Want to know the best Brian Dennehy movies? How about the worst Brian Dennehy movies? Curious about Brian Dennehy box office grosses or which Brian Dennehy movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Brian Dennehy movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Brian Dennehy (1938-2020) was an American actor. Dennehy was a winner of one Golden Globe®, two Tony® Awards and a recipient of six Primetime Emmy® Award nominations, he gained initial recognition for his role as Sheriff Will Teasle in First Blood (1982). His IMDb page shows 183 acting credits from oto 2020. This page will rank Brian Dennehy movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, videos, games, and movies that were not released in North American theaters were not included in the rankings. To do well in our overall rankings a movie has to do well at the box office, get good reviews by critics, be liked by audiences and get some award recognition.
Brian Dennehy Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Brian Dennehy Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Brian Dennehy movies by his co-stars
- Sort Brian Dennehy movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Brian Dennehy movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Brian Dennehy movies by how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Brian Dennehy movie received.
- Sort Brian Dennehy movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
Possibly Interesting Facts On Brian Dennehy
1. Brian Manion Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1938.
2. Brian Dennehy won a football scholarship that paved the way to Columbia University in New York City, where he played football, earned a BA in history, became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and played rugby union for Old Blue RFC. He went on to graduate studies in dramatic arts at Yale University.
3. Brian Dennehy used to work as a stockbroker at the same firm (Merrill Lynch) as Martha Stewart. They remained good friends until his passing 2020.
4. While performing in “Death Of A Salesman” and “Long Day’s Journey into Night” on Broadway, so many of Brian Dennehy’s fans wanted to meet him after the show that producers had to hire extra security to keep the crowds in control near the stage door.
5. Brian Dennehy’s all-time favorite movie was 1954’s On The Waterfront.
Check out Brian Dennehy’s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
Brian Dennehy was the # 48 most connected actor of the 1980’s.
I loved him in Cocoon
Hey Heather. Thanks for stopping by our Dennehy page. We (me, WoC, DoC2 and DoC3) watched that movie last night. WoC and I enjoyed the movie, the kids did not seem as impressed. Some things I found interesting.. I am now older than Wilford Brimley when he made this movie…heck I am 3 years older than he was. Second…..Dennehy and co-star Steve Guttenberg went out drinking one night, and Dennehy got a DUI. Third. Dennehy was almost the same exact age as Brimley when they made the movie. Fourth. Tyrone Power III is the forgotten alien in that one. Fifth. The special effects have not aged well in the 35 years since it was made. Good stuff.
I used to get Brian Dennehy mixed up with Charles Durning. Brian was # 392 on the most recent Oracle of Bacon Top 1000. These are the other actors on the list he appeared with.
6 ROBERT DE NIRO Righteous Kill (2008)
7 HARRISON FORD Presumed Innocent (1990)
13 BEN KINGSLEY KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
16 TERENCE STAMP Legal Eagles (1986)
19 DENNIS HOPPER 10th & Wolf (2006)
20 SYLVESTER STALLONE F.I.S.T (1978)
20 SYLVESTER STALLONE First Blood (1982)
32 PETER O’TOOLE Ratatouille (2007)
36 ROD STEIGER F.I.S.T (1978)
