6 Best William Powell Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 22, 2026

William Powell brought a suave, witty presence to Hollywood across the silent and sound eras and became one of the era’s best-loved comic leading men. The Thin Man and My Man Godfrey are the classics, with a cocktail-juggling detective couple and a butler more sophisticated than his employers. Life with Father throws a stubborn Victorian patriarch’s household into chaos, and When Knighthood Was in Flower, The Bright Shawl and Sherlock Holmes round out the list.

Life with Father (1947)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A strong-willed Victorian-era father's household is thrown into comic upheaval by his refusal to be baptised.

Directed by Michael Curtiz · 1h 58m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

My Man Godfrey (1936)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A rich family's scavenger-hunt discovery becomes their butler and exposes their absurd, spoiled lives.

Directed by Gregory La Cava · 1h 35m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Thin Man (1934)

TMDB ★ 7.7

Cesar Romero features in this mystery where a retired detective and his wealthy, wisecracking wife investigate a murder over a boozy Christmas.

Directed by W.S. Van Dyke · 1h 31m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

When Knighthood Was in Flower (1922)

TMDB ★ 5.7

William Powell features in this silent drama about a Tudor princess's forbidden romance that defies her brother the king's plans.

Directed by Robert G. Vignola · 2h 01m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Bright Shawl (1923)

TMDB ★ 5.6

William Powell appears as an American traveller caught up in the Cuban revolution against Spanish rule.

Directed by John S. Robertson · 1h 20m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sherlock Holmes (1922)

TMDB ★ 5.9

The legendary detective faces his most cunning adversary in a battle of wits across Victorian London.

Directed by Albert Parker · 1h 25m · Rated NR

▶ 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 William Powell Movies

Life with Father (1947)

My Man Godfrey (1936)

The Thin Man (1934)

When Knighthood Was in Flower (1922)

The Bright Shawl (1923)

Sherlock Holmes (1922)

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