The Best Films of Philip Seymour Hoffman

The Best Films of Philip Seymour Hoffman

April 7, 2025

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Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of the most esteemed actors of his generation, and even after his death, he continues to be admired and respected by fans and critics alike. A singular man, Hoffman was known for his versatility and his ability to inhabit a wide range of characters, from the tragic to the comedic. His death in 2014 was a great loss to the film industry, but his films will continue to be enjoyed by audiences for years to come. If you still haven’t seen any of his films, our list is a good place to start. 

1. Mary and Max (2009)

best

9.1

Genres

Animation, Comedy, Drama

Director

Adam Elliot

Actors

Adam Elliot, Barry Humphries, Bethany Whitmore, Bill Murphy

Moods

Grown-up Comedy

Mary and Max is the tale of an overlooked 8-year-old girl from Australia starting an unlikely friendship via mail with a middle-aged Jewish man from New York. Shot completely in monocromatic claymotion, it is the first feature film by Australian stop-motion animation writer, Adam Elliot, and the first ever animated film to score the opening slot at Sundance Festival. In all its playful absurdity, Mary and Max is an emotional and wise gem of a film that examines the human condition through the eyes of a troubled child and an autistic American. In contrast to its clay-based animation, it deals with some pretty dark and adult themes, but succeeds in balancing those with happiness and absurd humor. Moreover, Elliott gathered an ensemble cast to do the voice-overs, which includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette, and Eric Bana. We recommend it 8 condensed milks out of 10.

2. Almost Famous (2000)

best

8.9

Genres

Comedy, Drama, Music

Director

Cameron Crowe

Actors

Anna Paquin, Billy Crudup, Eric Stonestreet, Fairuza Balk

Moods

Easy, Heart-warming, Sweet

Based in the 1970s, William Miller is a young high school student who hasn’t experienced much in life partially due to his over-protective mother and also due to his awkwardness. His only escape is through the music he listens to religiously. Senior year he stumbles upon the opportunity of a lifetime to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine by going on tour with an up-and-coming band. Through his journey he meets new people, friends, and experiences life in a way that could not have been provided for him back at home. Starring Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, and Patrick Fugit.

3. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

best

8.7

Genres

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director

Paul Thomas Anderson

Actors

Adam Sandler, David H. Stevens, Don McManus, Emily Watson

Moods

Easy, Lighthearted

Adam Sandler, though currently imminently marketable, incredibly played out and boring, used to be a real actor. This is the film by which his legacy will be judged, where we see the funnyman drop the mask and actually show real feelings besides bumbling rage. Sandler’s hurt and confused performance is beautifully vulnerable and true and is complimented by P.T. Anderson’s incomparable direction (the man behind Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood), creating a true masterpiece of American cinema. This beauty also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Emily Watson.

4. The Ides of March (2011)

best

8.4

Genres

Drama

Director

George Clooney

Actors

Alvin Chea, Amy Keys, Carmen Carter, Charlie Rose

Moods

A-list actors, Character-driven, Dramatic

A slow-burning US political drama, The Ides of March is a character-driven film with great performances from Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and George Clooney (who is also the director and in part the writer) among many others. Taking place during the last days of the primaries, Stephen Meyers (Gosling) is an aspiring campaign staffer who uncovers a dirty truth about his candidate (Clooney). When Meyers confronts his boss (Hoffman), moral issues arise that collide with the political profession but which are not only limited to it. A smart film, The Ides of March is less of a political thriller and more of a really well made drama that delivers.

5. 25th Hour (2002)

best

8.1

Genres

Crime, Drama

Director

Spike Lee

Actors

Anna Paquin, Barry Pepper, Brian Cox, Edward Norton

Moods

Character-driven, Intense, Suspenseful

Spike Lee directs the story of Monty (Edward Norton) and his life in 24 hours before he is to serve a 7 year sentence in jail. It’s easy to develop a sentimental bond with Monty as well as the childhood friends he chooses to spend his last hours with – played by then underground actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Rosario Dawson. It’s aggressive and it’s blunt, but it’s an interesting, relatable character study that finds director Spike Lee in top form.

