Few names are more iconic thanJohn Wayne, whose legendary status was solidified through countless acclaimed box-office successes. As perhaps the defining figure of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Wayne’s work in Westerns and war movies made him a household name whose rugged charisma and heroic persona ensured his success from the silent era right through to the end of his career in 1979. With acclaimedcollaborations with directors like John Fordand Howard Hawks, Wayne was one of the biggest box office draws from the 1940s through to the 1960s.
Thebest Wayne movieshave truly stood the test of time, and much of his best work also hit it big at the box office. Whether a leading man, co-starring with legends like Maureen O’Hara, or as part of an ensemble cast,Wayne always stood out in every production he was a part of. While the box office takings of Wayne’s biggest successes may look slight when compared to thebillion-dollar earningsof the most successful films today, it’s important to consider inflation and changes in the film industry since that time.
The High and the Mighty
Cast
The High and the Mighty, directed by William A. Wellman, follows veteran pilot Dan Roman on a routine flight from Honolulu to San Francisco. Confronted with a mid-air disaster and a turbulent past, Roman must navigate unforeseen challenges that arise high above the Pacific Ocean.
John Wayne took the skies as First Officer Dan Roman in the aviation dramaThe High and the Mighty. Based on a novel by Ernest K. Gann,this disaster story saw Wayne step in after a commercial airline runs into engine problemsduring a trans-Pacific flight. As a washed-up co-pilot, Wayne’s character had initially taken a backseat in his position as he harbored a secret fear of responsibility and carried the trauma of an air crash that killed his wife and son and left him with a permanent limp.
With psychological tension underpinning Wayne’s heroic role,The High and the Mightywas more than a simple story of bravery and a charismatic savior. With well-rounded characters and enough excitement to keep viewers engaged, it’s no surprise this film hit big at the box office and earned over $10 million. As Wayne’s second most commercially successful film of the 1950s,The High and the Mightyhelped lay the template for later disaster movies such as the comedicAirplane!series and even James Cameron’sTitanic.
The Sea Chase
The Sea Chase (1955) follows a determined German freighter captain as he attempts to navigate through treacherous waters during World War II to return home. With British forces in pursuit, the film showcases taut maritime strategies and the moral complexities faced by those on both sides of the conflict. This wartime drama emphasizes themes of loyalty, duty, and the survival instincts of the crew under wartime pressures.
John Wayne’s biggest success of the 1950s was the World War II dramaThe Sea Chase. This nautical story saw Wayne doing everything he could to get his freighter home to Germany during the opening months of World War II while he’s pursued in a thrilling game of cat and mouse by Australian and British navy men. While Wayne was supposed to be playing a German captain, his strong American accent was less than convincing, and althoughThe Sea Chasehad its moments, it was less than ever impressive when compared to modern war movies.
However, the issues at the heart ofThe Sea Chasedid not affect its box office takings, as it took in an impressive $12 million and included enough action, romance, and wartime thrills to please viewers back in 1955. Those interested in nautical warfare and Wayne’s career will get some excitement out of this oft-forgotten film. WhileWayne maintains his signature onscreen charisma, a notable lack of suspense and poor pacing hold this back from being remembered among his greatest war movies.
Hatari!
Hatari! follows a team of men capturing wild animals for zoos and circuses on an East African reservation. Their dynamic shifts with the arrival of a female wildlife photographer, played by Elsa Martinelli, leading to various comedic and romantic developments amidst breathtaking African landscapes.
John Wayne and famed director Howard Hawks worked together on five feature films, and the most commercially successful of the bunch wasHatari!An adventure rom-com with Wayne starring as the leader of a group of professional game catchers in Africa, the film was shot on location in the country now known as Tanzania, which was then northern Tanganyika. With plenty of thrilling wildlife chases and a backdrop of the volcano Mount Meru,Hatari!was truly one of Wayne’s most picturesque movies.
Hatari!was one of the highest-grossing films of 1962 and took in over $12 million at the global box office. As a movie praised for its visuals and impressive score from Henry Mancini,Hatari!was even listed by French-Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard as his favorite film of the year (via Hollywood Reporter.) Featuring plenty of genuine animals,Hatari!was a highly ambitious film and an intriguing anomaly in Wayne’s career.
