grant, Edgar Buchanan, Glenda Farrell
Directed By:
George Stevens
9. Seven Chances (1925)
16
4
Seven Chances
16
4

Seven Chances is a romantic comedy film which revolves around Jimmy Shannon, a junior partner in a brokerage firm, which is on the brink of financial ruin. However, things take a turn when a lawyer informs Jimmy that he will inherit seven million dollars of his grandfather if he gets married by 7 pm on his 27th birthday, which happens to be on the same day. He proposes to his girlfriend Mary, but when she learns why he wants to get married, she decides to leave him.

Starring:
Buster Keaton, T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Edwards, Ruth Dwyer, Frances Raymond
Directed By:
10. Easy Living (1937)
19
3
Easy Living
19
3

JB Ball is a wealthy financier who gets fed up with his family as they take his wealth for granted. Therefore, one day, out of frustration, he takes his wife's recently purchased expensive fur coat, and throws it off the roof. It lands on a poor but hard-working girl named Mary Smith.

Role:
Mary Smith
Starring:
Ray Milland, Luis Alberni, Edward Arnold, Mary Nash
Directed By:
Mitchell Leisen
11. Wine of Youth (1924)
15
4
Wine of Youth
15
4

Wine of Youth is a 1924 American silent comedy drama film which tells the story of a young girl Mary who is wooed by two suitors. One is a quiet and polite man named Lynn and the other is an aggressive man named Hal. However, due to the constant quarreling of her parents, she becomes disillusioned with marriage.       

Starring:
Creighton Hale, Niles Welch, James Morrison, Johnnie Walker, Eleanor Boardman
Directed By:
12. A Foreign Affair (1948)
22
2
A Foreign Affair
22
2

In 1947, a US congressional committee is appointed in post-World War II Berlin, to inspect the American troops stationed in the city, as an unidentified American officer is protecting Erika von Schlütow, who is suspected of being the former mistress of a high ranking Nazi official. Phoebe Frost of the congressional committee assigns Captain John Pringle to assist her in the investigation, unaware that he is Erika’ s current lover. Pringle however tries to distract Phoebe, by romancing her, and she eventually falls for his charms.

Role:
Congresswoman Phoebe Frost
Starring:
Marlene Dietrich, John Lund, Millard Mitchell, Peter von Zerneck
Directed By:
13. The Virtuous Husband (1931)
14
4
The Virtuous Husband
14
4
Role:
Barbara Olwell
Starring:
Betty Compson, Alison Skipworth, Elliott Nugent, J.C. Nugent
Directed By:
Vin Moore
14. History Is Made at Night (1937)
20
3
History Is Made at Night
20
3

History is Made at Night is a romantic drama film which tells the story of a woman named Irene, who moves to Paris, after filing a divorce. She soon meets a man named Paul, and finds herself falling for him. However, her insanely jealous husband is not willing to let her go so easily.

Role:
Irene Vail
Starring:
Charles Boyer, Ivan Lebedeff, Colin Clive, Leo Carrillo
Directed By:
Frank Borzage
15. The Whole Town's Talking (1935)
16
3
The Whole Town's Talking
16
3
Role:
Miss Wilhelmina Clark
Starring:
Lucille Ball, Edward G. Robinson, Arthur Byron, Wallace Ford
Directed By:
16. Cameo Kirby (1923)
13
3
Cameo Kirby
13
3

Cameo Kirby is wrongly blamed for the death of Col. John Randall, whose daughter he is in love with. Now, he must clear his name and find the real culprit before it is too late.

Starring:
Alan Hale, W.E. Lawrence, John Gilbert, Gertrude Olmstead, Eric Mayne
Directed By:
17. The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)
20
4
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
20
4
Role:
Paula Bradford
Starring:
William Powell, Robert Armstrong, James Gleason, Eric Blore
Directed By:
Stephen Roberts
18. Diamond Jim (1935)
16
2
Diamond Jim
16
2
Role:
Jane Matthews / Emma
Starring:
Edward Arnold, Binnie Barnes, Cesar Romero, Eric Blore
Directed By:
A. Edward Sutherland
19. The Iron Horse (1924)
13
3
The Iron Horse
13
3
Starring:
Will Walling, Madge Bellamy, Cyril Chadwick, George O'Brien, Charles Edward Bull
Directed By:
20. If You Could Only Cook (1935)
18
3
If You Could Only Cook
18
3

Jim Buchanan, the president of the Buchanan Motor Company, is engaged to a socialite named Evelyn Fletcher, who is interested in him only because of his money. Finding himself bored of his life as well as sick and tired of everything, he decides to take a walk in the park, where he meets Joan, a young woman, who has just been evicted, and is also having trouble finding a job. She assumes that he is also unemployed, and she asks him to pretend to be her husband, so that they can apply for a job opening that requires a husband-and-wife butler and a cook.

