Ranking The 18 Cary Grant Movies Worth Watching Most

Cary Grant had a rare kind of screen magic, making sophistication look effortless and comedy feel perfectly timed.

His films still shine because the charm never fades, and the performances feel as sharp today as they did in their original era.

Working with legendary directors and unforgettable co-stars, he helped define what a classic Hollywood leading man could be.

Disclaimer: This ranking reflects editorial opinion and viewing preferences, not definitive fact or universal consensus about Cary Grant’s filmography.

1. North by Northwest (1959)

Alfred Hitchcock turned espionage into pure art with this masterpiece. Grant plays Roger Thornhill, an ad exec mistaken for a spy, chased across America in a whirlwind of mistaken identity.

Picture crop dusters diving at you in an empty cornfield – that’s the kind of heart-pounding action waiting here.

The Mount Rushmore climax remains one of cinema’s most iconic sequences, blending suspense with spectacular visuals.

Grant’s cool-under-pressure performance makes you believe anyone could accidentally become an international man of mystery.

2. Notorious (1946)

Hitchcock strikes again with this spellbinding tale of espionage and forbidden romance.

Grant portrays a government agent who convinces Ingrid Bergman’s character to infiltrate a ring in Brazil, but professional duty clashes with growing affection.

The famous kissing scene cleverly dodged censorship rules while setting screens ablaze.

Tension builds like a coiled spring as danger lurks behind every elegant dinner party and whispered conversation.

3. His Girl Friday (1940)

Rapid-fire dialogue crackles like fireworks in this newspaper comedy that moves faster than a speeding bullet.

Grant plays a scheming editor determined to win back his ex-wife and star reporter, played brilliantly by Rosalind Russell.

The banter flies so quick you might need subtitles just to catch every zinger.

Director Howard Hawks orchestrated overlapping conversations that feel incredibly modern, like watching a verbal tennis match at lightning speed.

4. Charade (1963)

Paris becomes a playground of mystery when Audrey Hepburn’s character discovers her murdered husband left behind stolen fortune and dangerous secrets.

Grant plays the charming stranger who may be helper, villain, or something in between – nobody knows for sure.

Often called the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock never made, this stylish thriller blends romance with nail-biting suspense.

The age-appropriate flirtation between Grant and Hepburn sizzles despite their twenty-five-year age gap, handled with remarkable grace.

5. Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Chaos reigns supreme when a stuffy paleontologist meets a free-spirited heiress and her pet leopard named Baby.

Grant’s uptight scientist sees his orderly life demolished by Katharine Hepburn’s whirlwind energy and one very mischievous big cat.

Screwball comedy doesn’t get screwier than this delightful mess of missing dinosaur bones and mistaken identities.

Grant’s physical comedy shines as he stumbles through Connecticut in a frilly bathrobe, dignity completely shattered.

6. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

High society gets hilariously complicated when a wealthy woman’s wedding plans derail spectacularly.

Grant plays the charming ex-husband who crashes the celebration alongside Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart, creating a love triangle sharper than any diamond ring.

Wit and sophistication dance together as champagne flows and hearts reconsider their choices.

The chemistry between all three leads could power a small city, making every scene sparkle with romantic possibility.

7. The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Christmas magic arrives when an angel named Dudley appears to help a stressed bishop raise funds for a new cathedral.

Grant brings heavenly charm to the supernatural helper who maybe gets a little too involved in earthly affairs, particularly with the bishop’s lovely wife.

Loretta Young and David Niven complete the celestial love triangle that’s more sweet than scandalous.

8. The Awful Truth (1937)

Divorce never looked so funny as Grant and Irene Dunne play a separating couple who can’t stop meddling in each other’s new romances.

Their competitive sabotage escalates into comedy gold, proving they’re clearly not over each other despite the paperwork.

Grant’s impeccable timing turns jealousy into an art form. The famous door-slamming scene where he repeatedly enters and exits captures the film’s delightful absurdity perfectly.

9. To Catch a Thief (1955)

The French Riviera sparkles as a reformed jewel thief must prove his innocence when copycat crimes threaten his peaceful retirement.

Grant glides through Monaco and Nice with effortless sophistication, pursued by both police and Grace Kelly’s dazzling heiress.

Hitchcock films the Mediterranean coast like a postcard come to life, all azure waters and sun-drenched elegance.

10. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Dark comedy reaches delicious heights when a drama critic discovers his sweet elderly aunts are serial killers with a basement full of secrets.

Grant’s increasingly frantic reactions escalate from confusion to full-blown panic as more bodies and eccentric relatives emerge.

His bug-eyed double-takes became legendary, showcasing physical comedy skills often overshadowed by his suave reputation.

11. Holiday (1938)

Class differences collide when a self-made man falls for a woman from old money, only to realize her free-spirited sister might understand him better.

Grant plays Johnny Case, whose unconventional dreams of taking a life holiday clash with high society expectations.

Katharine Hepburn delivers quiet heartbreak as the overlooked sister who sees Johnny’s true worth.

12. Only Angels Have Wings (1939)

Adventure soars in this tale of daredevil pilots flying treacherous mail routes through South American mountains.

Grant commands the screen as a tough airmail service manager hiding emotional scars beneath his no-nonsense exterior.

Jean Arthur plays the showgirl who disrupts his carefully guarded heart while danger lurks in every foggy flight.

13. Suspicion (1941)

Newlywed bliss curdles into paranoid terror as a bride suspects her charming husband might be plotting murder – specifically, hers.

Grant plays against type as the potentially dangerous Johnny Aysgarth, whose gambling debts and suspicious behavior fuel his wife’s growing fears.

Joan Fontaine earned an Oscar for her nerve-wracked performance opposite Grant’s unsettling ambiguity. Hitchcock masterfully keeps audiences guessing whether Johnny’s truly sinister or just irresponsible.

14. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

Suburban homeownership becomes a hilarious nightmare when a New York couple decides to build their perfect Connecticut house.

Grant’s advertising executive watches his budget and sanity crumble as contractors, architects, and his wife’s ever-changing paint preferences destroy his dreams.

Anyone who’s survived home renovation will recognize the escalating costs and constant surprises. Myrna Loy matches Grant’s exasperation perfectly as his well-meaning but decorating-obsessed wife.

15. I Was a Male War Bride (1949)

Bureaucratic absurdity reaches peak comedy when a French army officer must navigate American military red tape to join his American bride stateside.

Grant’s Henri Rochard faces the ultimate humiliation – entering the United States classified as a war bride because regulations have no category for male military spouses.

The cross-dressing finale where Grant dons women’s clothing to board the transport ship is comedy gold.

16. Monkey Business (1952)

Scientific experiments go wonderfully wrong when a chemist’s formula for youth gets accidentally tested by both him and his wife.

Grant plays the absent-minded researcher who regresses to teenage behavior after drinking contaminated water, courtesy of a mischievous lab chimpanzee.

Watching dignified Grant act like a rebellious teenager driving sports cars and picking fights delivers pure silliness.