The Best Brad Pitt Movies To Stream On Netflix Right Now

It’s a common complaint that Brad Pitt’s World War Z is nothing like the book, and that’s true. So, if you were a fan of Max Brooks’ apocalyptic novel and hope to see a faithful adaptation on Netflix, you’re out of luck. But if you were a fan of the book, you should have already known that the novel wasn’t really a candidate for a faithful adaptation unless you want a film that looks like multiple episodes of 60 Minutes strung together. 

But while it failed as an adaptation of the popular book, it did succeed at being an oddly compelling zombie film that focused on the worldwide effects of a zombie outbreak and the global attempts to stop it. Brad Pitt’s performance was widely praised, and critics enjoyed a film that took a more realistic take on what the spread of flesh-eating undead monsters would do to the world. Fans of the genre would do well to stream this on Netflix. 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is about a man who ages in reverse — starting out old and wrinkly and getting younger as time goes on. It’s based on a book by The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald, but the screenplay is by Forrest Gump writer Eric Roth — and the similarities between the two films are more than apparent. However, that doesn’t stop the film from being enjoyable or Brad Pitt from doing a fantastic job in an unusual role. 

While Forrest Gump is definitely the better of the two Eric Roth films, the offbeat premise, unusual sense of humor, and oddly emotional content in Benjamin Button means it’s still well worth watching on Netflix. Brad Pitt lovers will no doubt enjoy watching their favorite star get younger and younger as the years pass.

No, War Machine isn’t about Iron Man’s more military-focused counterpart, played by Don Cheadle. Rather, The 2017 Netflix satire is based on the novel  The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan. The film stars Brad Pitt as four-star General Glen McMahon, an over-the-top personality who is sent into Afghanistan to develop a strategy to win the ongoing war.

The movie does have an uneven tone thanks to what seems like indecision on Netflix’s part about how to portray the conflict, which was still ongoing at the time of the film’s release. However, Brad Pitt’s bombastic performance alone makes the film worth watching, creating a character on par with Inglorious Basterds’ Lieutenant Aldo Raine. If you want nothing more than to watch Brad Pitt chew the scenery for two hours to the backdrop of the war on terror, this movie is exactly what you’re looking for.

The oldest movie on this list, the 1994 epic western Legends of the Fall, based on the 1979 novella of the same name by Jim Harrison, is a bit of a tearjerker. The film stars Brad Pitt as Tristan Ludlow, the rebellious middle son of a Colonel who leaves the military after getting disillusioned by how the government treats Native Americans. The film’s plot involves Tristan and his younger brother Samuel joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I. Samuel gets himself killed (as is tradition for World War I soldiers), leaving behind his fiance with his much better-looking brother.

Things play out how you would expect in as melodramatic a way as possible, but Brad Pitt manages to elevate the film into something quite memorable. His performance alongside future Benjamin Button co-star Julia Ormond and Westworld star Anthony Hopkins makes the film worth booting up Netflix for. 

The newest Brad Pitt film in Netflix’s library, Bullet Train, is a high-octane action thriller that demonstrates Pitt still has what it takes to be an action star. Directed by David Leitch, known for his work on John Wick and Deadpool 2, this movie takes place aboard a speeding train where Brad Pitt plays an assassin who is stuck on a train with other deadly assassins.

The stunts, action, and frenetic pace make the film a nonstop thrill ride, and watching Brad Pitt starring in an action-focused role for the first time since 2014’s Fury seems like a welcome change of pace for the longtime star. His character’s charisma works well with the tension and action sequences, resulting in a movie that will keep his fans hooked. If you love Brad Pitt, have a Netflix, and haven’t seen Bullet Train, then you’re missing out.