Brad Pitt’s Constant Eating in Movies, Explained
Brad Pitt is a globally recognized and highly acclaimed movie star, renowned for his outstanding performances in iconic films such as The Ocean’s trilogy, Thelma and Louise, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and se7en, among others. Recently, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His exceptional acting skills, undeniable star power, engaging off-screen romances, and irresistible looks have earned him the title of People’s Sexiest Man Alive twice.
However, despite these factors being a discernible formula for Hollywood success, one thing that continues to amuse people is the constant snacking by the characters he plays. Brad Pitt’s characters are frequently seen eating in his movies, making it his trademark. According to Insider, Pitt has eaten in over 60 movies he has appeared in. But, why is this such a common trait for the actor? Could Pitt’s eating in movies be done with purposeful intent, or is it just a random coincidence?
One theory suggests that the more calories Brad Pitt consumes in a film, the higher ratings his films receive, and the more money they earn at the box office. However, this is just a fun observation that has no merit on the films’ box office intake. Nobody is buying a ticket to see how much Brad Pitt can eat, but it is quite a fascinating correlation.
Another explanation for this amusing theory is Pitt’s physical appeal. Because the audience will obsess over the actor doing practically anything, to some extent, his snacking is satisfying to watch, just like viral ASMR content. This is another reason Pitt’s jaws are always moving: it keeps people glued to the screen. An A-list actor grabbing a snack in front of an audience delivers the same emotional reward effect as watching a celebrity buy gas at a fuel station. It purposely yet subconsciously connects Pitt and the audience throughout and beyond the eating scene. He is more relatable and almost accessible.
Interestingly, actors don’t actually eat the food during their takes, and for this reason, eating acting is required. It entails the performers biting the food, chewing, and spitting out while the camera is away or a take is wrapped. This is a craft Pitt has perfected over the years; his realistic eat-acting is the major reason why there is a whole topic conversation about this in the first place.
When asked about this frequent habit in an interview, Pitt stated that he liked to take quick bites. However, he added that intentionality was put into why he always eats in the Ocean’s movies. “There was actually a method to that because [his character] was always on the run, always on the move, I figured he could never sit down and have a proper meal. So he always had to grab something on the run.” In other scenarios, his eating pattern is even integral to the movie’s theme and plot.
In conclusion, Brad Pitt’s snacking habit has become a trademark of his movies, with the actor consuming food in more than 60 films he has appeared in. There are several theories as to why he does this, including a correlation between the number of calories he consumes and his movies’ box office success, his physical appeal, and his exceptional eat-acting skills. Whatever the reason, it adds a realistic layer to his character’s depth and makes him more relatable to the audience. It’s a norm his fans have picked up on, and it’s something they will continue to observe for the remainder of his career.
Brad Pitt is easily one of the most famous and well-regarded movie stars on the planet. He is known for his work in iconic movies like The Ocean’s trilogy, Thelma and Louise, Mr. and Mrs. Smithand se7en, to name a few. He recently won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His acting prowess, his star power to guarantee a box office hit, his engaging off-screen romances, and his irresistible looks earned him the People‘s Sexiest Man Alive title twice. Yet, while these factors are a discernible formula for Hollywood success, one thing that remains a topic of amusement, for some wonder, is the constant snacking by the characters he plays.
Update June 12, 2023: This article has been updated by Mona Bassil with even more details and analysis on why Brad Pitt is always snacking in movies.
A common recurring trait among many of Pitt’s characters is that he is seen eating. Typically eating is not an attractive feature for a movie star, as food slouching around in one’s mouth mashed up can appear pretty gross, yet not only does Pitt do it repeatedly, but he makes it look good. It has become his trademark. According to InsiderPitt has eaten in over 60 movies he has appeared in. Why is this such a common recurring trait for the actor? Could Pitt’s eating in movies be done with purposeful intent, or is it just a random coincidence? Take a closer look into why Brad Pitt is always snacking in movies.
Commercial Success
The first thing people noticed about Pitt in Ocean’s Eleven was his eating habits. In the movie, Pitt plays Rusty, one of Danny Ocean’s comrades, in a significant Las Vegas robbery. He spent a significant portion of the runtime eating snacks when he wasn’t getting his hands dirty in attempting to find out how to steal millions. Some of the foods he enjoyed were a shrimp cocktail, a cheeseburger, ice cream, and a fruit salad. According to an observant Reddit user, “The more calories Brad Pitt consumes, the higher ratings his films receive, and the more money it earns at the box office.”