40 ROBERT DUVALL The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
46 KEITH DAVID Meet Monica Velour (2010)
52 JOHN CLEESE Silverado (1985)
59 ANTONIO BANDERAS KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
68 CHRISTOPHER LLOYD Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979)
73 BURT REYNOLDS Semi-Tough (1977)
74 GENE HACKMAN Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
80 JOHN MALKOVICH Miles from Home (1988)
83 RICHARD JENKINS Silverado (1985)
84 IAN BANNEN Gorky Park (1983)
87 ROBERT LOGGIA Gladiator (1992)
99 JOHN TURTURRO She Hate Me (2004)
106 BRAD DOURIF Silicon Towers (1999)
108 M. EMMET WALSH Romeo + Juliet (1996)
116 VAL KILMER 10th & Wolf (2006)
123 JEFF GOLDBLUM Silverado (1985)
126 SCOTT GLENN Silverado (1985)
129 TOMMY LEE JONES The River Rat (1984)
133 IAN HOLM Ratatouille (2007)
135 WOODY HARRELSON She Hate Me (2004)
142 MARC LAWRENCE Foul Play (1978)
145 DAN AYKROYD Tommy Boy (1995)
148 WHOOPI GOLDBERG Everyone’s Hero (2006)
150 GRETA SCACCHI Presumed Innocent (1990)
158 JAMES WOODS Best Seller (1987)
158 JAMES WOODS Split Image (1982)
160 DANNY GLOVER Silverado (1985)
164 GABRIEL BYRNE Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
165 PETER FONDA Split Image (1982)
168 ROBERT WAGNER Everyone’s Hero (2006)
169 CLINT HOWARD Cocoon (1985)
171 LIEV SCHREIBER Every Day (2010)
174 ANJELICA HUSTON The Big Year (2011)
178 RICHARD GRIFFITHS Gorky Park (1983)
179 XANDER BERKELEY The Last of the Finest (1990)
182 BURGESS MEREDITH Foul Play (1978)
183 FOREST WHITAKER Everyone’s Hero (2006)
192 KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Semi-Tough (1977)
198 ELLEN BURSTYN Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
210 BRUCE MCGILL F.I.S.T (1978)
212 DAVID STRAITHAIRN Trumbo (2007)
219 OWEN WILSON The Big Year (2011)
226 RICHARD GERE Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
226 RICHARD GERE Miles from Home (1988)
230 JEFF COREY Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979)
234 TOM BERENGER Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979)
234 TOM BERENGER Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
246 WILLIAM HURT Gorky Park (1983)
257 PAUL SORVINO Romeo + Juliet (1996)
261 PETER BOYLE F.I.S.T (1978)
264 JAMES GARNER The Ultimate Gift (2006)
267 ROBIN WILLIAMS Everyone’s Hero (2006)
276 SEYMOUR CASSEL Best Seller (1987)
288 JULIAN SANDS Cat City (2008)
301 JOE PANTOLIANO The Last of the Finest (1990)
306 JOHN LEGUIZAMO Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
306 JOHN LEGUIZAMO Righteous Kill (2008)
306 JOHN LEGUIZAMO Romeo + Juliet (1996)
326 BRUCE DAVISON Summer Catch (2001)
327 DARYL HANNAH Legal Eagles (1986)
329 JOHN HEARD Gladiator (1992)
334 ROBERT REDFORD Legal Eagles (1986)
336 JACK BLACK The Big Year (2011)
337 BILLY BOB THORNTON The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
345 BRUCE GREENWOOD First Blood (1982)
348 KEITH CARRADINE Out of the Cold (1999)
353 CATE BLANCHETT KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
354 WILLIAM H. MACY Everyone’s Hero (2006)
356 BILL PAXTON The Last of the Finest (1990)
359 DIANE KEATON Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
360 VINCENT SCHIAVELLI Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979)
362 KEVIN POLLAK Stolen Summer (2002)
362 KEVIN POLLAK The Big Year (2011)
383 JOHN RATZENBERGER Ratatouille (2007)
384 ARMIN MUELLER-STAHL KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
385 LAURENCE FISHBURNE Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
393 JAMES REMAR Ratatouille (2007)
394 ED LAUTER Finders Keepers (1984)
396 JIM BROWN She Hate Me (2004)
400 KIM CATTRALL Meet Monica Velour (2010)
403 AL PACINO Righteous Kill (2008)
413 RANCE HOWARD Cocoon (1985)
