Brad Pitts BEST Movie Roles
10. 'True Romance' (1993)
Who He Plays: Scene-stealing stoner Floyd
Why It Ranks: Despite having less than 10 minutes of screen time and never leaving the couch, Pitt's Floyd is both pivotal to the story (he tells the mafia where the climactic drug deal is going down) and hilarious ("Get some beer ... and some cleaning products!").
Morgan Creek / ZUMA Press
9. 'A River Runs Through It' (1992)
Who He Plays: He's Paul Maclean, hard-living younger brother to narrator Norman (Craig Sheffer).
Why It Ranks: Sheffer's the lead, but it's Pitt who blazes across the screen, playing a rebel who flings himself into life (and fly-fishing) with the recklessness of the brilliant and the doomed.
Columbia Pictures / ZUMA Press
8. 'Thelma & Louise' (1991)
Who He Plays: A cute drifter who gives Thelma (Geena Davis) the best sex of her life -- then robs her blind
Why It Ranks: Pitt's breakout role isn't memorable just for his shirtless scene. The actor radiates charm, wit and ... Oh, who are we kidding? It's all about the shirtless scene. (Lawdy!)
MGM / Zuma Press
7. The 'Ocean's' Trilogy
Who He Plays: Rusty Ryan's "The Pro" in Danny Ocean's (George Clooney) gang of thieves.
Why It Ranks: Pitt's the embodiment of these heist films: He's quick, clever and crazy good-looking, with crack comic timing and a taste for the ridiculous. (Could Clooney rock that Ted Nugent suit? We think not.)
Warner Bros.
6. 'Babel' (2006)
Who He Plays: A tourist whose wife (Cate Blanchett) suffers a gunshot wound
Why It Ranks: It's not difficult to be severely affected (or depressed) by an Alejandro González Iñárritu drama, but Pitt's wrenching turn only intensifies it. The scene where he fights back tears on the phone is his most powerful moment to date.
Paramount Vantage
5. 'Snatch' (2000)
Who He Plays: Gypsy brawler Mickey O'Neil, pronounced "Mkayonee"
Why It Ranks: Guy Ritchie's follow-up to 'Lock Stock' is just as deliciously perverse, especially given the addition of Pitt's animalistic, bare-knuckle bruiser, whose completely incoherent gypsy tongue offsets his costars' mostly incoherent English.
Screen Gems / ZUMA Press
4. '12 Monkeys' (1995)
Who He Plays: Jeffrey Goines, a mental patient who may hold the key to helping time traveler Bruce Willis prevent the outbreak of a deadly virus
Why It Ranks: Pitt's role in the twisty thriller earned him his only Oscar nomination to date (for Supporting Actor), proving once again that the Academy loves crazy.
Columbia / Zuma Press
3. 'Fight Club' (1999)
Who He Plays: The first rule about Tyler Durden is you don't talk about Tyler Durden.
Why It Ranks: Fans of the cult novel once wondered if Pitt was too pretty for the role, but no more: The volatile Pitt IS Tyler Durden, a revolutionary with fists and soap, insanely charismatic and just ... insane.
20th Century Fox / Zuma Press
2. 'Seven' (1995)
Who He Plays: David Mills, a brash young detective who teams with Morgan Freeman to investigate a series of grisly murders based on the seven deadly sins
Why It Ranks: It's one of the most shocking thrillers ever made, and Pitt's final, visceral scene ("What's in the box?!") will haunt you for days.
New Line / Zuma Press
1. 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' (2008)
Who He Plays: The titular Benjamin, who's born in his 80s and ages backwards
Why It Ranks: Thanks to never-before-used technology, Pitt plays Benjamin at each stage of his life -- from naive wrinkly old man to wizened smooth-faced youth, nailing the emotional journey every step of the way. It's a virtuoso performance in a heartbreaking film.
Paramount
Reader Comments (144)
torince prichard at 7:24PM on Jun 14th 2008
much agreed brad pitt couldn't be more of the right actor to play the roll of jesse james, well played and brings carector to the outlaw i give the roll two thumbs up
lisa at 8:32AM on Dec 23rd 2008
I can't believe that Legends of the Fall didnt make it for best movies.Thats one of my all time favs,with a great story and cast it can't be beat
Bob at 9:32AM on Dec 23rd 2008
What!! That scene at the end of Seven was horrible, some of the worst acting ever, I cringe every time I see it. Thats the only reason it haunts me for days.
shadowlaguz at 10:27AM on Dec 23rd 2008
I was sure that Troy would be on here. It's got Orlando Bloom in it, for corn's sake! Oh well, may Pitt just doesn't have enough of a star role to suit whoever made this list. :)
deestyle1 at 11:18AM on Dec 23rd 2008
Lisa, I completely agree with you about Legends of the Fall. One of my all time favorite movies ever and by far my favorite Pitt movie.
