Albert Brooks (1947–) is an Oscar®-nominated American actor, writer and director. In the early part of his career Brooks was best known for his movies that he wrote, directed and starred in: Reel Life, Modern Romance, Lost in America and Defending Your Life. Today is probably best known for his voice roles in Finding Nemo, The Secret Life of Pets and Finding Dory. His IMDb page shows 39 acting and 8 directing credits since 1969. This page will rank 28 Albert Brooks movies from Best to Worst in five different sortable columns of information. The following table only includes his movies that we were released in North American theaters….television roles and shorts were not included in the rankings.
Albert Brooks Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Albert Brooks Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Albert Brooks movies by trailers of those movies
- Sort Albert Brooks movies by co-stars of his movies
- Sort Albert Brooks movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Albert Brooks movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Albert Brooks movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Albert Brooks movie received.
- Sort Albert Brooks movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Finding Nemo (2003) Voice Only |
Ellen DeGeneres & Willem Dafoe |
371.70 | 664.5 | 1,631.50 | 1 | 93 | 04 / 01 | 99.4 | |
| 2 | Finding Dory (2016) Voice Only |
Sigourney Weaver & Diane Keaton |
486.30 | 606.0 | 1,281.80 | 2 | 85 | 00 / 00 | 98.3 | |
| 4 | Taxi Driver (1976) AA Best Picture Nom |
Robert DeNiro & Jodie Foster |
27.30 | 138.2 | 138.20 | 25 | 94 | 04 / 00 | 98.1 | |
| 4 | The Simpsons Movie (2007) | Dan Castellaneta | 183.10 | 286.9 | 825.80 | 11 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 97.8 | |
| 5 | Broadcast News (1987) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Nom |
William Hurt & Jack Nicholson |
51.20 | 141.3 | 185.60 | 18 | 85 | 07 / 00 | 97.0 | |
| 6 | The Secret Life of Pets (2016) Voice Only |
Kevin Hart & Eric Stonestreet |
372.40 | 464.1 | 1,096.00 | 4 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 94.8 | |
| 7 | Private Benjamin (1980) | Goldie Hawn | 80.00 | 331.7 | 331.70 | 7 | 65 | 03 / 00 | 94.4 | |
| 9 | Out of Sight (1998) | George Clooney & Michael Keaton |
37.60 | 86.3 | 178.70 | 55 | 87 | 02 / 00 | 89.6 | |
| 8 | Doctor Dolittle (1998) Voice Only |
Eddie Murphy | 144.20 | 331.3 | 676.80 | 5 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 88.7 | |
| 10 | Drive (2011) | Ryan Gosling & Bryan Cranston |
34.80 | 47.4 | 103.30 | 95 | 86 | 01 / 00 | 84.7 | |
| 11 | Defending Your Life (1991) | Meryl Streep | 16.40 | 41.9 | 41.90 | 69 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 81.8 | |
| 12 | Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) | John Lithgow & Dan Aykroyd |
29.50 | 100.8 | 145.30 | 24 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 78.5 | |
| 13 | Lost in America (1985) | Julie Hagerty | 10.20 | 30.9 | 30.90 | 83 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 76.1 | |
| 15 | This Is 40 (2012) | Paul Rudd & Leslie Mann |
67.50 | 91.5 | 119.30 | 43 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 76.0 | |
| 14 | Mother (1996) | Debbie Reynolds & Lisa Kudrow |
19.10 | 46.7 | 46.70 | 84 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 75.0 | |
| 16 | A Most Violent Year (2014) | Oscar Isaac & Jessica Chastain |
5.70 | 7.6 | 15.80 | 147 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 70.0 | |
| 17 | The Little Prince (2015) | Jeff Bridges & Paul Rudd |
1.30 | 1.7 | 124.80 | 172 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 69.1 | |
| 18 | Albert Brooks:Defending My Life (2023) HBO Max |
Directed by Rob Reiner | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 197 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 66.2 | |
| 18 | Concussion (2015) | Will Smith & Alec Baldwin |
34.50 | 44.2 | 62.20 | 72 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 64.3 | |
| 19 | Modern Romance (1981) | Kathryn Harrold | 2.90 | 11.1 | 11.10 | 105 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 56.9 | |
| 21 | Unfaithfully Yours (1984) | Dudley Moore | 19.90 | 63.9 | 63.90 | 54 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 50.8 | |
| 20 | Real Life (1979) | Dick Haynes | 0.80 | 3.6 | 3.60 | 147 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 48.7 | |
