John Cusack comes from a large family of Hollywood veterans, most notably including his big sister, Joan Cusack. The 80’s lover boy of old turned dramatic actor of late has had quite a durable career. Those who barely know his work would consider him typecasted, playing the same character over and over, or simply portraying his own persona on screen. Those who love and appreciate him, however, might consider him to be one of the best actors in the business, bringing life to every role he signs on for. However you feel about him, there’s no denying that he has been a key player in film history, most particularly the 80’s and leading up to the mid-2000s.
Throughout his career, Cusack has organized theater groups promoting political avant-garde themes and has maintained a surprising dedication to kickboxing, holding a level 6 black belt under world champion Benny Urquidez over a span of 20 years. He also enjoys a casual helicopter snowboarding session from time to time, along with lifelong antiwar activism that shows up even in his music tastes and film choices. Like him or not, Cusack is cemented in history as a true on-screen talent. So, without any further hesitation, these are the 10 best John Cusack movies ranked from least to best!
11. Never Grow Old (2019)
10. Love & Mercy (2015)
9. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
8. Better Off Dead... (1985)
7. Con Air (1997)
6. High Fidelity (2000)
5. The Sure Thing (1985)
4. Anastasia (1997)
In one of the darkest Disney movies and one of the best movies streaming on Disney+ that would almost surely scar any child, Anastasia tells a tale of royalty and deception through the lens of curse and mystery. When one of the last surviving members of the royal Romanov family, Anastasia (Meg Ryan) is hunted by the evil wizard Rasputin, she must reconnect with her past in order to correct the future. Added for its dark story and a unique setting, this film is a memorable classic in animated cinema, just not recommended for very young children. Cusack’s role as the local scoundrel turned lover boy, though merely a voiceover, is somehow almost as charming as his other performances, showing his true dedication to the craft.
3. The Thin Red Line (1998)
2. Being John Malkovich (1999)
1. Say Anything... (1989)
In a somewhat corny yet wholly genuine 80s fashion, Say Anything is one of the best romantic comedies ever that defines a generation of hopeless romantics with quirky magnificence. A straight-A, bound-for-success high school student (Ione Sky) becomes distracted by the head-over-heels antics of Lloyd (John Cusack), a notorious, kickboxing (also when he became enamored with the art) underachiever who doesn’t know what he wants until he finds love. Wonderfully acted and charming, Cusack really steals the spotlight in this film as the lover boy unapproved by the controlling father, with the forever-epic scene where he blasts the Peter Gabriel classic In Your Eyes from a boombox outside her window. Corny but cool all at the same time, this classic really demonstrates the best parts of a John Cusack movie!
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