Top 10 Kurt Russell Performances

Your better husbands and fathers labor under the belief that when bad things go down, they will rise to the occasion and protect their wife and family. So when “Breakdown”‘s Jeff Taylor and his wife fall victim to a kidnapping ring that’s threatening to kill her if he doesn’t pay them $90,000, many of us feel his pain. That anguish turns Jeff into a vengeful man that will see to it that justice is done and those who mistreated the woman he loves pay for it. And with a captivating Kurt Russell in this action-packed role, we’re riveted every step of the way.

One half of a duo of cops that seems to be patterned after the odd couple, Russell’s Cash and his rival – Sylvester Stallone’s Tango – go from cops to criminals overnight when they’re set up and sent to prison. The close proximity chemistry and charm of the film’s two leads allows them to play off of each other in hilarious fashion. Russell is obviously having a ball with every line and interaction, and although “Tango & Cash” was only a moderate success at the box-office, fans today are slowly coming to appreciate Russell & Stallone’s effort more and more.

Actually beginning his film career at age 11 alongside Elvis Presley in “It Happened at the World’s Fair,” Kurt Russell crossed paths with the King again in 1979 and became a movie star as a result. Russell’s last ever TV project and his first ever collaboration with John Carpenter, this TV movie originally aired against both “Gone with the Wind” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and beat them both handily in the ratings, thanks in large part to Russell’s star-making and Emmy-nominated performance. The multi-layered way he brought the musician to life grabbed hold of audiences, allowing “Elvis” to transcend its status as a made-for-TV movie and become a much loved biopic.

Inspirational quotes are a dime a dozen in Hollywood movies – especially sports flicks – and that’s why it takes an accomplished actor to stand out and really deliver the goods. Here, our man Kurt plays coach Herb Brooks, the man that led the American Olympic Hockey team to gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics. One step toward that goal was a win over the seemingly undefeatable Russians. While some nations could beat the Ruskies through skill alone, Russell’s Herb Brooks could inspire damn near anyone to overcome such impossible odds. Harsh but humane, Herb is a man’s man and untouchable in the pantheon of sports movie coaches.

The eldest son of a fallen and famed firefighting hero – whom Russell also plays – Bull is tough on everybody he comes across – especially himself. Unlike most of Russell’s roles, Bull was never meant to be likable and for an actor who has charm radiating off him to dial it back and remain believable is truly impressive. Bull is not a good guy but he’s not really trying to be, and Russell’s performance stands out alongside the impressive Academy Award-nominated effects – the true test of an actor’s mettle if ever there was one.

In this Quentin Tarantino-directed half of the double-feature “Grindhouse,” Russell plays against type as a murderous driver who uses his car as his weapon. And the glee we see on his face when he thinks a victim has fallen into his trap is unlike anything we’d seen him do to that point. Russell wasn’t the first star to come back to film in a big way under Tarantino, but he used this exploitation vehicle to remind modern audiences what a badass he could be. And after watching this film, we were left wishing that he’d tried his hand at evil – especially charming evil – more often in the past, cause he’s just that damn good at it.

Starring as Wyatt Earp, the famed gambler and lawman who stood up to a renegade pack of cowboys – and showed a blatant disregard for Billy Bob Thornton – Russell plays an intellectual but reluctant hero who is as quick with his wits as he is with his six-gun. A romantic who wants more from life, and a loyal friend to Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday, Russell’s Earp is not a man you’d want to be on the wrong side of – no matter how much charm he oozes.

Jack Burton is a truck driver who finds himself roped into saving a damsel in distress in an underworld located beneath Chinatown, and one that’s populated by strange magic. Jack Burton may also be the best example of Kurt Russell’s comedic timing. Teaming up again with director John Carpenter, Russell plays Jack as a man completely out of his depth but never letting us see him sweat. In an almost cartoonishly exciting action film, Russell ensures there’s nothing not to love about the character – regardless of what the box office returns said.

Performed with a snarl and smirk, Snake Plissken may not be our number one choice but he easily could’ve been and is a character that immediately comes to mind when you think of Kurt Russell. Sporting his signature eye patch and unamused look on his face, Snake does resurface in 1996’s “Escape from L.A.,” but it was his initial struggle that won our hearts. Playing this former war hero turned criminal, Russell perfectly straddles the line between good and bad while managing to remain likable and memorable. Snake will always be the man – even if you’d heard he was dead.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Col. Jack O’Neil
“Stargate” (1994)
- Michael Zane
“3000 Miles to Graceland” (2001)
- Sgt. Todd 3465
“Soldier” (1998)
- Dr. David Grant
“Executive Decision” (1996)
- Dr. Curtis McCabe
“Vanilla Sky” (2001)

There are few films that have ever been able to create so much tension, and the credit for that should be shared by director John Carpenter and the film’s star Kurt Russell. The de facto leader of a group of isolated men who are under attack by an alien being that can perfectly assimilate into their group, Russell doesn’t steal any scenes or showboat in any way. Instead choosing to let things breathe, it’s his steady hand that allows the fear to continue to build from beginning to end, which is what makes the film such a masterpiece.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Kurt Russell performance? For more immortal Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.