Josh Brolin has had a rocky road to Hollywood success. Though he started out strong as a young teen actor, he found it difficult to get substantial roles as an adult for many years. But with a few outstanding performances in high-profile films, Brolin launched one of the most impressive Hollywood comebacks.
Brolin has a character actor's ability to disappear into supporting roles, but he can also headline a movie and appear in giant blockbusters as well. His mix of intensity, humor, and charm make him such a compelling presence on the big screen. Here are some of Josh Brolin's best movies, according to IMDb.
Brolin secured his first Oscar nomination for his standout supporting role in the true-life story of Harvey Milk. Sean Penn plays Milk, who became the first openly gay elected official in California. Brolin plays Dan White, a fellow official whose resentment toward Milk leads to tragedy.
Penn completely disappears into the role for which he won an Oscar. Brolin also provides a complex antagonist and leads a stellar supporting cast including James Franco and Diego Luna. It is an inspiring and vibrant look at a man who changed things for the better.
Brolin had the chance to portray a real-life hero in the harrowing drama Only the Brave. He plays the leader of an elite firefighter squad who, in 2013, risked their lives protecting their town from a raging forest fire.
Brolin leads an incredible group of actors including Jeff Bridges and Miles Teller. Brolin's grounded heroism is perfect for the role and the film itself is an engrossing look at these highly trained men who were willing to sacrifice everything to save lives.
Brolin has formed a successful working relationship with the Coen Brothers, and he worked with them for the second time in the western True Grit. Hailee Steinfeld stars as a young girl who hires a renowned U.S. Marshal (Jeff Bridges) to track down the man (Brolin) who killed her father.
The Coens crafted an exciting, funny and thrilling western adventure that improves on the John Wayne version of the story. Bridges is fantastic as the drunk and lazy lawman while the rest of the cast do wonderful work in this highly entertaining ride.
Brolin teamed with visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve for this intense thriller. Sicario stars Emily Blunt as an FBI agent who is recruited by a CIA official (Brolin) and a mysterious covert specialist (Benicio Del Toro) to take on the Mexican drug cartel.
Villeneuve takes a standard crime procedural and turns it into a brilliant thriller. The suspense throughout the film is almost unbearable, the action is shocking, and it provides an interesting commentary of the war on drugs.
Brolin has certainly made a name for himself in the comic book genre, which includes his work in Deadpool 2. The sequel finds Ryan Reynolds returning once again to play Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, as he attempts to save a young mutant from being killed by Cable (Brolin), an assassin from the future.
Reynolds once again shows that this was the role he was born to play and the movie continues to embrace the meta-humor of the character. The action is a step up from the last film and Brolin provides an entertaining foil for Deadpool.
Brolin teamed with Ridley Scott and some Oscar-winning actors for this real-life crime story. American Gangster stars Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a man who became one of the most powerful drug lords in America in the 1970s while being targeted by a determined detective (Russell Crowe). Brolin plays a corrupt detective who butts heads with both men.
Scott recreates New York City in this era in such captivating detail. Washington gives yet another commanding performance as a ruthless man of discipline. American Gangster is a violent, fascinating and entertaining crime epic.
Brolin made his film debut in one of the most beloved children's adventure films of all time. The Goonies is the '80s classic that follows a group of young kids who discover a treasure map that leads them on a thrilling journey. Brolin plays the big brother of one of the kids who goes along on the adventure.
The movie is the perfect example of the kind of kid-friendly yet hugely entertaining movies Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg's production company, was creating at this time. The Goonies is a funny, heart-warming tale of friendship.
Brolin's big comeback really started with his lead role in the Coen Brothers' Best Picture winner, No Country for Old Men. Brolin plays a man who finds a suitcase full of cash in the desert and takes it. He soon finds himself being pursued by an unrelenting killer (Javier Bardem) and a dedicated lawman (Tommy Lee Jones).
The movie is a taut and bleak thriller filled with spectacular scenes of suspense. The cast is phenomenal with Bardem, in particular, creating one of the most iconic villains in modern cinema.
The massive Infinity Saga storyline of the MCU finally comes to an epic conclusion with Avengers: Endgame. After Thanos (Brolin) succeeded in his devastating plan, the remaining Avengers attempt to pick up the pieces and find a way to set things right.
The movie pulled off the incredibly difficult task of tying together the many storylines that have led up to this final adventure. Endgame works as a fun, action-packed journey through the MCU and the satisfying end to a groundbreaking chapter in cinematic storytelling.
Though he had popped up in small appearances before, Avengers: Infinity War gave Brolin the opportunity to show off Thanos as the epic villain he really was. Brolin's Thanos is front and center as he attempts to collect the Infinity Stones while the scattered Avengers attempt to stop him.
The movie succeeds in make Thanos a compelling and complex villain with Brolin giving an outstanding performance in the role. The movie balances the storylines and characters beautifully while delivering an emotional punch of an ending.
