John Barrymore
ActingAbout John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth Barrymore (February 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III. His success continued with motion pictures in various genres in both the silent and sound eras. Barrymore's personal life has been the subject of much writing before and since his passing in 1942. Today John Barrymore is mostly known for his roles in movies like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920), Grand Hotel (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Twentieth Century (1934), and Don Juan (1926), the first ever movie to use a Vitaphone soundtrack. A member of a multi-generation theatrical dynasty, he was the brother of Lionel Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore, and was the paternal grandfather of Drew Barrymore.
John Barrymore Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of John Barrymore reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of John Barrymore's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 48% of John Barrymore's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Going Hollywood: The '30s, which stands out as a key performance.
Best John Barrymore Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from John Barrymore's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie John Barrymore has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker | Archival Footage | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Checking Out: Grand Hotel | Self / Various roles (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Complicated Women | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | The Casting Couch | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio | Hamlet (archive sound) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Going Hollywood: The '30s | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | The Horror of It All | Svengali (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | It's Showtime | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factory | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Invisible Woman | Professor Gibbs | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Great Profile | Evans Garrick | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Midnight | Georges Flammarion | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Great Man Votes | Vance | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Hold That Co-ed | Gabby Harrigan | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Marie Antoinette | King Louis XV | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Spawn of the North | Windy Turlon | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Hollywood Goes to Town | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Bulldog Drummond's Peril | Colonel Neilson | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | True Confession | Charles Jasper | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Bulldog Drummond's Revenge | Col. J.A. Nielson | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Bulldog Drummond Comes Back | Colonel Neilson | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Maytime | Nicolai Nazaroff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Romeo and Juliet | Mercutio | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Movie Maniacs | Photograph of John Barrymore (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Twentieth Century | Oscar Jaffe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Long Lost Father | Carl Bellairs | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Counsellor at Law | George Simon | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Dinner at Eight | Larry Renault | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Night Flight | Riviere | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Reunion in Vienna | Archduke Rudolf von Hapsburg | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Topaze | Auguste A. Topaze | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | A Bill of Divorcement | Hilary Fairfield | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Grand Hotel | Baron Felix von Gaigern | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | State's Attorney | Tom Cardigan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Arsène Lupin | Duke of Charmerace | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Mad Genius | Vladimar Ivan Tsarakov | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Svengali | Svengali | Average | Similar → |
| 1930 | The Man from Blankley's | Lord Strathpeffer | Average | Similar → |
| 1928 | Tempest | Sergeant Ivan Markov | Average | Similar → |
| 1927 | When a Man Loves | Chevalier Fabien des Grieux | Average | Similar → |
| 1927 | The Beloved Rogue | François Villon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Don Juan | Don Jose de Marana / Don Juan de Marana | Average | Similar → |
| 1926 | The Sea Beast | Captain Ahab Ceeley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ | Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Beau Brummel | Gordon Bryon 'Beau' Brummel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | Sherlock Holmes | Sherlock Holmes | Average | Similar → |
| 1920 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde | Hit | Similar → |
| 1917 | Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman | A.J. Raffles | Average | Similar → |
John Barrymore - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of John Barrymore?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Barrymore is "Going Hollywood: The '30s" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has John Barrymore acted in?
John Barrymore has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by John Barrymore?
Other notable films include "The Casting Couch", "The Horror of It All", and "The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute".