Tom Berenger's
10 Best Performances

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  1. Platoon (1986)

  2. If anyone got robbed of an Oscar, it's Tom Berenger. What I love about his character Barnes (the scar on his face is awesome, adding a dimension to his personality) is how he's converted into an invincible demigod to his men. Chris Taylor perfectly sums him up when he complains, "People like Barnes just go on making up the rules any way they want." It's what led to Elias' demise because Barnes didn't like how he's gung-ho about doing things the right way.


  3. Major League (1989)

  4. The best baseball picture made, Major League wins points when it comes to the cast, characters, comedy, classic moments, one-liners, and direction. Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Corbin Bernsen, Tom Berenger, James Gammon, Dennis Haysbert, Bob Uecker, and Margaret Whitton are memorable for playing fan favorite "Wild Thing" Rick Vaughn, Willie Mays Hayes, Roger Dorn, Jake Taylor, Lou Brown, Pedro Cerrano, Harry Doyle, and Rachel Phelps, respectively.


  5. Sniper (1993)

  6. Here's another exciting Tom Berenger film: Sniper. A great deal of attention is paid to the accuracy of details and what it's like to be a sniper in the jungle. Nothing is more true than the line "One shot, one kill, no exceptions." Why Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Beckett would endanger his own life by taking along a newbie (Billy Zane) is something I'll never understand.


  7. Last of the Dogmen (1995)

  8. If you love Tom Berenger, then you have to see Last of the Dogmen. It has a good story with fantastic cinematography of Montana which was unfortunately shot on location in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and Mexico. This time, it's not inundated with American Indian clichés. In other words, they just get on with the show like The Last of the Mohicans. Tom Berenger is excellent and gets to wear nice clothes for outdoors. He's credible all the way through.


  9. The Big Chill (1983)

  10. Is the music that makes The Big Chill, or is it the chemistry of the cast? Either way, the movie is unforgettable for many reasons. Sure, there's a detectable WASPy vibe emanating from the clique, but if I ignore it by focusing on the chemistry, it becomes apparent how special the film is. Nobody, as great as they all are, steals a scene.


  11. Betrayed (1988)

  12. Picking up where the trail left off from Talk Radio, it's a suspenseful picture that's about a fringe terrorist group of right-wing gun nuts who want to keep America as Christian and white as possible. Tom Berenger, who could've been voted the Sexiest Man Alive in 1988, is perfect for the role as Gary Simmons, a totally normal-looking handsome family man with a messed-up mind.


  13. Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)

  14. Here's an underrated film from Ridley Scott: Someone to Watch Over Me. As always, Tom Berenger makes a movie better with his presence. He's the single reason why I picked it up and doesn't disappoint me one bit. Tom Berenger's chemistry with Mimi Rogers is quite good. I was actually rooting for his character to go with her instead of the wife. Therefore, that's the main dilemma of the film: who to pick.


  15. Last Rites (1988)

  16. A lot of people didn't like Last Rites, which was a massive box-office failure in 1988, but I've enjoyed it. The neo-noir thriller has style and plenty of substance. Any time Tom Berenger stars in a film, it's bound to be entertaining. He's always been a good, handsome actor and can make a mediocre picture better with his presence.


  17. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

  18. The story of Ron Kovic is tragic but all too common. It explores how dangerous idealism can be because when the harsh truth is discovered for the first time, the effect it has on the person can be devastating. By the way, what a job by Tom Berenger when he gave the Marine Corps speech. Only he can pull it off due to his credibility of turning in an Oscar-nominated performance as Sergeant Barnes in Platoon.


  19. The Junction Boys (2002)

  20. The Junction Boys is the story of a ten-day training camp during the summer of 1954 at Junction, Texas, which was hosted by first-year coach Paul "Bear" Bryant for his Aggies of Texas A&M University. Approximately one hundred players showed up, and roughly 30% survived the camp at the end. Tom Berenger, who's the main reason why I agreed to seeing the movie, is perfect for the role.





Honorable Mentions: Love at Large (1990), Shadow of Doubt (1998), Shattered (1991), Body Language (1995), and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
Updated: 3/27/24