Critics Consensus: It’s far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave‘s unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant — and quite possibly essential — cinema.

Synopsis: In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano

Directed By: Steve McQueen, John Ridley, Tessa Ross

Critics Consensus: Director Bennett Miller, along with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, take a niche subject and turn it into a sharp, funny, and touching portrait worthy of baseball lore.

Synopsis: Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), general manager of the Oakland A’s, one day has an epiphany: Baseball’s conventional wisdom is all wrong. Faced with a tight… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright

Directed By: Bennett Miller, Scott Rudin, Andrew S. Karsch, Sidney Kimmel

Critics Consensus: Fueled by Quentin Tarantino’s savvy screenplay and a gallery of oddball performances, Tony Scott’s True Romance is a funny and violent action jaunt in the best sense.

Synopsis: A comic-book nerd and Elvis fanatic Clarence (Christian Slater) and a prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette) fall in love. Clarence breaks the news to her… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer

Directed By: Tony Scott, James G. Robinson, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein

Critics Consensus: A classic Tarantino genre-blending thrill ride, Inglourious Basterds is violent, unrestrained, and thoroughly entertaining.

Synopsis: It is the first year of Germany’s occupation of France. Allied officer Lt. Aldo Raine assembles a team of Jewish soldiers to commit violent acts… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino, Erica Steinberg, Lloyd Phillips, Bob Weinstein

Critics Consensus: The Big Short approaches a serious, complicated subject with an impressive attention to detail — and manages to deliver a well-acted, scathingly funny indictment of its real-life villains in the bargain.

Synopsis: In 2008, Wall Street guru Michael Burry realizes that a number of subprime home loans are in danger of defaulting. Burry bets against the housing… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Brad Pitt

Directed By: Adam McKay, Louise Rosner, Kevin J. Messick

Critics Consensus: The plot’s a bit of a jumble, but excellent performances and mind-blowing plot twists make 12 Monkeys a kooky, effective experience.

Synopsis: Traveling back in time isn’t simple, as James Cole (Bruce Willis) learns the hard way. Imprisoned in the 2030s, James is recruited for a mission… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer

Directed By: Terry Gilliam, Robert Cavallo, Robert Kosberg, Gary Levinsohn

Critics Consensus: Driven by ride-or-die chemistry between Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon while director Ridley Scott provides scorching visuals fit for a postcard, Thelma & Louise is a feminist adventure that’s equal parts provocative and rollicking.

Synopsis: Meek housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) joins her friend Louise (Susan Sarandon), an independent waitress, on a short fishing trip. However, their trip becomes a flight… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Critics Consensus: A rigorously entertaining adventure story told through a spartan script and memorable set pieces, Heart of the Beast pays rousing tribute to man’s best friend.

Synopsis: After a harrowing plane crash, Special Forces veteran James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons, Anna Lambe

Directed By: David Ayer, Damien Chazelle, D. Scott Lumpkin, Cameron Alexander

Critics Consensus: Thrillingly unrestrained yet solidly crafted, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tempers Tarantino’s provocative impulses with the clarity of a mature filmmaker’s vision.

Synopsis: Actor Rick Dalton gained fame and fortune by starring in a 1950s television Western, but is now struggling to find meaningful work in a Hollywood… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Kurt Russell

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino, Georgia Kacandes, Dong Yu, Jeffrey Chan

Critics Consensus: Terrence Malick’s singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some, but for patient viewers, Tree of Life is an emotional as well as visual treat.

Synopsis: In this highly philosophical film by acclaimed director Terrence Malick, young Jack (Hunter McCracken) is one of three brothers growing up as part of the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Fiona Shaw

Directed By: Terrence Malick, Donald Rosenfeld

Critics Consensus: A brutal, relentlessly grimy shocker with taut performances, slick gore effects, and a haunting finale.

Synopsis: When retiring police Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles a final case with the aid of newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt), they discover a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey

Directed By: David Fincher, Dan Kolsrud, Anne Kopelson, Gianni Nunnari

Critics Consensus: Ad Astra takes a visually thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space while charting an ambitious course for the heart of the bond between parent and child.

Synopsis: Thirty years ago, Clifford McBride led a voyage into deep space, but the ship and crew were never heard from again. Now his son –… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland

Directed By: James Gray, Marc Butan, Lourenço Sant' Anna, Sophie Mas

Critics Consensus: As fast-paced, witty, and entertaining as it is star-studded and coolly stylish, Ocean’s Eleven offers a well-seasoned serving of popcorn entertainment.

