6 Best Jean Simmons Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 18, 2026

Jean Simmons moved gracefully from British costume drama to major Hollywood productions, bringing warmth and intelligence to every role. Spartacus has an enslaved woman falling for the gladiator leading an uprising, Guys and Dolls sweeps a straitlaced missionary into gambling, Young Bess follows the young Elizabeth I through court intrigue, and Elmer Gantry turns a con man into a travelling evangelist. Hamlet and Great Expectations round out the list.

Elmer Gantry (1960)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A charismatic, opportunistic con man ingratiates himself into a travelling evangelist's revival ministry.

Directed by Richard Brooks · 2h 26m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Sky Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spartacus (1960)

TMDB ★ 7.9

An enslaved gladiator leads a massive slave rebellion against the might of the Roman Republic.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick · 3h 17m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Guys and Dolls (1955)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 91% Metacritic 77

A high-stakes gambler bets he can take a straitlaced missionary to Havana.

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz · 2h 29m · Rated NR

Nominated for 4 Oscars3 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, BroadwayHD, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Broadway HD Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Young Bess (1953)

TMDB ★ 6.6

Jean Simmons plays a young Elizabeth I who navigates court intrigue and dangerous romance before ascending to the throne.

Directed by George Sidney · 1h 52m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, TCM, HBO Max

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hamlet (1948)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A Danish prince seeks revenge on his uncle for murdering his father and seizing the throne.

Directed by Laurence Olivier · 2h 33m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Great Expectations (1946)

TMDB ★ 7.8

An orphaned boy's mysterious benefactor transforms his life and entangles him with a bitter, jilted recluse.

Directed by David Lean · 1h 58m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, FlixFling, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, 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 Jean Simmons Movies

Elmer Gantry (1960)

Spartacus (1960)

Guys and Dolls (1955)

Young Bess (1953)

Hamlet (1948)

Great Expectations (1946)

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