My Favorite Bill Murray Performances

12.

Bob Harris, Lost in Translation



I hated this movie, but I LOVED this performance, which earned Murray his only Oscar nomination. I'm sure some would have rated this higher and if that's true, I'll be looking forward to your list.

#1!!

Do you think he's sexy, Gideon?

11.

Grimm, Quick Change



Murray played a slick former government employee who robs a bank dressed like a clown but then has trouble making his getaway.

10.

Herman Blume, Rushmore



Murray should have received an Oscar nomination for his performance as a college professor with a very questionable moral compass.

Bill Murray? Absolutely!

Lost in Translation would easily be my #1, i totally understand that film and thus the performance not working for some though.

His performance in Rushmore would make my top ten and i'm not even sure why, i think i kind of overrate him in it because i like his character so much.

Yah, Bill is hot

I'd have Rushmore pretty high up, still need to see Lost in Translation.

I'm pretty sure you're not the only one who would have had Lost in Translation at #1, but like I said, I didn't like the movie, which affected the rating. His performance is brilliant, I just didn't like the movie and could not rate it any higher than I did.

9.

Steve Zissou, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou



Murray's charismatic performance dominates this Wes Anderson oddity about an oceanographer and filmmaker who embarks on a journey to exact revenge on a shark, that may or may not exist, that he believes ate his best friend (Seymour Cassell) while dealing with a long lost grown son (Owen Wilson) and a pregnant reporter (Cate Blanchett).

His performance in Lost in Translation really wasnt anywhere near his best one. Murray was so disillusioned with Sofia Coppolla he tried to get her fired even. IMO Groundhog Day was his best performance. What emotion didnt he show in that movie? It was a role that could have ended a lesser talented actors career it was so demanding, and he owned it.

8.

Frank Milo, Mad Dog and Glory



Murray was surprisingly effective in this little seen drama as a mob boss who finds himself indebted to a photographer (Robert De Niro) who saved his life.

7.

Himself, Zombieland



Murray has a very funny cameo as himself, hiding out in his mansion in zombie makeup for extra protection. Love when Abigail Breslin asks him if he has any regrets and he says, "I don't know, Garfield maybe."

6.

Carl, Caddyshack



"Great big gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts."

5.

Himself, Space Jam



Even though the way Murray ends up in this story makes no sense at all, Murray makes the most of it and gets every laugh he can out of his time onscreen.

4.

Bob Wylie, What About Bob?



Bob Wylie is a hot mess of phobias and fears who invades the personal life of his new psychiatrist (Richard Dreyfuss) beyond the comfort zone. I have to admit I was upset when I learned about a year ago that Murray and Dreyfuss did not get along during the making of this movie because it sure didn't show onscreen or maybe it's the reason the movie worked so well.

3.

Jeff Slater, Tootsie



Murray refused opening credit and stole every scene he was in in this Oscar winning classic...stealing scenes from Dustin Hoffman is no easy thing, but Murray made it look very easy.

2.

Phil Conners, Groundhog Day



Aided by a brilliant screenplay, Murray gives a razor sharp performance as a television reporter who is sent to Puxatawney, PA to cover the annual ceremony there and ends up stuck in a time warp where he keeps waking up and every day is still Groundhog's Day. It's Murray's performance that makes this off the wall cinematic premise viable comic material.


Well, down to #2...I'm not even going to try to create any suspense here, # 1 is a given...my # 1 Bill Murray performance:

1.

Dr. Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters



No surprise here...a perfect comic performance that even outdid some state of the art special effects (for 1984)...funny, smart, and yes, I'll say it...unbelievable sexy. I think this performance was also near the top of my Oscar-worthy comedy performances too.





Hope you enjoyed the list.