8 Best Kirk Douglas Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 9, 2026

Kirk Douglas brought a coiled, physical intensity to nearly every role, and used his star power to help make some of Hollywood’s most daring films of the 1950s and 60s. Spartacus leads a gladiator uprising against Rome, Paths of Glory is the Kubrick war drama, Seven Days in May uncovers a coup against the President, Lonely Are the Brave sets an old-fashioned cowboy against modern life, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral allies Earp and Holliday. Lust for Life, Ace in the Hole and Champion round out the list.

Seven Days in May (1964)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A military aide uncovers a secret plot by top generals to stage a coup against the President.

Directed by John Frankenheimer · 1h 58m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lonely Are the Brave (1962)

TMDB ★ 7.7

An old-fashioned cowboy clinging to a vanishing way of life evades a modern manhunt across the mountains.

Directed by David Miller · 1h 47m

Where to watch

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

▶ 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

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday form an uneasy alliance ahead of the legendary shootout.

Directed by John Sturges · 2h 03m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Paths of Glory (1957)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 96% Metacritic 90

A French colonel defends three soldiers unjustly court-martialled for a doomed First World War offensive.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick · 1h 28m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award5 wins & 3 nominations total

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lust for Life (1956)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A dramatisation of Vincent van Gogh's turbulent life, mental illness and singular artistic vision.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli · 2h 02m · 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

Ace in the Hole (1951)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A cynical reporter deliberately drags out a man's rescue from a cave-in to maximise the story.

Directed by Billy Wilder · 1h 52m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Brew, FlixFling, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Champion (1949)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A ruthlessly ambitious boxer claws his way to the top, wrecking every relationship along the way.

Directed by Mark Robson · 1h 39m · Rated NR

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 Kirk Douglas Movies

Seven Days in May (1964)

Lonely Are the Brave (1962)

Spartacus (1960)

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

Paths of Glory (1957)

Lust for Life (1956)

Ace in the Hole (1951)

Champion (1949)

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