Best Brendan Fraser Movies & Performances, Ranked
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If Hollywood had a yearbook with superlatives for each celebrity that inhabited the town, next to Brendan Fraser’s picture would undoubtedly be the “friendliest” or “class sweetheart.” Everyone loves the actor and wants him to succeed, with decades in the business with classic comedies and the most moving dramas.
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As Fraser celebrates his birthday, Variety is ranking the 13 best film performances of his career so far.
Beginning at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” it feels like the entire world is rooting for Brendan Fraser this Oscar season. It’s hard to recall a recent performer entering the awards race with a wave of support from industry and consumer audiences. Instead, everyone just wants to see Fraser succeed.
While we wait to see if he will be invited for a trip to the Dolby Theatre, one point should not be lost: He has always been a gifted actor and a bonafide movie star.
With his deep voice and tall stature, the American-Canadian actor began his career charming movie fans everywhere as the resurrected frozen caveman Link in the 90s classic comedy “Encino Man.”
He then showed his dramatic acting chops with characters like a Jewish high school student who experiences antisemitism in “School Ties” or a Harvard student who befriends a homeless man (Joe Pesci) in “With Honors.”
Never holding back on the laughs, he rocked out as Chazz in “Airheads” and changed the devil’s heart in “Bedazzled.” Then, he seemed to own the world when he took the lead role of adventurer Rick O’Connell in “The Mummy” franchise.
All of this is just the tip of the Fraser iceberg, and now it looks like the world will see what lies beneath on Sept. 4 with “The Whale.”
It was 2008 when Darren Aronofsky brought “The Wrestler” to the 65th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered before heading off to Toronto, receiving universal acclaim. Film critic David Ansen of Newsweek would pen the pull quote featured on the film’s poster and become the bedrock of the awards campaign: “Witness the resurrection of Mickey Rourke in Darren Aronofsky’s deeply affecting film.”
Aronofsky has had a knack for reminding the world about the brilliance of performers such as Rourke, Ellen Burstyn in “Requiem for a Dream” and Hugh Jackman in “The Fountain.” Can the ultimate nice guy finish first this year?
Fraser was set to play the villain Garfield Lynns ,a.k.a. Firefly, in the now-canceled “Batgirl” movie for Warner Bros. But that shouldn’t derail his comeback.
Read Variety’s list of his 13 best performances and the best scene from each selection.
Also, visit Variety Awards Circuit’s Oscar predictions to read where Brendan Fraser ranks among this year’s contenders.
Honorable mentions: “Now and Then” (1995); “Gimme Shelter” (2013); “No Sudden Move” (2021)
13. Mrs. Winterbourne (1996)
Role: Bill Winterbourne / Hugh Winterbourne
Director: Richard Benjamin
Writer(s): Phoef Sutton, Lisa-Maria Radano (based on the novel “I Married a Dead Man” by Cornell Woolrich)
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
The scene that proves it: “Dancing the tango.”
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that the misfire of “Mrs. Winterbourne” is somehow now a classic. It’s dull and not particularly engaging. But, before Armie Hammer brought the Winklevoss twins to “The Social Network,” Fraser’s twin-ful turns as Bill and Hugh Winterbourne are a highlight.
12. Airheads (1994)
Role: Chester “Chazz Darby” Ogilvie
Director: Michael Lehmann
Writer(s): Rich Wilkes
Distributor: 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios)
The scene that proves it: “Nice.”
In the chamber of 90s comedies, both feverishly cool like “Dazed and Confused” and slapstick humor like “Tommy Boy” and “Black Sheep,” the biting satire of “Airheads” couldn’t find a proper audience at the time, opening in 10th place at the box office its opening weekend. However, the trio of Fraser, Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi can pull you through, and it remains a charmer with a killer soundtrack and Fraser’s Chazz leading the charge.
11. Crash (2005)
Role: District Attorney Rick Cabot
Director: Paul Haggis
Writer(s): Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco
Distributor: Lionsgate
The scene that proves it: “Lower your voice.”
The best picture winner, most known for being the film that upset “Brokeback Mountain” for the Academy’s top prize, is full of engrossing performances, including Oscar-nominee Matt Dillon, Thandiwe Newton, Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle. Memorably featured is Fraser’s work as the District Attorney, who gets carjacked when leaving dinner with his wife (played by a fearless and underappreciated Sandra Bullock). The raw exchange between the two as Michael Peña changes their locks is quite striking.
10. The Mummy Returns (2001)
Role: Rick O’Connell
Director: Stephen Sommers
Writer(s): Stephen Sommers (based on characters by Stephen Sommers, Kevin Jarre and Lloyd Fonvielle)
Distributor: Universal Pictures
The scene that proves it: “Knowing my brother-in-law, he probably deserves what you’re about to do to him…”
Sequels are rarely a good idea, especially in the 90s, unless you’re “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” But that’s because you don’t have Brendan Fraser at the helm, reprising his Rick O’Connell and leading the way as one of the best action-comedy stars of the era. So it’s also delightful to shine a light on the ensemble, which Universal leaned on in the marketing campaign. It remains one of the diverse casting assemblies with talents like Oded Fehr, Patricia Velásquez and an up-and-comer named Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
9. With Honors (1994)
Role: Monty Kessler
Director: Alek Keshishian
Writer(s): William Mastrosimone
Distributor: Warner Bros.
