The 7 Best George Roy Hill Movies, Ranked

Best George Roy Hill Movies: Filmmaker George Roy Hill worked throughout the 1960s and 1980s. Before turning to directing theatre, TV, and finally films, he began his career as an off-Broadway performer. Romantic comedies, musical parodies, crime thrillers, epic dramas, sports pictures, sci-fi, dark comedy, and revisionist Westerns are just a few of the genres he has worked in. As a history enthusiast, Hill typically shoots his nostalgic, primarily historical dramas in the past. “I like to be able to sit back and pick out the most fascinating facets of an era. You have a better perspective,” he has said.

While not all of his endeavors are successful, his most notable films have withstood the test of time and remain relevant several decades later, showcasing his mastery of arresting imagery and his frugal storytelling style. In the words of Robert Redford, who worked with George Roy Hill frequently, “George Roy Hill [was] not only a vastly talented storyteller on the screen—but also cosmically cheap.” The best George Roy Hill movies showcase his strongest qualities, creating some timeless masterpieces that are presently regarded as some of the greatest of the 20th century.

7. ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’ (1972)

“Only on Earth is there any talk of free will.” The bizarre sci-fi film Slaughterhouse-Five, which is based on Kurt Vonnegut’s classic novel, combines strong anti-war sentiment with fantastical elements. Michael Sacks plays Billy Pilgrim, an unfortunate ophthalmologist who survives the World War II firebombing of Dresden and finds himself “unstuck in time” in the narrative. Billy relives important events in his life through a sequence of nonlinear flashbacks, including his time spent as a prisoner of war, his union with the colorful Valencia (Sharon Gans), and his interactions with the extraterrestrials known as Tralfamadorians.

Also Read: 7 Best Short Films From Famous Directors

6. ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ (1967)

“Follow your heart, no raspberries!” Julie Andrews plays Millie Dillmount, a Kansas native who relocates to New York in hopes of marrying her affluent boss and living the glamorous flapper lifestyle. But a slavery ring headed by the evil Mrs. Meers (Beatrice Lillie) and a romantic triangle featuring the handsome Jimmy Smith (James Fox) and the endearing Miss Dorothy Brown (Mary Tyler Moore) throws a wrench in her plans.

5. ‘A Little Romance’ (1979)

“What are legends anyway but stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things?” Precocious American girl Lauren King (Diane Lane) meets eccentric French guy Daniel Michon (Thelonious Bernard) in Paris. They hit it off right away, connecting over their love of films and determination to overcome obstacles. Thus commences a poignant tale of childhood love, bolstered by endearing protagonists and generously directed by Roy.

4. ‘The World According to Garp’ (1982)

“Everybody dies. I’m going to die too. So will you. The thing is to have a life before we die.” The World According to Garp, which is based on John Irving’s darkly humorous novel, stars Robin Williams as T.S. Garp, a family man and aspiring writer who fights for his identity and purpose. Glenn Close is the son of feminist icon T.S. Garp. He gets to know several people in his mother’s treatment facility, including transgender football player Roberta Muldoon (John Lithgow), and has a turbulent marriage to Helen (Mary Beth Hurt).

3. ‘Slap Shot’ (1977)

It’s their town, their rink, and their ice. Fuck that. However, our fans are here with us tonight!” In the boisterous sports comedy Slap Shot, the Charlestown Chiefs, a minor league ice hockey team in trouble, are followed as they use unconventional strategies to win games and win back their diminishing fan base. Leading the ensemble as player-coach Reggie Dunlop, Paul Newman aims to turn the Chiefs from underdogs into contenders.

2. ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)

“Boy, I got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals.” The main characters of this revisionist Western are Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s titular outlaws, who go out on a string of audacious bank robberies throughout the American West. Along with their fervently devoted accomplice, Etta Place (Katharine Ross), Butch, and Sundance escape to Bolivia as the law closes in on them in search of a new beginning. But their exploits are far from over; they will soon have to contend with several adversaries, including the Bolivian Army.

1. ‘The Sting’ (1973)

“If this thing blows up, the feds will be the least of our problems.” The Sting is a narrative about two con artists named Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) who want to exact revenge on mob leader Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). The plot takes place in 1930s Chicago. Along with a colorful group of eccentrics that include the cunning waitress Billie (Eileen Brennan) and the endearing jerk Luther Coleman (Robert Earl Jones), Hooker and Gondorff plan a complex “sting” operation that aims to outwit Lonnegan and his vicious goons.