Kris Kristofferson was more than just a talented musician, he was also a well-known actor, having a very successful acting career, but sadly died in September 2024! The country legend left behind a long line of iconic films!
Kris Kristofferson's Best Movies
What's super interesting about his life, was he transitioned into acting with great success in 1972. This made his acting a key part of his remarkable legacy. It is impressive that even until 2021 he was still finding roles that made him memorable to so many movie goers.
He starred in countless classics from the beginning of his acting career in films like Cisco Pike to more recent ones like "Blaze," his final acting role!
Kristofferson wasn't just someone with good talent, but truly a force on screen as he took those natural emotions and showed them in his roles in Western movies such as "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," or movies that made a lasting mark like "A Star Is Born."
Convoy (1978)
If you are thinking, a country music legend who went into the film industry it has to be about music. While that might be true. One of the most memorable moments came when he played the character of Martin "Rubber Duck" Penwald in the iconic movie "Convoy!"
If you like truckers this was one of the best movies and became super popular with the arrival of CB radios, and the boom in trucker culture that took the world by storm in the 1970s. In the same era "Smokey and the Bandit," was another major hit!
The incredible part is that this amazing road action film is based off of a country song! If you listen to a little music and learn what makes country music special, you can get into this mood right away.
This movie made a special connection, which might have made the movie super popular at that time. The movie was about truckers and gave people a chance to see how this interesting culture and lifestyle, would give the audience a truly American, and exciting perspective about this fascinating way of life! It seems as though those on the open road have a big presence and their strength, along with being super kind was well-represented.
The incredible part is that Kristofferson is the star in a fantastically powerful film and those who were with him as he made this happen!
- Ernest Borgnine is well-known for his acting career.
- Burt Young. is also well-recognized as an actor!
You have these amazing actors and what was a more unique project from Sam Peckinpah. He's also known for other amazing Westerns, such as "The Wild Bunch."
The most unique connection comes with Kristofferson's history with the director! It came before "Convoy", when they collaborated to create "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid!"
Blaze (2018)
As it is so special to think of his career in this incredible world of music and film, it's fascinating to consider what makes a career so iconic, and why so many would choose to retire as Kristofferson did. However, one of the last and most impactful roles came in a biopic film about another amazing music icon called Blaze Foley!
- The music biopic film Blaze was incredibly creative, giving audiences a special view of the ups and downs and what life was really like for Blaze Foley!
- The amazing part about this, was this director of this movie is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker called Ethan Hawke! He's really known for being an accomplished artist in the film world.
If you have never heard of Blaze Foley. he was someone with incredible talent in the world of music! If you aren't a big fan of country music, this really will change your view. There was an immense sense of hope as Blaze Foley's spirit had such profound elements of honesty that fans have appreciated!
"Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah" was released, it was so compelling. What was important about this film? The director decided not to make a very common cradle-to-grave biography!
- They show how special he was. You'll be able to see that! This is such a moving tribute and everyone really does get to learn about his life and how inspiring he was!
- Hawke chose a great cast for the film with Ben Dickey, as he brought Blaze Foley to life with his unique talents. There were even appearances from actors such as Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn!
- What makes it even better? There are some true music legends with these appearances: Charlie Sexton who was a really great friend to Foley, and Richard Linklater (who you may know from Boyhood).
Lone Star (1996)
You get the sense that these movie icons really know about film and all of those key elements! It seems that there's an important perspective in "Lone Star"! That brings those complex parts to life in a way that viewers get to appreciate in a very special way. In "Lone Star," Kristofferson takes a unique role where his character isn't one of the main ones but adds depth and his power. He plays Charlie Wade a sheriff who has a rough, and somewhat cruel past.
While this may look like an action thriller, at the heart of this movie is a deeper theme about how this small town in Texas (on the border with Mexico) deals with those complexities, a kind of struggle that many might find challenging. The story follows the journey of the new sheriff (a very interesting character played by Chris Cooper) as he tries to learn about this community, and even brings some sense of balance to their issues! It seems that "Lone Star is an exploration of race, generational differences, and culture.
With an impressive cast:
- Matthew McConaughey
- Frances McDormand.
