Brad Pitt’s Best Performances

Discover seven of Brad Pitt's roles in our list of iconic movies

Brad Pitt is one of Hollywood’s most famous actors, playing a wide range of characters over his 30+ year career. In this article, we look at 7 of his most iconic roles that showcase his talent. Join us as we explore his grungy early '90s roles to portrayals of historical figures, and learn about Brad Pitt’s pivotal performances over the years.

True Romance (1993)

True Romance, released in 1993, is one of Pitt’s memorable early roles, albeit only supporting. The plot follows two unlikely lovers (played by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) who are propelled into a violent game of high-stake negotiations after coming into possession of valuable mob contraband. In this '90s romantic crime film, Pitt plays Floyd, Dick’s stoner roommate. While he doesn’t have many lines in the movie, Floyd adds to the comedic flair of the storyline. The iconic character would go on to become the inspiration for the making of Pineapple Express.

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

A year later, Interview with the Vampire was released starring Pitt as Louis de Pointe du Lac. As an immortal mythical creature, Louis is deathly pale with luminous green eyes. Throughout the gothic horror, Louis recounts his long, tragic life after being turned into a vampire by Lestat (Tom Cruise) to a reporter.
The film, adapted from the novel by Anne Rice, has become an iconic film in vampire pop culture and a truly iconic performance in Pitt’s acting career.

Seven (1995)

Next up on our list is David Mills, a young idealist detective who recently moved to the city with his wife. The fast-paced thriller, Seven, uncovers the grisly murders resembling the seven deadly sins carried out by a prolific serial killer.
Pitt plays alongside Morgan Freeman as William Somerset, a veteran detective working with Mills to solve the disturbing case. Seven has become a cult classic in the genre, as well as one of Pitt’s most iconic performance’s.

Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve & Ocean’s Thirteen (2001 - 2007)

For our next ‘Pitt-stop’, we look at the character of Rusty Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven. The plot focuses on the ringleader Danny Ocean (George Clooney), as he rounds up his gang to stage a sophisticated and intricate casino heist. This involves robbing three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously during a popular boxing event.
In Ocean’s Twelve, Rusty reappears to help Danny pay back the money they stole from the casino, constructing even more elaborate heists. Finally, in Ocean’s Thirteen, Rusty joins Danny and the gang once again for one of their riskiest heists yet.
Rusty is Danny’s trusty sidekick. He helps to carry out the infamous heists that made the Ocean’s Eleven Saga so successful and exciting. This iconic role is an unforgettable one for Pitt, who makes up the legacy of the franchise and squad of gangsters.

Troy (2004)

Troy, an epic historical war film, focusses on the heroic warrior, Achilles and the battles he faces in the context of ancient Greece. For our first film entry with Pitt as the leading role, he does not disappoint in providing us with a truly iconic character. The film, with the help of Pitt’s excellent acting skills, grossed nearly $500 million worldwide.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2008)

Our penultimate entry is one of the lesser-known characters played by Pitt, but another film that showcases his versatility as an actor. As with Troy, the revisionist western film provided Pitt with another historical figure to portray – Jesse James, a 19^th-century outlaw and gang leader. The plot recounts the events leading up to his assassination, and how he became a famed figure in American history.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford received a host of accolades for its depiction of event, with high praise given to Pitt for his iconic performance as the historical figure.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Finally, we arrive at our last entry of iconic characters played by Pitt and one of his most celebrated roles to date. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button explores the unique and poignant life of a man who ages in reverse. Born with the appearance and ailments of an elderly man, he becomes mind-bogglingly youthful while those around him (including his love interest) age before his eyes.
For his noteworthy performance, Pitt received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.