Slowly and steadily,Bill Murrayhas become one of the most fascinating figures of 21st century cinema. He may have stayed out of the spotlight for most part in the last 24 years or so, butthe legendary comedianhas also delivered some truly memorable performances of his career during the time.
Murray has his own signature style of acting. His subtle and subdued wit allows for both laugh-out-loud comedy and unexpected emotional depth. He’s also known for infusing already scripted works with an improvisational feel; it’s as if he’s discovering new things in the moment with us.
Despite bearing the weight of superstardom during the 1980s and 1990s with movies likeGhostbusters,Rushmore,Ed Wood,Groundhog Day, and more, Murray has remained decidedly independent in choosing his late-career turns. He has starred inpassion projects helmed by acclaimed directorslike Sofia Coppola and Wes Anderson and captivated a brand new generation of moviegoers with his wicked comedic timing.
This list celebrates 20 of his finest film contributions; these movies prove why Bill Murray is the eternal king of do-it-your-own-way comedy.
20The Lost City (2005)
The Lost City
Set in the 1950s in Havana, Cuba,The Lost Citydocuments the life of a wealthy family. One of the sons in the family is the owner of El Trópico, a swank nightclub, and his brothers, Ricardo and Luis, are a revolutionary for Castro’s rebel army and member of the student opposition respectively. As the world around him transitions from Batista’s regime to the oppressive Communist government of Fidel Castro, Fico Fellove is forced to flee to New York City.
Andy Garcia’s Bittersweet Classic
The intense and powerful drama is directed by Andy Garcia,who also stars in the movie as the lead character. The promising story is filled with layers of nuance, defeat and witty cynicism. Its portrayal of the complexity of the Cuban revolution is on point. As for Bill Murray, he plays The Writer, who first asks Fico for a job, then hovers over him, providing philosophical insights on life and its many absurdities. Much of Murray’s dialogue was improvised, which is why it’s so memorable.
19City of Ember (2008)
City of Ember
Based on Jeanne DuPrau’s 2003 novel of the same name,City of Embertakes you to a futuristic underground city struggling with dwindling resources. Matters get worse when Ember’s most powerful generator begins to fair and the lights begin to flicker. Two teenagers, Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet, take it upon themselves to uncover the clues to Ember possibly being in danger.
Teenagers Experience Great Change
As a fantasy adventure starring Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Toby Jones, Bill Murray, Mackenzie Crook, and more,City of Emberhas both heart and humor in abundance. The movie is director Gil Kenan’s feature directorial debut and he focuses on building the underground city to perfection. As Major Cole, Murray plays a pivotal part. Despite being barely present on screen, he makes sure the movie benefit’s from his role as the antagonist.
18Osmosis Jones (2001)
Combining live-action and animated sequences directed by two different pairs of directors (the Farrelly brothers and Piet Kroon and Tom Sito) is this incredible movie. Murray voices Frank DeTorri, a zookeeper prone to consuming unhealthy foods. Assisting him is a white blood cell, played by Chris Rock, whose attempt to try and defeat a deadly virus threatening his human’s host leads to utter chaos.
A Madcap Comic Gem
A madcap adventure of a movie,Osmosis Jonesprovides a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle of life. Murray brings his impeccable sense of comedic timing and elevates the fast-paced action. His chemistry with Rock’s exasperated but devoted defender is genuinely amazing. The absurd problems of being a tiny pill to having to cop the inside of a human body makes for wacky and humorous jokes.
Related:Best Movies That Mix Animation with Live Action, Ranked
17The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022)
The Greatest Beer Run Everis a biographical war comedy drama based on the true story of war veterans John “Chickie” Donohue and Joanna Molloy. Zac Efron plays Chickie, who misses his brothers in action, and to show them support, he decides to travel to the frontlines and distribute beer to his hometown buddies who are still deployed. But when he arrives in the war-torn country in 1967, Chickie embarks on an unforeseen emotional journey.
A Humbling Trip Down Memory Lane
Sure, Efron and stars like Russell Crowe, Jake Picking, Joe Adler, and Archie Renaux are the true heroes in the movie. They are soldiers facing the harsh realities and political intricacies of a changing time. But under Peter Farrelly’s deft direction and a brilliant score provided by Dave Palmer, even Bill Murray’s secondary character of The Colonel, a somewhat aging cynic who runs the bar where Chickie often hangs out, appears indispensable.
16Zombieland (2009)
Zombieland
In a post-apocalyptic Americaoverrun with zombies, we follow reluctant partners Columbus and Tallahassee traveling to Ohio to look for the former’s parents when they stumble upon con artist sisters Wichita and Little Rock, who intend to reach Los Angeles because there’s an area free of zombies. They form an unlikely alliance, and together, the four take the party to the amusement park.
