Want to know the best Wilford Brimley movies? How about the worst Wilford Brimley movies? Curious about Wilford Brimley box office grosses or which Wilford Brimley movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Wilford Brimley movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Wilford Brimley (1934-2020) was an American actor. After serving in the Marines and taking on a variety of odd jobs, he became an extra for Western films, he quickly established himself as a character actor in films such as The China Syndrome (1979), The Thing (1982), and The Natural (1984). He is most famous for his role in the science fiction classic Cocoon (1985). His IMDb page shows 77 acting credits from 1969 to 2020. This page will rank Wilford Brimley movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos, uncredited roles, and movies that were not released in North American were not included in the rankings.
Wilford Brimley Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews, and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1979
The China Syndrome (1979)
1985
Cocoon (1985)
1981
Absence of Malice (1981)
1993
The Firm (1993)
1980
Brubaker (1980)
1979
The Electric Horseman (1979)
1984
The Natural (1984)
1997
In & Out (1997)
1983
Tender Mercies (1983)
AA Best Picture Nom
1982
The Thing (1982)
1983
High Road to China (1983)
1985
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
1984
Country (1984)
1996
My Fellow Americans (1996)
1993
Hard Target (1993)
1995
Last of the Dogmen (1995)
1984
The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
1984
The Stone Boy (1984)
2001
Brigham City (2001)
2000
Comanche (2000)
1998
Summer Of The Monkeys (1998)
1988
Cocoon: The Return (1988)
1983
Tough Enough (1983)
2009
The Path of the Wind (2009)
1986
Act of Vengeance (1986)
HBO Movie
1987
End of the Line (1987)
2003
Pitcher and the Pin-Up (2003)
2009
Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
2017
I Believe (2017)
1980
Borderline (1980)
1994
Heaven Sent (1994)
2001
PC and the Web (2001)
1998
Progeny (1998)
1983
10 to Midnight (1983)
1984
Harry & Son (1984)
1995
Mutant Species (1995)
2002
The Round and Round (2002)
Wilford Brimley 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 any way you want.
- Sort Wilford Brimley movies by his co-stars
- Sort Wilford Brimley movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Wilford Brimley movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Wilford Brimley 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 Wilford Brimley movie received.
- Sort Wilford Brimley movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR 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 | The China Syndrome (1979) | Jack Lemmon & Michael Douglas |
51.70 | 222.1 | 222.10 | 15 | 77 | 04 / 00 | 97.5 | |
| 2 | Cocoon (1985) | Don Ameche & Directed by Ron Howard |
76.10 | 231.1 | 259.10 | 6 | 73 | 02 / 02 | 96.8 | |
| 4 | Absence of Malice (1981) | Paul Newman & Sally Field |
50.50 | 195.8 | 195.80 | 9 | 76 | 03 / 00 | 96.8 | |
| 3 | The Firm (1993) | Tom Cruise & Gen Hackman |
158.30 | 412.3 | 703.70 | 4 | 69 | 02 / 00 | 95.4 | |
| 6 | Brubaker (1980) | Robert Redford & Morgan Freeman |
44.90 | 186.1 | 186.10 | 17 | 71 | 01 / 00 | 94.4 | |
| 5 | The Electric Horseman (1979) | Robert Redford & Jane Fonda |
81.90 | 351.7 | 351.70 | 7 | 64 | 01 / 00 | 93.7 | |
| 7 | The Natural (1984) | Robert Redford & Robert Duvall |
48.00 | 153.8 | 153.80 | 15 | 74 | 04 / 00 | 93.4 | |
| 9 | In & Out (1997) | Kevin Kline & Debbie Reynolds |
63.90 | 150.0 | 195.50 | 23 | 67 | 01 / 00 | 89.8 | |
| 7 | Tender Mercies (1983) AA Best Picture Nom |
Robert Duvall & BestPictureNoms |
8.40 | 28.9 | 28.90 | 70 | 79 | 05 / 02 | 84.2 | |
| 10 | The Thing (1982) | Kurt Russell & Directed by John Carpenter |
19.60 | 72.0 | 100.60 | 37 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 84.2 | |
| 11 | High Road to China (1983) | Tom Selleck & Bess Armstrong |
28.40 | 97.3 | 97.30 | 26 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 78.4 | |
| 12 | Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) | Fred Ward & Joel Grey |
14.40 | 43.7 | 43.70 | 60 | 64 | 01 / 00 | 65.1 | |
| 13 | Country (1984) | Jessica Lange & Sam Shepard |
9.60 | 30.9 | 30.90 | 80 | 66 | 01 / 00 | 61.9 | |
| 14 | My Fellow Americans (1996) | Jack Lemmon & James Garner |
22.30 | 54.4 | 54.40 | 70 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 61.3 | |
| 16 | Hard Target (1993) | Jean-Claude Van Damme | 32.60 | 84.9 | 193.20 | 48 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 59.2 | |
| 15 | Last of the Dogmen (1995) | Tom Berenger & Barbara Hershey |
7.00 | 17.4 | 17.40 | 131 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 58.6 | |
| 17 | The Hotel New Hampshire (1984) | Jodie Foster & Nastassja Kinski |
5.10 | 16.5 | 16.50 | 107 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 57.4 | |
