159 John Ford Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

This highly acclaimed movie is about the quest of a Civil War-veteran to rescue his niece from the Comanches. Ex-Confederate soldier, Ethan Edwards, returns to his brother’s Texas ranch, but finds his family massacred and 9-year-old niece Debbie abducted by Chief Scar’s people. Edwards’ nephew Martin Pawley joins him in his long arduous mission to find Debbie. Does he get his niece back?

While visiting frontier town Shinbone for old friend Tom Doniphon’s funeral, Senator Ransom Stoddard tells local journalist that years ago he had arrived there as a lawyer, and was assaulted by outlaw Liberty valance, but Doniphon had saved him. Later, Stoddard gets elected as representative while Valance continues to harass, so Stoddard confronts him with gun and becomes a legend. But what’s truth?

During late 1880s, a stagecoach carrying a mixed group of interesting passengers traverses through the hazardous Arizona wilderness. The disparate group that includes a banker, a drunken doctor, a dance-hall girl, a whisky salesman, an army officer’s wife, a Marshall and a notorious outlaw, soon gets to know each other. But the threat of Geronimo’s raiding Apaches looms large over their travel.  

After killing his opponent in the ring accidentally, a boxer Sean Thornton leaves the States and returns to his native village in Ireland. He soon falls in love with a young woman Mary, but her brother is not happy with their relationship.

During the Great Depression of 1930s, the Joad family of Oklahoma loses their draught-ridden farm to bank-seizure. As they migrate to West with truckload of belongings, they endure hardships along the way, and realize that they are not the only ones in such situation. After reaching California, they discover that the advertised ‘land of opportunity’ is after-all not the dreamland they imagined. 

While on a cattle-drive, the Earp brothers leave youngest James with the cattle after reaching Tombstone, only to find him murdered and their cattle stolen. Determined to avenge James, Wyatt takes job as Town Marshal and often encounters alcoholic Doc Holliday and the brutal Clanton family. As an ornament leads Wyatt to the killer, the Earps get set for a showdown at OK Corral. 

An honorable and veteran captain finds himself in a complicated situation when his regime is placed under the command of a young Lieutenant Colonel, who doesn’t have any respect for the local Indian tribe.

Mister Roberts is a war comedy drama film which tells the story of a Naval officer who is longing for active duty, but he finds himself in conflict with his captain.

Known as one of John Ford's greatest silent westerns, 3 Bad Men tells us the story of three desperate outlaws, heading towards Dakota in search of gold. But when they come across a young lady whose father has been killed, they decide to protect her from other outlaws and find her a groom.  Meanwhile, they must also deal with the corrupt sheriff and his gang. 

In this biographical drama film, we see the early years of the life of Abraham Lincoln, America’s 16th President, before he had become known to the country and the rest of the world. The film revolves around how he had begun his law practice, his defense of two men accused of murder, the death of his girlfriend Ann, his meeting with Mary Todd, his future wife, and his decision to enter the world of politics.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a Western drama film which tells the story of Captain Nathan Brittles, who is on the eve of retirement.  He takes out one last patrol hoping to prevent a war against the Indians. But the job seems more complicated than he imagined.

They were Expendable is a war drama film which tells the story of a Navy commander during the Second World War, who fights to prove that the American PT boats are worthy of being used in battle.

The Informer is a crime drama film which tells the story of Gypo Nolan, who is impoverished after he is forced to quit the rebel organization he was a part of. Upon finding out that his sweetheart Katie has been reduced to prostitution, he decides to tell the police about the location of his best friend Frankie, in order to win the reward.

The Horse Soldiers is an adventure war film which tells the story of Colonel John Marlowe, who faces a lot of obstacles while leading his team of Union Cavalry soldiers to destroy enemy railroads. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the mission turns out to be way harder than his expectations.

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.

Rio Grande is a Western film which revolves around a cavalry officer posted on the Rio Grande, who faces against murderous Apaches, and their uprisings. Things get complicated when he finds himself in shortage of troops, and soon one of the new recruits turn out to be his son.

3 Godfathers is a Western drama film which tells the story of Bob, Pete and William, three men who are outlaws. They are on the run from the authorities, but things get complicated when a dying mother asks them to save her child and be his godfathers. The men decide to return the child to civilization, even if it means risking their freedom and their lives.

A Louisiana con man decides to enter a race with his steamboat, not only to win the prize but also to locate an eyewitness, who is crucial to exonerating his nephew, wrongly sentenced to death for murder.