Best Ingrid Bergman Movies

Throughout her illustrious career, Ingrid Bergman consistently delivered electrifying performances that enthralled audiences around the world. From her early roles in Swedish cinema to her later work in America, Italy, and beyond, Bergman’s talent was undeniable.

As a testament to how remarkable she truly was, we’ve compiled a curated list of her ten finest films — plus a few honorable mentions. Whether you’re a seasoned film buff or looking to explore Bergman’s legacy for the first time, this selection is an ideal starting point and offers something for everyone.

The Top 10 Best Ingrid Bergman Movies, Ranked

Honorable Mention: Joan of Arc (1948)

• Genre: Biography / War / Drama
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, José Ferrer
• Directed by: Victor Fleming

Our first Honorable Mention goes to 1948’s Joan of Arc. Don’t be dismayed by the fact that this film is only an Honorable Mention — it’s a great film, especially if you’re a fan of Bergman’s work. However, because Bergman has made so many excellent films, this one had to simply be listed as an Honorable Mention and didn’t quite crack the top 10.

Joan of Arc, as you may have guessed, follows the life story of the Maid of Orleans. Bergman plays Joan brilliantly. Her performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. However, she lost out to Jane Wyman for Johnny Belinda this year.

Honorable Mention: For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)

• Genre: History / Adventure / Drama
• Starring: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman
• Directed by: Sam Wood

For Whom the Bell Tolls is our second Honorable Mention! This classic 40s movie is based on the classic Ernest Hemingway novel. While not the absolute best Ingrid Bergman movie ever made, the movie is still enjoyable — especially because of the two main leads.

Gary Cooper plays an American man who volunteers in a war in Spain against the fascists. He joins the guerilla forces that oppose the Spanish dictator. Bergman plays a young Spanish woman he falls in love with.

Bergman was nominated for her first Oscar for her performance in this war drama. However, she ended up losing out to Jennifer Jones for The Song of Bernadette.

Honorable Mention: Anastasia (1956)

• Genre: History / Biography / Drama
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner, Helen Hayes
• Directed by: Anatole Litvak

Anastasia is a wonderful film from 1956 that just barely missed out on landing on this top 10 list. However, because of Bergman’s outstanding performance here, we had to list the movie as an Honorable Mention.

In Anastasia, Bergman plays an amnesiac refugee named Anna Anderson who a group of Russian exiles claim is the missing, thought to be deceased, daughter of the Tsar, Anastasia. Really such an interesting movie!

Bergman is outstanding here, which isn’t a surprise. Her performance won her an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role! She beat out Carroll Baker (Baby Doll), Deborah Kerr (The King and I), Katharine Hepburn (The Rainmaker), and Nancy Kelly (The Bad Seed).

10. Journey to Italy (1954)

• Genre: Romance / Drama
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders
• Directed by: Roberto Rossellini

Many consider Journey to Italy to be director Roberto Rossellini’s greatest film. It is an outstanding movie — just as so many of Rossellini’s movies are. Journey to Italy is also a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #675)!

This romantic drama follows an English married couple (played brilliantly by Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders) whose relationship is basically on the verge of divorce. They travel to Naples together where they both seek insight and go through their own changes. A marvelous film.

9. Stromboli (1950)

• Genre: Drama
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Mario Vitale
• Directed by: Roberto Rossellini

The first movie Ingrid Bergman ever made with Roberto Rossellini, Stromboli is an outstanding film. This pivotal drama is a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #673) and is considered by many to be one of the best movies ever made — or at least one of the best Italian neorealism movies.

Stromboli also happens to be one of the best Ingrid Bergman movies of all time. Here, she plays a Lithuanian refugee who is placed in an internment camp in Italy. There, she meets a fisherman (Vitale). A romance ensues, she marries him, and she is brought to his home in Stromboli, the volcanic island. She struggles to adapt to her new home and faces an ongoing existential crisis.

8. The Bells of Saint Mary’s (1945)

• Genre: Drama
• Starring: Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman
• Directed by: Leo McCarey

The Bells of Saint Mary’s is a marvelous, hopeful film about a liberal priest (Crosby) and a straitlaced nun (Bergman) who begin a rivalry as they debate about what should be done to the Catholic school they work at.

Bergman is, of course, wonderful here. Her excellent performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. However, she lost out this year to Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce.

7. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

• Genre: Crime / Mystery / Drama
• Starring: Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery
• Directed by: Sidney Lumet

Everything about Murder on the Orient Express is amazing. The iconic Agatha Christie story is brought to life with an excellent, all-star cast that includes Bergman. Made later in her life, Bergman showed that she could still outact everyone.

Murder on the Orient Express follows Detective Hercule Poirot (Finney) who tries to solve a murder case while on the Orient Express. It’s probably the best Christie murder mystery ever written — and this film adaptation is definitely the best adaptation of the story.

Bergman’s excellent performance here won her an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She beat out Diane Ladd (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore), Madeline Khan (Blazing Saddles), Talia Shire (The Godfather: Part II), and Valentina Cortese (Day for Night).

6. Europe ‘51 (1952)

• Genre: Drama
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Alexander Knox
• Directed by: Roberto Rossellini

Europe ‘51 is definitely one of the best Ingrid Bergman movies of all time. How could it not be? She’s absolutely phenomenal here — and this is definitely one of her best collaborations with Rossellini. This film is also a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #674)!

In Europe ‘51, Bergman plays a Rome socialite who becomes obsessed with humanitarian causes after her son commits suicide. Bergman is absolutely wonderful here.

5. Spellbound (1945)

• Genre: Film Noir / Mystery / Romance
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck
• Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Spellbound is an amazing Hitchcock movie — and possibly an underrated one, when compared to the love the rest of his movies receive. This mystery pairs Bergman with Gregory Peck and the end result is wonderful. This film is also a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #136)!

In Spellbound, Bergman plays a psychiatrist who discovers that the new doctor (Peck) at the mental hospital she works at is an imposter. The man confesses — but then says that he doesn’t know what happened to the man, and he’s worried he killed him. She decides to help him uncover the truth… and romance blossoms between them.

4. Gaslight (1944)

• Genre: Crime / Mystery / Drama
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotten
• Directed by: George Cukor

Gaslight is a marvelous, tense film — and also one of the best Ingrid Bergman movies of all time. This film follows a wife (Bergman) whose new husband (Boyer) begins to manipulate her into insanity.

Bergman’s performance here is absolutely extraordinary. She won her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in this film, beating out Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity), Bette Davis (Mr. Skeffington), Claudette Colbert (Since You Went Away), and Greer Garson (Mrs. Parkington).

Related — Joseph Cotten: 13 Essential 1940s Movies

3. Autumn Sonata (1978)

• Genre: Drama / Music
• Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann
• Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

Autumn Sonata was the last feature film Ingrid Bergman made — and it’s also one of her absolute best movies. This movie also marked the first time Bergman and acclaimed director Ingmar Bergman worked together. Autumn Sonata is also a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #60)!

In this drama, Bergman plays a classical pianist who returns home to reunite with her estranged daughter (Ullmann) after choosing her career over being a mother. Bergman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role, though she lost out to Jane Fonda in Coming Home.

2. Notorious (1946)

• Genre: Film Noir / Romance / Drama
• Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern
• Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Notorious isn’t just one of the best Ingrid Bergman movies ever made. It’s also one of the best movies of all time. With Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains all in one Hitchcock movie, how could it not be? Notorious is also a part of the Criterion Collection (spine #137)!

In Notorious, Bergman plays the daughter of a German war criminal who is recruited by a U.S. agent (Grant) to go undercover and help him bring Nazis to justice in Brazil. The two end up falling in love, even as she is consistently put in danger. An excellent movie!

Related — Cary Grant: Top 10 Best 1940s Movies

1. Casablanca (1942)

• Genre: Romance / War / Drama
• Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre, Claude Rains
• Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Casablanca is the best Ingrid Bergman movie of all time. This film is a classic and is often considered one of the very best movies of all time. It’s iconic!

Casablanca follows an American (Bogart) who owns a nightclub in Casablanca during WWII. While he wants to stay out of the war, even as Nazis worry those around him, he begins to rethink his isolationist stance when his ex-flame (Bergman) arrives in town with her husband, a resistance fighter. One of the best movies of all time!

Related — Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall Movie Collaborations, Ranked

What’s Your Favorite Ingrid Bergman Movie?

Alrighty, now that we’ve talked about our own favorite Ingrid Bergman movies, we want to hear from you. What are your favorite films starring Bergman? Hit the comments below with all your thoughts and ideas — we’d love to hear them!