10 Best Burt Reynolds Movies, Ranked

What made Reynolds so compelling was his ability to bring authenticity to every role. From the haunting psychological tension of Deliverance to the satirical energy of Boogie Nights, he had a knack for choosing roles that played to his strengths while also allowing him to push his limits as an actor. This list will rank Burt Reynolds' best movies based on their overall quality, Reynolds' performance, and their contributions to his cinematic legacy.

10 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' (1982)

Directed by Colin Higgins

"I enjoy a good football game, but I think you should try the chicken-fried steak." A musical comedy with a country twist, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is based on the true story of the infamous Chicken Ranch, a Texas brothel that ran for decades with the quiet approval of law enforcement until a TV crusader (Dom DeLuise) sought to shut it down. Reynolds leads the cast Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, a lawman caught in a battle between morality and tradition, joined by a charming Dolly Parton as Miss Mona.

The movie is flawed, to be sure, and falls short of its potential, but it boasts some strong musical numbers, like "Hard Candy Christmas" and "A Lil’ Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place," and a handful of heartfelt scenes. Reynolds and Parton are decent (if not on their A-game), but the scene-stealer is Charles Durning in his hilarious, Oscar-nominated performance as the slick Governor.

9 'The Cannonball Run' (1981)

Directed by Hal Needham

"My driving is rivaled only by the lightning bolts from the heavens!" Reynolds takes center stage in this high-octane comedy as J.J. McClure, a cocky race car driver who, along with his eccentric mechanic Victor (Dom DeLuise), hatches a wild plan to disguise themselves as ambulance drivers to outmaneuver the competition. With a colorful cast of competitors—including Roger Moore's parody of James Bond, Jackie Chan’s high-tech speedster, and Farrah Fawcett's spirited hitchhiker—the race descends into a madcap series of chases, crashes, and close calls.

The Cannonball Run is very goofy and cartoony, not to mention self-indulgent, to the point that some viewers may find it more annoying than entertaining. Still, as far as stunts and slapstick go, it's got its charms. Moore's 007 spoof is genuinely funny, as is the boozy supporting appearance of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. As far as silly, star-studded racing movies go, you could do a lot worse.

8 'Sharky's Machine' (1981)

Directed by Burt Reynolds

"Every day hurts a little more, doesn’t it?" Reynolds helms this gritty neo-noir thriller as Tom Sharky, an Atlanta cop demoted to the vice squad after a botched drug bust. While working a routine case, he stumbles upon a high-class prostitution ring linked to a powerful political figure. As he digs deeper, Sharky becomes entangled in a web of corruption, violence, and personal revenge.

This is one of Reynolds's most intense and serious performances, dialing back the usual comedic swagger for a more restrained approach that works well. Sharky's Machine is also notable for having been directed by the star himself. Teynolds' storytelling is a little rough around the edges at times, but he demonstrates a knack for managing ensemble scenes. The action and chase sequences are also impressively energetic. The opening shootout, for example, contains more excitement and flair than most entire action thrillers. The finished product is a hard-boiled crime flick done right: bold, simple, and entertaining.

7 'White Lightning' (1973)

Directed by Joseph Sargent

"I don't take kindly to gettin' shot at." A quintessential Southern action film, White Lightning features Reynolds as Gator McKlusky, a moonshiner-turned-informant who agrees to help the feds take down a corrupt sheriff in Arkansas. He's a reckless but charismatic anti-hero, driven by a personal vendetta after his brother is killed by the very system he's now working for.

The film is filled to the brim with car chases and anarchic energy, both of which made it a hit in the drive-in circuit of the '70s. Reynolds was in his prime here, exuding confidence and cool in abundance, in the role that would define much of his later career. He's assisted by legendary stuntman Hal Needham, who helped bring the stellar climactic chase sequence to life. His death-defying feats are still impressive today. Speaking about the film years later, Reynolds called White Lightning "a breakthrough in that area of blending comedy and action."

6 'The Longest Yard' (1974)

Directed by Robert Aldrich

"Stick this in your trophy case." One of Reynolds's most iconic projects (and far superior to the 2005 remake), The Longest Yard tells the story of Paul Crewe (Reynolds), a disgraced former NFL quarterback who lands in prison after a reckless joyride in a stolen car. Inside, he's strong-armed by the sadistic warden (Eddie Albert) into assembling a team of inmates to play a rigged exhibition game. Initially reluctant, Crewe gradually embraces leadership, uniting a ragtag group of hardened criminals into a formidable squad.

Not everyone will appreciate the movie's "tough as nails" vibe, but for the right kind of viewer, the mix of football action, barbed wit, and character development is a winning one. The Longest Yard is an archetypal underdog story, shot through with an anti-establishment ethos (and even some veiled political commentary). Robert Aldrich (who made movies like The Dirty Dozen and Kiss Me Deadly) directs everything well, particularly the bone-crushing football sequences.

