Craving the best George Clooney movies? From Ocean’s Eleven to Michael Clayton, explore the essential films with awards, dates and box office proof.
Stop scrolling. These are the George Clooney films that actually hold up, the ones that made his name more than a smile. Heist cool, political sting, adult drama that lands, space peril that makes your heart race.
You came for the best picks, so here they are without delay: “Out of Sight”, “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Michael Clayton”, “Up in the Air”, “The Descendants”, “Good Night, and Good Luck”, “Syriana”, “Gravity”, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “Three Kings”. A tight canon built with Steven Soderbergh, the Coen brothers, Alexander Payne, Jason Reitman, Alfonso Cuarón and Tony Gilroy, backed by awards and hard numbers.
Best George Clooney movies at a glance
Quick guide for your next watch. One line each, no fluff.
- “Out of Sight” 1998, director Steven Soderbergh, flirty crime romance that unlocked Clooney on the big screen.
- “Three Kings” 1999, director David O. Russell, Gulf War caper with teeth.
- “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” 2000, directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, dust bowl odyssey with a comic twist.
- “Ocean’s Eleven” 2001, director Steven Soderbergh, the modern smooth heist blueprint.
- “Syriana” 2005, director Stephen Gaghan, oil and geopolitics with bruises.
- “Good Night, and Good Luck” 2005, director George Clooney, crisp newsroom drama shot in sharp black and white.
- “Michael Clayton” 2007, director Tony Gilroy, slow burn legal thriller that explodes on cue.
- “Up in the Air” 2009, director Jason Reitman, layoffs, travel and a life reckoning.
- “The Descendants” 2011, director Alexander Payne, family stakes in Hawaii with quiet power.
- “Gravity” 2013, director Alfonso Cuarón, survival in orbit that pins you to your seat.
Why these George Clooney films stand out
The pattern comes fast. Clooney picks writers and directors who know exactly what they want. That focus turns charm into character. The result is a run that jumps from slick entertainment to prestige without whiplash.
According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, George Clooney owns two Oscars and eight nominations across acting, writing, directing and producing. That breadth is rare in modern Hollywood and it shows on screen. “Michael Clayton” landed seven Oscar nominations in 2008 with Tilda Swinton winning, while “Good Night, and Good Luck” earned multiple high profile nods two years earlier.
There is reach too. “Ocean’s Eleven” arrived in 2001 and opened number one in the United States with about 38 million dollars, reported by Box Office Mojo. “Gravity” swept the 2014 ceremony with seven wins out of ten nominations, a 70 percent hit rate that tells you how strongly it played with both voters and audiences.
Where to start in George Clooney’s filmography based on your mood
Need pure fun tonight. Start with “Ocean’s Eleven”. Popcorn, bright pacing, zero dead weight. The chemistry with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts still clicks.
Craving smarts that stay with you. Pick “Michael Clayton”. Watch how the script tightens, then pay attention to the final scene in the taxi. That look says the whole movie.
Want heart. “The Descendants” carries grief and forgiveness without lecturing. Alexander Payne keeps the tone human and light on its feet.
Up for a genre swerve. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” flips an ancient epic into a musical road comedy. Clooney leans into foolish bravado and wins a Golden Globe for it in 2001.
Ready for stakes. “Gravity” is the nerve test. Minimal cast, maximal tension, and Sandra Bullock matched with Clooney’s steady calm. This is definitly where the modern Clooney screen persona clicks into survival mode.
Numbers that seal the deal for George Clooney essentials
“Syriana” delivered George Clooney his first Academy Award in 2006 for Best Supporting Actor. The role required significant weight gain and a sharp turn into moral gray zones.
“Good Night, and Good Luck” received six Oscar nominations in 2006, including Best Picture and Best Director, confirming Clooney’s credibility behind the camera as well as on it.
Box office legs are solid. “Gravity” grossed about 723 million dollars worldwide in 2013, and “Ocean’s Eleven” finished near 450 million worldwide in 2001, both figures referenced by Box Office Mojo.
Dramas travel too. “Up in the Air” reached roughly 166 million worldwide in 2009, and “The Descendants” posted around 177 million in 2011, numbers that reflect adult audiences showing up for conversation driven storytelling.
For earlier gems, “Out of Sight” remains the turning point Bennett Miller once called career defining. Its cool snap set the tone for everything that followed and connected Clooney to Steven Soderbergh, a partnership that shaped the next decade.