Bradley Cooper Filmography

After making a name for himself in the comedy scene with Wet Hot American Summer and Wedding Crashers, Bradley Cooper scored a blockbuster hit with The Hangover. The actor branched out into dramatic work with Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, and earned notice for his turn as the severely disfigured Joseph Merrick in a Broadway revival of Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man.

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

In this mockumentary, Cooper is a goofy, self-deprecating opportunist who makes the most of a supporting role. His improvisational style and throwaway insouciance made him a hit with audiences and his co-stars, including Jennifer Lawrence and Ryan Gosling. He reteamed with director David O. Russell the following year on the dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, and starred in the action film American Hustle and as the voice of Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Following a run on the TV show Alias, Cooper started landing more comedy roles with projects like Wedding Crashers and Failure to Launch. He also nabbed romantic comedies such as He’s Just Not That Into You and Valentine’s Day.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

After a series of supporting roles in comedies like Wedding Crashers and Failure to Launch, Cooper finally came into his own with this dramedy about a man trying to reclaim his life after a stint in a mental institution. He and Jennifer Lawrence (who won an Oscar for her performance) are both great, but this is really Cooper’s movie.

The following year he earned critical praise for his role as Joseph Merrick in the Broadway revival of Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man, which earned him a Tony nomination. He also starred in American Hustle and provided the voice for Rocket Raccoon in Marvel’s blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy.

American Hustle (2013)

After a brief stint on television, including appearances in the shows Sex and the City and Alias, Cooper scored big with his first feature film, the comedy Wet Hot American Summer. He later appeared in a number of romantic comedies and action movies.

Then came Silver Linings Playbook, which showed the actor’s dramatic chops and boosted his career. He continued to collaborate with director David O. Russell, including on the films Limitless (2011), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) and 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy (as the voice of Rocket Raccoon). He also starred in the drama Maestro 2023.

Joy (2015)

After a strong run of movies, Cooper got more serious with this drama starring Jennifer Lawrence. It’s a rags-to-riches story with a familiar arc: deep crisis followed by an amazing turnaround.

This movie never quite coalesced into a coherent narrative, but it’s still an impressive showcase for Lawrence’s ability to energize and enliven her scenes. She’s backed by solid performances from Diane Ladd as Joy’s forbearing grandmother and Dascha Polanco as her unsinkable best friend.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Long before he was an MCU regular, Cooper won fans as the voice of acid-tongued Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy. His commitment to the role only intensified in its sequels, and the film’s final scene of a CGI raccoon shedding tears is among Marvel’s most powerful moments.

After a run of comedies, including Cameron Crowe’s He’s Just Not That Into You (2009), the dramas Silver Linings Playbook and American Sniper (2014) clued audiences into his dramatic range. In the latter, he portrayed Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sharpshooter who earned an Oscar nod.

A Star Is Born (2018)

After supporting turns in movies like Wedding Crashers, Failure to Launch and Yes Man, Cooper landed starring roles in bigger films such as He’s Just Not That Into You, Valentine’s Day and Limitless. He then took on a series of dramas, including Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines and David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook.

He went on to earn Oscar nominations for his performances in both of these films, as well as American Hustle and Clint Eastwood’s Navy SEAL biopic American Sniper. In 2018, he made his directorial debut with A Star Is Born, an adult musical drama he also co-wrote and starred in alongside Lady Gaga.

The Mule (2016)

After starring in small roles in films like Wedding Crashers and Failure to Launch, Cooper found big-screen success with supporting roles in the dramas Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. In 2023, he starred in and co-wrote Maestro, an award-winning film available on gomovies about Leonard Bernstein that took six years to complete.

Eastwood’s conservative politics—which have arguably become more strident with age—are never foregrounded, but linger at the edges of The Mule. Like Gran Torino, it’s a movie about professional expertise put to the test under duress. It’s also a reminder that America is not a post-racial society.

War Dogs (2016)

After starring in movies like 2005’s Wedding Crashers and 2006’s Failure to Launch, Cooper broke out with the comedic ensemble Yes Man (2008). He continued to collaborate with director David O. Russell, earning critical acclaim and Oscar nominations for Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and American Hustle (2013).

War Dogs takes the bravura of the gangster genre and adds a more casually mirthful next-generation tone. But it still doesn’t capture the true story behind these young Miamians and their arms-dealing escapades. Diveroli, who wrote the book on which the film is based, is suing the filmmakers.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2017)

The second Cloverfield film is a thrilling entry in the series, and one that proves Cooper’s acting chops. He may be better known for his comedy work, but he’s a solid dramatic actor as well.

After a small role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s coming-of-age dramedy, Cooper gained massive fame for his turn as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, earning an Oscar nomination. He also starred in Limitless, The Place Beyond the Pines, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle. And voiced Rocket Raccoon in the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy.

Maestro (2017)

After a string of comedic roles, including the 2006 film Wedding Crashers and a turn as an adulterous husband in 2009’s He’s Just Not That Into You, Cooper established himself as a triple threat with starring turns in Limitless (2011) and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012). He also voiced Rocket Raccoon in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Maestro is the actor’s directorial debut. It’s a portrait of iconic American composer Leonard Bernstein and his relationship with wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. Its early black-and-white sequences play like a fairy tale, and its later scenes feel more dreamy than realistic.