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 Ken Burns Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. Brooklyn Bridge (1981)
24
6
Brooklyn Bridge
TV-G
24
6

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, the film chronicles the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge across the East River in New York City, giving interesting details about its difficult construction process. The later part features interviews by notable personalities, who talk about its effects on the city. 

As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
History, Documentary
Star Cast:
Arthur Miller, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Julie Harris, Paul Roebling, Richard Pini
2. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)
24
10
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
TV-PG
24
10
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Sport, Documentary, Biography
Star Cast:
Keith David, Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Bosco, Kevin Conway, Adam Arkin
Awards:
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Special
3. The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God (1984)
19
4
The Shakers: Hands to Work, Hearts to God
19
4

Narrated by David McCullough, this is a documentary film, which examines a 19th century religious sect known as the Shakers. The film features interviews with several living Shakers, as well as with historians and philosophers.

As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns, Amy Stechler
Genres:
Documentary
Star Cast:
David McCullough, Julie Harris, Olga Bellin, Tucker Burr, Jesse Carr
4. Gettysburg (1993)
22
7
Gettysburg
PG
22
7

The war film features the legendary decisive Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. The three day intense war commences on July 1, 1863, when Gen. Lee leads the Confederates into Pennsylvania to confront the Union troops of Col. Chamberlain. As they fight for Little Round Top and Pickett’s Charge, the commanders deliberate over the strategies while the fatalities escalate on frontline. 

As:
Cast
Director:
Ron Maxwell
Genres:
War, Drama, History
Star Cast:
Sam Elliott, Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen, Donal Logue, George Lazenby, Andrew Prine
Listed In:
Best Historical Drama Movies That Will Transport You To Another Era
5. The Central Park Five (2012)
20
9
The Central Park Five
20
9
As:
Producer, Director, Writer
Director:
Ken Burns, David McMahon, Sarah Burns
Genres:
History, Crime, Documentary
Star Cast:
Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kharey Wise
6. Frank Lloyd Wright (1998)
20
4
Frank Lloyd Wright
TV-PG
20
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns, Lynn Novick
Genres:
Biography, Documentary, History
Star Cast:
Julie Harris, Edward Herrmann, Sab Shimono, Philip Bosco, William Cronon
7. Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991)
15
4
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
TV-G
15
4
As:
Producer, Director, Writer
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
History, Documentary
Star Cast:
Jason Robards, Norman Corwin, Red Barber, Erik Barnouw, Ken Bilby
8. The Statue of Liberty (1985)
20
4
The Statue of Liberty
TV-G
20
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Documentary, History
Star Cast:
Ray Charles, James Baldwin, Tucker Burr, Mario Cuomo, Carolyn Forché
9. Huey Long (1985)
16
4
Huey Long
16
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Biography, Documentary
Star Cast:
David McCullough, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Huey Long, Russell Long, Jennings Randolph
10. Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War (2016)
16
6
Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War
PG
16
6
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns, Artemis Joukowsky
Genres:
War, Documentary, Biography
Star Cast:
Tom Hanks, Marina Goldman

TV Movie(s)

1. Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (1997)
24
3
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
TV-G
24
3
As:
Producer, Director, Writer
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Biography, History, Documentary, Adventure
Star Cast:
Matthew Broderick, Stephen Ambrose, Adam Arkin, Tantoo Cardinal, John Logan Allen
2. Mark Twain (2001)
20
4
Mark Twain
TV-PG
20
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Documentary, Biography
Star Cast:
Blythe Danner, Keith David, Kevin Conway, Philip Bosco, Tim Clark
3. Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip (2003)
18
4
Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip
TV-G
18
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Adventure, Documentary, History
Star Cast:
Keith David, Tom Hanks, Adam Arkin, Tom Bodett, Philip Bosco
4. Medal of Honor (2008)
20
3
Medal of Honor
TV-14
20
3
As:
Producer
Director:
Roger Sherman
Genres:
War, Documentary, History
Star Cast:
Alfre Woodard, Stephen Lang
5. The Address (2014)
20
4
The Address
TV-PG
20
4
As:
Director, Writer
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Documentary
6. The Congress (1988)
14
4
The Congress
TV-G
14
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Documentary
Star Cast:
David McCullough, Alistair Cooke, Charles McDowell, Barbara Fields, John C. Stennis
7. Thomas Hart Benton (1988)
14
4
Thomas Hart Benton
TV-PG
14
4
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Star Cast:
Jason Robards, Burl Ives, Henry Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, Arthur Danto

Animation(s)

TV Shows and Videos

The War (2007)
The War
TV-14
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns, Lynn Novick
Genres:
History, War, Documentary
Star Cast:
Keith David, Tom Hanks, Katharine Phillips, Paul Fussell, Quentin Aanenson
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
As:
Producer, Director, Writer
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Documentary
Star Cast:
Paul Giamatti, Meryl Streep, Edward Herrmann, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Geoffrey C. Ward
The West (1996)
The West
As:
Producer
Genres:
War, Documentary, History
Star Cast:
Eli Wallach, Peter Coyote, N. Scott Momaday, Murphy Guyer, John Trudell
Jackie Robinson (2016)
Jackie Robinson
TV-PG
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon
Genres:
Biography, Documentary
Star Cast:
Jamie Foxx, Keith David
Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony (1999)
Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony
TV-G
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
Documentary, History, Biography
Star Cast:
Keith David, Adam Arkin, Carolyn McCormick, Lorie Barnum, Kathleen Barry
Thomas Jefferson (1997)
Thomas Jefferson
As:
Producer, Director
Director:
Ken Burns
Genres:
History, Documentary
Star Cast:
Ossie Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Waterston, Gore Vidal, Michael Potts

Ken Burns Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
The National Parks: America's Best Idea Outstanding Nonfiction Series 2010
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson Outstanding Nonfiction Special 2005
Baseball Outstanding Informational Series 1995
The Civil War Outstanding Individual - Informational Programming 1991
The Civil War Outstanding Informational Series 1991
Grammy Awards
Winner Best Spoken Word or Non-musical Album 1992
Winner Best Traditional Folk Album 1992