Bill Pullman: The Independence Day Actor’s 10 Best Movies Ranked

Summary

• Bill Pullman is a versatile actor, known for his likable and earnest performances in a wide range of genres.
• Pullman shines in roles like Peter Kirk in The Grudge, showing his talent for portraying complex characters in horror.
• Pullman’s standout performances, such as President Whitmore in Independence Day, have solidified his status as a Hollywood actor.

Bill Pullman has had a film career that’s taken him from romantic comedies to science fiction action blockbusters, classic Westerns to Japanese horror, and everything in between. Pullman has had an impressive career on stage and on television, but it’s his movie roles that have made him a household name for over three decades. Though his movie performances have never been nominated for a major acting award, he’s still managed to carve out a space for himself in Hollywood as an actor who can appear in any kind of movie.

Pullman is an extremely likable actor. Even when he’s playing unsavory characters, there’s still an earnestness and honesty to his performances, as seen in 2023’s Murdaugh Mysteries: The Movie, in which he played real-life convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh. Whether he’s the leading man, a supporting character, or a total villain, Pullman always brings his A-game. His first movie role came in the 1986 black comedy Ruthless People, and until 2021, there was only a single year without a Bill Pullman movie. In that time, he’s had a lot of great performances.

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Related Independence Day Cast & Where Are They Now

Independence Day was one of the most influential blockbusters of the 1990s thanks to its impressive cast of stars, many of whose careers skyrocketed.

10 The Grudge (2004)

Peter Kirk

The Grudge (2004) PG-13HorrorMysteryThriller

The Grudge is a 2004 remake of the popular Japanese horror film Ju-On: The Grudge. The film stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, and Clea DuVall. The Grudge follows Gellar’s character, a nurse in Tokyo who becomes victim to a deadly supernatural curse. The movie was directed by The Grudge creator Takashi Shimizu.

Director Takashi Shimizu Release Date October 22, 2004 Cast Sarah Michelle Gellar , Jason Behr , Clea DuVall , William Mapother Runtime 91 Minutes Budget $10 Million

The Grudge is one of the creepiest horror movies of all time, and with all the frightening imagery and horrific deaths, it’s easy to forget that Bill Pullman had a significant role in the 2001 flashbacks of the film. Pullman co-stars as Peter Kirk, a college professor who Kayako Saeki (Takako Fuji) is infatuated with to the point of obsession. When Kayako’s husband finds her letters to Peter, he kills her, their son, and himself, creating the sinister ghosts of the movie. Upon discovering the massacre, Peter takes his own life as well.

This is one of the few pure horror movies in Pullman’s filmography and he handles himself like a veteran in the American remake of the Japanese classic. He’s charming enough that it makes sense Kayako would fall in love with him, but he’s dignified enough that it’s clear he isn’t at fault for egging her on. His horror at finding the Saeki family is disturbing, as his desperate, despondent death when he suddenly throws himself off the balcony.

9 Battle Of The Sexes (2017)

Jack Kramer

Battle of the Sexes PG-13BiographyComedyDocumentaryHistorySport Where to Watch

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Battle of the Sexes is a sports drama directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The film stars Emma Stone as Billie Jean King and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs, chronicling the famous 1973 tennis match between the two. 

Director Jonathan Dayton , Valerie Faris Release Date September 22, 2017 Cast Andrea Riseborough , Elisabeth Shue , Martha MacIsaac , Steve Carell , Sarah Silverman , Alan Cumming , Eric Christian Olsen , Natalie Morales , Emma Stone , Austin Stowell Runtime 121 minutes

Loosely based on the real-life 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, Battle of the Sexes stars Emma Stone as King and Steve Carell as Riggs. Bill Pullman costars as Jack Kramer, a real-life former tennis player and now match promoter who is paying male athletes sometimes eight times more than he is female athletes.

Pullman plays Kramer as a sputtering, back-tracking promoter and the early scene of him trying to delicately spar with King about why he pays men more is as impressive as it is infuriating.

