Brad Pitt returns to the big screen with Bullet Train, his first major role in three years. However, Pitt still stayed away from the action genre as a lead actor, which brings significant interest to Bullet Train. This has also intrigued the actor’s previous films in this genre.
These range from war movies like Inglourious Bastards and Fury. Everyone has their favorites, but the Rotten Tomatoes scores of Pitt’s action movies are a good way to determine which ones are out of the bunch and why critics love them. They tend to focus on pure action movies rather than crime thrillers or capers like Fight Club and War Machine, which don’t deserve controversy.
9. Troy (2004) – 53%
Troy is one of Brad Pitt’s biggest hits, where he starred as the warrior Achilles. It is set during the Trojan War, as Achilles leads his troops to invade the city against the forces of Hector, Crown Prince of Troy. Troy was a major commercial success, though received relatively mixed reviews. Troy’s main criticism was the lack of emotional attachment to the characters. But fans of the action genre will find plenty of brutal entertainment here. Pitt himself indulges in fight sequences that aren’t historically accurate, but does his job in delighting the audience with a piece of ancient warfare.RELATED:
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8. Bullet Train (2022) – 54%
The bullet train brought Brad Pitt back into the action genre years later, with the actor not missing a single step. This is certainly Pitt’s biggest physical challenge as the film employs a rigid style that sees the characters embroiled in over-the-top brawls. Bullet Train Over the course of a night, Ladybug finds Ladybug trapped in a train, where several killers are also on board and each one of them tries to eliminate the other. The film has received praise for its stunt choreography and adrenaline-pumping atmosphere, as well as some criticism of the extended runtime.
7. Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) – 60%
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were a super couple for a decade, and it was Mr and Mrs Smith who started it all. The film is about two married killers from opposing sides who become each other’s targets, who want to eliminate them. Mr and Mrs Smith received positive reviews for the chemistry between Jolie and Pitt, as well as its mix of action and comedy. The film has several fight scenes that suit the strength of the characters and the tone is kept at a funny level. However, there have been some criticisms of Mr and Mrs Smith for being too overt in some areas.
6. Spy Game (2001) – 66%
The spy game is a low-rated entry in the action genre and in Pitt’s filmography. It co-stars Robert Redford as he and Pitt play CIA agents where Redford’s character attempts to free Pitt from his captors. The spy game is firmly rooted in its action backdrop, with plenty of destruction to follow. Critics noted that the film’s proceedings don’t have as much depth as it could have, but those looking for classic action tropes will be delighted. Redford and Pitt’s team-up was also seen as a plus point, as the A-list actors had a good on-screen rapport with each other.
5. Megamind (2010) – 72%
Brad Pitt returns to animation with Megamind, a satire on the superhero genre. Pitt voices the superhero Metro Man, who becomes disillusioned with being a hero and stages his own death so that the titular villain can get his heroics. Megamind didn’t set the critics and the box office on fire, but it has a dedicated fan base of its own. Pitt’s voiceover work was praised for being overly comical, as the Metro Man character is a spoof on Superman. Megamind has the usual superhero action to follow, though much of it includes a comical twist.
4. Hitting Them Softly (2012) – 74%
Killing Them Softly doesn’t have as much action to watch as the title might imply, but there’s still enough entertainment to join the genre. Killing Them Softly stars two hitmen, played by Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini, as they search for three gangsters who have robbed a mob-guarded gambling racket. Killing Them Softly was praised for avoiding the ups and downs of the genre by focusing the protagonist’s characterization over mindless violence. However, there is still much to go on, as Hitman faces a lot of struggle from the gangsters during their attempts to eliminate them.RELATED:
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3. Fury (2014) – 76%
The war movie Fury is about the final weeks of WWII when an American tank crew fights for their lives in Germany. Pitt heads the ensemble as Staff Sergeant Don Collier, who confronts the “Fury” tank that the protagonist controls. The film is a mix of war action and tragedy, as the protagonists go down swinging. Praised for its depiction of violence in its purest form, Fury, the film doesn’t shy away from the very real horrors in this juncture. Pitt was also praised for giving a dramatic performance as a surrogate father to his men, with Fury packing in both great fight scenes and emotional beats.
2. The Lost City (2022) – 79%
Brad Pitt appeared in a supporting role in The Lost City, which is primarily about Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s characters, Loretta and Alan, attempting to escape people stranded on an island. Pitt played the human tracker Jack Trainor, who was enlisted by Allen to rescue Loretta. Pitt’s extended appearance was met with great reviews for its hilarity, as he played a highly-qualified mercenary who is supposedly killed when the whole situation is fixed. The Lost City was equally well received for its humor and surprisingly explosive action that also has a feel-good element.