Best Buddy Films List
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Last Updated: 6/28/25
Note:
It's simple and straightforward: the best of the best in buddy cinema history. In order to qualify, the film
has received a rating of at least '7' from me and then must also meet the following criteria:
1. There's strong chemistry among characters on the platonic level.
2. Comradeship is heavily pronounced throughout.
Multiple parts (i.e. duology, trilogy, etc.) can be put together as one if there's a continuation in the
narrative. Miniseries and telefilms are fair game, but anything made after the year 2000 and documentaries
are excluded.
These films have shown brilliance in most, if not all, aspects: acting, characters, screenplay, plot, direction,
editing, cinematography, and so on. They must also be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Then, I think about cultural phenomenon, uniqueness, famous movie moments, iconic scenes and/or lines, cinematic
power, and timelessness.
This list is based on what I have seen so far and is limited to the top 40 with 5 honorable mentions in that
order and some notable exceptions to the rule. While ranking the films, I am simultaneously thinking
about buddy before quality and quality before buddy.
You won't find two more handsome guys in the same film than Paul Newman and Robert Redford for
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It's the most famous picture of their careers. The finale is
brilliant when their characters are surrounded by the Bolivian army and they're ready to come out with their
guns blazing.
There are hundreds of them, but Lethal Weapon is the best buddy cop film of all time. The chemistry
between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson is terrific. It's what makes the movie. One is pretty good for a detective
although he's a big believer in "do as little as possible and, more importantly, stay alive," and the other is
a true lethal weapon. The next two sequels are funny as Joe Pesci and Rene Russo are added into the mix.
Benefitting from Frank Darabont's well-written screenplay and powerful direction, Tim Robbins' and Morgan
Freeman's performances help lift the film off the ground and let it fly like the human spirit. If anything,
it's the Red's voice-over narration that makes The Shawshank Redemption so good. Roger Deakins'
cinematography gives the film a special feel as it enters the classic territory.
Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman give the best performances of their careers. They'll be forever remembered for
this film. Midnight Cowboy is a study of human nature: the hopes, the broken dreams, the disillusionment,
the desperation, the suffering, the loneliness, and the loss of innocence. They're all brilliantly read on
Jon Voight's face. The "I'm walkin' here! I'm walkin' here!" scene is priceless.
Nancy Drew... Detective and the following three sequels are charming whodunnit mystery pictures with
great lines. Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas are excellent together and deserve Oscar nominations. It's
difficult to beat their chemistry. A lot of the action they generate is just pure old-fashioned fun.
"An astonishing work of art and an overpowering motion picture experience" is how one Los Angeles Times
critic described Easy Rider. Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson will always be identified
with this film. Entering the Deep South, the tragic ending is memorable because of what George Hanson said:
"They're scared of what you represent to 'em. What you represent to them is freedom."
In comparison with other children's films, nothing beats The Goonies. Unparalleled are the acting,
dialogue, sense of humor, premise, fantasy, creativity, comedy, and action-adventure. Of the child stars,
Corey Feldman does an exceptional job. As for the rest of the cast, they're natural. The Goonies has
it all that you can possibly want in a children's film.
There's something nostalgic about American Graffiti whether it's the cars, the cruises, the drive-ins,
the rock 'n' roll music, the 50-60's feel, the innocence, or the characters. One thing that's undeniable is
it's a timeless classic with a great cast of characters who are engaged in random events. Take away any of
them, and American Graffiti ceases to be the picture as it is.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is primarily a performance-driven film. There's no doubt that Jack
Nicholson and Louise Fletcher are iconic as Randle McMurphy and Nurse Ratched, respectively. As for the
supporting cast, it's impressive, considering the film was made in 1975. Everybody wasn't aware of who Danny
DeVito and Christopher Lloyd were at the time with both going on to achieve more fame in a TV show called
Taxi. Brad Dourif, Sydney Lassick, and Will Sampson are excellent as well.
Tango & Cash still doesn't get the respect it deserves, featuring one of the most electrifying
on-screen chemistry between Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone. They're like fire and kerosene. Put these
two together, and the screen ignites. The comedy works because of the way they feed off each other so well.
James Caan and Billy Dee Williams...they're unforgettable in Brian's Song which is among the greatest,
most powerful movies ever made. It's also one of the saddest, proving that a made-for-TV picture with a simple
moving story is infinitely better than a pointless violent film with an overblown budget.
