The 16 Best Audrey Hepburn Movies, Ranked

Known for her graceful presence and regal qualities, Audrey Hepburn has continued to remain a film icon into the 21st century. She not only graced the silver screen in some of the greatest movies of all time but has become the unofficial saint of college dorm rooms thanks to ubiquitous  "Breakfast at Tiffany's" posters. Yet regardless of how people have come to discover Hepburn, it's hard to deny the magic in her performances. From those of a more serious nature, like "The Children's Hour," to those of the more romantic sort, like "Roman Holiday," Hepburn makes any movie more beautiful and radiant with just a simple glance at the camera.

But with a list of incredible movies within Hepburn's filmography, which among them is the best of the best? That's the puzzle this list is here to solve. From the films that deserve a bit more respect to those that have defined her career, we'll look through the fascinating history of Hepburn's movie legacy to discover which project represents her best. So grab a croissant and your most delicate pair of gloves, and let's take a look at the films that made Audrey Hepburn the movie, fashion, and overall pop culture icon she is today.

Filmed like many epics of its era, King Vidor's take on "War and Peace" is a visually striking yet ultimately lackluster adaptation that isn't quite as juicy as the story itself. In it, audiences get to experience how Napoleon's 1812 take over of Russia twisted the lives of various high-ranking families. The film has romance, over-the-top battle sequences, stunning ballgowns, and all of the half-baked melodrama that dramas of this time were famous for. 

Despite not being the most remarkable adaptation, "War and Peace" is an Audrey Hepburn movie that speaks to her strengths as an actor. Not only does Hepburn look absolutely stunning as Natasha Rostova, but she brings a magical energy to the role that wonderfully represents her unique on-screen presence. Plus, this is one of the few films where she has genuine chemistry with her romantic co-stars — especially with Henry Fonda as Count Pierre Bezukhov, whose performance is a fantastic juxtaposition to Hepburn's bubbly nature. 

Based on the 1920 novel by Claude Anet, Billy Wilder's "Love in the Afternoon" tells the story of a young cello player, Ariane Chavasse (Hepburn) who becomes quite friendly with rich playboy, Frank Flannagan (Gary Cooper) — a figure who just so happens to be the subject of an investigation that's being conducted by Ariane's private detective father, Claude Chavasse (Maurice Chevalier). As the movie progresses, we get to see the various stages of their fascinating relationship, all done in Wilder's signature cinematic style. There's quippy dialog thanks to Wilder and collaborator I.A.L. Diamond, stunning cinematography by William Mellor, and of course, a glittering performance by Hepburn. 

Yet despite the magic within "Love in the Afternoon," the casting of Cooper (who was 56) and Hepburn (who was 28) as a romantic pair is hard to shake. Sure, Hepburn is no stranger to being cast with actors twice or more her senior. But many of them don't look quite as grandfatherly next to Hepburn as Cooper does. Sadly, Cooper's health was slowly declining around the time of filming, which likely attributed to his frail appearance in the movie. Though regardless of this (and his talent), it's hard to deny that this movie would be a bit easier to enjoy if Frank's age was a tad closer to Ariane's. 

In "Robin and Marian," we get to see the iconic Sherwood couple much past their typical "happily ever after" phase. As the film begins, we see a much weathered Robin Hood (Sean Connery) return from war to find his home not in the state he left it in. The story then follows Robin trying to win back the hand of Maid Marian (Hepburn) and discovering the Sheriff of Nottingham is up to his old tricks again, all the while attempting to bring his community back to its former glory.

While far from the most glamorous film in Hepburn's career, "Robin and Marian" deserves a place on this list simply because of its significance within Hepburn's filmography. Before this project, Hepburn had taken a long absence from the world of filmmaking, primarily because the scripts handed to her weren't the kind of material she was interested in. But once you see the entirety of this movie, it's easy to catch why she was captivated by the script. It's also a treat to see Hepburn bring her signature grace to such an iconic character, especially when paired with the equally grounded Connery. Ultimately, "Robin and Marian" is an excellent example of Hepburn's range throughout her ever-evolving acting journey.

Directed by Stanley Donen, "Two for the Road" pairs Audrey Hepburn with Albert Finney as an unhappily married couple who travel through the south of France during a critical moment in their relationship. From their initial meeting to various other signature moments, the movie presents the pair's romantic journey in a modern nonlinear fashion — one that feels so fresh, you could have sworn the film only came out a few years ago.