Greg at 11:48AM on Dec 23rd 2008
they are forgettin a great movie in here... TROY... he was amazing in that movie!
Greg at 11:47AM on Dec 23rd 2008
Troy should be the top movie!!
Carly at 11:50AM on Dec 23rd 2008
I actually liked "Seven Years in Tibet". It was touching even though I agree the accent sucked. Where is "Interview With the Vampire"? That should have been on at least one or the other. :)
ts0227 at 12:06PM on Dec 23rd 2008
I can't beleive they said "Meet Joe Black" was one of the lame movies he made...i beg to differ. I think it's a very profound movie about life, family and of course...death!
Bonnie at 1:39PM on Dec 23rd 2008
I DEFFFINITELLYY think Interview with the Vampire should have been in the top ten, if not number one. And I liked the movie Meet Joe Black! Why was it bad? :( haha and what about Troy? That should have been in the top ten too!
RockNRoller82 at 4:18PM on Dec 23rd 2008
Um anybody Meet joe Black? he doesnt deserve one in true romance he was only in that movie for a few scenes and Meet Joe Black was a perfect movie if there ever was such one
penfun2 at 12:37PM on Dec 25th 2008
Awful..just plain awful. I bet the producers are laughing that it's so sucessful. It's just like the story behind "The Producer". Make the worst film you can and have everyone love it.
What's with tugboats in Staten Island doing in the middle of World War 2?
Jake at 10:58PM on Dec 25th 2008
all I have to say is cutting class all time best Pitt movie...don't know it?.....look it up!
SusieQ at 6:05PM on Dec 26th 2008
Legends of the Fall...One of my favs and Brad Pitt's best role. Can't believe that it wasn't even listed.
gracie72941 at 6:12PM on Dec 26th 2008
This by far is some of the crappiest listings I have ever seen. I agree with the worst films except for Meet Joe Black I really love that movie, I also liked the movie with Harrison Ford, who cares about his accent most of them have terrible accents anyway, but what gets me is that is best role ever will be the you can't help but love him crazy, bad boy Tristan in Legends of the Fall. No other role he has ever done will compare to that of Tristan.
Bill Hilser at 6:24PM on Dec 26th 2008
I've been a movie regulaer since 1947, when I was 10 years old and the honest drama and beauty of Legends of the Fall makes it one of my top 10 ever.
Anybody who would leave that film off a list of top movies would wear feathers to a Rabbi's funeral.
Shalom, yer pal Ferrari Bubba
Luvtristan Forever at 6:28PM on Dec 26th 2008
I can not believe Legends of the Fall was not #1 of the list. BY FAR the greatest role he has EVER played and believe me, he's an excellent actor. Whomever did the list missed this one 'big time'. I fell in love with every character and the story line. So much I couldn't wait to see Tristan and Isolde when it came out just to know where the name came from. I've lost count of how may people I've met since Legends (I think '94) that has named their child Tristan after Pitt's character. Best performance ever. HANDS DOWN:) My favorite movie ever.
wendy at 6:30PM on Dec 26th 2008
What about Legends of the Fall, I loved that one. and of course Troy. His body was the best in that
SheShe at 11:39AM on Jan 8th 2009
What about Interview With a Vampire? If they can put his role in Thelma and Louise on the list simply because he was shirtless, why not one where he was HOT throught the whole movie?!
cynthia pratt at 6:44PM on Dec 26th 2008
What is wrong with you people???? LEGENDS OF THE FALL is his best film ever and I loved Devils Own. Most of the time I don't know who rates films, but its not your average person it someone who thinks that they should have been in the movies and couldn't make it so they are jealous. Be real LEGENDS OF THE FALL IS A FABOULOUS FILM FOR ALL THAT WERE IN IT. I still cry every time I watch it. And Anthony Hopkins should have received an OSCAR for his role, no doubt.