Cornel Wilde (1912-1989) was an Oscar®–nominated Hungarian-American actor and film director. Wilde’s career started with small roles in the early 1940s….but quickly progressed to leading man roles by the end of the 1940s. He would continue to act, produce and direct for another 4 decades. His IMDb page shows 69 acting credits from 1936 to 1987. This page ranks 44 Cornel Wilde movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, cameos and his movies not released in North America theaters are not included in the rankings.
Cornel Wilde Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1952
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
AA Best Picture Win
1945
Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
1948
Road House (1948)
1945
A Song to Remember (1945)
AA Best Actor Nom
1954
Woman's World (1954)
1941
High Sierra (1941)
1947
The Homestretch (1947)
1946
Centennial Summer (1946)
1948
The Walls of Jericho (1948)
1947
Forever Amber (1947)
1945
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1945)
1945
A Thousand and One Nights (1945)
1947
It Had To Be You (1947)
1942
Manilla Calling (1942)
1943
Wintertime (1943)
1955
The Big Combo (1955)
1941
The Perfect Snob (1941)
1965
The Naked Prey (1965)
1942
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (1942)
1957
Omar Khayyam (1957)
1949
Shockproof (1949)
1953
Treasure of the Golden Condor (1953)
1956
Hot Blood (1956)
1952
Operation Secret (1952)
1957
The Devil's Hairpin (1957)
1952
At Sword's Point (1952)
1955
Storm Fear (1955)
1959
Edge of Eternity (1959)
1940
Lady with Red Hair (1940)
1954
Passion (1954)
1950
Two Flags West (1950)
1967
Beach Red (1967)
1969
The Comic (1969)
1953
Main Street to Broadway (1953)
1955
The Scarlet Coat (1955)
1963
Sword of Lancelot (1963)
1950
Four Days Leave/Swiss Tour (1950)
1953
Saadia (1953)
1941
Knockout (1941)
1956
Beyond Mombasa (1956)
1954
Star of India (1954)
1979
The Fifth Musketeer (1979)
1975
Sharks' Treasure (1975)
1952
California Conquest (1952)
1978
The Norseman (1978)
Cornel Wilde Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Cornel Wilde movies by movie title and movie trailers.
- Sort Cornel Wilde movies by co-stars of his movies.
- Sort Cornel Wilde movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
- Sort Cornel Wilde movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Cornel Wilde movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations each Cornel Wilde movie received and how many Oscar® wins each Cornel Wilde movie won.
- Sort Cornel Wilde movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) AA Best Picture Win |
Charleton Heston & James Stewart |
32.90 | 748.1 | 748.10 | 1 | 64 | 05 / 02 | 99.2 | |
| 2 | Leave Her to Heaven (1945) | Gene Tierney & Vincent Price |
14.20 | 521.3 | 521.30 | 3 | 81 | 04 / 01 | 98.2 | |
| 5 | Road House (1948) | Richard Widmark & Ida Lupino |
6.30 | 197.8 | 197.80 | 38 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 95.3 | |
| 4 | A Song to Remember (1945) AA Best Actor Nom |
Paul Muni & Merle Oberon |
6.50 | 239.1 | 239.10 | 44 | 65 | 06 / 00 | 94.7 | |
| 5 | Woman's World (1954) | Clifton Webb & Van Heflin |
8.60 | 232.9 | 232.90 | 31 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 94.6 | |
| 6 | High Sierra (1941) | Humphrey Bogart & John Huston |
3.40 | 153.1 | 214.40 | 69 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 94.6 | |
| 6 | The Homestretch (1947) | Maureen O'Hara | 6.40 | 214.6 | 214.60 | 44 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 94.2 | |
| 8 | Centennial Summer (1946) | Linda Darnell & Walter Brennan |
8.10 | 289.6 | 289.60 | 31 | 63 | 02 / 00 | 92.8 | |
| 11 | The Walls of Jericho (1948) | Kirk Douglas & Linda Darnell |
4.60 | 143.9 | 143.90 | 78 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 90.1 | |
| 7 | Forever Amber (1947) | Linda Darnell & George Sanders |
13.50 | 456.5 | 456.50 | 5 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 89.5 | |
