10 Essential Jack Lemmon Movies, Ranked

Jack Lemmon was one of Hollywood’s most versatile and beloved actors, turning in terrific performances across five decades. He was adept at both comedy and drama, moving seamlessly between genres. He was particularly good at playing anxious everyman characters. Lemmon worked with some of the best directors of his time, from Billy Wilder to Robert Altman, winning two Oscars and receiving many nominations.

With this in mind, this list looks at some of the star’s must-see movies. The following ten films continue to resonate, whether it’s the absurd mistaken identity of Some Like It Hot or the corporate disillusionment of The Apartment. They cover the full spectrum of Lemmon’s talents.

10

‘The China Syndrome’ (1979)

Directed by James Bridges

Jane Fonda standing and on the phone with Jack Lemmon standing next to her in The China Syndrome (1979) — Image via Columbia Pictures

“I know the vibration was not normal.” Lemmon leads this thriller as Jack Godell, a veteran nuclear power plant supervisor who stumbles upon a dangerous flaw in the plant’s operations. When television reporter Kimberly Wells (Jane Fonda) and her cameraman (Michael Douglas) witness a near meltdown, they begin investigating what really happened, only to be met with resistance from the plant’s executives. Godell wrestles with his conscience and is forced to make a life-altering decision.

This is one of the star’s most intense performances. He does a great job playing a man burdened by responsibility and fear (receiving an Oscar nod for his efforts). His transformation from loyal company man to desperate whistleblower is one of the film’s highlights. As a whole, The China Syndrome is well-crafted and well-paced, starting out like a procedural and growing more suspenseful as it rolls along. On top of being simply entertaining, the film provides an intriguing peek inside the world of ’70s TV journalism.

The China Syndrome

Release Date: March 16, 1979
Runtime: 122 minutes
Director: James Bridges
Writers: Mike Gray

9

‘The Odd Couple’ (1968)

Directed by Gene Saks

Oscar looking at Felix about to throw a baseball in 'The Odd Couple' — Image by Paramount Pictures

“Can’t you keep it moist? I’m trying to keep it moist. Just a little bit moist!” The Odd Couple is a legendary comedy animated by the spectacular comedic chemistry between Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Lemmon plays Felix Ungar, a neurotic man recently separated from his wife, who moves in with his best friend Oscar Madison (Matthau), a laid-back and utterly messy sportswriter. The clash between Felix’s meticulous habits and Oscar’s slovenly ways results in hilarious confrontations.

This a comedy that deals in awkwardness and over-the-top situations, peppered with sharp dialogue and bringing the best out of the stars. It’s essentially a classic screwball comedy but with two male leads. Lemmon shines with his exaggerated mannerisms and increasing exasperation, but he also brings vulnerability to Felix, making him more than just a walking punchline. The Odd Couple is a movie with a ton of heart and a lot to say about the nature of friendship.

The Odd Couple

Release Date: May 16, 1968
Runtime: 105 minutes
Director: Gene Saks
Writers: Neil Simon

8

‘Short Cuts’ (1993)

Directed by Robert Altman

Jack Lemmon, Andie MacDowell and Bruce Davison in 'Short Cuts'

“I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to say.” Short Cuts is a sprawling drama (it clocks in at over three hours) directed by Robert Altman, the master of the ensemble movie. It interweaves multiple stories of love, betrayal, and discontent in Los Angeles. Among the many characters, Lemmon plays Paul Finnigan, an aging man seeking redemption as he reconnects with his estranged son (Bruce Davison), who is grappling with his own marital struggles.

Despite limited screen time, Lemmon’s performance is very moving. His monologue about past failures and regret is one of the film’s standout moments. While not flawless, Short Cuts is an ambitious and impressive movie, jam-packed with food for thought. Most of all, it succeeds because almost all of its characters are incredibly layered and well-drawn. Altman keeps all their tangled stories spinning beautifully, adding up to something that’s more than the sum of its parts.

