6 Best Joan Crawford Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 10, 2026

Joan Crawford reinvented herself repeatedly across a five-decade career, moving from glamorous flapper roles to some of the most fiercely memorable dramatic performances of her era. Mildred Pierce is the peak, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? torments her paralysed sister in a decaying mansion, Johnny Guitar defends a saloon against a vengeful posse, Sudden Fear uncovers a plot to murder her, and Possessed spirals obsessive love into breakdown. Grand Hotel rounds out the list.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A former child star torments her paralysed sister, who was once the bigger Hollywood success.

Directed by Robert Aldrich · 2h 15m

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · 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

Johnny Guitar (1954)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A saloon owner in the Old West defends her business and her life against a vengeful posse.

Directed by Nicholas Ray · 1h 50m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sudden Fear (1952)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A wealthy playwright discovers her new husband and his lover are plotting to murder her.

Directed by David Miller · 1h 52m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Possessed (1947)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A woman's obsessive, unrequited love spirals into psychological breakdown and a shocking crime.

Directed by Curtis Bernhardt · 1h 48m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mildred Pierce (1945)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A hardworking single mother's restaurant empire cannot satisfy her ungrateful, manipulative daughter.

Directed by Michael Curtiz · 1h 51m · 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

Grand Hotel (1932)

TMDB ★ 7.3

The intertwining lives of guests at a luxurious Berlin hotel unfold over one fateful stay.

Directed by Edmund Goulding · 1h 52m

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

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 Joan Crawford Movies

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Johnny Guitar (1954)

Sudden Fear (1952)

Possessed (1947)

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Grand Hotel (1932)

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