Considering that she was going through her own real-life divorce at the time of filming, there's an authenticity to Audrey's performance in "Two for the Road" that is fascinating (yet painful) to examine. Much like the criminally underrated "The Last Five Years," this movie only works when the talent involved strips down all of their emotional barriers while filming. Hepburn pushes away her typically glamorous persona to instead give her character a more relatable aesthetic, resulting in a performance that is one of her absolute best.

Based on the hit musical by Lerner and Loewe, "My Fair Lady" tells the story of Eliza Doolittle (Hepburn), who becomes involved in a bet between Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) and Colonel Hugh Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White.) The wager in question? Whether Higgins can transform the Cockney accented young woman into a lady of high society — including improving her speech and decorum. But what starts off as a silly venture evolves into a much more complicated situation, especially once Eliza changes the hearts and minds of those around her.

Featuring incredible set design, costumes, and performances, "My Fair Lady" still ranks among the most significant movie musicals of all time; yet, its most fantastic selling point is, of course, Hepburn herself. Sure, her singing portions may have been dubbed over in the post-production process, but that doesn't deter her from what is genuinely a magnificent comedic and theatrical performance — one that stands the test of time much better than some of the show's more problematic themes. Overall, despite its bumpy behind-the-scenes elements (including its awards season controversies), "My Fair Lady" should always be remarked as a delightful point in Hepburn's career.

Adapted from the 1934 play of the same name, director William Wyler's "The Children's Hour" stars Hepburn with co-star Shirley McLaine as two bordering school teachers who are accused of being in a lesbian relationship. As the movie continues, audiences get to see the effect of this rumor and the way it transforms the two leading ladies' lives. From students dropping out of their school to their reputations on the line, the film doesn't shy away from showing the ever-changing dynamic between the pair.

While it certainly has its Hays Code era flaws, "The Children's Hour" deserves this high ranking because of how well it captures Hepburn at her most mature as an actor. Though many of the films on this list showcase her endless versatility, Hepburn's work here is a fantastic example of her evolution as a film star. Plus, her chemistry with McLaine is unmatched. These are two talents at fantastic points in their careers who are giving the kind of performances that deserve all the respect in the world. Sure, the film ends on a tragic note; however, it still holds significance for not only its attempts at depicting LGBTQ+ themes but for the incredible Hepburn performance it contains.

Filled with stunning fashion and even more excellent musical sequences, "Funny Face" is a joyous example of the magic Hepburn brought to so many roles. In the movie, she plays Jo Stockton, a book shop assistant who eventually becomes Quality Magazine's newest model, thanks to the talents of master photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire.) The movie then follows Jo and Dick (along with the magazine's editor, Maggie Prescott, aka Kay Thompson ) as they travel to Paris. But like any romantic musical comedy of this era, it's not too long before Jo and Dick fall for each other — leading to some crazy scenarios.

There's no denying that many of Hepburn's earlier movies had a "formula" to them, those being the ones where she transforms from a mousy young girl into a graceful figure. Yet out of all of them, "Funny Face" is easily the most colorful and fun example of these movies. Not only does Audrey shine (especially comedically) as Jo, but unlike many of her other much-older-than-her love interests, she actually has genuine chemistry with Fred. A fact that particularly comes into play during the film's photoshoot montage showcasing the pair's fantastic balance of humor and romance with each other. Plus, it's always a blast to see Hepburn with someone as electric as Kay Thompson, who (when they dance together) light up the screen as quite the quirky duo.

Directed by Billy Wilder, "Sabrina" is one of those movies that checks every entertaining box with ease. The film centers around Sabrina Fairchild (Hepburn), the daughter of the wealthy Larrabee family's driver. Mousy but strikingly beautiful, Sabrina has been infatuated with playboy David Larrabee (William Holden) since she crossed his path. But as David finally starts giving Sabrina the time of day, older brother Linus Larrabee (Humphrey Bogart) begins to take notice of the young girl's charms — all of which results in a rom-com filled with all the witty and glamour audiences have come to expect from Wilder.

Considered by many to be one of Audrey's signature roles, "Sabrina" deserves the top spot simply because it's the movie that defined Audrey's on-screen persona. For much like her other "Cinderella" story movies, it's a film that establishes why she was so good at playing down-to-earth beauties who transformed into glamorous women so well: because she's the definition of likable, and even more so, a symbol of hope and optimism. This makes it easy to see not only why Holden and Bogart's characters would fall under her spell, but also why audiences would too for decades to come.