24 great films and one TV series with Matthew McConaughey

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

This versatile actor turned 51 on November 4. Lifehacker recalls his best roles.

1. High and confused

• USA, 1993.
• Comedy
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

The action takes place in a small town in 1976. The plot tells several stories of graduates at once on the last day of training. It's the seventies, which means sex, drugs and rock and roll.

McConaughey was lucky to play his first notable role in the excellent director Richard Linklater. And even though his hero is only one of many here, and his partners are Ben Affleck and Milla Jovovich, an excellent start to his acting career was given.

2. Time to kill

• USA, 1996.
• Crime, drama, thriller.
• Duration: 149 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

In Clanton, two white guys raped a black girl. Upon learning that they could be released on bail, the victim's father killed both of the accused. And now he himself must appear before the court. Lawyer Jake Brigens undertakes to defend him But the defender will have to confront not only the prosecutor, but also the representatives of the Ku Klux Klan, who have arrived in a quiet city.

Despite the fact that in the future, Matthew McConaughey had a whole period when many perceived him exclusively as a hero of romantic comedies, already at the dawn of his career he showed that he was able to play truly dramatic roles. And the image of the lawyer Brigens is a vivid confirmation of this.

3. Contact

• USA, 1997.
• Drama, mysticism, fantasy.
• Duration: 150 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Ellie Arroway has been trying to catch a signal from extraterrestrial civilizations for many years. And finally he receives the long-awaited information, which, among other things, contains instructions for building an unusual apparatus. After testing him, Ellie comes into contact with aliens. But the trouble is that on Earth everyone considers this to be a hoax. Allie believes only fellow scientist Palmer Jos.

4. Amistad

• USA, 1997.
• Drama, historical.
• Duration: 155 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

A mutiny broke out on a Spanish ship carrying slaves from Cuba. The rebels killed almost the entire team, but could not get home and ended up in America. And now they must be judged: on the one hand, the slaves can be returned to Spain, on the other, they can be made free. But initially everything adjusts in favor of the accusation. And then Roger Baldwin undertakes to defend the defendants.

And another judicial drama, where McConaughey played the defender of blacks, only this time in a historical setting and in a plot based on real events.

5. The Newton brothers

• USA, 1998.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

Four brothers from the South got tired of living in poverty and once decided that they wanted easy money. As a result, the Newtons robbed 80 banks in the northern states of America, and then decided to commit the largest robbery of their life.

6. Ed from the TV

• USA, 1999.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

Once TV producers decided to make a reality show about the life of an ordinary person. So Ed became the protagonist of his own TV show. At first, the ratings were very low, because there are few bright events in his life. However, each dramatic event makes the show more and more popular, and Ed no longer knows how to get rid of the cameras constantly watching him.

Here you can find many analogies to the movie "The Truman Show", but still "Ed from TV" more realistically shows our world, where privacy is increasingly becoming public.

7. U-571

• USA, France, 2000.
• Drama, military.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

The Second World War. The team of an American submarine receives a secret mission: to disguise themselves as fascists and infiltrate a German submarine to understand data encryption. But when the task is almost completed, the Americans are attacked, and several of them remain on the enemy submarine.

8. Vice

• USA, Germany, 2001.
• Drama, crime, thriller.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

An FBI agent is investigating a series of mysterious murders. One day a stranger comes to him and tells the story of his family: his father killed people, claiming that demons settled in them, and urging his children to join his cause. But only the youngest son listened to him.

9. Power of fire

• USA, UK, Ireland, 2002.
• Action, adventure, fantasy.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

During the laying of a subway line, workers accidentally wake up a dragon that has fallen into a long hibernation. And from that moment on, the world changes: small groups of people are cut off from the benefits of civilization and hardly survive, hiding from dragons. But one day, an American shooter appears who claims to know a way to defeat them. And a group of his followers embarks on a dangerous journey.

10. How to get rid of a guy in 10 days

• USA, 2003.
• A romantic comedy.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Journalist Andy Anderson wants to write a column on how not to behave with a man. She plans to fall in love with a random stranger and have him leave her in 10 days. And at the same time, Ben Barry makes a bet with his boss that he will build a relationship with a girl in the same 10 days. Of course, their paths will cross.

One of the many romantic comedies featuring McConaughey. The actor knows how to reincarnate in an amazing way, and in such light and charming roles in him it is difficult to recognize the hero of dramas and action films.

11. Money for two

• USA, 2005.
• Drama, sports, thriller.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

After injury, former footballer Brandon moonlights by predicting match results. Businessman Walter invites him to develop this business, and now the rates exceed millions of dollars. But a lucrative job quickly turns into a real nightmare for Brandon.

