Top 10 Films Starring Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt's acting career started with small roles in TV shows, eventually taking off, making him a huge star.

10. The Tree of Life (directed by Terrence Malick, 2011) 

In the drama The Tree of Life by Terrenc Malick, the audience is divided into those who fall asleep during the film, and those who are abound with bliss. The slow pace of the film and the poetic form is not for everyone, but if you tune into the director's conception of this gem, you will be extremely satisfied.

Even though you will see stars like Brad Pitt himself, the charismatic Sean Penn and the seductive Jessica Chastain in the lead roles as, their acting performances will not be as impressive as the natural scenery and mysterious metaphors that the Tree of Life offers. The triple Oscar nomination for 2012 in the categories of best film, camera and direction was definitely well-deserved.

 
9. Troy (directed by Wolfgang Petersen, 2004)

In 2004, an adaptation of Homer's Greek epic about the Trojan War came out in the theatres. You may not remember the first time you first saw this feature film on television, but we remember watching stunning shots and impressive fights with bated breath on the big screen.

Pitt's portrayal of Achilles is impeccable, and we can't imagine in the role of this Greek hero. However, preparing for the shoot was not easy, as Pitt had to train for six months to get his body in shape. 

8. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (directed by Neil Jordan, 1994)

Writer Anne Rice began writing this 18th-century New Orleans vampire as a story, which eventually evolved into a full-length novel that, in the 90s, was turned into a film starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and young Kirsten Dunst.

The narrator of the story is a plantation owner Louis, deeply affected by the death of his wife and child. In difficult times, a sinister vampire named Lestas comes to him with an offer for an immortal life. Louis inadvertently succumbs and accepts the transformation into a vampire, but soon realises that he doesn't like Lestas' way of life at all.

Despite the fact that Brad was continually exhausted from the night shoots, his performance did not suffer. The interview with the vampire couldn't be missing from this list, because of its technical treatment - dark atmosphere, costumes and make-up - but more importantly, because of its captivating portrayal of the immortality, power and loneliness of vampire life.

7. Snatch (directed by Guy Ritchie, 2000)

Guy Ritchie's best-known directorial venture is the crime comedy Snatch. Ritchie's classic from 2000 is ruled by Brad Pitt's character of a Roma boxer, and his perfectly complimented by the extremely popular Jason Statham or the rough Vinnie Jones.

These three will draw you in with their captivating dialogues with and witty quips. The only disadvantage of the film is perhaps the extensive number of characters, that are initially very difficult to navigate. But at the same time, you can look at this as an extra reason to watch this crazy ride multiple times.

6. Sleepers (directed by Barry Levinson, 1996)

The story, based on Lorenzo Carcaterro's novel, begins in a neighbourhood in Hell's Kitchen in New York, and centres on the lives of four friends. One seemingly innocuous prank ends tragically, and the boys are forced to spend some time in a juvenile correctional facility.

Nothing good awaits them at the Wilkinson Correctional Institution, where the sadistic warden Nokes reigns, who, with his companions, sexually and mentally abuses and beats  the boys. Even after years, the four friends cannot forget the atrocities they experienced there, and decide to get the desired revenge.

The crime drama Sleeper seizes the viewer in a difficult atmosphere, allowing the actors to portray sharp emotions. Brad Pitt portrayed grown-up version of Michael, one of the boys who experienced trauma at the institution, and became a lawyer. His performance in the film Sleepers definitively confirmed that he is a serious actor, not just a pretty face.

5. Legends of the Fall (directed by Edward Zwick, 1994)

The story takes you to the American countryside, where you meet Colonel Ludlow and his three sons, altered by love for one woman and forever changed by the war. Homecoming is accompanied by a family tragedy and the brothers are beginning to realize that nothing will ever be the same.

Don't be discouraged by the shots of Brad as Tristan, galloping horseback, his long hair blowing in the wind. This is not a soap opera, but an excellent dramatic film, dominated by complicated relationships between the brothers and the beautiful Susannah. You will also  appreciate the wildlife scenes and the captivating music of composer James Horner.

4. Twelve Monkeys (directed by Terry Gilliam, 1995)

We gave fourth place to Brad's amazing portrayal of the fool Jeffrey Goines in a sci-fi thriller called 12 Monkeys. The main character, James Cole, comes into contact with Jeffrey in a psychiatric facility, where he is imprisoned because his premonitions of the future sound like crazy fabrications. Brad had been intensively preparing for the role two weeks before filming, during which time he locked himself in a hotel room and avoided human contact.

Director Terry Gilliam was initially worried that Brad would not be able to play the challenging role of confused Jeffrey. He sent him to voice coach to help him with the dialect. He didn't have to worry at all, all he had to do was steal his cigarettes and he got exactly the acting performance he demanded. For his portrayal of Jeffrey, Pitt won his first Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.

3. Se7en (directed by David Fincher, 1995) 

As the years went by, Brad managed to grow in his career and gradually received more and more offers from well-known directors. David Fincher cast him in the Fight Club after shooting the crime drama Seven, and must have liked him, because he continued working with him on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

In Se7en, Detective Somerset and his new colleague Mills follow in the footsteps of a mass murderer who leaving a trail of gruesome murders, each inspired by on of the seven deadly sins. The cruel and meticulously planned actions of the killer lead them to despair, as they try to understand this sick mind and stop him from commiting further atrocities.

If you haven't seen this chilling thriller yet, you need to fix that quickly. Fincher set the film in a depressing environment with an excellent cast, within which Pitt fit quite naturally. We liked it especially due to the constant tension that culminates in an unexpected end. 

2. Fight Club (directed by David Fincher, 1999)

The storyteller suffers from insomnia and visits a support group of patients with serious illnesses, where he meets Marla, who, like him, pretends to be ill. However, when he meets Tyler, his life changes completely. Together they establish a secret fight club with strict rules.

Without the Fight Club, this ranking could never be complete. The charismatic Tyler Durden is one of the most prominent roles Brad Pitt ever played, and therefore unequivocally deserves second place. We appreciate that Pitt worked out and took some basic martial arts lessons with Edward Norton, for this film.

1. Inglourious Basterds (directed by Quentin Tarantino, 2009)

You probably won't be surprised by our choice of first place, because how could we ever forget Pitt's humorous attempts at an Italian accent and an unusually cruel interest in scalping Nazis? Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds is a clear winner for us, not only in terms of the story, but also for Brad's famous portrayal of Lieutenant and Bastard Leader Alde Raine.

You may not have known that Pitt had tried out the scalping of German soldiers in Legends of the Fall, but only in Inglourious Basterds did he engrave this feat in audience's memory, especially during his scene with the German officer Hans Land.

Bonus: Ocean's Eleven (directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2001)

We did not rank Steven Soderbergh's trilogy about the clever robberies of Danny Ocean and his team among Pitt's best projects, but we would not forgive ourselves if we did not give them this honourable mention. Rusty, played by Brad Pitt, is an unforgettable figure that always puts a smile on our face.

If you have seen all three of the Danny Ocean movies, you've probably noticed how often Rusty eats. Pitt came up with the idea, deciding to give the film a funny side by having Rusty eat and look for local fast foods during their hectic days. In addition, Rusty has a very refined fashion taste, which adds just the right amount of flair, elegance and humour.