16+ Best Sean Penn Movies
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Sean Penn Movies: Sean Penn, also known as Sean Justin Penn, is an outstanding actor, producer, screenwriter, and director.
Along with being featured in a huge number of successful movies such as “Dead Man Walking,” “Mystic River,” and “Harvey Milk,” Sean Penn won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
He had also won an academy award along with many other recognitions.
Since we’re always on the lookout on what you love…
We will be talking about the top-rated movies featuring Sean Penn along with his many successful co-actors.
Are you ready to learn new stuff about our favorite actor Sean Penn?
Let’s take a look…
#1. Mystic River 2003
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Release date: October 3, 2003 (USA)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Adapted from: Mystic Game
Box office: $156.6 million
Produced by: Robert Lorenze and Judie G. Hoyt.
Awards: Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award
Nominations: Academy Award-nominated performance
Stars: Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laura Linney, Laurence Fishburne, and Marcia Gay Harden.
“Mystic River” is the first movie on our list. It’s an American mystery film based on the novel “Mystic River” by Dennis Lehane.
It’s directed by Clint Eastwood and produced by Robert Lorenze and Judie G. Hoyt. It stars Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laura Linney, Laurence Fishburne, and Marcia Gay Harden.
The best part is this movie was nominated for six Academy Awards, including a best supporting actress award.
Moving on…
“Mystic River” revolves around a police investigation carried out by Sean, a police officer who investigates the murder of his young daughter.
The story takes a massive turn when little steps of investigation lead him to a crime that was carried out around twenty-five years ago.
Let me add up, Penn won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for this film!
Check Out: Mystic River 2003
#2. Dead Man Walking 1995
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Release date: January 12, 1996 (USA)
Writer-Director: Tim Robbins
Adapted from: Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean
Box office: $83 million
Production companies: Working Title Films, Havoc, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.
Awards: Academy Award for the Best Actress in a Leading Role
Produced by: Jon Kilik, and Tim Robbins
Stars: Susan Sarandon, Robert Prosky, Sean Penn, Raymond J. Barry, and R. Lee Ermey.
“Dead Man Walking 1995” is an American crime drama, which portrays a death row inmate. This film is directed by Tim Robbins, based on a book by Sister Helen Prejean.
This crime drama was produced by Jon Kilik and Tim Robbins and stars Susan Sarandon, Robert Prosky, Sean Penn, Raymond J. Barry, and R. Lee Ermey.
The film earned a huge amount of positive comments as it grossed $83 million against a budget of $11 million.
Furthermore…
The story of this film honored the request of a desperate man, in which Sister Helen writes to condemn the killer of two lovers.
Check Out: Dead Man Walking 1995
#3. Harvey Milk
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Release date: October 28, 2008 (USA)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Written by: Dustin Lance Black
Box office: $54.6 million
Awards: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominations: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Starring: James Franco, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, and Diego Luna.
“Harvey Milk” is an American film directed by Gus Van Sant, produced by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen, and stars Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, and Diego Luna.
The film grossed around $54 million worldwide and won 8 Oscar nominations.
Plus…
Harvey Milk is an interesting story in which Penn plays the role of Harvey Milk, an American activist who faces a massive amount of difficulties while he is on a mission to fight for gay rights. While his romance with campaign manager Scott Smith, eventually, after all his hard work, he becomes the first openly gay elected official in California.
Check Out: Harvey Milk
#4. The Tree of Life
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Release date: May 27, 2011 (USA)
Director: Terrence Malick
Music by: Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
Box office: $61.7 million
Produced by: Sarah Green, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill, Bill Pohlad, and Brad Pitt
Stars: Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, and Jessica Chastain.
“The Tree of Life” is an American film directed and written by Terrence Malick, produced by Sarah Green, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Bill Pohlad, and Grant Hill. It stars Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, and Jessica Chastain.
The film grossed around $67 million against a budget of $32 million.
Moving forward…
The story is about Jack, trying to sort out his troubled relationship with his father, Mr. O’Brien. He tries to find the true meaning of his own life and gain knowledge from different life experiences throughout his journey.
Check Out: The Tree of Life
#5. The Game
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Release date: September 12, 1997 (USA)
Director: David Fincher
Music by: Howard Shore
Box office: $109.4 million
Written by: John Brancato, and Michael Ferris
Produced by: Steve Golin, and Ceán Chaffin
Production company: Propaganda Films
Starring: Michael Douglas, Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Peter Donat, James Reborn, Deborah Kara Unger, and Armin Mueller-Stahl.
“The Game” is an American film directed by David Fincher, written by John Brancato, Michael Ferris, produced by Steve Golin, Cean Chaffin, and stars Sean Penn, Michael Douglas, Peter Donat, James Reborn, Deborah Kara Unger, and Armin Mueller-Stahl.
The film grossed $109 million against a budget of $70 million.
