Brad Pitt has been in the film industry for decades. In that time, he has achieved a large number of awards. He has established himself as a professional actor and producer. He has also co-founded a production company called Plan B Entertainment, which is known for producing many award-winning films.
Brad Pitt is a celebrated actor with many awards under his belt. He has won an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actor Guild Awards, two Golden Globes, and even a Primetime Emmy Award. These awards are a testament to Pitt’s talent and hard work throughout his career.
In the American film industry, few people are more influential than Brad Pitt. He was considered one of the most handsome men, and people followed his public life closely. Due to his career, his personal life was often a subject of discussion. His marriages, divorces, and other life events were often broadcast to the world.
Brad Pitt has had an extremely successful career. Most of his films have been huge hits and have been critically acclaimed. With every role, he manages to put himself aside and ensure that the audience sees the character he is trying to embody.
He has also had immense success in his career as a producer. Thanks to his production company, the world has witnessed excellent movies such as 12 Years a Slave, Moneyball Selma, The Departed, Moonlight, etc.
By being part of such an array of movies in one way or another, Brad Pitt has hugely impacted the pop culture of the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s.
Impact of Brad Pitt on Pop Culture
Unlike many other actors, Brad Pitt has had a dual impact on pop culture. Not has he been a part of movies as an actor, but he has also produced some of the most iconic and historically significant films. These films have had a huge impact on pop culture and are considered classics and must-watch films even to this day.
Thelma and Louise
Pitt became known as an actor by the general public when he appeared in the hit film, Thelma and Louise. This film was a female buddy road crime film released in 1991; and Ridley Scott was the director, and Callie Khouri wrote it.
The cast of the film includes Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as Thelma and Louise, respectively. These two friends are seen embarking on a road trip that does not go as planned. The supporting cast of this film includes Micheal Madsen, Harvey Keitel, Christopher McDonald, and Brad Pitt.
Upon its release, there were some negative reviews as people believed the movie portrayed a negative view of men, but the film later became a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won the Best Original Screenplay Award.
The Director, Scott, was nominated for best actor, and both main actresses, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon were nominated for Best Actress. Thelma and Louise remain the only movie with two actors nominated for the same category.
Over the years, this movie has become a landmark for feminist films. It has inspired countless other movies to not be afraid to not have the main man and that films could be made with a predominantly female cast.
Furthermore, in 2016, the film was selected to be preserved in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress due to it being either culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to the country.
12 Monkeys
One of Brad Pitt’s first critically acclaimed films includes 12 Monkeys. It is a science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam and inspired by Chris Marker’s short film La Jetée. Released in 1995, the film starred Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Bruce Wills, and Christoper Plummer.
The director’s aim, Gilliam, was to remake La Jetée as a full-length film. To do so, a script has to be written, and this task was entrusted to David and Janet Peoples. When the film was released, it garnered many positive reviews and critical praise.
Furthermore, the film was also nominated for several awards, and it won some as well. Brad Pitt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award. Critics claimed that the cast’s acting was exceptional, and even though the plot was not as concrete, the performances made up for it.
Additionally, it was a box office success, grossing $57.1 million in the US and $111.7million in other countries. 12 Monkeys also held the number 1 spot on box office charts for around two weeks.
Ocean’s Eleven
Brad Pitt’s greatest commercial success came with his role in Ocean’s Eleven, a heist comedy film released in 2001. Steven Soderbergh was the director, while Ted Griffin wrote the script. Ocean’s Eleven is the first film of the Ocean’s franchise and is a remake of a 1960 film with the same cast.
The cast of Ocean’s Eleven includes George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, and Julia Roberts. The plot follows two friends, Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan, played by Clooney and Pitt. These friends are planning a $160 million heist from a casino owner called Terry Benedict, who is also the lover of Ocean’s ex-wife, Tess, played by Julia Robert.
When released, the film was a huge success commercially and critically. It was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2001, grossing $450 million worldwide. The success of this film helped the Ocean franchise grow. Over the years, many different Ocean movies have been released, greatly impacting pop culture due to their popularity.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Brad Pitt cemented himself as an actor or lead man in movies by taking on the role of Mr. Smith in the blockbuster film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, released in 2005.
The film was an American romantic comedy revolving around an upper-class married couple working secretively for competing for assassination agencies. The plot thickens when both of them have been tasked with killing the other one.
Doug Liman was the film director, and Simon Kinberg wrote the script. The film’s cast includes Pitt as Mr. Smith, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody, etc. Upon its release on June 10, 2005, the film was a critical and commercial success, and it grossed $487 million worldwide.
Many critics also praised the film and especially the acting. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had excellent chemistry on camera, and they got a sense of each other’s rhythm and worked perfectly together.
Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Smith has become a classic film that everyone needs to watch at least once. It has greatly impacted the pop culture of the 2000s and has inspired many movies within the genre.
World War Z
World War Z could be considered one of the most impactful films in pop culture. Released in 2013, this action horror film took the world by storm. Marc Forster was the director who worked alongside Mathew Micheal Carnahan and Drew Goddard to write the screenplay.
The story is taken from a novel by the same name, written by Carnahan and J. Micheal Straczynski. The cast includes Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Hames Badge Dale, Mathew Fox, Peter Capaldi, etc.
World War Z is produced by Plan B entertainment, Pitt’s production company. Thus, he was involved in making this film successful in more than one way. The story revolves around Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator, as he travels around the world trying to gather clues to prevent a zombie pandemic.
Upon its premiere, the film was a commercial success and grossed over $540 million, making it one of the highest-grossing zombie films. It also won the Best Thriller Film award at the 40th Saturn Awards.
Among the many zombie movies released, World War Z is often hailed as the best one, thanks to the excellent acting and budget. It has made a place for itself in pop culture and remains a brilliant action film.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Brad Pitt did not stick to one genre in his career and took on roles in various movies. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is starkly different from his previous films as it is a comedy-drama released in 2019.
Quentin Tarantino took on the task of directing this film whole many production companies such as Heyday Films, Bona Film Group, Columbia Pictures, and Visiona Romantica came together to make this film possible.
The film’s cast includes Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Margaret Qualley, Austin Butler, Emile Hirsch, etc. The film is set in 1969 Los Angeles; it follows an unsuccessful actor and his stunt double as they try to navigate the ever-changing film industry.
The film succeeded when it premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It grossed over $374 million, making it a commercial success.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood also won many awards. It was also nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won Best Supporting Actor for Pitt and Best Production Design. The film also won many Golden Globes Awards.
12 Years a Slave
Brad Pitt was also an excellent producer and has produced many award-winning films, such as 12 Years a Slave. This film was released in 2013 and is a biographical drama adapted from an 1853 slave memoir.
When the film was released, it received widespread critical acclaim and was hailed as one of the best films released in 2013. Media outlets and critics praised it heavily for the acting and direction. The film has received nine Academy Award Nominations and won Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress.
Later on, the film was also named one of the greatest films released since 2000 in a BBC poll showing just how impactful it was
Moonlight
Moonlight is a coming-of-age film released in 2016 under Brad Pitt’s production company. This film is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished autobiography and presents three stages in the main character’s life.
When released, the movie received universal acclaim, and it was a critical and commercial success, grossing $65 million worldwide. It has been heralded as one of the best films of the 21st century and has even won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay.
Conclusion
Brad Pitt has had an illustrious career in film. He has acted in blockbuster films and even produced some of them, making him an industry staple. Therefore, he has greatly impacted pop culture. Many of his movies have inspired actors, producers, and directors alike as they have become blueprints for certain genres.
Furthermore, Pitt is also a popular figure in entertainment, making him a powerful and influential figure in pop culture.