10 Best Shirley MacLaine Movies, Ranked

American actress, Shirley MacLaine is best known for her quirky, strong-willed female roles in exceptional classic films such as Billy Wilder‘s The Apartment, Terms of Endearment, and Steel Magnolias. The six-time Oscar nominee was born in Richmond, Virginia, and the summer before her senior year in high school, took a leap of faith and traveled to New York City where she earned a minor role in the chorus of the popular stage production of Oklahoma! After graduating, MacLaine returned to the Big Apple where she appeared in several productions before being spotted by comedy legend, Jerry Lewis.

MacLaine soon made her way to Hollywood, where she made her feature debut in Alfred Hitchcock‘s The Trouble with Harry, which made the young actress an overnight sensation. Today, MacLaine is one of the last major stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age and continues to appear in films and television shows, most notably her recent minor role in the hit series, Only Murders in the Building. Out of her impressive list of filmography, including The Children’s Hour, Gambit, and Irma la Douce, these are the 10 best Shirley MacLaine films, ranked!

10 ‘Being There’ (1979)

Director: Hal Ashby

Chance (Peter Sellers) is a simple-minded gardener who resides in his employer’s townhouse, relying on television and movies as his only form of education and resource to the outside world. When his employer dies, Chance is forced to move out of his home and, while wandering the streets, he encounters the wife of a wealthy businessman, Eve Rand (MacLaine), who graciously opens her home and her heart to the middle-aged man, introducing him to the luxurious world of high society.

Being There is a wholesome satire dramedy based on the 1970 book of the same name written by Jerzy Kosiński. MacLaine delivers a heartfelt and humorous performance opposite Sellers, who earned an Oscar nomination, and her on-screen husband, Melvyn Douglas, who ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Actor. Being There earned rave reviews and received four out of four stars from film critics, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel noting it to be a rare film that equally amazes and entertains audiences from beginning to end.

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9 Gambit (1966)

Director: Ronald Neame

MacLaine stars in the classic caper film, Gambit, as a crafty showgirl, Nicole Chang, who finds herself as part of a scheme with a notorious thief, Harry Dean (Michael Caine), to steal a piece of priceless artwork from the world’s wealthiest man. As Dean constructs what he believes to be the perfect plan, the duo soon realizes that their ideal operation doesn’t align with the reality of certain obstacles and their mission slowly begins to unravel.

MacLaine and Caine make quite the pair in this classic film, which has the perfect balance of suspense and comedy, ensuring a thrilling crime film suitable for film fans of all ages. While Caine is the film’s main focus, MacLaine is both sultry and silly, bringing a majority of the film’s comic relief that eases the overall intensity of the film’s plot. Gambit earned three Academy Award nominations, including Best Sound and Best Art Direction, and is without a doubt one of MacLaine’s top-rated films.

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8 Steel Magnolias (1989)

Director: Herbert Ross

In a small southern town, a beauty parlor serves as the sole meeting spot for a group of tight-knit women who welcome a newcomer, Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (Daryl Hannah), into their inner circle. As Annelle settles into her new home and her eccentric bunch of friends, she and the women lean on one another for support and guidance as they try to cope with the loss of one of their own.

MacLaine gives a stellar performance in the iconic 1989 film, Steel Magnolias, which features an all-star cast including Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and Olympia Dukakis. MacLaine goes a bit against type in the film as the town grouch, Louisa Ouiser Boudreaux, but she still brings her signature sarcastic humor and tragicomedic style to the character, which makes her surprisingly appealing to audiences. While the movie centers around a somber subject of loss and grief, MacLaine and her ensemble of co-stars provide the ideal blend of comedy, compassion, and empathy, making Steel Magnolias a timeless classic.

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7 Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)

Director: Don Siegel

MacLaine stars in the marginalized Western, Two Mules for Sister Sara, as a young nun, Sara, who, while being attacked by two ruthless men, is rescued by a lone gunslinger, Hogan, played by Western icon, Clint Eastwood. The two manage to escape to a nearby camp of Mexican Revolutionaries, who hire Hogan to help them fight off the invading French army. While en route, Hogan is surprised by Sara’s foul mouth and crude behavior of drinking and smoking, making him wonder if she has been forthcoming with him about her true identity.

Only a talent like MacLaine could portray a convincing nun who slowly begins to shed her religious cloak to reveal an unfeminine, wise-cracking character who takes Eastwood’s character and viewers by surprise. Two Mules for Sister Sara received overall positive reviews as an entertaining Western and while many praised Eastwood’s performance, MacLaine easily holds her own against the established Eastwood. Despite Eastwood’s fame, MacLaine earned top billing over the star, marking the last film where Eastwood is billed second.

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6 What a Way to Go! (1964)

Director: J. Lee Thompson

When a lovely young woman, Louisa (MacLaine), tries to donate two hundred million dollars to the Internal Revenue Service, she is soon put under the care of a psychiatrist, Dr. Stephanson (Bob Cummings). During their session, Louisa recalls her childhood and series of failed marriages, leading her to believe she is cursed. From marrying two penniless hubbies who find fortune but suffer early, unusual deaths to taking her chances with a millionaire (Robert Mitchum) and a clown (Gene Kelly), Louisa soon realizes she would prefer a simple life over her wealthy but lonely one.