| 9 | The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1945) | Anita Louise | 8.30 | 306.4 | 306.40 | 30 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 88.9 | |
| 12 | A Thousand and One Nights (1945) | Evelyn Keyes | 4.20 | 155.4 | 155.40 | 82 | 64 | 02 / 00 | 88.1 | |
| 13 | It Had To Be You (1947) | Ginger Rogers & Percy Waram |
4.10 | 137.0 | 137.00 | 85 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 86.6 | |
| 15 | Manilla Calling (1942) | Lloyd Nolan | 2.00 | 84.7 | 84.70 | 127 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 79.7 | |
| 16 | Wintertime (1943) | Sonja Henie | 3.10 | 131.0 | 131.00 | 94 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 78.4 | |
| 14 | The Big Combo (1955) | Richard Conte | 1.90 | 44.6 | 44.60 | 141 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 77.7 | |
| 17 | The Perfect Snob (1941) | Anthony Quinn | 1.80 | 81.3 | 81.30 | 129 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 75.6 | |
| 17 | The Naked Prey (1965) | Ken Gampu | 2.30 | 28.2 | 28.20 | 99 | 76 | 01 / 00 | 71.8 | |
| 20 | Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (1942) | Ida Lupino | 1.50 | 63.4 | 63.40 | 151 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 69.7 | |
| 21 | Omar Khayyam (1957) | Debra Paget & Directed by William Dieterle |
3.40 | 76.5 | 76.50 | 72 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 69.2 | |
| 19 | Shockproof (1949) | Patricia Knight | 2.00 | 57.7 | 57.70 | 145 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 69.2 | |
| 22 | Treasure of the Golden Condor (1953) | Anne Bancroft | 3.60 | 75.8 | 75.80 | 103 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 67.7 | |
| 23 | Hot Blood (1956) | Jane Russell | 2.10 | 48.2 | 48.20 | 134 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 61.9 | |
| 26 | Operation Secret (1952) | Steve Cochran | 2.80 | 62.6 | 116.00 | 128 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 61.1 | |
| 26 | The Devil's Hairpin (1957) | Max Picks | 2.90 | 63.8 | 63.80 | 82 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 61.1 | |
| 24 | At Sword's Point (1952) | Maureen O'Hara | 2.00 | 45.8 | 45.80 | 154 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 60.7 | |
| 25 | Storm Fear (1955) | Dan Duryea | 1.80 | 42.8 | 42.80 | 146 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 60.0 | |
| 26 | Edge of Eternity (1959) | Jack Elam | 1.90 | 38.8 | 38.80 | 117 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 59.0 | |
| 27 | Lady with Red Hair (1940) | Claude Rains | 0.90 | 40.1 | 49.00 | 174 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 58.7 | |
| 31 | Passion (1954) | Yvonne De Carlo | 1.60 | 43.8 | 43.80 | 134 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 57.3 | |
| 31 | Two Flags West (1950) | Joseph Cotton & Linda Darnell |
2.40 | 63.2 | 63.20 | 127 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 55.9 | |
| 30 | Beach Red (1967) | Rip Torn | 1.80 | 18.1 | 18.10 | 105 | 66 | 01 / 00 | 54.3 | |
| 33 | The Comic (1969) | Mickey Rooney & Dick Van Dyke |
2.10 | 18.9 | 18.90 | 96 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 48.6 | |
| 34 | Main Street to Broadway (1953) | Agnes Moorehead & Lionel Barrymore |
1.30 | 26.3 | 28.00 | 197 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 47.3 | |
| 35 | The Scarlet Coat (1955) | George Sanders & Directed by John Sturges |
1.30 | 30.8 | 80.20 | 159 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 36.7 | |
| 37 | Sword of Lancelot (1963) | King Arthur Movies | 1.50 | 21.7 | 21.70 | 109 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 34.2 | |
| 36 | Four Days Leave/Swiss Tour (1950) | Simone Signoret | 0.70 | 18.1 | 18.10 | 199 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 34.1 | |
| 38 | Saadia (1953) | Mel Ferrer | 1.80 | 36.6 | 85.20 | 174 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 32.4 | |
| 39 | Knockout (1941) | Anthony Quinn | 0.70 | 33.1 | 33.10 | 190 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 30.2 | |
