Want to know the best Sam Elliott movies? How about the worst Sam Elliott movies? Curious about Sam Elliott box office grosses or which Sam Elliott movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Sam Elliott movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Sam Elliott (1944-) is an Oscar®-nominated American actor. Elliott is known for his distinctive lanky physique, full mustache, and deep, resonant voice. He is best known for his roles in Tombstone, The Big Lebowski, Road House and the latest version of A Star Is Born. His IMDb page shows over 100 acting credits since 1967. This page will rank Sam Elliott movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos, uncredited roles, and movies that were not released in North American were not included in the rankings.
Sam Elliott Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews, and awards.
Sam Elliott 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 any way you want.
- Sort Sam Elliott movies by his co-stars
- Sort Sam Elliott movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Sam Elliott movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Sam Elliott movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Sam Elliott movie received.
- Sort Sam Elliott movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews, and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
Possibly Interesting Facts About Sam Elliott
1. Samuel Pack Elliott was born in Sacramento, California in 1944.
2. While attending Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, Sam Elliott’s played Big Jule from the stage play Guys and Dolls. The Vancouver Columbian newspaper reviewed the play and suggested that Elliott should be a professional actor.
3. Sam Elliott has appeared in 3 films that were Oscar® nominated for Best Picture: *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Up in the Air (2009), and A Star Is Born (2018). *He briefly appears at the beginning of the movie. Don’t blink or you will miss him in that great western.
3A. Although Katherine Ross and Sam Elliott were both in 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, they never met until they filmed 1978’s The Legacy. They have been married since 1984.
4. In The Big Lebowski (1998), Sam Elliott’s strange cowboy character admonishes The Dude (played by Jeff Bridges) for using “cusswords.” When recalling anecdotes for the book “I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What Have You” from that film, Elliott used by far the most profanities of any cast member.
5. Sam Elliott’s great-great-great-uncle, Edward F. Mitchusson, was a doctor who died at the Alamo in 1836.
Check out Sam Elliott‘s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
Sam Elliott. Good subject, good actor.
I’ve seen 14 of the 39 films on the chart. Favorites are – Tombstone, Road House, Hulk, Thank you for Smoking, We Were Soldiers, The Good Dinosaur, The Golden Compass and Frogs.
I saw Frogs again about a year ago, I’d almost didn’t recognise young Sam from the tall mustachioed actor we’d gotten used to over the years.
Tombstone and Road House are modern favorites of mine, watched many times.
It’s funny I love westerns and movies set during the American Civil War but I haven’t seen Gettysburg. Maybe a few scenes here and there. I’ve never seen Lonesome Dove either. [cue gasps]
Good stuff Bruce. Vote Up.
Hey Steve. Thanks for the thoughts on Sam Elliott. I actually thought it already done a page on him, Debbie and I were talking about him and went to look them up on the website and realize I hadn’t done a page on him. I have seen 25 of the movies listed…so I am a little ahead of you. I have seen all of your favorites, with the exception of frogs. Got a minute and then even heard of that movie, but since you seen this so many times maybe it’s worth checking out. Tombstone is probably my favorite of his movies. Roadhouse is a classic to many people. He is excellent in the contender, which we watched last night. Gettysburg hey solid movie but I don’t think his role was very big. He seems to be the type of actor that makes every movie he appears just a little bit better. Good stuff as always.
Remember Sam when he was a semi-regular on the Mission: Impossible TV series in its later years, all clean cut. Yeah he’s in about 7 episodes as part of the team. Sam is # 273 on the 2020 Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Centers of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the other actors on the list who appeared with him.
