Adrien Brody has recently been cast in the forthcoming Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde. For decades, he has given breathtaking performances in movies like The French Dispatch, and Midnight In Paris. Whether in outlandish Wes Anderson films or action-packed monster movies, Brody brings an intensity that actors scarcely contribute. In action films, he’s brooding; in Anderson films, he’s a creative oddity.
He also shines in blockbuster films, and fans are excited to see him as Monroe’s husband and playwright, Arthur Miller. He’s appeared in many celebrated movies, but these are his best, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Bullet Head (2017) – 61%
Adrien Brody played the role of Stacy in the 2017 action thriller, Bullet Head. Stacy is a hard, experienced criminal who has to fend off the police in an old warehouse alongside his partners. A more dangerous threat than the police, however, lurks inside the warehouse: a massive killer dog.
This film is somewhat original, but nothing incredibly special in the career of Adrien Brody. He delivers on the performance he was tasked with, but the film otherwise can’t escape a slightly above-average score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Predators (2010) – 65%
Before he fought off a killer dog in 2017, he had a much more classic threat to revisit, the alien race from Predator. In another installment in the Predator franchise, Predators continues the trend at the time of movies taking place in the jungle, as new mercenaries and trained marksmen have to fend off the violent species.
Adrien Brody’s main performance all around was stellar, and safe. Other than his impressive training for the film, it remains a reboot that might not outshine the original film. Nevertheless, it’s a satisfactory, thrilling ride that deserves a safe 65% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The French Dispatch (2021) – 75%
Adrien Brody lands among a few actors that Wes Anderson favors (with the likes of Owen Wilson and Bill Murray), so it’s no surprise that he returned in Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch. The film even included one of the best action sequences in a Wes Anderson film, combining creative animation with real-life intensity.
The French Dispatch is an anthology film, interweaving three complicated stories revolving around a newspaper company. Adrien Brody shines as Julien Cadazio, an art dealer caught in the acts of tax evasion. His portrayal is sublime, contributing consistency to an all-over-the-place movie.
The Thin Red Line (1998) – 81%
The Thin Red Line chronicles a true story from World War II in which a group of soldiers are on a search and rescue mission with a massive objective: capture the hill at Guadalcanal. According to SlashFilm, in an interview with The Independent, Adrien Brody originally had the lead role before being cut to a minor one.
Nevertheless, he provides a compelling supportive performance in an all-around (now) classic war movie that puts the themes of war into question while painting it as a harsh reality. It is deserving of its 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the almost equal audience score is proof of that.
King Kong (2005) – 84%
Riding the momentum from the widely successful and award-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson directed a King Kong spinoff and brought Brody in to play the part of Jack Driscoll.
In one of the best King Kong movies, Brody plays a convincing scriptwriter for the movie’s main character, bent on making the film of a lifetime. The movie follows much of the same structure as the original, with some modern takes and better editing.
Liberty Heights (1999) – 85%
Liberty Heights is a ’90s film set in 1954; it is one part social commentary, one part coming-of-age story. Adrien Brody contributes a side story as Van, the main character’s older brother, who finds love in a “gentile” (compared to their Jewish family) and struggles with the next steps to take.
Adrien Brody’s earlier performances may not be as well-rounded and genuine as his later ones, but Liberty Heights does not disappoint as a meaningful movie. It is deserving of its “Certified Fresh” status.
King Of The Hill (1993) – 91%
Another installment in Adrien’s earlier filmography was King of the Hill, a coming-of-age story set in the Great Depression. Brody plays a smaller role as Lester, but provides satisfactory support for this heartfelt story of a boy trying to make it on his own in the middle of the worst times.
As one of Brody’s best films, he may have been surrounded by great influences that he was able to learn from, taking his acting experience in later years to higher levels.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – 92%
Perhaps the most iconic film on this list, The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the best collaborations between Wes Anderson and Adrien Brody. He contributes the role of his life, as Dmitri.
Stepping into the role of the antagonist, Brody is the son and heir of a fortune highly sought after, devoting his time to fighting (and possibly killing) anyone who stands in his way. This is one of his most bizarre and convincing roles.
Midnight In Paris (2011) – 93%
Adrien Brody does not star in Midnight in Paris, but he portrays an impressive Salvador Dalí in the time-traveling romance story. Alongside Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson, he provides support for a movie that is sure to make viewers fall in love with Paris.
As one of the highest-ranked films in Adrien Brody’s career (according to Rotten Tomatoes), this film might have been a springboard for his acting in the early 2010s. He would soon go on to star in films of this level such as The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Pianist (2002) – 95%
The most well-crafted and executed movie sees Adrien Brody as a pianist in Warsaw, Poland. The Polish Jewish musician watches World War II unfold before his eyes, and fights to hold on to the things he believes in.
As a mix between emotional, dramatic, and intense, this film is everything a moviegoer would enjoy— all set in a real historical context. It’s executed well and respectful of the persons to which this event truly happened, justifying its 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
