Bill Murray is inarguably one of the funniest people on the planet, one of the few SNL stars to break out into film with a long career playing eccentrics, madmen, and goofballs. But he doesn't limit himself to playing the stooge; the Oscar-nominated actor also boasts serious acting chops and has worked with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in Hollywood. Here are Murray's 30 best movies.
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30. Osmosis Jones (2001)
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Murray stars in the live-action half of this film as a sickly zookeeper whose animated insides are patrolled by the titular white blood cell voiced by Chris Rock that fights a deadly virus.
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29. The Razor's Edge (1984)
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An early departure from the obvious comedic roles. Murray also co-wrote the screenplay for this W. Somerset Maugham adaptation.
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3
28. Get Low (2009)
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Robert Duvall plays a hermit who unexpectedly arrives in town to pay for his own funeral party. Murray plays the local funeral director eager to cash in on a good deal.
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4
27. Cradle Will Rock
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Tim Robbins directs this film about the botched musical play The Cradle Will Rock, with Murray appearing in a supporting role as a vaudeville ventriloquist.
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5
26. Wild Things (1998)
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Murray plays a sleazy Florida lawyer in this swampy, erotic neo-noir. While he steals the few scenes he's in, this will still always be remembered for the threesome and Kevin Bacon's nude scene. Rent/buy on Amazon and iTunes.
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25. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
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This one is merely a glorified cameo from one of Wes Anderson's regular players, but we'll rank it here on the basis of that moustache alone.
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24. Mad Dog and Glory (1993)
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In a weird casting twist, Robert De Niro plays a pacifist Chicago police photographer who gets caught up with a mobster played by Murray.
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23. St. Vincent (2014)
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Murray plays a lovable old grump (his specialty these days) who learns to soften his tough exterior when he begrudgingly befriends his new neighbour (Melissa McCarthy) and her son.
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22. Quick Change (1990)
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Murray co-directed this crime comedy in which he plays bank-robbing clown who has trouble getting out of New York following his latest heist.
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10
21. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
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What is it about Wes Anderson movies starring Bill Murray as a man whose wife is cheating on him? This time he loses Frances McDormand's heart to Bruce Willis.
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20. The Jungle Book (2016)
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If you're going to need a contemporary actor to lend his voice to Baloo, you can't go wrong with Bill Murray. (Yes, he sings "The Bare Necessities.")
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19. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
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A famed oceanographer with marriage woes sets sail in order to find and kill the shark who claimed the life of his partner.
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18. Zombieland (2009)
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Murray has a cameo as himself in this post-apocalyptic zombie comedy, and his brief moments on screen end with a shock.
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17. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
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In yet another Wes Anderson outing, this time stop-motion animated, Murray plays Clive Badger, best friend (and legal counsel) to the titular fox.
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15
16. Ghostbusters II (1989)
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Who are you going to call for your long-awaited sequel to your blockbuster supernatural comedy movie? Bill Murray's on your speed dial.
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15. Kingpin (1996)
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In the Farrelly Brothers' underrated comedy, Murray plays a cocky bowling champ who meets his match in a gentle and kind-hearted Amish man who moonlight as a bowling prodigy.
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14. Ed Wood (1994)
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Murray plays actor and drag performer Bunny Breckinridge, whose sole film credit is in Plan 9 from Outer Space, in Tim Burton's biopic of the infamous b-movie director Ed Wood.
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13. The Royal Tenenbaums (2002)
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Never has a cuckold nailed a deadpan line reading so perfectly as Murray in his supporting role in Wes Anderson's family dramedy.
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12. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
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Murray doesn't get to sing in this musical black comedy, but he has a scene-stealing role as a masochistic patient who seeks treatment from Steve Martin's abusive dentist.
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11. Stripes (1981)
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Murray and Harold Ramis play a couple of buddies who seek a change in their boring lives, so they sign up for military service (and it's likely more goofy than in real life).