10 Best Brian Cox Movies, According To IMDb

Brian Cox may not be Hollywood’s biggest stars, but he is one of its most reliable actors. Cox can always be counted on to bring intensity and gravitas to any of his roles, no matter the size of the part.

Though Cox is probably best-known now as Logan Roy, the powerful and vicious patriarch on HBO’s Succession, he has had a stunning film career as well. Through big blockbusters and quiet indies, Cox is always a welcome professional presence on screen. Here are Brian Cox’s best movies, according to IMDb.

10 X2: X-Men United (7.4)

Cox joined the superhero genre with this thrilling X-Men sequel. X2: X-Men United finds the mutant heroes scattered and hunted by a covert government operation, led by William Stryker (Cox). As the heroes seek to rescue their captured comrades, Wolverine realizes he shares an important past with Stryker.

The sequel continued to show how fun it can be bringing the X-Men to the big screen. Cox makes for a great bad guy, the returning characters are all developed well, and the new characters being great additions.

9 25th Hour (7.6)

Cox had the opportunity to work with acclaimed modern auteur Spike Lee in one of his best films. 25th Hour stars Edward Norton as a man about to start a long prison sentence for drug charges. With his last remaining hours of freedom, he connects with his loved ones and looks back on his mistakes. Cox plays Norton’s father in the film.

The movie is packed with amazing acting talent, including Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Rosario Dawson. Lee injects a thrilling energy into the story, and it makes for a unique New York story.

8 Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (7.6)

Few people expected a reboot of Planet of the Apes to work, but this origin story proved them wrong. Rise of the Planet of the Apes stars Andy Serkis as an intelligent ape named Caser, who begins to realize how his kind have been mistreated by humans and organizes a rebellion. Cox plays the cruel owner of a holding facility.

The amazing motion-capture work on display here makes this movie a ground-breaking piece of storytelling. Serkis brings his character to life with so much depth in this exciting, action-packed story.

7 Match Point (7.6)

Cox was part of the impressive ensemble at the center of Woody Allen’s dramatic thriller Match Point. The film stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a former tennis pro who marries a wealthy woman (Emily Mortimer) while falling for an alluring young actress (Scarlett Johansson). Cox plays the man’s father-in-law.

The outstanding cast really sells this tense and seductive thriller. It feels different than most of Allen’s film with a refreshing energy and danger to the story.

6 Rushmore (7.7)

Cox worked with another visionary and inventive filmmaker in Wes Anderson’s second feature Rushmore. The film stars Jason Schwarzman as a private school student who excels at extra-curricular activities but fails academically. As he faces expulsion, he begins courting an attractive female teacher. Cox plays the school’s headmaster.

The film shows Anderson really finding his voice as a filmmaker and establishing his unique style. The movie is a hilarious and quirky coming-of-age story with a wonderful supporting role by Bill Murray.

5 Adaptation. (7.7)

Adaptation is the fascinating and mind-bending comedy that combines the inventive minds of Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman. Nicolas Cage stars as a fictionalized version of Kaufman, who is struggling to adapt a best-selling novel into a screenplay. Cox plays a screenwriter teacher Kaufman seeks help from.

The movie is a hilarious comedy that keeps snowballing into a more and more insane adventure. The cast, led by Cage in one of his best roles, also includes Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper, who each give charming, complex, and moving performances.

4 The Bourne Supremacy (7.7)

Cox returned to the Bourne franchise for the last time as the deceptive Ward Abbott. Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne, the highly-trained assassin who is lured out of hiding when new enemies make an attempt on his life and frame him for murder.

Paul Greengrass takes over directing duties for the franchise and infuses a more grounded and tense atmosphere. The fight sequences and car chases are spectacular, and the story is a gripping espionage tale.

3 Zodiac (7.7)

David Fincher returned to the world of serial killers, this time taking on an infamous real-life case. Zodiac explores the decades-long investigation into the Zodiac Killer, as seen through the police and journalists attempting to solve the case. Cox has a humorous supporting role as Melvin Belli, a television personality who the killer reaches out to.

Fincher constructs a gripping and thorough procedural that painstaking re-examines the crimes and offers new insight. The cast is impeccable, there is a unique sense of humor to the writing, and yet, it is appropriately spine-chilling.

2 The Bourne Identity (7.9)

Matt Damon transformed from a dramatic leading man to a full-blown action star with the first Jason Bourne film. Damon stars as a man who is suffering from amnesia yet discovers he has well-honed and deadly skills. As he digs deeper into his identity, he is hunted by people from his past.

Damon is fantastic in the lead role, totally pulling off the action hero persona. The story might seem familiar, but director Doug Liman creates a tense and thrilling action-adventure with some stunning sequences.

1 Braveheart (8.3)

Cox had the chance to embrace his Scottish roots and tell the story of legendary Scottish hero, William Wallace. Mel Gibson directed and stars as Wallace, a man who wants to live a quiet life, but instead becomes a powerful figure in the Scottish rebellion against the British crown. Cox plays Wallace’s uncle, who helps turn him into a warrior.

Gibson successfully creates a stunning epic with amazing battle sequences and rousing moments. Though the film is far from historically accurate, it is an inspiring and fun adventure.

About The Author

Colin McCormick
(2030 Articles Published)

Colin McCormick is a Senior Writer with Screen Rant and has been a proud member of the team since 2019. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Colin has had a long passion and obsession with movies going back to the first time he saw The Lion King in theaters. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. While he loves to find interesting projects in any kind of genre, he has a special movie of crime stories that are infused with a little dark humor much like the work of his favorite author, Elmore Leonard.

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