Goldie Hawn is an American actress, dancer, producer, and singer. She rose to fame on NBC’s sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. In addition to being known for being the mother of actress Kate Hudson, Hawn has had her own distinguished career. Since the 60s, she has starred in many hit movies, making her a household name in Hollywood and one of the foremost actresses of her generation.
While Hawn’s career had somewhat slowed over the past decade, she has managed to build up an impressive amount of content. From films like Foul Play and Seems Like Old Times to the more recent Snatched, which showed Hawn coming out of a 15-year retirement from film, her filmography is an impressive one. While it’s unclear whether Hawn will continue to star in any leading roles anytime soon, she has starred in a number of gems. These are the best Goldie Hawn movies, ranked.
Updated January 3, 2023: If you love Goldie Hawn films, you’ll be happy to know we’ve updated this article with additional content and entries.
10/10 Swing Shift (1984)
One of the many Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell collaborations, Swing Shift takes place during World War II. We follow Kay Walsh (Hawn), who signs up to work in an armaments factory in California while her husband Jack (Ed Harris), a U.S. Naval seaman, is overseas in naval service. Lonely and vulnerable, Kay falls in love with a musician named Lucky (Russell) and befriends her neighbor Hazel (Christine Lahti), a former singer. The three of them enjoy their time together, but “the s*** hits the fan” once Jack returns home and discovers what’s happened. Hawn and Russell are superb together, so it’s no wonder they’d go on to co-star again down the line — and fall in love in real life.
9/10 The Sugarland Express (1974)
Steven Spielberg, ladies and gents. His acclaimed 70s flick, The Sugarland Express, follows married small-time criminals Lou-Jean (Hawn) and Clovis (William Atherton), who lose their baby to the state of Texas and will do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from a foster home — while also taking a patrolman hostage. This leads to an epic pursuit of the couple across the Lone Star State, as the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive officer. The Sugarland Express somewhat echoes antihero classics like Bonnie and Clyde. Don’t miss it!
8/10 Seems Like Old Times (1980)
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Hawn and Chevy Chase star in this comedy about writer Nick Gardenia, who is on the run from the law after being forced to rob a bank. While evading capture, Nick seeks the help of his ex-wife Glenda who houses him while her current husband Ira hosts a party for local law enforcement. Seems Like Old Times is a light-hearted film that emulates an old-fashioned screwball comedy like the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup. Despite its age, this film still holds up thanks to the performances of Hawn and Chase, who make a surprisingly strong pairing on-screen.
7/10 Wildcats (1986)
Hawn gives her all as Molly McGrath in Wildcats, starring as the daughter of a famous football coach who dreams of coaching her very own team. When the opportunity arises to lead a team from an inner-city Chicago school, Molly cannot pass it up. While her team members make her job even more difficult, Molly’s strong spirit and unwavering optimism keep her going. Molly’s attitude eventually spreads to the rest of the team, giving them the courage they need to face their most difficult of challenges. Wildcats is the film debut of both Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.
6/10 Best Friends (1982)
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Based on the true story of the relationship between the writers of the film, Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin, Best Friends follows the story of Richard Babson and Paula McCullen, a successful screenwriting team that manages to live together in harmony. Riding the high of completing their latest script, Richard convinces Paula to marry him. However, the newly wedded couple’s shared euphoria falls off when they travel to visit their respective in-laws. Hawn shines alongside Burt Reynolds in this authentic and endearing film about love and marriage. Hawn was praised for her performance, coming across with maturity, matching Burt Reynolds’ efforts, and even earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress Comedy or Musical.
5/10 Private Benjamin (1980)
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Private Benjamin tells the story of Jewish-American princess Judy Benjamin. Grieving the loss of her husband on their wedding night, a recruiter for the Women’s Army Corps convinces Judy to enlist. While Judy believes that her enlistment will be a vacation for her, she is quickly put in line. During her basic training, Judy becomes a good soldier and manages to discover more about herself along the way. Private Benjamin was nominated for three Academy Awards, including a nomination for Hawn for Best Actress. The film’s praise and popularity led to the making of a TV series. There was also a plan to make a remake of Private Benjamin potentially starring Anna Farris, but it would seem that that plan has been abandoned.
4/10 The First Wives Club (1996)
Based on the novel of the same name, The First Wives Club tells the story of three divorcées who long for retribution on their ex-husbands for leaving them for younger women. Hawn stars alongside Bette Midler and Diane Keaton in this feel-good comedy. The film features an ensemble cast including Maggie Smith, Rob Reiner, and Eileen Heckart, and even features cameos from great people like Gloria Steinem. At the time of its release, The First Wives Club was a surprise box-office smash and developed a cult following, especially among middle-aged women, and rejuvenated the main actresses’ careers. Hawn’s performance won her a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy.
3/10 Death Becomes Her (1992)
Novelist Helen Sharp returns from her stint in a psychiatric hospital and flaunts her glowing appearance in front of her ex-husband Ernest and his new wife Madeline. When Madeline asks Helen what her secret is, she soon makes a dark discovery that Helen’s amazing appearance is due to a mysterious drug that grants eternal life, but there is still a price to pay for immortality. Death Becomes Her stars Hawn, Meryl Streep, and Bruce Willis in the main cast. The film was a commercial success and pioneered a number of computer-generated effects, winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
2/10 Bird on a Wire (1990)
Bird on a Wire tells the story of Rick Jarmin, a man put into the witness protection program for helping the FBI bust Eugene Sorenson. After 15 years of living a new life, old flame Marianne recognizes him at a gas station, blowing his cover within the program. When Sorenson is released from prison, he finds out where Jarmin is and hunts him down, forcing him and Marianne to flee across the country. Hawn and Mel Gibson make an interesting duo with great chemistry in Bird on a Wire as they travel across exotic locations throughout the U.S. and leave us laughing with outrageous scenes like being chased by a tiger at the zoo.
1/10 Overboard (1987)
Hawn’s best movie is Overboard, a classic film about socialite Joanna Stayton who lives a life of leisure with her husband until she falls off their yacht and suffers from amnesia. While her husband makes no effort to help her and winds up abandoning her, a widowed carpenter with four children, Dean (Kurt Russell) claims that she is his wife. With no memory of her past, Joanna struggles to believe that she married Dean and birthed four children. While Overboard was a box-office disappointment, it has since developed a cult following and has been remade a number of times.
