30 Elia Kazan Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

This 8 Academy Awards-winning movie revolves around Terry Malloy, a boxer and longshoreman, who works for the dock union boss, Johnny Friendly. After witnessing a fellow-dockhand’s murder by Johnny’s gangsters, he rethinks about the people he is working for. When he meets the victim’s sister Edie, he decides to join hands with her in Father Barry’s campaign against the corrupt union bosses.

The Nolans manage to live life to the fullest, despite the fact that they are living in poverty. Their daughter Francie, decides that she is going to make it big in her life, with the help of her mother and her alcoholic father.

Based on Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, A Streetcar Named Desire focuses on the story of Blanche DuBois, a Southern belle who travels to New Orleans to live with her married sister and her boorish husband in a dilapidated tenement apartment. Here, she tries to start a new life; but very soon her grimy past catches up with her. 

East of Eden is a drama film, which tells the story of two brothers who compete for the approval of their strict father, as well as for the affection of the woman whom they both are attracted to. 

A Face in the Crowd is a musical drama film which revolves around Marcia, a radio producer, who decides to give exposure to a folk singer named Larry Rhodes. Over time, Larry gains a lot of popularity, but decides to use it for personal gains.

America America is a drama film which tells the story of a young impoverished young man, who decides to secure a passage to America, in pursuit of the American dream. However, his road is filled with several obstacles.

Splendor in the Grass is a romantic drama period film which tells the story of Bud and Deanie, who are weighed down by the expectations of their parents, and soon it also starts to affect their relationship.

A young bureaucrat working for the TVA comes to rural Tennessee to oversee the building of a dam. However, he faces opposition from the locals. He also tries to evict an elderly woman from her home on a river island, before she is engulfed by the rising waters.

Philip Green is a widowed journalist who has just moved to New York City with his son and his mother. When a magazine publisher asks him to write an article on antisemitism, he doesn’t show much interest initially, but soon, he gets inspired to adopt a Jewish identity, so that he can write about his first-hand experiences.

Baby Doll is a black comedy film which tells the story of Archie, a middle aged man who is married to a 19 year old girl named Baby Doll. He has been facing financial troubles and therefore Baby Doll threatens to leave him if he doesn’t do something to fix their problems. Things get worse as Silva, Archie’s competitor, has managed to take away Archie's business, due to his newer and modern cotton gin. In order to retaliate, Archie burns down his rival's gin one night.

Viva Zapata! is a historical drama film which revolves around the story of Emiliano Zapata, a Mexican revolutionary who is knowing  for leading a rebellion against the corrupt and oppressive dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz, who ignores the needs of his people during the early 20th century. The government is replaced but the new administration proves to be just as corrupt, especially General Victoriano Huerta.   

Panic in the Streets is a crime drama thriller film which takes us to a dock in New Orleans, where a dead body is found. A police sergeant feels that the dead man is also displaying other symptoms. A doctor with the US Public Health Service named Clint Reed diagnoses a highly contagious disease, known as pneumonic plague. Although he tries to convince others about its danger, everyone, including the police, is doubtful. He also estimates that they have around 48 hours to stop its spread.

A circus-owner in Communist Czechoslovakia has been ordered to insert Marxist messages into his acts. Many of his men have also been conscripted and his equipments declared government property.  Unable to operate his circus the way he wants he finally decides to flee with his entire troop. But escaping from Communist regime is not easy.  His daughter’s affair further complicates the matter. 

Watchtower Over Tomorrow is a documentary short film about the Dumbarton Oaks Plan, as well as the proposed formations of the United Nations.

Jigger Pine, along with his friends Nickie, Peppi, Leo and Leo’s wife Ginger, forms a music band which performs at various gigs. However, a big break always eludes them. Then Del Davis, a mobster whom they meet in a rail boxcar, helps them get a break at a New Jersey roadhouse. As bar-beauty Kay Grant enters Jigger’s life, things start getting complicated.

Vietnam War veteran Bill Schmidt lives with his girlfriend Martha and son Hal in a farmhouse. One day two of his ex-army friends Mike and Tony arrive and start terrorizing the family. This leads to revelations, a fight, and horrific consequences.  

Based on an unfinished novel of the same name by F Scott Fitzgerald, this drama film tells the story of a movie producer, who works tirelessly in a time of turmoil. However, problems arise because he neglects and disrespects the other studio executives, and they feel like they would be better off without him.

A priest completes his sermon and brings out a pie to distribute between several men who are waiting to eat. However, two men who were waiting at the end, doesn’t get any.