Brian Cox’s Best Performances, Ranked – TheFantasyTimes

Brian Cox is a Scottish actor who has been in this realm of screen and stage for up to six decades. He has more than 200 credits and has performed as characters in a multitude of well-known movies and TV shows. Cox is unquestionably gifted, as seen in anything he has worked in. However, during his acting career, he has played a number of crucial yet minor roles. Despite that, his performance has always been the highlight of any scene he steps in.

Update June 11, 2023: In honor of the conclusion of Succession and the release of Mending the Line, this article has been updated by Danilo Raúl to include even more great Brian Cox performances.

Brian Cox certainly is not slowing down, either. Succession just concluded its incredible final season. His latest film, Mending the Line, opened in theaters on June 9, 2023. He will lend his voice to the animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim and will also star in the Russo brothers’ next film, The Electric State. With so much to celebrate, here is a look at his best performances.

15 Super Troopers (2001)

Cox is mainly acclaimed for his exceptional theatrical talents, but he can seamlessly transition to humor anytime. Super Troopers, a film by Jay Chandrasekhar, is a raunchy yet silly comedy film that was a slight hit at the time and, to this day, is considered a cult favorite. The movie’s plot is five state troopers who enjoy pranking around, trying to keep their jobs while at the same time solving an ongoing crime.

The flimsy plot barely holds the antics of these Vermont troopers together, but the constant stream of humor at the right time keeps the audience entertained. Cox acts as the commander of the Super Troopers and beautifully dominates every scene he is in as the grumpy, harsh, and humorous straight guy who is yet fully supportive of the insanity his team unleashes. This film proves Cox’s diverse acting range and how he can play comedic roles so effortlessly without looking cringe or awkward, something not every actor can do.

14 The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Brian Cox has the best timing to play the lead in one of the most imaginative horror films ever made. Directed by André Ovredal, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a horror story that follows a father and son working as a coroner team. On a quiet night, they have to establish the cause of death of an unidentified woman. The primary twist in the story? The body they have at the table shows no trace of trauma, signs of respiration failure, cuts, or blood loss.

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Cox takes the lead as Tommy Tilden, the seasoned coroner and father. His performance anchors the film as a determined but somewhat haunted character. Cox adds layers of intensity to the suspenseful narrative as he finds himself out of his element in a field he’s supposed to be an expert in. The film is a psychological journey that manages to create an atmospheric narrative that takes hold of your senses and keeps you at the edge of your seat until the very end.

13 Churchill (2017)

Winston Churchill is one of the most polarizing historical figures of Great Britain, so it’s a given we’d get to see Brian Cox play him at some point. Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, this biographical war drama focuses on the days leading up to D-Day in World War II, with Cox offering a flawless interpretation of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He does a wonderful job, but his British accent could use some work.

Cox’s performance as Churchill captures many of the nuances we can expect from the complex leader, such as his inner struggles, insecurities, and the unrelenting determination he displays during the pivotal historical moment he’s mandated to carry on behalf of an entire Kingdom. The film itself is not as powerful as the beloved The Darkest Hour, which premiered in the same year but is still worth a watch.

12 Troy (2004)

Brian Cox has the best range for playing bad guys, something he did incredibly well in Troy. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, this epic historical war drama is an adaptation of the Greek tragedy of the Iliad, a poem written by Homer centuries ago recounting the events of the legendary Trojan War.

Brian Cox plays Agamemnon, the power-hungry Greek ruler whose ruthless ambition drives him to support a claim by his brother Menelaus to wage war against Troy after Prince Paris seduces and escapes with Queen Helen to the walled city. Cox’s commanding presence adds depth to the fallen king, as he’s feared by thousands but despised by his fiercest warrior.

11 The 25th Hour (2002)

Some of the best acting delivered by Brian Cox is in supporting roles. The 25th Hour is a unique film directed by Spike Lee; this thought-provoking follows the last hours of freedom for a convicted drug dealer named Monty Brogan, played by Edward Norton. Brian Cox plays the supporting role of James Brogan, Monty’s father, a veteran fireman who owns a bar attending patrons who recount past tragedies.

