10 Best Dustin Hoffman Movies, Ranked
Dustin Hoffman is a world-renowned actor who was a pinnacle performer during the New Hollywood movement and established himself with versatile and emotionally-exposing roles in hits such as Midnight Cowboy, Little Big Man, and All the President’s Men. Born in Los Angeles, California, Hoffman studied at the Actors Studio in New York City where he became a dedicated method actor and, after appearing in an array of theater productions and Broadway shows, he earned his first major film role in Mike Nichols‘ The Graduate.
Throughout his extensive career, Hoffman has earned numerous award nominations, winning two Academy Awards in the Best Actor category for his performance in Kramer vs. Kramer and Rain Man. Hoffman has starred in an abundance of noteworthy films, but like most stars on the silver screen, there is a specific collection of movies that inevitably stands out from the rest. With iconic titles such as Tootsie, Lenny, and Straw Dogs, these are the best Dustin Hoffman movies, ranked!
10
‘Straw Dogs’ (1971)
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Hoffman stars as an American mathematician, David Sumner, who, after securing a research grant, moves with his wife, Amy (Susan George), to a rural town in England where Amy was raised. The locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend, Charlie (Del Henney), shun the couple, deeming them to be unwelcomed outsiders. Initially, David and Amy endure harmless taunts from the locals, but what starts as innocent stunts soon takes a dangerous turn, forcing David to defend himself and his wife against the brutish nature of Charlie and his friends.
Straw Dogs is a nightmare-inducing psychological thriller that focuses on minor but detrimental actions and the influence they have on the human psyche, conveying sheer terror and tension between the characters. Hoffman delivers a chilling performance as a mild-mannered academic who is pushed to the edge by ruthless men, ultimately forcing him out of his posh, educated shell and embracing his natural instincts to become a man who is willing to resort to any lengths in order to survive.
9
‘Sleepers’ (1996)
Directed by Barry Levinson
Sleepers is a gripping legal drama based on Lorenzo Carcaterra‘s 1995 novel and tells the story of four childhood friends who are sent to a juvenile detention center where they are physically and sexually abused. Years later, two of the boys, John (Ron Eldard) and Tommy (Billy Crudup), recognize one of their abusers and ultimately murder him. When the men are arrested, the case is assigned to Assistant District Attorney, Michael Sullivan (Brad Pitt), who is one of the boys who was also abused at the facility.
Hoffman gives a riveting performance as an alcoholic defense attorney, Danny Snyder, who not only defends John and Tommy but also helps Michael and several others sabotage the case in an effort to expose the facility’s history of abuse. Sleepers was both a commercial and critical success, with Hoffman and the overall cast earning rave reviews from critics, who commended their powerful and passionate performances.
8
‘Little Big Man’ (1970)
Directed by Arthur Penn
Hoffman stars in the revisionist Western movie, Little Big Man, as a white man, Jack Crabb, who, during the 19th century, was rescued and raised by the Cheyenne Native Americans. When Jack is captured by U.S. Calvary troops, he’s forced to renounce his Cheyenne upbringing in order to avoid execution. As he’s sent to a foster home and away from the only life he’s ever known, Jack struggles to fit into his new surroundings and faces a series of challenges for the rest of his life.
Little Big Man is based on the 1964 book of the same name written by Thomas Berger and is widely recognized for its sympathetic depiction of Native Americans and the horrific practices of the United States Calvary. Hoffman gives a liberating performance, conveying the perfect balance of satire and intensity to his character that, at the time, established the actor as a compelling, versatile force for both audiences and critics.
7
‘Lenny’ (1974)
Directed by Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse‘s biographical drama, Lenny, takes a look into the life and career of the controversial comedian, Lenny Bruce, who defied the traditional rules of comedy with his edgy material and on-stage antics, ultimately becoming a comedic crusader. While Lenny became an unsung hero of freedom of speech and creative expression, his efforts made him a frequent target of the law, leading him to a downward spiral fueled by drugs and alcohol.
Lenny is a unique biopic that alternates between Bruce’s personal life and career and essentially gives audiences a vivid portrait of a pinnacle performer who gave everything to his craft and stance. Hoffman captures Bruce’s lively, unfiltered persona that goes beyond the surface, conveying the comedian’s mannerisms and showmanship to a level of unprecedented perfection. Despite earning mixed reviews, Lenny earned several Academy Award nominations, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actor for Hoffman, marking his third nomination in the major category.
- Release Date
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November 10, 1974
- Runtime
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111 minutes
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Valerie Perrine
Honey Bruce
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Stanley Beck
Artie Silver
6
‘Midnight Cowboy’ (1969)
Directed by John Schlesinger
Jon Voight stars in the bold drama, Midnight Cowboy, as a dishwasher from Texas, Joe Buck, whose boyish good looks and success with women lead him to quit his job and travel to New York City to become a male escort. Initially, Joe is unsuccessful, but when he meets a charismatic local, Enrico “Ratso” Rizzo (Hoffman), the two form a partnership and begin to work as hustlers.