The Sons of Katie Elder
The Sons of Katie Elder follows the story of four brothers who reunite in Texas after their mother’s death. While seeking to honor her legacy, they uncover troubling details about their father’s mysterious demise. The film features John Wayne and Dean Martin in leading roles and combines elements of action, drama, and brotherly camaraderie in a classic Western setting directed by Henry Hathaway.
As an actor who is totally inseparable from the Western genre, it’s no surprise that several of John Wayne’s highest-grossing films dealt with cowboys and outlaws.The Sons of Katie Eldersaw Wayne acting opposite Dean Martin as two of four brothers who are determined to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother. With a rugged performance that showcased why, even after several decades in Hollywood, nobody could deliver a charismatic Western movie performance quite like Wayne.
The Sons of Katie Elderwas a hit at the box officeback in 1965 and has maintained its status ever since, as it’s a rare release that boasts a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While there’s violence at the heart of this story, it’s never over-the-top and maintains a family-friendly energy throughout. Those with a love of classic, uncomplicated Westerns with a psychological edge can’t go wrong withThe Sons of Katie Elder.
McLintock!
McLintock! is a 1963 Western-comedy film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Set in the American West, the story follows wealthy cattle baron George Washington ‘G.W.’ McLintock as he deals with family issues, land disputes, and the return of his estranged wife, Katherine. The film combines humor and action, reflecting on themes of reconciliation and frontier justice.
As one of five movies starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, the pair got to show off their funny side with the Western comedyMcLintock!As a wild west take on William Shakespeare’sThe Taming of the Shrew, this over-the-top adventure included exciting gun chases, outrageous hijinks, and even a notorious spanking scene that O’Hara swore was the real deal (viaExpress.) By providing a glimpse into the daily life of everyday people living on the American frontier,McLintock!traded the normal action-oriented nature of Westerns for a more slice-of-life adventure.
All 5 John Wayne & Maureen O’Hara Movies, Ranked Worst To Best
The onscreen pairing of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara created one of Hollywood’s most enduring duos, that included comedy, romance, and Westerns.
Wayne portrayed a wealthy ranger who used power to maintain peace between farmers, land-grabbers, Native Americans, and corrupt government workers inMcLintock!As a box office success that reunited Wayne and O’Hara for the second-to-last time, it was incredible to see the duo having so much fun with their comedic roles. With broad comedy and some light-hearted levity, it’s no surprise that viewers turned out to see a more laid-back version of Wayne in this beloved classic.
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told, directed by George Stevens, is an epic retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, spanning from his birth in Bethlehem to his crucifixion and resurrection, and featuring key events such as his baptism by John the Baptist and betrayal by Judas.
The biblical epicThe Greatest Story Ever Toldretold the life of Jesus Christ from the Nativity right through to the Ascension. With a star-studded cast that included many major names of the era, this religious release wasa rare John Wayne movie in which he wasn’t the star. In fact, Wayne’s role was minuscule as he portrayed a Roman centurion at the crucifixion. This small but important part saw Wayne deliver just one solitary line: “Truly this man was the Son of God,” which urban legend states Wayne filmed three times, none of which were to the director’s satisfaction.
Despite Wayne’s limited screen time,The Greatest Story Ever Toldwas a hit at the box office, and viewers responded to Max von Sydow’s portrayal of Jesus. As a grand and epic narrative that acted as a less vulgar accompaniment to Cecil B. DeMille’s biblical films, such asThe Ten Commandmentsfrom the decade before. While Wayne may have only had a small role,The Greatest Story Ever Toldstill remains an important addition to his impressive list of box office hits.
The Green Berets
The Green Berets is a 1968 war film directed by and starring John Wayne, alongside David Janssen and Jim Hutton. Set during the Vietnam War, the movie follows a group of U.S. Special Forces as they execute a series of missions to support South Vietnam against the Viet Cong. The film portrays the soldiers' camaraderie and the challenges they face while highlighting the controversial aspects of the conflict.