| 16 | The Stone Boy (1984) | Robert Duvall & Glenn Close |
0.30 | 0.8 | 0.80 | 178 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 57.4 | |
| 18 | Brigham City (2001) | Richard Dutcher | 0.90 | 1.6 | 1.60 | 203 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 54.2 | |
| 19 | Comanche (2000) | Kris Kristofferson | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 281 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 48.5 | |
| 20 | Summer Of The Monkeys (1998) | Michael Ontkean | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 347 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 39.8 | |
| 23 | Cocoon: The Return (1988) | Don Ameche | 18.90 | 49.6 | 49.60 | 53 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 36.0 | |
| 22 | Tough Enough (1983) | Dennis Quaid & Warren Oates |
2.40 | 8.3 | 8.30 | 109 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 34.5 | |
| 23 | The Path of the Wind (2009) | Joe Rowley | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 411 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.2 | |
| 25 | Act of Vengeance (1986) HBO Movie |
Charles Bronson & Keanu Reeves |
0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 247 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 24.6 | |
| 25 | End of the Line (1987) | Kevin Bacon & Holly Hunter |
0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 279 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 23.4 | |
| 25 | Pitcher and the Pin-Up (2003) | Drew Johnson | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 347 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 16.7 | |
| 27 | Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) | Hugh Grant & Sarah Jessica Parker |
29.60 | 42.5 | 42.50 | 90 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 16.3 | |
| 27 | I Believe (2017) | Rowan Smyth | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 352 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 13.6 | |
| 30 | Borderline (1980) | Charles Bronson & Ed Harris |
5.30 | 22.2 | 22.20 | 101 | 43 | 00 / 00 | 13.1 | |
| 31 | Heaven Sent (1994) | David Bowe | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 262 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 12.1 | |
| 30 | PC and the Web (2001) | Kwesi Ameyaw | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 341 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 10.4 | |
| 31 | Progeny (1998) | Lindsay Crouse | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 309 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.0 | |
| 33 | 10 to Midnight (1983) | Charles Bronson & Andrew Stevens |
7.20 | 24.6 | 24.60 | 72 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 8.7 | |
| 34 | Harry & Son (1984) | Paul Newman & Robby Benson |
4.90 | 15.6 | 15.60 | 111 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 7.1 | |
| 34 | Mutant Species (1995) | Powers Boothe | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 278 | 37 | 00 / 00 | 2.5 | |
| 35 | The Round and Round (2002) | Robert Knott | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 358 | 18 | 00 / 00 | 0.0 |
Possibly Interesting Facts About Wilford Brimley
1. Anthony Wilford Brimley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1934.
2. Wilford Brimley dropped out of high school to join the Marines, serving in the Aleutian Islands for three years.
3. Wilford Brimley was a bodyguard for billionaire businessman Howard Hughes.
4. Robert Duvall convinced Wilford Brimley to try acting. Brimley began acting in the 1960s as a riding extra and stunt man in Westerns.
5. Wilford Brimley’s first IMDb credit is an uncredited role in 1969’s True Grit.
6. Wilford Brimley was a talented jazz singer who has recorded several albums and played successful club engagements.
7. Wilford Brimley was only 49 when he was cast as a senior citizen for Cocoon (1985), and turned 50 during filming. He was at least 20 years younger than any of the actors playing the other elderly characters.
8. Wilford Brimley was the long-time face of television advertisements for the Quaker Oats Company.
9. After portraying the father of Kevin Kline in In & Out (1997), Wilford Brimley retreated from Hollywood in favor of involvement in more independent productions.
10. Check out Wilford Brimley’s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
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Thanks to everybody for checking out our Wilford Brimley page. Rest in Peace Mr. Brimley.
RIP Wilford Brimley.
I watched Cocoon fairly recently noting that Brimley was the only one still alive of the senior citizens in the film. He was only 50 when filming began.
I’ve seen 10 of the 35 films on the chart, favorites are – Cocoon 1-2, The Thing, The Firm, Remo and The China Syndrome.
I saw The Natural just once a long time ago, it might be worth another look.
A good tribute page Bruce. Vote Up!