Role:
Joan Hawthorne
Starring:
Herbert Marshall, Leo Carrillo, Alan Edwards, Lionel Stander
Directed By:
William A. Seiter
21. Arizona (1940)
19
3
Arizona
19
3

In early 1862, Phoebe Titus is the only American woman in the Arizona Territory to run her own freight company. She and a young Peter Muncie fall in love but Peter leaves to explore California. In the meantime, a dandy named Jefferson Carteret teams up with Phoebe’s competitor Ward to bring down Phoebe by any means necessary. 

Role:
Phoebe Titus
Starring:
William Holden, Warren William, Porter Hall, Edgar Buchanan
Directed By:
Wesley Ruggles
22. Party Wire (1935)
16
2
Party Wire
16
2

Party Wire is a drama film which tells the story of a small-town girl who is victimized by her townsfolk who like gossiping.

Role:
Marge Oliver
Starring:
Walter Brennan, Helen Lowell, Victor Jory, Charley Grapewin
Directed By:
Erle C. Kenton
23. The Plainsman (1936)
18
3
The Plainsman
18
3
Role:
Calamity Jane
Starring:
Anthony Quinn, Gary Cooper, Charles Bickford, James Ellison, Helen Burgess
Directed By:
24. Half Way to Heaven (1929)
12
4
Half Way to Heaven
12
4
Role:
Greta Nelson
Starring:
Oscar Apfel, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Paul Lukas, Helen Ware
Directed By:
George Abbott
25. The Lawyer's Secret (1931)
13
2
The Lawyer's Secret
13
2
Role:
Beatrice Stevens
Starring:
Clive Brook, Richard Arlen, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Fay Wray
Directed By:
Louis J. Gasnier, Max Marcin
26. Street of Chance (1930)
14
2
Street of Chance
14
2
Role:
Judith Marsden
Starring:
William Powell, Kay Francis, Regis Toomey, Stanley Fields
Directed By:
John Cromwell
27. The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu (1930)
12
2
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
12
2
Role:
Lia Eltham
Starring:
Warner Oland, Neil Hamilton, O.P. Heggie, Evelyn Hall
Directed By:
Rowland V. Lee
28. The Gang Buster (1931)
12
2
The Gang Buster
12
2
Role:
Sylvia Martine
Starring:
Jack Oakie, William 'Stage' Boyd, Wynne Gibson, William Morris
Directed By:
A. Edward Sutherland
29. A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)
16
2
A Lady Takes a Chance
16
2

New Yorker Molly J. Truesdale boards a bus to find out about life in the American West. During a rodeo, she falls in love with cowboy Dude Hudkins. But when Dude exhibits more love for his horse than her, a dejected Molly leaves for New York, only for Dude to follow and carry her away. 

Role:
Molly J. Truesdale
Starring:
John Wayne, Phil Silvers, Charles Winninger, Mary Field
Directed By:
William A. Seiter
30. The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929)
11
3
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu
11
3

During the Boxer Rebellion in China, during the early 20th century, a Chinese secret society began attacking all westerners and anyone associated with them. Retaliation follows in which Dr Fu Manchu loses his family, and vows revenge on the British army officers whom he regards as the ones who are responsible for the murders.  

Role:
Lia Eltham
Starring:
Warner Oland, Neil Hamilton, William Austin, O.P. Heggie
Directed By:
Rowland V. Lee
31. More Than a Secretary (1936)
17
2
More Than a Secretary
17
2
Role:
Carol Baldwin
Starring:
Reginald Denny, George Brent, Ruth Donnelly, Lionel Stander
Directed By:
Alfred E. Green
32. Public Hero Number 1 (1935)
13
2
Public Hero Number 1
13
2

In order to infiltrate a gang, a FBI agent helps the leader of the group to escape from prison in order to gain his trust.  

