
Steve McQueen
ActingAbout Steve McQueen
Terrence Stephen "Steve" McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. He was nicknamed the "King of Cool" and used the alias Harvey Mushman in motor races. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand Pebbles (1966). His other popular films include Love With the Proper Stranger (1963), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), Le Mans (1971), The Getaway (1972), and Papillon (1973). In addition, he starred in the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), and The Towering Inferno (1974). In 1974, McQueen became the highest-paid movie star in the world, although he did not act in film for another four years. He was combative with directors and producers, but his popularity placed him in high demand and enabled him to command the largest salaries.
Best Steve McQueen Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Steve McQueen's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Steve McQueen.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Steve McQueen: The Lost Movie | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Steve McQueen: American Icon | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Steve McQueen: Desert Racer | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | The Emperor's New Clothes | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | I Am Steve McQueen | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2005 | Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2005 | Dust to Glory | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | On Any Sunday: Motocross, Malcolm & More | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | On Any Sunday: Revisited | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | 'Bullitt': Steve McQueen's Commitment to Reality | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Steve McQueen: The King of Cool | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Hello Actors Studio | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Creepy Classics | Steve Andrews - (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Hunter | Ralph "Papa" Thorson | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Tom Horn | Tom Horn | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | An Enemy of the People | Dr. Thomas Stockmann | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Dixie Dynamite | Dirt-Bike Rider | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Towering Inferno | Chief O'Hallorhan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Papillon | Henri "Papillon" Charriere | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Magnificent Rebel | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Getaway | Carter "Doc" McCoy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Junior Bonner | Junior Bonner | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Beware! The Blob | Steve Andrews (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | On Any Sunday | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Le Mans | Michael Delaney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Reivers | Boon Hogganbeck | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Bullitt | Lt. Frank Bullitt | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Thomas Crown Affair | Thomas Crown | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Sand Pebbles | Jake Holman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Nevada Smith | Max Sand | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Cincinnati Kid | Eric Stoner ("The Cincinnati Kid") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Baby the Rain Must Fall | Henry Thomas | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | Love with the Proper Stranger | Rocky Papasano | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | Soldier in the Rain | Eustis Clay | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Great Escape | Hilts 'The Cooler King' | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | The War Lover | Capt. Buzz Rickson | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Hell Is for Heroes | Pvt. John Reese | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Honeymoon Machine | Lt. Ferguson 'Fergie' Howard | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Magnificent Seven | Vin | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Never So Few | Bill Ringa | Flop | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery | George Fowler | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Blob | Steve Andrews | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Never Love a Stranger | Martin Cabell | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Defender (Studio One) | Joseph Gordon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Somebody Up There Likes Me | Fidel (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Girl on the Run | Young Man Trying to Ring the Bell | Flop | Similar → |
Steve McQueen - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Steve McQueen?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Steve McQueen is "Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King" with a rating of 8.5/10.
How many movies has Steve McQueen acted in?
Steve McQueen has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Steve McQueen?
Other notable films include "The Great Escape", "Papillon", and "Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade".




