Donald Sutherland’s movies have been making us jump from our couches in excitement for nearly six decades now. Every time he played the villain role, his powerful voice caught our attention, and although he is no longer with us, his excellence will always be remembered in the history of movies.
Donald had played different roles, from the scary-looking villain to the handsome hunk. Whenever he was on screen, he made us see things differently and feel all kinds of emotions.
Here, I have listed Donald Sutherland’s top 10 movies showcasing his acting skills and how he influenced others through his roles.
10. Ad Astra (2019)
Ad Astra
He sacrificed himself in the search for intelligent life.
Genres
Science Fiction ThrillerSuspense| Release Date | September 20, 2019 |
| Director | James Gray |
| Writers | James Gray Ethan Gross |
| Casts | Brad Pitt Ruth Negga Tommy Lee Jones |
Ad Astra follows an astronaut, Roy Richard McBride, who is searching for his dad, Clifford, who got lost in space 20 years ago while searching for alien life.
Roy’s (Brad Pitt) journey is mega long, all the way to Neptune, and full of risk flying solo.
Roy learns that Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones), the commander at the Lima Project, might have gone into big trouble in space.
Several huge meteorites and aliens hindered Roy’s way, making finding his dad very difficult.
However, after finding his dad, Roy discovers he is still working on dangerous experiments that might harm human life.
Roy, who thought he’d be delighted after finding his father, is now dealing with significant issues and attempting to persuade him not to continue.
The movie is worth watching because it is about space adventures and shows how families stick together and overcome difficult things.
9. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Unity is strength in the struggle.
Genres
Action ThrillerAdventure| Release Date | November 22, 2013 |
| Director | Francis Lawrence |
| Writers | Simon Beaufoy Michael Arndt Suzanne Collins |
| Casts | Jennifer Lawrence Liam Hemsworth Jack Quaid |
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is about a girl, Katniss Everdeen, who has just won a deadly Hunger Games and hopes to return home.
However, the other participants saw Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) as a hope that may help them to progress in the game.
They force her back into the arena for the Quarter Quell, a deadly game with previous champions.
As the games rage on, Katniss’s friends quietly plan to overrule the overpowering government.
The games are actually a distraction for her bigger plan, and Katniss figures out what’s actually happening behind her back.
Her friends have been secretly working to get her out of the arena from the start. After managing a brave escape, Katniss is suddenly free but confused.
In the end, like before, Katniss successfully puts her out of danger, but she doesn’t know that another larger battle awaits her.
8. Klute (1971)
Klute
Everyone loses innocence eventually.
Genres
Action ThrillerNoir| Release Date | June 25, 1971 |
| Director | Alan J. Pakula |
| Writers | David E. Lewis Andy Lewis |
| Casts | Jane Fonda Donald Sutherland Charles Cioffi |
Klute is a movie about John Klute (Donald Sutherland), a detective from a small town who heads to a big city on a mission to find his friend.
While on his mission, John unexpectedly meets Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda), a New York call girl who receives threatening messages from an unknown stalker.
Surprisingly, it turns out that the stalker is the person Klute has been trying to track down.
Soon, they realize that Peter Cable (Charles Cioffi), who seemed like a good guy, is actually the villain, causing a hazardous situation for everyone.
Finally, they encounter Cable, but he tries to hurt Bree without listening to them; thankfully, Klute steps in and saves her.
Bree decides to start over and leave her old life while Klute returns home but still worries about Bree’s well-being.
7. The Day of the Locust (1975)
The Day of the Locust
Dreams crumble under Hollywood’s harsh reality.
Genres
Drama NovelLiterary Fiction| Release Date | May 7, 1975 |
| Director | John Schlesinger |
| Writers | Nathanael West Waldo Salt |
| Casts | Donald Sutherland Karen Black Burgess Meredith |
The Day of the Locust is about Tod Hackett (William Atherton), an artist who arrives in Hollywood in the 1930s, aiming to find success and fame.
Tod begins working on his painting “The Burning of Los Angeles” and crosses paths with Faye Greener, a woman who wants to be an actor but lacks the skill for it.
The story takes a turn when their dreams start to fall apart after Faye’s (Karen Black) dad passes away, leaving her with nothing.
Meanwhile, Tod has a big crush on Faye, but she’s not into him. Instead, she hangs out with many other guys, which causes a lot of drama.
Then, at a wild party, all the built-up frustration and rage burst out into a huge fight.
The film ends by revealing that the fancy Hollywood life everyone wants is not real at all. It breaks people, leaving them and the city broken.
Tod walks away, understanding that the shiny, perfect life he wanted is just a dream. The story warns us about certain consequences when we follow dreams that aren’t true.
6. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
National Lampoon’s Animal House
Wild parties, wilder friends.
Genres
Drama ComedyRomance| Release Date | July 28, 1978 |
| Director | John Landis |
| Writers | Harold Ramis Douglas Kenney Chris Miller |
| Casts | Tom Hulce Stephen Furst Mark Metcalf |
National Lampoon’s Animal House is a funny movie about college friends at Faber College who are part of Delta House, a super fun but trouble-making group.
The college dean can’t stand them for their evil behavior. They were always blamed for something bad happening inside the college.
The dean wants to close Delta House because he’s tired of their pranks. However, the Delta guys refuse to back down.
They organize a huge party and kick off a wild parade that turns the town upside down.
The movie ends with the Delta guys remaining wild but sticking together, hinting at their future and whether they become successful.
It’s all about sticking with your friends, standing up to the rules, and the wild ride of college life. They might not ‘win’ the usual way, but they sure have a shot.
