8 Best Elizabeth Taylor Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 9, 2026

Elizabeth Taylor was a star from childhood, and her greatest performances traded on a willingness to look genuinely ugly and desperate when a role demanded it. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? exposes a college professor’s dysfunction over a bitter late-night gathering, Cleopatra shapes the Egyptian queen’s romances with Caesar and Antony, Suddenly, Last Summer has a family dismiss her account of a cousin’s death, and The Taming of the Shrew pits her against Burton. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Giant, A Place in the Sun and National Velvet round out the list.

The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Elizabeth Taylor plays the headstrong woman who clashes with a fortune-seeking suitor on the way to an unlikely match.

Directed by Franco Zeffirelli · 1h 57m

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A bitter, alcohol-fuelled late-night gathering exposes the toxic dynamics of a long, unhappy marriage.

Directed by Mike Nichols · 2h 11m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cleopatra (1963)

TMDB ★ 6.6

The Egyptian queen's alliances and romances with Roman leaders shape the fate of empires.

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz · 4h 11m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Philo · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A young woman's account of her cousin's mysterious death is challenged by his powerful mother, with Elizabeth Taylor in the lead.

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz · 1h 54m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A Southern family's deep resentments and secrets boil over during a tense birthday gathering.

Directed by Richard Brooks · 1h 48m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Giant (1956)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A cattle rancher's marriage and legacy are transformed by the discovery of oil on his sprawling Texas land.

Directed by George Stevens · 3h 21m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Place in the Sun (1951)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A poor young man's ambition to marry into wealth is threatened by his pregnant working-class girlfriend.

Directed by George Stevens · 2h 02m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

National Velvet (1944)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A determined young girl trains an unruly horse to compete in England's most prestigious steeplechase.

Directed by Clarence Brown · 2h 03m · Rated G

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Elizabeth Taylor Movies

The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Cleopatra (1963)

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Giant (1956)

A Place in the Sun (1951)

National Velvet (1944)

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