The 20+ Best Matthew McConaughey Movies of All Time

Ranker Film
Updated September 16, 2022 11.6k votes 2.3k voters 271.2k views
List Rules
The best movies starring Matthew McConaughey.

The best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time prove that he is one of the top actors currently working. Since he first started out in the mid ‘90s, he has been a popular go-to leading man for filmmakers. McConaughey has appeared in plenty of blockbusters and critically-acclaimed movies, earning awards and accolades along the way. His highest grossing movies have been well-received at the box office and his lifetime box office total exceeds $1.5 billion.

Originally from Uvalde, Texas, McConaughey attended University of Texas and graduated with a degree in Radio-Television-Film. After university, he worked in local TV commercials and eventually moved on to small roles in TV and movies. His first big role was as the lawyer Jake Brigance in the movie A Time to Kill.

Since first capturing audiences' attention with his scene-stealing performance as David Wooderson in Dazed and Confused in 1993, Matthew McConaughey has been a favorite of critics and fans alike. By the 2000s, the best Matthew McConaughey movies featured him in leading roles—often romantic comedies. But by 2012, he recognized that he was being typecast and chased more dramatic roles. Now, he still plays the leading man, but in a wider variety of movies. His recent hits have included Interstellar and Free State of Jones.

So what are the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time? Is it The Lincoln Lawyer or We Are Marshall? See what fans have ranked as their favorites in the filmography below. And if you think his best role isn't at the top, then vote it up. Don’t see it listed? Add it so that others may vote for it. 

If you are a fan of dramatic or comedic movies starring Matthew McConaughey, you might also like our list of the best Woody Harrelson movies or our list of the best Kate Hudson movies. And if you loved McConaughey as Baker Dill, check out the best Serenity quotes to relive some of his best lines.

Notable directors that have worked with Matthew McConaughey include names like Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Christopher Nolan. If Matthew McConaughey movies are your thing, then check out the greatest movies by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Christian Bale too.

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