Zombie Flicks Cannot Get Zanier
Murray inserts himself effortlessly intoZombieland. His deliciously meta cameo as a fictionalized version of himself comes right after Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita and Little Rock decide to navigate the dangerous scenario together. Living in his mansion, uninfected but disguised as a zombie, he has an absurd and comedic exchange with the characters before Columbus accidentally kills him.
15On the Rocks (2020)
On the Rocks
On the Rocksis Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray’s second collaboration after Lost in Translation. It tells the story of Laura, a New York author and married mother-of-two, who reconnects with her larger-than-life semi-retired art dealer father, Felix, after she confides in him her suspicions about her career-driven husband having an affair. Mischief and observance meet as the two attempt to understand Laura’s marriage and bond with each other.
Murray and Jones Add Nuance and Depth
Writer-director Sofia Coppola is known for crafting imperfect characters and making the audiences fall in love with them. Both Murray and Rashifa Jonesshare an organic, father-daughter chemistrythat anchors their complex relationship. Murray shows his gift for landing subtle comedic beats while bestowing Jones with wisdom. Charming yet never condescending, he walks the fine line quite perfectly.
14St. Vincent (2014)
St. Vincent
In St. Vincent, Bill Murray plays the role of Vincent MacKenna, a disgruntled and alcoholic Vietnam war veteran who lives alone in Sheepshead Bay. As misanthropic as he is, Vincent is also thoughtful and observant towards his new next door neighbors – Maggie Bronstein and his young son Oliver. He offers to babysit Oliver when Maggie works late, taking the boy under his wing and discovering the unexpected rewards of reconnecting with people.
A Grumpy Soul Finds Connection
Rather underrated than the rest of his movies,St. Vincentallows Murray to re-establish himself as a maestro capable of mining profound emotions from simple realities. Even though he’s just a bitter man trying to be a better person, his interactions and developing bonds with Oliver feel heartwarmingly authentic.
With Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd and Naomi Watts as the supporting cast, the movie beautifully addresses how life’s greatest lessons come from opening our hearts to new perspectives.
13Get Low (2009)
Loosely based on real events,Get Lowtells the story of a man named Felix Bush, who has been living as a hermit in the woods for 40 years now. He returns to town to organize his own funeral party. He’s got some quirky requirements, though, and Felix promises a large roll of cash to whoever fulfills them. Frank Quinn, who owns a local and downtrodden funeral parlor, agrees to help because he covets the money.
Murray’s Award-Winning Turn
Directed by Aaron Schneider and starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black,Get Lowis a perfectly cast ensemble drama that received overwhelming praise from audiences and critics for its subtlety and zaniness. Murray played Quinn, conveying complex emotions though his eyes and sharing a magnetic chemistry with Duvall. He won a couple of Best Supporting Actor awards as well as an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his performance.
Related:10 Best Low-Budget Movies of the 21st Century
12The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson’s fantastical caper about a legendary concierge named Gustave H, who works at a famous European hotel and takes a newly hired lobby boy named Zero under his wing, goes into inimaginable directions in its hour-and-forty-minutes runtime. After being framed for murder and stealing a priceless Renaissance painting, Gustave and Zero go on a run across picturesque landscape while the hotel falls from its height.
Bringing Heart to Wes Anderson’s Whimsical Movie
Each of the seventeen actors inThe Grand Budapest Hotelinhabit their poised and passionate characters with effortless charm. From Ralph Finneas portraying the famed concierge to Tilda Swinton playing the wealthy dowager, each delicate scene is a visual masterpiece. As for Bill Murray, he stars as the gloriously mustachioed Monsieur Ivan, who is kind and marvelous enough to help Monsieur Gustave and Zero in their time of need. Wistful and hilarious, Anderson’s movie is one of a kind.
11Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Ghostbusters 3 / Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Ghostbusters: Afterlifeis set 32 years after the events ofGhostbusters IIand it acts asa sequel that continues the iconic franchise. In small-town Oklahoma, a single, financially struggling mother, Callie, and her two children, Trevor and Phoebe, have inherited a farm that belonged to Callie’s father, Egon Spengler. The family not only uncovers their link to the original Ghostbusters but also fights the new paranormal threat emerging in town.
A Remake for the New Generation
While 2016’s female-driven reboot ofGhostbusterswas met with polarizing reviews,Ghostbusters: Afterlifearrived like a breath of fresh air. New cast members included Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Paul Rudd, while Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and Sigourney Weaver reprised their roles from previous movies. Murray, the wisecracking Venkman, ensured the ‘80s classic lived on through a new generation of storytelling.
