Joe Pantoliano’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

As one of the most recognizable character actors in the business, Joe Pantoliano‘s movies and TV shows feature some unforgettable projects that show his scene-stealing skills. Though Pantoliano is rarely seen in the lead role, he is the kind of actor who the audience is drawn to whenever he pops up on screen. Pantoliano first started to gain momentum in the business with his role opposite Tom Cruise in Risky Business and remains a hard-working actor many decades later. However, his long career has included some projects that stand above the rest.

Pantoliano has a comedic energy that has served him well, be it in straight comedy roles or adding a little levity to some serious movies. He has held his own and even stolen the show from so many movie stars, including Harrison Ford, Will Smith, and Keanu Reeves, while also working with the likes of Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. His television roles in shows like The Sopranos have further exemplified his talents in a filmography as varied and interesting as any actor out there.

10 The Goonies (1985)

As Francis Fratelli

Though Joe Pantoliano has had many famous roles, it is possible most people who grew up in the 1980s know him best for his work in The Goonies. The movie follows a group of young friends who band together to save their homes from foreclosure after finding a treasure map. However, the young heroes soon find that they are not the only ones in search of the secret pirate fortune and have to contend with the criminal family, the Fratellis.

Pantoliano brings fun menace to the family-friendly adventure as Francis Fratelli, the favorite son of the clan. The movie itself has been regarded as a nostalgic favorite, still beloved decades later, especially by those who grew up in the 80s and 90s. In fact, there are still calls from fans who would love to see the cast, including Pantoliano, reunite for the long-rumored The Goonies 2.

9 Empire Of The Sun (1987)

As Frank Demarest

Joe Pantoliano has worked with some legendary directors in his career, and after working alongside Steven Spielberg as a producer on The Goonies, the actor got the chance to appear in one of his most underrated movies as a director. Empire of the Sun stars a young Christian Bale as Jim, a British expatriate child living with his parents in Japan. However, at the outset of World War II, all expatriates are evacuated from the country, but Jim is separated from his parents.

Though a smaller supporting role, Pantoliano shows his skills in bringing depth to characters like this.

The movie is a stirring and exhilarating look at Jim’s survival alone in the country at war as he finds himself in a prison camp. Pantoliano stars alongside John Malkovich as two hustlers who Jim meets along the way and who take him in as a member of their scheming crew. Though a smaller supporting role, Pantoliano shows his skills in bringing depth to characters like this.

8 Risky Business (1983)

As Guido

One of the defining aspects of Joe Pantoliano’s career is his ability to bring charm and likability to villain roles. The fact that he stole the show in Tom Cruise’s breakout movie shows how good of an actor he is. Risky Business stars Cruise as Joel, a typical high school student who spends the week home alone with his parents away on a trip. Looking to have more experiences in life, he hires a sex worker only for the decision to gradually spiral into chaos.

One of the biggest complications comes in the form of Guido, a seedy and dangerous pimp, played by Pantoliano. Though he is instantly despicable, Pantoliano also makes him an exhilarating part of every scene he is in. Risky Business is seen as a classic 80s teen comedy, but it has more layers and complexities than most other movies in the genre. It is also elevated by performances such as the ones from Cruise and Pantoliano​​​​.

7 Bound (1996)

As Caesar

While The Matrix was Joe Pantoliano’s more notable collaboration with the Wachowskis, he also starred in their excellent and underrated debut movie. Bound is a slick crime thriller that stars Gina Gershon as an ex-con who is working in an apartment building and catches the eye of Violet (Jennifer Tilly). The two women eventually engage in a passionate affair before coming up with a plan to steal mob money from Violet’s gangster boyfriend, Caesar, played by Pantoliano.

Pantoliano brings layers to what could have been a very basic role.

Pantoliano brings layers to what could have been a very basic role. He makes Caesar a dangerous and violent man, but also far from the toughest gangster in the city and scared about what could happen to him if he loses that money. Bound is a sexy and exciting ride that is much different from the ambitious genre movies the Wachowskis made later but still shows off their impressive filmmaker style.

6 Midnight Run (1988)

As Eddie Moscone

Though it did not receive as much attention as some of the other movies in the genre, Midnight Run has gradually become seen as one of the best action comedies of the 1980s. Robert De Niro gives one of his best comedic performances as Jack Walsh, a disgraced cop turned bounty hunter who is assigned the job of capturing mob embezzler Jonathan Mardukas (Charles Grodin) and delivering him to prison. As Walsh and Mardukas make a long cross-country trip, they have to contend with gangsters, FBI agents, and rival bounty hunters on their trail.

