Top 20 Ranked

A Ranking of Peter O'Toole's Best Movies

The Definitive Screen Legacy of a Cinematic Legend

Discover the essential filmography of Peter O'Toole, featuring his most iconic performances from Lawrence of Arabia to his award-winning swan songs.

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About Peter O'Toole

Peter O'Toole

To look into the eyes of Peter O'Toole was to stare directly into a pair of pale blue supernova explosions. He surfaced in the public consciousness as T.E. Lawrence in 1962, appearing against the desert horizon like a shimmering mirage that refused to dissipate. That performance in Lawrence of Arabia did more than just launch a career; it established a new prototype for the cinematic leading man. He was ethereal yet rugged, possessing a delicate beauty that vanished the moment he bared his teeth or unleashed that razor sharp, theatrical baritone. He did not just inhabit a role. He consumed it, often leaving the scenery chewed but undeniably electrified.

While his peers often leaned into the gritty realism of the sixties, he remained a creature of high drama and grand gestures. He possessed a unique ability to play men who were simultaneously giants and crumbling ruins. In The Lion in Winter, he portrayed Henry II with a ferocious, spitfire energy, battling Katharine Hepburn in a masterclass of domestic warfare. He had already explored the complexities of power and fragile friendship as the titular king in Becket, proving that he could hold the screen through sheer presence alone. There was always a sense of danger in his work, a feeling that at any moment he might veer off script into something dangerously honest.

Audiences gravitated toward him because he never bothered with the artifice of being relatable. He was an aristocrat of the craft, yet he possessed a self deprecating wit that kept him from ever feeling cold. This was most evident when he leaned into his reputation as a legendary hellraiser. In My Favorite Year, he played a washed up swashbuckler with a twinkle in his eye that suggested he wasn't acting all that much. Even when playing a megalomaniacal director in The Stunt Man or a delusional nobleman who believes he is Jesus Christ in The Ruling Class, he maintained a magnetic dignity. He invited us to watch him unravel, making the spectacle of a breakdown look like high art.

As the decades passed, he transitioned from the burning center of the epic to the silver tongued elder statesman. He lent a haunting gravity to The Last Emperor and brought a weary, noble weight to Priam in Troy. Even when his physical frame became gaunt, his voice remained a formidable instrument. It is perfectly fitting that a new generation fell in love with him via the animated world of Ratatouille, where he voiced the food critic Anton Ego. In that role, he used his vocal precision to define the very essence of refined disdain before melting into a nostalgic vulnerability. From the adventurous spirit of Lord Jim and the tension of The Night of the Generals to the whimsical charm of Dean Spanley, he inhabited every corner of the human experience.

He famously holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations without a win, a statistic that says far more about the Academy than it does about his talent. By the time he appeared in Stardust or navigated the heist comedy of How to Steal a Million, his legacy was already carved in granite. He was the last of the great romantics, a man who treated every frame of film as if it were a stage at the Old Vic. He didn't just play characters. He gave them a soul that was often too large for the bodies they inhabited. To watch him was to witness the total commitment of a man who knew that if you are going to be a star, you might as well burn bright enough to blind the front row.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

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20
Peter O'Toole in The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960)
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England
1960

London at the turn of the century. Three men are on a mission from the IRA to steal all the gold in the vaults of the Bank of England. Norgate, their leader, discovers the bank's weak spot: an old forgotten sewer straight under the vaults.

Crime
Drama
1h 25m
John Guillermin
Aldo Ray, Elizabeth Sellars, Peter O'Toole, Kieron Moore
19
Peter O'Toole in Venus (2006)
Venus
2006

Maurice is an aging veteran actor who becomes taken with Jessie, the grandniece of his closest friend. When Maurice tries to soften the petulant and provincial young girl with the benefit of his wisdom and London culture, their give-and-take surprises both Maurice and Jessie as they discover what they don't know about themselves.

Comedy
Drama
1h 35m
Roger Michell
Peter O'Toole, Leslie Phillips, Jodie Whittaker, Vanessa Redgrave
18
Peter O'Toole in What's New Pussycat? (1965)
What's New Pussycat?
1965

A playboy who refuses to give up his hedonistic lifestyle to settle down and marry his true love seeks help from a demented psychoanalyst who is having romantic problems of his own.

Comedy
Romance
1h 48m
Clive Donner
Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Romy Schneider, Capucine

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17
Peter O'Toole in The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)
The Bible: In the Beginning...
1966

Covering only the first 22 chapters of the Book of Genesis, vignettes include: Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden until their indulgence in the forbidden fruit sees them driven out; Cain murdering his brother Abel; Noah building an ark to preserve the animals of the world from the coming flood; and Abraham making a covenant with God.

