By now, there’s no need to reintroduce John Wayne. The Duke was more than a movie star—he was a towering figure in mid-20th century Hollywood and the undisputed icon of the American Western.
Known for his rugged charisma, no-nonsense attitude, and often controversial opinions, Wayne left a legacy that shaped generations of filmmakers and fans alike.
But beyond his on-screen persona, Wayne was also a passionate movie lover with strong opinions about the art form. In 1977, just two years before his death, he shared his five all-time favorite films—and, unsurprisingly, his top pick for best Western starred none other than himself.
Wayne’s favorite western: The Searchers (1956)
In The People’s Almanac Volume II, Wayne named The Searchers—directed by his longtime collaborator John Ford—as his favorite Western of all time. Released in 1956, the film tells the story of a Civil War veteran who returns home to find his family slaughtered and his two nieces kidnapped by Native Americans. He then embarks on a relentless, years-long quest to find them.
Wayne’s performance as Ethan Edwards is widely considered one of his finest, and the film itself is hailed as a masterpiece of the genre. Though he didn’t win an Oscar for The Searchers, Wayne did take home the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1969 for True Grit. He was also nominated for Sands of Iwo Jima (1950) and The Alamo (1961).
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The Duke’s Top 5 favorite films
When asked to name his five favorite movies of all time, Wayne’s list reflected both his personal taste and his pride in his own work. Here’s what made the cut:
- A Man for All Seasons (1966) – A historical drama about Sir Thomas More’s moral stand against King Henry VIII.
- Gone with the Wind (1939) – The sweeping Civil War epic that remains one of the most iconic films in Hollywood history.
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) – A silent classic starring Rudolph Valentino.
- The Quiet Man (1952) – Another John Ford film, this time a romantic drama set in Ireland, starring Wayne himself.
- The Searchers (1956) – His favorite Western, and one of his most celebrated roles.
Interestingly, two of Wayne’s top five starred him in the lead—proof that The Duke knew his own strengths and wasn’t shy about celebrating them.
Wayne died of stomach cancer at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on June 11, 1979 just a couple of weeks after his 72nd birthday.
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