Winner of two Academy Awards, Adrien Brody has starred in some of the most culturally impactful and highest-rated movies ever made. From The Pianist (2002), which won him his first Oscar, to The Thin Red Line (1998) and Midnight in Paris (2011), Brody has showcased his versatility as an actor time and again.
While his first Academy Award was almost 23 years ago, Brody won his second Oscar in 2025 for the period drama The Brutalist, where he played the role of an architect and holocaust survivor who immigrates to the US to start a new life. Incidentally, while receiving the award, Brody also broke the record for the longest Oscar acceptance speech! One of the highest-rated Adrien Brody movies on IMDb, it also added to his net worth.
In fact, most of the Adrien Brody movies you might come across are critically acclaimed, varying in themes, characterisation and execution, thereby highlighting his hold over his craft. Well, that’s because throughout his career, Brody has collaborated with some of the best directors in Hollywood, like Steven Soderbergh, Woody Allen and Wes Anderson — the latter being a frequent collaborator of Brody, delivering titles like The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Asteroid City (2023) and more.
However, despite always leaning towards non-commercial projects, Brody has also delivered some box-office hits. For instance, 2005’s King Kong is one of his most successful movies at the box office, with a global collection of around USD 556 million.
Additionally, he has also directed a movie. In 2007, Brody purchased a European castle-style stone barn in New York, whose restoration he took on as a personal project. For seven years, Brody documented the process, collaborating with filmmaker Kevin Ford, and delivered Stone Barn Castle in 2015. The documentary has an 8.2/10 rating on IMDb, credited to its cinematic portrayal of Brody’s journey of pursuing his dream of having a place in the country.
A look at the most iconic Adrien Brody movies that showcase his acting chops
1 /15
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Other cast: Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes
IMDb rating: 8.5/10
Synopsis: During WWII, amid the Nazis bombing of Warsaw, Polish-Jewish pianist Władysław Szpilman (Brody) gets separated from his family. While trying to reunite with them, he suffers in the ruined city of Warsaw, trying his best to survive under the dire circumstances of war.
About his role: To prepare for the role, Brody isolated himself from society. He also gave up his car and apartment, citing that he owed it to the people who had endured the brutality of the war, including his own family.
About the movie: The movie is based on the 1946 memoir by Władysław Szpilman.
2 /15
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Other cast: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Tilda Swinton
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
IMDb rating: 8.1/10
Synopsis: Gustave H (Fiennes), the concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel, is known for his impeccable hospitality to the guests. One day, however, when a guest, Madame D (Swinton), one of Gustave’s old lovers, is found murdered, Gustave receives a Renaissance painting and is labelled as the prime suspect. To prove his innocence, he embarks on an adventure with his friend and protege, Zero (Revolori), a lobby boy.
About his role: In the movie, Brody portrays the role of Dmitri, Madame D’s son. He is an agent of the presiding fascist regime who later flees the country.
About the movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel premiered at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. Following its successful run, it was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won four honours.
3 /15
Directed by: Tony Kaye
Other cast: Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Bryan Cranston
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Synopsis: Henry Barthes (Brody) is an English substitute teacher who moves schools and classes frequently to avoid attachments. When he is assigned a month-long English class at a high school, Barthes is confronted with emotional vulnerability as he begins forming a connection with a student, a colleague and a sex worker.
About his role: Taking to CNN about his character, Brody said, “… He’s not quite detached. He ends up being ultimately attached through the process of meeting some people who I think share some of the — the sense of isolation that he feels in the world. And I think that’s the common thread here is that so many people feel a sense of detachment from the world around them. And he is a very complex man who suffered a lot in his youth. But he’s compelled to be a guiding voice for these youngsters and — and it’s — it’s so crucial.”
About the movie: The film premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, following which it was screened at various other festivals, including the Woodstock Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival.