And of course Kris Kristofferson. All coming together to help bring Lone Star to life as an incredible piece that gives those in the film community, a really intriguing sense of America's own issues, including racial tensions, bias and prejudice that might really exist in seemingly friendly towns!
I'm Not There (2007)
Fans may love a musical artist, however, one thing to remember is there is such a thing as admiration between those in the world of entertainment! We see that a lot when there are amazing talent and Kris Kristofferson shows up in this super unique, fascinating biopic movie called "I'm Not There!" What's most interesting is it tells the incredible life story of Bob Dylan. But what's also fascinating?
It brings six different actors together and looks to tell the amazing story of this icon Bob Dylan as he transforms throughout his career.
- "I'm Not There is not only filled with an extraordinary Cate Blanchett, playing the main role.
- "I'm Not There also featured another "Batman icon. That is none other than Christian Bale, playing the role of a key figure as he shows off the unique range he has in acting.
The Bob Dylan biopic was unique for being different from other biopics.
- Kristofferson was there to help tell the story as the "Narrator" and even gives us a better understanding of how Dylan got to the point of such iconic greatness.
- "I'm Not There has some very real, amazing actors who really helped bring the story of Bob Dylan to the fore, The whole film really made those connections between actors to help tell Dylan's history to a new audience.
This is also why "I'm Not There" is such an important film!
Blade (1998)
This one is a wild one. Fans may love these vampire films that are based in horror and have this intensity.
"Blade", which stars Wesley Snipes. This was Marvel's big movie and was really what set off those huge comic-based movies that took Hollywood by storm! For Marvel, it came years before the "Marvel Cinematic Universe." and is credited as the one movie that gave audiences a fresh look into what a superhero movie, can be.
- This is another major reason why Kristofferson stands out, not only was he a major player on screen in "Blade," but his presence and history with these types of shows, really set off a whole different set of actors! Kristofferson is a part of an impressive story for "Blade."
- This made "Blade" a super special film for many who want to get into this world.
- Kristofferson really brought out "Abraham Whistler," one of the main figures and had this dynamic presence with Wesley Snipes.
You really get to see how "Blade" and his vampire hunts took Hollywood to new heights!
As a highly intense, thrilling series, you get to learn how these incredible heroes face off against the creatures of the night in the most creative way! It even goes beyond this, as Kristofferson also reprised his role in these other big sequels!
- The movie gives an interesting introduction of just how dark the vampire underworld really is!
- "Blade" has the power and skills needed to take these enemies head on, so those who love all things superhero will be impressed!
It's pretty cool! If you have never had a chance to get into the world of "Blade,". These movies brought "Blade" into mainstream entertainment! There's this iconic cast member, a really recognizable name: Mahershala Ali. Fans are truly getting a new perspective with this adaptation, as we dive even deeper into Blade's legacy.
Heaven's Gate (1980)
There's a big connection between films. We saw that with some of the earlier works of "Sam Peckinpah," but one director, who really tried to create something bigger and really ambitious was "Michael Cimino!" You may know him from "The Deer Hunter."
He went on to create Heaven's Gate, an exciting, complex Western story with lots going on. This was really a movie that helped to set Cimino on a tragic path.
What really got critics up in arms was the high price tag that led to some intense pressures!
That meant that the director was pushed to release Heaven's Gate in a super, quick time frame and got some really bad, harsh reviews and criticism. This wasn't exactly the best era to get a high-budget movie like this as the film really struggled to bring in an audience!
You can find that Heaven's Gate was pulled out of theaters, not to mention that it wasn't originally about "three hours long". In fact, the running time of Heaven's Gate was originally five and half hours and then re-edited. However, since this time, audiences have begun to look at the movie a bit differently. That may have something to do with the intense criticism of the movie's cost! You see, in Heaven's Gate, you can see how a town struggles to work things out on the edge of a huge event where land is divided by the European migrants, in contrast, to those that own and control huge amounts of land. This really showcases those tensions.
What does it mean to us as viewers today? It's an incredible testament to Kristofferson's ability as an artist and this movie that's still loved!
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
This epic Western gave audiences something special with a "music" legend and the iconic, Bob Dylan!
