8 Best Katharine Hepburn Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 8, 2026

Katharine Hepburn built a decades-long career on sharp-tongued independence, often playing women who refused to be tamed by the men or conventions around them. The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby are the screwball highs, Woman of the Year and Adam’s Rib pair her with Spencer Tracy, The African Queen has a prim missionary and a gruff captain, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner tests a progressive couple’s beliefs. Pat and Mike and Long Day’s Journey into Night round out the list.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A progressive couple's values are tested when their daughter brings home her Black fiance to meet them.

Directed by Stanley Kramer · 1h 48m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, YouTube TV, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · 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

Long Day's Journey into Night (1962)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A troubled family's buried resentments and addictions surface over a single long day, with Katharine Hepburn as the mother.

Directed by Sidney Lumet · 2h 50m

Where to watch

Stream: Brew · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Pat and Mike (1952)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A domineering fiance's control over a talented athlete crumbles once she meets a sharp-witted sports promoter.

Directed by George Cukor · 1h 35m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The African Queen (1951)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A rough riverboat captain and a prim missionary make a dangerous journey down an African river.

Directed by John Huston · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Adam's Rib (1949)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A married pair of lawyers end up on opposite sides of a trial over a wife who shot her husband.

Directed by George Cukor · 1h 41m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Woman of the Year (1942)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Gladys Blake features in this comedy about a renowned political columnist whose marriage to a sportswriter is tested by her demanding career.

Directed by George Stevens · 1h 54m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A socialite's wedding weekend is complicated by her ex-husband and a charming tabloid reporter.

Directed by George Cukor · 1h 53m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A palaeontologist's life is thrown into chaos when a scatterbrained heiress and her pet leopard escape into the countryside.

Directed by Howard Hawks · 1h 42m · 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

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 Katharine Hepburn Movies

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Long Day's Journey into Night (1962)

Pat and Mike (1952)

The African Queen (1951)

Adam's Rib (1949)

Woman of the Year (1942)

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

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