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Few movie stars can light up the screen the way Goldie Hawn does. From her giggly
Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In days to Oscar-winning film roles and
crowd-pleasing comedies, Hawn has spent more than six decades proving that “funny”
and “smart” absolutely belong in the same sentence. Ask ten film fans for their
Goldie Hawn rankings and you’ll probably get ten different lists, all passionately
defended. That’s the joy of her career: there’s a Goldie era, character, or movie
for almost everyone.
In this article, we’ll walk through a ranked list of Goldie Hawn’s most beloved
films, blend in some critical perspectives, and sprinkle in personal opinions
and fan reactions. Think of it as a friendly roundtable where we all agree on
one thing: Goldie Hawn is a national treasure, even when our rankings don’t match.
Why Goldie Hawn Still Matters
Before diving into the rankings, it’s worth remembering how unusual Hawn’s career
really is. She came up as a dancer and sketch-comedy performer, becoming a breakout
star on TV in the late 1960s. Her bubbly persona and impeccable timing made her
a household name, and she transitioned into film with ease, winning an Academy
Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in
Cactus Flower (1969). Over the years she moved from “ditzy blonde”
stereotypes into increasingly nuanced roles that mixed slapstick, satire, and
surprising emotional depth.
Hawn’s filmography also charts the evolution of Hollywood comedy itselffrom
screwball 1970s romps and 1980s high-concept premises to 1990s studio hits that
put women front and center. Along the way, she has collected major award nominations,
box office success, and something more elusive: a reputation for making people
genuinely feel better when they walk out of the theater.
How These Goldie Hawn Rankings Were Created
Ranking Goldie Hawn movies is a bit like ranking desserts at a great bakery:
even the “worst” one is still pretty enjoyable. To keep this from turning into
pure chaos, we leaned on a few key factors:
- Critical acclaim: Reviews from major outlets and long-term critical reassessment.
- Awards and nominations: Oscars, Golden Globes, and other honors that recognize Hawn’s work.
- Box office and cultural impact: Did the movie connect with audiences in a lasting way?
- Rewatch value: Is this the Goldie Hawn movie you throw on when you need a comfort watch?
- Goldie factor: How much does Hawn’s performance elevate the material?
With that in mind, let’s get into the fun part: the rankings themselves.
Top 10 Goldie Hawn Movies, Ranked
1. The First Wives Club (1996)
If you want to understand why Goldie Hawn is beloved across generations,
The First Wives Club is ground zero. This sharp, stylish comedy follows
three divorced womenplayed by Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keatonwho exact
witty revenge on their ex-husbands. Hawn’s character, Elise Elliot, is a vain,
aging movie star fighting Hollywood’s obsession with youth and plastic surgery.
It’s a part that lets her spoof her own image while delivering some of the film’s
most quotable lines.
The movie was a major box office hit and has enjoyed cult status ever since,
particularly among women who saw their frustrations and friendships reflected
on-screen. Hawn balances slapstick bravado with a real sense of vulnerability;
beneath the jokes about facelifts and Botox is a woman terrified of becoming
invisible. That mix of satire and heart is a big reason this film tops many
Goldie Hawn rankings.
2. Private Benjamin (1980)
Private Benjamin is arguably Hawn’s defining star vehicle. She plays
Judy Benjamin, a sheltered newlywed who impulsively joins the Army after her
husband dies on their wedding night. The recruiting pitch she hears“a little
travel, a little adventure”turns out to be wildly inaccurate, and the result
is one of the best “fish out of water” comedies ever made.
Hawn earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the role, and it’s
easy to see why. Judy starts out snobbish and clueless, but Hawn guides her
toward genuine self-respect without sacrificing humor. The film skewers sexist
assumptions about what women can handle while giving Hawn room to showcase her
gift for physical comedywhether she’s stumbling through drills or trying to
keep her manicure intact in the mud. It’s both a feminist comedy and a crowd-pleaser,
and it sits very comfortably near the top of any Goldie Hawn list.
3. Overboard (1987)
For many fans, Overboard is the go-to Goldie Hawn comfort movie. The
premise is delightfully bonkers: Hawn plays Joanna Stayton, a wealthy, snobby
socialite who falls off her yacht, gets amnesia, and is convinced by a struggling
carpenter (Kurt Russell) that she’s his overworked, underappreciated wife.
The film is very much a product of its timeethically questionable setup and
allbut Goldie’s performance gives it warmth and spark. Watching Joanna evolve
from entitled diva to fiercely protective “mom” is surprisingly satisfying. Her
real-life chemistry with Russell adds another layer; you can feel the affection
behind the bickering. While critics were mixed at the time, the movie has become
a cable and streaming staple, boosting its ranking in the hearts of nostalgic
viewers.
4. Cactus Flower (1969)
Cactus Flower is where Hawn officially went from TV breakout to Oscar
winner. She plays Toni, a free-spirited young woman who gets tangled up in a
complicated romantic lie involving a dentist and his pretend wife. Hawn’s bright,
slightly chaotic energy steals the film right out from under her more seasoned
co-stars, and critics took notice.
