Brad Pitt has been a Hollywood staple since he joined the scene in the '80s. He's received many accolades over the years, winning Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, and SAG Awards. With such a lengthy career and over 60 feature films under his belt, Pitt has dabbled in just about every genre. He's portrayed everything from a securities trader in the crime dramedy The Big Short to an MLB Manager in the sports biography Moneyball, from a WWII Lieutenant in the critically acclaimed Inglourious Basterds to a U.S. Space Command Major in the psychological sci-fi thriller Ad Astra. There doesn't seem to be a role he can't execute with finesse and charm.
✕ Remove Ads
However, peppered throughout Pitt's impressive filmography are plenty of high-octane action flicks in which he plays the quintessential rugged hero -- and many of them are streaming on Netflix. From war dramas to epic spy tales, the following movies promise to keep your heart rate up and your eyes glued to the leading man.
8 The Devil's Own (1997) Close
In The Devil's Own, Brad Pitt takes on the role of an impassioned Irish Republican Army (IRA) operative named Frankie McGuire, who goes undercover in America to steal missiles. He is taken under the wing of an unsuspecting Irish-American police sergeant, Tom O'Meara, played expertly by Harrison Ford. Despite Frankie's IRA connections and "ends justify the means" philosophy that contradicts O'Mear's views on violence, the officer still attempts to save the young Irishman when he is found out and targeted for execution by the FBI. A story of two men doing what they think is right according to their own moral codes, The Devil's Own works as a passable action movie.
✕ Remove Ads Pitt and Ford Carry the Film
The Devil's Own was Alan J. Pakula's final effort as a director before his death in 1998. With titles under his belt like All the President's Men and Sophie's Choice, it's a pity that this project faced so many battles just to get through production. It underwent several rewrites with various screenwriters due to both Pitt and Ford's gripes with their respective characters, and neither was fully satisfied when shooting began with an unfinished script.
Pitt and Ford's rumored drama while filming might have contributed to the film's lack of cohesion, which leaves the story with plenty of loose ends. Both actors were lauded for their efforts -- though Pitt's Irish accent is polarizing for viewers -- still, the movie leans heavily on its leads to carry its lackluster plot. It's missing the appropriate cultural and political background to provide a well-rounded narrative, but it's still a decent surface-level watch.
✕ Remove Ads 7 War Machine (2017) Close
Among the movies made about the war in Afghanistan, director David Michod's War Machine stands out as a semi-satirical take on what happens when political and militant powers that be can't reconcile their opposing views. It's based on the non-fiction book The Operators: The Wile and Terrifying Story of America's War in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings, and Brad Pitt's lead character, General Glen McMahon, is loosely based on the real General Stanley McChrystal.
✕ Remove Ads
In the film, he is tasked with creating and executing a strategy to end the war, but his insistent belief that America can win if he is just given more men and his determination to prove it throws that plan into conflict. McMahon's valiant attempts to "rebuild Afghanistan" fail, which, coupled with a journalist's explosive expose, ends both the war and his career. McMahon's altruistic vision is ultimately shattered by his own hubris, and he is quickly replaced by another cog as the war machine cranks on.
War Machine Struggles to Pick a Genre
This wry portrayal of wartime strategy does its best to showcase how select leaders with different motivations and goals are given the power to move troops around the globe like chess pieces -- and how such puppeteering often leads to innocent loss of life when executed poorly and almost never ends in peace.
Critics praise the film's wit and the talent of the stacked cast, which includes Anthony Hayes, Anthony Michael Hall, Topher Grace, Will Poulter, Tilda Swinton, and Ben Kingsley. However, War Machine can't quite decide if it's a reproachful parody, political war drama, or character introspective, and its incongruity shows. If nothing else, Pitt's performance will have you smirking -- whether at him or with him is still up for debate.
