The 10 Greatest Brando Films

Marlon Brando was one of the most influential and celebrated actors of the 20th century. Known for his intense method acting, he revolutionised Hollywood with his raw and naturalistic performances. He is widely considered the greatest movie actor of all time, rivaled only by the more theatrically oriented Laurence Olivier in terms of esteem. Unlike Olivier, who preferred the stage to the screen, Brando concentrated his talents on movies after bidding the Broadway stage adieu in 1949. His career spanned over six decades, and he starred in some of the most iconic films in cinema history.

His breakthrough came with A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), in which he reprised his Broadway role as Stanley Kowalski. His performance was electrifying and helped redefine screen acting. He continued his success with Viva Zapata! (1952) and Julius Caesar (1953), showing his range. In On the Waterfront (1954), he delivered one of the most famous performances in film history, winning his first Academy Award for Best Actor. The film featured the legendary “I coulda been a contender” monologue.

Despite his early success, Brando’s career hit a rough patch in the 1960s. Though he starred in several notable films such as Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), his reputation for being difficult on set together with a series of box office failures hurt his career.

Brando made a legendary comeback in The Godfather (1972) as Vito Corleone. His performance, complete with his husky voice and distinctive mannerisms, became iconic. He won an Academy Award for the role but famously declined it, sending activist Sacheen Littlefeather to refuse the Oscar in protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans. He followed up with another daring performance in Last Tango in Paris (1972), which was controversial but critically acclaimed. He had a memorable role in Superman (1978) as Jor-El, earning a then-record salary for a brief appearance. He also appeared in
Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979). Brando’s involvement in the film was infamous for its production nightmares. Nevertheless his portrayal of Colonel Kurtz was is one of the most mysterious and mythologized in film history, and widely considered to be his last great performance.

Brando’s later career was more sporadic, with roles in films like The Freshman (1990), a self-parody of his Godfather role, Don Juan DeMarco (1994) alongside Johnny Depp, and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996). His final significant film role was in The Score (2001) alongside Robert De Niro and Edward Norton. Despite personal struggles and a reputation for being unpredictable, Brando remains a towering figure in film history, influencing countless actors who followed him.

Here are the top 10 films that I consider to be Brando’s finest:

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. On the Waterfront (1952)
3. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
4. Viva Zapata (1952)
5. The Wild One (1953)
6. Superman (1978)
7. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
8. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
9. Apocalpse Now (1979)
10. The Missouri Breaks (1976)