Prolific film and television star Steve Buscemi is a delightfully entertaining performer who has captivated audiences with his unique on-screen zest. The prominent actor made his debut in the 1985 film The Way It Is, and would subsequently star in beloved ’90s juggernauts like in Quentin Tarintino’s 1992 directorial debut Reservoir Dogs, Oscar-winning Coen brothers picture Fargo, and ultimate ’90s cult classic The Big Lebowski.
Buscemi continued to find immense success in the 2000s, taking on a myriad of film genres and diverse projects from indies like Ghost World to animated blockbusters like Monsters Inc., and headlined the critically acclaimed HBO crime drama Boardwalk Empire. He has established a reputation as a gifted and compelling character actor, and is never afraid to zig instead of zag in the entertainment industry.
Buscemi also enjoys staying behind the camera, having directed four notable pictures, including the acclaimed Trees Lounge (which he also wrote and starred in) and the 2004 dramedy Lonesome Jim. Outside of show business, the star had a completely different career as a former New York firefighter, and returned to his old firehouse the day after the September 11 attacks to volunteer and search through the rubble for missing firefighters. The performer has been the recipient of Emmys, Golden Globes, and SAG Awards, and is a highly-revered presence on both the big and small screen. These are the best Steve Buscemi movies.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Living in Oblivion
Sony Pictures Classics
Tom DiCillo’s 1995 independent dark comedy Living in Oblivion is one of the funniest movies about movies, depicts the making of a low-budget film from director Nick Reve, and showcases the filmmaker’s efforts to complete the picture amidst on-set tension and turmoil. The story is divided into three parts, with a focus on the optimistic and thoughtful Reve as he chases after his Hollywood dreams. Steve Buscemi is brilliant as Reve, showing off his range and comedic chops in the sharp satire.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
DiCillo drew on his own career frustrations and hurdles he experienced while making the film Johnny Suede to develop the premise for the black comedy. Living in Oblivion was rejected by all producers, but the actors and close friends of DiCillo felt so strongly about the project that they joined forces to finance it. Upon its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the flick garnered critical acclaim and praise, with DiCillo winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for his efforts.
8 Con Air
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Featuring the dynamic talent of Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich, the 1997 action thriller Con Air follows newly paroled ex-con and former U.S. Ranger Cameron Poe as he finds himself trapped in a prisoner plane after the criminals seize control. In the adrenaline-pumping film, Steve Buscemi portrays the notorious serial killer Garland “The Marietta Mangler” Greene, a violent and disturbed man who takes advantage of the prison break and plots his own escape.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Con Air was a blockbuster hit and went on to earn over $220 million at the box office, with many praising the electrifying action sequences and the cast’s performances, calling it one of the best Nicolas Cage movies of the ’90s. Variety commended the efforts of director Simon West and screenplay writer Scott Rosenburg for not taking the picture too seriously, saying, “Rosenburg’s sarcastic, tough guy dialogue is full of lean-and-mean one-liners, and the superbly cast actors know how to milk them for all they’re worth.”
7 Monsters Inc.
Buena Vista Pictures
The beloved 2001 Pixar animated comedy Monsters Inc. famously centers on two monsters named James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and his one-eyed partner and best friend Mike Wazowski, who are employed at the titular energy-producing factory, generating its power by scaring human children. When a little girl sneaks into the factory, it’s up to Mike and Sulley to return her home before their fellow monsters catch on.
The charming and playful flick stars a plethora of big name stars including John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Jennifer Tilly, and Steve Buscemi, and the idea for the premise of the picture came out of a brainstorming session during the near completion of Toy Story. One of the group’s animators Peter Docter drew on his experience while working on that film, saying, “When Disney asked us to do some more films, I wanted to tap into a childlike notion that was similar to that. I knew monsters were coming out of my closet when I was a kid. So I said, “Hey, let’s do a film about monsters.” Monsters Inc. was a critical and commercial hit, and went on to spawn the 2012 prequel Monsters University and Disney+ television seriesMonsters at Work.
6 Desperado
Sony Pictures Releasing
One of the best Robert Rodriguez movies, and the second installment of his Mexico Trilogy, 1995’s neo-Western action flick Desperado stars Antonio Banderas as former musician and gunslinger El Mariachi, who seeks revenge against the local drug kingpin and his gang who murdered his lover. Steve Buscemi cheekily appears as the character Buscemi, an American man at the Tarasco bar who tells the harrowing story of witnessing a massacre at another bar; he provides valuable insight and advice on how to handle the ruthless drug lord Cesar “Bucho.”
The small but important role helps propel the film forward, as El Mariachi is determined to hunt down Bucho at all costs and uses Buscemi’s knowledge to do so. Desperado helped establish the careers of Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayek, with the rousing picture serving as the latter’s breakout performance. The final chapter and film in the Mexico Trilogy was 2003’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico, in which both Banderas and Hayek appeared onscreen with Johnny Depp.
