9 Best Paul Newman Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 8, 2026

Paul Newman spent five decades as one of Hollywood’s most reliably charismatic leading men, as comfortable playing charming outlaws as morally compromised professionals. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and Cool Hand Luke are the crowd favourites, The Color of Money won his Oscar as a pool hustler mentor, The Verdict stakes redemption on a malpractice case, Slap Shot turns a hockey team’s fortunes with brutal crowd-pleasing, and Road to Perdition pursues a mob enforcer. The Hustler and The Towering Inferno round out the list.

Road to Perdition (2002)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A mob enforcer and his son go on the run after witnessing a brutal betrayal within the organisation.

Directed by Sam Mendes · 1h 57m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Color of Money (1986)

TMDB ★ 7.1

An ageing pool hustler mentors a talented but reckless young player for one last run at glory.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 1h 59m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Verdict (1982)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A washed-up lawyer's last real shot, played with total restraint.

Directed by Sidney Lumet · 2h 09m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Slap Shot (1977)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A minor-league hockey coach turns his losing team into brawling local celebrities.

Directed by George Roy Hill · 2h 03m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Towering Inferno (1974)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 69% Metacritic 69

A fire breaks out during a skyscraper's star-studded opening gala, trapping guests at the top.

Directed by John Guillermin · 2h 45m · Rated PG

Won 3 Oscars13 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Sting (1973)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 93% Metacritic 83

Two con artists team up to pull off an elaborate scheme against a ruthless crime boss.

Directed by George Roy Hill · 2h 09m · Rated PG

Won 7 Oscars18 wins & 6 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

TMDB ★ 8.0

Two legendary outlaws flee to Bolivia when a relentless posse makes robbing trains too dangerous at home.

Directed by George Roy Hill · 1h 51m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, A&E Crime Central Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A rebellious prisoner's repeated escape attempts from a brutal chain gang make him a legend among his fellow inmates.

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg · 2h 07m · Rated PG

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

The Hustler (1961)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A talented but self-destructive pool hustler challenges the legendary champion Minnesota Fats.

Directed by Robert Rossen · 2h 14m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ 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.

9 Best Paul Newman Movies

Road to Perdition (2002)

The Color of Money (1986)

The Verdict (1982)

Slap Shot (1977)

The Towering Inferno (1974)

The Sting (1973)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

The Hustler (1961)

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