The best Brendan Fraser movies prove that the actor already had a career to be proud of long before his Oscar-winning role in The Whale. Fraser was always seen as one of the most likable actors in Hollywood whose charm and charisma onscreen led to him becoming a star in the 1990s before gradually falling out of favor among the big movie projects. Yet through it all, Brendan Fraser's movies kept reminding audiences of the incredible versatility the actor has, and it was no surprise that he eventually found the right project to bring him back into the spotlight.
Fraser's rise to fame began with broad comedies like Encino Man and Blast From the Past. However, he also showed off his dramatic chops in intense and acclaimed dramas like School Ties and Gods and Monsters. He also became a blockbuster action star thanks to the smash hit The Mummy. Throughout all these movies and beyond, Fraser delivered funny, thrilling, romantic, and powerful performances. The best Brendan Fraser movies are a perfect blend of these qualities that makes him such a popular actor.
14 Encino Man (1992)
- Rent on Apple TV
Fraser's breakout role was the silly yet endearing comedy Encino Man. Sean Astin and Pauly Shore star as two high schoolers who find a caveman (Fraser) frozen in ice. After thawing him out, they use him to help them gain popularity in school. Though the movie was far from a critical success, Fraser's performance was seen as the highlight of the movie, bringing the charm and goofiness that served him so well in his many comedic roles. Encino Man gained a cult following over the years and has seen renewed interest thanks to Fraser and costar Ke Huy Quan, star of Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All At Once, both winning Oscars this year.
13 Bedazzled (2000)
- Rent on Apple TV
The comeback of Brendan Fraser has led to a lot of people revisiting his past movies with renewed appreciation. One of those movies that has seemingly aged well is Bedazzled. The comedy stars Fraser as a social awkward single man who is granted seven wishes by the Devil (Elizabeth Hurley) after selling her his soul. The morality tale of a man failing to find happiness despite all these wishes is nothing new, but the joy of the movie is seeing Fraser attempt to change his life for the better and for it to continuously go wrong. It also gives Fraser the opportunity to play a lot of different types of characters to great effect.
12 Airheads (1994)
- Not available for streaming
Recent Adam Sandler movies have cemented him as another actor who Hollywood should have been taking more seriously. However, there is still a lot of fun in seeing Sandler and Fraser goofing around in the cult comedy Airheads. They are joined by Steve Buscemi with the trio playing a rock band that takes employees at a radio station hostage in order to check their music on the air. The three main actors are joined by a hilarious supporting cast that includes Chris Farley, Michael McKean and Michael Richards. It is a ridiculous yet hilarious romp filled with likeable characters and a fun premise.
11 Still Breathing (1997)
- Stream on Peacock
This 1997 drama Still Breathing focuses on the relationship between a con artist (Joanna Going) and a puppeteer (Fraser) who end up meeting in California after being linked by a similar dream. The film was filled with charm and romance with terrific chemistry between Fraser and costar Joanna Going. Fraser really brings the story to life as this free-spirit and optimistic dreamer who seems to brighten the lives of everyone he is around. He also makes for a dashing romantic lead while still bringing some of his charming quirkiness to the role.
10 With Honors (1994)
- Stream on Tubi
Though many people likely know Joe Pesci best from his scary roles like Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, the Oscar-winner starred in a lot of broad comedies throughout the 1990s, including With Honors. Fraser stars as a promising graduate student whose thesis ends up in the possession of a homeless man (Pesci) who uses it to blackmail the student into letting him live with him. Though the movie was a critical flop, audiences seem to have warmer thoughts about it thanks to Pesci's funny and energetic performance and his great chemistry with Fraser. The sweet friendship that forms between the two very different characters adds a lot of heart to go with the laughs.
9 The Air I Breathe (2007)
- Stream on Peacock
Based on the Chinese proverb about life being broken into four emotions (happiness, pleasure, sorrow, and love), this crime drama follows a set of individuals who represent each of these feelings. The Air I Breathe is one of the best Brendan Fraser movies regardless of being one of the least known. The character's four stories end up overlapping with one another. Fraser takes on the character of Pleasure, who is able to foresee the futures of those around him. Though The Air I Breathe was given low critic reviews like With Honors, the formulaic narrative worked for audience members who were interested in the strong cast and layered story.