✕ Remove Ads Related Wolfs Review: George Clooney & Brad Pitt Reunite for a Tired Crime Thriller Throwback
The Oscar winners provide more proof that the movie star era is over in this formulaic effort featuring a terrific performance from Austin Abrams
6 Troy (2004) Close
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff, who went on to co-create Game of Thrones, Troy is a historical epic that attempts to condense the legendary decade-long Trojan War into two and a half hours of bloody violence, occasionally broken up by brooding close-ups of the buff leads. The project is loosely based on Homer's famous ancient Greek poem, The Iliad. Brad Pitt, who ironically injured his Achilles tendon during filming, portrays the Greek warrior Achilles opposite Eric Bana's Hector, the Prince of Troy. Fighting alongside them is an ensemble of heavy-hitters, including Orlando Bloom as Paris, Diane Kruger as Helen, Brian Cox as Agamemnon, Sean Bean as Odysseus, Brendan Gleeson as Menelaus, and Rose Byrne as Briseis.
✕ Remove Ads Pitt and Bana's Work Soars Over the Script
Troy was a commercial success as one of the highest-grossing films of 2004. However, it received less-than-stellar reviews from critics for deviating significantly from The Iliad and failing to do the complexity of the subject matter justice. While Pitt and Bana's performances were admired, the story falls flat. Critics tend to favor the director's cut, which comes in at three hours and 15 minutes, over the theatrical release; the lengthier version likely adds much-needed context. Troy creates a decent ancient atmosphere and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design, but if you're looking for historical accuracy or a nuanced narrative, maybe skip this one.
5 Spy Game (2001) Close ✕ Remove Ads
Spy Game was a successful action thriller, not least of all due to its leads, Brad Pitt and Robert Redford. The story revolves around rogue CIA agent and former Vietnam vet Tom Bishop (Pitt), who is captured and held hostage by the Chinese, putting a major trade deal between America and China in jeopardy. The CIA looks to Bishop's mentor, Case Officer Nathan Muir (Redford), for help.
However, rather than searching for a way to get Bishop released, it becomes apparent they are looking for an excuse to let him be executed at the end of the 24-hour deadline to protect their interests. Muir, set to retire that very day, decides the situation calls for an exceptionally dangerous, off-the-books rescue mission. Flashbacks provide insight into the formation of Bishop and Muir's relationship and give context for their present-day decisions.
✕ Remove Ads What You See Is What You Get
Spy Game came in behind Monsters, Inc. and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on its opening weekend, but it wasn't a box office smash, only grossing $143 million on a $155 million budget. However, the movie succeeds at what it claims to be: a twisting tale of two spies' espionage, with a well-executed ticking clock to kick your heart rate up a notch. Director Tony Scott already had some iconic action titles under his belt at the time of filming, including Top Gun and Crimson Tide, so the film's warm reception by viewers and critics was earned. It's not a revolutionary story by any stretch, but it's a satisfying watch and has landed itself among Robert Redford's best movies of the 21st century.
4 The Lost City (2022) Close ✕ Remove Ads
The Lost City is a big-budget action adventure with equal parts screwball comedy and lighthearted romance. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star as the leads, romance novelist Loretta Sage and her himbo cover model Alan Caprison. Sage is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe), who wants her to locate a priceless treasure she wrote about in one of her books. Caprison hires former Navy SEAL and current CIA operative Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt) to rescue her, and hijinks ensue. Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Patti Harrison also star as Sage's publisher and social media manager, respectively, and Oscar Nunez appears as an eccentric pilot.
✕ Remove Ads The Lost City Hits its Blockbuster Mark
With a typically outrageous and predictable storyline, The Lost City doesn't garner any critical acclaim -- but it's not aiming to. As Paramount's second-largest debut during the pandemic, raking in over $190 million, the movie is pure Hollywood entertainment that makes for easy consumption. However, if you're tuning in specifically to watch Pitt, you might want to look elsewhere. His role lands somewhere between a cameo and a supporting character (the reason he even appears in the movie is strange), but his "zen yogi meets hired gun" persona is fun while it lasts. Don't forget to keep an eye out for that mid-credits scene!