Moreover…
The story of this film is about a merchant banker named Nicholas Van Orton, who receives a weird birthday gift, a voucher for a game. His brother sent it, but when Nicholas uses it, he ends up in huge trouble.
Check Out: The Game
#6. The Assassination of Richard Nixon
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Release date: December 29, 2004 (USA)
Director: Niels Mueller
Music by: Steven M. Stern
Box office: $4.4 million
Written by: Niels Mueller, and Kevin Kennedy
Starring: Sean Penn, Jack Thompson, Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle, Michale Wincott, and Brad William Henke.
“The Assassination of Richard Nixon” is an American crime drama film directed and written by Neils Mueller, produced by Alfonso Cuaron, Jorge Vergara, and stars Sean Penn, Jack Thompson, Naomi Watts, Don Cheadle, Michale Wincott, and Brad William Henke.
The film had a little margin on box office as it grossed $4.4 million against a budget of $4.6 million.
Let me tell you…
It is a true story of a salesman who plans to kill President Nixon by hi-jacking a plane and eventually dropping a gas bomb on the White House.
Check Out: The Assassination of Richard Nixon
#7. At Close Range
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Initial release: February 1986
Directed by: James Foley
Music composed by: Patrick Leonard
Story by: Elliott Lewitt and Nicholas Kazan
Box office: $2.3 million
Starring: Sean Penn, Mary Stuart Masterson, Christopher Walken, Tracey Walter, Crispin Glover, and Chris Penn.
Next, we have “At Close Range,” directed by James Foley, written by Elliot Lewitt, produced by Don Duet, and stars Christopher Walken, Crispin Glover, Sean Penn, Christopher Penn, and Mary Stuart Masterson among many others.
The film grossed $2.3 million against a 6.5 million budget.
Now…
This film is based on a true story about a rural family in Pennsylvania.
The father of two children Brad Jr. and Tommy, brings his children into his life of crime. After coming into the business, Tommy and Brad Jr. get caught, and they tell the truth.
Check Out: At Close Range
#8. Grams
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Release date: November 21, 2003 (USA)
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Paul Rivers
Story by: Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo Arriaga
Music by: Gustavo Santaolalla
Nominations: Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Awards: Volpi Cup for Best Actor
Starring: Sean Penn, Melissa Leo, Naomi Watts, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Benicio del Toro
“21 Grams” is a film directed by Alejandro Gonzalez and Paul Rivers, produced by Robert Salerno, edited by Stephen Mirrione, and stars Sean Penn, Melissa Leo, Naomi Watts, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Benicio del Toro.
The film grossed $60 million against a $20 million budget.
Adding in more…
The story is about a math professor and his grieving mother who face a fatal accident that turns out to change their life in a way they could never imagine.
Check Out: Grams
#9. The Falcon and the Snowman
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Release date: January 25, 1985 (USA)
Director: John Schlesinger
Music by: Lyle Mays; Pat Metheny
Based on: The Falcon and the Snowman
Box office: $17 million
Production company: Hemdale Film Corporation
Stars: Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton.
“The Falcon and the Snowman” is a spy film directed by John Schlesinger, produced by Gabriel Katzka, John Schlesinger, edited by Lyle Mays, and stars Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton.
The film grossed around $17 million against a $12 million budget.
And…
This spy thriller tells the story of when a man named Christopher has his father finds him a job at the CIA handling classified documents.
But eventually, he becomes disillusioned and starts selling the information to Russians, but then, a new character of Sean Penn steps in and flips everything over.
Check Out: The Falcon and the Snowman
#10. The Thin Red Line
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Release date: December 23, 1998 (USA)
Director: Terrence Malick
Music by: Hans Zimmer
Budget: $52 million
Adapted from: The Thin Red Line
Production companies: Fox 2000 Pictures; Phoenix Pictures; Geisler-Roberdeau
Starring: Sean Penn, Jim Caviezel, George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte, John Travolta, Adrien Brodt, Ben Chaplin, John Cusack, Elias Koteas, and John C. Reilly.
“The Thin Red Line’‘ is a phenomenal crime drama film directed by Terrence Malick, produced by Robert Michael Geisler, and based on a novel by James Jones.
It stars Sean Penn, Jim Caviezel, George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte, John Travolta, Adrien Brodt, Ben Chaplin, John Cusack, Elias Koteas, and John C. Reilly.
The film successfully grossed $98 million against a $52 million budget.
Turns out…
The story is about a group of soldiers who are at the battle of Guadalcanal and fight for their lives. But, halfway into the war, they lose sight of one another while still fighting to win.
Check Out: The Thin Red Line
#11. Fast Times at Ridgemont
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Release date: August 13, 1982 (USA)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Based on: Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Box office: $50 million
Budget: $5 million
Produced by: Irving Azoff; Art Linson
Starring: Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Brian Backer, Ray Walston, Scott Thomson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Amanda Wyss, and Vincent Schiavelli.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” is a famous American movie directed by Amy Heckerling, produced by Irving Azoff, Art Linson, and stars Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Brian Backer, Ray Walston, Scott Thomson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Amanda Wyss, and Vincent Schiavelli.