| 22 | My First Mister (2001) | John Goodman | 0.60 | 1.1 | 1.10 | 218 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 40.8 | |
| 23 | The Muse (1999) | Sharon Stone | 11.60 | 24.7 | 24.70 | 114 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 40.5 | |
| 24 | I'll Do Anything (1994) | Nick Nolte | 10.40 | 27.5 | 27.50 | 110 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 39.0 | |
| 25 | Critical Care (1997) | Helen Mirren & Directed by Sidney Lumet |
0.20 | 0.5 | 0.50 | 237 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 28.5 | |
| 26 | The In-Laws (2003) | Michael Douglas & Ryan Reynolds |
20.50 | 36.6 | 48.10 | 107 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 27.9 | |
| 27 | Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005) | Penny Marshall | 0.90 | 1.5 | 1.50 | 216 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 24.2 | |
| 28 | I Love You, Daddy (2017) | John Malkovich | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 371 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 14.4 | |
| 29 | The Scout (1994) | Brendan Fraser | 2.70 | 7.1 | 7.10 | 164 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 2.3 |
Possibly Interesting Facts About Albert Brooks
1. Albert Lawrence Einstein was born in Beverly Hills, California in 1947. He is the son of he son of Thelma Leeds, a singer and actress, and Harry Einstein, a radio comedian
2. One of Albert Brooks’ brothers is comedian Bob Einstein….better known as a character he created named “Super Dave Osborne”.
3. Albert Einstein changed his professional name to Albert Brooks, joking that “the real Albert Einstein changed his name to sound more intelligent”
4. Albert Brooks earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for 1987’s Broadcast News and a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe® nomination for 2011’s Drive.
5. Albert Brooks was surprisingly ignored by the Oscar® voters for his Drive performance…..but it led to one of our favorite Brooks moments. He displayed a good sense of humor with regards to the snub…as he released these statements. “I got ROBBED. I don’t mean the Oscars, I mean literally. My pants and shoes have been stolen” and followed that up with a new twist on a classic Oscar line, “And to the Academy: ‘You don’t like me. You really don’t like me.’”
6. Albert Brooks is one of Ryan Reynolds’ favorite actors. Thinking some of that famous Deadpool humor comes from years of Reynolds watching Brooks’ performances.
7. Albert Brooks frequently works with James L. Brooks (no relation). Some of those projects include Terms Of Endearment, Broadcast News, I’ll Do Anything, The Simpson Movie and The Simpsons television show.
8. Our favorite Albert Brooks scene is the “sweating scene” in 1987’s Broadcast News. Brooks has revealed that when he first read the script, the scene where Aaron does a weekend broadcast simply noted “Something bad happens to Aaron on the air.” Albert was watching CNN, when a reporter he’d never seen before (and hasn’t seen since) began sweating badly. Albert phoned Writer and Director James L. Brooks at three in the morning, and stated that Aaron HAD to start sweating profusely.
9. Albert Brooks has been married one time. He has been married to artist, Kimberly Shlain since 1997….they have two children.
10. Check out Albert Brooks‘ career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
Like William Hurt, Albert Brooks once seemed to give many movie industry observers the impression that he could be booked for big things in the future but although he was talented and reasonably successful, as documented above he never became truly Big Time.
As already mentioned by Bruce Albert’s association in recent times with voice roles in animated films is probably what is most familiar to audiences at the moment though I for one am not certain as to how many moviegoers would know or even care who the guy behind that voice actually is. Indeed for his voice role of Russ Cargill in the 2007 Simpsons Movie he was credited as simply “A Brooks”.
Animated films are not my own scene so I recall Albert largely from Broadcast News [coincidentally starring William Hurt] and Lost in America, in which he and his wife decided to drop out of society and take to the road –“I‘ve seen the future. And it’s a bald headed man from New York.”