The best baseball picture made, Major League wins points when it comes to the cast, characters, comedy,
classic moments, one-liners, and direction. The ending is excellent. Who can forget Charlie Sheen, Wesley
Snipes, and Tom Berenger as the Wild Thing, Willie Mays Hayes, and Jake Taylor, respectively?
Planes, Trains & Automobiles is an all-time classic that's relatable for everybody, no matter what
decade it's viewed in. Scoring high in comedy, it's almost a laugh-a-minute all the way through. There are
many funny scenes and one-liners involving John Candy. Both he and Steve Martin have called
Planes, Trains & Automobiles their favorite movie they've done. Honestly, there's not a single flaw in it.
Tex is among top three films of Matt Dillon's career. When the two high school girls saw Tex at the mall
and walked away, one of them said, "God, he is so cute." It's true. At age 18, there's no question that Matt Dillon
was one of the best-looking young actors in Hollywood history. More importantly, he could act. It was all too easy
for him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, direct from Hell, Spinal Tap!!" Genius is written all over this film, one of the funniest
ever. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer are brilliant. Many viewers thought the English band
was real, and they got fooled big time. That's how convincing these actors were. To think of the movie is to
think of the timeless quotes and scenes.
The best way to think of The Wild Bunch is "honor among thieves." If there's a film that represents Sam
Peckinpah the most, it's this one. The editing is amazing. There are some scenes that are stirring and passionate.
The display of violence is unbelievable and is best described as poetic.
Don't get me wrong: I like The Big Chill and think of it as a classic of the genre. But let's give proper
credit where it's due: Return of the Secaucus 7 is the original. There are so many similarities between
them that there's no way that Lawrence Kasdan couldn't have seen it.
They don't make movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial anymore. The 80's was the decade of E.T. with the
dolls, Reese's Pieces, Atari game cartridges, and VHS tapes being all over the place. It was impossible to escape
them. The story is unique and can easily hit all people of any age. Two most famous moments are
when Elliott and E.T. start to fly through the air on the BMX bike and be in front of the moon.
The Man Who Would Be King is first-rate entertainment at the hands of John Huston. Do not ever expect
anything less from him because he always has a great yarn to tell. Michael Caine and Sean Connery deliver some
of the best acting of their careers. The ending puts the final stamp on the film's greatness.
Full of brilliant writing and brilliant acting, M*A*S*H is the best and most intelligent comedy film
ever made. The ensemble cast is unbelievable, playing unforgettable characters. So are the scenes which are
so funny. No wonder why this one spawned a highly successful TV show.
The Monster Squad is one of the all-time great children's films with a delicious mix of horror and comedy.
Fascinating is how well it bridges the gap, giving something for everybody: horror fans, comedy fans, children,
and adults. The best part is putting together the five most famous movie monsters from Universal Studios in one
film: Count Dracula, Wolf Man, Mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Is the music the reason that makes The Big Chill, or is it the chemistry of the cast? Either way, the
movie is unforgettable for many reasons. Sometimes, I hoped for a clear explanation as to why Alex committed
suicide, but after getting no answers, I suppose it doesn't matter. What does is the group getting together
to remind each other of what's important in life.
"A team is not a team if you don't give a damn about each other." Because of the South Korea national
karate team's training montage, Best of the Best is a tremendous rush. Standouts include Eric Roberts,
Chris Penn, Simon Rhee, and James Earl Jones. The ultimate match is what the film is about.
There are few films that are as exciting and inspiring as Point Break. I bet if anyone watched the
movie just once, he may have entertained some thoughts about changing his entire lifestyle. Bodhi perfectly
describes the truth-seeking experience: "Pure adrenaline, right?!? The ultimate rush. Other guys snort for
it, jab a vein for it...all you gotta do is jump." Sounds pretty simple, eh? Patrick Swayze did the skydiving
stunts and is thus captivating. It's easy to realize it in Johnny Utah's eyes when he saw what Bodhi could do.
Talk about two actors making something out of nothing. Scarecrow mostly reminds me of Midnight Cowboy.
Everybody is dumb but has character. First half is dominated by Gene Hackman, and then, Al Pacino takes
over during the second half. They both finish the film at a high but somber note. It's about relationships and
earning respect. Yes, this one takes a while to get there, but once it does, you'll be hooked.
This one shows everybody why Eric Roberts is among the finest American actors. The Big Chill for
homosexuals, It's My Party is a wonderfully directed picture by Randal Kleiser with one of the best
collection of performances by an ensemble cast. It presents a perfect case of why there's nothing wrong with
suicide so one can die with dignity.