Short Cuts

Release Date: September 5, 1993
Runtime: 187 minutes

Cast

Bruce Davison

Howard Finnigan
Jack Lemmon

Paul Finnigan
Zane Cassidy

Casey Finnigan

7

‘Missing’ (1982)

Directed by Costa-Gavras

An businessman and his daughter-in-law on the lookout while military vehicles pass in the background. — Image via Universal Pictures

“If it were your son, what would you do?” Based on true events, Missing is a political thriller about Ed Horman (Lemmon), an American father searching for his son, who disappears during the military coup in Chile. As Ed teams up with his son’s wife (Sissy Spacek) to uncover the truth, he undergoes a painful transformation, shifting from skepticism to heartbreak as the reality of the situation unfolds. Lemmon’s gradual unraveling as he learns the brutal truth is heartbreaking to watch.

Lemmon becomes a microcosm of an entire society that grew disillusioned with its leaders; naivety and devotion giving way to bitterness and rage. Though the direction is occasionally muddled, Spacek and Lemmon are more than strong enough to compensate. They make the viewer care deeply about these characters. Both received Oscar nominations for their work here, and the movie itself won that year’s Palme d’Or. Missing holds up today, and its portrait of uncaring and dishonest authorities is always relevant.

Missing

Release Date: February 12, 1982
Runtime: 123 minutes

Cast

Melanie Mayron

Terry Simon

6

‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ (1992)

Directed by James Foley

Jack Lemmon as salesman Shelley Levene in 'Glengarry Glen Ross' — Image via New Line Cinema

“The leads are weak? You’re weak.” Glengarry Glen Ross is an acting showcase filled with powerhouse performances, and Lemmon is one of its strongest elements. He plays Shelley “The Machine” Levene, a washed-up real estate salesman clinging to past glory while struggling to close deals. As the pressure mounts and the office becomes a cutthroat battlefield, Shelley finds himself on the edge of financial and personal ruin.

Lemmon sinks his teeth into David Mamet’s razor-sharp monologues, delivering them with a volatile mix of swagger and desperation. The dialogue crackles with intensity, and Lemmon holds his own against a cast that includes Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, and Ed Harris. Though not a commercial success on release, many of Glengarry Glen Ross‘s lines have since become iconic (“Always be closing”), and its examination of unmoored profit-seeking is as fiery as ever. Plus, the wonderfully foul-mouthed writing just never gets old.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Release Date: October 2, 1992
Runtime: 100 Minutes
Writers: David Mamet

5

‘Days of Wine and Roses’ (1962)

Directed by Blake Edwards

Jack Lemmon as Joe Clay holding a glass while on the phone in 'Days of Wine and Roses' — Image via Warner Bros.

“I walked by a bar last night, and I heard a couple of drunks singing that song. It was the most god-awful sound in the world.” Days of Wine and Roses centers on Joe Clay (Lemmon), a successful public relations man who introduces his wife Kirsten (Lee Remick) to social drinking—only for both of them to spiral into addiction. What begins as casual drinking soon turns into a consuming dependency, as their lives crumble under the weight of their addiction.

Here, Lemmon sheds his comedic persona and becomes crushingly realistic. He’s utterly believable as a man who slowly loses everything. His agonizing breakdown in the greenhouse, frantically tearing it apart in search of hidden alcohol, is almost unbearable to witness. The film’s first half meanders a little but it bounces back hard in the third act, which is visceral and terrifying. For this reason, it ranks among director Blake Edwards‘ very best work.

Days of Wine and Roses

Release Date: February 4, 1963
Runtime: 117 minutes

Lee Remick

Kirsten Arnesen Clay
Charles Bickford

Ellis Arnesen
Jack Klugman

Jim Hungerford

4

’12 Angry Men’ (1997)

Directed by William Friedkin

12 Angry Men’ (1997) (1) — Image via Showtime

“We’re talking about somebody’s life here. We can’t decide in five minutes.” A remake of the 1957 classic, 12 Angry Men follows a jury deliberating the fate of a young man accused of murder. As eleven jurors quickly vote guilty, only one—Juror #8 (Lemmon)—refuses to rush to judgment, insisting they discuss the case in greater detail. Through careful reasoning and moral conviction, he slowly forces the others to reconsider their biases and re-examine the evidence.

