Benny Safdie movies have become increasingly difficult to ignore over the past decade. Although many people first discovered him as one half of the acclaimed Safdie brothers, he has quietly built an impressive acting career alongside his filmmaking. Whether he’s playing an anxious criminal, a conflicted politician, or a brilliant scientist, Safdie has a knack for making every character feel authentic.
His filmography isn’t the largest in Hollywood, but it’s remarkably consistent. From intimate independent dramas to billion-dollar blockbusters, Benny Safdie has worked with some of the industry’s most respected directors while delivering memorable performances of his own. Here are all Benny Safdie’s movies, ranked from worst to best.
9. Person to Person (2017)
Benny Safdie’s first significant acting role outside his own productions came in Dustin Guy Defa‘s Person to Person. The slice-of-life comedy follows several interconnected New Yorkers over the course of one day, with Safdie playing Eugene, a supporting character in one of the film’s many overlapping stories.
While the ensemble cast keeps the film engaging, Person to Person never develops enough momentum to make a lasting impression. Safdie is perfectly natural in the role, but his limited screen time leaves little opportunity to showcase the intensity that would later define many of his performances.
8. Stars at Noon (2022)
Claire Denis‘ romantic thriller pairs Margaret Qualley and Joe Alwyn in a slow-burning story set against political unrest in Nicaragua. Benny Safdie appears in a supporting role that fits comfortably within the film’s uneasy atmosphere. Despite its striking visuals and ambitious themes, Stars at Noon divides audiences with its deliberately measured pacing. Although Safdie makes the most of his scenes, the film never reaches the emotional heights suggested by its premise.
7. Pieces of a Woman (2020)
This emotionally devastating drama centers on a couple struggling after an unimaginable personal tragedy. Vanessa Kirby delivers an Oscar-nominated performance, while Shia LaBeouf and Ellen Burstyn provide equally compelling support. Safdie plays Chris, a relatively small but believable part within the family drama. Although his role isn’t central to the story, he contributes to the grounded realism that makes the film so emotionally effective.
6. Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)
Nearly three decades after the original comedy became a cult classic, Happy Gilmore 2 reunited Adam Sandler with familiar faces while introducing several new characters. Safdie fits comfortably into the chaotic comedic world with a performance that embraces the film’s over-the-top energy. Although the sequel doesn’t quite match the original’s cultural impact, it delivers enough laughs to justify its return, and Safdie proves he has solid comedic instincts.
5. Licorice Pizza (2021)
Paul Thomas Anderson‘s nostalgic coming-of-age comedy-drama Licorice Pizza is filled with unforgettable supporting characters. Benny Safdie’s portrayal of real-life politician Joel Wachs stands out for all the right reasons. Rather than turning the character into a caricature, Safdie plays him with restraint and empathy. His scenes add surprising emotional weight to a film otherwise filled with playful humor, proving he can leave a lasting impression without dominating the screen.
4. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
Kelly Fremon Craig‘s adaptation of Judy Blume‘s beloved novel captures the awkwardness and excitement of adolescence with remarkable warmth. The film succeeds because it never talks down to its young audience, balancing humor and heartfelt emotion throughout. Safdie plays Herb Simon, Margaret’s father. His gentle chemistry with Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams gives the family dynamic a genuine sense of love and security. It’s one of his quietest performances, but also one of his most charming.
3. The Odyssey (2026)
Christopher Nolan reunited with Benny Safdie for The Odyssey, casting him as the legendary Greek king Agamemnon. Although the film features one of the most star-studded ensembles of the decade, Safdie leaves a strong impression by bringing authority and quiet intensity to one of mythology’s most influential figures. Rather than portraying Agamemnon as a one-dimensional warrior, Safdie gives the character a sense of gravitas that complements Nolan’s grounded interpretation of Homer’s epic. His measured performance fits naturally alongside the film’s sweeping scale, further proving that he can hold his own in prestige productions packed with acclaimed actors. Coming only a few years after Oppenheimer, the role reinforces Safdie’s growing reputation as one of Hollywood’s most dependable character actors.
2. Good Time (2017)
Before Hollywood began casting him regularly, Benny Safdie delivered arguably his most physically demanding performance in Good Time. Co-directed with his brother Josh Safdie, the crime thriller follows Connie Nikas, played by Robert Pattinson, as he desperately tries to free his intellectually disabled brother Nick after a botched bank robbery. Safdie’s portrayal of Nick is heartbreaking without ever feeling manipulative. His vulnerability anchors the entire story, giving emotional purpose to the relentless chaos surrounding Pattinson’s character.
1. Oppenheimer (2023)
Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning epic introduced Benny Safdie to an even larger audience through his performance as physicist Edward Teller. Acting alongside Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon could easily have overshadowed a lesser performer, but Safdie holds his own. His interpretation of Teller captures both the scientist’s brilliance and his complicated legacy, particularly during the film’s tense political hearings. It’s a restrained performance that leaves a lasting impression long after the credits roll.
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