6 Best Hattie McDaniel Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 18, 2026

Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black performer to win an Academy Award, bringing dignity and depth to Hollywood roles despite the era’s limits. Gone with the Wind won her the Oscar, Since You Went Away follows a family coping with hardship in wartime, Saratoga pits a horse breeder’s daughter against the gambler holding her debt, and Show Boat follows performers through decades of romance and scandal. The Little Colonel and Judge Priest round out the list.

Since You Went Away (1944)

TMDB ★ 7.3

An American family copes with hardship, romance and uncertainty on the home front during the Second World War.

Directed by John Cromwell · 2h 57m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Gone with the Wind (1939)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 90% Metacritic 97

A headstrong Southern belle's tumultuous romances unfold against the backdrop of the Civil War.

Directed by Victor Fleming · 3h 58m · Rated G

Won 8 Oscars26 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Saratoga (1937)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A horse-racing bookie and a Southern heiress clash and fall for each other amid the Saratoga racing season.

Directed by Jack Conway · 1h 32m · 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

Show Boat (1936)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A riverboat captain's daughter falls for a charming gambler as their travelling showboat troupe faces change.

Directed by James Whale · 1h 53m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Little Colonel (1935)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A young girl tries to reconcile her feuding mother and grandfather in the post-Civil War South.

Directed by David Butler · 1h 20m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Judge Priest (1934)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A wise, folksy small-town judge navigates local politics and a controversial murder case.

Directed by John Ford · 1h 20m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus, FlixFling · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ 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.

6 Best Hattie McDaniel Movies

Since You Went Away (1944)

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Saratoga (1937)

Show Boat (1936)

The Little Colonel (1935)

Judge Priest (1934)

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