(Photo by Claudette Barius/©Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection)

All Matthew McConaughey Movies Ranked

“Alright alright alright!” Only one man in Hollywood could fully embody the laidback cool of that now-famous catchphrase: Matthew McConaughey. The actor broke into the scene with the landmark stoner comedy Dazed and Confused, and for a while there looked like he was good to just coast on his twangy bro-charm and ample shirtless scenes. Occasional dramas like Amistad and Frailty gave him acting cred, which some would say was squandered on a string of duds like Fool’s Gold, Failure to Launch, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – the mediocrity cresting with the 0% Surfer, Dude.

Then came the McConaissance.

It all started with 2011’s The Lincoln Lawyer: He entered one side a laughing stock, and came out the other a bona fide movie legend. The hits followed: Magic Mike, Mud, The Wolf of Wall Street, and an honest-to-God Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club. And there was that critically-lauded turn in HBO’s True Detective. Before 2011, McConaughey had notched six Certified Fresh films over 20 years; this past decade, he’s racked up nine. See where they all place, including his latest The Gentlemen, as we rank the best Matthew McConaughey movies (and the worst) by Tomatometer!

#45

Surfer, Dude (2008)
0%

#45

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Steve Addington (Matthew McConaughey) is a professional surfer and beach bum who lives to ride the waves. Content simply to... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Alexie Gilmore, Jeffrey Nordling, Sarah Wright

Directed By: S.R. Bindler

#44

Larger Than Life (1996)
11%

#44

Adjusted Score: 10362%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Jack Corcoran (Bill Murray) is a struggling motivational speaker who lives by the mantra "Get over it!" When he learns... [More]

Starring: Bill Murray, Janeane Garofalo, Matthew McConaughey, Keith David

Directed By: Howard Franklin

#43

Fool's Gold (2008)
11%

#43

Adjusted Score: 15528%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Treasure hunter Ben "Finn" Finnegan (Matthew McConaughey) has sunk his marriage to Tess (Kate Hudson) and his trusty boat in... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena

Directed By: Andy Tennant

#42

The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995)
16%

#42

Adjusted Score: 17954%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: After leaving their prom early, innocent Jenny (Renée Zellweger) and three other teenagers crash their car in the backwoods of... [More]

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Jacks, Tony Perenski

Directed By: Ken Henkel, Kim Henkel

#41

The Sea of Trees (2015)
17%

#41

Adjusted Score: 19412%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: After traveling to Japan's Aokigahara Forest, a troubled teacher (Matthew McConaughey) meets a mysterious stranger (Ken Watanabe) who takes him... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe, Naomi Watts, Katie Aselton

Directed By: Gus Van Sant

#40

The Wedding Planner (2001)
17%

#40

Adjusted Score: 20686%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: While celebrating her newest and most lucrative account -- the wedding of Internet tycoon Fran Donelly (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras) -- Mary... [More]

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Justin Chambers

Directed By: Adam Shankman

#39

The Dark Tower (2017)
16%

#39

Adjusted Score: 35387%

Critics Consensus: Go then, there are other Stephen King adaptations than these.

Synopsis: Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), the last Gunslinger, is locked in an eternal battle with Walter O'Dim (Matthew McConaughey), also known... [More]

Starring: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim

Directed By: Nikolaj Arcel

#38

Serenity (2019)
21%

#38

Adjusted Score: 32911%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Baker Dill is a fishing boat captain who leads tours off of the tranquil enclave of Plymouth Island. His peaceful... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane

Directed By: Steven Knight

#37

Two for the Money (2005)
22%

#37

Adjusted Score: 24634%

Critics Consensus: Despite its sportsmanlike swagger, Two for the Money's aimless plot isn't worth betting on.

Synopsis: A former college athlete (Matthew McConaughey) joins forces with a sports consultant (Al Pacino) to handicap football games for high-rolling... [More]

Starring: Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante

Directed By: D.J. Caruso

#36

Failure to Launch (2006)
24%

#36

Adjusted Score: 29171%

Critics Consensus: The few comic gags sprinkled throughout the movie fail to spice up this formulaic rom-com.