1 CHRISTOPHER LEE The Golden Compass (2007)
6 MARTIN SHEEN Gettysburg (1993)
6 MARTIN SHEEN MILIUS (2013)
29 HARRISON FORD MILIUS (2013)
31 ROBERT DUVALL MILIUS (2013)
31 ROBERT DUVALL Thank You for Smoking (2005)
32 DEREK JACOBI The Golden Compass (2007)
33 SYLVESTER STALLONE MILIUS (2013)
38 CHARLTON HESTON Tombstone (1993)
56 SUSAN SARANDON The Company You Keep (2013)
71 NICOLAS CAGE Ghost Rider (2007)
73 VAL KILMER Tombstone (1993)
74 ANTONIO BANDERAS The Big Bang (2010)
81 ROBERT MITCHUM Tombstone (1993)
92 BRAD DOURIF Fatal Beauty (1987)
110 JEFF BRIDGES The Big Lebowski (1998)
110 JEFF BRIDGES The Contender (2000)
112 KIEFER SUTHERLAND Marmaduke (2010)
115 IAN MCSHANE THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007)
118 NICOLE KIDMAN The Golden Compass (2007)
120 CLINT EASTWOOD MILIUS (2013)
121 WHOOPI GOLDBERG Fatal Beauty (1987)
123 JOHN GOODMAN MILIUS (2013)
123 JOHN GOODMAN The Big Lebowski (1998)
130 STEVE BUSCEMI The Big Lebowski (1998)
135 BEN GAZZARA Road House (1989)
135 BEN GAZZARA The Big Lebowski (1998)
144 CHRISTIAN SLATER The Contender (2000)
150 KEITH DAVID Pretty When You Cry (2001)
150 KEITH DAVID Road House (1989)
152 WOODY HARRELSON The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
159 PETER STORMARE The Big Lebowski (1998)
162 JOHN TURTURRO The Big Lebowski (1998)
164 NICK NOLTE Hulk (2003)
169 GARY OLDMAN The Contender (2000)
171 MEL GIBSON We Were Soldiers (2002)
174 DANNY GLOVER Barnyard (2006)
176 STEPHEN LANG GETTYSBURG (1993)
176 STEPHEN LANG TOMBSTONE (1993)
177 KATHY BATES The Golden Compass (2007)
187 JAMES EARL JONES MILIUS (2013)
188 FRANK LANGELLA Draft Day (2014)
189 ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER MILIUS (2013)
191 PETER FONDA Ghost Rider (2007)
196 CLORIS LEACHMAN Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
196 CLORIS LEACHMAN Prancer (1989)
207 JEFF COREY Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
209 ROSANNA ARQUETTE Draft Day (2014)
213 JULIE CHRISTIE THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (2013)
220 ELLEN BURSTYN Draft Day (2014)
224 PAUL NEWMAN Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
226 ALEC BALDWIN A STAR IS BORN (2018)
228 JOHN RATZENBERGER THE GOOD DINOSAUR (2015)
229 KURT RUSSELL Tombstone (1993)
250 BILLY ZANE Tombstone (1993)
256 BILL PAXTON Tombstone (1993)
271 STEVE COOGAN MARMADUKE (2010)
272 TOM BERENGER Gettysburg (1993)
282 BILL PULLMAN Sibling Rivalry (1990)
283 RICHARD DREYFUSS MILIUS (2013)
288 OWEN WILSON Marmaduke (2010)
292 PHILIP BAKER HALL The Contender (2000)
309 JOHN LEGUIZAMO Lies & Alibis (2006)
319 CLANCY BROWN LADY AND THE TRAMP (2019)
322 ROBERT REDFORD Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
322 ROBERT REDFORD THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (2013)
324 WILLIAM H. MACY Marmaduke (2010)
324 WILLIAM H. MACY Thank You for Smoking (2005)
335 MARY STEENBURGEN Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
342 JENNIFER JASON LEIGH Rush (1991)
347 THOMAS KRETSCHMANN The Big Bang (2010)
349 JULIANNE MOORE The Big Lebowski (1998)
367 JOHN STANDING THE LEGACY (1978)
371 KEVIN DUNN Draft Day (2014)
382 JUDY GREER GRANDMA (2015)
382 JUDY GREER MARMADUKE (2010)
401 IAN MCKELLEN THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007)