The role earned her the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting
Actress. Looking back, it’s fascinating to see how early she understood the
power of comic timing, reaction shots, and body language. Toni could have been
grating or one-note, but Hawn makes her sweet, funny, and unexpectedly poignant.
Even though some younger fans discover this movie later, it deserves a high
ranking for launching her big-screen legacy.
5. Death Becomes Her (1992)
Dark comedy, high camp, and groundbreaking visual effectsDeath Becomes Her
is a Goldie Hawn showcase disguised as a supernatural farce. Hawn stars opposite
Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis in a twisted tale about rival women who drink a
potion promising eternal youth, only to discover some inconvenient side effects.
As Helen Sharp, Hawn leans into bitter, vengeful humor like never before. Her
transformation from frumpy, heartbroken writer to glamorous, seething diva is
unforgettable, and the visual gag of her character with a gaping hole through
her torso remains iconic. While the movie initially divided critics, it has
become a cult classic, especially in queer and camp-loving communities. It ranks
high because it proves Hawn can go pitch-black and still be wildly entertaining.
6. Shampoo (1975)
In Hal Ashby’s satirical gem Shampoo, set on the eve of the 1968
presidential election, Goldie Hawn plays Jill, a young woman entangled in a web
of romantic confusion with Warren Beatty’s womanizing hairdresser. The film
tackles politics, sexual freedom, and 1970s Los Angeles culture with a wry,
melancholy tone.
Hawn doesn’t have the broad comedy moments she gets in later movies, but that’s
precisely what makes this performance so interesting. Jill is fragile yet sharp,
funny yet grounded. In a film filled with big personalities, Hawn’s work adds
a quiet emotional anchor. It’s a favorite among critics and shows up frequently
on “best Goldie Hawn movies” lists, even if casual fans sometimes overlook it.
7. Foul Play (1978)
Foul Play is a classic “ordinary person caught up in a conspiracy”
romp, pairing Hawn with Chevy Chase in a Hitchcock-flavored caper about a plot
to assassinate the Pope. Hawn plays Gloria, a shy librarian who gets thrown into
a swirl of car chases, kidnappings, and mistaken identities.
Here, Hawn hits a sweet spot between screwball energy and genuine suspense.
She’s believable as someone way out of her depth, yet she never feels helpless
or passive. The movie was a box office hit and earned her a Golden Globe
nomination, solidifying her A-list status heading into the 1980s. It’s the kind
of film you stumble across on TV, watch “just for a minute,” and suddenly an
hour has gone by.
8. The Sugarland Express (1974)
Before Steven Spielberg was a blockbuster legend, he directed The Sugarland
Express, a road-movie drama starring Goldie Hawn as a desperate mother
trying to reclaim custody of her son. The film is loosely based on a true story
and blends chase-movie excitement with character-driven pathos.
Hawn’s performance here reminds everyone that she’s not “just” a comedian. Her
character, Lou Jean, is impulsive and often reckless, but Hawn plays her with
such raw determination and emotional honesty that you can’t quite condemn her.
Critics frequently single out this film as proof of her dramatic range, making
it a must-include on any serious Goldie Hawn ranking.
9. The Banger Sisters (2002)
In The Banger Sisters, Hawn stars alongside Susan Sarandon as former
rock ’n’ roll groupies who reunite years later and realize how differently their
lives turned out. Hawn’s character, Suzette, is still living the wild, chaotic
life of her youth, while Sarandon’s Lavinia has transformed herself into a
tightly wound suburban mom.
The movie works as a meditation on aging, authenticity, and the parts of
ourselves we’re afraid to admit we miss. Hawn gives Suzette a lived-in warmth;
she’s messy, yes, but also fiercely loyal and emotionally intuitive. The role
earned her more awards recognition and stands as one of her best later-career
performances. It’s a film that resonates strongly with viewers navigating their
own midlife reinventions.
10. Housesitter (1992)
Rounding out the top ten is Housesitter, a charming romantic comedy
that pairs Hawn with Steve Martin. She plays Gwen, an unapologetic con artist
who “moves into” a house Martin’s character built for an ex-girlfriend and then
pretends to be his wife when the small town starts asking questions.
The movie isn’t as critically revered as some of the others on this list, but
it’s incredibly rewatchable. Hawn’s Gwen is chaotic in the best wayspinning
elaborate lies, improvising emotional backstories, and somehow making everyone
love her anyway. It’s a prime example of her ability to turn what could have
been a one-dimensional “manic liar” into an endearing, oddly principled human
being. For that alone, it earns its spot.
Honorable Mentions
Limiting Goldie Hawn’s career to just ten titles feels a bit cruel, so a few
honorable mentions are in order:
- Bird on a Wire (1990): An action-comedy with Mel Gibson that scored big at the box office and showed Hawn could hold her own in explosions-and-car-chase territory.
- Everyone Says I Love You (1996): Woody Allen’s musical allows Hawn to sing, dance, and literally float across a bridge in one of the film’s loveliest sequences.