Memphis Belle is excellent which depicts the job that bomber crews went through during World War II.
It's a dramatic show because their lives were at stake to serve their country. There's no glamorization at work;
it's just a set of straightforward facts of how the job was done. I like the star-studded cast, and there's a
nice deal of teamwork. The final hour is very exciting.
The very first film to be released on DVD in the United States, Twister is purely
on-the-edge-of-your-seat entertainment and is famous for one scene: the flying cow. It's cool to see that
which does happen for real. So are the scenes when tornadoes are happening and trucks are riding alongside them.
The ending is poignant when Casper asked: "Jesus Christ, what happened?" Shocking, edgy, raw, and real,
Kids is still a highly relevant picture. The situation depicted may be extreme, but there's a point
being made. I love how the characters come to a full circle, beginning with Telly infecting Jennie with AIDS
and ending with Casper getting the virus by raping Jennie.
Every Which Way But Loose is a one hundred percent pure cult flick. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes
it's serious, and most of the time, it's just plain old good fun. The best part is the relationship between
Clint Eastwood and Clyde the orangutan. The film is littered with many funny scenes, especially the one with
Philo dropping a set of fake teeth in a soup before the snobbish college girl discovers it.
Apart from setting the trend of summer blockbuster film releases, Jaws' greatest legacy is making people
think of the shark whenever they go for a swim in the ocean. Hence, Steven Spielberg was genius for not showing
it for a long while. When the shark finally comes, watch out!
In the vein of And Then There Were None, Predator is one of the best sci-fi horror pictures of all
time and is a hell of a ride. This is about muscles, guns, and blowing up things. Arnold Schwarzenegger is
unforgettable as Major Dutch. So are his lines: "Get to da choppa!!!" and "If it bleeds, we can kill it."
Welcome back, B movies of the sci-fi genre. Tremors is a big treat that's 25% funny and 75% horror. It's
at once thrilling and scary in the vein of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward
are excellent together with the rest of the supporting cast playing engaging characters. Unlike many others,
Tremors lays down the rules and faithfully follows them to the end. Hence, there are no dumb moments.
Thanks to Eddie Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop is great fun. His character Axel Foley from Detroit arrives
in Beverly Hills, and all the crazy things start to happen like getting thrown out of the store through the
glass window and being busted for disturbing the peace. Hard to forget are the two dudes in Michael Jackson
jackets, Axel pretending to be Ramon at the Harrow Club, the banana incident, the stripper club scene, and
the super-cop theory. The sequel holds up well, too.
The editing work of the dogfighting scenes is the best in any film. There are many great movie moments: Tom
Cruise on his bike while an F-14 Tomcat is taking off, when he arrives at the female instructor's house, the
whole volleyball match with Rossovich flexing his muscles, the piano scene at Kansas City Barbeque, and an F-14
Tomcat buzzing the tower. Top Gun makes joining the U.S. Navy to be a fighter pilot a very cool thing to do.
The Sandlot was already a classic baseball picture when it first came out in 1993. The story is creative.
All of the child actors are natural, and they can play baseball, too. There are nice random moments from time
to time to make the film memorable.
Toy Soldiers is The Goonies meets Die Hard. This time, the boys are more grown up and
attend an elite prep high school. The story is great, so is the battle. Sean Astin is once again in the leading
role while Andrew Divoff steals the show as Luis Cali who makes for a formidable adversary since Hans Gruber.
The Back to the Future trilogy is a great, fun journey with many zany scenes and superb performances. I
love the characters, the stories, and the uniqueness of the incidents and how one specific moment can change
history. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd will always be memorable as Marty McFly (what a cool name) and
Doc Brown, respectively.
Brilliant and haunting, The Last Picture Show is a timeless motion picture about individuals growing up
in a dying Texas town. Robert Surtees' black-and-white photography has never looked better. Then, there's the
ensemble cast: the old-timers and those who'll go on to be famous.
It can't be any more dramatic than the scene when Tre yelled out to Ricky after the sight of the red Hyundai
Excel. Simply put, Boyz n the Hood is the game changer of the genre and sets the standard that all black
films are forever burdened to match. Of the ensemble cast, Ice Cube is unbeatable as Doughboy.
Honorable Mentions:
Glory (1989),
Bonnie and Clyde (1967),
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986),
The Untouchables (1987),
and
The Abyss (1989)
Notable Exceptions:
Bully (2001),
Party Monster (2003),
Thirteen (2003),
and
Wassup Rockers (2005)