After his breakthrough in the sitcom Parks and Recreation, actor Chris Pratt became a huge movie star, but some of his films are better than others. Pratt made a name for himself back in 2009 after being introduced as Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation, and during his time on the show, he became responsible for the greatest improv line in sitcom history. While the actor appeared in movies before this, it was this role that really launched his career into superstardom.
Over the last couple of decades, the actor has become a household name. Chris Pratt has starred in animated movies like The Lego Movie and The Garfield Movie, has become renowned for his performances in the MCU, and has been celebrated for his appearances in multiple hard-hitting action films. While Pratt typically offers a solid performance in any title he is featured in, only certain movies are worthy enough to be considered his very best.
10
‘Passengers’ (2016)
While Chris Pratt has starred in several great movies, Passengers isn’t exactly a representation of his best work. Passengers looks beautiful cinematography-wise, and the plot is intriguing, but unfortunately, the acting doesn’t do it justice. Pratt offers a solid enough performance as Jim, an engineer who emerges from hibernation aboard a sleeper ship far too early into the journey. However, it’s nothing to shout about. His chemistry with Jennifer Lawrence’s Aurora lacks something, and while their back and forth isn’t terrible, it’s not exactly fireworks.
Jim and Aurora’s fate in Passengers makes a lot of sense for the story, but it’s hard to find Pratt and Lawrence’s performances realistic enough for audiences to have the emotional reaction to the ending that the production aims to achieve. While this isn’t the worst movie in Pratt’s filmography, it’s definitely not the very best, either.
9
‘The Magnificent Seven’ (2016)
The 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven simply doesn’t hold up to the 1960 original, but it’s an enjoyable enough watch. Pratt portrays Joshua Faraday, who serves as the equivalent of Steve McQueen’s Vin Tanner. While he offers a better performance in The Magnificent Seven than in Passengers, it’s still not quite enough to be considered one of his better films. With The Magnificent Seven, Pratt has to share screentime with more than one co-star, and while his work is solid enough, it’s hard for him to stand out when he’s next to the likes of Denzel Washington.
While The Magnificent Seven isn’t the most accurate, at least according to Old West historians, one thing Pratt succeeds at in this film is handling weapons. Of course, the actor is used to shooting action scenes with a lot more CGI involved, but in The Magnificent Seven, his gun-handling abilities are smooth. It’s difficult to decide whether or not Pratt is good as a villain or not in The Magnificent Seven, too, but it’s an interesting change of character for him.
8
‘Onward’ (2020)
Onward is a hidden gem on Disney+, and while it offers a fun enough experience for families, it’s not of the same caliber as some of Pratt’s other animated titles. Onward stars Pratt as the voice of elf Barley Lightfoot opposite Tom Holland as younger brother Ian, who embark on a journey throughout the film’s fantastical world together. Holland and Pratt’s rapport is wholesome and heartwarming, as is the relationship between their two characters.
Barley often takes both a sibling and parental role in Ian’s life, and this results in some brilliant dialogue, but compared to The Lego Movie or The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Pratt’s performance isn’t particularly unique or as notable. Onward‘s release right at the very start of the COVID-19 lockdown probably didn’t help with the film’s overall success, though, and perhaps this title might gain a second wind of viewers at a later date.
7
‘Her’ (2013)
Her is a movie that audiences don’t typically think of when it comes to Chris Pratt. However, despite starring opposite some real powerhouse actors, his portrayal of Paul is very strong, and it’s one of the most underrated performances of his career. Paul is a friend and co-worker of Joaquin Phoenix’s Theodore, and he becomes a sounding board for the lonely divorcee in times of difficulty.
Pratt taking on the character of Paul is an interesting choice for him.
The actor takes a step back and portrays someone who is more subdued, nowhere near as overly confident or boisterous as some of his better-known characters. Even though Pratt isn’t the main focus of the dystopian sci-fi masterpiece Her, he isn’t overshadowed either, and he proves that he doesn’t necessarily need to play a lead to make a good impression.
6
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ (2023)
Trying to replicate the energy of the legendary video game plumber Mario isn’t an easy feat, but Pratt does a great job at bringing the character to life in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. While Nintendo’s adaptation has its faults, Pratt is one of the film’s more positive qualities. He doesn’t attempt Mario’s Italian accent, which is initially a little unexpected, but he brings plenty of life and enthusiasm to the role, and the tone of his voice doesn’t affect this.
Considering the legend of the Nintendo video game franchise, it’s impressive how well Pratt slips into the Mario Bros. world with such ease. While Pratt is undoubtedly a solid voice actor, it’s hard to give The Super Mario Bros. Movie a higher ranking when he only lends his voice to the role, and so factors like his emotional resonance and body language can’t be critiqued.