410 JEFF DANIELS Gettysburg (1993)
415 PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN The Big Lebowski (1998)
416 JIM CARTER THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007)
420 KEVIN COSTNER Draft Day (2014)
421 BILLY BOB THORNTON Tombstone (1993)
427 SAUL RUBINEK The Contender (2000)
433 CHARLIE SHEEN MILIUS (2013)
442 RON RIFKIN A STAR IS BORN (2018)
445 JAMES GAMMON The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
448 HARRIS YULIN Fatal Beauty (1987)
455 DAVID THEWLIS THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
465 STEPHEN ROOT The Company You Keep (2013)
468 KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS The Golden Compass (2007)
471 MATT DILLON ROCK DOG (2017)
472 JON POLITO Lies & Alibis (2006)
472 JON POLITO The Big Lebowski (1998)
476 PENELOPE CRUZ The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
489 HUGH GRANT Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
491 LARRY MILLER THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT (2019)
507 ROB LOWE THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (2005)
512 RAY MILLAND Frogs (1972)
513 JIM BROWN Draft Day (2014)
528 ERIC STOLTZ Mask (1985)
529 MARCIA GAY HARDEN GRANDMA (2015)
543 CHEECH MARIN Fatal Beauty (1987)
578 DEBI MAZAR Lies & Alibis (2006)
599 BRENDAN GLEESON The Company You Keep (2013)
603 GEORGE CLOONEY Up in the Air (2009/I)
604 LUKE WILSON ROCK DOG (2017)
605 FRANCES MCDORMAND THE GOOD DINOSAUR (2015)
609 AMANDA PLUMMER The Final Cut (1996)
621 COLLEEN CAMP GRANDMA (2015)
627 SAM ROCKWELL DIGGING FOR FIRE (2015)
636 MICHAEL BIEHN Tombstone (1993)
641 SNOOP DOGG THE BIG BANG (2010)
648 RICHARD JORDAN Gettysburg (1993)
654 MICHAEL CONSTANTINE Prancer (1989)
659 PATRICK SWAYZE Road House (1989)
673 C. THOMAS HOWELL Gettysburg (1993)
694 TOM BOWER DIGGING FOR FIRE (2015)
705 CHRIS COOPER The Company You Keep (2013)
735 DANIEL CRAIG The Golden Compass (2007)
737 LILY TOMLIN GRANDMA (2015)
739 MICHAEL ROOKER Tombstone (1993)
743 WILLIAM MORGAN SHEPPARD Gettysburg (1993)
744 ANNE ARCHER Lifeguard (1976/I)
754 RYAN O’NEAL The Games (1970)
761 WILFORD BRIMLEY DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? (2009)
765 JOHN C. MCGINLEY Shakedown (1988)
773 DAVID KOECHNER BARNYARD (2006)
773 DAVID KOECHNER THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (2005)
775 GEORGE HAMILTON MILIUS (2013)
778 J. K. SIMMONS Off the Map (2003)
778 J. K. SIMMONS ROCK DOG (2017)
778 J. K. SIMMONS Thank You for Smoking (2005)
778 J. K. SIMMONS Up in the Air (2009/I)
786 CARRIE FISHER Sibling Rivalry (1990)
787 ANDIE MACDOWELL Barnyard (2006)
803 PETER WELLER Shakedown (1988)
842 MARIANNE STONE The Games (1970)
883 DELROY LINDO The Big Bang (2010)
884 PATRICIA ARQUETTE THE HI-LO COUNTRY (1998)
889 BRADLEY COOPER A STAR IS BORN (2018)
905 WILLIAM FICHTNER The Big Bang (2010)
921 KATHLEEN QUINLAN Lifeguard (1976/I)
934 RICHARD ANDERSON Gettysburg (1993)
941 SARAH JESSICA PARKER Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
953 EDDIE IZZARD ROCK DOG (2017)
972 PEDRO ARMENDARIZ JR. Tombstone (1993)
980 STEVE ZAHN (I) THE GOOD DINOSAUR (2015)
983 DENIS LEARY Draft Day (2014)
999 DONAL LOGUE Gettysburg (1993)
999 DONAL LOGUE Ghost Rider (2007)
Sam appeared with 30 Oscar winners.
