Ranking Humphrey Bogart’s films is no easy feat – after all, this is the same actor who helped shape the golden age of Hollywood with iconic classics like Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. But, through extensive analysis, we’ve streamlined the vast array of films in his filmography to bring you the best of the best. Here are our top 10 picks for the greatest Humphrey Bogart movies of all time!
Of course, there’s no one definitive list of “greatest” films; everyone will have their own opinion. However, if you’re looking for a starting point or simply want to watch some of Bogie’s most beloved movies, these flicks are an excellent way to go. From the famous classic Casablanca to the suspense-filled adventure High Sierra, these films showcase Bogart’s immense skill as an actor. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering Humphrey Bogart for the first time, we hope you enjoy our selection of the highest quality films from one of Hollywood’s most legendary stars!
The Top 10 Best Humphrey Bogart Movies, Ranked
10. Sabrina (1954)
- Genre: Romance / Comedy / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
Up first at #10, we’ve got 1954’s Sabrina. This romantic comedy only barely cracked the top 10. However, the movie is just so enjoyable and charming, so we felt we had to include it. Bogart didn’t necessarily star in a ton of lighthearted pictures, and this is definitely his best romcom! The talents of Hepburn, Bogart, and Holden combined will always be gold, no matter how many times we rewatch this film.
Sabrina follows two wealthy brothers (Bogart and Holden), completely different in temperament and personality, who both fall in love with the same woman — their chauffeur’s daughter (Hepburn). It’s cute!
Related — Audrey Hepburn: Essential Movies
9. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- Genre: War / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray
- Directed by: Edward Dmytryk
The Caine Mutiny is definitely one of the best Humphrey Bogart movies of all time. A huge hit when it first came out, this war drama was the second highest-grossing movie of 1954! The movie is really wonderful and the cast is full of incredibly talented actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Bogart’s performance earned him his last Oscar nomination for Best Actor!
Set during World War II, The Caine Mutiny follows a group of Naval officers on a dilapidated vessel who begin to think their new captain is insane. Truly, this movie is a must-watch, especially if you like WWII movies!
Related — Fred MacMurray: Essential Movies
8. The African Queen (1951)
- Genre: Adventure / Romance / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull
- Directed by: John Huston
The African Queen is a phenomenal film with two stunning leads Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Bogart’s excellent performance earned him his one and only Oscar win for Best Actor in a Leading Role!
In The African Queen, Bogart plays a steamer captain in WWI Africa who helps a religious spinster (Hepburn) and gives her safe passage. Quickly, the two end up facing off against the Germans. A riveting adventure film!
7. Key Largo (1948)
- Genre: Action / Crime / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore
- Directed by: John Huston
Key Largo paired Bogart with real wife Lauren Bacall for the fourth and last time. Their last film together turned out to be one of their very best! In Key Largo, Bogart plays a veteran who heads to Key Largo to pay respects to the family of his late war buddy. However, things quickly change course when gangsters overtake the hotel the family runs during a hurricane!
Related — Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall Movie Collaborations, Ranked
6. To Have and Have Not (1944)
- Genre: Film Noir / Adventure / Comedy
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan
- Directed by: Howard Hawks
The first collaboration between Bogart and Lauren Bacall (they would marry after filming this film noir), To Have and Have Not is definitely one of the very best Humphrey Bogart movies of all time. While the movie is very interesting, it’s the chemistry between Bogie and Bacall that really make this movie a must-see.
To Have and Have Not follows a fishing boat captain (Bogart) who begins to work with the French Resistance in Vichy France — and also falls in love with a wandering American girl (Bacall), even as things grow more chaotic around him.
5. In a Lonely Place (1950)
- Genre: Film Noir / Mystery / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, Frank Lovejoy
- Directed by: Nicholas Ray
In a Lonely Place is one of the best film noirs of all time — and also one of the best Humphrey Bogart movies of all time. We’re big fans of this classic movie. It’s absolutely stunning. We can’t talk enough about it! And it’s not just us who adore this film noir — the film is also a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #810)!
In In a Lonely Place, Bogart plays a Hollywood screenwriter who falls in love with his neighbor (Grahame), tries to work on a new script, and deals with the police hounding him after they believe he killed a girl. A riveting performance from Bogart here.
4. The Big Sleep (1946)
- Genre: Film Noir / Mystery / Crime
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely, Martha Vickers
- Directed by: Howard Hawks
The Big Sleep is the best film Bogie and Bacall made together — and it’s also one of the best Bogart movies of all time. Playing private investigator Philip Marlowe, Bogart is stunning here, as is everyone else in the cast. Plus, we get one of the best scenes ever featuring an up-and-coming Dorothy Malone (which is in the video above).
The Big Sleep follows PI Marlowe as he is hired to resolve the gambling debts of a society girl. However, upon meeting the girl’s older sister (Bacall) and subsequently growing enamored with her, he learns that there is more to this story than meets the eye. And then, people start dying. One of the crazier films from Old Hollywood, but delightful nevertheless!
3. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
- Genre: Western / Adventure / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett
- Directed by: John Huston
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is one of the best movies ever made, not just one of the best Humphrey Bogart movies ever made. This riveting western follows two rough wanderers (Bogart and Holt) who partner up with a prosecutor (Huston) and head to the Sierra Madre mountains to find gold. Definitely a must-watch for all film lovers!
2. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- Genre: Film Noir / Mystery / Crime
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre
- Directed by: John Huston
It’s impossible to talk highly enough of The Maltese Falcon. This movie is absolutely phenomenal. The only reason it’s not at the #1 spot on this list is because one of the most endearing classics of all time currently holds that position. But do not sleep on The Maltese Falcon!
In The Maltese Falcon, Bogart plays detective Sam Spade who finds himself in a mess of chaos after being brought a case by the mysterious woman (Astor). As people around him begin to die, he quickly tries to find what everyone seems to want: the bejeweled Maltese Falcon, a priceless statue.
1. Casablanca (1942)
- Genre: War / Romance / Drama
- Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
- Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Casablanca is the best Humphrey Bogart movie of all time. How could it be anything else? This movie has become one of the best movies of all time, even though when it was released it wasn’t necessarily as beloved as it has since become. It’s truly one of the best movies ever made and is such a great comfort film for many!
In Casablanca, which is set during World War II, Bogart plays Rick, a nightclub owner in Casablanca who wants nothing to do with the ongoing war. However, things change when his past flame Ilsa (Bergman) arrives with her rebel husband (Henreid) and needs his help as the Nazis close in on them. A marvelous film!
Bogart’s marvelous performance in this film earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. However, he ended up losing the Oscar to Paul Lukas for Watch on the Rhine this year.
Related — The Top 10 Best Ingrid Bergman Movies of All Time
What’s Your Favorite Humphrey Bogart Movie?
Comment below your own personal favorite Humphrey Bogart film. Do you agree with this list? Would you have added other films? Hit the comments below with all your thoughts and opinions about this wonderful, talented, iconic actor! We’d love to hear what you think!
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