6 Best Ralph Richardson Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 3, 2026

Ralph Richardson was celebrated as one of the great classical actors of his generation, bringing warm, idiosyncratic humanity to decades of British stage and film. Doctor Zhivago and The Fallen Idol are among the highlights, Greystoke discovers an ape-raised man’s aristocratic heritage, O Lucky Man! exposes British corruption through a coffee salesman, and The Wrong Box schemes over a tontine. Richard III rounds out the list.

Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A man raised by apes in the African jungle discovers his noble heritage and struggles in English society.

Directed by Hugh Hudson · 2h 23m · Rated PG

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

O Lucky Man! (1973)

TMDB ★ 7.2

An ambitious young coffee salesman's surreal journey exposes the corruption of modern Britain.

Directed by Lindsay Anderson · 3h 04m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Wrong Box (1966)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Cicely Courtneidge features in this comedy about two feuding elderly brothers who scheme against each other over a valuable tontine.

Directed by Bryan Forbes · 1h 45m

Where to watch

Stream: Britbox Apple TV channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A physician and poet's life and loves are shattered by the chaos of the Russian Revolution.

Directed by David Lean · 3h 20m · Rated PG-13

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

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

The Fallen Idol (1948)

TMDB ★ 7.6

James Hayter appears as a young boy's misguided attempt to protect a beloved butler from a murder accusation makes things worse.

Directed by Carol Reed · 1h 36m

Where to watch

Stream: FlixFling, IndieFlix, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, BFI Player Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: 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.

6 Best Ralph Richardson Movies

Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)

O Lucky Man! (1973)

The Wrong Box (1966)

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Richard III (1955)

The Fallen Idol (1948)

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