This article contains references to murder, alcohol misuse, and kidnap. Readers discretion is advised
Jeff Bridges has starred in several memorable movies throughout his storied career. He’s appeared in a variety of genres, from a nostalgic snapshot of small-town America to a bleak western remake to a cross between a subversive neo-noir and a stoner comedy. Bridges began acting alongside his father Lloyd Bridges and his brother Beau Bridges, but it wasn’t long before he took off as a leading man in his own right. He earned an Oscar nomination in 1972 for his first starring role on the big screen, The Last Picture Show, and has been a celebrated movie star ever since.
During his decades-spanning career, Bridges has accrued an Academy Award, a SAG Award, and two Golden Globes, as well as the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s worked with some of the most legendary filmmakers of all time, including Hal Ashby, Peter Bogdanovich, master of horror John Carpenter, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Cimino, Terry Gilliam, and the Coen brothers. From a struggling country singer to an unemployed slacker who just wants to go bowling, Bridges has played a wide variety of iconic roles in some truly great movies.
11 Tron
Tron’s expensive visual effects hold up today: it’s a dazzling trip through cyberspace.
10 Hell Or High Water
An understated neo-western anchored by strong performances, Hell or High Water has a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 97% and 7.6 on IMDb. The movie uses a typical crime story to explore real financial struggles. Chris Pine and Ben Foster star as brothers who resort to robbing banks to save their family’s ranch. Bridges scored one of Hell or High Water’s four Oscar nods for his turn as the Texas Ranger on their tail. The Howard brothers are like a modern-day Butch and Sundance, and Taylor Sheridan’s well-crafted script makes them deeply sympathetic. As the devoted lawman trying to capture them, Bridges walks a fine line between hero and villain.
9 Iron Man
The original MCU movie is still one of its best, with Iron Man set a high benchmark that Marvel Studios is still chasing to this day. Unlike many MCU villains, Bridges’ Obadiah Stane has an emotional connection to the hero – he filled the void left by his late father – and Tony feels betrayed when he learns Obadiah only took him under his wing in a long-term bid to usurp him. Bridges doesn’t usually play nefarious bad guys, so this was quite refreshing to see.
8 Starman
John Carpenter’s post-E.T. alien-comes-in-peace sci-fi premise and put a fresh spin on the classical Hollywood romance. With 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.0 on IMDb, Starman is one of Carpenter’s most acclaimed films.
7 The Fisher King
An oddball buddy picture balancing Terry Gilliam’s gonzo visuals with Bridges and Robin Williams’ heartfelt performances, The Fisher King earned an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5 on IMDb. Bridges plays a former radio shock jock who inadvertently inspired one of his callers to carry out a mass murder-suicide. He pursues redemption by helping a houseless man (played by Robin Williams), who had a psychotic break after witnessing the incident in his quest to find the Holy Grail. This was a challenging role – an unlikable ex-celebrity seeking redemption – but Bridges found the humanity. The offbeat, larger-than-life storyline pairs beautifully with its offbeat, larger-than-life New York setting.
6 Thunderbolt And Lightfoot
Michael Cimino’s debut feature Thunderbolt and Lightfoot scored 88% on emotionally intense dramas, like The Deer Hunter and Heaven’s Gate, but he started his directorial career with a fun, lighthearted action comedy. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot paired Bridges with Clint Eastwood: Eastwood as an infamous bank robber and Bridges as a young small-time crook who s his crew. Bridges’ relaxed on-screen presence made a hilarious foil for Eastwood’s gruff persona. The high-octane thrills of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot prove that Cimino was just as adept at creating pulpy popcorn entertainment as he was at reflecting the horrors of humanity.
5 True Grit
The Coen brothers’ John Wayne did in 1969’s True Grit. The Coens’ adaptation is a lot more faithful to Charles Portis’ source material. The remake refocuses the story on its more relatable epicenter: Mattie Ross, the 14-year-old girl who hires Cogburn to find her father’s killer. The Coens’ version made Cogburn a ing character in her journey, and Bridges’ powerful on-screen dynamic with his co-star, Hailee Steinfeld, earned them both Oscar nominations.
4 The Fabulous Baker Boys
Bridges stars alongside his real-life brother Beau Bridges as the title characters in The Fabulous Baker Boys, two brothers with a piano act. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the lounge singer they bring in to boost their musical success, but things get complicated when one of the brothers falls for her. The Fabulous Baker Boys has a lukewarm Pfeiffer shines in an Oscar-nominated performance. Bridges’ portrayal of a character caught between his brother and his love is extra authentic, because his brother is really his brother.
3 The Last Picture Show
Adapted from Larry McMurtry's novel, The Last Picture Show is a poignant snapshot of a small town in Texas in the 1950s. The coming-of-age of a group of bright-eyed high schoolers is juxtaposed against the cultural and economic downfall of their town. With 8.0 on IMDb and a rare perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%, The Last Picture Show is one of Peter Bogdanovich's most personal films. The Last Picture Show gave Bridges his first starring role, and helped propel him to stardom as he was granted his first Oscar nomination. There’s real nuance in Bridges’ portrait of Duane Jackson’s stoic facade and the vulnerability hiding beneath it.
2 Crazy Heart
Actor-turned-filmmaker Scott Cooper’s directorial debut, Crazy Heart, has an impressive approval rating of 90% on one of his best character, Bridges’ powerhouse performance as a country singer, who struggled with alcohol misuse won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Otis “Bad” Blake gains a new lease on life when he connects with a young journalist who profiles him and he gets to know her and her son. Bridges shares authentic chemistry with Maggie Gyllenhaal, which makes it all the more heartbreaking when his drinking problem becomes a roadblock in the relationship and the story takes a tragic turn.
