Top 15 Best Bruce Willis Movies

In first place is 12 Monkeys, a fascinating, dystopian sci-fi film directed by Terry Gilliam. Willis plays James Cole, a prisoner from the future sent back in time to gather information about a virus that nearly wiped out humanity. The film is both an intense character study and a paranoid, visually overwhelming trip. Cole is one of Willis' most layered roles: determined, disoriented and traumatized all at once, supported by strong co-stars Brad Pitt and Madeleine Stowe.

With Die Hard, Bruce Willis broke through for good as an action hero. John McClane, an ordinary New York cop, gets caught up in a hostage situation at Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. His cynical humor, determination and improvisation made McClane an unforgettable hero. The combination of hard action, snappy one-liners ('Yippee-ki-yay') and McClane's vulnerability, with his cut-up feet and growing exhaustion, created a completely new kind of action hero, far removed from the invincible musclemen of the time.

One of Willis' early forays into serious drama. He plays Emmett Smith, a Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress, whose niece (Emily Lloyd) wants to know more about her father who died in the war. Willis exposes the physical and emotional scars of a soldier with a vulnerability rarely seen in his other films. Proof of his abilities as a dramatic actor.

M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense was a massive hit with six Oscar nominations. Willis plays introverted child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe, who helps a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to see ghosts. It's one of Willis' most restrained and emotionally nuanced performances, and the subtle build-up of his acting is what makes the famous ending so powerful.

Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction is one of the most influential films of the 90s. Willis plays Butch Coolidge, a boxer who refuses to throw a fight as mob boss Marsellus Wallace ordered, setting off a chain of bizarre and violent encounters. Willis is perfectly cast as the stoic, stubborn Butch, and the film brought him critical acclaim and a wider cult status.

In this comic heist film, Willis shares the screen with Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett. He plays Joe Blake, a charming, impulsive bank robber who, with his partner, develops an unorthodox method: spending the night at bank managers' homes to make them open the vault in the morning. Willis clearly has fun as the spontaneous outlaw opposite Thornton's neurotic hypochondriac.

The Siege is a thriller that turned out eerily prescient, tackling terrorism and restrictions on freedom in the US. Willis plays General William Devereaux, who declares martial law when New York is hit by a series of terrorist attacks, crossing ethical and legal lines. Opposite Denzel Washington's FBI agent, Willis convincingly plays an authoritarian figure far removed from his action hero persona.

In Nobody's Fool, Willis stars opposite the legendary Paul Newman as Carl Roebuck, a headstrong contractor. The film is a quiet tragicomedy about everyday life in a small town. Willis surprises with a subtler performance full of charm and humor, and his chemistry with Newman is one of the film's highlights.

This clever sci-fi film by Rian Johnson revolves around time travel and crime. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the young Joe, while Willis plays the older version sent back in time to confront his younger self. Willis brings a weathered, hardened Joe to life, and it's fascinating to watch the interplay with Gordon-Levitt, who even matched his expressions and intonation to Willis.

In this quirky Wes Anderson film, Willis plays a surprisingly restrained role as Captain Sharp, the police chief of a small island. The film tells the story of two kids who run away together and the chaos among the adults trying to find them. It gave Willis a chance to show a softer side, and he fits Anderson's stylized world perfectly.

RED (Retired, Extremely Dangerous) is a light action film in which Willis plays Frank Moses, a retired CIA agent suddenly forced back into action. The chemistry with Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman makes for an entertaining mix of action and humor.

In the stylish neo-noir Sin City, based on Frank Miller's graphic novels, Willis plays detective John Hartigan, a hard-boiled cop with a heart condition determined to protect a young girl from a sadistic criminal. In this hyper-stylized black-and-white world, Willis keeps a human element; his weathered face fits the grim atmosphere perfectly.

Robert Zemeckis' black comedy satirizes fame and youth. Willis plays Dr. Ernest Menville, a timid plastic surgeon caught between two women (Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn) who become literally immortal. One of Willis' rare comic roles, in which he makes great use of physical acting. The film became a cult classic.

In the spectacular blockbuster Armageddon, Willis plays Harry S. Stamper, a rough but good-hearted oil driller recruited by NASA to destroy an asteroid heading for Earth. His mix of fatherly care for his daughter (Liv Tyler) and fearless courage makes Stamper one of the most beloved heroes of the disaster genre.

Willis plays FBI agent Art Jeffries, a seasoned but troubled agent with a strong moral compass. When a young autistic boy accidentally cracks a secret government code, Jeffries risks everything to protect him. Not as iconic as some of his other films, but a good showcase of how he combines action and drama.