- The film had an amazing story of friendship with some real-world twists that made it incredibly popular. This was based on a well-known lawman in the Wild West known as "Pat Garrett" who ended up shooting the famous outlaw "Billy the Kid" (played by "Kristofferson). This was a movie that made fans and critics pay attention.
- Kristofferson's story was one that truly got a ton of praise, and even came from another director who had an incredible style! "Sam Peckinpah," gave us something really special, and they ended up working on more projects together.
That brings us back to music! As the amazing "Bob Dylan" was a key part of this project. He helped to put the film together by providing the score.
While the score and film did really well with audiences at the time, what wasn't as popular, was how it was edited, so some people think the film's quality is not the best!
A much longer cut of "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," was found. Peckinpah was able to bring a special perspective that made fans celebrate this work as an incredibly artistic achievement.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
The world of films! And a director who really understands the filmmaking industry. "Martin Scorsese." He brought to life so many different classics in movie history and this might just be a film that takes things to new heights!
- If you think Scorsese only does gangster movies you need to take another look. This is where a woman really does get to take center stage.
- "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" features an actress, who made some major milestones: "Ellen Burstyn" playing Alice.
- She is a widow that really gets to change the course of her life after losing her husband, but her spirit is truly awesome as "Alice" is determined to get things right with her children and find that next amazing opportunity! And if that wasn't enough to make her life complicated, her story of loss will resonate with many as "Alice" has big goals as a singer in the "1970s."!
What made Kristofferson's presence in this so awesome is that he plays David a really great man, and in his role he makes his mark in a world that has a ton of men, in their rough approach to romance!
- The series also features an incredibly interesting "Harvey Keitel"!
- What really stands out is how this director who really understood gangsters, had to take his films in a brand new way with his exceptional talents, as "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, really does showcase "Scorsese as an incredibly versatile filmmaker.
Cisco Pike (1972)
As we look back into a long career! "Cisco Pike" was a major event in "Kristofferson's" career! It's considered by some as his first truly memorable big-screen appearance.
"Kristofferson" is known to love country music and that truly makes sense as this film tells a special story of how one of the country's musical stars found himself in a bit of trouble with the authorities and his music. This wasn't the best moment for his music, he got into a tricky spot, with drug smuggling and it's not just some fun time. This made things even harder for him. He ended up on a tough adventure with a police officer (an incredibly interesting role taken on by the legendary "Gene Hackman.") He gave audiences a new perspective.
If you are looking for a real piece of film history, what is very cool is that the movie was originally not available and you could only find a copy on those old DVD’s that many collectors sought out! "Cisco Pike" is seen as an interesting part of Hollywood history and made a major mark!
A Star Is Born (1976)
There are plenty of musicians who became really big and successful! That was the core of what was presented in this amazing film A Star Is Born!
It’s no wonder that two incredible stars came together in this production.
- The lead female is a very famous actress, one you have certainly seen! Barbra Streisand.
- Kristofferson plays a legendary rock n’ roll musician called "John Norman Howard!" He's at the height of his career.
- And "Streisand" plays an artist known as "Esther Hoffman!" who's making her mark in music.
Their story of romance and falling in love brings them a ton of success that has such tragic undertones!
Fans were really impressed with "Kristofferson’s" performance that showed this talented artist’s real, and powerful acting career! With a big moment for "Streisand". Her success made a big impression on movie goers and shows just what makes this amazing movie so incredible!
If you’re thinking of movies like "A Star Is Born" with "Bradley Cooper and "Lady Gaga," that was also a big box office smash, this incredible classic from the 1970s. What made these classics such a huge deal was the pairing and talent of "Kristofferson", a multi-talented artist that gave the world so much and is something that made these movie legends incredibly successful.
There’s plenty to love about this movie icon that continues to inspire, as the music icon left such a remarkable impact. These movies truly show his spirit and amazing performances, and make his film career so compelling. It’s also clear, the movies truly helped to make him so incredibly popular, but his music was such a big part of the "American Songbook," and a true symbol of "America" and will leave a legacy that continues for generations! If you haven't had the chance to watch these amazing movies. They're a true testament to just what a great star this legend truly was!