419 ANN-MARGRET Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
441 MARNE MAITLAND The Belly of an Architect (1987)
454 JAMES GAMMON Silverado (1985)
455 ROSANNA ARQUETTE Silverado (1985)
464 BEN STILLER THE BIG YEAR (2011)
466 CHRISTIAN BALE KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
474 TONY CURTIS Little Miss Marker (1980)
480 KEVIN CORRIGAN KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
480 KEVIN CORRIGAN The Next Three Days (2010)
482 JOHN C. MCGINLEY Summer Catch (2001)
484 BEVERLY D’ANGELO Finders Keepers (1984)
484 BEVERLY D’ANGELO Summer Catch (2001)
492 DYLAN BAKER The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
499 NATALIE PORTMAN KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
520 SHEA WHIGHAM KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
525 FRED WARD Summer Catch (2001)
527 MICHAEL WINCOTT KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
533 ETHAN HAWKE Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
542 PETE POSTLEWAITE Romeo + Juliet (1996)
546 STEVE MARTIN The Big Year (2011)
555 WALTER MATTHAU Little Miss Marker (1980)
585 PAUL RUDD Romeo + Juliet (1996)
603 JEFFREY WRIGHT PRESUMED INNOCENT (1990)
607 KEVIN COSTNER Silverado (1985)
611 BRAD GARRETT RATATOUILLE (2007)
612 LEONARDO DICAPRIO Romeo + Juliet (1996)
624 LAMBERT WILSON THE BELLY OF AN ARCHITECT (1987)
630 MIRIAM MARGOLYES Romeo + Juliet (1996)
633 CHEVY CHASE Foul Play (1978)
639 ALEXANDER KNOX Gorky Park (1983)
640 MELISSA LEO RIGHTEOUS KILL (2008)
654 MARSHALL BELL Legal Eagles (1986)
673 CARLA GUGINO Every Day (2010)
673 CARLA GUGINO Righteous Kill (2008)
679 RICHARD MASUR Semi-Tough (1977)
688 ROBERT WEBBER 10 (1979)
694 KEVIN KLINE Silverado (1985)
716 TOM NOONAN F/X (1986)
731 BRADLEY WHITFORD PRESUMED INNOCENT (1990)
742 DIANNE WIEST THE BIG YEAR (2011)
750 CUBA GOODING JR. Gladiator (1992)
754 CHIWETEL EJIOFOR SHE HATE ME (2004)
760 LEE MARVIN Gorky Park (1983)
763 ROSCOE LEE BROWNE Legal Eagles (1986)
765 COLM MEANEY Alleged (2010)
783 RYAN O’NEAL KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
786 CORBIN BERNSEN The Big Year (2011)
806 TIM BLAKE NELSON THE BIG YEAR (2011)
810 BILL COBBS The Ultimate Gift (2006)
816 PAUL WINFIELD Presumed Innocent (1990)
822 GIOVANNI RIBISI 10TH & WOLF (2006)
834 JIM CARREY Finders Keepers (1984)
849 RICHARD CRENNA First Blood (1982)
852 ANNE ARCHER The Check Is in the Mail… (1986)
862 ELYA BASKIN Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979)
884 WILFORD BRIMLEY COCOON (1985)
884 WILFORD BRIMLEY COCOON: THE RETURN (1988)
885 JULIE ANDREWS 10 (1979)
885 JULIE ANDREWS Little Miss Marker (1980)
886 STEPHEN LANG TWICE IN A LIFETIME (1985)
898 PETER WELLER Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979)
900 ELLEN BARKIN She Hate Me (2004)
905 CHRISTINE BARANSKI LEGAL EAGLES (1986)
913 MONICA BELLUCCI SHE HATE ME (2004)
919 ANTHONY ANDERSON THE BIG YEAR (2011)
921 RICHARD BRIGHT Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
926 AIDAN QUINN Stolen Summer (2002)
926 AIDAN QUINN The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
927 ANNETTE BENING THE SEAGULL (2018)
930 DANIEL STERN The Next Three Days (2010)
944 BAI LING She Hate Me (2004)
947 MARY KAY PLACE WAR EAGLE, ARKANSAS (2007)
968 STEVE GUTTENBERG Cocoon (1985)
968 STEVE GUTTENBERG Cocoon: The Return (1988)
969 BRION JAMES Silverado (1985)
972 ROGER ASHTON – GRIFFITHS SEVEN MINUTES (1989)
975 LEE GRANT Little Miss Marker (1980)
984 LESLEY ANNE WARREN 10th & Wolf (2006)
988 OSSIE DAVIS Gladiator (1992)
988 OSSIE DAVIS She Hate Me (2004)
995 RICHARD KIND Everyone’s Hero (2006)
1000 MANDY PATINKIN Everyone’s Hero (2006)
HM (723) KAREN ALLEN SPLIT IMAGE (1982)
HM (996) BRIAN DOYLE-MURRAY Legal Eagles (1986)
Brian has appeared with 32 Oscar winners.
