10 Greatest Woody Allen Movies of All Time

Woody Allen is an American comedian, filmmaker and writer who directed and starred in two of his most famous films, ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘Manhattan.’ Listed below are the 10 Greatest Woody Allen Movies of All Time

1. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

IMDb rating – 8/10, Won 3 Oscars

Arguably Allen’s greatest film of all time, everyone in this comedy-drama played their part perfectly, no matter how big or small their role was. This movie highlights the urbane and dramatic example of romance in New York, charged by bookish wit and gently shaken by anxiety.

2. Zelig (1983)

IMDb rating – 7.8/10, Oscars – 2 Nominations

We are infinitely persuadable; this is the thesis of Allen Woody’s wisest movie Zelig. This movie has much to say on how anyone can be bent and controlled in the name of acceptance. Zelig forces us to notice our weaknesses.

3. Love and Death (1975)

IMDb rating – 7.8, Won UNICRIT award

This film rightfully justifies Allen’s successful efforts to reunite his immense intellectualism with his populist comic sensibility. Critics, after watching Love and Death, accepted the fact that film industry certainly needs Woody.

4. Annie Hall (1977)

IMDb rating – 8.1, Won 4 Oscars

Woody Allen never created a more challenging and enjoyable film than Annie Hall. It is as clever and innovative as any movie has ever been. What makes this film great is Allen’s carefree direction and screenplay.

5. Manhattan (1979)

IMDb rating – 8.0, 2 Oscar nominations

A divorced television writer, dating a teenage girl complicates his life further by falling in love with his best friend’s wife. Just a few word description of Manhattan is overly enticing. This film was certainly Woody’s Valentine to the city he loved.

6. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

IMDb rating – 7.8, 1 Oscar nomination

The Purple Rose of Cairo happens to be one of the best movies made in the 80’s. It’s laced with regret and bitterness, a true reality check driven by the movie’s unhappy ending.

7. Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)

IMDb rating – 8.0, 3 Oscar nominations

Life as a farce, life as a tragedy: Crimes and Misdeameanors depicts both arcs, and in keeping with Woody’s existentialist bent, switches the endings. A tragic figure takes an innocent life and walks away unpunished and remorseless; whereas, a noble life is punished. It’s surely Allen’s bleakest and darkest film.

8. Sleeper (1973)

IMDb rating – 7.3, Won 3 awards

A type of high concept comedy that Allen would abandon in the late 1970s, Sleeper is quite a master class in comic rifling. This movie is a pure comedy, unlike Allen’s other movies.

9. Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

IMDb rating – 7.4, One Golden Globe nomination

Refreshingly breezier than Allen’s previous melodramatic feature, Husbands and Wives, this movie (Manhattan Murder Mystery) is his best “minor” comic thriller. It’s an amazingly funny movie that allowed Allen and Keaton to flaunt their perfected New York type characters.

10. Bananas (1971)

IMDb rating – 7.1, WGA nomination

Some people say Bananas shows that Woody Allen’s early movies were far better. Allen may have even reached his apex with this extremely funny movie, and he never looked back.