4 /15
Directed by: Terrence Malick
Other cast: Sean Penn, George Clooney, John Travolta
Runtime: 2 hours 50 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Synopsis: During WWII, a group of soldiers find themselves fighting on the island of Guadalcanal. As they spend their time completing their missions and trying to secure enemy posts, they struggle to maintain hope amid the bleak circumstances.
About his role: Brody portrays one of the soldiers, Corporal Geoffery Fife. Although Fife is one of the major characters in the book, Brody’s role was merely five minutes long in the movie as it was cut in post-production. This came as a surprise and disappointment to Brody and his team since this was supposed to be his break-out role, followed by an Oscar campaign.
About the movie: The film is based on the book of the same name published in 1962 by James Jones.
5 /15
Directed by: Woody Allen
Other cast: Owen Wilson, Tom Hiddleston, Corey Stoll
Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Synopsis: On a midnight stroll in Paris, Gil Pender (Wilson), a struggling writer, finds himself travelling back in time after he takes a lift from a random car. As Gil travels to the 1920s, he comes across famous historical figures, including F Scott Fitzgerald (Hiddleston), Ernest Hemmingway (Stoll) and Salvador Dalí (Brody), who help him overcome the blocks hindering his creativity.
About his role: Brody plays the role of the Spanish surrealist painter who believes that Gil has indeed come from the future.
About the movie: Midnight in Paris was nominated for four Academy Awards, out of which it won the Best Original Screenplay honour. Along with this, it also won the Golden Globe Award in the same category.
6 /15
Directed by: Brady Corbet
Other cast: Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Runtime: 3 hours 35 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.5/10
Synopsis: Architect László Toth escapes post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild his life in America. As he struggles to stand on his feet while living in Pennsylvania with his wife, he is approached by a wealthy industrialist (Pearce) who recognises his talent.
About his role: Interestingly, Brody wasn’t the first choice to play Toth. The role first went to actor Joel Edgerton before Brody landed it.
7 /15
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Other cast: Jesse Bradford, Jeroen Krabbé, Lisa Eichhorn, Katherine Heigl
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.3/10
Synopsis: Separated from his family during the Great Depression, a young boy named Aaron (Bradford) strives to overcome life’s challenges while living alone in an old hotel in St. Louis.
About his role: Brody portrays Aaron’s best friend and mentor, Lester, who helps him navigate living on his own at the hotel. King of the Hill is considered Brody’s breakthrough role in the industry, which made a considerable impact on his career. In fact, Brody himself refers to the film as his “big break” at 19.
About the movie: King of the Hill is based on the 1972 memoir by A. E. Hotchner. The movie was also nominated for the Palme d’Or.
8 /15
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Other cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Thomas Kretschmann
Runtime: 3 hours 7 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Synopsis: In 1993, filmmaker Carl (Black) and his crew go on a voyage to Skull Island, defying the studio’s orders. He is accompanied by Ann Darrow (Watts), an actress and Jack Driscoll (Brody), a screenwriter. There, they encounter Kong, a 25-ft tall ape. Carl captures Kong and brings him to New York to showcase him as the eighth wonder of the world. However, Kong breaks free and wreaks havoc on the city.
About the movie: King Kong is the ninth feature of the King Kong franchise and is also the remake of the 1993 movie of the same name.
9 /15
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Other cast: Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Synopsis: Three brothers, Francis (Wilson), Peter (Brody), and Jack (Schwartzman), embark on a train journey across India to renew their bond and experience spirituality and self-discovery. Still grieving their father’s death, the brothers encounter various hurdles, internal and external, on this trip that force them to introspect.
About his role: Brody portrays one of the brothers despite being an only child. Expressing his surprise at being cast in the role, he had shared with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 2007, “I could see myself really as a brother with those guys, we had a lot in common, so it made sense to me; I definitely often felt that there were four brothers and Wes was the unseen brother, but I didn’t feel like an outsider. And it was a big honour because I really am a fan of Wes’ work,” as reported by Golden Globes archives.
