Last Updated on March 1, 2024
With his laconic humor and funny expressions, Bill Murray has earned his place as one of the most loved stars of comedy. So grab a snack, pick one of the best Murray movies below and have a great time!
1. Groundhog Day (1993)
Weatherman Phil Connors and his producer Rita arrive in Punxsutawney to cover the Groundhog Day celebrations, an assignment he is openly hostile about. Feeling it is beneath him, Phil gives a disrespectful news report but when he tries to leave town the next morning, the day feels eerily familiar.
He soon discovers that he cannot leave Punxsutawney and that Groundhog Day keeps repeating every morning. Phil’s attempts to escape lead to hilarious adventures every day.
2. Ghostbusters (1984)
Columbia University professors Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler are fired from their jobs after they claim to have encountered a ghost at the New York Public Library.
Fascinated by their sighting, they start their own ghost-hunting business complete with mysterious guns that can capture paranormal creatures. At first, the “Ghostbusters” are treated as a joke but when the city is suddenly overrun by demonic beings the team becomes the last barrier between a city’s survival and the apocalypse.
3. Lost in Translation (2003)
Bob Harris is a former American movie star who accepts work in Japan where he appears in whiskey commercials. His time in Japan is marred by his strained marriage back home and his inability to adjust to Japanese culture and language.
Feeling lonely, Bob spends most of his time at his hotel where he meets Charlotte, a new bride from the US who also stays there while her husband temporarily works in Japan. Bob and Charlotte form a special bond as they help each other to find themselves.
4. Rushmore (1998)
Max Fischer is a brilliant 15-year-old student at Rushmore Academy. He befriends the cynical Herman Blume (Murray) at a school assembly and despite the age difference, they soon become good friends.
But when Max falls in love with one of the teachers, Rosemary, and she falls for Herman, the two men’s friendship transforms into a hilarious and volatile war of revenge.
5. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
Oceanographer Steve Zissou has not brought out a successful film in nine years. After a colorful shark devours his best friend, he decides that hunting the creature will make a great documentary. Zissou gathers his crew, a motley bunch, and sets off.
The unique and hilarious story follows Zissou’s attempts to find the shark, a quest that is hampered by pirates, competition from other oceanographers and his own strange life.
6. St. Vincent (2014)
Vincent MacKenna has a lot to be grumpy about. His Alzheimer’s-stricken wife no longer recognizes him and his bank account is always empty. Things seem to get worse when his new neighbor, Maggie, moves in and accidentally drops a tree on his car.
But soon, Vincent begins to babysit Maggie’s son, Oliver, taking the boy to bars, race tracks and teaching him how to stand up to bullies. When Vincent’s finances force him to steal, his friendship with Maggie and Oliver seems to be over. When several tragedies follow, he discovers that he is very much a part of their family.
7. What About Bob? (1991)
Bob Wiley has phobias that make him a needy patient. After another exhausting encounter with Bob, his therapist decides to get rid of him by referring Bob to the egotistical Dr Leo Marvin.
Leo cuts their appointment short to go on a family holiday. Feeling insecure, Bob follows him and worms his way into the doctor’s family. This drives Leo to the brink of insanity and he turns homicidal but Bob loves him, thinking the attempts on his life are all part of a radical new therapy.
8. The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
Police officer Cliff Robertson deals with small crimes in his home town of Centerville. But when he investigates a brutal double murder at the local diner, his partner is convinced that zombies are responsible.
Strange things start to happen all over Centerville and when night falls, the streets fill with zombies who attack and infect more people. Cliff learns from his partner how to kill the undead and they choose the town’s cemetery as the place to make their last terrifying stand.
9. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
While attending Camp Ivanhoe, 12-year-old orphan Sam Shakusky meets the girl of his dreams, Suzy. A year later, they agree to run away together. So, when Sam disappears from the Camp, a search party is formed by his fellow scouts, the police and Suzy’s family.
The runaways love living in a cove they call “Moonrise Kingdom” and after they are captured and separated, several of the scouts decide to help Sam and Suzy get back together again. In this humorous and at times dream-like story, Murray gives a great performance as Suzy’s eccentric father.
10. Stripes (1981)
After John Winger loses everything in his life due to his immaturity, he decides to join the army. His antics soon get him into trouble with his superiors but his fellow trainees love Winger’s team-building spirit.
This unity serves them well when they face a wonky graduation and their first mission during which they have to guard a minivan that is actually a superweapon.