10 Greatest Films of Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell was born in Massachusetts in 1951. His father was an actor and his mother a dancer, so it was no surprise he entered the business as a child. His first film role was a small part in the the 1963 Elvis film It Happened at the World’s Fair.

He worked very steadily throughout his adolescence and teen years in film and television. He developed a friendship with Walt Disney and became Walt’s go to kid for opinions on what kids would think of a product.

In 1984, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in Silkwood.

10. Used Cars (1980) — Kurt Russell and Jack Warden star in this black comedy about competing used car salesmen.

“Manuel, this is a picture of 250 cars. I can’t make a deal on a picture. Take these around back and I’ll think of something.” — Rudy

9. Elvis (1979) — A respectful, if somewhat overly focused on psychology, telling of the rise and establishment of the king. Shelley Winters plays Gladys Presley and Kurt’s father Bing plays Vernon Presley. This is the first of five collaborations between Russell and director John Carpenter.

8. Backdraft (1991) — a visually beautiful look at fire and the people that fight it. Ron Howard directed this film that has an outstanding cast including Kurt, Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, and Scott Glenn.

“Brian… its not about being a hero. I went in because there was a kid up there. You know, I just, I do what I do because that’s my way. And it was Dad’s way. Maybe it’s not everybody’s way.” — Steven McCaffrey

7. Escape from New York (1981) — an over the top action film in which the island of Manhattan has become a maximum security prison. The President is hostage of the criminals and only a criminal, played by Russell, can get him out.

“When I get back, I’m going to kill you.” — Snake Plissken

6. Miracle (2004) — In the 1980 Olympics, an unconventional coach took his team to an unexpected victory. The Russians had won Gold at six of the previous seven Olympics and were expected to do so again. The American team delivered the “miracle on ice” and defeated them. Kurt Russell plays Coach Herb Brooks.

“Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? YES!” — Al Michaels

5. The Thing (1982) — a tense sci-fi/horror film about people under attack from a creature in Antarctica.

“Somebody in this camp ain’t what he appears to be. Right now that may be one or two of us. By spring, it could be all of us.” — MacReady

4. Bone Tomahawk (2015) — this western horror was a pleasant surprise. Out of nowhere it appeared with its wonderful cast of Kurt Russell, Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and David Arquette.

A woman and a deputy are abducted. A posse sets out to rescue them and finds itself under attack from cannibals. Horrific and fun.

“Pain is how your body talks to you. You’d do well to listen to it.” — Sheriff Hunt

3. The Hateful Eight (2015) — Violent. Nihilistic. Sensational. Funny. Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film is what one would expect — a brutal homage to film of an earlier time with brilliant dialogue and fascinating fully fleshed characters. Tarantino clearly wrote a lot of this film around his good luck charm, Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson gets to shine center stage playing bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren. He is well supported by Kurt Russell (star of two great westerns this year), Bruce Dern, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and the wonderful Walton Goggins (Boyd Crowder from Justified). The film looks beautiful in its 70mm panoramic views.

“Oh, you believe in Jesus now, huh, bitch? Good, ’cause you ‘bout to meet him!” — Major Marquis Warren

2. Silkwood (1983) — Mike Nichols directed this based on real events story of Karen Silkwood, a whistleblower at a nuclear power plant. But the film is more about the people involved than it is about the events. It’s a story about working class employees of a company that happens to commit negligence with nuclear materials.

Meryl Streep brilliantly creates a real, flawed, and interesting fully realized character out of the woman from the headlines. She is well supported by Kurt Russell and Cher.

“I remember in high school her saying, ‘Now what’d you want to take that science class for? There’s no girls in that science class. You take home ec, why don’t you? That’s the way to meet the nice boys.’ ‘Mom,’ I said, There ain’t no boys in home ec. The boys are in the science class.’ She hated when I said, ‘Ain’t.’” — Karen Silkwood

1. Tombstone (1993) — personally, I prefer the Kevin Costner version from that following year. This one is more fun, though. Kurt Russell plays legendary lawman Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer plays Doc Holliday.

“You tell ’em I’M coming… and hell’s coming with me, you hear?” — Wyatt Earp

Other films considered for this list include: Swing Shift, Big Trouble in Little China, Sky High, Overboard, and Stargate. What would make your list?