F. Murray Abrahamhas been an actor since the 1970s and rose to fame with his role as Antonio Salieri in the filmAmadeus(1984). For his work spanning decades, Abraham has received accolades, awards and nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Obie Awards, Critics Awards, and more. He has also garnered recognition and awards for his work performing in theater and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2015.
Abraham has continued working as an actor in television and films throughout the years, andrecently starred inMoon KnightandThe White Lotus(2022). The list below includes F. Murray Abraham’s best movies as ranked by ratings, reviews, box-office earnings, accolades, and awards received, including each film’s cinematic impact. From his early roles and career beginnings, to his current performances and success as an actor, here are F. Murray Abraham’s all-time best movies ranked.
10Joshua (2002)
Joshuais a drama film about a mysterious man who begins to change the lives of everyone he meets by merely interacting with them. Abraham appears inJoshuaas Father Tordone, a church member who hires Joshua to carve a statue but becomes suspicious of his abilities and motives.Joshuawas considered a failure at the box-office for total earnings and low-budget production, but received mixed reviews from critics, and a 77% audience score.
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9Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Star Trek: Insurrectionis a science fiction film about the USS Enterprise-E crew rebelling against Starfleet to steal Ba’ku’s planet for its rejuvenating resources. Abraham stars inStar Trek: Insurrectionas Ru’afo, the exiled leader of the Son’a, who betrayed the Ba’ku in objection to the species' anti-technology policy.Star Trek: Insurrectionearned accolades and awards including the International Film Music Critics Awards' Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film, and more.
8Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Inside Llewyn Davisis aperiodical comedy music drama filmabout the life of Llewyn Davis, a folk singer struggling to achieve musical success. Abraham appears in the film as Bud Grossman, co-founder of Chicago’s Gate of Horn Club and one of the most prominent managers in folk music. The film was nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, voted 11th-best film released since 2000, and ranked as “50 Best Movies of the 2010s”.
7The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The Grand Budapest Hotelis a comedy-drama film aboutsolving the murder investigationof a wealthy dowager that occurs at a twentieth-century mountainside resort. Abraham appears in the movie as Zero, the owner who visits the deceased’s estate and steals a priceless Renaissance painting he hides at the resort.The Grand Budapest Hotelreceived accolades and awards for craftsmanship, acting, cinematography, editing, costumes, makeup, production design, direction, musical score, visuals, screenplay, comedy, and more.
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6Goltzius and the Pelican Company (2012)
Goltzius and the Pelican Companyis a historical film about the life of Hendrik Goltzius, a late 16th-century Dutch printer and engraver of erotica. Abraham appears in the film as the Margrave of Alsace, who is convinced by Goltzius into providing funding for a printing press to publish illustrated books. Peter Greenaway earned the Federazione Italiana Cinema d’Essai award for Best European Director and nominations for Best Motion Picture at the Catalan International Film Festival.
5All the President’s Men (1976)
All the President’s Menis a biological political drama-thriller film about journalists investigating the Watergate scandal that evoked the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Abraham appears as Sergeant Paul Leeper, an officer traveling to Georgetown when receiving a dispatch of “open doors” and a possible burglary at the Watergate complex. The film received accolades, awards, and was preserved in the Library of Congress' United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
4The Big Fix (1978)
The Big Fixis a political comedy-thriller film about a private investigator who reveals the involvement of a campaign coordinator rigging an election. Abraham appears inThe Big Fixas Howard Eppis, a member of the notorious radical group the California Four, who has been in hiding for years.The Big Fixreceived positive critical reviews, an audience score of 51%, and was nominated for the 1979 Edgar Allan Poe Awards' Best Motion Picture.
3The Name of the Rose (1986)
The Name of the Roseis a historical mystery film about a Franciscan friar who is summoned to solve a murder in a medieval abbey. Abraham stars inThe Name of the Roseas Bernardo Gui, an inquisitor of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as a torturer and interrogator. The film received mixed to positive reviews and earned the César Award for Best Foreign Film and BAFTA’s Best Actor and Best Makeup Artist.
2Amadeus (1984)
Amadeusis a biographical drama film about when Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart left Salzburg, conveyed as a “fantasia on the theme of Mozart and Salieri”. Abraham stars in Amadeus as Antonio Salieri, who is committed to a psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt and confesses to murdering Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Amadeus received nominations for 53 awards, winning 40 of them, including Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Directors Guild of America awards, and more.
1Scarface (1983)
Scarfaceis a film about a Cuban refugee in Miami during the Mariel boat lift, who attains wealth andpower by becoming a drug lord. Abraham stars inScarfaceportraying Omar Suarez, the right-hand man of drug lord Frank Lopez, and the quaternary antagonist, suspected of conspiring with law enforcement.Al Pacino said in Vulture, “When Scarface first came out, it was extremely controversial… But it stays in our lexicon… It’s part of our culture.”