| 40 | Beyond Mombasa (1956) | Donna Reed & Leo Genn |
1.20 | 26.8 | 26.80 | 171 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 28.5 | |
| 41 | Star of India (1954) | Herbert Lom | 0.40 | 10.3 | 10.30 | 182 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 22.7 | |
| 42 | The Fifth Musketeer (1979) | Olivia de Havilland & Beau Bridges |
2.60 | 13.1 | 13.10 | 100 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 18.4 | |
| 43 | Sharks' Treasure (1975) | Yaphet Kotto | 4.50 | 27.7 | 27.70 | 74 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 12.4 | |
| 44 | California Conquest (1952) | Teresa Wright | 0.90 | 20.5 | 20.50 | 204 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 10.0 | |
| 45 | The Norseman (1978) | Lee Majors | 2.20 | 11.9 | 11.90 | 107 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 3.1 |
Possibly Interesting Facts About Cornel Wilde
1. Kornél Lajos Weisz was born in Privigye, Kingdom of Hungary (now Prievidza, Slovakia) in 1912.
2. Cornel Wilde and his family came to the United States in 1920. They Americanized their names and Kornel took the name Cornelius Louis Wilde.
3. Cornel Wilde qualified for the United States fencing team for the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Wilde did not go to the Olympics, instead he took an acting role in a play.
4. Cornel Wilde’s big break was befriending Sir Laurence Olivier. Wilde taught Olivier fencing and was later cast in Olivier’s stage version of Romeo and Juliet (1940). Wilde’s small part lead him to a movie contract with Warner Brothers.
5. Cornel Wilde’s 44 movies grossed over $3.60 billion in adjusted box office gross. Those movies earned 19 Oscar® nominations…winning 3 Oscars®.
6. Cornel Wilde was married two times and had two children. He was married to actress and co-star Patricia Knight from 1937 to 1951. He was also married to actress and co-star Jean Wallace from 1951 to 1981.
7. One of Cornel Wilde’s most famous roles was playing high-wire artist, The Great Sebastian. This was a huge challenge to Wilde because he was afraid of heights. Despite Burt Lancaster’s background as a real-life circus acrobat, he was bypassed by Wilde for the role of The Great Sebastian, a fact Cecil B. DeMille regretted when he learned that Cornel was afraid of heights.
8. Check out Cornel Wilde‘s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
Check out Steve’s Conrel Wilde You Tube Video.
Which film was it where Cornel Wilde ran across the Australian Outback through the whole film? It was a terrific film, but I can’t remember the title .
It sounds like The Naked Prey…..but that movie takes place in South Africa. Could that be the movie?
I have admired CW since I was 14. He also wrote, translated, spoke several languages, directed & produced. I have met his son, daughter, niece & nephew. I have been to lunch with his son, daughter & step-son. I have kept in touch with his nephew.
Hey Edythe. That is awesome that you were in touch with his family. I agree he’s a very talented person. Glad you found our page on him. Thanks for sharing your connection to him. That is awesome. Thanks for stopping by.
Added Steve’s Cornel Wilde video to the page. Our comments on his channel.
“I like the new music at the beginning. I have not seen many of his movies….4! But they are pretty highly ranked….as all four are the Top 6. #6 Woman’s World…a really good movie, #5 Greatest Show On Earth ..a fun movie…not sure it is a great example of a Oscar Best Picture movie though #2 High Sierra…small part..but in a good movie. #1 Leave Her To Heaven. Love the Tierney role in that one. Voted up…and shared on our Cornel Wilde page.”
Hi Bruce, Flora has seen 10, you 4 and I can only remember seeing 3 – The Greatest Show on Earth, Leave Her to Heaven and High Sierra. I probably saw more of his films as a kid but don’t know for sure. Thanks for the vote, share and comment.