Wilford Brimley is # 761 on the 2020 Oracle of Bacon list. These are the other actors on the list he appeared with.
16 DENNIS HOPPER True Grit (1969)
17 MICHAEL MADSEN The Natural (1984)
20 MORGAN FREEMAN Brubaker (1980)
20 MORGAN FREEMAN Harry & Son (1984)
31 ROBERT DUVALL Lawman (1971)
31 ROBERT DUVALL Tender Mercies (1983)
31 ROBERT DUVALL The Natural (1984)
31 ROBERT DUVALL The Stone Boy (1984)
31 ROBERT DUVALL True Grit (1969)
53 JOHN SAXON The Electric Horseman (1979)
78 GENE HACKMAN The Firm (1993)
79 BRUCE MCGILL End of the Line (1987)
79 BRUCE MCGILL Tough Enough (1983)
92 BRAD DOURIF Progeny (1998)
101 M. EMMET WALSH Brubaker (1980)
109 ED HARRIS Borderline (1980)
109 ED HARRIS The Firm (1993)
122 DENNIS QUAID Tough Enough (1983)
128 ROBERT MORLEY High Road to China (1983)
131 BURT LANCASTER Lawman (1971)
137 LAUREN BACALL My Fellow Americans (1996)
142 LANCE HENRIKSEN Hard Target (1993)
150 KEITH DAVID The Thing (1982)
153 MAURY CHAYKIN Harry & Son (1984)
163 CLINT HOWARD Cocoon (1985)
163 CLINT HOWARD End of the Line (1987)
167 KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Comanche (2000)
170 JON VOIGHT Eternity (1990)
186 DAVID STRAITHAIRN The Firm (1993)
204 MIKE STARR The Natural (1984)
206 MICHAEL DOUGLAS The China Syndrome (1979)
207 JEFF COREY True Grit (1969)
217 WALLACE SHAWN The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
224 PAUL NEWMAN Absence of Malice (1981)
224 PAUL NEWMAN Harry & Son (1984)
229 KURT RUSSELL The Thing (1982)
232 SAM SHEPARD Country (1984)
236 PAUL SORVINO The Firm (1993)
239 BEAU BRIDGES The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
241 GEOFFREY LEWIS 10 to Midnight (1983)
242 DAN AYKROYD My Fellow Americans (1996)
253 RANCE HOWARD Cocoon (1985)
264 ARMAND ASSANTE Eternity (1990)
270 GLENN CLOSE The Natural (1984)
270 GLENN CLOSE The Stone Boy (1984)
272 TOM BERENGER Last of the Dogmen (1995)
273 SAM ELLIOTT Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
274 DAN HEDAYA In & Out (1997)
285 BOB BALABAN Absence of Malice (1981)
285 BOB BALABAN End of the Line (1987)
286 TOM CRUISE The Firm (1993)
291 EDWARD HERRMANN Death Valley (1982)
296 JAMES GARNER My Fellow Americans (1996)
299 JOE DON BAKER The Natural (1984)
304 JOHN HEARD My Fellow Americans (1996)
310 JACK LEMMON My Fellow Americans (1996)
310 JACK LEMMON The China Syndrome (1979)
315 CHARLES BRONSON 10 to Midnight (1983)
315 CHARLES BRONSON Borderline (1980)
322 ROBERT REDFORD Brubaker (1980)
322 ROBERT REDFORD The Electric Horseman (1979)
322 ROBERT REDFORD The Natural (1984)
323 BRIAN DENNEHY Cocoon (1985)
323 BRIAN DENNEHY Cocoon: The Return (1988)
335 MARY STEENBURGEN Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
335 MARY STEENBURGEN End of the Line (1987)
344 JOHN WAYNE True Grit (1969)
346 GARY BUSEY The Firm (1993)
399 NASTASSJA KINSKI The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
405 HAL HOLBROOK The Firm (1993)
409 KIM BASINGER The Natural (1984)
426 JODIE FOSTER The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
428 PAM GRIER Tough Enough (1983)
435 MATTHEW MODINE The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
436 BARBARA HERSHEY Last of the Dogmen (1995)
436 BARBARA HERSHEY The Natural (1984)
471 MATT DILLON In & Out (1997)
472 JON POLITO Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
482 MICHAEL LERNER Borderline (1980)
487 FRED WARD Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
489 HUGH GRANT Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
492 JANE FONDA The China Syndrome (1979)
492 JANE FONDA The Electric Horseman (1979)
493 HOLLY HUNTER END OF THE LINE (1987)
493 HOLLY HUNTER THE FIRM (1993)
507 ROB LOWE THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE (1984)
546 KEVIN BACON End of the Line (1987)
566 STEVE GUTTENBERG Cocoon (1985)
566 STEVE GUTTENBERG Cocoon: The Return (1988)
