The best Bradley Cooper films to watch on Netflix

Bradley Cooper is a man of many talents. From voicing a cynical, kleptomaniac raccoon in Marvel’s Guardians of Galaxy to starring in his Award-winning directorial debut, A Star Is Born, alongside Lady Gaga, Cooper is a household name. With eight Academy Awards and one Tony Award nominations, besides a BAFTA and two Grammys, this multi-talented Philadelphia native has been a part of Hollywood for more than two decades. 

Having starred in both the big and the small screen, Cooper made a guest appearance on Sex and the City before debuting in the 2001 comedy Wet Hot American Summer which is available for streaming on Netflix in some countries. He became a household name in the espionage thriller television show Alias before making a breakthrough in the 2009 Todd Phillips film The Hangover. 

Cooper has not looked back ever since and has found great success in films like Limitless, Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper, American Hustle and more. He has also received a Tony nomination for his performance in Joseph Merrick’s Broadway revival of The Elephant Man.

In 2018, he made his directorial debut with A Star Is Born. Cooper’s latest projects include Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley with Cate Blanchett and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza that will soon hit the theatres. 

He struggled a lot in his debut days and dealt with substance abuse and alcoholism that sparked self-doubt and self-loathing. However, determined to leave behind a mark, Cooper’s perseverance has helped his foray into various fields and don several cinematic hats, thus making him one of the most influential actors now.

On his 47th birthday, here are some Bradley Cooper films streaming on Netflix: 

The best Bradley Cooper films to watch on Netflix

3. The Hangover franchise (Todd Phillips, 2009-2013)

With three epic films in the franchise, the films chronicle the epic misadventures of a quartet who call themselves the Wolfpack as they embark on a road trip to attend a bachelor party. Missing friends, drunken debauchery and insane adventures form the film’s crux as the friends travel to Los Angeles and Bangkok across the set of the three films where things go awry as soon as the Wolfpack hits the road. 

With physical comedy, relentless goofs, madness and laughter, the film abounds in classic ‘bro’ humour. Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha as the members of the Wolfpack, this R-rated comedy has a cult-like following. It provides hours of mindless entertainment and fun. The 2009 film was considered to be Cooper’s breakthrough film. 

2. American Sniper (Clint Eastwood, 2014)

A Texan man whose simple dream of becoming a cowboy leads him to become a part of the S.E.A.L in the United States to help fight against terrorism, Chris Kyle is called in for their first Iraq tour following his marriage. In this compelling and agonising portrayal of a soldier’s reality, Kyle’s struggle with his relationship and missions, following the traumatic impact of warfare after his return to urban life, is indeed heartfelt and moving. 

Starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman and more, the film was widely praised for Cooper’s brilliant performance in the lead and Clint Eastwood’s masterful direction. The film received six nominations at the Academy, winning one for Best Sound Editing. The delicate and gripping portrayal of the real-life events presented a devastating anti-war sentiment, with Cooper’s performance adding to the film’s general lamentation, anguish, and despair. 

1. Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell, 2012) 

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Pat is sent to his childhood home in Pennsylvania, fixated on winning over his estranged wife Nikki. In Pennsylvania, he meets a young widow named Tiffany who strikes up a deal with Pat. he has to partner up with her in a dancing competition as she helps him win back his wife. Sparks fly and romance stirs in between the duo, hindered by the wedding bands on their respective fingers.  

As good as classical romance, the film deals with various heavyweight and sensitive subject matters with a great deal of delicate empathy. While Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence have brilliant chemistry, the nuanced father-son relationship between Robert DeNiro and Cooper is remarkably beautiful. The film gives us the best of both worlds with the correct amount of cynicism and melodrama.