Though he's got stiff competition, Jeff Goldblum might be one of Hollywood’s quirkiest leading men. Goldblum’s birthday is October 22, and and a binge-watch of his most memorable performances is the perfect way to honor the veteran actor, who's turning 66 this year.
Goldblum has proven his range across many genres, from mega action blockbusters to oddball comedies to several Wes Anderson films (a perfect pairing). Here are five of the best movies to stream to celebrate Jeff Goldblum’s birthday.
1. The Fly
While Goldblum notched movies like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” on his early resume, it was David Cronenberg’s 1986 sci-fi horror movie that really made him a star. He was perfectly cast as the eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, whose experiments on teleportation go terribly wrong and turn him into the titular Fly. The movie received raves for its special effects and Goldblum’s manic performance. And it served notice to the world that a new kind of leading man was on the rise.
“The Fly” is available to stream on Hulu.
2. The Big Chill
Before “The Fly,” Goldblum was part of the excellent ensemble cast in Lawrence Kasdan’s 1983 comedy about a group of friends attending the funeral of one of their own. Goldblum was a bit more subdued in the movie than he usually is, playing a People magazine reporter. But his chemistry with the rest of the cast — including Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, and Mary Kay Place — was electric, and the movie was an instant classic.
“The Big Chill” is available to rent or purchase on Amazon.
3. Jurassic Park
Once again playing an eccentric scientist, Goldblum’s wry delivery of Dr. Ian Malcolm’s many zingers almost stole the show from Steven Spielberg’s hulking dinosaurs. “I’m fairly alarmed here,” he deadpanned while a Tyrannosaurus Rex rampaged on the loose. Goldblum was such a standout that the sequel “The Lost World” put Dr. Malcolm front and center.
“Jurassic Park” is available to stream on Netflix.
4. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
It seemed like destiny for Goldblum to hook up with a filmmaker just as delightfully quirky as he is, in Wes Anderson. Their first collaboration was this 2004 comedy, in which Goldblum played the suave and sophisticated Alistair Hennessey, the more successful nemesis of Bill Murray’s titular oceanographer. Here, it’s Murray who is deadpan, while Goldblum is his charming, smooth foil. The success of “Life Aquatic” led to Goldblum and Anderson teaming up again for 2014’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and 2018’s stop-motion animated “Isle of Dogs.”
“The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” is available to rent or purchase on Amazon.
5. Thor: Ragnarok
There’s a reason the 2017 superhero flick is considered the funniest of all the Marvel movies. Yes, it’s due to director Taika Waititi‘s goofy sense of humor, but also thanks to Goldblum’s over-the-top, wonderfully insane performance as the antagonist Grandmaster. In fact, Waititi refrained from putting Goldblum in blue makeup, as the character appears in the comics, because he wanted the actor to be at his Jeff Goldblum-iest.
“Thor: Ragnarok” is available to stream on Netflix.