Midnight Cowboy gives an authentic view of the underground world of sex workers during the 1960s, showcasing the lifestyle in all its brutality and hardships centered around two young men who are plagued by their broken backgrounds and unaddressed trauma. Voight and Hoffman are a surprisingly effective duo who breathe humility and empathy into their misunderstood characters with natural ease. Midnight Cowboy received overall positive reviews, earning six Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for both Hoffman and Voight, and winning for Best Director and Best Picture, making it the only X-rated movie to ever win in the category.
5
‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)
Directed by Alan J. Pakula
After a botched break-in of the Democratic Party headquarters, two rival reporters, Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Hoffman) dig deeper into the unusual incident. With the help of an anonymous source, Woodward and Bernstein eventually uncover a shocking connection between the burglars and a White House staffer and a trail of money that leads to an unexpected top-ranking source.
All the President’s Men is an Oscar-winning, thrilling drama about real-life Washington Post reporters, Woodward and Bernstein, who uncovered what today is known as the Watergate scandal. The film is widely credited for its accurate and diligently detailed look into the work of journalists, delivering one of the best heart-pounding thrillers about American politics. Hoffman and Redford are a brilliant duo, both delivering alluring, sharp performances without overshadowing one another, making All the President’s Men one of Hoffman’s finest films.
4
‘Tootsie’ (1982)
Directed by Sydney Pollack
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Hoffman stars as a struggling New York actor, Michael Dorsey, who, after failing to get a role on a television soap opera, decides to reinvent himself as an actress, Dorothy Michaels, who wins a supporting role in the show. When Dorothy’s character becomes an unexpected fan favorite, the initial minor, short-term role turns into a reoccurring part for Michael, which at first is a dream come true, but when he starts to fall for his female co-star (Jessica Lange), things become a bit complicated.
Sydney Pollack‘s Tootsie is a hilarious romantic comedy that has the perfect combination of serious social commentary and plain absurdity that makes it not only an effective ’80s classic but also one of Hoffman’s all-time best performances, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The heart of Hoffman’s performance lies in his character’s growth, initially disguising himself as a female to further his career but then slowly beginning to understand life for women, not only in the entertainment industry, but also in general, creating a well-rounded and insightful male protagonist who has as much sentimental depth as he does humor.
3
‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ (1979)
Directed by Robert Benton
When an advertising executive, Ted Kramer (Hoffman), lands the biggest business deal of his life, his joy is short-lived after he learns that his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), is leaving him and their young son. Life as a single father takes a major toll on Ted, who eventually loses his job, but the unfortunate loss leads to him gaining a stronger relationship with his son, but when Joanna abruptly shows up demanding custody of their son, a traumatic custody battle ensues between the former husband and wife.
Kramer vs. Kramer explores the psychological and emotional outcome of divorce as well as the ruthless nature that often times spawns from intense cases of child custody. Hoffman’s performance is both endearing and full of anguish, providing a detailed account of a man who feels the rug is constantly pulled out from under him but, despite his own devastation, still keeps his son’s well-being as his main focus. Kramer vs. Kramer was a massive success and went on to win five of its eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress for Streep, and Best Actor for Hoffman, marking the actor’s first Oscar win.
2
‘Rain Man’ (1988)
Directed by Barry Levinson
Tom Cruise stars as a car dealer, Charlie Babbitt, who, after his estranged father dies, returns to his home in Cinnicinatti, Ohio, where he discovers he has an autistic older brother, Raymond (Hoffman), and that his father left his multi-million-dollar fortune to the mental institution that cares for Raymond. Fueled by his father’s money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility and decides to take him back to Los Angeles to live with him, but their cross-country journey takes an unexpected turn that ends up changing both of the brothers’ lives forever.
Hoffman and Cruise are an unlikely but exceptional pair in the 1988 comedy drama, Rain Man, which features strong showstopping performances by both stars. The role is another testament to Hoffman’s ability to take on any acting challenge, demonstrating his impeccable talent as a method actor who gives both a passionate and in-depth performance that is, without question, regarded as one of his greatest. Rain Man was one of the year’s most successful films and went on to win four of its eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and securing Hoffman’s second win for Best Actor.
1
‘The Graduate’ (1967)
Directed by Mike Nichols
Hoffman stars in his breakthrough role as a recent college graduate, Benjamin Braddock, who returns to his parents’ home where he’s constantly bombarded with questions from others about what he plans to do with his life. Benjamin’s thoughts about the future are seemingly interrupted when he’s seduced by a lonely housewife and friend of his parents, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) but what starts out as a fun fling takes a complicated turn when Benjamin begins to fall for Robinson’s daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross).
Mike Nichols’ signature romantic comedy, The Graduate, is hands down Hoffman’s best performance, which not only marked the actor’s first major film role but also established him as a young, up-and-coming actor with immense star-power potential. Hoffman effectively portrays an ambitious recent college-grad, aimlessly grasping at the future ahead of him but still shows moments of naivety and hesitation, making him an intriguing protagonist who isn’t just caught up in every young man’s fantasy. The Graduate earned several Oscar nominations, including Hoffman’s first for Best Actor, and went on to win for Best Director for Nichols.
