He has starred in some of the greatest action films of all time as Bruce Willis, always in the wrong place at the wrong time. As we count down Bruce Willis’s greatest movie roles, let’s take a closer look at his extraordinary filmography
7. 12 Monkeys
Twelve Monkeys is Terry Gilliam’s oddball sci-fi movie. William Willis plays James Cole, a prisoner sent back in time to discover the source of a killer virus so that scientists in the future can develop a cure. I think it’s the perfect movie for these current times of quarantine induced by the Corona.
This is the rare film where Willis actually has romantic chemistry with his co-star — in this case, Madeleine Stowe — a performance that won him an Oscar nomination.
6. Armageddon
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Stamper is considered the world’s foremost deep sea oil driller, another great character for Willis. He knows he has no choice but to head into space and destroy that asteroid when he realizes that an incoming asteroid threatens to wipe out life on earth, as well as his daughter Grace (Liv Tyler).
Ben Affleck and Willis’ final moments together belong in the Tough Guy Hall of Fame. In a movie, the hero is rarely forced to make a sacrifice like Harry does for his country and his kin. Armageddon is just a little bit ridiculous, but it’s still worth watching.
5. Sin City
Bruce Willis
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The film is ensemble-driven, but Willis is clearly the star. Early on, John Hartigan is hailed as a hero after he attempts to stop a child murderer (Nick Stahl) from raping and killing Nancy Callahan. While this may be a heightened world, Willis is still the good guy, the one who not only wants to protect Nancy, but is willing to lay his life – and his freedom – on the line for her.
Mickey Rourke may have been Sin City’s heart and soul, but Willis was its spine. Hartigan more or less introduces us to this black-and-white world, and Willis does an excellent job with the narration. He has a certain rhythm to his speech pattern that serves him well as Hartigan. A young woman lives. An old man dies. A fair trade. He would not have it any other way, and neither would I.
4. Unbreakable
Bruce Willis
Jackson’s performance and the brilliant screenplay aren’t the only things that make this movie special. Willis’s performance is quiet, the way he can stand in a crowd with his arms stretched out and keep us enraptured. It’s rare that people talk about the silent fight scene in the film’s third act, but it’s a beautiful scene with a beautiful score, and Willis makes us feel David’s power — the power of good. I often cry watching Unbreakable, and I suspect you will as well if you open yourself up to its powerful themes.
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3. The Sixth Sense
Willis flexes completely different muscles this time around, showing off his drama chops in a deeply felt performance. A lot of credit goes to Willis who does a fantastic job selling the twist in Shyamalan’s script in The Sixth Sense, one of the best endings in movie history. That’s the thing most people don’t consider when discussing the ending. One thing is to write a brilliant twist ending, as Shyamalan did, but it’s another entirely to sell that twist and convince an audience to believe it.
Willis’ subtle performance here is perfect, and it never gets the credit it deserves because the two “stars” of this movie are Osment and Shyamalan, and especially the latter’s script, since the success of the film depends on word-of-mouth. Those two deserve a lot of credit, but I hope you don’t forget how surprised you were by Willis’ performance, which many people didn’t think he was capable of.
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2. Pulp Fiction
Perhaps this is many people’s favorite movie, and by that all-important criteria, it should have been #1 on this list, but there’s no denying that McClane is Willis’ signature character. The movie Pulp Fiction isn’t a Bruce Willis movie, so it only ranks as number two, although Butch (Bruce Willis) is certainly an integral part of the narrative and he lends the film a bit of added romance due to his scenes with Fabienne (Maria de Medeiros). Willis’ supporting performance deserves a spot despite being at the bottom of the cast list on the poster instead of at the top.
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1. Die Hard
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