Films

Happy Birthday, Icon! Celebrating Brad Pitt at 62: His 10 Greatest Roles

From a charming drifter in Thelma and Louise to a weathered stuntman in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Brad Pitt has spent over three decades as the gold standard of the Hollywood movie star.

Brad Pitt, winner Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' poses in the press room during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
© (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Turner)Brad Pitt, winner Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' poses in the press room during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

There are movie stars, and then there is Brad Pitt. Since he first sashayed onto the screen and stole both the spotlight and Thelma’s heart in 1991, Pitt has navigated the treacherous waters of fame with a rare combination of character-actor grit and leading-man charisma.

Brad Pitt attends the “F1: The Movie” European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on June 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)

Brad Pitt attends the “F1: The Movie” European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on June 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures)

Today, on December 18, 2025, the Oscar-winner turns 62—an age that seems almost irrelevant for a man who remains at the peak of his powers, currently dominating the box office with his high-octane racing epic, F1.

Advertisement

Brad Pitt’s 10 Best Movies: A Definitive Ranking

Fight Club (1999)

IMDb

IMDb

The role of Tyler Durden remains Pitt’s most iconic cultural contribution. As the chaotic, soap-making anarchist, Pitt weaponized his own “Sexiest Man Alive” image to deliver a performance that was equal parts seductive and terrifying. It is the ultimate cult classic.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

IMDb

IMDb

Advertisement

Pitt finally took home an acting Oscar for his turn as Cliff Booth, the laid-back, tuna-feeding stuntman. His effortless cool and “chill but dangerous” energy anchored Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to 1960s L.A.

Se7en (1995)

IMDb

IMDb

In his first collaboration with David Fincher, Pitt played the impulsive Detective David Mills. The film proved he wasn’t afraid of dark, gritty material, and his “What’s in the box?!” finale remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in thriller history.

Advertisement

Moneyball (2011)

IMDb

IMDb

As Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, Pitt gave a masterclass in restrained, intelligent acting. He took a movie about baseball statistics and turned it into a deeply human story about the fear of failure and the courage to innovate.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

IMDb

IMDb

Advertisement

Lt. Aldo Raine is perhaps Pitt’s funniest role. With a thick Tennessee accent and a scarred neck, he chewed through Tarantino’s dialogue with glee, leading a band of Jewish-American soldiers on a mission to “collect Nazi scalps.”

12 Monkeys (1995)

IMDbb

IMDbb

This was the film that earned Pitt his first Oscar nomination. Playing the jittery, wild-eyed Jeffrey Goines in a mental institution, he completely shed his heartthrob persona and proved his serious acting chops to any remaining doubters.

Advertisement

Snatch (2000)

IMDb

IMDb

Stealing the show in a massive ensemble, Pitt played Mickey O’Neil, a “Pikey” boxer with an accent so thick it was intentionally indecipherable. It remains one of his most beloved comedic performances.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

IMDb

IMDb

Advertisement

Aging in reverse from an old man to an infant, Pitt’s performance as the titular character was a technical and emotional marvel. It showcased his ability to ground a fantastical, sprawling epic in a quiet, soulful humanity.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

IMDb

IMDb

As Rusty Ryan, the snack-obsessed right-hand man to George Clooney’s Danny Ocean, Pitt redefined modern “cool.” His chemistry with the cast made this the gold standard for the heist genre.

Advertisement

F1 (2025)

rad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Damson Idris, co-star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, walk on the grid in front of Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari SF-23 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 09, 2023 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

rad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Damson Idris, co-star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, walk on the grid in front of Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari SF-23 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 09, 2023 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

His most recent hit proves he’s still got it. Playing aging driver Sonny Hayes, Pitt brought a “vintage cool” and a weary magnetism to the cockpit, helping make this Joseph Kosinski-directed film a massive global success this year.

Carolina is a bilingual entertainment and sports writer fluent in English and Spanish. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication from Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES) in Buenos Aires and has a solid background in media and public affairs. In 2020, she won first place in journalistic feature writing at the EXPOCOM-FADECCOS competition, which brings together student work from universities across Argentina. She also completed a year-and-a-half internship in the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, where she worked closely with journalists and media operations. Carolina specializes in entertainment writing, with a focus on celebrity news, as well as romantic and drama films.

ALSO READ
Macaulay Culkin Thinks ‘Die Hard’ Is Not a Christmas Movie
Celebrities

Macaulay Culkin Thinks ‘Die Hard’ Is Not a Christmas Movie

Happy Birthday, Billie Eilish! 10 Songs That Changed Pop Music
Celebrities

Happy Birthday, Billie Eilish! 10 Songs That Changed Pop Music

20 Films with Less Than 5% On Rotten Tomatoes: Do They Deserve the Hate?
Movies

20 Films with Less Than 5% On Rotten Tomatoes: Do They Deserve the Hate?

Milla Jovovich Turns 50: A Career Built on Iconic Performances
Celebrities

Milla Jovovich Turns 50: A Career Built on Iconic Performances

Receive the latest news in your E-mail box

Registering implies accepting the Terms and Conditions

Better Collective Logo