Synopsis: Dapper Danny Ocean is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the wry, charismatic thief is… View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh, John Hardy, Bruce Berman, Susan Ekins

Critics Consensus: Driven by Brad Pitt’s laidback magnetism and sporting a souped-up engine courtesy of Joseph Kosinski’s kinetic direction, F1 The Movie brings vintage cool across the finish line.

Synopsis: Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon

Directed By: Joseph Kosinski, Daniel Lupi

Critics Consensus: Solid acting, amazing direction, and elaborate production design make Fight Club a wild ride.

Synopsis: A depressed man suffering from insomnia meets a strange soap salesman named Tyler Durden and soon finds himself living in his squalid house after his… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf

Directed By: David Fincher, Arnon Milchan

Critics Consensus: Tasteful to a fault, this period drama combines a talented cast (including a young Brad Pitt) with some stately, beautifully filmed work from director Robert Redford.

Synopsis: The Maclean brothers, Paul and Norman, live a relatively idyllic life in rural Montana, spending much of their time fly-fishing. The sons of a minister,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn

Directed By: Robert Redford, Jake Eberts

Critics Consensus: With Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

Synopsis: When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad… View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton

Directed By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner

Critics Consensus: On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.

Synopsis: Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker

Directed By: Andrew Dominik, Brad Grey, Tony Scott, Lisa Ellzey

Critics Consensus: Old friendships are awakened by the need for revenge, making Sleepers a haunting nightmare burdened by voiceover yet terrifically captured by Barry Levinson.

Synopsis: Four teenage friends from Hell’s Kitchen end up being sent to reform school after almost killing a man. There they are brutalized by the guards…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Billy Crudup, Robert De Niro, Ron Eldard

Directed By: Barry Levinson, Peter Giuliano

Critics Consensus: Overall, Fury is a well-acted, suitably raw depiction of the horrors of war that offers visceral battle scenes but doesn’t quite live up to its larger ambitions.

Synopsis: In April 1945, the Allies are making their final push in the European theater. A battle-hardened Army sergeant named Don “Wardaddy” Collier, leading a Sherman… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña

Directed By: David Ayer, Brad Pitt, Sasha Shapiro, Anton Lessine

Critics Consensus: Killing Them Softly is a darkly comic, visceral thriller that doubles as a cautionary tale on capitalism, whose message is delivered with sledgehammer force.

Synopsis: When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Richard Jenkins

Directed By: Andrew Dominik, Megan Ellison, Matt Butan, Bill Johnson

Critics Consensus: Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an epic fantasy tale with rich storytelling backed by fantastic performances.

Synopsis: Born under unusual circumstances, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) springs into being as an elderly man in a New Orleans nursing home and ages in reverse…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond

Directed By: David Fincher

Critics Consensus: Though perhaps a case of style over substance, Guy Ritchie’s second crime caper is full of snappy dialogue, dark comedy, and interesting characters.

Synopsis: Illegal boxing promoter Turkish (Jason Statham) convinces gangster Brick Top (Alan Ford) to offer bets on bare-knuckle boxer Mickey (Brad Pitt) at his bookie business…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Dennis Farina, Brad Pitt, Vinnie Jones

Directed By: Guy Ritchie, Stephen Marks, Peter Morton, Angad Paul

Critics Consensus: It regurgitates plot points from earlier animated efforts, and isn’t quite as funny as it should be, but a top-shelf voice cast and strong visuals help make Megamind a pleasant, if unspectacular, diversion.

Synopsis: Though he is the most brilliant supervillain the world has known, Megamind is the least successful. Thwarted time and again by heroic Metro Man, Megamind… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill

Directed By: Tom McGrath, Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld

Critics Consensus: Ocean’s Thirteen reverts to the formula of the first installment, and the result is another slick and entertaining heist film.

Synopsis: Danny Ocean and his gang hatch an ambitious plot for revenge after ruthless casino owner Willy Bank double-crosses Reuben Tishkoff, Danny’s friend and mentor. First,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh, Susan Ekins, Frederic W. Brost, Gregory Jacobs

Critics Consensus: In Babel, there are no villains, only victims of fate and circumstance. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu weaves four of their woeful stories into this mature and multidimensional film.

Synopsis: An accident connects four groups of people on three different continents: two young Moroccan goatherds, a vacationing American couple (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett), a deaf… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho

Directed By: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Critics Consensus: It’s uneven and diverges from the source book, but World War Z still brings smart, fast-moving thrills and a solid performance from Brad Pitt to the zombie genre.