Synopsis: A young man (Matthew McConaughey) continues to live at the home of parents who, in desperation to push him out... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha

Directed By: Tom Dey

#35

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
28%

#35

Adjusted Score: 32511%

Critics Consensus: A retread of A Christmas Carol, featuring Matthew McConaughey in a retread of his Dazed and Confused role, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past lacks originality, humor, and any semblance of charm.

Synopsis: Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) lives life in the fast lane, committed to bachelorhood and simultaneous relationships with multiple... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer

Directed By: Mark Waters

#34

Tiptoes (2003)
20%

#34

Adjusted Score: 7356%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A man (Matthew McConaughey) is reluctant to tell his fiancee (Kate Beckinsale) that his parents, uncle and brother (Gary Oldman)... [More]

Starring: Gary Oldman, Matthew McConaughey, Kate Beckinsale, Patricia Arquette

Directed By: Matthew Bright

#33

Angels in the Outfield (1994)
33%

#33

Adjusted Score: 34155%

Critics Consensus: A queasy mishmash of poignant drama and slapstick fantasy, Angels in the Outfield strikes out as worthy family entertainment.

Synopsis: Foster kid Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) loves the Anaheim Angels, even though they're the worst team in the major leagues. His... [More]

Starring: Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tony Danza, Brenda Fricker

Directed By: William Dear

#32

Sahara (2005)
38%

#32

Adjusted Score: 43928%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Seasoned adventurer Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey) sets out for the African desert with his sarcastic companion (Steve Zahn) in search... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penélope Cruz, Lambert Wilson

Directed By: Breck Eisner

#31

Reign of Fire (2002)
42%

#31

Adjusted Score: 46575%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In present-day London, 12-year-old Quinn watches as his mother wakes an enormous fire-breathing beast from its centuries-long slumber. Twenty years... [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, Izabella Scorupco, Gerard Butler

Directed By: Rob Bowman

#30

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
42%

#30

Adjusted Score: 46895%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: An advice columnist, Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson), tries pushing the boundaries of what she can write about in her new... [More]

Starring: Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Adam Goldberg, Michael Michele

Directed By: Donald Petrie

#29

Gold (2016)
42%

#29

Adjusted Score: 54402%

Critics Consensus: Gold boasts an impressively committed performance from Matthew McConaughey, but it's just one glittering nugget in an otherwise uneven heap of cinematic silt.

Synopsis: Kenny Wells, a prospector desperate for a lucky break, teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Joshua Harto

Directed By: Stephen Gaghan

#28

The Paperboy (2012)
45%

#28

Adjusted Score: 49510%

Critics Consensus: Trashy and melodramatic, The Paperboy is enlivened by a strong cast and a steamy, sordid plot, but it's uneven and often veers into camp.

Synopsis: In 1969 Florida, reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown to write a story about death-row inmate Hillary... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray

Directed By: Lee Daniels

#27

Free State of Jones (2016)
48%

#27

Adjusted Score: 58523%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Keri Russell

Directed By: Gary Ross

#26

We Are Marshall (2006)
48%

#26

Adjusted Score: 52536%

Critics Consensus: Matthew McConaughey almost runs We Are Marshall to the end zone, but can't stop it from taking the easy, feel-good route in memorializing this historic event in American sports.

Synopsis: In 1970, Marshall University and the small town of Huntington, W.Va., reel when a plane crash claims the lives of... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Ian McShane, Anthony Mackie

Directed By: McG

#25

The Beach Bum (2019)
57%

#25

Adjusted Score: 63099%

Critics Consensus: The role of a lifetime for Matthew McConaughey, The Beach Bum is set apart by Harmony Korine's distinctive style, but that isn't always enough to offset the unfocused story.

Synopsis: Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher, Stefania LaVie Owen

Directed By: Harmony Korine

#24

White Boy Rick (2018)
57%

#24

Adjusted Score: 65881%

Critics Consensus: Solid work from the cast - particularly a scene-stealing Matthew McConaughey - helps White Boy Rick make up for a number of missed opportunities in the script.