When he eats 200+ calories in a film (Ocean’s Eleven and Meet Joe Black), the film earns $143+ million. If he eats less than 200 calories, his movie earns $110 million; and it seems that when he does not eat at all, the box office earnings stay within the range of $68 million. In Troya movie that grossed over $497 million, his character is seen devouring a giant turkey leg. In Mr. and Mrs. Smithhe consumes a pot roast, an olive stick, pancakes, and a Martini. In The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordhe has beef stew; in Furysome ham and eggs; and in Inglourious Basterdsa baguette. Obviously, this is all just a fun observation that actually has no merit on these films’ box office intake. Nobody is buying a ticket to see how much Brad Pitt can eat, but it is quite a fascinating correlation.
He Makes Snacking Attractive
One obvious explanation for this amusing theory is Pitt’s physical appeal. Because the audience will obsess over the actor doing practically anything, to some extent, his snacking is satisfying to watch, just like viral ASMR content. This is another reason Pitt’s jaws are always moving: it keeps people glued to the screen.
An A-list actor grabbing a snack in front of an audience delivers the same emotional reward effect as watching a celebrity buy gas at a fuel station. It purposely yet subconsciously connects Pitt and the audience throughout and beyond the eating scene. He is more relatable and almost accessible.
Masterful Eat Acting
Because actors don’t actually eat the food during their takes, there is a specific methodology known as “eat acting.” Some eating scenes may require multiple takes, and for this reason, eating acting is required. It entails the performers biting the food, chewing, and spitting out while the camera is away or a take is wrapped. Interestingly, this is a craft Pitt has perfected over the years; his realistic eat-acting is the major reason why there is a whole topic conversation about this in the first place.
Per The Washington PostCaroline Liem, a casting director and professor at Pace Performing Arts, finds Pitt’s on-screen eating skills exceptional and even dubs him “The Laurence Olivier of eating. He makes it look like an actual human being eating, and you don’t get that a lot. He’s just one with food.”
Focus on the Character
When asked about this frequent habit in an interview with Joethe Bullet Train and Babylon star finally provided the answer most audiences have been speculating about. In the interview, Pitt stated that he liked to take quick bites. “I like to busy myself, I’m a grazer by nature,” he said. However, he added that intentionality was put into why he always eats in the Ocean’s movies. “There was actually a method to that because [his character] was always on the run, always on the move, I figured he could never sit down and have a proper meal. So he always had to grab something on the run.”
While other actors have mastered a different type of “busywork,” such as smoking a cigarette or playing with a ball, Pitt’s constant eating in movies adds an additional, more realistic layer to his character’s realistic depth. For example, Billy Beane’s consistent snacking in Moneyball demonstrates his desperation and emphasis on winning the baseball tournament. In other scenarios, his eating pattern is even integral to the movie’s theme and plot. For example, in Meet Joe Black, Pitt plays death trapped in a human body. Because he is portraying an abstract concept, he ‘eats-acts’ like a newborn who has just been introduced to food. It’s all about highlighting the film’s topic and theme. And when he finally reaches human shape and gains his senses, his favorite food turns out to be peanut butter.
Another scenario where Brad Pitt’s eating adds greater detail to his character is in Interview with the Vampire. By strictly feeding on rats, Pitt’s vampire character, Louis de Pointe du Lac, shows his empathy for humans and defines himself as a good vampire. One way or the other, in any film, the actor is pictured eating or snacking, he instills his food mannerism into the character and plot he is working with.
Fans of the iconic sitcom Friends can never forget his appearance on the 2001 episode “The One in the Rumor,” in which he portrays Will, a school friend who used to be obese and is now more careful with his eating habits, following a “no fat, no sugar, no dairy” diet. Monica has invited him to Thanksgiving dinner, but Will is so irked by Rachel’s presence that he says, “Look at her standing there with those yams. My two greatest enemies, Ross. Rachel Greene and complex carbohydrates.”
The trope of Pitt constantly shoving food into his mouth on screen is only one of the many interesting facts about his most recognized roles and acting style. Case in point, his 2022 movie Bullet Train. In between brawls, his character munches on wasabi peas in many sequences of this action-comedy thriller. Either way, it’s a norm his amused fans have picked up on and would continue to observe for the remainder of his career.
