6 Best Piper Laurie Movies

By Vlad Zakh · July 17, 2026

Piper Laurie built one of Hollywood’s most versatile careers, moving from 1950s ingenue roles to some of cinema’s most acclaimed, unsettling dramatic performances. Carrie is the horror classic, The Hustler pairs her with a self-destructive pool player, Children of a Lesser God falls for a former student at a school for the deaf, and Dawn at Socorro threatens a gunfighter’s retirement. The Mississippi Gambler and Has Anybody Seen My Gal? round out the list.

Children of a Lesser God (1986)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A speech teacher at a school for the deaf falls for a strong-willed former student who refuses to speak.

Directed by Randa Haines · 1h 59m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Carrie (1976)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 94% Metacritic 86

A bullied teenager's telekinetic powers are unleashed at the worst possible moment: prom night.

Directed by Brian De Palma · 1h 38m · Rated R

Nominated for 2 Oscars6 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Hustler (1961)

TMDB ★ 7.7

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

Dawn at Socorro (1954)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A retiring gunfighter's attempt to settle down peacefully is threatened by old enemies and one last showdown.

Directed by George Sherman · 1h 21m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Mississippi Gambler (1953)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Paul Cavanagh features in this story of a skilled riverboat gambler who builds a fortune and a reputation while chasing a woman.

Directed by Rudolph Maté · 1h 39m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A wealthy man decides to secretly test his relatives' character before revealing his fortune.

Directed by Douglas Sirk · 1h 28m · Rated PG

▶ 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 Piper Laurie Movies

Children of a Lesser God (1986)

Carrie (1976)

The Hustler (1961)

Dawn at Socorro (1954)

The Mississippi Gambler (1953)

Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)

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