Adventure
History
Michael Parks, Ulla Bergryd, Richard Harris, John Huston
16
Peter O'Toole in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
1969

Academy Award-honoree Peter O'Toole stars in this musical classic about a prim English schoolmaster who learns to show his compassion through the help of an outgoing showgirl. O'Toole, who received his fourth Oscar-nomination for this performance, is joined by '60s pop star Petula Clark and fellow Oscar-nominee Michael Redgrave.

Drama
Music
2h 35m
Herbert Ross
Peter O'Toole, Petula Clark, Michael Redgrave, George Baker
15
Peter O'Toole in Man of La Mancha (1972)
Man of La Mancha
1972

In the 16th century, poet, playwright and part-time actor Miguel de Cervantes has been arrested, together with his manservant, by the Spanish Inquisition. They're accused of presenting an entertainment offensive to the Inquisition. Inside the huge dungeon into which they have been cast, the other inmates gang up on Cervantes and his manservant, staging a mock trial, with the intention of stealing or burning his possessions. Cervantes wishes to desperately save a manuscript he carries with him and stages, with costumes, makeup, and the participation of the other prisoners, an unusual defense—the story of Don Quixote.

Adventure
Comedy
2h 12m
Arthur Hiller
Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren, James Coco, Ian Richardson
14
Peter O'Toole in Dean Spanley (2008)
Dean Spanley
2008

Set in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior has little time or affection for his son, but when the pair visit an eccentric Indian, they start a strange journey that eventually allows the old man to find his heart.

Comedy
Drama
1h 40m
Toa Fraser
Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Peter O'Toole
13
Peter O'Toole in The Night of the Generals (1967)
The Night of the Generals
1967

A German intelligence officer investigates a prostitute's killing in Warsaw during World War II. He lands on three major Nazi generals as suspects, two of whom are also involved in a plot to kill Adolf Hitler.

Thriller
Mystery
2h 28m
Anatole Litvak
Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, Donald Pleasence
12
Peter O'Toole in Lord Jim (1965)
Lord Jim
1965

After being discredited as a coward, a 19th century seaman lives for only one purpose: to redeem himself. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2000.

Adventure
Drama
2h 34m
Richard Brooks
Peter O'Toole, James Mason, Curd Jürgens, Eli Wallach
11
Peter O'Toole in The Ruling Class (1972)
The Ruling Class
1972

When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack, inherits the Gurney estate. Jack is not the average nobleman; he sings and dances across the estate and thinks he is Jesus reincarnated. Believing that Jack is mentally unfit to own the estate, the Gurney family plots to steal Jack's inheritance. As their outrageous schemes fail, the family strives to cure Jack of his bizarre behavior, with disastrous results.

Comedy
Drama
2h 34m
Peter Medak
Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews
10
Peter O'Toole in My Favorite Year (1982)
My Favorite Year
1982

Fledgling comic Benjy Stone can't believe his luck when his childhood hero, the swashbuckling matinee idol Alan Swann, gets booked to appear on the variety show he writes for. But when Swann arrives, he fails to live up to his silver screen image. Instead, he's a drunken womanizer who suffers from stage fright. Benjy is assigned to look after him before the show, and it's all he can do to keep his former idol from going completely off the rails.

Comedy
Drama
1h 32m
Richard Benjamin
Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna
Why it ranks

Channeling his own reputation for hard-drinking debauchery, O'Toole offers a hilarious yet haunting self-parody as Alan Swann. He finds the soulful core of a fading swashbuckler, managing to be simultaneously ridiculous and deeply moving.

9

A fugitive stumbles onto a movie set just when they need a new stunt man, takes the job as a way to hide out and falls for the leading lady while facing off with his manipulative director.

Action
Comedy
2h 11m
Richard Rush
Peter O'Toole, Steve Railsback, Barbara Hershey, Allen Garfield
Why it ranks

O'Toole is dangerously hypnotic as the godlike director Eli Cross, blurring the lines between filmmaking and tyranny with manic sophistication. This role serves as a meta-commentary on his own legend, blending eccentricity with a sharp, predatory intellect.

8
Peter O'Toole in Stardust (2007)
Stardust
2007

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity.

Adventure
Fantasy
2h 7m
Matthew Vaughn
Why it ranks

Embracing a role of wicked decadence, O'Toole’s turn as the dying King of Stormhold is a delight of theatrical malevolence. He injects the fantasy genre with a sharp, cynical energy that reminds audiences of his peerless command over the spoken word.

7
Peter O'Toole in Troy (2004)
2004

In year 1250 B.C. during the late Bronze age, two emerging nations begin to clash. Paris, the Trojan prince, convinces Helen, Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband Menelaus, and sail with him back to Troy. After Menelaus finds out that his wife was taken by the Trojans, he asks his brother Agamemnon to help him get her back. Agamemnon sees this as an opportunity for power. They set off with 1,000 ships holding 50,000 Greeks to Troy.

