Every Brad Pitt Movie Ranked Worst To Best

During a career that has now entered its fourth decade in film, Brad Pitt has proven time and again that he is more than just a pretty face. The 2020 Academy awards saw the prolific actor finally garner a win in the Best Actor category for Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood." But the road to the industry's highest accolade has been paved with many obstacles, as he has had to overcome the beefcake image that made him a household name via shirtless scenes in "Thelma & Louise." Sure, having to overcome beauty is a challenge we'd all love to face — but over the years, Pitt's increased power led to grittier, more challenging roles, then finally Oscar glory. 

Pitt has been perfectly willing to mute his god-given physical attributes when the role calls for it: scruffy demeanor, lazy eyes, cockneyed accents and other tools have been employed in service of showing his range as a character actor. But undeniably, the man is a superstar of the highest caliber — perhaps one of the last true movie stars — and he has certainly amassed an incredible resume. 

Pitt has been featured in over 84 movies and TV shows (including a tongue-in-cheek blink-and-you'll-miss-it role in 2018's "Deadpool 2"). No Hollywood icon with such a long career can escape the occasional misfire, of course, but his successes certainly outweigh the failures — and even when he has failed, at least he has failed in interesting projects. So, which of Brad Pitt's films is your favorite? Here's a listing of his prominent roles, ranked from worst to best.

We're certain every actor has performances they would prefer be lost in time. Brad Pitt's role in "Cutting Class" is a rare moment of cringe from the otherwise magnificent thespian. His die hard fans would likely disagree — which is valid when you consider that even bad Brad Pitt is better than most. This late 80's high school flick tries to combine the slasher drama with a heaping scoop of comedy, but fails on both accounts. It is one of Pitt's lowest-rated films ever, and viewing it is an endurance test you should not take sober.

Every now and then, one of these films come along that combine huge actors ... and somehow, little else. See "The Tourist," "Gangster Squad," "Showtime" ... better yet, don't.

Another head-scratching example — and the bottom of the Pitt film barrel — is this dreadful dud from 2015. "By The Sea” had him starring alongside then-wife Angelina Jolie in a drama set in 1960's France. The two play an American couple staying at a coastal hotel, as Pitt's character attempts to write a book and Jolie mopes about. Their marriage woes are meant to serve as the film's primary plot device, but somehow the film takes two of the most interesting people in the world and makes them extremely boring. This movie's only heartbreak is watching two superstars fail to sizzle.

On paper, "The Counselor" has all the makings of a fantastic crime drama. Behind the camera is legendary director Ridley Scott; in front is a loaded cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt. Despite all the elements of success, "The Counselor" winds up being a snooze fest. All the characters' ramblings will likely cause you to zone out while staring at the television. 

This does, however, create room for Pitt's character and one of the more memorable on-screen deaths of the last few years. Pitt's demise via bolito might possibly scar you for life, but the expertly-orchestrated scene is well worth watching.

This is the first "scenery-chewing Pitt" performance on the list, as he was cast against type — and is clearly relishing it. 

In this high-budget Netflix film, Pitt is boisterous four-star general Glenn McMahon, who inherits control of the troops in Afghanistan — and a meandering plot that has no idea where it wants to go. Pitt's portrayal of the general often feels like the only thing in the film that is trying hard, and its aimlessness is fascinating because it's based on a true story, yet "War Machine" can't seem to remember why it wants to tell this particular story so bad. If you're looking for Brad Pitt's best attempt at a "Dr. Strangelove"-type film, it's worth a curiosity viewing. But war is hell — and so is watching "War Machine."

Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford! What could go wrong? Try ... everything.

"The Devil's Own" is remembered today (if at all) as a mediocre crime drama from 90's. Its primary redeeming quality is undoubtedly the star power of its lead actors, but the simplistic plot concerning an officer (Ford) and his sketchy house tenant (Pitt), barely gets this film out of the gate.

We all know the "Devil" is in the details, and in this case the revelation that Pitt's character is an IRA member on a stateside trip to procure illegal guns for the cause feels more contrived than convincing. A rare misfire from Alan J. Pakula (in what would be his final film), "The Devil's Own" attempts to tell a story of moral conflict, but succeeds only in showing us that Brad Pitt sure sounds swell with an Irish accent.