The film grossed $50 million against a small budget of $5 million.
Simply put…
The story is about a teenage girl Stacy Hamilton who is beautiful but inexperienced in dating. She gets advice from her friend and eventually ends up in a love triangle.
Check Out: Fast Times at Ridgemont
#12. Carlito’s Way
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Release date: January 1, 1993 (USA)
Director: Brian De Palma
Music by: Patrick Doyle
Box office: $63 million
Nominations: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Adapted from: Carlito’s Way, After Hours
Starring: Penelope Ann Miller, Sean Penn, and Al Pacino
“Carlito’s Way” is another amazing film directed by Brian De Palma and produced by Martin Bregman, Willi Baer, and Micael S.
It stars Sean Penn, Al Pacino, and Penelope Ann Miller. The film was a massive hit as it grossed $63 million against a $30 million budget.
Moreover…
The story is about Carlito Brigante, who decides to lead a peaceful life after being released from prison. But, life had various other plans for him as he became a part of a drug deal and ended up with no escape at all.
Check Out: Carlito’s Way
#13. Gangster Squad
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Release date: January 7, 2013 (USA)
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Box office: 105.2 million USD
Adapted from: Gangster Squad
Music by: Steve Jablonsky
Produced by: Dan Lin. Kevin McCormick, and Michael Tadross
Stars: Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Emma Stone, Michael Pena, and Sean Penn.
“Gangster Squad” is an American film filled with action, crime, and drama. It was directed by Ruben Fleischer, written by Will Beall, and produced by Dan Lin, Kevin McCormick, and Michael Tadross.
This film stars Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Emma Stone, Michael Pena, and Sean Penn. It was officially released in 2013 and grossed around $105 million, double the amount of its budget.
Furthermore…
The story is about John, a former second World War soldier who forms a secret crew of the Los Angeles Police Department who wants to tear down the world of the biggest gangster named Mickey Cohen.
Check Out: Gangster Squad
#14. I Am Sam
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Release date: December 3, 2001 (USA)
Directed by: Jessie Nelson
Music by: John Powell
Box office: $97.8 million
Awards: Satellite Special Achievement Award.
Nominations: Satellite Special Achievement Award for Outstanding New Talent
Stars: Sean Penn, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Richard Schiff, Loretta Devine and Laura Dern.
“I Am Sam” is another of the best Sean Penn movies directed by Jessie Nelson, written by Kristine Johnson and Jessie Nelson, and produced by Richard Solomon, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz.
It stars Sean Penn, Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Richard Schiff, Loretta Devine and Laura Dern.
It grossed amazingly well with an amount of $97 million against a budget of $22 million.
Moving forward…
In this amazing film, Sean Penn plays the role of Sam, who struggles to gain custody of his daughter when her mother leaves them. He tries his level best to prove that he can be a good father and take care of his daughter on his own.
Check Out: I Am Sam
#15. Into The Wild
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Release date: September 21, 2007 (USA)
Director: Sean Penn
Music by: Michael Brook; Kaki King; Eddie Vedder
Adapted from: Into the Wild
Box office: $56.8 million
Nominations: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Stars: Emile Hirsch Willaim Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Jena Malone, Brian Dierker, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, and more.
Next in line, we have “Into the Wild,” an adventurous film filled with drama and suspense. It was directed by Sean Penn and is based on the book “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer.
It stars Emile Hirsch Willaim Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Jena Malone, Brian Dierker, Vince Vaughn, and Catherine Keener among others.
The film was also nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor.
Turns out…
It’s a very interesting story starring a young graduate named Christopher McCandless, who decides to leave all his possessions and hitchhike across America.
Throughout his journey, Christopher explores a lot about himself and the country too. By the end, he comes out as a very changed person.
Check Out: Into The Wild
#16. Flag Day
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Release date: August 20, 2021 (USA)
Director: Sean Penn
Music by: Joseph Vitarelli
Based on: Flim-Flam Man
Box office: $424,667
Produced by: William Horberg; Jon Kilik, and Fernando Sulichin
Another one of Sean’s best films is named “Flag Day”
This amazing film is directed by Sean Penn, produced by William Horberg, Jon Kilik, and Fernando Sulichin, and stars Dylan Penn, Josh Brolin, and Sean Penn.
Flag Day grossed around $424,667 at the box office.
Moving forward…
The story is about Jennifer Vogel and her father, John, who attract good energy and make everything a beautiful adventure. Joy teaches her love and life by making everything interesting for her.
Check Out: Flag Day
Conclusion: Sean Penn Movies
That brings us to a sweet conclusion!
These are just some of the outstanding movies starring Sean Penn along with other successful actors. Undoubtedly, Sean has gained a massive amount of success in Hollywood as all his hard work paid off!
In case…
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