About the movie: The film premiered at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.
10 /15
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Other cast: Benicio Del Toro, Timothée Chalamet, Jeffrey Wright
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.1/10
Synopsis: When a magazine’s editor passes away, the publication is shut down. However, to keep the editor’s last wish, a farewell issue is produced that features four unique stories and an obituary.
About his role: Brody portrays an art dealer, Julien Cadazi,o in the second segment titled “The Concrete Masterpiece”. This character is based on Lord Duveen, one of the most influential British art dealers.
About the movie: The French Dispatch premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
11 /15
Directed by: John Maybury
Other cast: Keira Knightley, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
IMDb rating: 7.1/10
Synopsis: Jack Starks (Brody) is a Gulf War veteran who is wrongfully incarcerated in a mental institution. Placed under the care of psychiatrist Dr Thomas Becker (Kristofferson), Jack is subjected to unauthorised experiments that affect his sanity.
About the movie: The movie loosely draws inspiration from the 1915 novel The Star Rover (published in the UK as The Jacket) by Jack London.
12 /15
Directed by: Darnell Martin
Other cast: Jeffrey Wright, Beyoncé, Gabrielle Union
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
IMDb rating: 7/10
Synopsis: Jewish immigrant Leonard Chess (Brody) starts a record label called Chess Records that supports artists like Etta James (Beyoncé) and Chuck Berry (Mos Def). However, as Chess gets more successful, his life is overtaken by a series of tumultuous events that jeopardise everything he has built.
About the movie: The biographical drama draws inspiration from real-life events that led to the rise and fall of the Chicago-based label that discovered many R&B gems.
13 /15
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Other cast: Ben Foster, Orlando Jones, Rebekah Johnson
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
IMDb rating: 7/10
Synopsis: In the 1950s, Ben, a Jewish boy and Sylvia (Johnson), an African American girl, fall in love. However, to sustain their bond, they must overcome their families’ disapproval and prejudices.
About his role: Adrien Brody stars as Van, Ben’s older brother who has a crush on Dubbie (Caroline Murphy), someone he meets at a party, leading to his own love story.
About the movie: Liberty Heights is a semi-autobiographical account of Levinson’s life growing up in Baltimore.
14 /15
Directed by: Élie Chouraqui
Other cast: Andie MacDowell, Elias Koteas, Brendan Gleeson, David Strathairn
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
IMDb rating: 7/10
Synopsis: In 1991, when Pulitzer-winning journalist Harrison Loyd (Strathairn) goes missing on an assignment in Yugoslavia, his wife Sarah (MacDowell) gathers three of Harrison’s friends Morris (Brody), Stevenson (Gleeson) and Yeager Pollack (Koteas), and goes on a perilous journey to the war-torn region to find him.
About his role: Brody stars as Kyle Morris, a photographer struggling with a drug problem. Bitter and sarcastic, Morris initially tries to discourage Sarah from trying to find Harrison but eventually relents.
About the movie: It was this film that helped Brody get cast in The Pianist (2002) after director Roman Polanski was impressed by his performance in the movie.
Image credit: Harrison’s Flowers via IMDb
15 /15
Directed by: Spike Lee
Other cast: John Leguizamo, Mira Sor vino
Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes
IMDb rating: 6.7/10
Synopsis: In 1977, a serial killer, going by ‘Son of Sam, ’ is on the loose in New York City. Vinny (Leguizamo) is a hairdresser who, one night, cheats on his wife with her cousin. The next day, Vinny finds that the couple who were parked behind his car were murdered. When Vinny’s old friend Ritchie (Brody), who has recently undergone a transformation with a spikey hairdo and punk clothes, comes back to his life, his new identity makes Vinnie and his friends suspect him to be the killer.
About the movie: Summer of Sam is set against the backdrop of the 1977 New York killings committed by serial killer David Berkowitz.
Image credit: Summer of Sam via IMDb