Though remakes often pale in comparison to the originals, the killer performances give this version its own unique power. George C. Scott is the scene-stealer, delivering the movie’s most emotional monologue as Juror #3. Still, Lemmon is a close second, playing his character with quiet dignity and unwavering resolve. His calm, measured performance contrasts beautifully with the growing frustration of the other jurors. Finally, William Friedkin‘s lean but effective direction, using a sequential filming approach and two simultaneous cameras, keeps everything engaging the whole way through.

12 Angry Men

Release Date: August 17, 1997
Runtime: 117 Minutes
Writers: Reginald Rose

3

‘JFK’ (1991)

Directed by Oliver Stone

“Kings are killed, Mr. Garrison. Politics is power—nothing more.” JFK‘s assassination is back in the news thanks to the recent publication of some of the investigation’s files, proving just how much of a hold these events still have on so many people. Oliver Stone‘s movie was ahead of the conspiracy theory curve, focusing on Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner), a New Orleans district attorney who becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind JFK’s murder.

Lemmon plays Jack Martin, a minor but crucial figure in the film’s complex web of conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. Though the script doesn’t give him all that much to work, the actor is predictably solid. His weary, fearful demeanor adds to the sense of paranoia that permeates the film. All in all, JFK remains a flawed but intriguing film, one that really says more about the conspiratorial mindset than it is about the death of America’s 35th president.

JFK

Release Date: December 20, 1991
Runtime: 189 minutes
Director: Oliver Stone
Writers: Oliver Stone, Zachary Sklar, Jim Garrison, Jim Marrs

2

‘Some Like It Hot’ (1959)

Directed by Billy Wilder

Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as Josephine and Jerraldine looking in the same direction in Some Like It Hot. — Image via United Artists

“Nobody’s perfect.” One of the most beloved comedies of all time, Some Like It Hot features Lemmon and Tony Curtis as two musicians who, after witnessing a mob hit, disguise themselves as women to escape the gangsters hunting them. Posing as members of an all-female jazz band, they befriend the beautiful and naive Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe), leading to a whirlwind of mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and madcap chaos.

Lemmon is an absolute comedic force as Jerry/Daphne, fully committing to the absurdity of the premise while maintaining an irresistible charm. His chemistry with Curtis and Monroe is pitch-perfect, and his comedic timing is impeccable—his scenes with millionaire Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown) are particularly entertaining. He and the rest of the cast are given uncountable great lines, like “Real diamonds! They must be worth their weight in gold!” and “Look how she moves! That’s just like Jell-O on springs!”

Some Like It Hot

Release Date: March 15, 1959
Runtime: 121 Minutes
Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Billy Wilder, I. A. L. Diamond

1

‘The Apartment’ (1960)

Directed by Billy Wilder

Bud leaning over Fran's shoulder in The Apartment. — Image via United Artists

“Shut up and deal.” Blending romance, drama, and sharp social commentary, The Apartment follows C.C. “Bud” Baxter (Lemmon), an office worker who allows his superiors to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. His plan backfires when he falls for Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), an elevator operator who is unknowingly involved with his married boss.

This is Lemmon at his most nuanced, seamlessly shifting between humor and heartbreaking vulnerability. He plays Bud as an everyman, stuck in a moral crisis while desperately yearning for a better life. Not to mention, his chemistry with MacLaine is electric. The finished product is a movie that expertly balances comedy and melancholy. Not for nothing, it cleaned up at that year’s Oscars, taking home Best Director and Best Picture, while Lemmon received a nod for Best Actor. The Apartment was arguably ahead of its time and is still wonderful today.