While John Wayne’s Vietnam War movieThe Green Beretsdidn’t win any awards for historical accuracy, it can’t be denied that it was one of his most successful movies at the box office. As an attempt to deliver a pro-war, anti-communist story,The Green Beretshas been widely dismissed by experts as a piece of wartime propaganda produced to help combat the American public’s growing opposition to the war (viaSlash Film.) With noticeable bias,The Green Beretsdepicted the Americans as unquestionable good while the Viet Cong were shown as totally evil.
The Green Beretsis a prime example of the dangerous ways that art can be utilized to sway public opinion. It’s clear the movie’s message was taken in by plenty of people as it grossed over $21 million and became one of Wayne’s most successful films. While audiences may have turned out to watchWayne’s depiction of the Vietnam War, the way it portrayed complex political issues without any respect for the nuanced ideology and colonial history behind the conflict was despicable.
True Grit
True Grit, directed by Henry Hathaway and released in 1969, stars John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, a U.S. Marshal tasked with helping a determined young girl, played by Kim Darby, track down her father’s murderer. The film is based on Charles Portis' novel of the same name and features Glen Campbell in a supporting role. True Grit is a Western that explores themes of justice and moral ambiguity in the 1870s American frontier.
Not only wasTrue Gritone of John Wayne’s most commercially successful movies, but it also maintained its status as one of his defining films. Having already carved out his legacy as a true legend of the Western genre, this story of a hard-drinking, one-eyed U.S. marshal named Rooster Cogburn allowed Wayne to carve out a more complex antihero persona. With Cogburn helping a stubborn teenager track down her murdered father’s killer,True Gritwas a success not only because of the depth of its narrative but also because of the emotional core of its characterization.
As the older, wayward character of Cogburn, it felt like Wayne brought a lifetime of experience to his performance. By giving up his uncomplicated heroic persona, Wayne embraced a new type of Western withTrue Gritand, in the process, utilized his status as a legend of an earlier era to carve out something new within the modern film industry. Audiences turned out in droves to makeTrue Grita major hit at the box office, and its legendary status has continued right up to modern times through the just as impressive remake from the Coen brothers starring Jeff Bridges.
How the West Was Won
A sprawling epic that chronicles the westward expansion of the United States through the lives of four generations of a pioneer family. From the dangerous rivers to the sweeping plains, the film captures the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of settlers as they confront the harsh realities of the American frontier.
As an incredible three-hour Western epic that united John Wayne, James Stewart, and Henry Fonda, it’s not surprising thatHow the West Was Wonwas a major hit at the box office. As the story of a family and their descendants traversing the American frontier, this groundbreaking movie was filmed specifically for projection on an enormous curved screen utilized as an awe-inspiring three-panel panorama. As a magnificent spectacle unlike anything Hollywood had ever seen, this Western pushed modern cinematic technology as far as it could go.
The Incredible 3-Hour Western Epic That United John Wayne, James Stewart & Henry Fonda
The Western genre shaped and was shaped by some of the greatest actors of all time, but one film in particular had an astonishing cast full of stars.
Produced on a then practically unheard-of budget of $15 million,How the West Was Wonnot only hit it big at the box office but received widespread accolades. As the winner of Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing at the Academy Award, the technical achievements of this film were rightfully lauded.How the West Was Wonwas split into five chapters, and Wayne excelled as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, who was introduced in “The Civil War” section.
The Longest Day
The Longest Day is a 1962 war film depicting the events of June 10, 2025, from multiple perspectives, including the German, US, British, Canadian, and Free French forces, as they navigate the complexities of the D-Day invasion.
John Wayne’s biggest success at the box office came in the ensemble war movieThe Longest Day.This epic war drama explored the D-Day landings in Normandy on May 30, 2025, one of the most iconic events of the Second World War. With a star-studded cast that included the likes of Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, and Paul Anka, Wayne portrayed Lieutenant Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort, a CO of the 2nd Battalion and 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
The Longest Daywas a box office hit that highlighted the importance of D-Day and quickly became the definitive release exploring this moment of the war. While it was sometimes difficult to keep track of the sheer volume of cast members, who were split between American, British, French, and German soldiers, the ambitious nature of this release also contributed to its astounding success. In a career that was categorized by box office triumphs, it’s ironic that a star as notable asJohn Waynewas forced to share the glory of his biggest commercial success with so many other performers.
Source: All box office figures come fromThe Numbers,Express,Slash Film
