Best Bradley Cooper Movies to Watch After 'Maestro'

Probably one of the most famous Bradley Cooper movies, The Hangover follows four friends—Phil (Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Doug (Justin Bartha)—as they embark on a trip to Las Vegas, intent on enjoying a night out at a casino for Doug's bachelor party. After a long night of partying, Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up the next morning ready to deliver Doug to his wedding later that day but quickly come to find that the groom is nowhere to be found. The comedy film grossed over $467 million worldwide and was among the ten top-selling films that year, becoming the most commercially successful R-rated film in the United States to that point. Cooper's portrayal of Phil, the suave, collected leader of the group, earned him critical success and praise, for his first true breakout role.

Cooper played Ben in the 2009 film He's Just Not That Into You, as a member of the star-studded cast, which included Scarlett Johansson, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Long, and Drew Barrymore. Set in Baltimore, the classic rom-com centers around nine people, examining their romantic lives and the various relationship troubles that they experience. 

In Limitless (2011), Cooper goes beyond his previous experience in the genres of comedy and romance, and fully delves into sci-fi thriller territory, marking the beginning of a new era of Bradley Cooper movies. The film follows Eddie, played by Cooper, a struggling writer, and his experiences after taking NZT-48, an experimental drug that Eddie was given to help improve cognitive function and encourage creative growth. Throughout the film, Eddie investigates the origin of the drug, which has seemingly left only crime, violence, and death in its wake, and learns to grapple with his new lifestyle. In this dramatic, action-packed thriller, Cooper stars alongside Abbie Cornish, who plays Lindy—Eddie's on-and-off girlfriend—and Robert De Niro, who plays Eddie's mentor and a finance tycoon. 

Another one of the most well-known Bradley Cooper movies is Silver Linings Playbook, a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 2013. The film explores the life of Pat Solitano after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, losing his job, and separating from his wife. Determined to get his former life back, Pat embarks on a journey of personal growth and meets Tiffany, a young widow played by Jennifer Lawrence, while on a run one day. The two discover they can help each other, and quickly become friends after Pat agrees to enter a dance competition at Tiffany's request. The film, which was highly successful both commercially and critically, received eight Academy Award nominations that year, as well as four Golden Globe nominations. Cooper's performance in Silver Linings Playbook has been regarded as an impressive showing of the actor's range in portraying different characters. 

In Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond The Pines (2012), Cooper stars as Avery Cross, a young, ambitious police officer opposite Ryan Gosling's Luke Glanton, a motorcycle stuntman turned robber. The film follows the two men, their lives, and their children, all of which intertwine in a gripping story about grief, guilt, and consequence. 

For his role as FBI agent Richie DiMaso in American Hustlers, Cooper was reunited with director David O. Russell. In this comedy crime film, Cooper's character carries out a sting arrest operation, with the reluctant cooperation of scam artists Irving Rosenfeld, played by Christian Bale, and Sydney Prosser, portrayed by Amy Adams. The film was lauded for the quality of its screenplay and the dedication of the ensemble cast, earning it ten Academy Award nominations—among them, Cooper's nomination for Best Supporting Actor—and three Golden Globe Awards. 

In the 2014 film American Sniper, Cooper stars as Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, was adapted from an autobiography of the same title by Chris Kyle, published just two years before the release of the film. Kyle's story follows his time on the battlefield as well as his home life and family, exploring how the two intertwine. The film was a worldwide success, grossing over $547 million. This Bradley Cooper movie was also critically acclaimed, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and adding yet another dramatic film role to the actor's growing filmography. 

In 2018, the tenor of Bradley Cooper's movies changed with his directorial debut with A Star is Born, an adaptation of the classic 1937 romantic drama. Cooper starred as Jackson Mains, a country singer struggling with alcoholism, opposite Lady Gaga, who portrayed Ally, an up-and-coming pop singer, whom Mains meets, mentors, and falls in love with. Together, Cooper and Gaga deliver a captivating performance that tells the story of love, artistry, and grief through their skilled portrayals of their respective characters. A Star is Born earned eight nominations at the Academy Awards that year, as well as several Grammy nominations. 

In the latest of Bradley Cooper movies—Maestro (2023)—the actor stars as Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated American composer and conductor. The film follows Bernstein's life and musical career, but also centers on his family life and relationship with his wife, Felecia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan. The film has been praised for its tasteful, emotionally moving representation of the conductor's life and relationship with his wife, and was nominated for four Golden Globe awards following its release in late 2023.