In recent years, Matthew Broderick hasn’t been in the spotlight as much as he used to be. However, the actor has still been hard at work, just taking smaller roles here and there. Part of what always made him such a sensation was his incredible charm and unique brand of humor. Over the years, Broderick has portrayed all sorts of characters, going beyond comedy and trying his hand at various other genres.
While some of his films have definitely been more successful than others, Broderick remains one of the most beloved actors from the 80’s. To look back at some of his most celebrated films, here is our list of the 10 best Matthew Broderick films according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Biloxi Blues (81%)
Biloxi Blues (1988) is actually semi-autobiographical in nature. The film’s screenwriter, Neil Simon, based certain events off of his own experience, and the film itself is an adaptation of the play (also by Simon). In the movie, Broderick portrays Pvt Eugene Morris Jerome after he is drafted into the war towards the end of WWII.
Like many of Broderick’s roles, this one is also comedic, but with a bit more drama thrown into the mix as well. As usual, Broderick brings a great amount of charm to the character, and it can’t help but make people wonder exactly how much of the story actually happened.
Trainwreck (85%)
Despite being one of the actor’s highest rated movies, Matthew Broderick is hardly in Trainwreck (2015). The film mostly follows Amy Schumer and Bill Hader as the two characters struggle to build a romantic relationship together.
Here, Broderick plays himself, making his role more of a glorified cameo than anything. Regardless, he is still pretty funny in the film and his role doesn’t feel like it was forced into the movie in any way. For all the other celebrity cameos, Broderick’s fits right in with the others. While it may not be the biggest role he ever held, Trainwreck is still worth checking out.
To Dust (88%)
As one of his more recent films, Broderick portrays Albert in the 2018 movie, To Dust. After the death of his wife, Schmuel (Geza Rohrig) finds comfort in Biology professor, Albert. The two form an unlikely friendship in what is much more of a dramatic role for Broderick.
Though there are still some bouts of humor to be found in the film, it is easily one of Broderick’s more serious roles. Likewise, seeing the actor outside of some of his more traditional elements make it easy to see why he received such praise for his performance. While it may be different, To Dust is easily one of Broderick’s best performances.
Election (92%)
1999’s Election stars Broderick alongside Reese Witherspoon as Broderick tries to stop Witherspoon’s class president campaign. Though the film performed terribly at the box office, it received a lot of praise from those who saw it. Furthermore, the film’s satire of politics easily makes it one of the better dark-humor films on the market.
The film even won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Despite its poor performance, Election is still a valuable assessment of American politics, making it ideal for anyone who prefers depth to their films and is looking for an underrated gem to enjoy.
The Lion King (93%)
Of course, The Lion King (1994) had to be on this list. Though Broderick only lends his voice to the film, it is still one of the best animated Disney features to this day. In the film, Broderick voices the oldest version of Simba. Like everyone else in the cast, Broderick does a fantastic job, expertly juggling the funny and dramatic elements of the story.
Unfortunately, Broderick did not reprise his role in the 2019 adaptation of the film. However, his version remains one of the most celebrated animated features ever. Despite only lending his voice, it is easy to see how this is one of the best movies to ever feature Matthew Broderick.
The Freshman (93%)
The Freshman (1990) is another dark-comedy starring Broderick in the lead role. Alongside Marlon Brandon, the two actually come together for a surprisingly-funny, self-aware parody of films like The Godfather (1972). In fact, the film regularly points out how much Carmine (Brandon) looks and sounds like Don Corleone from The Godfather.
While it’s a bit more of a typical role for Broderick, he definitely feels very comfortable with the character. Likewise, Broderick’s charm and sense of humor fit right in with the rest of the film, easily making this one of the actor’s best movies.
Glory (93%)
1989’s Glory is inspired by the true events of the first all African American regiment in the U.S. during the Civil War. Alongside other incredibly talented actors like Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, Broderick delivers one of his most powerful performances.
The story itself captures a great sense of patriotism and camaraderie, all while using compelling characters and the real-world history. Though another serious role for Broderick, it is really easy to see how Glory ranks so high. Overall, the entire film can be considered one of the best Civil War movies ever made.
War Games (93%)
In one of the actor’s very first roles, Matthew Broderick plays David in War Games (1983). In this film, David is a normal teenager who likes hacking things as well as videogames. After hacking into the wrong server though, David accidentally tricks a computer program into starting World War III. With a very limited amount of time on their hands, David must then work with the U.S. government to try to find a way to prevent it.
While the plotline sounds a bit ridiculous, the film actually executes it quite well. In fact, the film still holds up today, despite the dramatic increase of quality in video games. Once again, Broderick seems very comfortable in the role, and the film’s success helped jumpstart his successful career.
You Can Count On Me (95%)
You Can Count On Me is a drama from 2000 that star Broderick alongside Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo. In this movie, Broderick isn’t actually the lead, though he does still play a major role. Here, Broderick’s character Brian complicates matters for Sammy (Linney) as well as himself.
As yet another more serious role for Broderick, the film remains a great drama, even today. The characters all feel very believable and the film always received high praise for the actor’s performances.
Manchester By The Sea (96%)
For such a celebrated film, Manchester By The Sea actually features very little of Broderick. In it, Broderick plays Jeffery, Elise’s wife, and has an incredibly minor role. Though it is easy to see why the film received the praise that it did, Broderick’s performance is incredibly minor in comparison to other roles he has had over the years.
Granted, he still does a good job the few times he is seen, but he doesn’t exactly carry the film. While Manchester By The Sea is worthy of it’s incredibly high score, it is a bit surprising that it is Broderick’s highest-rated film as well.