Synopsis: Rick Wershe is a single father who's struggling to raise two teenagers during the height of the crack epidemic in... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Bel Powley, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Directed By: Yann Demange

#23

The Newton Boys (1998)
64%

#23

Adjusted Score: 65546%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Seeking an escape from poverty, sibling Texas farmers (Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke) gain notoriety as daring 1920s bank... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio

Directed By: Richard Linklater

#22

Contact (1997)
66%

#22

Adjusted Score: 69002%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In this Zemeckis-directed adaptation of the Carl Sagan novel, Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) races to interpret a possible message... [More]

Starring: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, James Woods, John Hurt

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis

#21

EDtv (1999)
64%

#21

Adjusted Score: 64407%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In a desperate attempt to boost ratings, a cable channel decides to document the life of someone on a daily... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Ellen DeGeneres, Woody Harrelson

Directed By: Ron Howard

#20

A Time to Kill (1996)
68%

#20

Adjusted Score: 69997%

Critics Consensus: Overlong and superficial, A Time to Kill nonetheless succeeds on the strength of its skillful craftsmanship and top-notch performances.

Synopsis: Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) is a heartbroken black father who avenges his daughter's brutal rape by shooting the... [More]

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

#19

U-571 (2000)
67%

#19

Adjusted Score: 71722%

Critics Consensus: Excellent cinematography and an interesting plot accompanied by a talented cast and crew make U-571 a tense thriller.

Synopsis: When a German U-571 submarine with a sophisticated encryption machine onboard is sunk during a World War II battle at... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi

Directed By: Jonathan Mostow

#18

Interstellar (2014)
72%

#18

Adjusted Score: 88208%

Critics Consensus: Interstellar represents more of the thrilling, thought-provoking, and visually resplendent filmmaking moviegoers have come to expect from writer-director Christopher Nolan, even if its intellectual reach somewhat exceeds its grasp.

Synopsis: In Earth's future, a global crop blight and second Dust Bowl are slowly rendering the planet uninhabitable. Professor Brand (Michael... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

#17

Sing (2016)
71%

#17

Adjusted Score: 82355%

Critics Consensus: Sing delivers colorfully animated, cheerfully undemanding entertainment with a solid voice cast and a warm-hearted -- albeit familiar -- storyline that lives up to its title.

Synopsis: Dapper Koala Buster Moon presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. An eternal optimist, and a... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson

Directed By: Garth Jennings

#16

The Gentlemen (2020)
75%

#16

Adjusted Score: 93059%

Critics Consensus: It may not win writer-director Guy Ritchie many new converts, but for those already attuned to the filmmaker's brash wavelength, The Gentlemen stands tall.

Synopsis: Mickey Pearson is an American expatriate who became rich by building a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong

Directed By: Guy Ritchie

#15

Boys on the Side (1995)
74%

#15

Adjusted Score: 75691%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: After breaking up with her girlfriend, a nightclub singer, Jane (Whoopi Goldberg), answers a personal ad from Robin (Mary-Louise Parker),... [More]

Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker, Drew Barrymore, Matthew McConaughey

Directed By: Herbert Ross

#14

Frailty (2002)
75%

#14

Adjusted Score: 78811%

Critics Consensus: Creepy and disturbing, Frailty is well-crafted, low-key horror.

Synopsis: Set in present day Texas, "Frailty" centers on the FBI's search for a serial killer who calls himself "God's Hands."... [More]

Starring: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O'Leary

Directed By: Bill Paxton

#13

Amistad (1997)
77%

#13

Adjusted Score: 79839%

Critics Consensus: Heartfelt without resorting to preachiness, Amistad tells an important story with engaging sensitivity and absorbing skill.

Synopsis: In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) leads... [More]

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, Nigel Hawthorne

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

#12

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
79%

#12

Adjusted Score: 90763%

Critics Consensus: Funny, self-referential, and irreverent to a fault, The Wolf of Wall Street finds Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio at their most infectiously dynamic.