Synopsis: When former U.N. investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) and his family get stuck in urban gridlock, he senses that it’s no ordinary traffic jam. His… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Daniella Kertesz

Directed By: Marc Forster, Brad Simpson, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg

Critics Consensus: George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s professional star power gives Wolfs zip even when it cycles through clichés of the fixer genre, making for a pleasing and slick throwback.

Synopsis: Global superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for the action comedy Wolfs. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high… View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams

Directed By: Jon Watts, Michael Beugg

Critics Consensus: Despite lacking some of the book’s subtler shadings, and suffering from some clumsy casting, Interview with a Vampire benefits from Neil Jordan’s atmospheric direction and a surfeit of gothic thrills.

Synopsis: Born as an 18th-century lord, Louis is now a bicentennial vampire, telling his story to an eager biographer. Suicidal after the death of his family,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea

Directed By: Neil Jordan

Critics Consensus: The outcome of the kinetic Spy Game is never in doubt, but it is fun watching Robert Redford and Brad Pitt work.

Synopsis: Redford stars as CIA operative Nathan Muir, who is on the brink of retirement from the field, when he learns his protégé Tom Bishop has… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack, Stephen Dillane

Directed By: Tony Scott, Iain Smith, James W. Skotchdopole, Thomas A. Bliss

Critics Consensus: Featuring a swoon-worthy star turn by Brad Pitt, Legends of the Fall‘s painterly photography and epic sweep often compensate for its lack of narrative momentum and glut of melodramatic twists.

Synopsis: In early 20th-century Montana, Col. William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins) lives in the wilderness with his sons, Tristan (Brad Pitt), Alfred (Aidan Quinn) and Samuel (Henry… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julia Ormond

Directed By: Edward Zwick, Patrick Crowley

Critics Consensus: Allied has its moments, but doesn’t quite achieve epic wartime romance status — a disappointment made more profound by the dazzling talent assembled on either side of the camera.

Synopsis: Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) and Marianne Beauséjour (Marion Cotillard) are World War II operatives who never reveal their true identities. After falling in love during… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, Simon McBurney

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis, Patrick McCormick, Steven Knight, Denis O'Sullivan

Critics Consensus: Although this action-romance suffers from weak writing and one too many explosions, the chemistry generated by onscreen couple Pitt and Jolie is palpable enough to make this a thoroughly enjoyable summer action flick.

Synopsis: John and Jane Smith, a couple in a stagnating marriage, live a deceptively mundane existence. However, each has been hiding a secret from the other:… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody

Directed By: Doug Liman, Erik Feig

Critics Consensus: Visually strong and featuring a potently feral performance from Brad Pitt, Kalifornia is a tonally uneven thriller marked by all-too-obvious themes.

Synopsis: Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) is a writer, and his girlfriend, Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes), is a photographer. They’re working on a book about serial killers,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, Michelle Forbes

Directed By: Dominic Sena, Lynn Kouf, Jim Kouf

Critics Consensus: Babylon‘s overwhelming muchness is exhausting, but much like the industry it honors, its well-acted, well-crafted glitz and glamour can often be an effective distraction.

Synopsis: A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, Babylon traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart

Directed By: Damien Chazelle, Michael Beugg, Tobey Maguire, Wyck Godfrey

Critics Consensus: Seven Years in Tibet tells its fascinating true-life story with a certain stolid grace, even if it never quite comes to life the way it could.

Synopsis: Hired as an instructor, an egocentric Austrian mountaineer gradually learns selflessness from the young Dalai Lama.

Starring: Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, BD Wong, Mako

Directed By: Jean-Jacques Annaud, Michael Besman, Richard Goodwin, David Nichols

Critics Consensus: While some have found the latest star-studded heist flick to be a fun, glossy star vehicle, others declare it’s lazy, self-satisfied and illogical.

Synopsis: After successfully robbing five casinos in one night, Danny Ocean and his crew of thieves have big problems. Despite pulling off one of the biggest… View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh, Bruce Berman, Susan Ekins, John Hardy

Critics Consensus: Though The Mexican makes a good attempt at originality, its ponderous length makes it wear out its welcome. Also, those looking forward to seeing Roberts and Pitt paired up may end up disappointed, as they are kept apart for most of the movie.

Synopsis: Brad Pitt stars as Jerry Welbach, a reluctant bagman, who has been given two ultimatums: The first is from his mob boss to travel to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, James Gandolfini, Bob Balaban

Directed By: Gore Verbinski, William Tyrer, Chris J. Ball, Aaron Ryder

Critics Consensus: Bullet Train‘s colorful cast and high-speed action are almost enough to keep things going after the story runs out of track.

