The Best Wilford Brimley Movies

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Updated June 23, 2023 404 votes 101 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Wilford Brimley Movies
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List of the best Wilford Brimley movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Wilford Brimley's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Wilford Brimley movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Wilford Brimley movies will be at the top of the list. Wilford Brimley has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Wilford Brimley movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Wilford Brimley films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Wilford Brimley role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Wilford Brimley performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

List films include Heaven Sent, Cocoon and more.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Wilford Brimley movies?" and "What are the greatest Wilford Brimley roles of all time?"

Ron Howard and Simon Wincer have both worked with Wilford Brimley over the years, as have plenty of other well-known directors.

Most divisive: Brigham City
Ranked by
  • Cocoon
    1

    Cocoon

    Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Brian Dennehy
    19 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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  • Absence of Malice
    2

    Absence of Malice

    Paul Newman, Sally Field, Bob Balaban
    20 votes
    • Released: 1981
    • Directed by: Sydney Pollack
    Megan Carter is a reporter duped into running an untrue story on Michael Gallagher, a suspected racketeer. He has an alibi for the time his supposed crime was committed but it involves an innocent party. When she tells Carter the truth and the newspaper runs it, tragedy follows, forcing Carter to face up to the responsibilities of her job when she is confronted by Gallagher.

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  • The Natural
    3

    The Natural

    Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close
    26 votes
    • Released: 1984
    • Directed by: Barry Levinson
    In the cinematic sports drama, The Natural, Robert Redford delivers a captivating performance as Roy Hobbs, an aging baseball rookie with extraordinary talent. The film chronicles his late-blooming career, fraught with challenges and personal setbacks. Glenn Close stands out as Iris Gaines, Roy's long-lost love who re-enters his life at a crucial juncture. Directed by Barry Levinson, this 1984 classic earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Close. Hobbs's quest for redemption and glory in America's favorite pastime forms the heart of this engaging narrative.

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  • The Firm
    4

    The Firm

    Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman
    13 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Sydney Pollack
    In The Firm, Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise), a bright law graduate, is lured into the prosperous world of Bendini, Lambert, & Locke, a secretive Memphis law firm. As he ascends in his career, he learns that the firm's wealth is built upon dark secrets and illegal activities. His life takes a perilous turn when he gets entangled with the FBI. A suspenseful thriller based on John Grisham's novel, this film masterfully explores corporate corruption and moral dilemmas. The movie earned two Oscar nominations, underscoring its cinematic prowess.

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  • The Electric Horseman
    5

    The Electric Horseman

    Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Willie Nelson
    10 votes
    • Released: 1979
    • Directed by: Sydney Pollack
    A former champion rodeo rider is reduced to using his saddle skills to promote a breakfast cereal in a gaudy Las Vegas show. When he's asked to perform with a $12 million horse that he discovers is being doped to remain docile, he flees into the desert astride the beast in an act of defiance. A story-hungry female reporter gives chase.

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  • The China Syndrome
    6

    The China Syndrome

    Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas
    10 votes
    • Released: 1979
    • Directed by: James Bridges
    A news reporter (Jane Fonda) and her cameraman (Michael Douglas) are unintentional witnesses to a SCRAM incident, an emergency core shutdown procedure at a nuclear power plant in California. The crew prevents a catastrophe, but the plant supervisor (Jack Lemmon) begins to suspect the plant is in violation of safety standards, and tries desperately to bring it to the attention of the public, fearing that another SCRAM incident will produce an atomic disaster.

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