Typically, sequels aren't known for achieving the grandeur of their predecessor. "Ocean's Twelve" further bolsters that theory. The cast of the original is largely intact, but a lackluster story plot never fully delivers. That being said, it is still entertaining to watch the chemistry between all these Hollywood A-listers. Brad Pitt returns as Rusty Ryan and is dapper as always — and continues to munch on any snacks he can get his hands on. You'll have fun watching Pitt hang out with everybody, but the finale results in a disappointing "twist".

This philosophical, life-spanning journey from Terrence Malick dared to explore the big questions. In some ways, it proved too cerebral for mass appeal — even if it is cited by some as one of the great filmic achievements of the last several decades; in other ways, it's a Terrence Malick movie, so it wasn't designed to inspire a ride at Universal Hollywood.

The movie's gorgeous visuals and daring narrative (Malick hallmarks) carry the film, along with stellar performances from Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, and Pitt. "Tree of Life" is a dive into the mystery of existence, centered around a family living in Waco, Texas in the '60s. Pitt's role is a rare instance in which he isn't meant to be likable. His character eventually seeks redemption, but achieving it is a slow crawl not intended for the faint of heart.

Somehow, this film — best remembered as the set where Brangelina was born — became a huge blockbuster success. But at the time, it was notorious for its  perceived troubles, and despite the best intentions of talented director Doug Liman, if you revisit the final result today you'll discover something of a mess. 

The action riddled rom-com has one thing going for it: the on-screen chemistry of two superstars whose flirtations brought much life to a dim-witted script. There are some fun action sequences, fueled by witty banter between the titular assassin couple, assigned by their adversarial agencies to eradicate each other. Brad and Angelina are able to reignite a spark in their waning relationship when their respective secrets are unveiled — and the result was nearly $500 million at the worldwide box office, even if the film barely sits at 60% on RottenTomatoes.

Director Robert Zemeckis has spent over three decades as a Hollywood golden child, delivering hits like "Back To The Future", "Forrest Gump", and "Cast Away." Imagine the excitement when he got behind the camera for a World War II epic, aiming it directly at Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt. 

The resulting film is "Allied," and it is a historical romance thriller that wound up being carried by the acting duo. The movie's era feels less like a page from history and more like a fairy tale with lots of pretty, soft lights. It's a rare miss for Zemeckis, but Pitt and Cotillard make it worth the watch. Audiences and critics agreed on being largely unable to define their feelings about "Allied." We'll be bold and claim ... it's fine.

The epic tale of Homer was brought to the screen in 2004 in this Wolfgang Petersen swords-and-sandals epic, with Pitt cast as the legendary Achilles. The actor acknowledges it was a misfire — but a crucial one that taught him some essential truths about how to guide his career.

"It was really a turn on 'Troy.' I was disappointed in it. When you're trying to figure things out in your career, you get a lot of advice. People are telling you that you should be doing this, and other people are saying you should be doing that," he told the New York Times Magazine in 2019. "[The failure of 'Troy'] really made me think, I'm following my gut from here on out. I had to do Troy because — I guess I can say all this now — I pulled out of another movie and then had to do something for the studio. So I was put in 'Troy.' It wasn't painful, but I realized that the way that movie was being told was not how I wanted it to be. I made my own mistakes in it ... somewhere in it, 'Troy' became a commercial kind of thing. Every shot was like, Here's the hero! There was no mystery. So about that time I made a decision that I was only going to invest in quality stories, for lack of a better term. It was a distinct shift that led to the next decade of films."

What remains is Pitt playing the mythic hero in a somewhat-grounded representation of who the warrior may have been in real life. The flick promises a grandiose depiction but doesn't quite level up to its grandiose intentions. Regardless, it's still worth a viewing, if only to see Pitt shine as a fighter with nigh unstoppable agility. Were it not for Achilles' incredible physique and intoxicating arrogance, it's unlikely "Troy" would have achieved even its modest box office pull.