12. Sugar

• Great Britain, Spain, Germany, USA, 2005.
• Adventure, comedy.
• Duration: 124 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 0.

Researcher Dirk Pitt sets out with his friend on a journey to find the mysterious "death ship". During the search, they meet with Dr. Eva Rojas, who is trying to figure out the causes of the epidemic that engulfed the region. And now only this trinity can stop the spread of a dangerous disease.

13. We are one team

• USA, 2006.
• Drama, sports.
• Duration: 131 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

In 1970, the American football team from the city of Huntington crashed in a plane crash. Young coach Jack Lengjel is trying to help the townspeople survive this tragedy and assembles a new football team.

14. Love and other troubles

• USA, 2006.
• A romantic comedy.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 5, 6.

Tripp is already in his 30s, but he still lives with his parents. Every time he is hinted that it is time to move, he has reasons to stay. And then the parents decide to hire a specialist - a beautiful girl who motivates him to become independent.

15. Fool's gold

• USA, 2008.
• Adventure, comedy.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 5, 7.

Finn has been trying to find the treasures of the sunken Spanish ship for eight years. And at that moment, when he already has the first leads, his wife Tess leaves him, and the boss deprives him of funding. But Finn still reunites with his wife and continues to search. True, now he has competitors - mercenaries working for a former sponsor.

16. Ghosts of ex-girlfriends

• USA, 2009.
• A romantic comedy.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 5, 8.

Connor Mead wants to imitate his uncle, a dissolute ladies' man. He falls in love with women and abandons them, completely without thinking about the consequences. But one day the ghost of his uncle appears to Connor, and then the ghosts of his friends - they want to revive his faith in true love and show how he looks from the outside.

17. Lincoln for a lawyer

• USA, 2011.
• Drama, crime, thriller.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Lucky lawyer Mickey Holler easily achieves an acquittal for his client - a rich man who attacked a prostitute. But he realizes that something is wrong in this case, and he himself is trying to bring his client to clean water. Soon, real danger looms over Holler himself.

18. Killer Joe

• USA, 2011.
• Drama, crime, thriller.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Petty drug dealer Chris finds out that in the event of the death of his mother, his sister will receive large insurance. All family members plot to kill the mother and hire a hitman. But since they do not have an advance, he takes a deposit - Chris's sister.

19. Mad

• USA, 2012.
• Drama.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Two schoolchildren, walking along the river, find a boat stuck in the branches of a tree. And soon they meet its owner - this is Mad, who was forced to commit murder and is now hiding from the bounty hunters. Children are taken to help him with the repair of the boat.

20. Dallas Buyers Club

• USA, 2013.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The film is based on the true story of electrician Ron Woodroof, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985. He managed to extend his life by taking non-standard medications, and then began selling them to other people with a similar diagnosis.

For this film, Matthew McConaughey deservedly received his first Oscar, as well as Golden Globe, Saturn and many other awards. Many consider his role in the Dallas Buyers Club to be his peak.

21. True Detective

• USA, 2014.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 9, 0.

Detectives Martin Hart and Rust Cole take on the investigation of the brutal murder of a woman. They fail to immediately detect the culprit. But years later, the case is resumed, and they still have a chance to sort out a whole series of crimes.

Like the Dallas Buyers Club, the first season of True Detective attracts primarily McConaughey and Woody Harrelson's acting. The combination of a detective story with the everyday life of police officers and a real drama made it possible to reveal all sides of the talent of the actors.

22. Interstellar

• USA, UK, 2014.
• Drama, adventure, fantasy.
• Duration: 169 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Due to drought, a food crisis begins on the Earth. A group of researchers embarks on a space journey to find a planet suitable for human life. But not all of them will survive, and the search itself may take years.

The filming of Christopher Nolan's film continued McConaughey's triumph on the screens. The film was also nominated for many prestigious film awards, and critics and viewers were delighted.

23. Free People of Jones County

• USA, 2016.
• Historical drama, biography.
• Duration: 139 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

During the American Civil War, a group of Confederate army deserters decide to secede from their own and fight to end slavery. They settle in Jones County and begin to fight with former associates.

24. Gold

• USA, 2016.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Kenny Wells tries to find gold, but he is plagued by constant failures. He finds a partner - the same loser as himself. And suddenly they discover the largest gold deposit in Indonesia. But immediately huge global companies are involved in the division.

Over the years, McConaughey has played many different roles. But in "Gold" he was able to surprise even his oldest fans: here McConaughey played a ridiculous balding fat man, which does not fit with his traditional images.

25. White Guy Rick

• USA, 2018.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

Another story based on real events. Richard Wersh Jr. worked as a secret police informant, but then decided to become a drug dealer himself. The white guy quickly became famous in the underworld, after which he went to jail with a life sentence.