Related Why Brad Pitt's Formula 1 Film Will Be One of the Most Expensive Movies Ever Made
Pitt and the director of Top Gun: Maverick are rolling the dice on a niche film with a runaway budget.
3 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) Close ✕ Remove Ads
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is an iconic action rom-com that brought Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie together for the first time, sparking their off-screen romance. The two star as the titular characters, a married couple who -- unbeknownst to each other -- are both assassins tasked with taking one another out. A clever cat-and-mouse game hidden under the guise of a boring suburban relationship swiftly becomes a will-they-or-won't-they-murder-each-other suspense. John and Jane, both the top performers at their competing agencies, ultimately prove formidable in the face of guns, lies, and... true love?
Pitt and Jolie Shine in Mr. & Mrs. Smith
No one can deny Pitt and Jolie's on-screen chemistry or the mastery with which they embody their roles. Their stellar performances elevate a mediocre script and provide some depth of character in between shoot-outs. At the time of its release, Mr. & Mrs. Smith was the highest-grossing film for both Pitt and Jolie, only surpassed by World War Z in 2013 and Maleficent in 2014, respectively. It was touted as a fun summer watch, and the film's premise continues to strike a chord with viewers and even sparked a 2024 Amazon Prime series, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.
✕ Remove Ads 2 World War Z (2013) Close
Director Marc Forster brought World War Z to the big screen based on a 2006 novel by Max Brooks. Brad Pitt plays United Nations Investigator Gerry Lane, who must protect his wife (Mireille Enos) and two daughters from a zombie invasion before being tapped by a group of scientists to help create a cure for the outbreak. The action-packed flick follows Lane as he searches the globe for the origin of the virus, forced to fight for his life along the way.
✕ Remove Ads Brad Pitt Is on a One-Man Mission
Co-produced by Pitt's production company Plan B Entertainment, World War Z underwent several rewrites, reshooting the third act, and a delayed release. These setbacks suggest they were more motivated by the quality of the project than increased production costs, which seemed to pay off as it became the highest-grossing zombie movie of all time. If you're looking for well-developed characters or sophisticated dialogue, this probably isn't the best watch for you. However, World War Z thrives at telling a gripping story of a world overtaken by the undead and the hero determined to save the day. Thankfully, this underrated zombie thriller is now streaming.
1 Fury (2014) Close ✕ Remove Ads
In 2014, Fury added its name to the list of great modern war movies. Written, directed, and produced by David Ayer (the pen behind impressive titles like Training Day and The Fast and the Furious), Fury takes viewers inside an American tank crew in Nazi Germany at the end of WWII. Brad Pitt takes the role of Commander Don "Wardaddy" Collier, whose team consists of Shia LaBeouf as Boyd "Bible" Swan, Michael Peña as Trini "Gordo" Garcia, Jon Bernthal as Grady "Coon-Ass" Travis, and Logan Lerman as naive newcomer Norman "Machine" Ellison. As the group drives their tank through unimaginable battle zones, Ellison must come to terms with the violent reality of war to be embraced by his brothers in arms.
Fury Explores the Bonds of Brotherhood
Fury premiered to commercial and critical success and widespread acclaim, and Ayer was lauded for his dedication to authenticity. The director procured period-appropriate uniforms and weapons, borrowed a genuine 1943 wartime map, and filmed with real tanks from The Tank Museum in Bovington, England.
✕ Remove Ads
As part of Ayer's determination to create an accurate depiction of a WWII tank crew, he sent the cast to a week-long Navy SEAL training camp, along with having them physically and verbally spar with each other and forcing them to live together inside a tank -- where they ate, slept, and used the bathroom. Ultimately, Fury is one of Pitt's most underrated war movies. Not only is it a well-made period piece that doesn't shy away from the gory truth of war, but it is also a profound portrayal of men bonded by circumstance.