At the 2022 Venice International Film Festival, audiences got the first chance to see Darren Aronofsky’s newest film, The Whale, but the most talked about part of the experience was the crowd’s response to its star, Brendan Fraser. The adulation has continued from viewers and critics for Fraser’s performance in The Whale, with a six-minute-long standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival and a TIFF Tribute Award from the Toronto International Film Festival.
From his iconic and hilarious roles in The Mummy and George of the Jungle to serious dramas like The Whale and School Ties, Brendan Fraser has built an illustrious career. It’s delightful to see him get this much-deserved recognition for his work in film and television, and in honor of that, here are what IMDb raters consider to be his best thus far.
School Ties (1992) – 6.9
Brendan Fraser got off to a strong start early in his career when in 1992 he starred in School Ties. While he was the main protagonist, he shared the screen with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O’Donnell, and more, setting the stage for all of their meteoric rises a few years down the line. He stars as a young Jewish athlete named David Greene who is forced to deal with new antisemitic classmates and teammates.
Interestingly, School Ties was a commercial failure, and while it takes the lowest spot here, it still holds a respectable rating. While that might be the case, School Ties is instrumental in Brendan Fraser becoming the actor he is today.
The Quiet American (2002) – 7.0
One of Brendan Fraser’s best films was unfortunately surrounded by controversy around the time of its release. The Quiet American, adapting the book of the same name by Graham Greene, wasn’t allowed to premiere in the United States at first in response to the attacks on September 11th (per The New York Times). It was eventually released in some theaters and quickly garnered awards-worthy buzz.
Fraser starred alongside Michael Caine, and Do Thi Hai Yen as Alden Pyle, Thomas Fowler, and Phuong, respectively, characters who’ve found themselves in a love triangle amidst growing tension that led to the Vietnam War. Caine did get much of the attention from critics for his role, even earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, but Fraser was quite able to hold his own opposite the veteran star.
The Mummy (1999) – 7.1
Of course, there is probably no role more synonymous with Fraser than Rick O’Connell in The Mummy franchise. The first film has become a popular cult classic, and while it might have a relatively low score on Rotten Tomatoes, according to IMDb, The Mummy is one of his best. Fraser shines comedically, and it’s so fun that it not only spawned sequels but also several rides at theme parks.
The Mummy was rebooted disastrously into a dramatic action film with Tom Cruise as part of a planned Dark Universe cinematic universe, but that ultimately went nowhere. Ever since then, the desire has returned for a new Mummy film with Brendan Fraser, or a TV series adaptation.
Dogfight (1991) – 7.4
Brendan Fraser’s film debut came in 1991 in another movie centered on the Vietnam War, Dogfight. While Fraser had a small role as an unnamed sailor, it still numbers among his highest-rated. The film focuses on the late River Phoenix as Eddie Birdlace and his romance with Rose Fenny, played by Lili Taylor, before he ships off to Vietnam.
The film has since been adapted into a Broadway musical with music by Pasek and Paul, the team behind Dear Evan Hansen and The Greatest Showman. Fraser didn’t have to wait long to take center stage as the next year he started his rise to fame with Encino Man and School Ties.
Gods And Monsters (1998) – 7.4
1998’s Gods and Monsters is unsurprisingly highly-rated on IMDb and also ranks among Brendan Fraser’s films according to Letterboxd. He stars opposite Ian McKellen and Lynn Redgrave in sharing the last days of the great film director, James Whale. Like The Quiet American, while Fraser starred in the film and excelled, his co-star, McKellan, utterly stole the show.
The film examines Whale’s career, being renowned for works like Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, and his complex life from being openly gay in 1930s Hollywood. While Gods and Monsters earned sweeping praise and numerous awards, it did not perform well at box offices.
Trust (2018) – 7.5
Like many other movie stars, Fraser made a move to television in the late 2010s. He’d had numerous appearances in guest roles like in Scrubs or King of the Hill, but he started popping up more and more with shows like Trust on FX. He stars as part of a stellar and stacked cast including Donald Sutherland and Hillary Swank, telling the story of John Paul Getty and his family.
Fraser’s character as the Getty’s security officer, James Fletcher Chace, was a special character among the bunch in that he broke the fourth wall, and Trust is what’s considered the renaissance of Fraser’s career. The show did only run for one season, but it was a strong one, and perhaps it could eventually return down the line.
Condor (2018-) – 7.7
Another TV show that foretold of Fraser’s steady climb back into audiences’ hearts was Condor. He was a prominent recurring role, Nathan Fowler, a sadistic boardroom warrior dealing with conspiracies and motivated by bigotry. The spy thriller is currently two seasons deep, both available on Epix, with a third in development.
Although Fraser wouldn’t be part of future seasons since his character hasn’t been seen since the end of season 1, perhaps he could show up in flashbacks if they’d like to delve into past stories. Regardless, Condor is a thrilling and evocative entry in Fraser’s ledger since he plays an antagonist and manipulator, rather than the heroic or romantic lead.
Crash (2004) – 7.8
Brendan Fraser has been part of several Academy Award-nominated films, but one he starred in, Crash, won in 2005. In it, he features as DA Rick Cabot opposite Sandra Bullock as his wife, Jean, along with Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, and more. The film is widely remembered and well-regarded for its many intertwining stories, rather than a single, sweeping narrative.
Crash is a special movie to consider as it was praised for its tone and nuanced sense of morality, but in retrospect, it has also been the recipient of much derision. For many, it didn’t deserve the Academy Award for Best Picture over the likes of Brokeback Mountain or Munich, but it still maintains a relatively high ranking on IMDb.
Doom Patrol (2019-) – 7.8
Right now, Brendan Fraser’s most recognizable role is in HBO Max’s Doom Patrol as Cliff Steele aka Robotman. The show is a hidden gem for DC Comics, especially in light of all the mess surrounding the DCEU with Batgirl and The Flash. Fraser and several of his castmates actually debuted in Titans before spinning off onto their own show – although the shows have since been defined as being in different universes.
Robotman is definitely one of the best characters in Doom Patrol, and Fraser has even been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for the role. Thankfully, while other HBO Max shows have been canceled and shelved, a fourth season of Doom Patrol is in the works, which hopefully, won’t be the last.
The Whale (2022) – 9.1
Taking the top spot for Fraser is none other than the film that earned him an emotional six-minute standing ovation, The Whale. The Darren Aronofsky film, based on screenwriter Samuel Hunter’s play of the same name, follows Fraser as a six-hundred-pound father, Charlie, attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink.
In the weeks since its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, it’s gained serious Oscar buzz, so it seems likely that Brendan Fraser will finally get his first Best Actor nomination. Thanks to The Whale and his recent work in television it looks like Fraser is back and better than ever.