5 'Starting Over' (1979)

Directed by Alan J. Pakula

"Sometimes you have to start over." In Starting Over, Reynolds steps away from his usual action-packed roles to deliver a more heartfelt and vulnerable performance as Phil Potter, a recently divorced writer struggling to rebuild his life. He navigates dating, self-discovery, and lingering attachments to his ex-wife (Candice Bergen) while developing a new romance with Marilyn (Jill Clayburgh).

The movie aims to avoid typical romantic comedy clichés and be a bit more nuanced, a goal it mostly pulls off. This is in large part thanks to director Alan J. Pakula, the brains behind '70s gems like The Parallax View and All the President's Men. He also shows off his visual chops here, evident in memorable moments like a striking one-take shot during Phil's divorced men’s group. Overall, this film could have become cheesy were it not for the talents of Reynolds and Clayburgh. They are compelling and endlessly watchable, with a ton of crackling chemistry.

4 'Citizen Ruth' (1996)

Directed by Alexander Payne

"If you wanna control someone, you take control of their body. I mean, that's what men have been doing to women for years." This early Alexander Payne project is a biting satire that takes aim at the divisive issue of abortion rights. Laura Dern stars as Ruth Stoops (Laura Dern), a homeless, drug-addicted woman who becomes the unlikely symbol of both the pro-life and pro-choice movements. Reynolds is Blaine Gibbons, a prominent leader in the anti-abortion movement, who, along with his devout wife, tries to manipulate Ruth into keeping her pregnancy.

Citizen Ruth is a wonderfully irreverent movie ridiculing anyone and everyone. It took guts for Payne to make something like this. Those who are only familiar with his later work should definitely check it out. On the acting front, Dern and Reynolds are up for anything, both giving effective performances that deliver what the script asks of them. Reynolds is nicely restrained here; in a lesser actor's hands, Gibbons could easily have become a caricature.

3 'Smokey and the Bandit' (1977)

Directed by Hal Needham

"For the money, for the glory, and for the fun... mostly for the money." Arguably Reynolds's most famous role (and certainly one of his most enjoyable movies), Smokey and the Bandit follows Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds), a trucker hired to transport a shipment of illegal Coors beer across state lines. Along the way, Bandit must outmaneuver the relentless Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), with his partner Cledus (Jerry Reed) running the big rig and runaway bride Carrie (Sally Field) by his side.

Although a little dated now, Smokey and the Bandit is still a ton of fun. It's jam-packed with jokes and vehicular mayhem, including some of the most entertaining high-speed chases in cinema history that reflect the input of stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham. At the heart of it all is Reynolds's effortless, witty performance, radiating daredevil bravado. He and Field have a terrific dynamic (unsurprisingly, the two would go on to become an item in real life).

2 'Deliverance' (1972)

Directed by John Boorman

"Sometimes you have to lose yourself before you can find anything." Reynolds appears in this harrowing survival thriller as Lewis Medlock, an experienced outdoorsman leading a group of city men on a canoeing trip down a remote Georgia river. What begins as an exhilarating adventure quickly spirals into a nightmare when they encounter a group of hostile locals, leading to one of the most infamous scenes in film history.

More than half a century later, Deliverance still feels urgent and visceral, crafting indelible images and making a sharp statement on masculinity and endurance. The cinematography is frequently breathtaking, the tension is meticulously maintained, and the violence is realistic. The film is anchored by Reynolds's rugged, self-assured performance; he's fully believable as a person pushed to the brink. Deliverance faced a troubled production but was acclaimed on release and quickly became influential, inspiring a similar scene in Pulp Fiction, for instance, and cementing the phrase "squeal like a pig" in perpetual infamy.

1 'Boogie Nights' (1997)

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

"Jack Horner: I'm looking for young talent." Claiming the top spot on this list is Paul Thomas Anderson's masterful Boogie Nights, chronicling the rise and fall of pornstar Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), AKA Dirk Diggler, in the 1970s and '80s adult film industry. Reynolds is fantastic as Jack Horner, a veteran porn director who sees potential in the young Eddie. He exudes a volatile mixture of harm, fatherly mentorship, and ruthless ambition, making him one of the film’s most fascinating characters.

Boogie Nights is an overall brilliant and perfectly acted movie, with a stellar ensemble cast expertly managed by Anderson, a pitch-perfect recreation of the '70s, and a story that pivots between the funny, steamy, ludicrous, violent, and soul-crushing. The visuals are also virtuosic and maximalist, replete with extended tracking shots and dynamic camera moves. For all these reasons and more, Boogie Nights remains one of the best statements on fame ever committed to celluloid. Reynolds is key to its success, and the move rightly earned him an Oscar nod.

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