6 Best Paul Scofield Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 4, 2026

Paul Scofield brought quiet, commanding moral authority to film and is best remembered for his career-defining portrayal of a man of unshakable principle in A Man for All Seasons. The Crucible spirals a Puritan town’s witchcraft hysteria into persecution, Quiz Show exposes hypocrisy in a rigged game show scandal, Henry V rallies outnumbered English troops, and The Train races a French railway inspector to stop a Nazi art theft. King Lear rounds out the list.

The Crucible (1996)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Paul Scofield appears in this adaptation of Arthur Miller's play, in which a Puritan town's hysteria over witchcraft accusations spirals into a devastating wave of persecution.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Quiz Show (1994)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A rigged 1950s television quiz show scandal exposes the corruption behind America's biggest new medium.

Directed by Robert Redford · 2h 13m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Henry V (1989)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A young English king rallies his outnumbered troops for a decisive battle against the French, with Paul Scofield in the cast.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh · 2h 17m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Train (1964)

TMDB ★ 7.7

French Resistance fighters race to stop a Nazi train from smuggling looted art treasures out of France.

Directed by John Frankenheimer · 2h 13m · Rated NR

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

King Lear (1971)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Paul Scofield stars in this adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy, in which an ageing king's decision to divide his kingdom among his daughters leads to betrayal and madness.

Directed by Peter Brook · 2h 17m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

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

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.

6 Best Paul Scofield Movies

The Crucible (1996)

Quiz Show (1994)

Henry V (1989)

The Train (1964)

King Lear (1971)

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

You might also like

6 Best Wartime Resistance Movies

6 Best Resistance Fighter and Underground Movement Movies

6 Best Geography Bee and Quiz Competition Movies

6 Best Oscar Best Picture Winners of the 1960s

6 Best Spelling Bee and Quiz Competition Movies

6 Best Televised Game and Competition Show Movies