7 Best Laurence Olivier Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 3, 2026

Laurence Olivier was widely seen as the greatest actor of his generation, bringing commanding classical training to Shakespearean adaptations and Hollywood drama. Hamlet and Richard III show the Shakespeare, with a grieving prince and a scheming duke murdering his way to the throne. Marathon Man draws a student into a Nazi conspiracy, and Sleuth invites a wife’s lover to an elaborate, dangerous game. Henry V, Rebecca and Wuthering Heights round out the list.

Marathon Man (1976)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A graduate student is drawn into a web of international intrigue involving a sadistic ex-Nazi dentist.

Directed by John Schlesinger · 2h 06m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sleuth (1972)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A wealthy mystery writer invites his wife's lover into an increasingly dangerous game of wits.

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz · 2h 18m · Rated PG

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Richard III (1955)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A scheming, ruthless duke murders his way towards the English throne.

Directed by Laurence Olivier · 2h 35m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ 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

Henry V (1944)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A young English king rallies his outnumbered troops for a decisive battle against the French.

Directed by Laurence Olivier · 2h 17m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Rebecca (1940)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A young bride is haunted by the lingering presence of her husband's dead first wife.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 2h 10m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Brew

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Wuthering Heights (1939)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Aubrey Mather features in this adaptation of a foundling's intense, doomed love for his adoptive family's daughter that haunts them all.

Directed by William Wyler · 1h 44m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · 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.

7 Best Laurence Olivier Movies

Marathon Man (1976)

Sleuth (1972)

Richard III (1955)

Hamlet (1948)

Henry V (1944)

Rebecca (1940)

Wuthering Heights (1939)

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