Morgan Freeman's 10 Best Movies, Ranked

Morgan Freeman is a remarkable talent in Hollywood, with around 150 acting credits, but several of his films are a cut above the rest. Freeman’s first acting roles were back in the 1960s, where he had multiple uncredited roles. It wasn’t until 1969, when Freeman appeared in a single episode of New York Television Theatre, that he received his first official acting credit, and decades later, in 1987, when he landed his breakout role in Street Smart. Freeman then continued to build a successful career, appearing in major motion pictures, directed by the biggest names like Christopher Nolan and Clint Eastwood.

Freeman is widely recognized for his distinctive deep voice and ability to deliver commanding and authoritative performances. Throughout his career, Freeman has earned an impressive number of accolades, including an Oscar for his performance in Million Dollar Baby, with a further four nominations for some of his other most notable projects. His reputation and body of work speak for themselves, with his best performances of all time having a wide range throughout his career since his breakout.

10 Glory (1989)

As John Rawlins

While Civil War movies are rare, Glory stands at the top of the subgenre with a powerful story led by an amazing cast. The movie is important historically as it conveys the true story of this regiment and their contributions to the wider War, despite opposition from both sides bearing down on them. Freeman played John Rawlins, a noble soldier in the regiment who becomes something of a leader and voice of reason among the other soldiers.

It is a gripping and thrilling history lesson about these heroes of the American Civil War who should not be forgotten. While Matthew Broderick stars as a man put in charge of the regiment, it is the supporting cast that really elevates the movie with stirring performances from Freeman, Andre Braugher, and Denzel Washington in his first Oscar-winning role as a runaway slave turned dedicated soldier.

9 Gone Baby Gone (2007)

As Captain Jack Doyle

Gone Baby Gone is a complex crime mystery movie directed by Ben Affleck in his directorial debut. Based on the crime novel by Denis Lehane, the movie stars Casey Affleck as a private detective who is hired by a family to find a young girl who has gone missing. Freeman plays the police captain, Jack Doyle, whose own family tragedy fuels his desire to solve the case even if he is less than pleased to have to work alongside inexperienced PIs. film unpacks the

Ben Affleck shows his considerable skills as a director, crafting a dark, engrossing, and intense crime story with Boston as the heart of the tale. Casey Affleck makes for a compelling lead and he has a strong supporting cast including Freeman, Ed Harris, and Amy Ryan in an Oscar-nominated role. Freeman’s part exemplifies the movie’s interesting and complicated moral dilemma at its center.

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8 Street Smart (1987)

As Leo “Fast Black” Small

Freeman’s breakout role was Street Smart, a film starring Christopher Reeve as a journalist who needs a big story to secure his future. When he accidentally writes a scandalous story that appears to have a lot in common with a dangerous criminal, he’s hunted by the police to learn what he knows and how. Freeman plays the notorious Leo “Fast Black” Smalls, a pimp who isn’t afraid to exercise violence to get his way.

In more recent projects, Freeman often plays a good guy, but exploring his roots and the darker side of his performances is a must for fans. Reeves makes for a great everyman hero, especially in comparison to his role as Superman, but Freeman is the real reason to watch the movie as his Oscar-nominated role is alluring and frightening all at once.

7 The Dark Knight (2008)

As Lucius Fox

Freeman played a significant part in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy as Lucius Fox, the man responsible for much of Bruce Wayne’s tech and vehicles. While Batman Begins kicked off the trilogy in a refreshingly grounded way, The Dark Knight took things to the next level with Nolan crafting an epic crime saga with Batman taking on the anarchist villain, Joker.

During the second entry in the series, Fox is the acting CEO of Wayne Enterprises and continues to be a part of the team providing support and guidance to Batman. He is one of the small parts Nolan fits together to create a massive and brilliant story of the battle for Gotham’s soul between Joker’s unstoppable force and Batman’s immovable code. The movie changed comic book movies forever and cemented Nolan as a fan-favorite director with an ambitious vision.

6 Lean On Me (1989)

As Joe Louis Clark

Another film based on a true story, Lean on Me, sees Freeman take on the role of Joe Clark, a principal of an inner-city school that is being threatened with closing down unless the grades of the students improve. With the futures of these young people on the line, Clark takes drastic and unconventional methods to get the kids motivated about their schoolwork.

