Best Brad Pitt Movies

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Brad Pitt, born William Bradley Pitt on December 18, 1963, is one of Hollywood’s top box-office draws. Pitt made his motion picture debut as a waiter in No Man’s Land (1987). Pitt currently demands a salary in excess of $20 million per picture, with various participation rights always an option.

Here are seven movies no dedicated Brad Pitt fan should ever miss.

1. Legends of the Fall (TriStar, 1994)

Susan Shilliday and Bill Wittliff penned the screenplay and Edward Zwick directed. Brad Pitt plays Tristan Ludlow, with Anthony Hopkins (Colonel William Ludlow), Aidan Quinn (Alfred Ludlow), Julia Ormond (Susannah), Henry Thomas (Samuel Ludlow) and Karina Lombard (Isabel) also in the cast.

Budgeted at $30 million, the scenic Legends of the Fall was filmed in Canada and Jamaica. For his role as a westerner, Brad Pitt had to learn how to ride a horse.

Pitt excels in the role of a rugged individualist who grows up on the family ranch in Montana during the early 1900s. Pitt, along with screen brothers Aidan Quinn and Henry Thomas, enlist in the Canadian Army at the outbreak of World War I. Pitt’s best scenes come on the battlefields of Europe, where he distinguishes himself in savage combat. The film’s chemistry is outstanding, especially the scenes involving Pitt and love interest Julia Ormond.

• Brad Pitt salary: Unknown
• Box-office gross: $66.638 million (#18, 1994)
• Academy Award nominations: Best Cinematography (won), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Sound
• Great line: “You know when Samuel died…I cursed God. Did I damn everybody around me as well as myself?” – Brad Pitt
• On DVD: Legends of the Fall Special Edition (Columbia/TriStar, 2000)

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount, 2008)

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord wrote the screenplay based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story while David Fincher directed. Brad Pitt plays Benjamin Button, with Cate Blanchett (Daisy), Julia Ormond (Caroline), Faune A. Chambers (Dorothy Baker), Elias Koteas (Monsieur Gateau), Donna DuPlantier (Blanche Devereux) and Taraji P. Henson (Queenie) in support.

Budgeted at a staggering $150 million, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was filmed in the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, India and Cambodia. For his role as Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt spent five hours each day in the makeup chair.

Pitt has the title role of a man who ages backwards. It’s an impressive performance, one in which Pitt handles with grace and charm. Pitt’s interplay with Cate Blanchett will satisfy most romance fans.

• Brad Pitt salary: Unknown 
• Box-office gross: $127.509 million (#20, 2008)
• Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Pitt), Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Henson), Best Writing, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects (won), Best Makeup (won), Best Music, Best Art Direction (won)
• Great line: “Your life is defined by its opportunities…even the ones you miss.” – Brad Pitt
• On DVD: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount, 2009)

3. Ocean’s Eleven (Warner Bros., 2001)

Ted Griffin wrote the screenplay and Steven Soderbergh directed. Brad Pitt plays Rusty Ryan, with George Clooney (Danny Ocean), Bernie Mac (Frank Catton), Matt Damon (Linus Caldwell), Andy Garcia (Terry Benedict), Elliott Gould (Reuben Tishkoff) and Julia Roberts (Tess Ocean) along for the wild ride.

Budgeted at $85 million, Ocean’s Eleven – a loose remake of the 1960 Rat Pack classic – was filmed in California, Nevada (Las Vegas), Florida, Illinois and New Jersey. Look for Brad Pitt’s movie tattoo – fire on his left arm.

Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon and company are super crooks in this classic heist flick. Their target: the Bellagio, Mirage and MGM Grand where they plan to help themselves to $150 million. Pitt is every bit as cool as Clooney, getting the most out of a role that has his name embroidered on his chest.

• Brad Pitt salary: $30 million, including gross participation
• Box-office gross: $183.417 million (#8, 2001)
• Great line: “Blew it all on the suit.” – Brad Pit, when asked by George Clooney what he did with $13 million
• On DVD: Ocean’s Eleven Widescreen Edition (Warner, 2002)

4. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (20th Century Fox, 2005)

Simon Kinberg wrote the screenplay and Doug Liman directed. Brad Pitt plays John Smith, with Angelina Jolie (Jane Smith), Vince Vaughn (Eddie), Adam Brody (Benjamin Danz), Kerry Washington (Jasmine), Keith David (Father) and Chris Weitz (Martin Coleman) also in the cast.