AL PACINO Righteous Kill (2008)
ANJELICA HUSTON The Big Year (2011)
BEN KINGSLEY KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
CATE BLANCHETT KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
CHRISTIAN BALE KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
CUBA GOODING JR. Gladiator (1992)
DIANE KEATON Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
DIANNE WIEST THE BIG YEAR (2011)
DON AMECHE Cocoon (1985)
DON AMECHE Cocoon: The Return (1988)
FOREST WHITAKER Everyone’s Hero (2006)
GENE HACKMAN Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
GOLDIE HAWN Foul Play (1978)
HELEN HUNT EVERY DAY (2010)
HELEN HUNT MILES FROM HOME (1988)
JESSICA TANDY Cocoon (1985)
JESSICA TANDY Cocoon: The Return (1988)
JULIE ANDREWS 10 (1979)
JULIE ANDREWS Little Miss Marker (1980)
KEVIN KLINE Silverado (1985)
KIM HUNTER Out of the Cold (1999)
LEE GRANT Little Miss Marker (1980)
LEE MARVIN Gorky Park (1983)
LEONARDO DICAPRIO Romeo + Juliet (1996)
LOUIS GOSSETT JR. Finders Keepers (1984)
MAUREEN STAPLETON Cocoon (1985)
MAUREEN STAPLETON Cocoon: The Return (1988)
MELISSA LEO RIGHTEOUS KILL (2008)
NATALIE PORTMAN KNIGHT OF CUPS (2016)
ROBERT DE NIRO Righteous Kill (2008)
ROBERT DUVALL The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
ROBIN WILLIAMS Everyone’s Hero (2006)
ROD STEIGER F.I.S.T (1978)
TOMMY LEE JONES The River Rat (1984)
WALTER MATTHAU Little Miss Marker (1980)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG Everyone’s Hero (2006)
WILLIAM HURT Gorky Park (1983)
Hey Dan. Thanks for adding to this Brian Dennehy page. Danny he getting mixed up with Charles Durning is something he said happened to him all the time. So you are in good company.I am imagine he was eve higher on the Oracle list when he was making a ton of movies. Obviously his career slowed up as he got older. He was actually hard to recognize in the movie The Seagull.
First list. Looks like John Leguizamo is his most frequent Oracle costar. I think it would’ve taken a long time for me to guess that, but they have both been busy actors. Second list. 30 to ask for any costars is probably an average. Lots of his Cocoon stars make that list. As do his many Knight of Cups co-stars. Now that is a bad movie even with all the stars.As always good stuff.
The great Brian Dennehy, sadly departed, always worth watching. R.I.P.
I’ve seen 21 of the 41 films on the chart. Favorites include – Cocoon, Cocoon the Return (not on the chart but Dennehy appears in the last 5 mins uncredited), First Blood, Ratatouille, Silverado, Assault on Precinct 13 and Best Seller.
Tommy Boy gets mentioned a lot in the obituaries for Dennehy but I’ve never seen it.
I’ll always remember Dennehy as the tough sheriff who takes an instant dislike to John Rambo with tragic results. And the friendly alien in Cocoon, two very contrasting roles.
A nice tribute Bruce. Vote Up!
Hey Steve. Rest in peace Brian Dennehy. I have seen 27 of his movies compared to your 21. Both are very good totals. Looking at your favorites, seen them all with Silverado, Best Seller, Cocoon and First Blood being my favorites. Tommy boy has some funny moments, that was good casting putting them as father and son. Hard to believe they are both now gone. I agree with your thoughts about his ability to play good and bad. Just re-watched him and Walter in Cocoon. Love him and that part. Thanks for the kind words. RIP
Hey Steve…after seeing you mention his part in Cocoon:The Return as one of your favorites….I went ahead and added that movie to his table. I had originally not included that uncredited role. It will soon being showing up.