In the midst of his late 90's mega-stardom, Brad Pitt nearly killed his entire career.

Stepping into the role of Death in "Meet Joe Black," Pitt and Anthony Hopkins teamed up for a film by "Midnight Run" mastermind Martin Brest that — coupled with Brest's infamous Ben Affleck bomb "Gigli" — drove the filmmaker out of Hollywood.

While the title of the role suggests thriller, this is a romantic tale that is a test of endurance. The film's three-hour runtime makes a bottle of wine a requirement for viewing it in its entirety. We'd say it's worth the journey, even if the film's box-office would disagree. 

Pitt's turn as Joe Black is one of his more reserved roles, but it fits with the story being told. Editors could have chopped off about an hour of staring and smoldering, but otherwise "Meet Joe Black" is mandatory viewing for any Brad Pitt viewing marathon.

This Robert Redford directed tale was Brad Pitt's first taste of genuine critical appeal. "A River Runs Through It" was nominated for three Academy Awards and took home a win for Best Cinematography. 

Pitt plays Paul Maclean, one of two brothers who bond over fishing excursions at a river in Montana. The movie was a modest box office success, but is known more for the directing prestige it bestowed on Redford and the stepping stone it offered for Brad Pitt's career. You wouldn't expect a movie about the bond of fly-fishing to be particularly captivating, but the combined might of Hollywood legends made "A River Runs Through It" a crucial moment in Brad Pitt's career. Not to mention, Tom Skerritt's representation of the brothers' father (Reverend Maclean) is near perfection.

This is a strange entry in the filmography of Pitt, because on the one hand the movie was seen by most as underwhelming (it currently sits at 58% on Rotten Tomatoes), but on the other, it was one of the first films where Pitt was marketed as a true star — and all those ads featuring his rugged, blonde beauty at its best made arguably a bigger impression than the film itself.

Pitt was at risk of being typecast purely as a pretty boy in this "Legends of The Fall" period, but nonetheless, his portrayal of a young man dripping with melancholic, sensual energy helped carry the film to a solid box office. Set in the early 20th century, "Legends" is directed by Edward Zwick and put Pitt alongside Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn and Julia Ormond, telling the tale of siblings who suffer the loss of their youngest brother (Henry Thomas) while fighting against the Germans. The subsequent fallout amongst the family is both tumultuous and heartbreaking. 

These days, critics may disagree — but anybody who was around in the '90s will cite "Legends" as essential Brad Pitt cinema viewing.

Aka the longest-titled film of the last twenty years, this 2007 Western centers on the fascinating life of outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) — and the man who would bring him down.

Robert "Bob" Ford (Casey Affleck) has an initial desire to join Jesse James' gang, alongside his brother Charley (Sam Rockwell). As he gets closer, however, his idolization of James turns into a toxic resentment. The title can likely give you major hints as to the titular character's inevitable demise, but the intricate plot details that lead to its fulfillment are worth the journey. Written and directed by Andrew Dominik, the end result earned Affleck an Oscar nomination, and remains a fascinating American tale about the pursuit of glory and its unfortunate side-effects.

In David Ayers' brutal "Fury," Pitt shines as Sergeant Don "Wardaddy" Collier. Coupled with "Inglorious Basterds" (which would make a heckuva double feature), the military men might just represent two of his greatest performances.

The film takes place in 1945, during the Western Allied invasion of Germany. Fueled by a hearty helping of wartime angst, the film vividly captures the day-to-day of Collier's platoon, which sports a Sherman tank armed with a high-velocity 76mm gun (nicknamed Fury). The group of soldiers (among them, standout performances from Jon Bernthal and Shia LaBeouf) are burdened with the inexperience of a private named Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman) whose only experience prior to this assignment involved paperwork. When the troop's tank is immobilized by a landmine, they are forced to make one final stand against an overwhelming number of German soldiers.

In one of his most ethereal roles, Pitt teamed up for a third time with Fincher for the timeless tale of a man born with an unexplainable condition that causes him to age in reverse. The movie showcased state-of-the-art CGI work that left audiences in awe, wiping away tears, and ultimately watching the film pick up 3 Oscars at that year's Academy Awards. 