Budgeted at $110 million, Mr. and Mrs. Smith was filmed in California, New York and Italy. At the time, Pitt was also making Ocean’s Twelve (2004).

Pitt and current domestic partner Angelina Jolie light up the screen as husband and wife assassins working for rival interests. They soon learn their new assignments – each other. This one has sex appeal, dark humor and of course the boyish/deadly charm of Brad Pitt.

• Brad Pitt salary: $20 million
• Box-office gross: $186.336 (#10, 2005)
• Great line: “Your aim’s as bad as your cooking, sweetheart…and that’s saying something!” – Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie
• On DVD: Mr. and Mrs. Smith Widescreen Edition (20th Century Fox, 2005)

5. Fight Club (20th Century Fox, 1999)

Jim Uhls penned the screenplay from the Chuck Palahniuk novel and David Fincher directed. Brad Pitt plays Tyler Durden, with Edward Norton (Narrator), Helena Bonham Carter (Marla Singer), Meat Loaf (Bob Paulson) and Zach Grenier also in the cast.

Budgeted at $63 million, Fight Club was filmed exclusively in California. Both Pitt and Norton were inebriated for the errant golf ball scene.

Pitt appears as a soap salesman who helps an insomniac relieve the boredom in his everyday life. Pitt and co-star Edward Norton slap each other around, eventually forming an underground “fight club.” Pitt’s Tyler Durden is reminiscent of his mad Jeffrey Goines character in Twelve Monkeys (1995).

• Brad Pitt salary: $17.5 million
• Box-office gross: $37.030 million (not in top 50, 1999)
• Academy Award nomination: Best Sound Effects
• Great line: “It’s only after we lost everything that we’re free to anything.” – Brad Pitt
• On DVD: Fight Club Collector’s Edition (20th Century Fox, 2000)

6. Troy (Warner Bros., 2004)

David Benioff wrote the screenplay and Wolfgang Petersen directed. Brad Pitt plays Achilles, with Julian Glover (Triopas), Brian Cox (Agamemnon), Nathan Jones (Boagrius) and Diane Kruger (Helen) in support.

Budgeted at $175 million, Troy was filmed in the United Kingdom, Malta, Morocco and Mexico. During filming Brad Pitt incurred an injury – he tore his Achilles tendon!

Pitt, sporting a pile of blond locks, appears as Homer’s epic Greek hero. There’s plenty of battle action and intrigue in this one, with Pitt delivering an admirable performance as a doomed mortal.

• Brad Pitt salary: $17.5 million
• Box-office gross: $133.378 million (#13, 2004)
• Academy Award nomination: Best Costume Design
• Great line: “The gods envy us.” – Brad Pitt
• On DVD: Troy Widescreen Edition (Warner, 2005)

7. Spy Game (Universal, 2001)

Michael Frost Beckner and David Arata wrote the screenplay and Tony Scott directed. Brad Pitt plays Tom Bishop, with Robert Redford (Nathan D. Muir), Catherine McCormack (Elizabeth Hadley), Stephen Dillane (Charles Harker), Larry Bryggman (Troy Folger) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Gladys Jennip) also in the cast.

Budgeted at $92 million, Spy Game was filmed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Czech Republic, Israel, Germany, Lebanon, Morocco and Hungary. Filming was moved from Israel to Morocco due to renewed Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Pitt appears as a military sniper recruited by CIA honcho Robert Redford for covert spy work. When Pitt later winds up in a Chinese prison, Redford launches a Mission: Impossible-type rescue to free him. Pitt and Redford work well together in this complex thriller, which should be viewed several times in order to catch the film’s subtleties.

• Brad Pitt salary: $17.5 million
• Box-office gross: $62.362 million (#38, 2001)
• Great line: “I thought spies drank martinis.” – Brad Pitt
• On DVD: Spy Game Widescreen Edition (Universal, 2002)