Hailing from Hollywood royalty — his father is actor James Brolin, and his stepmother is industry icon Barbra Streisand — it's no wonder that Josh Brolin would follow in his parents' footsteps and become a renowned actor in his own right. Indeed, Brolin has come a long way since his debut in the classic 1985 film The Goonies, appearing in critical darlings like No Country for Old Men and commercial franchises like the MCU.
Though he shines in dramatic work, Brolin has found considerable success in the action genre. Of course, more than just typical popcorn fair, his action filmography is unique in that some films are steeped in other genres, like the thriller Sicario or the adventure biopic Everest. Most recently, Brolin appeared in the sci-fi drama/action Dune, and is, in fact, currently filming Dune: Part Two. As we await further details on the film, let's take a look at Brolin's best action movies so far, ranked.
8 Everest
Everest is a 2015 biographical survival adventure film directed and produced by Baltasar Kormákur, and written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. It features an ensemble cast that includes Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Martin Henderson, Emily Watson, and, of course, Brolin. Everest is based on the real events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, during which eight climbers died while climibing the infamous mountain. It would mark the highest numbers of deaths in a single day on Everest. Brolin stars as Beck Weathers, a mountain climber who becomes involved in the disaster.
7 Avengers: Infinity War
Disney
Avengers: Infinity War is the third movie in the Avengers franchise as part of the larger MCU. Brolin takes on the iconic villainous role of Thanos, the Mad Titan who proves to be more emotionally complex than typical superhero movie villains. Infinity War was a culminating event of sorts, bringing together for the first time every superhero franchise in the MCU, as the heroes band together to try and stop Thanos from wiping out half of all life with The Infinity Stones.
6 American Gangster
American Gangster was released in 2007 and was directed by the famous filmmaker Ridley Scott. The film is based on the life of crime lord Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, who runs an international drug empire and is trying to evade capture by a detective played by Russel Crowe. Brolin plays Detective Trupo, who is corrupt due to receiving larger payments from Frank. The film was a huge success, earning praise for its overall direction and the performances from the cast.
5 Avengers: Endgame
Disney
Avengers: Endgame was released in 2019 and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time. If Infinity War was the set-up, then Endgame was the slam dunk. Brolin returns as Thanos as the Avengers, failing their mission in Infinity War, figure out a way to reverse the damage that's been done. Marking the end of The Infinity Saga, Endgame featured one of the biggest final battles in the history of superhero movies.
4 Dune
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune is a 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's eponymous novel. The story follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) who is tasked with venturing into a dangerous planet in order to secure the future and safety of people. Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson star as Paul's parents, Duke Leto, leader of ocean-planet Caladan, and Lady Jessica, a prominent member of a clairvoyant sisterhood. Brolin stars as one of the Duke’s aides, and he will be reprising the role in the upcoming sequel, Dune: Part Two, which will release in November 2023 (via THR).
3 True Grit
True Grit was released in 2010 and was a huge success for the Coen Brothers. The film is a remake of the 1969 film starring John Wayne, which was adapted from the Charles Portis novel of the same name. This western narrative is told from the perspective of Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), who is out to avenge her father's murder. Brolin stars as Tom Chaney, a murderous villain whom everyone is attempting to capture. The film was a huge success, being nominated for a staggering 10 Oscars.
2 Sicario
Sicario was also directed by Denis Villeneuve and won three Oscars, including Best Cinematography. The film depicts the narcotics war between the US and Mexico, with Emily Blunt leading the cast as an ambitious FBI agent who is plucked to work for an agency task force. Brolin plays Matt Graver, a CIA operative. The film is well worth a watch and shows Villeneuve’s work at its best.
1 No Country for Old Men
No Country for Old Men was another adaptation by the Coen Brothers, which took home the 2008 Oscar for Best Picture. The film focuses on hitman Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), who is attempting to recover $2 million, which has been stolen by Llewelyn Moss (Brolin). Brolin’s role is excellent, and the film well deserves the top spot on this list.