Freeman’s ability to deliver an emotionally charged performance and wrap it up in a strong, authoritative exterior comes into play in major ways for this film. Clark makes for a complex and grounded hero for the story with Freeman making him human rather than just a feel-good cliche. Despite his strange methodology, Clark’s love and care for the kids come out in powerful ways that make this film one of Freeman’s best.

5 Se7en (1995)

As William Somerset

The formula of the old cop near retirement and the young hothead detective coming to replace him is given a dark reimagining in the serial killer thriller Se7en. Morgan Freeman steps into the role of the more experienced detective in Se7en alongside Brad Pitt’s young Mills. When the pair attempt to track down a killer, they both use distinctive approaches to try and apprehend the murderer who is killing people based on the Seven Deadly Sins.

While Pitt’s character is impulsive and energetic, Freeman delivers a more methodical and intentional performance as Detective Somerset. His trademark voice lends weight to everything he says in this film and, combined with the religious elements, Freeman becomes the voice of reason and hope in the face of brutality and suffering. David Fincher’s dark and cynical thriller is an unforgettable experience and Se7en‘s shocking ending remains one of the most memorable in movie history.

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4 Million Dollar Baby (2004)

As Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris

After a long and acclaimed career filled with three previous nominations, Morgan Freeman won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor when reteaming with Clint Eastwood. Million Dollar Baby follows a story that revolves around Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) an old and cranky boxing coach who reluctantly begins to train his first female fighter, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), with Freeman playing a supporting character and the narrator for the movie.

Freeman’s impressive voice almost certainly shaped his role in the film and, while he acts as the quiet and loyal friend who helps out at Frankie’s gym, he frames the story for the audience. Freeman again delivers a powerful performance as he shapes the story which is a powerful and inspiring sports story that morphs into a touching tale of a surrogate family only to take a tragic turn in the third act, leaving the audience with a powerful experience.

3 Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

As Hoke Colburn

Morgan Freeman earned his second Oscar nomination for his performance in the comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy. The movie finds Freeman playing Hoke Colburn, a charming and friendly driver who is hired to chauffeur a stubborn and largely unpleasant Jewish widow, Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy). The movie covers 20 years of events, as the relationship grows from resistance and contempt to a genuine and moving friendship.

Despite winning Best Picture, Driving Miss Daisy has earned a reputation as one of the worst movies to earn that award while also receiving criticism for aging so poorly. While it is certainly not as deep in its exploration of race relationships as it pretends to be, the movie can be enjoyed as a movie about an unexpected friendship with Freeman and Tandy’s relationship elevating the material with their charming chemistry.

2 Unforgiven (1992)

As Ned Logan

Unforgiven marked the first time Morgan Freeman collaborated with Clint Eastwood while also being the final Wester movie for Eastwood after a long career as one of the genre’s biggest icons. Eastwood plays Bill Munny, is a retired gunslinger now living as a widower on his farm with his children. He comes out of retirement to take on a job, hunting down a group of men who abused a sex worker and he brings along his old friend, Ned Logan (Freeman).

Freeman’s role in the film is quiet but powerful. With few lines of dialogue and not a great deal of screen time, Freeman delivers a performance that helps to propel the events of the movie forward. The movie itself is a brilliant subversion of the Western genre as well as the typical revenge tale which serves as a perfect ending to Eastwood’s career as a Western hero. He won Best Director for the movie while Unforgiven won Best Picture as well.

1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

As Ellis “Red” Redding

Not only Morgan Freeman’s best movie of his career, The Shawshank Redemption is considered the greatest movie of all time by many fans. Tim Robbins leads the movie as a convict who is imprisoned for killing his wife and her lover despite the fact that he claims to be innocent. While in the titular prison, he strikes up a friendship with fellow inmate Red (Freeman) with the two men discover the idea of hope in the most unlikely of places.

The film is extremely emotional and both Freeman and Robbins deliver career-defining performances as men who seek to find hope in the darkest spots. Morgan Freeman’s charisma, charm, and intelligence come in full force and add to this powerful story of friendship, which is easily his best movie. It is an intense drama, an exciting prison story, and ultimately a moving odd to a friendship that culminates with one of the most satisfying movie endings of all time.