Synopsis: In 1987, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) takes an entry-level job at a Wall Street brokerage firm. By the early 1990s,... [More]

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

#11

Killer Joe (2011)
80%

#11

Adjusted Score: 86096%

Critics Consensus: Violent, darkly comic, and full of strong performances, Killer Joe proves William Friedkin hasn't lost his touch, even if the plot may be too lurid for some.

Synopsis: A cop (Matthew McConaughey) who moonlights as a hit man agrees to kill the hated mother of a desperate drug... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gershon

Directed By: William Friedkin

#10

Magic Mike (2012)
79%

#10

Adjusted Score: 87040%

Critics Consensus: Magic Mike's sensitive direction, smart screenplay, and strong performances allow audiences to have their beefcake and eat it too.

Synopsis: By day, Mike (Channing Tatum) makes ends meet any way he can -- handyman jobs, detailing cars or designing furniture.... [More]

Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

#9

Tropic Thunder (2008)
82%

#9

Adjusted Score: 91267%

Critics Consensus: With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late Summer comedy.

Synopsis: Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war... [More]

Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte

Directed By: Ben Stiller

#8

Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001)
83%

#8

Adjusted Score: 86368%

Critics Consensus: Thirteen Conversations About One Thing is an intelligent and poignant look at lives intersecting.

Synopsis: A man approaching middle age decides to change his life. A rising young attorney's plans are thrown into disarray as... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, John Turturro, Alan Arkin, Clea DuVall

Directed By: Jill Sprecher

#7

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
83%

#7

Adjusted Score: 89516%

Critics Consensus: It doesn't offer any twists on the predictable courtroom thriller formula, but with a charming Matthew McConaughey leading its solid cast, The Lincoln Lawyer offers briskly enjoyable entertainment.

Synopsis: Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, Josh Lucas

Directed By: Brad Furman

#6

Bernie (2011)
88%

#6

Adjusted Score: 94836%

Critics Consensus: Richard Linklater's Bernie is a gently told and unexpectedly amusing true-crime comedy that benefits from an impressive performance by Jack Black.

Synopsis: Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) is one of the most-beloved residents in the small Texas town of Carthage.... [More]

Starring: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman

Directed By: Richard Linklater

#5

Dazed and Confused (1993)
92%

#5

Adjusted Score: 96911%

Critics Consensus: Featuring an excellent ensemble cast, a precise feel for the 1970s, and a killer soundtrack, Dazed and Confused is a funny, affectionate, and clear-eyed look at high school life.

Synopsis: This coming-of-age film follows the mayhem of group of rowdy teenagers in Austin, Texas, celebrating the last day of high... [More]

Starring: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Sasha Jenson, Rory Cochrane

Directed By: Richard Linklater

#4

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
92%

#4

Adjusted Score: 103317%

Critics Consensus: Dallas Buyers Club rests squarely on Matthew McConaughey's scrawny shoulders, and he carries the burden gracefully with what might be a career-best performance.

Synopsis: In mid-1980s Texas, electrician Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) is stunned to learn that he has AIDS. Though told that he... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Denis O'Hare

Directed By: Jean-Marc Vallée

#3

Lone Star (1996)
94%

#3

Adjusted Score: 95429%

Critics Consensus: Smart and absorbing, Lone Star represents a career high point for writer-director John Sayles -- and '90s independent cinema in general.

Synopsis: In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an... [More]

Starring: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Morton, Ron Canada

Directed By: John Sayles

#2

Mud (2013)
97%

#2

Adjusted Score: 103122%

Critics Consensus: Bolstered by a strong performance from Matthew McConaughey in the title role, Mud offers an engaging Southern drama that manages to stay sweet and heartwarming without being sappy.

Synopsis: While exploring a Mississippi River island, Arkansas boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) encounter Mud (Matthew McConaughey),a fugitive... [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Reese Witherspoon

Directed By: Jeff Nichols

#1

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
97%

#1

Adjusted Score: 109819%

Critics Consensus: Kubo and the Two Strings matches its incredible animation with an absorbing -- and bravely melancholy -- story that has something to offer audiences of all ages.

Synopsis: Young Kubo's (Art Parkinson) peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now... [More]

Starring: Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei

Directed By: Travis Knight