Back in the 90s, Brendan Fraser ruled the film industry. His versatile acting abilities helped him tackle comedies, mysteries, adventure thrillers, and drama. No matter how silly or complicated a role was, he managed to breathe sweet life into it, much to the delight of viewers and critics alike. Over the course of his decades-long career, the handsome goofball has starred in dozens of films. We have put together a list of 10 greatest Brendan Fraser movies that you should definitely see.
Greatest Brendan Fraser’s Movies Rated From Best To Worst
1. GODS AND MONSTERS (1998)
The fact that Brendan Fraser didn’t score an Academy Award nomination for his performance in this spellbinding drama is a travesty. The actor plays Clayton Boone, a gardener who befriends and develops a confusing relationship with his elderly gay neighbor (Ian McKellen) despite being straight himself. Gods and Monsters takes viewers on a glorious psychological ride and leaves them utterly undone at the end. This movie is a love letter to the power of imagination, and it is marvelous to behold.
2. SCHOOL TIES (1992)
This movie features a number of upcoming actors – Matt Damon, Cole Hauser, Chris O’Donnell, Anthony Rapp, and Ben Affleck – who would go on to become mega-stars in Hollywood. Brendan Frasers plays David Green, a gifted quarterback of Jewish faith who lands a scholarship to complete his senior year at one of the most prestigious prep schools in town. It’s a dream come true for him and a ladder out of his lowly, working-class life, but the only trouble is the school’s strong anti-semitic culture that forces him to hide his identity. Despite being one of his earliest on-screen roles, School Ties has earned its place on the list of greatest Brendan Fraser’s movies.
3. THE QUIET AMERICAN (2002)
The actor puts in one of his most underrated performances in The Quiet American, in which he plays a quasi-villainous CIA agent operating in Saigon under the guise of a medical mission. However, his true purpose is to hide the extent of America’s involvement in the Vietnam war, while organizing and financing conflicts to further the U.S’ aims of preventing communism from taking root in the nation. While ruthlessly carrying out his plan, he falls for and becomes obsessed with a beautiful young woman, who happens to be his friend’s mistress.
The Quiet American weaves a moving story of love set against the backdrop of subterfuge and political unrest. The movie flows so effortlessly that you barely notice the time going by until you arrive at the end. From the quality of the production to the acting, everything in this thriller is superbly made.
4. AIRHEADS (1994)
Brendan takes center stage as the frontman of a grunge band, who decide to accelerate their career trajectory by taking a radio station hostage using toy guns. His performance is elevated by that of his co-stars and . After all three demand airplay by force in an attempt to get the music world to pay them the attention they think they deserve, hilarious chaos follows. Although there are a few cracks in the movie, it turns out to be one of the best performances of their careers. This oddball comedy is high on energy, heavy metal, and erratic entertainment. It is one of the earliest Brendan Fraser movies that showed us just how deep the actor’s comic talents ran. Airheads doesn’t make a lot of promises in terms of content, but it’s an absolutely fun ride that you’ll no doubt enjoy taking.
5. CRASH (2004)
This Academy Award-winning drama features an ensemble cast including Brendan Fraser, , , , , Thandie Newton, William Fichtner, Loretta Devine, and Keith David. Brendan plays an L.A. district attorney whose wife (Bullock) is vocally and outwardly racist, and becomes even more so after their car is hijacked by two black men. The central conceit in this movie is the way that gender and race impact the lives of people as evidenced by the characters in the film.
Crash is Mark Higgins’ first directorial outing and he manages to do unimpeachable justice to it. Even when it feels like the tensions in writing are getting ahead of itself, the movie still manages to keep you glued to your screen thanks to the powerful performance of its stellar cast. Crash is one of the best films in the history of cinema and everyone should see it at least once.
6. THE MUMMY (1999)
No one can argue convincingly that The Mummy had any cinematic depth whatsoever, but it was a wildly successful movie, and it spawned a franchise, even though the quality of the series dwindled with each new installment. Set in Egypt, the movie spins a complex web of mystery and adventure that dates back 3,000 years when Imhotep, a high priest, murders the pharaoh in order to steal his mistress. He was buried alive as punishment for his crimes and cursed to remain in eternal torment. Centuries go by, and a group of ambitious archeologists led by Brendan Fraser, arrive at his tomb hoping to uncover lost treasures but end up unleashing Imhotep’s vengeful spirit on the world instead.
If you watch this movie hoping to come away with a grand lesson or point, you will be thoroughly disappointed. The Mummy is a spectacular tale of adventure that is full of action, spirited performances, and loads of fun. Nothing less, nothing more. This rousing horror mystery piece is one of the greatest Brendan Fraser’s movies out there.
7. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (2008)
This visually stunning fantasy film was adapted from the similarly titled novel by Jules Verne. The story is brought to life under the direction of Eric Brevig and he does a fantastic job to mark his debut outing. Brendan takes the lead as an ambitious science professor who becomes a laughing stock in his field after he develops a hypothesis that the academic community deems ridiculous at best. While on an excursion to Iceland, he makes a groundbreaking discovery that will prove to be monumental for science. Accompanied by his nephew, he sets out to explore this brave new world in the center of the earth. Brendan really flexes his comic timing and lovable charm in this adventure-packed fantasy film. You will find this remake of the Jules Verne classic to be well worth watching.
8. BEDAZZLED (2000)
Remakes of classic rarely ever live up to their original, but this 2000 satirical comedy gives the challenge its best shot and ends up being one of the greatest Brendan Fraser’s movies. He stars as Elliot Richard’s, a regular working Joe who finds himself in a pickle when he falls in love with Alison, a co-worker who is practically unaware of his existence. How much is he willing to give up to win her affection? This is the question he is soon forced to contend with when the Devil promises to make seven of his wishes come true in exchange for his soul. Seeing this as an opportune to transform himself into the type of man Alison would take an interest in, he makes a deal with the devil, and now he must face the fallout.
9. GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE (1997)
Who hasn’t seen George of the Jungle? In 1997, every single child in the world wanted to be the vine-swinging protagonist, and it was all thanks to the lovable and eternally goofy Brendan Fraser. To be honest, nobody really expected this live-action adaption from a cartoon to work wonders at the theatres, but it managed to sufficiently scratch the itch of nostalgia. The movie turned out to have many genuinely funny moments. Brendan Fraser’s George is a wild child raised in the jungle by a clan of apes and considers himself one of the primates until another human shows up in the jungle. After rescuing the beautiful socialite Ursula, an unlikely relationship blossoms between them, and all hilarity is let loose. Although the actor’s performance in this adventure comedy feels stilted at times, it’s easy to forgive the low-budget Tarzan and enjoy the movie anyway.
10. BLAST FROM THE PAST (1999)
Back in the days, directors seemed to get a kick out of casting Brendan Fraser as a man who finds himself comically out of place. When he was a child, his parents thought the country was going to be bombed, so the family went to hide out in a bomb bunker where they spend the next thirty years. By the time they emerge from their hideout decades later, the world as they know it has changed drastically. Brendan takes the lead and perfectly encapsulates the confusion and lack of belonging that his character feels.
Despite its frankly ridiculous plot, Blast From the Past is actually a really entertaining and charming movie. It delivers on the laughs and is kept from going off the rails by the clever direction of Hugh Wilson and the irresistible draw of its main characters. As far as Brendan Fraser’s movies go, Blast From the Past hits all the right notes.
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