Walter Matthau was a talented comedic actor who starred in movies spanning 50 years. His most memorable ones were with Jack Lemon. The duo is unforgettable and had the charm and charisma well into their 60s and 70s. Here is a list of the top 10 Walter Matthau movies of all time.
1. Dennis the Menace (1993):
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 9.7/10
Description: Mr. Wilson’s (played by Walter Matthau) retired life is repeatedly interrupted by a kid named Dennis, who is living next door. Dennis really knows which buttons to push on Mr. Wilson. It’s even funnier to watch the two clash as the former plays jokes on the latter.
2. The Odd Couple (1968):
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 9/10
Description: A neat freak and a slob, who both are divorced, decide to live together. Nothing goes well for the two as Oscar is driven to insanity by Felix’s neat freak attitude. Both Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau were nominated for Golden Globe Awards for this film.
3. Fortune Cookie (1966):
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: 8.6/10
Description: Walter Matthau is good at playing con artists, and this film is no exception. He gets his brother-in-law to fake a serious injury. This was the first film for Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon and was a hit. Matthau won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in this film.
4. The Front Page (1974):
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: 8.5/10
Description: Walter Matthau plays a reporter who grows tired of his job and decides to get married. The editor (played by Lemon) has his own agenda and tries to force Matthau to stay. The duo is natural in this movie once again. They never seem to disappoint their fans. The film was thus nominated for best motion picture at the Golden Globes.
5. Grumpy Old Men (1993):
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Rating: 8.3/10
Description: Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau still have the groove in this film; yes, well into their 60s and 70s. The movie was a success and earned $70 million domestically. The rivalry is still there and there is woman (played by Anne-Margaret) that both go after in this film.