609 AMANDA PLUMMER The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
625 JAMES REBHORN My Fellow Americans (1996)
648 RICHARD JORDAN Lawman (1971)
655 KEVIN KLINE In & Out (1997)
657 RICHARD MASUR The Thing (1982)
658 JOSEF SOMMER Absence of Malice (1981)
668 JOAN CUSACK IN & OUT (1997)
687 STEPHEN MCHATTIE DEATH VALLEY (1982)
693 SETH GREEN THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE (1984)
710 SALLY FIELD Absence of Malice (1981)
727 ROBERT RYAN Lawman (1971)
729 MATT CLARK Brubaker (1980)
729 MATT CLARK Country (1984)
756 DEBBIE REYNOLDS In & Out (1997)
758 ROBERT PROSKY The Natural (1984)
772 MICHAEL PENA MY FELLOW AMERICANS (1996)
781 WARREN OATES Tough Enough (1983)
789 MARK BOONE JUNIOR Last of the Dogmen (1995)
844 ELLEN BARKIN Harry & Son (1984)
844 ELLEN BARKIN Tender Mercies (1983)
857 KURTWOOD SMITH Last of the Dogmen (1995)
864 BRADLEY WHITFORD MY FELLOW AMERICANS (1996)
879 JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME Hard Target (1993)
885 DAVID KEITH Brubaker (1980)
928 YAPHET KOTTO Brubaker (1980)
929 JANE ALEXANDER BRUBAKER (1980)
933 WOLF KAHLER HIGH ROAD TO CHINA (1983)
937 RIC YOUNG HIGH ROAD TO CHINA (1983)
941 SARAH JESSICA PARKER Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
943 BERT REMSEN Borderline (1980)
985 DONALD MOFFAT The Thing (1982)
986 OSSIE DAVIS Harry & Son (1984)
993 FREDERIC FORREST The Stone Boy (1984)
Wilford appeared with 21 Oscar winners.
BURT LANCASTER Lawman (1971)
DON AMECHE Cocoon (1985)
DON AMECHE Cocoon: The Return (1988)
GENE HACKMAN The Firm (1993)
HOLLY HUNTER END OF THE LINE (1987)
HOLLY HUNTER THE FIRM (1993)
JACK LEMMON My Fellow Americans (1996)
JACK LEMMON The China Syndrome (1979)
JANE FONDA The China Syndrome (1979)
JANE FONDA The Electric Horseman (1979)
JESSICA LANGE Country (1984)
JESSICA TANDY Cocoon (1985)
JESSICA TANDY Cocoon: The Return (1988)
JOANNE WOODWARD Harry & Son (1984)
JODIE FOSTER The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
JOEL GREY REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS (1985)
JOHN WAYNE True Grit (1969)
JON VOIGHT Eternity (1990)
KEVIN KLINE In & Out (1997)
KIM BASINGER The Natural (1984)
MARY STEENBURGEN Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)
MARY STEENBURGEN End of the Line (1987)
MAUREEN STAPLETON Cocoon (1985)
MAUREEN STAPLETON Cocoon: The Return (1988)
MICHAEL DOUGLAS The China Syndrome (1979)
MORGAN FREEMAN Brubaker (1980)
MORGAN FREEMAN Harry & Son (1984)
PAUL NEWMAN Absence of Malice (1981)
PAUL NEWMAN Harry & Son (1984)
ROBERT DUVALL Lawman (1971)
ROBERT DUVALL Tender Mercies (1983)
ROBERT DUVALL The Natural (1984)
ROBERT DUVALL The Stone Boy (1984)
ROBERT DUVALL True Grit (1969)
SALLY FIELD Absence of Malice (1981)
Quite Simply I loved Wilfred as a character actor especially in The Natural and Absence of Malice. In the latter he had a great one-liner that I will never forget. He has been appointed to conduct an enquiry into mishandling of government affairs coupled with controversial/misleading newspaper articles and carrying his briefcase and glaring agressively around him he walks into the room where the potential culprits are all gathered.
He gives them a short speech on his remit there and concludes by saying “And let me tell you that when I leave this room again I’m going to be carrying with me someone’s a** in this bag!” pointing to the briefcase as he speaks.
Wilford appeared in some 23 television productions [1974-2011] according to Wikipedia; and Celebrity Net Worth site says he has left behind a net fortune of $8 million. He had been lined up for a mystery drama called Cellophane in which he was to co-star with Joanne Whalley. It is at pre-production stage. He was a close friend of Robert Duvall [See also Cogerson Possibly Interesting Fact No 4 above.]
RIP character-acting Giant!