The post-9/11 setup of the story plays a heavy role in the film, as Monty is resentful of his father for having a stable life where he sees his days come and go in the companionship of former firefighters. James, however, remains ignorant of his son’s grievance and loves him unconditionally, willing to go the extra step for him and help him escape his sentence. Cox’s delivery of the final monologue is well worth the watch on its own.

10 Rushmore (1998)

Brian Cox is such a perfect fit to play hard-ass authority figures that it’s nearly impossible to hate him in these roles. Rushmore is the film that truly launched director Wes Anderson into the mainstream. The film is a quirky, coming-of-age comedy-drama set in a private school. Cox takes the lead as Dr. Nelson Guggenheim, a no-nonsense headmaster with no qualms or reservations about speaking his mind when required.

Cox graces the screen with a dose of dry wit and stern authority and compliments the film with some offbeat humor. Guggenheim’s is one of Cox’s best performances, and it gives audiences a chance to see how versatile the actor can be when he’s out of his comfort zone, navigating the realms of comedy. He elevates a small supporting role just by being there.

9 Braveheart (1995)

After quite a few years in the zeitgeist of popular culture, Braveheart has become the red-headed stepchild of historical films, as Mel Gibson took a lot of liberties with the original myths about William Wallace. The historical drama, directed and starred by Gibson, tells the story of the beloved Scottish warrior and his fight against English oppression.

Brian Cox does his part by playing the character of Argyle Wallace, William Wallace’s uncle and mentor figure, who would teach him the ways of the world after Wallace loses his family as a child. Cox has a small role in the film, yet his part is designed to add gravitas and emotional depth to Gibson’s character, as he is the emotional support and direct influence of William’s views.

8 Red (2010)

2010’s Red offered equivalent thrills to the audience, much like The Expendables, demonstrating how viewers would swarm to see elderly action heroes on a screen together. The movie revolves around Frank Moses, played by Bruce Willis, who is essentially a “retired, extremely dangerous” former CIA agent. An assassin tries to take his life. Thus, to save himself, Moses reunites with some of his old RED pals to track down this man.

As a gratifying action film, Red is made significantly more engaging and mesmerizing to watch by Cox’s portrayal of a former Russian agent named Ivan Simonov. Cox is a joyous delight, chomping down on a thick accent and constantly smirking through all his parts. All fans consider his rekindled affair with the retired assassin Victora Winslow, played by Helen Mirren, who once shot him twice in the chest, the highlight of the entire film. Once again, proving he can be in a movie with a massive list of celebrities, but even his little acting gig can outshine all.

7 Deadwood (2006)

This may surprise some, but this series was inspired by an actual life story of an Irish actor who ended up becoming an Idaho state senator. The story revolves around Jack Langrishe, played by Cox, who makes a grand entrance into Deadwood. Cox is exceptional in this series. He has aspirations to establish a theater and infuse culture into this land that someday will become South Dakota. Unfortunately, since many viewers and critics had issues with the direction of season three, this led to Deadwood’s controversial cancelation even before its creator could give the series a satisfying conclusion.

All in all, it was Cox’s performance that breathed life into the entire series. Every single time Cox was on-screen, it was difficult to take eyes off it. The show demanded some serious acting, but it all felt like a piece of cake, seeing how Cox nailed it so effortlessly.

6 Adaptation (2002)

Directed by Spike Jonez, Adaptation follows the story of a screenwriter named Charlie Kaufman, who is having a hard time adapting Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief as he suffers from every author’s worst nightmare; writer’s block. During this time, Kaufman goes to a renowned storytelling seminar of screen master Robert McKee, portrayed by none other than Cox.

Being friends with McKee in actual life helps Cox channel his personality into his character. He beautifully represents the narrative experience of the entire world as he berates Kaufman for lacking any of it in his life. His enchanting performance makes one want to believe everything he says simply because of how he delivers it. Cox delivers some incredibly impactful lines that can be a game changer for Kaufman and the viewers.

5 X2: X-Men United (2003)

Before the world became hardcore Marvel Universe fans, they religiously followed the X-Men franchise. Building on the first Bryan Singer’s X-Men, the film possibly served as the blueprint for many of the superhero blockbusters of the future. X2: X-Men United is an extremely rare case where the sequel is far superior to the original. One of the reasons has to be Cox’s performance. No one can deny the sheer fact that Cox’s character of William Stryker, an anti-mutant special operation bad guy, has to be the best antagonist of the X-Men franchise.