Pullman plays Kramer as a sputtering, back-tracking promoter and the early scene of him trying to delicately spar with King about why he pays men more is as impressive as it is infuriating. He’s a slimy person, not one of Pullman’s usual character types, but his charming smile works well as a snobby sneer. It’s a character that many people have met in their professional lives, someone hampering their efforts while refusing to explain exactly why they are causing so much grief.

8 A League Of Their Own (1992)

Bob Hinson

A League Of Their Own (1992) PGComedyDramaSports

A League of Their Own is a comedy sports drama directed by Penny Marshall that was released in 1992. As professional Major League Baseball’s player count dwindles following World War II, the Chicago Cubs owner helps build a women’s league to save the sport. Now, hoping to make it big, the women of the new team must face off against fellow rival all-female teams and prejudice against their gender.

Director Penny Marshall Release Date July 1, 1992 Cast Tom Hanks , Geena Davis , Madonna , Lori Petty , Rosie O’Donnell , Megan Cavanagh , Ann Cusack , Anne Ramsay Runtime 128 Minutes Budget $40 Million

A League of Their Own is filled with a stand-out cast of award-winning actors playing the real-life Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) which formed when World War II paused the MLB. It would be easy for a supporting character like Bob Hinson (Bill Pullman) to get lost among Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell, but Pullman makes Bob stand out even with a smaller part.

Bob is Dottie’s husband, back from the war after suffering an injury. He’s kind and supportive and doesn’t ask Dottie to quit the Peaches, but she does anyway to help him recover. When she returns to the field, it’s suggested that Bob helped his wife realize she had to play in the final game. In a film filled with men who don’t take the Peaches seriously, Bob stands out as someone who respects his wife for who she is and wants what’s best for her, as she does for him.

7 Casper (1995)

Dr. James Harvey

Casper PGComedyFamilyFantasy Where to Watch

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*Availability in US Director Brad Silberling Release Date May 26, 1995 Cast Bill Pullman , Christina Ricci , Eric Idle , Ben Stein , Chauncey Leopardi , Spencer Vrooman Runtime 100 minutes Budget $50 million

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Based on the comic character “Casper the Friendly Ghost”, the 1995 supernatural fantasy movie Casper depicts the efforts of Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) to uncover why Casper and his ghostly uncles are so set on haunting a mansion that has been willed to the greedy Carrigan (Cathy Moriarty). For a film that’s ostensibly for families, Casper is a very dark movie with many characters dying or contemplating death and the afterlife.

Dr. James Harvey is named for Harvey Comics, the comic book publisher who created Casper and Richie Rich among other classic characters.

It’s a deep and complex role for Pullman, even if many scenes see him getting childishly pranked by the ghosts in the mansion. He’s a man grieving his deceased wife, trying to take care of his daughter Cat (Christina Ricci), and attempting to help the ghosts even when they seem not to want him there. Casper is an incredibly fun movie even with all the grimness, and Pullman bounces between levity and seriousness with ease, making sure the movie never strikes the wrong tone.

6 The Ballad Of Lefty Brown (2017)

Lefty Brown

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*Availability in US Director Jared Moshe Release Date December 15, 2017 Cast Bill Pullman , Peter Fonda , Kathy Baker Runtime 1h 51m

Bill Pullman stars as the titular character in the 2017 Western, The Ballad of Lefty Brown. Directed by Jared Moshe, The Ballad of Lefty Brown follows Lefty, an elderly lawman in 1889 Montana. Lefty is caught up in a local government conspiracy that sees his friend Ed (Peter Fonda) killed. Striking out on his own, Lefty decides that he needs to be the hero rather than the sidekick for once if he wants to avenge his friend.

It’s a classic Western tale, with beautiful vistas, gruff faces, and authentic-sounding dialogue, particularly coming from Pullman. It’s a bold character for Pullman to play because Lefty is not a hero, and he’s not a villain. He’s a man who has never really done much with his life and now has to go out and write his own story at an old age. Pullman doesn’t come off with bravado or confidence; he plays the character as afraid but with an inner strength that proves more impressive as the film goes on.

