5 best Morgan Freeman movies of all time

Morgan Freeman is a remarkable talent in Hollywood, with approximately 150 acting credits. However, several of his films surpass the rest. Freeman's initial acting roles were in the 1960s.

At that time, he played numerous uncredited roles. Surprisingly enough, he did not receive his first official acting credit until 1969, when he appeared in a single New York Television Theatre episode. It was decades later, in 1987, that he landed his breakout role in Street Smart. Freeman continued his successful career by starring in iconic films by Clint Eastwood and Christopher Nolan.

Freeman is well-known for his authoritative, and compelling performances. Throughout his career, he won a number of accolades including an Oscar for his performance in Million Dollar Baby. Other than that, his best projects received four nominations.

Best Morgan Freeman movies of all time one can’t miss

Here are the 5 best Morgan Freeman films one can’t miss as a movie buff. Be it roles like Hoke Colburn or William Somerset, Morgan Freeman has left an unfading mark in the world of acting.

The Shawshank Redemption as Ellis "Red" Redding
Driving Miss Daisy as Hoke Colburn
Unforgiven as Ned Logan
Million Dollar Baby as Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris
Se7en as William Somerset

1) The Shawshank Redemption as Ellis "Red" Redding (1994)

Clip from The Shawshank Redemption (Image via Instagram/@morganfreeman)

Freeman was known for his outstanding performances since his breakthrough. The Shawshank Redemption is not just the finest film of Morgan Freeman's career, but it is also regarded as the greatest film of all time by a significant number of fans.

Tim Robbins here portrays a convict, incarcerated for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite his protestations of innocence. Red (Freeman), another prisoner, becomes his friend. Hard to believe, but in unexpected places, the two men find hope.

Freeman and Robbins deliver career-defining performances as men who seek hope in the darkest spots, and the film is extremely emotional. One of Morgan Freeman's best films states the tale of friendship, further enriched by his intelligence, charm, and charisma. It's an intense drama, an exciting prison story, and one of the best movie endings ever.

2) Driving Miss Daisy portrayed Morgan as Hoke Colburn (1989)

Clip from Driving Miss Daisy (Image via Instagram/@morganfreeman)

Driving Miss Daisy is the film where Freeman plays Hoke Colburn. He received his second Academy Award nomination for his portrayal in the comedy-drama film Driving Miss Daisy. In the movie, Freeman plays a charming and friendly driver who is hired to chauffeur a stubborn and often difficult Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan, played by Jessica Tandy.

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Although it won the prestigious Best Picture award, Driving Miss Daisy has gained notoriety as one of the most poorly regarded films to have received this accolade. While the movie may not thoroughly explore the intricacies of race relations as it purports to, it revolves around an unexpected friendship between Freeman and Tandy. Their captivating chemistry makes the movie worthwhile.

It's hard to believe that throughout more than twenty years, the film portrays the evolution of the relationship from disdain to a profound bond of friendship.

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3) Unforgiven depicted Freeman as Ned Logan (1992)

Morgan Freeman collaborated with Clint Eastwood for the first time in a Western movie Unforgiven. This film served as Eastwood's final Western film after a lengthy career as one of the genre's most renowned icons.

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Eastwood portrays Bill Munny, a retired gunslinger, who resides on his farm with his children as a widower. Even though he had decided to retire, he comes back to his former job to investigate a group of men who have abused a sex worker. He enlists the assistance of his former friend, Ned Logan (Freeman).

Freeman's performance in the film is significant. He had a minimal screen presence and a limited amount of dialogue and Freeman's performance serves to advance the plot of the film.

This excellent satire of the Western genre and the traditional revenge story served as a fitting end to Eastwood's career as a Western hero. The film won the Best Director award for Eastwood and also took home the Best Picture award.

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4) Million Dollar Baby As Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris (2004)

After three nominations and a long career, Morgan Freeman won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor with Clint Eastwood. The narrative of Million Dollar Baby centers on Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), an elderly and irritable boxing coach who reluctantly commences the training of his first female fighter, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank). Freeman serves as the narrator and a supporting character.

Morgan Freeman's role in the film was influenced by his impressive voice. He portrays the quiet and loyal friend who assists Frankie at the gym, and he also narrates the story for the audience.

Morgan Freeman's performance is once again powerful as he shapes the narrative, which begins as a powerful and inspiring sports story and ultimately transforms into a touching tale of a surrogate family. However, the third act takes a tragic turn, leaving the audience with a profound experience.

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5) Se7en As William Somerset (1995)

The narrative of Se7en offers a somber reimagining of the conventional plot centered around a senior law enforcement officer nearing the end of his career. A zealous and impulsive young detective is tasked with replacing him.

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This film centers around a malevolent serial killer and their exhilarating pursuit. Morgan Freeman takes on the role of the experienced detective in the film Se7en, while Brad Pitt plays the character of Mills, a young and less seasoned detective. When the pair attempts to find a killer, they use different approaches to apprehend the culprit, who is selecting victims based on the Seven Deadly Sins.

Pitt's character exhibits impulsiveness and high energy, while Freeman portrays Detective Somerset with a more deliberate and calculated approach. Freeman's distinctive voice adds significance to all his words in this movie.

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When combined with the religious aspects, Freeman becomes the embodiment of rationality and optimism in the midst of cruelty and hardship. David Fincher's thriller is a remarkable and enduring encounter, with Se7en's jolting conclusion standing as one of the most memorable in the annals of cinema.

Over the course of his 60-year career, Morgan Freeman has consistently demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the finest performers of all time.

Edited by Bharath S