A Ranking of Ann-Margret's Best Movies
Legendary Performances from the Redheaded Bombshell
Discover the most iconic films of Ann-Margret, from Golden Age musicals and gritty dramas to beloved modern comedies and award-winning roles.
About Ann-Margret
In the early sixties, the screen seemed almost too small to contain the kinetic energy of a redheaded powerhouse named Ann-Margret. She arrived as a whirlwind of technicolor vitality, a performer who could shift from wide-eyed ingenue to high-octane siren without missing a beat. While her debut in Pocketful of Miracles suggested a standard starlet trajectory, it was her explosive turn in Bye Bye Birdie that shattered the mold. When she sang to the camera in that opening sequence, she wasn't just performing a musical number; she was announcing a new era of pop culture charisma that felt both dangerously modern and classic.
Her synonymous pairing with Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas solidified her status as a cultural phenomenon. Unlike many leading ladies of the era who were relegated to being decorative scenery, she matched the King beat for beat, hip for hip. Their chemistry was so combustible it threatened to overheat the celluloid, yet even then, there was a sense that her talent was being undervalued by the Hollywood machine. To many, she was simply the girl who could dance, a glamorous fixture of the variety show era.
The turning point came when she decided to dismantle her own bombshell image. In Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge, she delivered a performance of such raw, bruising vulnerability that it silenced any lingering doubters. Playing a woman unraveling under the weight of toxic masculinity, she earned an Oscar nomination and transitioned from a musical sensation into a formidable dramatic actress. She doubled down on this intensity in Tommy, Ken Russell's psychedelic rock opera, where her feverish, milk-and-beans soaked breakdown became one of the most visceral images in seventies cinema. She possessed a rare ability to lean into the grotesque and the sublime with equal fervor.
Throughout the following decades, she navigated the industry as a versatile chameleon. She held her own against Steve McQueen in the high-stakes tension of The Cincinnati Kid and brought a grounding, soulful presence to the unsettling thriller Magic. Even in gritty international fare like The Outside Man or the stylish noir Once a Thief, she possessed a gravity that demanded attention. Audiences connected with her because she never seemed to be coasting on her looks. There was a visible effort, a palpable sweat and sincerity to her craft that made her feel human despite her otherworldly beauty.
As the years progressed, her career entered a delightful second act as the quintessential screen veteran. Her participation in Grumpy Old Men and its sequel, Grumpier Old Men, reminded the public of her effortless comedic timing and enduring warmth. She became a bridge between the Golden Age and the modern era, appearing as a ruthless matriarch in Any Given Sunday or lending a touch of old-school class to Newsies and the heist comedy Going in Style. Whether she was playing opposite Jack Lemmon or Al Pacino, she remained the most radiant presence in the room.
Her legacy is defined by a refusal to be categorized. She survived the rigid studio system to become a symbol of resilience and reinvention. To watch her work is to witness a masterclass in longevity, a journey that spans from the neon lights of the Vegas strip to the most prestigious stages of world cinema. She remains an icon because she never lost that initial spark of fire that first caught the light in 1961, proving that true star power isn't about fitting a mold, but about having the courage to break it.
I Ought to Be in Pictures
1982Grandmother has nothing to say when Libby tells her that she is off to LA to look up Dad, a Hollywood screenwriter. Grandmother has been in a New York cemetery for six years and Dad has been out of Libby's life for 16 of her 19 years. Libby arrives in LA on a Tuesday and phones Dad the one night that Stephanie, who does Jane Fonda's hair, stays over. Stephanie is there the next morning when Libby decides she needs to tell her story face-to-face.
Twice in a Lifetime
1985A middle-aged steelworker is content with his job and his family, but feels that something is missing in his life. On his 50th birthday, he stops in at a local bar for a drink to celebrate. He finds himself attracted to the young, very sexy barmaid--and, to his surprise, he finds that she is also very attracted to him.
