Matthew McConaughey has built a fascinating career for himself, from staring in romantic movies to performing in Oscar-winning indie films. TechTrends decided to make a list of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time to celebrate his outstanding career.
Everyone knows who Matthew McConaughey is as he is a legend in the film industry for his amazing roles in many hit movies he acted in. He has been successful in earning his status as one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Not only is he great in acting, but he is also teaching at the University of Texas and assists those who are keen on pursuing a career in this industry. This amazing actor is full of surprises when it comes to the range of movies he play in. Despite the ups and downs he had in his career, he was able to make a name for himself and become a well-known and respected actor.
TechTrends put together a list of the best must-see Matthew McConaughey performances that you do not want to miss. The list is ranked based on the movies’ ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Let’s get started.
Best Matthew McConaughey Movies of All Time
This Texas born star rose to prominence in the 1990s when he collaborated with some very talented and famous directors. He proved over and over how versatile he can be in his roles as he played well in comedic, dramatic, and action movies. Although he had some down times and he did hurt his reputation during his career, he was able to turn things around quickly and continue shining as a star in the 2010s. Moreover, he won an Academy Award for his performance in the movie “Dallas Buyers Club”. Without further ado, let’s get to the list of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time.
12. Killer Joe 2011
- Genre: Thriller/Crime
- Director: William Friedkin
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Juno Temple, Gina Gershon, Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Church
- Rating: IMDb 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
The movie Killer Joe is based on a play written by Tracy Letts and it happens in a trailer park in Texas. Emile Hirsch plays the role of a young drug dealer named Chris gets in trouble, he asks his father for help. Ansel is the father, with the character being played by Thomas Hayden Church, who has a wife named Sharla, portrayed by Gina Gershon, and a daughter named Dottie (Juno Smith). Chris shares his idea with the family, saying that if they stage Ansel’s first wife’s death, they can get the insurance money. McConaughey plays the charismatic role of a veteran troublemaker named Joe. He attempts to push other characters to make decisions that are not in their self-interest. This is among the best Matthew McConaughey films of all time.
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11. Bernie 2011
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Director: Richard Linklater
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Rick Dial
- Rating: IMDb 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
In the movie Bernie, Matthew McConaughey collaborated with director Richard Linklater and they did not disappoint. The amazing actor was able to show his funny, violent, and oddly touching sides in this movie. Jack Black plays the titular character Bernie, who murders his older companion Marjorie Nugent, portrayed by Shirley MacLaine. Everyone loves Bernie and when he gets accused of killing someone, everyone rises to his defend. McConaughey portrays the role of Danny Buck Davidson who is the local attorney. He puts Bernie on trial and he finds himself in a no-win scenario as the accused has people’s support and they don’t care if he had committed the crime. Bernie is another one of the greatest Matthew McConaughey roles of all time.
10. The Lincoln Lawyer 2011
- Genre: Thriller/Crime
- Director: Brad Furman
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, Josh Lucas, Katherine Moennig
- Rating: IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 83%
The Lincoln Lawyer tells the tale of Mick Haller, played by McConaughey, who is a lawyer working out of the back of his Lincoln. Louis Roulet, portrayed by Ryan Phillippe, wants him to defend him in a case regarding assault. Haller, however, finds out that there is a lot more to the story than the wealthy Roulet is letting him know. This crime-drama is very riveting and McConaughey was able to shine once again with his charismatic performance. This is another one of the best Matthew McConaughey films ever.
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9. A Time to Kill 1996
- Genre: Drama/Thriller
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland
- Rating: IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 68%
In the 90s, Matthew McConaughey played the role of a lawyer who defended the man who murdered two other men. Those two were behind brutally killing his daughter. A Time to Kill depicts the realities of that time and how equality was not enforced. McConaughey performed impressively well in his role and helped the movie earn a lot of critical acclaim. although he wanted to originally audition for a smaller role in the film, the movie director convinced him to audition for Jake Brigance, the bigger role. He starred alongside Sandra Bullock and Samuel L. Jackson. A Time to Kill then became another one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies ever.
8. Contact 1997
- Genre: Sci-fi
- Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jodie Foster, Jena Malone, Tom Skerritt
- Rating: IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 68%
Another one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time which dives deeper in his filmography is Contact, which revolves around the notion of the extraterrestrial life’s existence. McConaughey performs as Palmer Joss, who is an author and philosopher. He does not believe that Dr. Ellie Arroway’s findings are true. Jodie Foster and McConaughey are love interests in the movie and notwithstanding their differences in what they believe in, they still fall in love with each other. Dr. Arroway wants to be the first person to contact these beings and she performs outstandingly alongside McConaughey.