5
‘Moneyball’ (2011)
Despite portraying a supporting character, Moneyball is a standout in Pratt’s filmography. Moneyball is a fun movie from the earlier years of Pratt’s career, in which he stars as baseball player Scott Hatteberg. Pratt’s performance is fascinating, and even though he only appears on-screen for less than 20 minutes, the impact he has on the film is undeniable. Much like with Her, Pratt takes on a character who is less abrupt and attention-grabbing than his usual roles.
Hatteburg is depicted as a softer figure, a veteran who fears the future of his career, which allows Pratt to show off a more vulnerable side to the character. Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep focus on Pratt when he’s acting alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and that’s why this movie can’t be considered higher up in the ranking, but despite this, he still provides a solid performance.
4
‘Jurassic World’ (2015)
Pratt is a decent action star in general, but his performance in Jurassic World proves that he isn’t just limited to the MCU. Jurassic World introduces Pratt as ex-US Navy soldier Owen Grady, who specializes in animal behavior and has a particularly strong connection with velociraptors. Even though Jurassic World heavily relies on special effects, Pratt’s acting is still gripping, and it takes a moment for audiences to remember that he’s performing to a green screen or equivalent, rather than an actual animal.
Grady is a fantastic figure to lead this new generation of the Jurassic Park movie franchise, and he serves as a great alternative to Alan Grant. Pratt undoubtedly looks like the perfect action star throughout this film, and he seems right at home in this role. Although the later installments of the Jurassic World trilogy are a bit hit and miss, Pratt’s performance in the first film is undoubtedly one of his best.
3
‘The Lego Movie’ (2014)
The Lego Movie is the first time that Pratt lends his voice to an animated character, and his portrayal of Emmett Brickowski demonstrates why he is such a good voice actor. The everyman construction worker from Bricksburg is thrown into a wild adventure against the higher-ups in the world of Lego, and Pratt translates Emmett’s reaction to this beautifully. Emmett is full of energy, although he has plenty of naive moments, and Pratt’s voice is perfect for this.
Even though Pratt doesn’t appear on-screen in The Lego Movie physically, his voice is enough to keep audiences engaged. His enthusiasm is the most notable part of his performance, and it’s apparent that Pratt has as much fun recording the voice of Emmett as the character himself has on his wacky journey. While there have been various Lego movies over the years, some of which Pratt has also starred in, the first definitely shows him at some of his very best.
2
‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2013)
While it may seem like an odd choice at a glance, Zero Dark Thirty is by far one of the best films from Chris Pratt. Pratt isn’t the lead in this movie, but his portrayal of DEVGRU operator Justin Lenihan still steals every scene he appears in. He shows off his physicality well, and this role proves just why he went on to become one of the MCU’s biggest action stars. Even though Zero Dark Thirty doesn’t delve too much into who Lenihan is, this doesn’t stop Pratt from adding layers to the character through his nuanced performance.
Lenihan is a strict and determined member of the Navy, and he’s rather different from Pratt’s usual type of character, but this demonstrates just how varied his acting range is. Although the film has been criticized for its retelling of the search for Osama Bin Laden, the cast has been repeatedly praised for their respective performances, especially Pratt. Zero Dark Thirty is now available on streaming, and audiences who have never seen Pratt in this title should rush to check it out.
1
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
Other than Parks and Recreation, Guardians of the Galaxy is Pratt’s biggest project. His portrayal of Peter Quill in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and other MCU projects is what makes the actor such a brilliant action star. Marvel’s decision to cast Pratt as Quill, or Star Lord, is a fantastic one for several reasons. Pratt offers a hilarious energy as Quill, and he brings the little quirks of the character’s personality, like his music obsession, to life beautifully.
It’s no surprise that Quill/Star Lord is one of Pratt’s most famous characters, especially because the actor portrays him with such charm that it’s hard to take your eyes off him. Guardians of the Galaxy is a thrill from start to finish, and Pratt’s rapport with his co-stars makes it even more enjoyable. Guardians of the Galaxy is undoubtedly an action-packed, thrilling ride, which is why it stands as the best movie of Chris Pratt’s career.
Over the years, Chris Pratt has appeared in several films, from big-hitter blockbusters to smaller titles. Which movie of Chris Pratt’s do you think is the best? Are there any titles we missed that you believe should be included in this ranking? Let us know in the comments.
- Birthdate
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June 21, 1979
- Birthplace
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Virginia, Minnesota, USA
- Birthname
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Christopher Michael Pratt
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