6. A Most Wanted Man (2014)

best

8.0

Genres

Drama, Thriller

Director

Anton Corbijn

Actors

Bernhard Schütz, Corinna Kropiunig, Daniel Brühl, Derya Alabora

Moods

Smart, Suspenseful, Thrilling

Based on the book by John Le Carre, this slow-burning thriller tells the story of a half-Chechen, half-Russian immigrant suspected of terrorism, who is suddenly spotted in a big German city trying to get his hands on money that was left to him. Gunter (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the head of an international counter-terrorism unit created after 9/11 to spot threats like these early on. Whether this man is a terrorist or not, what he is doing in Germany, how he fits in the grand scheme of things, and whether Gunter will succeed in his efforts – all of these are questions you will be begging to find answers for. Witty, supremely acted, and with a very provocative story line, A Most Wanted Man is perfect if you’re in the mood for a sharp thriller.

7. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

7.8

Genres

Crime, Drama, Thriller

Director

Sidney Lumet

Actors

Albert Finney, Aleksa Palladino, Amy Ryan, Brían F. OByrne

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is Sidney Lumet’s last film, and in many ways, it distills what the director explored in his prolific body of work: What is justice? And does everyone deserve it? Shot digitally at a time when the concept was still quite new, Before the Devil moves fast and takes us uncomfortably close to the lives of three desperate men: cash-strapped Hank (Hawke), corrupt Andy (Seymour-Hoffman), and vengeful Charles (Finney). The same tragic events unfold through their perspectives, but in any case, we get to see what drives them to do such horrid things. Are we suppose to sympathize with them? It’s a question that will nag you long after the credits roll.

8. Doubt (2008)

7.5

Genres

Drama, Mystery

Director

John Patrick Shanley

Actors

Alannah Iacovano, Alice Drummond, Amy Adams, Audrie Neenan

Moods

Depressing, Dramatic, Thought-provoking

The 2008 film Doubt offers a haunting peek into the crisis of pedophilia within the Catholic church. Featuring an all-star cast of Amy Adams,  Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Viola Davis, it is more than just a fictional tale. With performances that will make you question your intuition and cast a shadow of doubt on your own instincts, Doubt is a difficult film to grapple with. 

I fell in love with this film very early on into the duration of it because it was so honest and it allowed the characters to navigate the nature of their suspicions. With Doubt, however, comes denial, and Viola Davis’s eight-minute monologue is simply smeared with it. Doubt is a fantastic story that has left me stunned for over a decade. 

9. Hard Eight (1997)

7.5

Genres

Crime, Drama

Director

Paul Thomas Anderson

Actors

Ernie Anderson, F. William Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jake Cross

Moods

A-list actors, Gripping, Raw

Already featuring some of the desperation and melancholy that would go on to characterize most of his work, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight manages to draw palpable suspense and drama out of, essentially, three characters and a couple of seedy locations. We learn perhaps too little about these characters and why this veteran gambler is drawn to a young homeless man, but there’s also something intriguing about how Anderson suggests much larger and much crueler stories going on just out of sight. It truly feels like these people are just trying to hold on to the smallest things that ease their pain—which works because of incredibly compelling work from Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, and a young Gwyneth Paltrow already at the top of her game.

10. The Savages (2007)

7.2

Genres

Comedy, Drama

Director

Female director, Tamara Jenkins

Actors

Cara Seymour, David Zayas, Debra Monk, Erica Berg

Moods

A-list actors, Slice-of-Life, Well-acted

Philipp Seymour Hoffman stars in this family drama next to Laura Linney as siblings. They have to unite to support their father who after the death of his girlfriend finds himself alone. The Savages, after the family name, have dynamics that are all too common and easily recognizable. This is a beautiful and real movie.

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