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7. Mud 2012
- Genre: Drama/Indie film
- Director: Jeff Nichols
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Reese Witherspoon, Bonnie Sturdivant, Sarah Paulson
- Rating: IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 97%
In the movie Mud, which is yet another one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time, he performs the role of a man called Mud. He lives on an island located on the Mississippi River and he is accused of killing someone, so the law is hunting him. However, he is determined to get back to the love of his live and when two boys find him, they decide to help him for his love. On the journey, they themselves figure this feeling out. Mud will keep the audience on the edge of their seat with its action and suspense and McConaughey’s performance is thrilling as usual.
6. Dazed and Confused 1993
- Genre: Comedy/Teen
- Director: Richard Linklater
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jason London, Parker Posey, Ben Affleck
- Rating: IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
The now-famous actors gathered together in cinema’s most memorable ensembles in the movie Dazed and Confused in 1993. A group of teenagers are happy on the final day of school, celebrating it with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It was in this movie that McConaughey originated his catchphrase “alright, alright, alright”. He performs as Wooderson and many believe that this was his breakout role in the film industry. Affleck plays the role of O’Bannion, the bully of the town. Enjoy watching these super chill friends, as this is one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time.
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5. Kubo and the Two Strings 2016
- Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
- Director: Travis Knight
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara
- Rating: IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 97%
Another one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time is an animated film that revolves around the story of young Kubo, who embarks upon a journey to find a suit that his father wore. The suit is magical and he wants to use it to go against an angry spirit as he will become a legendary samurai warrior once he wears the suit. McConaughey is the voice behind a comedic character named Beetle. He decides to join the main character on his trip. Although many consider voice acting to be a harder job, McConaughey did it with great ease and helped the movie earn great rating from the audience as well as the critics.
4. The Gentlemen 2019
- Genre: Crime/Action
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery
- Rating: IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 75%
Matthew McConaughey portrays the role of Mickey Pearson in the movie The Gentlemen. He has a marijuana empire in London, but when he decides to leave the business, things begin to take a turn. In addition, the film is filled with blackmail, bribery, and vile schemes that make it engaging and entertaining to watch. McConaughey stars alongside a knockout cast, including Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam, and Michelle Dockery. The story revolves around drug deals gone wrong, with Pearson at the center of it all. During a social gathering, Pearson ignores an editor named Big Dave, portrayed by Eddie Marsden, and the latter becomes furious and gets a reporter to investigate the incident. The Gentlemen is another one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time, so make sure to add it to your watch list.
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3. Dallas Buyers Club 2013
- Genre: Drama/History
- Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Dallas Roberts, Craig Borten, Steve Zahn
- Rating: IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Dallas Buyers Club is set in 1985 and tells the story of Ron Woodroof, who is a bull rider. Ron gets diagnosed with AIDS and he has about a month to live. Therefore, he starts a journey to find the drug that may save his life. While selling a potential cure to other patients in the country, he turns out to be a drug dealer. He then feels a lot of pain as the government are looking for a way to stop him from helping other people. McConaughey had to lose a lot of weight for this character and he did an impressive job of bringing this true story to the screen. Moreover, his magnificent performance in the movie Dallas Buyers Club as the main character brought him an Oscar and it became of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time.
2. The Wolf of Wall Street 2013
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 80%, IMDb 8.2
Matthew McConaughey worked with Martin Scorsese in the movie the Wolf of Wall Street alongside well-known actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Margot Robbie. Moreover, DiCaprio performed the role of Jordan Belfort, the real-life stockbroker. Belfort’s fraudulent practices helped him gain a fortune but he spent it on sex and drugs. McConaughey portrays the role of Mark Hanna, who is Belfort’s boss. He is also the one who entices him in the lifestyle of drugs and sex. The movie was a big hit when it was released in 2013 and many fans believe it is one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time although he is not the main character of the film. It is worth watching if you haven’t watched it already.
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1. Interstellar 2014
- Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Timothee Chalamet, Anne Hathaway, Mackenzie Foy, Michael Caine, Matt Damon
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 73%, IMDb 8.6
Interstellar is a space epic directed by Christopher Nolan. Moreover, the imagery is breathtaking to look at, and the scientific theories are brought to life in the movie. Matthew McConaughey is the main character of the movie, and he is an astronaut. He is sent into space to find a new planet that can be suitable for sustaining human life. Jessica Chastain plays her daughter’s role as an adult. She is able to accomplish a lot, notwithstanding the fact that her father left them when she was a child to go on a mission through a wormhole in space. Her character is Murphy Cooper, who works for the NASA project, but she is dealing with unspeakable grief of his father’s departure. In addition, this sci-fi film has earned a lot of critical acclaim and became one of the best Matthew McConaughey movies of all time.
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