On the Waterfront

1954 · directed by Elia Kazan

Rating

98/100

Hit

yes

Prestige lists

AFI 100, TSPDT 250, Oscar Winner, NFR

A prizefighter-turned-longshoreman with a conscience goes up against labor leaders to expose corruption, extortion, and murder among the union ranks.

On the Waterfront (1954), directed by Elia Kazan, rates 98/100 — a hit. See how its director, cast and crew rate across their careers.

Cast

• Marlon Brando
• Eva Marie Saint
• Karl Malden
• Lee J. Cobb
• Rod Steiger
• Pat Henning
• Leif Erickson
• James Westerfield
• Tony Galento
• Tami Mauriello

Crew

• Boris Kaufman — Director of Photography
• Gene Milford — Editor
• Leonard Bernstein — Original Music Composer
• Budd Schulberg — Screenplay

More from Elia Kazan

1. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) — 97/100 · hit
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) — 84/100 · hit
3. Panic in the Streets (1950) — 81/100 · hit
4. Wild River (1960) — 81/100 · hit
5. A Face in the Crowd (1957) — 80/100 · hit
6. Gentleman's Agreement (1947) — 80/100 · hit

How these numbers work: Methodology