5 Sleepless In Seattle (1993)

Walter Jackson

Sleepless In Seattle (1993) PGComedyDramaRomance Where to Watch

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Sleepless in Seattle is a romantic comedy directed by Nora Ephron, featuring Tom Hanks as Sam Baldwin, a widower whose young son calls a radio show in an attempt to find his father a new partner. Meg Ryan stars as Annie Reed, a journalist intrigued by the story. The film explores themes of love and destiny against the backdrop of two people connecting across states without ever having met.

Director Nora Ephron Release Date June 24, 1993 Cast Meg Ryan , Tom Hanks , Ross Malinger , Bill Pullman , Rosie O’Donnell Runtime 105 Minutes Budget 21000000.0

It’s no easy job to co-star in a ’90s romantic comedy with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and not be completely forgotten in the face of their electric chemistry, particularly in a movie as timeless as Sleepless in Seattle. Bill Pullman plays Walter Jackson, Annie Reed’s (Ryan) fiancé. Walter is not some jealous lover whom the audience immediately doesn’t want to like. He’s a very sweet and caring man. When he has dinner with Annie at the end of the movie, he confidently and kindly accepts that they can’t be together.

Pullman uses all his charm in the role, which is critical to the movie because it has to be believable that Annie would remain his fiancé. Walter’s speech regarding marriage and expectations is moving and wisely stated. He even manages a joke while Annie is ending things that leaves their relationship on a high note and ensures the romance between Sam (Hanks) and Annie isn’t built on a bad breakup.

4 Spaceballs (1987)

Lone Starr

Spaceballs PGAdventure Sci-FiComedy Where to Watch

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Directed by Mel Brooks, Spaceballs parodies a number of beloved science fiction classics, most notably Star Wars. The film stars Bill Pullman as Lone Starr, a mercenary who helps rescue Princess Vespa from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs who wish to use her as a ransom. While on the run, Lone Starr, Vespa, and company are pursued by Spaceball commanders Dark Helmet and Colonel Sandurz, whose bumbling attempts to retrieve Vespa make up much of the comedy of the film. Bill Pullman stars as Lone Starr, with a further cast that includes Rick Moranis, John Candy, Daphne Zuniga, and Joan Rivers. 

Director Mel Brooks Release Date June 24, 1987 Cast John Candy , Daphne Zuniga , Mel Brooks , Rick Moranis , Bill Pullman Runtime 96 minutes Budget $22.7 million

Spaceballs was only the second movie of Bill Pullman’s career, and his third role ever, but it immediately made him a star. As one of Mel Brooks’ many spoof comedies, Spaceballs was always going to be a beloved hit. Making the highly relevant Star Wars the target of the spoof ensured fans of both the original trilogy and Brooks’ films would find reasons to love the hilarious send-up of the science fiction epic. Pullman plays Lone Starr, a parody version of Han Solo, who flies a Winnebago rather than a Millennium Falcon.

It’s a role like this that made it easy to see how well Pullman could work in comedies and action movies in equal measure.

As both Luke Skywalker and Han, Lone Starr gets all the action sequences and the comedy sequences, and he’s capable of both. By playing the character as a credible space opera hero, Pullman only ramps up the comedy throughout the movie, juxtaposing it against his legitimate skills as a pilot and “Schwartz” user. It’s a role like this that made it easy to see how well Pullman could work in comedies and action movies in equal measure.

3 Lost Highway (1997)

Fred Madison

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Lost Highway RDramaMysteryThriller Where to Watch

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Lost Highway is a psychological thriller directed by David Lynch. Released in 1997, the film stars Bill Pullman as Fred Madison, a jazz saxophonist entangled in a complex mystery involving his wife and a parallel existence. The narrative combines elements of surrealism and noir, weaving a story that challenges perceptions of identity and reality. Patricia Arquette co-stars, and the enigmatic plot unfolds through Lynch’s signature atmospheric and stylistic approach.

