Tanay Shah
He is a global superstar and one of the most bankable actors working in Hollywood. Recognized for his fantastic acting abilities as well as incredible looks, Brad Pitt is one of the most sought after A-list actors today. Having worked in over 50 films across three decades, he has given many box office hits and critically acclaimed performances. Here is the list of his top 15 films to date. The list is based on critical as well as commercial performance and these films showcase why Pitt is such a huge star and so well loved by his fans across the globe.You can watch some of these best Brad Pitt movies on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
15. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
This blockbuster starring Pitt and Angelina Jolie was a commercial success mainly driven by the performances of the leading actors and their chemistry. Brad Pitt perfectly portrayed the role of a secret assassin. The action packed film was well received by the audiences and grossed over $450 million despite garnering mixed reviews from critics. The film is funny at times but it’s the action sequences that are the most remarkable.
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14. Burn After Reading (2008)
Pitt’s only collaboration with the Coen Brothers was a dark comedy called ‘Burn After Reading’. The film had moderate success upon its release, both commercially and critically. But it has since garnered a widespread following and a more or less of a cult status among viewers, something similar to many other Coen Brothers films. The film was stylish and funny. ‘No Country For Old Men’ had set rather high standards for the audiences and hence, the film opened to mixed reviews. Nonetheless, it is a good dark comedy and Pitt is well suited for his role and remained the key highlight.
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13. Killing Them Softly (2012)
This crime thriller was a rather underrated film of 2012. Brad Pitt plays a hitman hired to restore peace in the underworld community after a spat between rival mobsters. He is extremely serious and dangerous in the role. Pitt has a terrific presence in the film and his portrayal as the no-nonsense enforcer was spot on.
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12. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
This 2007 film had Brad Pitt play the mythic Jesse James, an outlaw in 19th Century western Missouri. The character was powerful and dominating and Brad Pitt played the role impeccably. Even though Casey Affleck’s performance as Robert Ford was the most talked about aspect of the film, Pitt’s job also deserves a mention.
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11. Legends of the Fall (1994)
This film starred Brad Pitt before he had made it big in Hollywood. Although the film would not be counted among his most memorable ones, it does deserve a mention because of the raw talent that Brad Pitt displayed in the film. The film is visually appealing and although, it was panned by some critics for being unoriginal, had a good reception at the viewers’ end and also brought Pitt in the eyes of the viewers and future collaborators.
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10. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Rarely does a remake of a classic film turn out to be as good if not better and more successful than the original. And 2011’s ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ is one such example. Apart from the fresh style of director, Steven Soderbergh, it was the stellar cast that drove the film’s success. Pitt and company were basically good friends off-screen as well and their chemistry clearly shows in their performances. Also, when you’re placed among half a dozen fellow A-listers, you need to make sure that your work stands out. And Brad Pitt just did that. It’s true that George Clooney was perfect in the role of Danny Ocean, but Pitt himself was not far behind. His cool and charming demeanor made his acting look effortless and made Rusty’s character even more charming.
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9. Snatch. (2000)
Guy Ritchie’s ‘Snatch.’ is one of the funniest movies in recent times. With an ensemble cast, the film was a critical and commercial success. Despite an overstuffed plot and a large umber of characters, the most remarkable role was Pitt’s. He played a bare-knuckle boxing gypsy in the film. Pitt mastered the gypsy Irish accent so well that it was the performance that proved that he is more than just a pretty face. Pitt, the star, gets lost easily in the film and he is a completely different character from the ones you would usually associate with Pitt.
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8. Troy (2004)
The role that probably emphasized the most on Brad Pitt’s looks was that of Achilles in ‘Troy’. Pitt was since ‘Troy’ seen as an actual Greek God for the sculpted body and looks he had. However, his performance was supported by a brilliant performance as well and the result was a critically and commercially successful epic that can not be imagined without Brad Pitt playing the role.
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7. Moneyball (2011)
There is something extraordinary about Brad Pitt playing an ordinary person in a film. When he did it for the second time in 2011 after ‘The Tree of Life’, in ‘Moneyball’, the result was an Oscar nominated film and an Oscar nominated performance. He perfectly embodied the role of Billy Beane and the character was far more realistic an vulnerable than his previous roles. It sure must have been challenging for Brad Pitt but the result was way too believable and distinguishable from his megastar perception.
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6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Brad Pitt worked with friend and frequent collaborator, David Fincher, in this flick. The groundbreaking character transformation as Pitt plays a man aging in the reverse direction accompanied with incredible visuals helped Pitt get first Oscar nomination in the leading role category. The film is breathtaking and is one of the finest performances of Brad Pitt.
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5. The Tree of Life (2011)
Terrence Mallick’s 2011 film, ‘The Tree of Life’ has been widely recognized for the artistic style it uses and its philosophies. The film garnered enough critical acclaim but the hard to understand style of storytelling used could not attract many viewers. The film needs multiple viewings to be fully understood. Nonetheless, Pitt played the role of Mr. Obrien perfectly and his complex relationships with his family were portrayed well.
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4. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
We just could not have waited for Brad Pitt to collaborate with Quentin Tarantino. Even though none of us could have guessed the direction in which the collaboration would have gone. The result was one of Pitt’s best characters in the long list of roles he has played. Lt. Aldo Raine was a ruthless and terrifying despite ever getting physical. Brad Pitt mastered the character perfectly. Right from the accent to his appearance (the unexplained throat scar added mystery to his character and made it stronger).. And particularly the part where Brad Pitt pretends to be an Italian guest in Germany is just pleasing to watch as a cinephile. The film had many highlights such as Christoph Waltz’s performance and the high-tension dialogue. But Pitt made sure that his relatively short performance stood out as well.
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3. 12 Monkeys (1995)
This sci-fi movie had Pitt play a supporting role, for which he also won an Oscar nomination in the category. He played a crazy patient in a mental institute and his performance is so high on energy that it stands out absolutely, especially when contrasted with Bruce Willis’ tired character. Many critics consider ’12 Monkeys’ to be Pitt’s best performance. The film was a critical and commercial success and the pairing of Pitt with Willis was the key attraction.
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2. Fight Club (1999)
One of the coolest characters ever written, Tyler Durden could not have been played better by anyone but Pitt. Pitt basically plays a character that every man would dream of being like. He’s smart, charming, witty and an epitome of masculinity. His dominating role is matched by a powerful performance that would leave the audiences exhausted if they tried to catch up during the first viewing. The film has achieved a cult status among fans and this would be considered as Pitt’s defining role in his filmography in the years to come.
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1. Se7en (1995)
There is something magical about Pitt and Fincher working together. They are buddies off-screen and this probably helps. Nonetheless, Fincher is a perfectionist and makes sure that he gets the best out of Pitt. Right from their first movie together. ‘Se7en’ launched Pitt as a star in Hollywood and he perfectly captured the minute details of the character he portrayed in his role. Just like Pitt at the time, his character, David Mills, is a rookie cop working with an experienced senior. He is impulsive and hot-headed in the film and delivered on his first major break by giving a fantastic performance, especially during the climax.
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