War
Action
2h 43m
Wolfgang Petersen
Why it ranks

As King Priam, O'Toole provides the film's only true gravitas, elevating a bronze age spectacle with his monumental, weathered presence. His brief scenes offer a masterclass in silent suffering and the heavy burden of ancient sovereignty.

6
Peter O'Toole in Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille
2007

Remy, a resident of Paris, possesses a palate far more refined than that of his fellow comrades. He dreams of becoming a chef, determined to create culinary masterpieces rather than scavenge for scraps. There’s just one small problem: Remy is a rat. When fate deposits him in the sewers beneath one of Paris’s most famous restaurants, he finds himself ideally placed to fulfill his dream. Forming an unusual alliance with a bumbling young kitchen worker, Remy begins a daring culinary double life. Together, they must outwit the scheming Head Chef Skinner, evade Remy’s disapproving colony, and impress renowned food critic Anton Ego, who strikes fear in the hearts of chefs all throughout France.

Animation
Comedy
1h 51m
Brad Bird
Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy
Why it ranks

The actor’s unmistakable voice lends the food critic Anton Ego a chilling, aristocratic authority that eventually melts into profound poignancy. It is a masterclass in vocal performance, proving his ability to command an entire narrative arc through tone alone.

5
Peter O'Toole in How to Steal a Million (1966)
How to Steal a Million
1966

A woman must steal a statue from a Paris museum to help conceal her father's art forgeries.

Comedy
Crime
Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith
Why it ranks

O’Toole proves his comedic dexterity here, leaning into his natural elegance with a mischievous, lightweight charm. His chemistry with Audrey Hepburn reveals a suave leading man who is far more than just a brooding dramatic powerhouse.

4

A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.

Drama
History
2h 43m
Bernardo Bertolucci
John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Ruocheng Ying
Why it ranks

Serving as the soul of the film’s second act, O'Toole brings a refined, weary dignity to the role of Reginald Johnston. He provides a crucial bridge between the ancient traditions of the Forbidden City and the encroaching modernity of the outside world.

3
Peter O'Toole in Becket (1964)
Becket
1964

Thomas Becket, Henry II's longtime advisor, finds his friendship with the debauched king corroding when he is unwillingly appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury in an attempt to gain absolute loyalty from the Church.

Drama
History
2h 28m
Peter Glenville
Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi
Why it ranks

In his first outing as Henry II, O'Toole captures the volatile heartbreak of a man betrayed by his own affections. The performance radiates a restless, youthful arrogance that provides the perfect foil to Richard Burton’s grounded solemnity.

2
Peter O'Toole in The Lion in Winter (1968)
The Lion in Winter
1968

Henry II and his estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, battle over the choice of an heir.

Drama
History
2h 14m
Anthony Harvey
Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle
Why it ranks

Trading desert sands for the claustrophobia of courtly intrigue, O'Toole’s Henry II is a magnificent explosion of roar and vulnerability. He matches Katharine Hepburn's wit beat for beat, transforming historical drama into a visceral, domestic blood sport.

1
Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia
1962

During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward 'T.E.' Lawrence sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.

Adventure
History
Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn
Why it ranks

O’Toole’s cinematic debut remains the ultimate marriage of actor and landscape, capturing T.E. Lawrence with a piercing, ethereal intensity that redefined the screen hero. His sapphire eyes navigate a delicate balance between messianic ego and psychological fracturing, cementing his status as a generational titan.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

Peter O'Toole's role in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) firmly established him as a cinematic leading man. His portrayal of T.E. Lawrence captured both ethereal beauty and rugged intensity, becoming an iconic performance in film history.

Peter O'Toole starred in several acclaimed historical dramas, including Becket (1964), The Lion in Winter (1968), and The Last Emperor (1987). These films highlight his ability to embody complex historical figures with depth and charisma.

Yes, Peter O'Toole showcased his versatility in comedy and romance through films like How to Steal a Million (1966) and My Favorite Year (1982). These roles demonstrated his charm and skill in lighter, humorous narratives.

Peter O'Toole lent his voice talent to the animated film Ratatouille (2007), where he played the role of Anton Ego. This performance added a critically acclaimed layer to his diverse filmography.

Peter O'Toole explored a broad range of genres, including adventure, drama, comedy, fantasy, and war films. From epic historical dramas like Troy to fantastical adventures like Stardust, his career spanned a remarkable variety of styles.

Yes, Peter O'Toole portrayed several real historical figures, notably T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia and King Henry II in The Lion in Winter. These performances are celebrated for their depth and authenticity.

In his later career, Peter O'Toole maintained his strong presence in films like The Last Emperor and Dean Spanley, delivering award-winning performances that highlighted his enduring talent and versatility well into the 2000s.

Yes, O'Toole starred in Man of La Mancha (1972), which combines adventure, comedy, drama, and musical elements. His diverse roles in such genre-crossing films demonstrate his adaptability and broad appeal.
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