The Best Brian Dennehy Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 2.1K votes 454 voters 42.9K views
Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Brian Dennehy Movies
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More than 400 movie fans have cast their votes for this list of the best Brian Dennehy movies. An actor with a career spanning more than five decades, Brian Dennehy is one of Hollywood's most beloved stars. His extensive body of work has earned him both critical and commercial acclaim, as well as numerous awards throughout his career.

From playing hard-nosed cops to quirky sidekicks, Dennehy's range is impressive and he always manages to bring something special to each role he plays. Whether it’s in an action flick or a romantic comedy, there is no denying that the man can act. Popular Brian Dennehy films include F/X, Cocoon, and Presumed Innocent.

To celebrate his illustrious filmography we've put together this list filled with some of his greatest performances. From classics like Silverado and First Blood to modern favorites like Righteous Kill and Knight of Cups, here are the very best Brian Dennehy movies according to movie fans everywhere. So don't forget to check out our rankings and vote up your favorite films starring the iconic actor.

Most divisive: Summer Catch
Ranked by
  • Cocoon
    1

    Cocoon

    Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Brian Dennehy
    77 votes
    • Released: 1985
    • Directed by: Ron Howard
    In Cocoon, a group of elderly Floridian friends, including Ben Luckett (Wilford Brimley) and Art Selwyn (Don Ameche), stumble upon an abandoned pool infused with an alien life force. After swimming in the pool, they find themselves rejuvenated, their vitality restored. Meanwhile, the aliens, disguised as humans led by Walter (Brian Dennehy), are on a mission to retrieve their lost comrades cocooned at the bottom of the ocean. The movie's blend of science fiction and drama earned it an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Yet, amidst the extra-terrestrial spectacle, it is a tale of aging and the quest for immortality.

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  • F/X
    2

    F/X

    Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora
    58 votes
    • Released: 1986
    • Directed by: Robert Mandel
    Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) is a special-effects expert for low-budget Hollywood movies. As gangster Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach) prepares to testify in court against his former bosses, FBI agents, fearing Nicholas will be killed by the mob before he can take the stand, decide to fake his assassination. The agents hire Rollie to use his special-effects skills to make the murder look believable. Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy), a detective, steps in to investigate the murder.

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  • First Blood
    3

    First Blood

    Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy
    70 votes
    • Released: 1982
    • Directed by: Ted Kotcheff
    In the adrenaline-pumping film First Blood, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone), a disoriented and disgruntled Vietnam War veteran, finds himself at odds with the law in a small town. When Sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy) pushes him too far, Rambo's combat skills come into play, resulting in a high-stakes survival game within the Pacific Northwest wilderness. Replete with thrilling action sequences and poignant commentary on post-war trauma, this movie marks the birth of an iconic action hero. Despite being a commercial success, First Blood offers more than mere spectacle, as it sheds light on the harsh realities faced by war veterans.

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  • Presumed Innocent
    4

    Presumed Innocent

    Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia
    52 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
    Prosecuting attorney Raymond Horgan (Brian Dennehy) assigns his chief deputy, the taciturn Rusty Sabitch (Harrison Ford), to investigate the rape and murder of colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi), unaware of their torrid affair. When evidence implicates Rusty, Horgan's political enemies demand his arrest, devastating Rusty's wife, Barbara (Bonnie Bedelia). In desperation, Rusty turns to crafty defense attorney Sandy Stein (Raul Julia), only to be stunned by his trial's revelations.

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  • Best Seller
    5

    Best Seller

    James Woods, Brian Dennehy, Victoria Tennant
    29 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: John Flynn
    Police detective and successful author Dennis Meechum (Brian Dennehy) has not been able to write since his wife's death and owes an overdue manuscript to the publisher. When corporate hit man Cleve (James Woods) proposes his life story as a book, Meechum suspects he is a fraud. However, Cleve has proof of his hits for executive David Madlock (Paul Shenar). While this convinces Meechum, it also endangers his daughter (Allison Balson), whom Madlock kidnaps to stop the story from coming out.

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  • Gorky Park
    6

    Gorky Park

    William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Brian Dennehy
    36 votes
    • Released: 1983
    • Directed by: Michael Apted
    Soviet detective Arkady Renko (William Hurt) uncovers a vast network of deceit and intrigue when he investigates a triple murder that took place in Gorky Park, a Moscow amusement park. As Renko tries to make progress on the case, it becomes dangerously apparent that the KGB doesn't want this homicide to be solved. He eventually meets American Jack Osborne (Lee Marvin), who offers some clues, but Renko soon realizes that Osborne may be just as dangerous as the trailing KGB operatives.

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