Josh Brolin has had a fascinating career in Hollywood. Finding early success in films like The Goonies, Brolin later struggled to make the transition to serious adult roles. However, he soon had an extraordinary comeback with several high-profile roles that made him one of the most sought-after actors in the business.
Brolin has a commanding presence on screen and is able to communicate so much even without a lot of dialogue. He is as effective as a hero as he is as a villain, and he has also great comedic skills when given the chance. His versatility has allowed him to be a part of some of the most acclaimed films in recent years. Here are Josh Brolin’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Deadpool 2 (84%)
Though perhaps not his most famous superhero role, Brolin proved to be a versatile actor in the genre with his performance in Deadpool 2. Ryan Reynolds returns as the fourth-wall-breaking madman Deadpool who tries to protect a young mutual from the time-traveling assassin Cable (Brolin).
The film repeats much of what made the first film so enjoyable with some really fun action and hilarious meta gags. Brolin also provides a welcome addition to the cast while Reynolds continues to show this is the role he was born to play.
Avengers: Infinity War (85%)
Brolin’s first dive into the superhero genre resulted in an instantly iconic villain. Though we had seen Brolin as Thanos in a couple of cameos, this was the first time he got the chance to really play the character as the Mad Titan storms through the universe collecting Infinity Stones to carry out his devastating plan.
Some critics found Avengers: Infinity War to be a bit overstuffed but most agreed it was a thrilling and powerful addition to the MCU. Brolin made for a complex and intimidating villain who has been called one of the MCU’s best to date.
Hail, Caesar! (86%)
Brolin’s latest collaboration with the Coen Brothers allowed him to show off some of his sillier side. Set in 1950s Hollywood, Brolin plays the overworked yet determined studio executive who is dealing with a variety of crises including a Western chair out of his depth, a pregnant starlet and a missing leading man.
Brolin is backed by an amazing supporting cast that includes George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, and Channing Tatum, all giving hilarious performances. The Coens seem to be having a ball with this fun and light love letter to old Hollywood.
Only The Brave (87%)
Aside from the superhero genre, Brolin has also played some real-life heroes such as in Only the Brave. This harrowing true story follows a group of elite firefighters in Granite Mountain, Arizona who in 2007 risked their lives to protect their town from a devastating forest fire. Brolin plays the group’s leader.
The film tells a grounded and realistic look at these modern-day heroes and their sacrifices. With a talented cast and impressive filmmaking talent behind it, it makes for a powerful and engrossing drama.
Flirting With Disaster (87%)
While Brolin struggled to find worthwhile film roles before his big comeback, Flirting with Disaster was a solid standout from that period. This was an early comedy from acclaimed filmmaker David O. Russell and starred Ben Stiller as a man who goes on a cross-country journey to find his birth parents.
The movie cemented Russell as a unique filmmaking voice. It was a darkly funny comedy with a stellar cast giving excellent performances all around.
Sicario (92%)
Director Denis Villeneuve continued to show he was one of the most exciting directing talents in the business with his crime epic Sicario. Emily Blunt stars as a talented FBI agent who joins forces with a CIA operative (Brolin) on a top-secret and dangerous mission to take on the Mexican drug cartels.
Villeneuve crafts an extremely intense saga that takes you into a dangerous world that will leave you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The excellent cast brings a lot to their roles, adding depth and emotion to the brutal story.
No Country For Old Men (93%)
Brolin’s comeback as a Hollywood A-lister was largely thanks to his performance in the Coen Brothers’ masterpiece, No Country for Old Men. Based on the Cormac McCarthy novel, Brolin stars as a man who discovers a suitcase filled with money in the desert. After taking it, he unwittingly becomes the target of a relentless killer (Javier Bardem).
This neo-Western is a gripping and thrilling tale of violence and the senselessness of it. The amazing cast all give noteworthy performances, with Bardem especially effective as the unsettling villain. It remains a standout in the Coens’ iconic filmography.
Milk (93%)
Brolin joined another group of talented actors in another amazing true story. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, an openly gay man who fought for gay rights in California before becoming the state’s first openly gay elected official. Brolin plays Dan White, a prejudiced colleague of Milk.
Penn gives a powerhouse performance that earned him an Oscar for best actor. He is backed by an incredible supporting cast including Brolin in the complex villain role. It all comes together to make a powerful and important film about the real-life hero.
Avengers: Endgame (94%)
Brolin returned as the Avengers’ most formidable villain in the aftermath of Infinity War and the epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga. The remaining Marvel heroes are dealing with the devastating defeat at the hands of Thanos when they come up with a dangerous and desperate way of setting things right.
After over a decade of ground-breaking films, the MCU somehow managed to bring all the stories together in this thrilling, moving and hilarious climax. The film delivers on its high expectations with a touching end of a chapter while setting the stage for an exciting future.
True Grit (96%)
Brolin teamed with the Coen Brothers again following the success of No Country for Old Men. This time, the filmmakers made a true Western starring Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, a deadly U.S. Marshal who is hired by a young girl (Hailee Steinfeld) to track down the man (Josh Brolin) who killed her father.
Though John Wayne famously adapted the same novel to the big screen, critics agreed that this is the superior version. Bridges gives a funny and badass performance as Cogburn while Steinfeld gives a star-making turn as the young hero. It is a beautifully shot and thoroughly entertaining Western adventure.
