Pierce Brosnan’s 10 Best Movies That Aren’t James Bond
Though perhaps most universally well-known for his portrayal as suave spy James Bond, Pierce Brosnan has shown that there is more to him than martinis and Aston Martins. In a career spanning four decades, he has created many more iconic roles that are sure to stand the test of time. From his early TV success with Remington Steele to the upcoming The Thursday Murder Club film based on Richard Osman’s bestselling novel, Brosnan has made some wise choices when it comes to the projects he has worked on.
His tenure as 007 has produced some great additions to the franchise, and there are many who consider him their favorite Bond. But, he has shown that he can also take on more dramatic roles, has a great sense of humor, and is not afraid to attempt singing despite not being able to carry a tune. As one of the most recognizable and prolific actors of his generation, Brosnan has had an illustrious career filled with blockbusters and underrated gems alike.
10
The Tailor of Panama (2001)
Directed By John Boorman
A very neat bit of trivia is that this film was Daniel Radcliffe’s very first film credit before he went on to wizarding stardom, and to share the screen with the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Leigh Curtis, and Geoffrey Rush must have been a great way to prepare for the other legends he was about to encounter on his magical journey. Brosnan embraced his espionage credentials in this stylish thriller based on the novel by John le Carré. With deception and broken trust around every corner, the viewers are kept on their toes throughout.
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Brosnan is in familiar territory as a spy who breaks the rules and tries to rebuild his broken reputation in a corrupt place full of backstabbers and criminals. The plot is clever and intriguing, and the charming actors breeze through the story with charisma and style. The Tailor of Panama holds a respectable score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, but sadly didn’t get the recognition it deserved when it came out. Thankfully, viewers have been able to rediscover the exciting film over the years.
9
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Directed By Tim Burton
- Release Date
-
December 13, 1996
- Runtime
-
106 Minutes
- Writers
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Len Brown, Wally Wood, Jonathan Gems
A witty satire on alien invasion movies, Mars Attacks! is classic Tim Burton in its inherent whimsy and offbeat humor. Embracing the science fiction films of the 1950s, the Martians in this film are evil, sadistic, and hilarious. Full caricatures, even the way they are depicted, leans into the outdated vision of extra-terrestrials that was not the norm anymore by the time this movie came out. As they terrorize the bumbling humans, they take joy in the havoc they are wreaking.
The cast is full of huge names like Jack Nicholson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Glenn Close, with Pierce Brosnan playing a delightfully naive scientist who is hoping to make peace with the new arrivals. Many of the famous actors play exaggerated sci-fi tropes, and Brosnan’s role was a great way to show him in a different light than that of James Bond. The fate that befalls him is not one that he would normally succumb to as the hero of most of his films.
8
The Foreigner (2017)
Directed By Martin Campbell
Pierce Brosnan has played many layered and fascinating characters. A lot of them were heroes, but there is something delicious about him when he embraces a more sinister and flawed personality. This revenge thriller sees Jackie Chan in a rare dramatic role as he seeks to avenge the death of his daughter. There is brutality, conspiracy, and plenty of deception, as Quan uncovers some devastating secrets. As Liam Hennessy, a former IRA member turned politician, Brosnan ensures that he keeps audiences captivated and suspicious.
The Foreigner saw an impressive degree of success, grossing around $145 million at the global box office and scoring a respectable 66% on Rotten Tomatoes.
He lives in a morally gray area, and does not give much away for quite a while. It’s always a pleasant change of pace to see Pierce Brosnan in more antagonistic roles, and his scenes with Chan were very powerful. The Foreigner saw an impressive degree of success, grossing around $145 million at the global box office and scoring a respectable 66% on Rotten Tomatoes.
7
Dante’s Peak (1997)
Directed By Roger Donaldson
- Release Date
-
February 7, 1997
- Runtime
-
108 Minutes
- Director
-
Roger Donaldson
- Writers
-
Leslie Bohem
-
Pierce Brosnan
Harry Dalton
-
-
Jamie Renée Smith
Lauren Wando
-
Jeremy Foley
Graham Wando
As with many instances of Hollywood doubling up on specific themes in the same year, Dante’s Peak came out in the same year as Volcano. Both were centered around an imminent eruption, and both had viewers fearing magma and lava more than they probably had before.
As a volcanologist who lost his partner in a previous catastrophe, Brosnan is weary and more careful when he comes across a new town in peril. The film has many familiar tropes associated with movies about natural disasters, but it must be said that the characters are likable and the audience roots for them.
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Pierce Brosnan gets to be more rugged than usual, and his heroics fit his personality very well. The action feels real, but there are also plenty of moments that have the audience groaning in exasperation as the people on-screen make terrible decisions about their safety. With many close calls and brave sacrifices, the film is packed with thrills and excitement. It is very ’90s, and is one of the best parts of its charm.
6
The Matador (2005)
Directed By Richard Shepard
The Matador
- Release Date
-
May 12, 2005
- Runtime
-
96 minutes
- Director
-
Richard Shepard
One of Pierce Brosnan’s more critically acclaimed performances, his role in The Matador, earned him a Golden Globe nomination and holds a very reputable 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This sharp, dark comedy sees the actor as a disillusioned hitman going through a midlife crisis of sorts. His on-screen dynamic with Greg Kinnear is so great to watch, as the two opposites exchange quips and ideologies, as their lives interconnect in an unexpected way.