Synopsis: In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry

Directed By: David Leitch, Brent O'Connor, Ryosuke Saegusa, Yuma Terada

Critics Consensus: A brawny, entertaining spectacle, but lacking emotional resonance.

Synopsis: While visiting Spartan King Menelaus, Trojan prince Paris falls for Menelaus’ wife, Helen and takes her back to Troy. Menelaus’ brother, King Agamemnon, having already… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger

Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen, Brad Grey, Bruce Berman

Critics Consensus: War Machine‘s uneven execution keeps its fact-based story from cleanly hitting its targets, but those flaws are frequently offset by sharp wit and solid acting.

Synopsis: A successful, charismatic four-star general, Glenn McMahon, leaps in like a rock star to command NATO forces in Afghanistan, only to be taken down by… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hayes, John Magaro, Anthony Michael Hall

Directed By: David Michôd, James W. Skotchdopole

Critics Consensus: Meet Joe Black is pretty to look at and benefits from an agreeable cast, but that isn’t enough to offset this dawdling drama’s punishing three-hour runtime.

Synopsis: Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins), businessman and devoted family man, is about to celebrate his 65th birthday. However, before he reaches that landmark, he is visited… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani, Jake Weber

Directed By: Martin Brest, Ronald L. Schwary

Critics Consensus: The animation is as eye-popping as ever, but Happy Feet Two‘s narrative is too noisily incoherent to recapture the Oscar-winning charm of its predecessor.

Synopsis: Mumble (Elijah Wood) the penguin, now called the Master of Tap, has an unusual problem: Erik, his son, is reluctant to dance. Erik runs away… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Pink

Directed By: George Miller, Christopher DeFaria, Philip Hearnshaw, Graham Burke

Critics Consensus: Competent, but not magical.

Synopsis: The adventurous sailor (Brad Pitt) and a beautiful stowaway (Catherine Zeta-Jones) have 10 days to save a prince from execution.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joseph Fiennes

Directed By: Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson

Critics Consensus: By the Sea may intrigue celebrity voyeurs or fans of a certain type of arthouse cinema, but for most viewers, its beauty won’t be enough to offset its narrative inertia.

Synopsis: A troubled American couple (Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Pitt) befriend young newlyweds and local villagers while staying at French seaside resort.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud

Directed By: Angelina Jolie, Michael Vieira, Holly Goline-Sadowski, Chris Brigham

Critics Consensus: The Counselor raises expectations with its talented cast and creative crew — then subverts them with a wordy and clumsy suspense thriller that’s mercilessly short on suspense or thrills.

Synopsis: A Bentley-driving Texas lawyer (Michael Fassbender) appears to have it all, including a beautiful fiancée named Laura (Penélope Cruz) — but his financial needs force… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem

Directed By: Ridley Scott, Cormac McCarthy, Mark Huffam, Michael Schaefer

Synopsis: As a favor to a friend, policeman Tom O’Meara (Harrison Ford) lets visiting Irishman Rory Devaney (Brad Pitt) stay with him and his family in… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Margaret Colin, Rubén Blades

Directed By: Alan J. Pakula, Donald Laventhall, Lloyd Levin, Karen L. Thorson

Synopsis: Best friends Kathy (Harley Jane Kozak) and Emily (Elizabeth McGovern) are having disparate relationship troubles. Kathy is growing bored with her comfortable married life with… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Harley Jane Kozak, Elizabeth McGovern, Bill Pullman, Brad Pitt

Directed By: Donald Petrie, Donna Dubrow, Rick Finkelstein

Synopsis: Johnny Suede (Brad Pitt) wants to be in a rock band, and when a pair of suede shoes literally lands at his feet, he thinks… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Calvin Levels, Alison Moir, Catherine Keener

Directed By: Tom DiCillo, Steven Starr

Synopsis: After spending time at a mental institution, troubled student Brian Woods (Donovan Leitch) returns to class following his father’s death, amid a swirl of rumors… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Donovan Leitch Jr., Jill Schoelen, Brad Pitt, Roddy McDowall

Directed By: Rospo Pallenberg, Peter S. Davis, William N. Panzer

Critics Consensus: Cool World throws a small handful of visual sparks, but they aren’t enough to distract from the screenplay’s thin characters and scattered plot.

Synopsis: After a bizarre incident, Frank Harris is transported into the cartoon realm of Cool World, where he remains the only human among various animated characters… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne, Brad Pitt, Michele Abrams

Directed By: Ralph Bakshi