Role:
Maria Theresa O'Reilly
Starring:
Lionel Barrymore, Paul Kelly, Chester Morris, Joseph Calleia
Directed By:
J. Walter Ruben
33. Whirlpool (1934)
13
3
Whirlpool
13
3
Role:
Sandra Rankin Morrison
Starring:
Jack Holt, Lila Lee, Donald Cook, Allen Jenkins
Directed By:
Roy William Neill
34. The Public Menace (1935)
14
2
The Public Menace
14
2
Role:
Cassie Nicholls
Starring:
Douglass Dumbrille, George Murphy, Robert Middlemass, George McKay
Directed By:
Erle C. Kenton
35. The Defense Rests (1934)
14
2
The Defense Rests
14
2
Role:
Joan Hayes
Starring:
Jack Holt, Arthur Hohl, Raymond Walburn, Nat Pendleton
Directed By:
Lambert Hillyer
36. Flying Luck (1927)
12
2
Flying Luck
12
2
Role:
The Girl
Starring:
Jack W. Johnston, Kewpie Morgan, Monty Banks, Eddy Chandler
Directed By:
Herman C. Raymaker
37. Adventure in Manhattan (1936)
15
2
Adventure in Manhattan
15
2
Role:
Claire Peyton
Starring:
Joel McCrea, Reginald Owen, Victor Kilian, Thomas Mitchell
Directed By:
Edward Ludwig
38. The Impatient Years (1944)
15
2
The Impatient Years
15
2
Role:
Janie Anderson
Starring:
Charley Grapewin, Lee Bowman, Charles Coburn, Edgar Buchanan
Directed By:
Irving Cummings
39. The Greene Murder Case (1929)
9
2
The Greene Murder Case
9
2
Role:
Ada Greene
Starring:
Eugene Pallette, William Powell, Ullrich Haupt, Florence Eldridge
Directed By:
Frank Tuttle
40. The Drug Store Cowboy (1925)
9
2
The Drug Store Cowboy
9
2
Role:
Jean
Starring:
Gary Cooper, Robert Walker, Franklyn Farnum, Malcolm Denny
Directed By:
Park Frame
41. Too Many Husbands (1940)
15
3
Too Many Husbands
15
3
Role:
Vicky Lowndes
Starring:
Fred MacMurray, Harry Davenport, Dorothy Peterson, Melvyn Douglas
Directed By:
Wesley Ruggles
42. The Past of Mary Holmes (1933)
9
2
The Past of Mary Holmes
9
2
Role:
Joan Hoyt
Starring:
Ivan F. Simpson, Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher, Eric Linden, Helen MacKellar
Directed By:
Harlan Thompson, Slavko Vorkapich
43. Most Precious Thing in Life (1934)
11
2
Most Precious Thing in Life
11
2
Role:
Ellen Holmes, aka Biddy, Babe
Starring:
Richard Cromwell, Donald Cook, Anita Louise, Mary Forbes
Directed By:
Lambert Hillyer
44. The Block Signal (1926)
9
2
The Block Signal
9
2
Role:
Grace Ryan
Starring:
Ralph Lewis, Hugh Allan, George Chesebro, Sidney Franklin
Directed By:
Frank O'Connor
45. Young Eagles (1930)
11
2
Young Eagles
11
2
Role:
Mary Gordon
Starring:
Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Paul Lukas, Stuart Erwin, Virginia Bruce
Directed By:
William A. Wellman
46. The Saturday Night Kid (1929)
11
2
The Saturday Night Kid
11
2

The Saturday Night is a romantic comedy film which tells the story of two sisters Mayme and Janie, who work as salesgirls in a Departmental Store. Although Mayme is attracted to Bill, the clerk of the store, Janie tries to steal him.

Role:
Janie Barry
Starring:
Jean Harlow, Clara Bow, Edna May Oliver, James Hall
Directed By:
A. Edward Sutherland
47. The Canary Murder Case (1929)
11
2
The Canary Murder Case
11
2

The Canary Murder Case is a crime drama mystery film which revolves around a beautiful showgirl, who ends up dead. Since she had several enemies before her death, detective Philo Vance struggles to find out who killed her.