5 The Death of Stalin
Entertainment One Films
Armando Iannucci’s 2017 political satire dark comedy The Death of Stalin depicts the internal social and political power struggle among the Council of Ministers in the aftermath of the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1953. For the sharp and riotous movie, Steve Buscemi portrays Nikita Khrushchev, the chairman of the country’s Council of Ministers and one of the many parasitic cronies attempting to rise to power in the leaderless government. On being cast as the historical figure, Buscemi expressed how intimidating yet exciting the project was, revealing, “The key to him was that he was fighting for survival; if you messed up in this world, it could mean your life. I was a bit intimidated at first. But honestly, if something scares you, then it’s probably good to do it.”
The Death of Stalin was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews, with critics and audiences praising the picture for its witty and savvy performances and clever script. Buscemi was nominated for a British Independent FIlm Award for his knockout delivery as Khrushev; the New York Times described his portrayal as “superb," in one of the best movies about politics.
4 Ghost World
United Artists
Based on the Daniel Clowes comic book of the same name, the 2001 dark comedy Ghost World follows the lives of Enid and Rebecca, two outcast teenagers who face a rift in their relationship when one of them becomes infatuated with the romantic life of an older man. Thora Birch and a young Scarlett Johansson headline the cynical and angsty comedic flick, with Steve Buscemi starring as the offbeat and, lonely middle-aged Seymour whom Enid befriends despite Rebecca’s concerns.
The actor is outstanding as the gentle, self-deprecating isolated bachelor longing for more in his life, and for his performance Buscemi swept the awards season, earning numerous accolades from The Boston Society of Film Critics and Independent Spirit Awards among many others. Though it had little box office impact, Ghost World was critically acclaimed and has since developed a cult following; Empire ranked the film in their “The 20 Greatest Comic Book Movies” list.
3 Fargo
Gramercy Pictures
From the genius minds of directing duo Ethan and Joel Coen comes the 1996 black comedy crime film Fargo, taking place in 1987 Minnesota and focusing on a desperate car salesman’s frenzied attempts to extort money from his wealthy father-in-law. He hires two criminals to kidnap his wife, but the plan goes awry when the thugs shoot a state trooper, prompting a pregnant police chief to investigate the homicide.
The epic crime drama has an A-list cast including Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, and Steve Buscemi, with the latter appearing as the hired criminal Carl Showalter, collaborating once again with the Coen brothers after co-starring in 1991’s Barton Fink. His portrayal of the squirrelly, erratic Showalter helped establish Buscemi as an incredibly gifted character actor; the edgy part was specifically written for the actor. Fargo won Joel Coen the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as nabbing two Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay. A Coen-produced FX television show of the same name premiered in 2014 to widespread praise, and has been renewed for season five.
2 The Big Lebowski
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Steve Buscemi once again teamed up with the Coen brothers for the iconic 1998 darkk comedy The Big Lebowski, which follows ultimate L.A. slacker and avid bowler Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski as he is mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, and is tasked with delivering the ransom money to secure the release of the wealthy man’s wife. When the Dude’s bowling buddy schemes to keep the cash, he finds himself swept up in the city’s dangerous underworld.
Considered one of the best Coen brothers films, and with beloved performances by Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi (among countless others), The Big Lebowski has developed a cult following since its initial release, being heralded for its eccentric characters, unique dialogue and comedic dream sequences. The comedy’s eclectic soundtrack also helped set the standard for future works, with Variety singling out the Coen’s choice of music: “One of the film’s indisputable triumphs is its soundtrack, which mixes Carter Burwell’s original score with classic pop tunes and some fabulous covers.” An annual festival, Lebowski Fest, began in Louisville, Kentucky in 2002 and has since expanded to other cities, with many of the picture’s stars appearing.
1 Reservoir Dogs
Miramax Films
The highly-respected Quentin Tarantino made his feature-length debut with the 1992 crime drama Reservoir Dogs, which follows a group of diamond thieves whose planned heist goes terribly wrong when one of the men turns out to be a police informant. The film illustrates the events leading up to the ill-fated crime and its immediate aftermath, without ever showing the incident itself. Steve Buscemi appears on-screen with Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, and Chris Penn, playing the pseudonymous criminal and motormouth Mr. Pink, a role that Tarantino initially wrote for himself. Keitel pushed the director to give New York actors a chance to read for the parts, which is how Buscemi nabbed the iconic role.
He told the Hollywood Reporter, “Mr. Pink opened the door for me. From those opening credits and putting the names to the faces was huge. I was able to get a lot more work because of it.” Reservoir Dogs is heavily regarded as a classic of independent film and a cult staple, and was named “Greatest Independent Film of All Time” by Empire magazine. The crime flick achieved higher popularity following the release of Tarantino’s next cinematic wonder, 1994’s Pulp Fiction.
