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 Lena Horne Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. Stormy Weather (1943)
16
2
Stormy Weather
16
2
Role:
Selina Rogers
Starring:
Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Bill Robinson, Katherine Dunham and Her Troupe, Fats Waller
Directed By:
Andrew L. Stone
2. America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music (1976)
11
2
America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music
11
2
Role:
Herself
Starring:
Diahann Carroll, Gene Kelly, Vic Damone, Sammy Davis Jr.
Directed By:
Dwight Hemion
3. Cabin in the Sky (1943)
14
3
Cabin in the Sky
14
3
Role:
Georgia Brown
Starring:
Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Directed By:
4. Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
10
2
Two Girls and a Sailor
10
2

A sailor helps two sisters start a service canteen, and soon falls in love with Jean, the gorgeous one of the two. However, he is unaware that her sibling Patsy is also in love with him. 

Starring:
Jimmy Durante, Ava Gardner, Gracie Allen, June Allyson, Henry O'Neill, Van Johnson
Directed By:
Richard Thorpe
6. Words and Music (1948)
11
2
Words and Music
11
2

The fictionalized retelling of the creative partnership of legends, lyricist Lorenz Hart and composer Richard Rodgers, narrates their struggles to find success. It also provides a view to Larry’s personal demons, his death, and the heartbroken Dick regretting the loss of his friend when success eventually comes knocking.  

Role:
Lena Horne
Starring:
Directed By:
Norman Taurog
7. Death of a Gunfighter (1969)
10
2
Death of a Gunfighter
PG
10
2

Set in the turn of the nineteenth century Texas, Death of a Gunfighter is the story of a traditional Old West style lawman struggling to keep a firm grip over the town in defiance of the community leaders’ verdict that he should resign.

Role:
Claire Quintana
Starring:
Richard Widmark, Kent Smith, David Opatoshu, Carroll O'Connor
Directed By:
Don Siegel, Alan Smithee, Robert Totten
8. Thousands Cheer (1943)
10
2
Thousands Cheer
10
2

Private Eddie Marsh has recently joined the army but possesses an entertainer’s spirit. On his way to arranging a grand show for his fellow soldiers, he falls in love with Colonel Bill Jones’ daughter Kathryn. Now he must put on the greatest show to impress the Colonel and get his blessings. 

Directed By:
George Sidney
9. I Dood It (1943)
10
2
I Dood It
10
2

I Dood It is a musical comedy film, which tells the story of a worker at a hotel’s valet service, who develops a huge crush on a Broadway star. He even starts ‘borrowing’ his customer’s fancy clothes to follow her around. 

Starring:
Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell, Sam Levene, Richard Ainley
Directed By:
11. Duchess of Idaho (1950)
10
3
Duchess of Idaho
10
3

Even though Ellen is in love with her playboy boss Douglas, she is too shy to express her feelings. Her roommate comes up with a plan, and decides to follow Douglas on his trip to Sun Valley.  

Starring:
Amanda Blake, Bobby Troup, Red Skelton, Van Johnson, Esther Williams
Directed By:
Robert Z. Leonard
12. Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
9
2
Meet Me in Las Vegas
9
2

Yearly, rancher Chuck Rodwell travels to Las Vegas for gambling, but invariably ends up losing. Maria Corvier is the ballet-dancer at ‘Sand’s’ where Chuck discovers that she is lucky for him as he wins whenever he holds her hands. Aspiring for stardom, Maria is indifferent initially; but gradually they fall in love. Will they continue to hold hands up to the altar?  

Starring:
Pier Angeli, Peter Lorre, George Chakiris, Agnes Moorehead, Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Dan Dailey
Directed By:
Roy Rowland
13. Panama Hattie (1942)
9
2
Panama Hattie
9
2

Hattie Maloney’s hotel in Panama is frequented by American sailors, who come here to have a good time, often singing Cole Porter numbers and dancing. The plot heats up when an upper class gentleman visits the hotel and sparks begin to fly between the two. However, there are problems on the way.  

Starring:
Ann Sothern, Red Skelton, Marsha Hunt, Ben Blue
Directed By:
14. Broadway Rhythm (1944)
9
2
Broadway Rhythm
9
2
Starring:
Charles Winninger, George Murphy, Ginny Simms, Nancy Walker
Directed By:
Roy Del Ruth
15. Swing Fever (1943)
9
2
Swing Fever
9
2

Lowell Blackford is a skilled musician, but he is also cursed with an ‘evil eye’ which has hypnotic powers. He goes in search of a Broadway producer, but he soon gets involved with a boxer.  

Role:
Lena Horne
Starring:
Ava Gardner, Kay Kyser, Marilyn Maxwell, Nat Pendleton
Directed By:
Tim Whelan
16. The Wiz (1978)
10
2
The Wiz
G
10
2

The Wiz is a fantasy adventure film which revolves around a shy 24 year old schoolteacher named Dorothy, who is magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz. She soon befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion, and they embark on a quest together to look for a way to send her back home.

Starring:
Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, Nipsey Russell, Michael Jackson, Ted Ross, Mabel King
Directed By:
Sidney Lumet
17. The Duke Is Tops (1938)
8
2
The Duke Is Tops
8
2
Role:
Ethel Andrews
Starring:
Ralph Cooper, Laurence Criner, Monte Hawley, Willie Covan
Directed By:
Ralph Cooper, William L. Nolte
18. Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party (1935)
0
0
Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party
0
0

Cab Calloway’s Jitterbug Party is a musical short film in which Club Calloway is shown performing at the Cotton Club. After the performance, he goes for a jitterbug party, along with his friends.

Role:
Cotton Club Dancer (uncredited)
Starring:
Cab Calloway, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Avon Long, Ethel Moses
Directed By:
Fred Waller
19. Muppet Video: Muppet Moments (1985)
12
2
Muppet Video: Muppet Moments
12
2
Role:
Herself (archiveFootage)
Starring:
Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Pearl Bailey, Jim Henson
Directed By:
Philip Casson, Peter Harris

Animation(s)

Learning About Letters (1986)
Learning About Letters
TV-Y
Role:
Herself
Starring:
Caroll Spinney, Emilio Delgado, Richard Hunt, Kevin Clash
Directed By:
Jim Henson, Jon Stone

TV Shows and Videos

Sanford and Son (1972)
Sanford and Son
TV-PG
Starring:
Don Rickles, John Amos, Mary Wickes, Scatman Crothers, Della Reese, Dick Van Patten, Redd Foxx
Directed By:
Bob LaHendro, Stan Lathan, Alan Rafkin, James Sheldon, Peter Baldwin
The Cosby Show (1984)
The Cosby Show
TV-G
Starring:
Adam Sandler, Pam Grier, John Ritter, Alicia Keys, Danny Kaye, Angela Bassett, Lisa Bonet
Directed By:
Neema Barnette, Oz Scott, Ellen Gittelsohn, John Bowab, Tony Singletary
A Different World (1987)
A Different World
Starring:
Damon Wayans, Alfonso Ribeiro, Gary Dourdan, Dean Cain, Gilbert Gottfried, Tom Arnold, Jada Pinkett Smith
Directed By:
Debbie Allen, Ellen Gittelsohn, Neema Barnette, Henry Chan, Glynn Turman

Lena Horne Awards

Grammy Awards
Winner Best Jazz Vocal Performance 1996
Winner Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female 1982
Winner Best Cast Show Album 1982
Winner Best Album Cover- Other Than Classical 1963
Winner Lifetime Achievement Award 1989