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Bill Murray's 30 Best Movies, Ranked
No one else has played the straight man and the stooge so effectively
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.
30. Osmosis Jones (2001)
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.
29. The Razor's Edge (1984)
An early departure from the obvious comedic roles. Murray also co-wrote the screenplay for this W. Somerset Maugham adaptation.
28. Get Low (2009)
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.
27. Cradle Will Rock
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.
25. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
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.
24. Mad Dog and Glory (1993)
In a weird casting twist, Robert De Niro plays a pacifist Chicago police photographer who gets caught up with a mobster played by Murray.
23. St. Vincent (2014)
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.
22. Quick Change (1990)
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.
21. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
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.
20. The Jungle Book (2016)
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.")
19. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
A famed oceanographer with marriage woes sets sail in order to find and kill the shark who claimed the life of his partner.
18. Zombieland (2009)
Murray has a cameo as himself in this post-apocalyptic zombie comedy, and his brief moments on screen end with a shock.
17. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
In yet another Wes Anderson outing, this time stop-motion animated, Murray plays Clive Badger, best friend (and legal counsel) to the titular fox.
16. Ghostbusters II (1989)
Who are you going to call for your long-awaited sequel to your blockbuster supernatural comedy movie? Bill Murray's on your speed dial.
15. Kingpin (1996)
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.
14. Ed Wood (1994)
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.
13. The Royal Tenenbaums (2002)
Never has a cuckold nailed a deadpan line reading so perfectly as Murray in his supporting role in Wes Anderson's family dramedy.
12. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
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.
11. Stripes (1981)
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).
Tyler Coates is the Senior Culture Editor at Esquire.com. He lives in Los Angeles.
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