The Mexican (2001) - Jerry Welbach
In The Mexican, Brad and Julia Roberts put on a less than thrilling performance, according to reviews by both the audience and critics.
Perhaps this romance mixed with crime and comedy just misses the dramatic mark?
Whatever the case, The Mexican made only $20 million at the box office when it first opened.
This would have been a respectable figure had it not featured two well-known actors.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 56%
Audience: 60%
Box Office
Budget: $34,000,000 (est)
Gross: $20,108,829 (USA)
£1,124,265 (UK)
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) - Rusty Ryan
In Ocean’s Eleven, Brad is once again surrounded by some of the greats; most notably George Clooney, but also Bernie Mac, Matt Damon, and again, Julia Roberts.
After taking a drop in critic’s ratings in The Mexican, Brad once again stars in a film that meets the critic’s approval.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 82%
Audience: 76%
Box Office
Budget: $85,000,000 (est)
Gross: $38,107,822 (USA)
£5,095,062 (UK)
Troy (2004) - Achilles
If Ocean’s Eleven failed to reach their budget by more than half during the opening weekend, then Troy’s attempt to reach their budget was even more dismal.
However, Troy was still higher grossing in its opening weekend than Ocean’s Eleven, which suggests Brad’s fame and good looks has spread from his previous work into his current and future films; tempting audiences to the cinema not for the quality of the film but because it stars Brad Pitt.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 55%
Audience: 74%
Box Office
Budget: $175,000,000 (est)
Gross: $46,865,412 (USA)
£89,286 (UK)
Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) - John Smith
Mr & Mrs Smith represents one of Brad’s lowest ratings for a film. The first drop was when Brad starred in The Mexican, but Ocean’s Eleven and Troy increased Brad’s credibility.
Despite the audience being fairly supportive of the film providing a rating of 63%, the critics were less impressed, giving it only 58%.
When Mr & Mrs Smith first hit the big screen it brought in only half of the film’s budget, however it still made more than Troy did when it first opened. Was it the double appeal of the soon to be Mr and Mrs Pitt?
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 58%
Audience: 63%
Box Office
Budget: $110,000,000 (est)
Gross: $50,342,878 (USA)
£3,943,422 (UK)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - Benjamin Button
Brad’s popularity increased with his performance as Benjamin Button in the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Critics may have given a somewhat milder rating, but the audience gave this film a whopping rating of 81%, which is the highest audience rating Brad’s movies have ever received.
With a huge budget to make up, the film came nowhere near meeting its budget in the opening weekend but the film continued to gross following sustained audience support.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 72%
Audience: 81%
Box Office
Budget: $150,000,000 (est)
Gross: $26,853,816 (USA)
£2,213,495 (UK)
Inglourious Basterds (2009) - Lt. Aldo Raine
Making only $19.3 million when it first opened, Inglorious Bastards still received excellent ratings from both the audience and critics alike.
Why it made so little on its opening weekend may have to do with the fact that on first look it was just another WWII film.
But word soon spread that Inglorious Bastards was a must see movie, and Brad’s popularity continued to grow.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 88%
Audience: 87%
Box Office
Budget: $70,000,000 (est)
Gross: $19,303,653 (USA)
£1,276,012 (UK)
The Tree of Life (2011) - Mr. O’Brien
The Tree of Life saw Brad continue taking on more dramatic roles but once again his audience ratings hovered around the 60% mark .
While the critics seem to like Brad’s more artsy and dramatic movies, the audience seems to prefer the action films, such as Inglorious Bastards and Troy.
Unfortunately, The Tree of Life made a little over half a million dollars when it first came out, which was due to its limited release in theatres in the US.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 84%
Audience: 62%
Box Office
Budget: $32,000,000 (est)
Gross: $618,291 (USA)
Moneyball (2011) - Billy Beane
Brad’s newest film, Moneyball, has been given a rating of 95% by the critics, which is the highest rating Brad Pitt has ever received.
This film might be the hidden gem that is overlooked, but turns out to be one of the greatest films of Brad’s career.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
Critics: 95%
Audience: 85%
Box Office
Budget: $50,000,000 (est)
Gross: $19,501,302 (USA)
Moneyball is released 25th November