Murderers' Row
1966The handsome top agent Matt dies a tragic death in his bath tub - the women mourn about the loss. However it's just faked for his latest top-secret mission: He shall find Dr. Solaris, inventor of the Helium laser beam, powerful enough to destroy a whole continent. It seems Dr. Solaris has been kidnapped by a criminal organization. The trace leads to the Cote D'Azur.
Stagecoach
1966A group of unlikely travelling companions find themselves on the same stagecoach to Cheyenne. They include a drunken doctor, a bar girl who's been thrown out of town, a professional gambler, a travelling liquor salesman, a banker who has decided to embezzle money, a gun-slinger out for revenge and a young woman going to join her army captain husband. All have secrets but when they are set upon by an Indian war party and then a family of outlaws, they find they must all work together if they are to stay alive.
52 Pick-Up
1986Harry Mitchell is a successful Los Angeles manufacturer whose wife is running for city council. His life is turned upside down when three blackmailers confront him with a videotape of him with his young mistress and demand $100,000. Fearing that the story will hurt his wife's political campaign if he goes to the police, Harry pretends that he will pay the men, but does not follow through.
The Cheap Detective
1978A spoof of the entire 1940s detective genre. San Francisco private detective, Lou Pekinpaugh is accused of murdering his partner at the instigation of his mistress—his partner's wife.
The Return of the Soldier
1983The horrors of World War I have robbed returning veteran Chris Baldry of his memory. The traumatized soldier doesn't even recognize his own wife, Kitty, or remember their years together. While Baldry attempts to cope with the unfamiliar surroundings of his own home, he seeks out the company of an old flame from his childhood, Margaret Grey. His amnesia also makes him a ready target for the affections of his older cousin, Jenny.
The Train Robbers
1973A gunhand named Lane is hired by a widow, Mrs. Lowe, to find gold stolen by her deceased husband so that she may return it and clear the family name.
Once a Thief
1965Ex-convict Eddie and his wife, Kristine, attempt to build a new life for themselves and their daughter Kathy in San Francisco, but police officer Mike Vido is determined to send Eddie back to prison.
The Tiger and the Pussycat
1967A middle-aged businessman finds himself in thirst for romance adventure, and it seems that a proper partner is not far away.
Going in Style
2017Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, three lifelong pals risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.
Pocketful of Miracles
1961A New York gangster and his girlfriend attempt to turn street beggar Apple Annie into a society lady when the peddler learns her daughter is marrying royalty.
The Outside Man
1972A French hit man is hired by a crime family to end the life of a rival mobster, but things fall apart when the boss who hired him is killed.
Any Given Sunday
1999A star quarterback gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the aging coach to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove herself in a male dominated world.
In a brief but icy turn, she portrays a ruthless matriarch with a steely resolve that hints at a much darker world beyond the football field. This late-career performance highlights her ability to command a scene through intimidating authority and sharp, verbal precision.
Grumpier Old Men
1995A family wedding reignites the ancient feud between next-door neighbors and fishing buddies John and Max. Meanwhile, a sultry Italian divorcée opens a restaurant at the local bait shop, alarming the locals who worry she'll scare the fish away. But she's less interested in seafood than she is in cooking up a hot time with Max.
Reprising her role with effortless grace, she maintains her position as the narrative's necessary moral and emotional glue. She manages to elevate the broad comedy by injecting a genuine sense of heart and lived-in history.
Bye Bye Birdie
1963A singer goes to a small town for a performance before he is drafted.
The role that ignited her stardom captures a youthful, wide-eyed exuberance that essentially defined the early sixties pop-culture aesthetic. Her charisma is so potent in the opening and closing numbers that it practically eclipses the rest of the production.
Newsies
1992A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's hard-ball tactics.
As the maternal Medda Larkyn, she brings a seasoned, theatrical gravitas to Disney's cult musical. Her stage presence provides a bridge between the classic Hollywood era and contemporary spectacle, infusing the production with much-needed veteran soul.
Magic
1978A ventriloquist is at the mercy of his vicious dummy while he tries to renew a romance with his high school sweetheart.