Julian Noble is unlikable on the surface, but Brosnan’s innate charm and appeal draw audiences in, and the more mean and vulgar he becomes, the more entertaining he is to watch. As a “facilitator of fatalities,” he lives in a morally bankrupt reality, but somewhere beneath all the bravado and cynicism, he finds some humanity that is able to show to his unlikely partner.
5
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Directed By Phyllida Lloyd
- Release Date
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July 18, 2008
- Runtime
-
108 Minutes
- Director
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Phyllida Lloyd
- Writers
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Catherine Johnson
There was a long while, especially during his Bond days, where Pierce Brosnan had to maintain a certain type of demeanor and reputation that still made him believable every time he returned to playing the super spy. A film like Mamma Mia!, where he fully leaned into his lack of vocal ability that added some much-needed humor to the ABBA musical, might not have been something he’d have been able to do before at this level. But, as an established star who was confident in his abilities, he had no qualms about being perceived as silly, or even ridiculous.
As one of Sophie’s three potential dads, Brosnan is part of a heartwarming and riotously funny story based on the long-running stage musical. He has a beautiful on-screen romance with Meryl Streep, and treats the audience to one of the most unhinged versions of “S.O.S.” ever. The film was a global phenomenon, grossing more than $700 million at the box office, spawning a sequel, and is still being shown at sing-along screenings around the world.
4
The World’s End (2013)
Directed By Edgar Wright
As part of the iconic “Cornetto Trilogy”, this is the final installment following Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. While the first two focused on a zombie apocalypse and buddy-cop comedy, respectively, The World’s End follows a group of friends aiming to complete a legendary pub crawl as their town experiences a body-snatching invasion of sorts. In typical Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg fashion, there are hilarious exploits and some clever plays on common film tropes.
Pierce Brosnan plays Gary’s favorite old teacher, who serves to impart some wisdom and connection to the good old days. At first, as expected, he too has been taken over by the alien entities and tries to “recruit” the heroes into this new cultish way of living, with sidesplitting and unexpectedly violent results. The movie has a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and is a great finale to the beloved film saga.
3
The Ghost Writer (2010)
Directed By Roman Polanski
- Release Date
-
February 12, 2010
- Runtime
-
128 minutes
- Director
-
Roman Polanski
- Writers
-
Roman Polanski
- Producers
-
Alain Sarde, Henning Molfenter
It may seem odd on the surface that a film entitled The Ghost Writer would be a high-stakes thriller with some very deadly and violent moments, but as with titles like The Accountant and Transporter, there is more to it than what’s in a name. Based on the gripping novel by Robert Harris, the story follows a writer tasked with finishing the memoir of a former British Prime Minister, who seemingly had a lot to hide. Ewan McGregor plays the titular character as he navigates a web of intrigue and danger.
Pierce Brosnan is authoritative and menacing in his role, and with a supporting cast including Kim Cattrall and Jon Bernthal, the movie mixes action and drama in a thrilling way.
Filled with shady political dealings, there are clear similarities to the murky world of high-profile leaders who rely on deception and intimidation. The pace of the film builds in a very disconcerting way, making viewers feel more uneasy with every scene. Pierce Brosnan is authoritative and menacing in his role, and with a supporting cast including Kim Cattrall and Jon Bernthal, the movie mixes action and drama in a thrilling way. A moderate box office success, it has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%.
2
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Directed By Chris Columbus
- Release Date
-
November 24, 1993
- Runtime
-
125 minutes
- Director
-
Chris Columbus
- Writers
-
Leslie Dixon, Randi Mayem Singer
Though he might not be the star of Mrs. Doubtfire; that accolade goes to the incomparable Robin Williams; Pierce Brosnan manages to create one of the most alluring and sophisticated antagonists a family film has ever seen. The film is so full of heart and humor, and is a product of a bygone era that would be hard to recreate nowadays. Though Daniel’s decisions may be questionable, his intentions were noble enough to sustain the premise of a comedy film.
Any scene with Williams is a gift, but Brosnan sweeps in with an air of confidence and bravado that throws viewers through a loop. He manages to showcase his impressive comedic skills that he hadn’t leaned into quite as much before this movie came out. He also manages to keep up with a drag-clad Robin Williams and Sally Field, masterfully. His face after he gets hit in the back of the head with an orange is pure comedic perfection, and shows how perfectly cast he was as Stuart Dunmyer.
1
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
Directed By John McTiernan
- Release Date
-
August 6, 1999
- Runtime
-
113 Minutes
- Writers
-
Alan Trustman, Leslie Dixon, Kurt Wimmer
Pierce Brosnan‘s suave demeanor may have been what got him the role of James Bond, but the skills required to be an MI6 agent also lend themselves well to being a high-end thief. In The Thomas Crown Affair, the actor plays a wealthy lothario and art aficionado who moonlights as a robber. As he plans his elaborate heists, he is chased by the authorities and an enigmatic insurance inspector played by Rene Russo. The chemistry between them is electric, and seeing their sensual game of cat and mouse is a joy until the very last frame of the film.
The audience gets to learn a lot about the world of art, see some stunning paintings and sculptures, and travel to some beautiful museums as they delve into the high-stakes world of fine art and antiquities. The plot keeps viewers on their toes throughout, and the characters are as layered and impressionable as the works of art they’re chasing down. This remake of an old classic grossed nearly $125 million worldwide, and gave the world one of the most seductive dance scenes in cinema history.