BRIE LARSON DIGGING FOR FIRE (2015)
CHARLTON HESTON Tombstone (1993)
CHER Mask (1985)
CHRIS COOPER The Company You Keep (2013)
CLORIS LEACHMAN Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
CLORIS LEACHMAN Prancer (1989)
ELLEN BURSTYN Draft Day (2014)
EMMA STONE MARMADUKE (2010)
FRANCES MCDORMAND THE GOOD DINOSAUR (2015)
GARY OLDMAN The Contender (2000)
GEORGE CLOONEY Up in the Air (2009/I)
J. K. SIMMONS Off the Map (2003)
J. K. SIMMONS ROCK DOG (2017)
J. K. SIMMONS Thank You for Smoking (2005)
J. K. SIMMONS Up in the Air (2009/I)
JEFF BRIDGES The Big Lebowski (1998)
JEFF BRIDGES The Contender (2000)
JENNIFER CONNELLY Hulk (2003)
JULIANNE MOORE The Big Lebowski (1998)
JULIE CHRISTIE THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (2013)
KATHY BATES The Golden Compass (2007)
KATY JURADO The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
LAURA DERN Mask (1985)
MARCIA GAY HARDEN GRANDMA (2015)
MARY STEENBURGEN Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
NICOLE KIDMAN The Golden Compass (2007)
PATRICIA ARQUETTE THE HI-LO COUNTRY (1998)
PAUL NEWMAN Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
PENELOPE CRUZ The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN The Big Lebowski (1998)
RAY MILLAND Frogs (1972)
RICHARD DREYFUSS MILIUS (2013)
ROBERT DUVALL MILIUS (2013)
ROBERT DUVALL Thank You for Smoking (2005)
SUSAN SARANDON The Company You Keep (2013)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG Fatal Beauty (1987)
Hey Dan. As always your efforts are greatly appreciated. His ranking is higher than I would’ve guessed, he actually has not really made that many movies. His first list is beyond massive, the showing why he is so highly rated. I didn’t know he was in the last seasons of Mission Impossible. He is almost unrecognizable without his mustache. We watched the contender last night, and it almost seemed like he was a different actor. Looking at the first list, looks like two movies with Oracle costars is the most, and that is with a few people. Is Oscar winning costar total might be low, but since he has so few movies it’s not a bad percentage at all. Good information as always!
Great UMR Page
Thank you Mike, greatly appreciate these kind words.
Despite the slightly less than good review rating given to it above many movie historians have now designated Road House a “cult” movie. I cannot quarrel with that tag as it is the only relatively modern -ie post classic era – film that I can immediately recall watching an exceptional number of times since it was first released back in 1989
It is in sense to me what The Duke’s Jet Pilot and Rock Hudson’s Ice Station Zebra were apparently to Howard Hughes; and what Brando’s The Wild One reportedly was to Elvis [though I never liked any of those 3 movies despite my own idols being in two of them].
Why I loved Road House were (1) Ben Gazzara’s wonderful mostly low-key performance as the bad guy (2) the “buddy-buddy” relationship between Sam Elliot and Patrick Swayze as two super-bouncers who had a legendary reputation for taming rough-houses that Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson would have envied.
The nice little miniature still of the two “buddies” greatly pleases me; and regarding Bruce giving the movie just a 58% rating and my loving it – as Swayze’s Dalton emphasised in the movie [when aggressive newcomers said to him “I thought you’d be bigger but you don’t look much to me.”] “opinions vary!”
Hey Bob. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Mr. Sam Elliott. I made sure to include a photo of Road House just for you.I agree with your thoughts on that movie. Good to know some of your reasons for liking it. Many people claim the key to success in the movie is a good villain, Ben Gazzara definitely fits that bill in Road House. Good thoughts as always.
I have seen 2 Sam Elliott movies listed in the table plus two others:
Tombstone is a favourite.
I have also seen the miniseries Gettysburg.
It is not included in the table because it is a bit part, but Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a favourite film.
Finally, I have also seen the live TV version of Fail Safe from 2000. There were two live performances, one for the east coast and one for the west coast.
Hey Flora. Thanks for the thoughts on Sam Elliott. Tally count: 25 for me, 14 for Steve and 2 for you. Good point about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, since he is barely seen I did not want that to be his Top Rated UMR Movie….so it was a last minute deletion. That is cool that you were able to see his TV version of Fail Safe. I really liked the movie, I should check that out as well.
FYI- I have new additional respect for your comments…why you ask? Even though my mouth is a train wreck right now ..I decided to go on a 5 mile run through a path near our house. 2 miles in, I tripped on a tree root. End result? Messed my left knee up, bad cuts on my left elbow and sprained my right wrist. That leaves me the use of one hand to type comments. It is not easy. Kudos to you and your efforts.
Wow, you are going through a rough time! Sorry to hear you have injured yourself. Thanks for the kind thoughts.