The scene that proves it: “The funeral” (SPOILER ALERT)
Before “Good Will Hunting” (1997) won the hearts of the world, and after “Dead Poets Society” (1989) told us to seize the day, director Alek Keshishian allowed us to simmer in the words of Walt Whitman, represented through Joe Pesci’s Simon Wilder. Likewise, the shepherding of Fraser’s tour-de-force as Harvard student Monty displays a calming elegance to his acting, next to talents who should have been recognized by the SAG Awards for cast ensemble (if the award had existed).
8. Blast from the Past (1999)
Role: Adam Webber
Director: Hugh Wilson
Writer(s): Hugh Wilson, Bill Kelly
Distributor: New Line Cinema
The scene that proves it: “The sky…up there!”
With Alicia Silverstone in a post-“Clueless” role, Fraser’s Adam Webber, who spends his entire life in a bomb shelter, is so funny and charismatic and remains a top-notch flick from the Y2K era. Add veteran actors Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek as his parents, there was no way Fraser could lose.
7. The Quiet American (2002)
Role: Alden Pyle
Director: Phillip Noyce
Writer(s): Christopher Hampton, Robert Schenkkan (based on the novel “The Quiet American” by Henry Graham Greene)
Distributor: Miramax Films
The scene that proves it: “A quiet death” (SPOILER ALERT)
The adaptation of Henry Graham Greene’s beloved novel earned raves from critics. But, even though Michael Caine’s Oscar-nominated turn is considered the reason Richard Gere was snubbed for “Chicago,” Fraser’s Alden Pyle delivers a fierce representation of America and its policies that led to the war in Vietnam, encapsulated in the story’s love triangle.
6. School Ties (1992)
Role: David Greene
Director: Robert Mandel
Writer(s): Dick Wolf, Darryl Ponicsan
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
The scene that proves it: “I’m the same guy.”
With a smorgasbord of 90s heartthrobs that include Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris O’Donnell, Fraser’s turn as David, a Jewish high school football player, was sent to an elite prep school in Massachusetts encounters antisemitism in 1959, is honorable and layered. Its heavy-handed messaging lands effectively, with Fraser leading the way in one of his most richly explored character portrayals.
5. Bedazzled (2000)
Role: Elliot Richards
Director: Harold Ramis
Writer(s): Larry Gelbart, Harold Ramis, Peter Tolan (based on the film “Bedazzled” by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore)
Distributor: 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios)
The scene that proves it: “Dolphin, dolphin I adore, everything you are…”
Fun on fire. Fraser’s work as the nerdy Elliot Richards, granted seven wishes by the devil (played by Elizabeth Hurley), is a riot. With beautiful chemistry with his on-screen love Alison (portrayed by the deliciously underrated Frances O’Connor), the movie remains one of director Harold Ramis’ comedic gems that doesn’t get its proper reverence.
4. Encino Man (1992)
Role: Linkavitch “Link” Chomofsky
Director: Les Mayfield
Writer(s): George Zaloom, Shawn Schepps
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
The scene that proves it: “Family.”
Besides the cinema-goers, Fraser’s revived caveman, who befriends Sean Astin and Pauly Shore in the cult classic, was the first time I laid eyes on the man. Showcasing his physical comedy while saying very little, he even gets a dramatic moment to give us a glimpse of the tools on his acting belt.
3. Gods and Monsters (1998)
Role: Clayton Boone
Director: Bill Condon
Writer(s): Bill Condon (based on the novel “Father of Frankenstein” by Christopher Bram)
Distributor: Lionsgate
The scene that proves it: “I am not your monster.”
The film that depicts the final days of James Whale (played exquisitely by Sir Ian McKellen) has Fraser reaching deep into his arsenal to display the complicated friendship between the two. Oscar noms came for McKellen in lead actor and Lynn Redgrave in supporting actress, while the writer/director Bill Condon was able to nab his first statuette for adapted screenplay. Hindsight is always a bit murky as we look back at the supporting actor lineup that included eventual winner James Coburn (“Affliction”). There indeed could have been room for Fraser’s Clayton Boone, right?
2. The Mummy (1999)
Role: Rick O’Connell
Director: Stephen Sommers
Writer(s): Stephen Sommers, Lloyd Fonvielle, Kevin Jarre
Distributor: Universal Pictures
The scene that proves it: Screaming at the Mummy
The action-thriller was more than just its dazzling visual effects (for its time), as this first installment of the wicked curse of Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) cemented Fraser as a leading man. With outstanding chemistry with his damsel Rachel Weisz, the movie has become a classic, able to endure multiple rewatches.
1. The Whale (2022)
Role: Charlie
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer(s): Samuel D. Hunter (based on the play by Hunter)
Distributor: A24
The scene that proves it: “I want to know I did one thing right in my life.”
It’s more than prosthetics. More than the comeback. Brendan Fraser’s work as Charlie in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” is a profound performance for the ages. The A-list star that brought us “The Mummy” and “Encino Man” goes above and beyond an actor’s calling, showcasing the vulnerability of a broken, 600-pound man. Like Aronofsky’s resurrection of Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (2008), Fraser delivers his single finest performance as an actor.
The film received a standing ovation at the premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where Fraser burst into tears. The actor got misty-eyed again in the Variety Studio while his fellow filmmakers spoke about their favorite Fraser roles. The man wears his heart on his sleeve, both in life and “The Whale.”
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