Role:
Alice LaFosse
Starring:
Louise Brooks, Charles Lane, William Powell, James Hall
Directed By:
Malcolm St. Clair, Frank Tuttle
48. Danger Lights (1930)
10
2
Danger Lights
10
2
Role:
Mary Ryan
Starring:
Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong, Frank Sheridan, Hugh Herbert
Directed By:
George B. Seitz
49. Paramount on Parade (1930)
10
2
Paramount on Parade
10
2

This musical film involves several stars such as Maurice Chevalier, Clara Bow, Skeets Gallagher, William Powell, and multiple stars, who appear in musical numbers.

Starring:
Maurice Chevalier, Fredric March, Clara Bow, Gary Cooper, George Bancroft, Rosita Moreno
Directed By:
Frank Tuttle, Edmund Goulding, Edwin H. Knopf, Victor Heerman, A. Edward Sutherland
50. The Silver Horde (1930)
10
2
The Silver Horde
10
2
Role:
Mildred Wayland
Starring:
Raymond Hatton, Evelyn Brent, Louis Wolheim, Joel McCrea
Directed By:
George Archainbaud
51. Ex-Bad Boy (1931)
6
1
Ex-Bad Boy
6
1
Role:
Ethel Simmons
Starring:
Robert Armstrong, Jason Robards Sr., Spencer Charters, Grayce Hampton
Directed By:
Vin Moore
52. Winners of the Wilderness (1927)
5
1
Winners of the Wilderness
5
1

A silent war drama film set during the French and the Indian War. The daughter of a French general, Rene Contrecouer, falls for a soldier of fortune.

Starring:
Joan Crawford, Edward Connelly, Roy D'Arcy, Tim McCoy
Directed By:
W.S. Van Dyke
53. Bigger and Better Blondes (1927)
12
2
Bigger and Better Blondes
12
2
Starring:
Charley Chase, Frank Brownlee, Mario Carillo, Gale Henry
Directed By:
James Parrott
54. Get That Venus (1933)
12
2
Get That Venus
12
2
Role:
Margaret Rendleby
Starring:
Herbert Rawlinson, Ernest Truex, Harry Davenport, Tom Howard
Directed By:
Arthur Varney
55. Sins of the Fathers (1928)
11
2
Sins of the Fathers
11
2
Role:
Mary Spengler
Starring:
Emil Jannings, Jack Luden, Barry Norton, Ruth Chatterton
Directed By:
Ludwig Berger
56. The Cowboy Cop (1926)
10
2
The Cowboy Cop
10
2
Role:
Virginia Selby
Starring:
Pat Harmon, Frankie Darro, Tom Tyler, Ervin Renard
Directed By:
Robert De Lacey
57. The Fighting Smile (1925)
10
2
The Fighting Smile
10
2
Role:
Rose Craddock
Starring:
Billie Bennett, George Magrill, Charles Brinley, Bill Cody
Directed By:
Jay Marchant
58. The Fighting Cheat (1926)
10
2
The Fighting Cheat
10
2
Role:
Ruth Wells
Starring:
Fanny Midgley, Hal Taliaferro, Slim Whitaker, Ted Rackerby
Directed By:
Richard Thorpe
59. Horse Shoes (1927)
10
2
Horse Shoes
10
2
Role:
Miss Baker
Starring:
Monty Banks, Henry A. Barrows, Ernest Wood, John Elliott
Directed By:
Clyde Bruckman
60. Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 (1938)
10
2
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
10
2
Role:
Jean Arthur
Starring:
Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Frank Capra, Charles Ruggles, James Gleason
Directed By:
Ralph Staub
61. The Poor Nut (1927)
10
2
The Poor Nut
10
2
Role:
Margie Blake
Starring:
Charles Murray, Jack Mulhall, Glenn Tryon, Jane Winton
Directed By:
Richard Wallace
62. The Temple of Venus (1923)
9
2
The Temple of Venus
9
2
Starring:
David Butler, Will Walling, Alice Day, Mary Philbin
Directed By:
Henry Otto

TV Shows and Videos

Gunsmoke (1955)
Gunsmoke
TV-PG
Starring:
Lee Majors, David Carradine, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Martin Landau, James Whitmore, Charles Bronson
Directed By:
Andrew V. McLaglen, Harry Harris, Ted Post, Bernard McEveety, Vincent McEveety
The Jean Arthur Show (1966)
The Jean Arthur Show
Role:
Patricia Marshall (12 episodes, 1966)
Starring:
Mickey Rooney, Ron Harper
Directed By:
Mickey Rooney, Alan Rafkin, Sidney Miller, Richard Quine