Bradley Cooper has been one of Hollywood’s most consistent and talented actors for quite a while now, offering plenty of memorable performances in every film that he stars in. With superhero blockbusters, independent comedies, and arthouse thrillers, his filmography ranges from all imaginable points of the spectrum.
Cooper’s range as an actor is always impressive, taking on roles that display endless different emotions and experiences and consistently bringing something new to the table. His movies often have a wide range of audiences, allowing him to try something new with each role he adopts.
10 Nightmare Alley – 3.6
In the tenth spot is Cooper’s latest neo-noir, Nightmare Alley. The film is a modern adaptation of the 1947 film of the same name, and follows the exploits of conman Stanton Carlisle as he learns how to work his way up in the world of mind-reading and trickery.
The film is directed by Guillermo del Toro, and adopts a much more eerie and gothic tone than the original, with its lavish set pieces and excessive production design. Nightmare Alley is full of great performances, particularly with Cooper’s lead role, which keeps the audience at a distance whilst intriguing them at the same time, exactly like Stanton’s character in the film.
9 Wet Hot American Summer – 3.6
Although his part is only small in this cult-classic comedy, Cooper’s performance as Ben is one that still sticks out to fans of the movie. The film follows the final week of summer camp in the early 1980s, as everybody struggles to resolve their personal unfinished business and relationships.
Wet Hot American Summer is more than just a regular comedy, it’s an extremely chaotic parody of the teen sex comedies that were so popular in the late 90s and early 2000s. There are so many independent storylines that weave themselves together and create a narrative that’s just as engaging as it is hilarious.
8 10 Cloverfield Lane – 3.6
10 Cloverfield Lane is a sequel to 2008’s found-footage-style monster horror Cloverfield, though this installment is much more of a psychological thriller than its predecessor. It follows a young woman who is trapped in a bunker with two men who insist that the outside world has been left uninhabitable by a hostile event.
Despite never actually appearing physically in the film, Cooper’s voice performance as Ben is one that provides a refreshing distraction from the three lead characters that take up the majority of the screen time. A direct sequel to the film is reportedly in the works, but little is known about it at this point.
7 Silver Linings Playbook – 3.6
Directed by David O. Russell and starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy that defies expectations at almost every turn. It follows the relationship between Tiffany and her ex-husband Pat, who has moved back in with his parents after spending eight months in a mental institution.
The film is just as funny as it is thoughtful, treating its two lead characters carefully and with respect in a way that a lot of romcoms neglect to do. It makes the story all the more engaging, and the film’s conclusion is one that’s sure to put a smile on anybody’s face and be remembered for a long time.
6 A Star Is Born – 3.6
Above all else, A Star Is Born is the story of two souls who come together and improve each other, when neither is capable of improving themself. It follows struggling musician Jackson as he falls in love with local artist Ally, and goes to every length in order to coax her into following her dream of becoming a musician.
In addition to appearing in one of A Star is Born‘s lead roles, Bradley Cooper is also the director and producer behind the film. It marks the actor’s debut behind the camera, and the way that he manages to create such a gritty and dark atmosphere whilst keeping his characters at the center of the story immediately proves his directorial ability.
5 The Place Beyond The Pines – 3.7
The Place Beyond The Pines is a crime thriller from the mind of Derek Cianfrance, the man behind the iconic Blue Valentine and more recently I Know This Much is True. It follows motorbike stunt rider Luke Glanton, as he commits a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, and quickly suffers the consequences.
Bradley Cooper plays Avery Cross, a cop-turned-politician who finds himself on a collision course with Glanton in the wake of his crime. It’s an interesting role that effectively explores the inner workings of the character’s mind, and offers Cooper a lot to work with when it comes to his multi-layered performance.
4 Guardians Of The Galaxy – 3.8
When it comes to performances within the MCU, Cooper’s turn as the iconic Rocket Racoon has to be one of the most memorable. Throughout Guardians of the Galaxy, Cooper brings a whole new level of comedy and entertainment through his hilarious delivery of Rocket’s endlessly inventive lines.
Guardians of the Galaxy is not only one of the highest-rated and most beloved superhero movies of all time, but it also paved the way for a whole new style of blockbuster that’s becoming more and more prevalent in today’s climate – one with a story that doesn’t take itself seriously, and characters that act solely to have funny interactions with each other. Despite its high-stakes narrative, there’s a case to be made that Guardians is basically one big cosmic hangout movie.
3 Licorice Pizza – 3.9
Cooper’s role in Licorice Pizza may be little more than a glorified cameo, but that’s what makes it so hilarious and memorable. He plays famous film producer Jon Peters with an entertainingly unstable twist, adopting a hysterical energy for the role that brings his 10 minutes of screentime to life.
Following its Best Picture nomination at the 2022 Oscars, it’s easy to see why Licorice Pizza has become so universally acclaimed and adored. It presents life in 1970s California with a hazy hypnotism that only a director like Paul Thomas Anderson could possibly capture in his visionary direction.
2 Avengers: Endgame – 3.9
Avengers: Endgame is believed by many to be the biggest movie of all time, and it’s hard to disagree with them. Not only did it have the highest box-office opening weekend ever, but it’s also a film that took over ten years to establish and create. It’s the culmination of a decade of superhero movies, and that magnitude of that just can’t be overlooked.
Cooper reprises his role as Rocket from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, though the rest of his friends are either dead or missing at this point. He becomes an honorary member of the Avengers, assisting Thor during the Time Heist to acquire the Reality Stone from its original position on Asgard.
1 Avengers: Infinity War – 4.0
Arguably even bigger in scope and scale than its highly-successful sequel, Avengers: Infinity War is a miracle of a movie. On paper, bringing so many characters together and splitting between so many different storylines seems like an absolute disaster, but the Russos manage to make it work by using the audience’s prior connection to this world to their advantage.
Cooper’s character Rocket plays a hugely important role in the film, as he travels with Thor and Groot to Nidavellir in order to forge a weapon capable of killing Thanos. The trio return for the final battle on Wakanda, one of many iconic action sequences in Infinity War.