Throughout the franchise, Stryker has indeed been portrayed by a variety of actors. However, no one ever was able to get engraved in the viewer’s mind as Cox did. He absolutely dominated X2 whenever he was on the screen, and to that extent, his absence could be felt in all Wolverine-centric films thereafter. This speaks volumes about how charismatic his performance is.

4 The Minus Man (1999)

There is no doubt in admitting that indie films have some of the finest acting, which can also be seen in The Minus Man. This is an independent drama from 1999, which is highly underappreciated and merits a second look. This is the very first, and probably the only movie Hampton Fancher has ever directed. The Minus Man revolves around Vann Siegert, played by Owen Wilson, who does a 180 in his life and turns into a cruel serial killer. He meticulously murders individuals with a flask of poisoned amaretto liqueur.

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After committing his first murder, Vann finds himself in a tiny village where he stays with Doug and Jane, played by Cox and Mercedes Ruehl, who are unhappy with their marriage. Similar to most indie films, it is a slow-burn movie that is immensely character driven. Movies like this rely on the actor’s performance, and Cox does complete justice to his role. His portrayal of the resentful, alcoholic Doug, punctuating the intended pace with the threat of the violence that Vann shies away from, is hauntingly mesmerizing. Viewers will find themselves constantly immersed in the movie due to his realistic yet raw portrayal.

3 Manhunter (1986)

For any fan of a murder mystery or suspense, this is the ideal movie. Manhunter, adapted from Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, follows an FBI profiler named Will Graham through his relentless search for the vile murderer who goes by Tooth Fairy. However, to catch him, he must ask for help from Dr. Hannibal Lecter, his arch-nemesis. Cox was already performing continuously for about twenty years by the time this movie was released. However, it wasn’t until people saw him play the infamous serial murderer Hannibal Lecter that they realized his wide acting range and potential. Yet, despite it, people often overlook the fact that Cox was the first person to portray the vengeful yet iconic antagonist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

The few scenes that Cox gets in the movie are by far the scariest ones. His acting is enough to send shivers down the watcher’s spine. Interestingly, he is mostly in jail, which means he’s not clearly visible, but he is still able to infuse every phrase with a sense of fear and menace. All of this is enough to keep viewers up at night for days, making it rightfully one of his best performances.

2 Succession (2018)

When it comes to merging dark comedy with family drama, Succession by Jesse Armstrong is as good as it gets. The HBO television series revolves around the Roy Family, who own the Waystar RoyCo., a global entertainment and media multi-industry company. Due to the decline in his health, Logan Roy (Brain Cox), the head of the company, considers stepping down from his position. During his birthday celebration, the family decides to cheer on Logan’s second son, Kendall, as the heir to the company. However, things become difficult when Logan announces that he will instead give his third wife, Marcia, the right to choose an heir after his death. Thus, a fight for power commences while the family’s patriarch’s health is uncertain.

Brain brings out the best in the series through his character, Logan. With a strict and patriarchal persona, he keeps the audience at the edge of their seats, waiting for another uncompromising remark from him. He truly embodies the role, allowing fans to see a headstrong character that does not compromise when it comes to pushing boundaries with his family or running his business, even when he was not around. The role has made Cox an award-season darling and has redefined his career.

1 Nuremberg (2000)

Nuremberg is a Canadian-American docudrama that steals the spotlight as one of television’s best historical war dramas. The miniseries narrates the aftermath following Germany’s defeat in WWII. In order to reconcile the crimes committed by Nazi Germany, American Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson (Alec Baldwin) created an international war crime tribunal at Nuremberg. 24 representatives of the Nazi military personnel and even civilians are chosen to stand trial for the commission of aggression and war crimes against humanity. The series entails a series of trials through the eyes of Robert Jackson and Hermann Goering (Brian Cox).

Brian Cox nails the antagonistic role of a Nazi defendant who charmed Lt. Tex Wheelis, his guard, into giving him better treatment than the other criminals of war. Fans admittedly were charmed by his charisma and intelligence in getting his way. Well, almost. His immersive performance earned him nominations and wins for multiple awards, including the win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie at the Primetime Emmy.