It's hard to imagine what Hollywood would have been like without Paul Newman. He emerged as a new kind of leading man, one who was effortlessly cool and charming yet still willing to poke fun at himself. Though he ed away in 2008, his incredible body of work remains for us all to him by.
Newman continued to give iconic performances in amazing movies throughout his long career. He was nominated for ten Oscars, winning one along with two honorary awards, and remained a favorite among film critics for his entire career. Looking back on his filmography is like revisiting some of the most important movies ever made.
Updated on December 10th, 2021 by Colin McCormick: It has been more than a decade since the movie world lost one of its most cherished stars. Though Paul Newman is certainly missed in movies, his long and acclaimed career left so many classics for fans to revisit and discover for the first time. From light-hearted comedies to intense dramas to exciting Western adventures, there was no genre or role Newman couldn't step into and still remain his charismatic and compelling self.
Hud (1963) - 83%
- Available to stream on Prime Video and Kanopy
Though Newman was one of the most popular actors in Hollywood, he was never afraid of more complicated and flawed characters such as in Hud. The movie tells the story of Newman's titular character the alcoholic son of a hardworking rancher who struggles with guilt over a past accident.
Newman created one of his most ruthless characters while also making Hud a character who audiences were fascinated by. It made for an engrossing Western drama that showcased the actor's darker side with an Oscar-nominated performance.
Slap Shot (1977) - 85%
- Available to stream on fubo TV, Showtime, DIRECTV and Spectrum On Demand
There is a perception of Newman as a revered Hollywood legend, but he was also known to take on some sillier roles. Slap Shot is perhaps his funniest movie where he really embraces his funny side in a movie that ranks among the most hilarious sports comedies of all time.
Newman plays the captain of a failing hockey team who realizes that they can find success in brawling their way through their games. It is a classic in the eyes of hockey fans and it is so much fun seeing Newman take on a role like this.
Fort Apache The Bronx (1981) - 86%
- No streaming options available
Newman's reputation in classic Western movies was put to good use in this modern crime story that took inspiration from that genre. Fort Apache the Bronx tells the story of a police precinct in the New York neighborhood nicknamed Fort Apache as it seemed like an outpost in enemy territory.
Newman plays a hardened and cynical detective who nevertheless has a strong sense of justice. It made for a gritty and grounded police story that has gone under the radar for most fans.
The Verdict (1982) - 88%
- Available to rent on Apple iTunes
Newman teamed with another iconic Hollywood figure, Sidney Lumet, for this riveting courtroom drama. In The Verdict, Newman plays an alcoholic, washed-up lawyer who is brought in to settle a big case but finds himself willing to fight for seeing real justice delivered.
The role is a perfect one for Newman, with shades of good and bad to this complex character the actor carefully builds. Newman's performance, the sharp and intelligent script, and Lumet's tense direction made this a classic courtroom thriller in the eyes of many critics.
The Color Of Money (1986) - 89%
- Available to rent on Apple iTunes
Newman reprised one of his most famous roles in The Color of Money, returning as Fast Eddie in this Martin Scorsese sequel years after the original. Now older and not the best anymore, Eddie sets his sights on training a talented yet arrogant young pool player (Tom Cruise) how to be a pool hall hustler.
It's interesting to see Newman back in a role that kick-started his career as a leading man and bringing years of experience with him. Critics were quick to point out that the film doesn't live up to the original, but the fun performances from Newman and Cruise and Scorsese's direction make it an enjoyable sequel.
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969) - 89%
- Available to stream on Prime Video, The Roku Channel and Criterion Channel
While the Western genre was still going strong at the time with classic stars like John Wayne, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid changed the genre forever. This rollicking adventure film finds the two titular outlaws looking for their next big scores while trying to evade the law.
Newman and Robert Redford made an instantly iconic on-screen duo who audiences fell in love with. Critics were equally charmed by their partnership as well as the film's fun energy. They pointed to the humor, the antiheroes, and the film's light approach as helping to make it a masterpiece.
The Left Handed Gun (1958) - 90%
- Available to rent on Apple iTunes
While Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid might be a classic Western in Newman's filmography, fans might not be as familiar with another of his acclaimed Western outings. The Left Handed Gun is directed by Hollywood legend Arthur Penn and starring Newman as the infamous outlaw, Billy the Kid.
The movie certainly buys into the folk hero persona of Billy the Kid, making him a sympathetic anti-hero out to avenge the death of his friend. But it made for a great starring role for Newman's early career.
Nobody's Fool (1994) - 91%
- Available to stream on Max Go, DIRECTV and Cinemax Amazon Channel
Given how charming and likable Newman is off-screen, it can be fun to see him play characters of questionable moral fiber. In Nobody's Fool, Newman stars as a reckless and irresponsible older man with no real connections in life whose long-lost son suddenly comes back into his life.
The film is a simple and charming story with a superb cast which included Bruce Willis, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Melanie Griffith. But the real thing that impressed critics was how the film served as a perfect vehicle for one of Newman's best performances.
Hombre (1967) - 93%
- Available to rent on Apple iTunes
Newman made another splash in the Western genre with this adventure film based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. Hombre finds Newman playing John Russell, a man raised by Native Americans and thus an outsider in the white community. When a stagecoach of strangers is attacked by outlaws, he is the only one who can save them.
Newman made for a dashing and intense hero, while the sharp writing set the film apart in the genre. It was one of the Westerns that ushered in a new era of revisionist Western films.
The Sting (93%)
- Available to stream on Tubi TV
In 1973, Newman and Redford realigned their immense star power for another incredibly fun film. In The Sting, Redford stars as a con artist who gets on the wrong side of a deadly gangster. After facing deadly repercussions, the young conman teams with a seasoned pro (Newman) to pull a long con on the gangster.
Once again, Newman and Redford made for an immensely likable team, playing perfectly off one another. The film was praised for its humor as well as a few very fun twists that kept the audience on their toes for this clever romp.