She grounds this macabre psychological thriller with a sophisticated, subtle desperation that serves as an essential anchor for Anthony Hopkins' manic intensity. It is a masterclass in understated tension and a pivotal shift toward more mature, grounded character work.
Grumpy Old Men
1993For decades, next-door neighbors and former friends John and Max have feuded, trading insults and wicked pranks. When an attractive widow moves in nearby, their bad blood erupts into a high-stakes rivalry full of naughty jokes and adolescent hijinks.
Radiating warmth and a bohemian spirit, she breathes vibrant new life into the twilight-years comedy subpoint. Her arrival on screen acts as a necessary jolt of electricity to the established Lemmon and Matthau dynamic.
Viva Las Vegas
1964Lucky Jackson arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix - once he has the money to buy an engine. He gets the cash easily enough but mislays it when the pretty swimming pool manageress takes his mind off things. It seems he will lose both race and girl, problems made more difficult by rivalry from Elmo Mancini, fellow racer and womaniser.
This is the definitive showcase of her kinetic energy, as she matches Elvis Presley's charisma beat for beat and move for move. It remains the peak of her musical-comedy era, capturing a lightning-in-a-bottle screen chemistry that few duos have ever replicated.
The Cincinnati Kid
1965An up-and-coming poker player tries to prove himself in a high-stakes match against a long-time master of the game.
Playing the ultimate temptress, she wields a dangerous, quiet magnetism that provides the perfect narrative counterpoint to Steve McQueen's cool composure. She proves here that she can dominate a male-centric ensemble through sheer presence and calculated charm.
Tommy
1975After a series of traumatic childhood events, a psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and the object of a religious cult.
In Ken Russell's psychedelic fever dream, she fearlessly embraces the camp and chaos, culminating in a legendary, baked-bean-soaked breakdown. It is a fearless exhibition of physical acting that earned her a well-deserved Oscar nomination.
Carnal Knowledge
1971Two lifelong friends navigate complex sexual encounters and emotional entanglements, wrestling with societal norms and personal desires.
Ann-Margret shatters her bombshell image with a raw, bruising vulnerability that serves as the film's tragic heartbeat. This performance transformed her from a decorative starlet into a heavyweight dramatic force capable of outshining even Jack Nicholson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts
- Carnal Knowledge is a prime example of Ann-Margret's range, where she masterfully navigates the intricacies of drama, romance, and comedy. Directed by Mike Nichols, this film highlights her ability to portray complex emotional depths.
- Ann-Margret co-starred with Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas, a vibrant musical romance-comedy directed by George Sidney. The film remains one of her most beloved roles and showcases her dynamic screen presence.
- Ann-Margret took on darker roles in films such as Magic, directed by Richard Attenborough, which blends drama and horror, and The Outside Man, a crime thriller directed by Jacques Deray. These roles show her versatility beyond light-hearted genres.
- Bye Bye Birdie significantly contributed to Ann-Margret's rise as a talented musical actress. Her energetic performance in this George Sidney-directed film demonstrated her singing and acting prowess early in her career.
- Grumpy Old Men and its sequel, Grumpier Old Men, highlight Ann-Margret's charm in comedy and romance, portraying her in humorous and heartfelt interactions with older characters. These films showcase her enduring appeal in lighthearted, mature roles.
- Yes, Ann-Margret appeared in Any Given Sunday, a sports drama directed by Oliver Stone that explores the harsh realities of professional football. She also starred in Newsies, a historical drama directed by Kenny Ortega, which captures the spirit of a labor strike by newsboys.
- The Outside Man and Once a Thief are notable crime and thriller films featuring Ann-Margret. These movies allowed her to delve into suspenseful narratives, adding a gritty edge to her diverse filmography.
- Going in Style is a crime comedy that features Ann-Margret, showcasing her talent in a lighter, humorous take on crime narratives. This film highlights her adaptability to various genres while maintaining comedic timing.