5. 1900 (1976)
1900
Class divides, but humanity unites.
Genres
History RomanceWar| Release Date | September 1, 1976 |
| Director | Bernardo Bertolucci |
| Writers | Franco Arcalli Giuseppe Bertolucci Bernardo Bertolucci |
| Casts | Robert De Niro Gérard Depardieu Dominique Sanda |
1900 is about two guys, Alfredo Berlinghieri (Robert De Niro) and Olmo Dalco (Gerard Depardieu), born on the same day in Italy in 1900.
Alfredo comes from a wealthy family, while Olmo comes from a poor family that works inside Alfredo’s castle.
Alfredo and Olmo grew up as friends despite having different lives. Alfredo got rich, and Olmo fought for the rights of poor farmers.
The movie shows their long-lasting friendship getting rocky because of differences in money and Italy’s big political changes.
Alfredo feels bad for Olmo’s fight, even though he’s rich. But it’s hard for him to leave his rich life and help him.
When the movie ends, after the big war, things start to change for good things.
This movie highlights two perspectives: Omlos’s optimism for a better future and Alfredo’s struggle with the difficulty of change.
4. Eye of the Needle (1981)
Eye of the Needle
Secrets can be deadly.
Genres
Novel ThrillerWar| Release Date | July 24, 1981 |
| Director | Richard Marquand |
| Writers | Ken Follett Stanley Mann |
| Casts | Donald Sutherland Stephen MacKenna Philip Martin Brown |
Eye of the Needle is about Henry Faber (Donald Sutherland), a.k.a. ‘The Needle, ’ a German spy during World War II who gathers secrets in Britain to help Germany.
Caught in a storm, he ends up on a small island where he meets Lucy Rose (Kate Nelligan) and her wounded husband.
Lucy is unhappy with her marriage and starts falling for The Needle, not knowing his real identity.
Soon, Lucy discovers that The Needle is a spy with information about Britain that might help Gemary win the war.
Lucy feels very emotional about him and wants to share her feelings, but he runs away when she tries to talk to him.
She battles her feelings and stops him from sharing secrets that could change the war’s outcome.
3. M*A*S*H (1972)
M*A*S*H
Laughter amidst war’s harsh reality.
Genres
Dark Comedy SitcomWar| Release Date | September 17, 1972 |
| Directors | Charles S. Dubin Alan Alda Burt Metcalfe |
| Writers | Larry Gelbart Richard Hooker |
| Casts | Alan Alda Loretta Swit Jamie Farr |
The M*A*S*H movie is about doctors working in a hospital during the Korean War. It is funny but also serious.
The main guys, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Duke (Tom Skerritt), are stuck in the war and are willing to go to their families, ignoring the situation.
It’s surprising when you discover that the doctors fake a family member’s death to deceive the army and go back home.
The story ends with Hawkeye and Duke’s fake story and plans to become successful, and they are allowed to move to their home.
The war doesn’t stop; their part in it is over, and they are happy to go but sad to leave their friends.
This movie reveals how unpredictable people can be and the lengths they will go to to protect themselves.
2. Lord of War (2005)
Lord of War
Selling death, searching for life.
Genres
Drama ComedyThriler| Release Date | September 16, 2005 |
| Director | Andrew Niccol |
| Writer | Andrew Niccol |
| Casts | Nicolas Cage Bridget Moynahan Jared Leto |
Lord of War tells the story of Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage), a guy who enters the dark world of gun trading.
Yuri starts off as an ordinary person but soon becomes the main weapon smuggler for the people.
Likewise, he is smart, always dodging the cops, but deep down, he knows the harm he has been causing the whole time.
The plot changes dramatically when Yuri’s brother, Vitaly (Jared Leto), who has always been there to help him, but can’t deal with the guilt anymore.
Vitaly attempts to stop a weapons deal, but tragically, he loses his life in the process. This deeply affects Yuri, but he continues his dealings more secretly than before.
Still, Yuri’s amazing skill of slipping through the police’s hands ultimately prevents him from being caught.
Yuri has powerful friends who can’t recognize him because their powers are too dangerous. He stays free, but the anger from his past still haunts him.
1. JFK (1991)
JFK
Conspiracy silences louder than bullets.
Genres
Drama ComedyThriler| Release Date | December 20, 1991 |
| Director | Oliver Stone |
| Writer | Jim Garrison Jim Marrs Oliver Stone |
| Casts | Sally Kirkland Anthony Ramirez Jodie Farber |
JFK is an American political thriller about the mystery behind President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) is a lawyer who doesn’t believe the story that one man, Lee Harvey Oswald, killed the president all by himself.
Garrison then starts to look for the person besides Lee who was involved in the incident that changed the course of the U.S. forever.
The most surprising moment is when Earl Warren (Jim Garrison) reveals a secret story in court that could explain his claims.
With the evidence, he tries to convince people that they have all been lied to all this time and dont believe the rumor about the incident.
However, in the end, the judge declares the person free, and Garrison calls him guilty of this whole time.
The movie makes you wonder about the true culprit behind President Kennedy’s death and leaves you guessing about their identity.
| Movies Name | Box Collection |
|---|---|
| Ad Astra | 135.4 Million USD |
| The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | 424.7 Million USD |
| Klute | 12.5 Million USD |
| The Day of the Locust | UNK |
| National Lampoon’s Animal House | 141.6 Million USD |
| 1900 | 10.4 Million USD |
| Eye of the Needle | 17.5 Million USD |
| M*A*S*H | 81.6 Millin USD |
| Lord of War | 72.6 Million USD |
| JFK | 205.4 Million USD |