- Snatched (2017): Her return to the big screen after a fifteen-year hiatus, teaming with Amy Schumer and reminding audiences how naturally funny she still is.
Goldie Hawn’s Legacy: More Than Just Laughs
Part of what makes ranking Goldie Hawn’s movies so interesting is that her
influence extends beyond the screen. She has produced and directed, written a
bestselling memoir, and launched the MindUP program through her foundation,
focused on children’s social and emotional learning. Offscreen, she has been
vocal about mindfulness, mental health, and the pressures of fame.
Onscreen, her work helped pave the way for more complex comedic roles for women.
Films like Private Benjamin and The First Wives Club proved
that stories about women’s careers, friendships, and self-discovery could be
both commercially successful and culturally important. Plus, her long-term
relationship with Kurt Russell has become a kind of Hollywood unicorn: famous
but refreshingly low-drama.
of Opinions and Experiences on Goldie Hawn Rankings
Here’s where we get a little more personal. Rankings, by their nature, invite
debateand when it comes to Goldie Hawn, people are delightfully opinionated.
Spend ten minutes in a film forum or fan group and you’ll see just how strong
those feelings are.
For many viewers who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, Overboard is the
undisputed number one. It’s the movie they watched on VHS until the tape went
fuzzy, the one their parents quoted at dinner, and the film they rewatch now
when they need a comfort blanket. These fans often argue that while
Private Benjamin may be more important politically and
Cactus Flower more historically significant, nothing captures “Goldie
magic” quite like Joanna Stayton’s transformation from yacht tyrant to
small-town supermom.
On the other hand, cinephiles and critics frequently push The Sugarland
Express higher than casual viewers might. They see it as a key early work
from Spielberg and a turning point for Hawn, proving she could carry a more
dramatic, morally complicated role. If your movie diet includes a lot of
1970s American cinema, you might place that film in your personal top three and
wonder why everyone else is sleeping on it.
Then there are the fans who discovered Hawn later, perhaps through
The First Wives Club on streaming. For them, the trio of Hawn, Midler,
and Keaton feels like cinematic comfort food: friendship, chaos, revenge, and
impeccable 1990s wardrobes. These viewers might not have grown up with
Laugh-In reruns or 1970s comedies, but they recognize something timeless
in Hawn’s portrayal of an actress wrestling with aging in an industry that would
prefer she quietly disappear.
Personal experience shapes these rankings in all kinds of ways. Maybe your first
introduction to Goldie Hawn was watching Housesitter with a parent who
adored Steve Martin. Maybe you caught Foul Play late at night on cable
and were surprised at how suspensefuland genuinely funnyit was. Or perhaps you
saw Death Becomes Her as a teenager and thought, “Oh, this is what camp
is,” as Goldie and Meryl flung insults and vases at each other with immortal
bodies and very mortal egos.
Another fascinating layer is generational perspective. Older fans might place
Butterflies Are Free or There’s a Girl in My Soup higher than
younger viewers who haven’t seen those titles. Gen X and older millennials often
center their lists around Private Benjamin, Overboard, and
Death Becomes Her. Younger millennials and Gen Zwho met Hawn primarily
as Kate Hudson’s mom or as an icon referenced in pop culturemay discover her
movies out of order and form rankings based on what’s easiest to stream rather
than what was biggest at the box office in its day.
My own “emotional ranking” looks a little different from the more objective
list above. If we were judging solely based on how fast I’d hit “play” on a
Friday night, Overboard probably wins. For sheer craft and character
work, Private Benjamin nudges ahead. For quotable lines and group-watch
energy, The First Wives Club is nearly unbeatable. And for “wow, she
can really do drama,” The Sugarland Express earns a special place.
That’s the beauty of talking about Goldie Hawn rankings and opinions: there is
no single correct answer. Her career is rich enough that you can build several
different lists depending on whether you prioritize laughs, awards, box office,
or emotional impact. What remains constant across almost every viewpoint is a
deep affection for Hawn herself. Even when the script is uneven or the premise
dated, she brings a sincerity and playfulness that makes you root for her
charactersno matter how outrageous their situations.
In the end, maybe the best Goldie Hawn ranking is the one that sends you back to
the movies you haven’t seen in a whileor introduces you to the ones you missed.
Whether you start with her Oscar-winning turn in Cactus Flower, her
iconic soldier-in-heels in Private Benjamin, or the riotous sisterhood
of The First Wives Club, you’ll find a performer who has spent decades
making audiences laugh, think, and feel just a little lighter as the credits
roll.
Conclusion
Goldie Hawn’s filmography is a reminder that comedy, when done well, is every bit
as demanding and meaningful as drama. From award-winning performances to comfort
classics that live on in late-night rewatches and streaming queues, she has built
a body of work that invites rankings, disagreements, and endless affection.
Whether your personal list looks exactly like this one or not, one thing is
undeniable: Goldie Hawn has earned her place among Hollywood’s most enduring
legends.