Albert also co-wrote and directed Lost in American which prompted one critic for a Belfast newspaper to speculate “Is this the next Welles or Woody Allen?” whereas the last time I saw Brooks it was as a minor player in Will Smith’s 2015 flop Concussion and I can barely remember Albert in it, though I am apparently one of a minority who liked the actual film [$37 million adjusted gross and 64% critical rating in the above table.]. However I think that Albert has nevertheless done enough to deserve his Cogerson page.
Hey Bob….seems I discovered Albert Brooks pretty early in his career. I remember Modern Romance playing all the time on HBO. HBO was the main source of my movies watched from 1979 to the mid 1980s. So certain movies played all the time on that channel. At 70…..not thinking his career is going to get “bigger”…but he found a nice spot in the Hollywood world.
He and James L. Brooks worked a lot together….I did not include their Terms of Endearment….mainly because I do not remember A. Brooks’ part in that movie. Loved Brooks in Broadcast News…..easily his best performance…and so far….his only Oscar nominated performance.
I liked Concussion….I made the mistake of not recognizing Brooks in Out of Sight…but I did not in Concussion…..and I have to say I liked his performance in that one. As I said in another comment…for some reason…I always get him mixed up with Charles Grodin.
I disagree with you on his voice roles….I vividly remember hearing lots of 4 and 5 year olds talking about how Albert Brooks was returning to the voice role of Marlon in the Finding Dory…..other 4 and 5 years old were pointing that Brooks was also providing a voice role in the upcoming The Secret Life of Pets…it is an Albert Brooks world…..but luckily he shares it with us….lol.
Taxi Driver was the first film I saw Brooks in and that was at the cinema a long time ago. Taxi Driver is still my favorite Scorsese movie and I’ve probably watched that more than any of the others. Raging Bull I never warmed too, did not like De Niro’s character at all. Goodfellas was great, loved the dialogue and actors but I haven’t watched that in ages, ditto Casino.
And that’s enough about Albert Brooks… byeee!
Oh alright… let’s see… I’ve seen 10 of the 28 films on the chart. Favorites are – Taxi Driver, Drive, Finding Nemo & Dory, Out of Sight and Twilight Zone the Movie.
Looking at the Trivia – Albert Einstein eh.. I wonder if his parents named him Albert after the great scientist or maybe it was a grandparent?
Good stuff as always Bruce. Vote Up!
Have you done a page on Don Cheadle yet? Don Ameche? Don Corleone?
Hey Steve…thanks for sharing your movie memories on Albert Einstein. I have seen 25 of his movies….so I am thinking I like him a little more than you. Taxi Driver is a good movie…but not one I like to re-watch too often. The first time I watched Out Of Sight….I did not even realize that Brooks played one of the bigger parts in the movie….he looked so different from his previous movies. No to Cheadle…but we have Brando/Pacino/Ameche pages. Good stuff as always.
Albert’s brother Bob Einstein was a regular on the Smothers Brothers show and also starred as Super Dave on cable. There was a movie from that I used to have, saw twice I think. My favorite Albert films are Defending Your Life, Mother and A Most Violent Year.
Hey Dan…..hard to believe that I did not realize Albert and Super Dave were related. Super Dave was on Letterman many many times. I am right there with you on Defending Your Life…..I like the screen chemistry between Streep and Brooks. Not to mention a very funny Rip Torn. Mother has some nice moments too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Albert Brooks and his movies.
FYI…. Growing up, for some reason…I always got Brooks and Charles Grodin mixed up
Saw 11. 1 favourite broadcast news , a 10. taxi driver is a 10 but not a favourite. hidden gem is i’ll do anything . a nick nolte performance I loved . plot was okay, child actress, whittni wright, did well. nolte’s character was irritating by design. a solid 8. I saw 3 of the bottom 6 and the top 2 of the 4 cartoons. ugh.
Hey bob cox….I have seen 25 of the 28 movies listed. Including 5 of them in theaters…..though 4 of those 5 were “cartoon” movies. I also enjoyed Broadcast News…though I really like his Lost in America and Defending Your Life…both are watched pretty regularly in my house. I saw your hidden gem….but was not as impressed as you were on that one. Good feedback.