6 Best Wade Boteler Movies

By Vlad Zakh · July 25, 2026

Wade Boteler brought a gruff, authoritative presence to hundreds of Hollywood films and was frequently cast as a police captain, sergeant or no-nonsense official. His Girl Friday schemes to stop a reporter’s remarriage, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington battles Washington corruption, The Roaring Twenties follows a bootlegger’s rise and fall, and A Star Is Born (1937) launches an actress as a star fades. Captains Courageous and Duck Soup round out the list.

His Girl Friday (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A newspaper editor schemes to stop his star reporter ex-wife from remarrying and leaving journalism.

Directed by Howard Hawks · 1h 32m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 85% Metacritic 73

A naive, idealistic new senator battles entrenched political corruption in Washington.

Directed by Frank Capra · 2h 10m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar8 wins & 12 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

The Roaring Twenties (1939)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A war veteran's rise and fall in the bootlegging trade unfolds across the Prohibition era.

Directed by Raoul Walsh · 1h 44m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Star Is Born (1937)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A rising actress's career overtakes that of her fading movie-star husband, with tragic results.

Directed by William A. Wellman · 1h 51m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Brew, Pure Flix, FlixFling, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Captains Courageous (1937)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A spoiled rich boy falls overboard and learns humility working aboard a fishing schooner.

Directed by Victor Fleming · 1h 55m · Rated G

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Duck Soup (1933)

TMDB ★ 7.3

The newly appointed leader of a bankrupt nation drags his country into an absurd war.

Directed by Leo McCarey · 1h 08m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or 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 Wade Boteler Movies

His Girl Friday (1940)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

The Roaring Twenties (1939)

A Star Is Born (1937)

Captains Courageous (1937)

Duck Soup (1933)

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