Benjamin emerges from the womb as an elderly infant, suffering a childhood wrought with afflictions typically reserved for those with an AARP card. His journey takes him around the world, where he meets a variety of colorful characters all on their own tormented life journeys. The miracles of CGI bless the epic film with a unique range of Brad Pitts, spanning from wrinkled child to smooth-skinned teenager, and as you can imagine, it gives an actor a diverse palette which Pitt put to good use.

Whether your knowledge of baseball is limited or expansive, Bennett Miller's Oscar-winning "Moneyball" deftly navigated the game in telling a tale that explored the glories of thinking outside-the-box, utilizing data and an open mind to turn the tables on any powerful adversary.

Pitt tells the real life story of Oakland Athletics' general manager Billy Beane, who alongside Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), found themselves tasked with constructing a winning Major League Baseball team despite having a payroll that was a fraction of what big market teams could pay. Recruiting never-was players and other diamonds in the rough, they utilized cutting-edge stats to uncover value where others saw one, constructing an A's roster that consistently made it to the postseason.

Sure, the movie has its issues (in real life, the 2002 A's were anchored by superstars Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and MVP Miguel Tejada, who are barely mentioned if at all), but Pitt's performance goes a long way towards making an otherwise mundane subject matter captivating.

This Terry Gilliam-directed mind-bender was one of the first films to show Pitt's ability to truly lose himself in a character, sacrificing his good looks for a good performance. Starring Bruce Willis as a time traveler sent back to gather information about a viral outbreak that decimates the human population, "Monkeys" details the dangers of time travel by putting his character in a mental institution where he meets Pitt, playing the son of a virologist who is adamantly anti-corporation and pro-environment. Make no mistake: Pitt never would have landed "Fight Club" if he hadn't first shown what he could do in "12 Monkeys." Even if, in his mind, the performance was something of a failure.

"I nailed the first half of '12 Monkeys; I got the second half all wrong," he told the New York Times Magazine in 2019. "That performance bothered me because there was a trap in the writing. It's not the writing's fault, but it was something that I couldn't figure out. I knew in the second half of the film I was playing the gimmick of what was real in the first half — until the last scene — and it bugged the [expletive] out of me."

The wacky, cock-eyed Goines is a vibrant jester amongst the film's bleak landscape. Gilliam was nervous about Pitt's ability to pull off the manic, rapid-fire speech patterns required to properly represent Goines, so he wound up depriving the actor of his cigarettes. Despite Pitt's bittersweet remembrances, his scene-stealing portrayal of a zany activist dead set on unleashing mayhem on the corporate landscape was a crucial role in his development as an actor.

As if setting a theater filled with Nazis ablaze isn't enough, Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" also gave the national treasure known as Brad Pitt one of his greatest roles. 

Cast as Lieutenant Aldo Raine, a United States commander during World War II, Pitt's character vows to fight fire with fire by recruiting a team of unrelenting, scalp-collecting soldiers. If the Nazis they face are determined to inflict cruelty upon the Jewish population, Raine sees fit to match it with his own brand of justice, invoking fear in those feared by millions.

Pitt's charming southern accent and period-appropriate mustache bury him deep in character, to a point audiences rarely see from the star. It all helps bring a smile as he marches his troops into enemy territory, retaliating against Germany with war crimes of their own.

Pitt's second collaboration with Quentin Tarantino (third if you count "True Romance," which Tarantino wrote and Pitt shines in a handful of brief scenes) proves once again that the blonde-haired leading man operates at his best when directors dial back on his suave beauty and allow him to get his hands dirty. 

Cliff Booth serves as a hallmark of later-career Pitt. Sporting the swagger of a man who has evaded the sands of time, the story of a stunt man playing second fiddle to a superstar in the '60s simply wouldn't swing if not for Pitt — even if, as Bruce Lee says "You're kinda pretty for a stuntman." His actions dance the line of rational and homicidal — after all, how many films can you think of where a beloved character may have murdered his spouse in cold blood, but we still love him? — filling the viewer with so much joy that you can't help but cheer at the cathartic bloodshed.