7 Best Orson Welles Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 16, 2026

Orson Welles announced himself as a generational talent with his very first film, and even as his directing career turned turbulent, his acting remained a magnetic constant. Citizen Kane is that first film. The Third Man investigates a friend’s death in postwar Vienna, Touch of Evil is a corrupt police captain who plants evidence, Compulsion argues against the death penalty, and A Man for All Seasons features him opposite Paul Scofield. The Stranger and Jane Eyre round out the list.

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A principled English statesman risks execution rather than compromise his conscience for Henry VIII.

Directed by Fred Zinnemann · 2h 00m · Rated G

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

Touch of Evil (1958)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A Mexican narcotics officer investigates a car bombing that exposes deep corruption on both sides of the border.

Directed by Orson Welles · 1h 51m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Compulsion (1959)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A defence attorney argues against the death penalty for two wealthy young men who committed a thrill killing.

Directed by Richard Fleischer · 1h 43m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Third Man (1949)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 99% Metacritic 97

A writer arriving in postwar Vienna investigates the mysterious death of an old friend.

Directed by Carol Reed · 1h 45m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar6 wins & 4 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: IndieFlix, Cineverse, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, BFI Player Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Stranger (1946)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Orson Welles plays the fugitive Nazi hiding under a new identity in a quiet Connecticut town, with a war crimes investigator on his trail.

Directed by Orson Welles · 1h 35m

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Jane Eyre (1943)

TMDB ★ 7.4

An orphaned governess falls for her brooding employer, whose mysterious past threatens their future.

Directed by Robert Stevenson · 1h 37m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Citizen Kane (1941)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 99% Metacritic 100

Orson Welles's directorial debut: a reporter investigates the private life behind a media tycoon's dying last word.

Directed by Orson Welles · 1h 59m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar16 wins & 13 nominations

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.

7 Best Orson Welles Movies

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Touch of Evil (1958)

Compulsion (1959)

The Third Man (1949)

The Stranger (1946)

Jane Eyre (1943)

Citizen Kane (1941)

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