Director David Lynch Release Date January 15, 1997 Cast Bill Pullman , Patricia Arquette , John Roselius , Louis Eppolito , Jenna Maetlind , michael massee Runtime 134 minutes

David Lynch’s surreal Lost Highway was not as well received when it debuted as his previous psychological noirs like Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. However, Lost Highway has undergone a critical reappraisal with many viewers realizing just how complex and intricately designed it is. Bill Pullman stars as Fred Madison, a saxophonist who begins receiving mysterious videotapes of himself and his wife in the mail. To explain any more of the film would risk spoilers and confusion, but like most Lynch films, Lost Highway‘s meaning isn’t obvious on first watch.

Pullman ranks highly among the many incredible performances in Lynch’s films. Fred is haunted and exhausted but unwilling to confront the parts of himself that may be causing so much pain. He has the perfect face of someone trying to figure out a puzzle but knowing that they will inevitably fail. Pullman’s portrayal of a man descending into that madness feels visceral.

2 While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Jack Callaghan

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While You Were Sleeping PGComedyDramaRomance Where to Watch

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While You Were Sleeping is a romantic comedy-drama that stars Sandra Bullock as Lucy, a lonely Chicago Transit Authority worker who falls for a commuter, played by Peter Gallagher. After saving him from an oncoming train, she is mistaken for his fiancée while he is in a coma. The film explores themes of mistaken identity, family dynamics, and unexpected love. Bill Pullman co-stars as the man’s brother.

Director Jon Turteltaub Release Date April 21, 1995 Cast Sandra Bullock , Bill Pullman , Peter Gallagher , Peter Boyle , Jack Warden , Glynis Johns Runtime 103 minutes

Though Bill Pullman had appeared in a handful of romantic comedies previously, he had yet to star in one. He finally did in While You Were Sleeping, alongside Sandra Bullock in one of her earliest romantic comedy lead roles as well. In the film, Lucy (Bullock) is a lonely Chicago Transit Authority fare operator who finds herself caught in a lie. She has accidentally convinced the family of a comatose man that she’s his fiancée, only to meet his brother, Jack (Pullman), and realize she’s actually falling in love.

It’s a complex but tightly written romantic comedy that never feels obvious or ridiculous. Instead, the chemistry between Bullock and Pullman is so palpable that there’s never any doubt the two won’t end up together. Pullman is at his most charming in the role, and it is instantly understandable why Lucy would fall for him. His argument with his brother about Lucy later in the movie is a showcase of Pullman’s range of emotion, as Jack’s devotion to her is inspiring and poignant.

1 Independence Day (1996)

President Thomas J. Whitmore

Independence Day PG-13Adventure Sci-FiAction Where to Watch

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Roland Emmerich’s iconic 1996 sci-fi disaster movie Independence Day chronicles the attack of a hostile race of aliens against planet Earth. When extraterrestrial aircraft occupy Earth without warning, the forces of humanity quickly band together to stop them. At the behest of President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), US Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) organize humanity’s last-ditch counterattack against the technologically-advanced alien mothership. 

Director Roland Emmerich Release Date July 3, 1996 Cast Will Smith , Bill Pullman , Jeff Goldblum , Mary McDonnell , Judd Hirsch , Robert Loggia , Randy Quaid , Margaret Colin , Vivica A. Fox , Harvey Fierstein Runtime 145 minutes Sequel(s) Independence Day: Resurgence Budget $75 million Expand

Bill Pullman stars as President Thomas J. Whitmore in Independence Day, the U.S. president in office, when militaristic aliens descend on the Earth and begin blowing up cities wholesale. It’s one of the most spectacular blockbusters ever, with incredible VFX, music, and performances by an ensemble of ’90s stars. Pullman stands out as a different kind of hero from David Levinson’s (Jeff Goldblum) scientific hero and Captain Steven Hiller’s (Will Smith) military hero. Whitmore is a champion of the common person.

Bill Pullman reprised his role, now as former President Thomas J. Whitmore, in
Independence Day: Resurgence
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Whitmore is often regarded as one of the best presidents in movie history, and for good reason. His stirring speech, where he challenges humanity to band together and even name-drops the title of the movie, is as rousing as movie speeches get. It may be the best moment of Pullman’s career and has been copied unsuccessfully dozens of times since. Bill Pullman doesn’t stop there either. When he dons a pilot’s outfit, the audience easily believes Whitmore could take out all the aliens by himself.

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