8 No Sudden Move (2021)
- Stream on HBO Max
Though The Whale was seen as Fraser's big comeback, the actor was already starting to reappear in notable roles. Steven Soderbergh's movie No Sudden Move marked a welcome return to high-profile roles albeit in a small role in an excellent movie. The crime caper is set in 1950s Detroit, Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro star as two low-level criminals brought into a bank robbery job that proves to be a double-cross, forcing them to make plans to come out on top. Frasier plays the man who hires them for the job, joining an amazing cast that also includes David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Kiernan Culkin, Matt Damon, and the late Ray Liotta. Though the convoluted plot is hard to follow at times, Soderbergh's slick direction, a witty script, and a cool tone make it a terrific throwback crime story.
7 School Ties (1992)
- Stream on Paramount+ and Prime Video
A young Fraser starred in this 1992 drama about a working-class Jewish teen who enters a top Massachusetts prep school during his final year in high school thanks to good grades and football skills. Unfortunately, he soon faces prejudice from the other students whom he at first believes are his friends. After gaining notoriety with comedic roles like Encino Man, Fraser delivered an intense and powerful performance that allowed audiences to see him in a different light. The movie is also notable for featuring a number of future stars including Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Fraser's antisemitic classmates.
6 Blast From The Past (1999)
- Rent on Apple TV
This wholesome '90s romantic comedy tells of a 35-year-old man named Adam. He spent his entire life underground with his neurotic parents, who hope to stay safe from the dangers of the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, after their shelter unlocks in 1999, Adam visits the surface and navigates modern life despite his naivety. Fraser leads the movie while Alicia Silverstone plays the woman who his character falls for in the real world. While the film flopped at the box office, the funny, ironic humor, and chemistry of the leads still shine today, and Blast from the Past debatably remains one of Fraser's most charming performances.
5 Gods And Monsters (1998)
- Stream on Tubi
The legendary Ian McKellen teamed up with Brendan Fraser for this period drama based on the later days of the life of director James Whale. The Hollywood director was famous for bringing Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein to the big screen, but he struggled with depression and health complications in his old age. He welcomes gardener Clayton Boone into his life, but their friendship proves to have its challenges as Whale and Boone have different ideas as to where they want it to go. Fraser once again showed his versatility in the role with a quiet and reserved supporting performance. Ian McKellen is the star of the show, however, and delivers a complex and heartbreaking performance that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
4 The Quiet American (2002)
- Stream on fuboTV
This 2002 adaptation of Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American merges a murder mystery and a love triangle into a narrative set against the backdrop of the French-Indochina War in Vietnam. Here, an English journalist (Michael Caine) and an American (Fraser) find themselves falling for the same Vietnamese woman. Once again, Fraser gets more of the supporting role allowing his veteran costar to take the spotlight. Caine gives one of the best performances of his career which scored him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The film was well-received by critics thanks to how many of the themes of the novel survive in the big screen adaption. With believable performances and thoughtful layers, the film remains highly underrated.
3 Crash (2004)
- Stream on Showtime
Before Fraser's exciting return in 2022, his highest-scoring IMDb film of all time was Crash. Though the film winning Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain at the Academy Awards remains controversial, Crash still acquired a solid number of fans, although few still talk about this 2000s drama movie. Crash follows a series of people who live in Los Angeles including an attorney and his wife, a set of detectives in a relationship, a wealthy couple, a store owner, and a police officer who get pulled into a narrative of social issues. In addition to Best Picture, Crash went home with Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars.
2 The Mummy (1999)
- Rent on Apple TV
In 1999, Brendan Fraser took the starring role in the film he is perhaps most known for: The Mummy. It follows explorer Rick O'Connell (Fraser), Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz), and Evelyn's brother Jonathan (John Hannah) on a hunt for treasure. After accidentally waking a revenge-driven mummified priest, the gang must team up to keep the world from facing his wrath. The movie was a massive summer blockbuster hit with a crowd-pleasing mix of horror, action, and humor. Fraser stepped into the action hero role convincingly while bringing some of his own fun personality to the role. Though the sequels and Scorpion King spinoff series weren't as beloved, there are many fans who want to see Fraser return to The Mummy franchise.
1 The Whale (2022)
- Rent on Apple TV
There is no doubt The Whale marks the most important movie in Brendan Fraser's career and the one that cemented his amazing comeback story. Based on the play by Samuel D. Hunter, Fraser stars as an obese man living with depression who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter while facing the end of his life. The movie was divisive among critics with many criticizing the movie's depiction of the lead character. However, there is no denying the power of Fraser's performance, giving him a role unlike any he has had in his career until now. Despite the harsher critical reaction, the movie won two Oscars, including Brendan Fraser's win for Best Actor.