One of the best things that makes Midnight Run, so great is that it is populated by character actors playing colorful characters, such as Denis Farina and Philip Baker Hall. Joe Pantoliano is a great fit into that ensemble as Eddie Moscone, the weaselly two-timing bail bondsman who hires Walsh for the job.

5 Bad Boys (1995)

As Captain Howard

Though Joe Pantoliano has appeared in some big movies, his longest-running character has been Captain Howard in the Bad Boys franchise. The action series kicked off in 1995 with Bad Boys, helmed by Michael Bay in his directorial debut. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star as two best friends and partners in the narcotics division of the Miami police department. The wild antics begin with Smith and Lawrence having to switch places to protect the witness to a drug lord’s crimes.

Pantoliano is the only other actor who has appeared in every entry into the franchise

The first movie helped to launch Smith and Lawrence into A-list status and their chemistry together has been a big part of the franchise’s success. However, another key element to the movie is Pantoliano as their short-tempered yet funny boss, Captain Howard. Pantoliano is the only other actor who has appeared in every entry into the franchise, even continuing on in the fourth movie following his death in Bad Boys For Life.

4 The Fugitive (1993)

As Cosmo Renfro

Joe Pantoliano has the ability to stand out in even the smallest roles in movies and play opposite A-list stars. The Fugitive is an exhilarating action thriller that stars Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble, a celebrated doctor who finds himself charged with the murder of his wife despite claiming the crime was carried out by a one-armed assailant. Following an accident during his prison transfer, Kimble escapes custody and goes on the run to clear his name while being pursued by a determined US Marshal, Samuel Gerard.

Pantoliano stars as Cosmo Renfro, Gerard’s partner who is by his side throughout the pursuit. Though the film really puts the focus on Ford and Jones in the lead roles, Pantoliano manages to stand out in the smaller role, playing off Jones very effectively, creating grounded and believable lawmen. Pantoliano worked well enough in the role that he was invited back to play the part in the less memorable sequel, US Marshals.

3 Memento (2000)

As Teddy

Among the many great filmmakers Joe Pantoliano has worked with, he was part of Christopher Nolan’s breakthrough movie. Memento is a complex and fascinating thriller starring Guy Pearce as Leonard, a man who suffers from short-term memory loss and uses tattoos all over his body as reminders and guides to direct him in his mission to avenge the death of his murdered wife. Pantoliano plays Teddy, a man helping Leonard, only for the confused protagonist to wonder about the man’s motivations.

Memento is a unique and brilliantly told mystery with the movie beginning with the most recent event and then playing the entire story in reverse. Nolan showcases his abilities to tell complex and gripping stories, and it is a lot of fun seeing how his skills still impress even on a small budget compared to the movies that followed later in his career.

2 The Matrix (1999)

As Cypher

Though he has shown an ability to play all types of roles, Joe Pantoliano has been most memorable and effective in playing comic relief characters and villains. Surprisingly, he gets a rare chance to combine both of these aspects into the character of Cypher in The Matrix. The ground-breaking sci-fi movie from the Wachowskis stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, an aimless hacker who is approached by a mysterious man named Morpheus and exposed to the terrifying truth that the world he lives in is a simulation created by machines to enslave humanity.

While most of the characters of the movie fit into the dour and serious tone of the movie, Pantoliano adds some much-needed levity to the first half of the movie as Cypher, the cynical and less enthusiastic member of Morpheus’ team of rebels. However, Cypher is then made into a complex villain with the reveal that he is a traitor. The character is a terrific example of the thought-provoking and exciting storytelling of the first Matrix movie and Pantoliano was a missing element in the subsequent sequels.

1 The Sopranos (2001-2004)

As Ralph Cifaretto

The Sopranos was already being praised as one of the greatest shows of all time by the time Joe Pantoliano joined the cast in season 3, but he still managed to become one of the highlights of the entire series. The Sopranos revolutionized television with its daring exploration of a protagonist who was violent, greedy, and ruthless. James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano navigates the world of organized crime in New Jersey as a high-ranking member while also dealing with his own mental health issues.

Similar to Cypher in
The Matrix
, Ralph can be a very funny character, not taking the mob life as seriously as others.

Pantoliano joined the series as Ralph Cifaretto, a volatile and scheming made man who operates as a close friend of Tony’s while also working behind his back. Similar to Cypher in The Matrix, Ralph can be a very funny character, not taking the mob life as seriously as others. However, he is also a sadistic and violent man who can lash out at any moment. He is also one of the few people unafraid of challenging Tony. Pantoliano elevated the series even further and won an Emmy for his intense performance.