What a Way to Go! is a cheeky, vibrant black comedy which also stars Dean Martin, Dick Van Dyke, and Paul Newman. The film is a visual spectacle noted for its brilliant use of colors, specifically those featured in MacLaine’s wardrobe, which simply pops off the silver screen. Despite mixed reviews, What a Way to Go! is an overall delight that dazzles with an array of notable stars paired with MacLaine’s luminous performance as a grieving but hopeful widow who proves that money can’t buy happiness.

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5 ‘Irma la Douce’ (1963)

Director: Billy Wilder

Jack Lemmon stars as a former police officer, Nestor Patou, who soon finds himself falling in love with a Parisian sex worker, Irma la Douce (MacLaine), and eventually becomes her go-between for her clients. Initially, Patou tries to accept Irma’s unconventional career choice, but he soon becomes jealous and tries to find a way to keep her all to himself, resulting in a slew of schemes and trouble that could land him behind bars.

After the massive success of The Apartment, Lemmon and MacLaine reunited for Billy Wilder’s romantic comedy, Irma la Douce, which is based on the 1956 French stage production of the same name. Lemmon and MacLaine brilliantly play off one another, making their comedic chemistry appear effortless and almost natural for both stars. Between Wilder’s solid direction and Lemmon and MacLaine’s uncanny connection, Irma la Douce is a unique classic and hands down one of MacLaine’s best comedic performances.

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4 ‘The Trouble with Harry’ (1955)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

In her feature film debut, MacLaine stars as an ex-wife, Jennifer, who becomes one of many suspects when her former husband’s corpse is found on a nearby hillside. As speculation arises around Jennifer and a retired sailor (Edmund Gwenn), the small community and the town’s sheriff try to put their heads together to figure out what happened to the man and slowly begin to unravel the baffling mystery.

Alfred Hitchcock’s black comedy, The Trouble with Harry, is an unexpected laugh-out-loud film by the Master of Suspense which also stars John Forsythe, Mildred Dunnock, and Leave It to Beaver star, Jerry Mathers. MacLaine is a natural in her first on-screen performance, blending her genuine charm and peculiar humor, proving her versatile range as a promising leading lady. The Trouble with Harry earned mixed reviews from critics, who many cited the film to be a bit sluggish at times with forced humor, but despite the reviews, the film is still considered to be one of MacLaine’s signature performances.

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3 ‘The Children’s Hour’ (1961)

Director: William Wyler

MacLaine stars alongside Audrey Hepburn as longtime friends, Martha and Karen, who run a small and prestigious all-girls boarding school. When a troublesome student is punished for lying, she makes up a story to her grandmother that Martha and Karen are more than just friends. As the story spreads, parents begin to withdraw their girls from the school and soon damage the women’s reputations. While Martha and Karen try to clear their names, Karen is unaware that the little girl’s story is only partially a lie, discovering that Karen is secretly in love with her.

The Children’s Hour is a profound, groundbreaking drama that showcases MacLaine’s incredible talent as a serious, dramatic actress. The film is considered to be one of the first to address the subject of homosexuality and beautifully places a heartbreaking but humanizing spotlight on it that changed cinema forever. MacLaine is absolutely phenomenal, bringing genuine emotion and depth to the role, resulting in a performance that stays with audiences long after the end credits.

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2 ‘The Apartment’ (1960)

Director: Billy Wilder

An insurance clerk, C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), loans his Upper West Side apartment out to bosses at his company to carry on with their extramarital affairs. When Baxter’s manager, Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) asks to use his apartment in exchange for a promotion, Baxter excitedly agrees, but his happiness is soon shattered when he learns that Sheldrake’s mistress is a girl he’s been interested in, Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), forcing him to choose between his heart and his career.

The ingenious romantic comedy, The Apartment, is considered to be one of the best romantic films of the 1960s as well as one of the greatest films of all time. The film takes a cynical view of the concept of romance, but it is redeemed by Lemmon and MacLaine’s tender appeal and light-hearted banter, adding a genuine sentimental value to the film. The Apartment was a massive success, earning ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress and Best Actor, going on to win five, notably Best Picture and Best Director for Wilder. With Hollywood completely transitioning to color, The Apartment became the first black and white film to win Best Picture, followed by Steven Spielberg‘s Schindler’s List.

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1 ‘Terms of Endearment’ (1983)

Director: James L. Brooks

MacLaine takes on the dramatic role of a mother and widow, Aurora Greenway, who has a close but controlling bond with her daughter, Emma (Debra Winger), who dreams of making a life of her own. When Emma marries a teacher (Jeff Daniels) against her mother’s wishes, their relationship hits a rough patch, but after Emma’s marriage falls apart, she returns to live with her mother. As the mother and daughter try to repair their relationship, Emma learns that she has terminal cancer and, with her mother’s support, she tries to make peace with her ex-husband and children before it’s too late.

Terms of Endearment is an essential family tragicomedy that also stars Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, and John Lithgow. MacLaine delivers a complex but caring mother figure who can be both insufferable and lovable, knowing she only has the best intentions at heart. Terms of Endearment became the second highest-grossing film of the year, earning rave reviews from film critics, including Roger Ebert, who praised the film’s freedom to move between high moments of comedy and heartbreaking drama, resulting in a “wonderful” picture. The film received eleven Academy Award nominations, winning five including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress, marking MacLaine’s first Oscar win.

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KEEP READING: The 10 Best Billy Wilder Movies, Ranked by IMDb