Editing Brad Pitt (section)

==Career==
=== Early work (1987–1993) ===
While struggling to establish himself in [[Los Angeles]], Pitt took lessons from acting coach [[Roy London]].<ref name="fox film" /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20009322,00.html |title=Brad Pitt: 'Strippers Changed My Life' |first=Tim|last=Nudd |date=January 22, 2007 |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030023332/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20009322,00.html |archive-date=October 30, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> His acting career began in 1987, with uncredited parts in the films ''[[No Way Out (1987 film)|No Way Out]]'' (1987), ''[[No Man's Land (1987 film)|No Man's Land]]'' (1987) and ''[[Less than Zero (film)|Less than Zero]]'' (1987).<ref name="fox film" /><ref>{{cite web|title=No Way Out |url=http://movieclips.com/Rar7S-no-way-out-movie-videos/ |publisher=MovieClips |access-date=July 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601095002/http://movieclips.com/Rar7S-no-way-out-movie-videos/ |archive-date=June 1, 2013}}</ref> In May 1987, he made his television debut in a two-episode role on the [[NBC]] soap opera ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]''.<ref>
[http://www.igs.net/~awhp/bradpitt.html "Brad Pitt on Another World"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213170128/http://www.igs.net/~awhp/bradpitt.html |date=February 13, 2012}} , ''The Another World Home Page''. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
</ref> In November of the same year, Pitt had a guest appearance on the [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]] sitcom ''[[Trial and Error (TV series)|Trial and Error]]''<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70szDAAAQBAJ |title=Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide |isbn=9781476623849 |last1=Leszczak |first1=Bob |date=May 16, 2016 |publisher=McFarland |access-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227040910/https://books.google.com/books?id=70szDAAAQBAJ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GqRWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT276 |title=Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw |last1=Irvin |first1=Richard |year=2016 |access-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117032406/https://books.google.com/books?id=GqRWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT276#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Growing Pains]]''.<ref name="bio channel">{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/articles/Brad-Pitt-9441989 |title=Brad Pitt Biography |publisher=[[The Biography Channel]] |page=1 |access-date=May 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517071215/http://www.biography.com/articles/Brad-Pitt-9441989 |archive-date=May 17, 2009}}</ref> He appeared in four episodes of the [[CBS]] primetime series ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' between December 1987 and February 1988 as Randy, the boyfriend of [[Jenna Wade]]'s daughter Charlotte (played by [[Shalane McCall]]).<ref name="Scotland">{{cite news |url=http://scotlandonsunday.Scotsman.com/features/Would-the-real-Brad-Pitt.4535381.jp |title=Would the real Brad Pitt please stand up? |author=Garth Pierce |date=September 28, 2008 |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |access-date=May 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916001720/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/features/Would-the-real-Brad-Pitt.4535381.jp |archive-date=September 16, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later in 1988, Pitt made a guest appearance on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] police drama ''[[21 Jump Street]]''.<ref name="persico">{{cite news |author=Joyce J. Persico|title=Hollywood Hunk Brad Pitt Is Casual About Celebrity|date=September 29, 1995|work=[[The Times-Picayune]]|page=L34}}</ref> In the same year, the Yugoslavian–U.S. co-production ''[[The Dark Side of the Sun (film)|The Dark Side of the Sun]]'' (1988) was his first leading film role, starring as a young American taken by his family to the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] to find a remedy for a skin condition. The film was shelved at the outbreak of the [[Croatian War of Independence]], and was not released until 1997.<ref name="fox film" /> Pitt made two motion picture appearances in 1989: the first in a supporting role in the comedy ''[[Happy Together (1989 American film)|Happy Together]]''; the second a featured role in the horror film ''[[Cutting Class]]'', the first of Pitt's films to reach theaters.<ref name="bio channel" /> He made guest appearances on television series ''[[Head of the Class]]'', ''[[Freddy's Nightmares]]'', ''[[Thirtysomething]]'', and (for a second time) ''Growing Pains''.<ref name="Catalano1995">{{cite book|last=Catalano|first=Grace|url=https://archive.org/details/bradpitthotsexy0000cata/page/31|title=Brad Pitt: Hot and Sexy|date=June 1, 1995|publisher=[[Bantam Books]]|isbn=978-0-553-57015-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/bradpitthotsexy0000cata/page/31 31]|url-access=registration}}</ref>

Pitt was cast as Billy Canton, a drug addict who takes advantage of a young runaway (played by [[Juliette Lewis]]) in the 1990 NBC television movie ''[[Too Young to Die?]]'', the story of an abused teenager sentenced to death for a murder. [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote: "Pitt is a magnificent slimeball as her hoody boyfriend; looking and sounding like a malevolent [[John Mellencamp|John Cougar Mellencamp]], he's really scary."<ref name="too young">{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/02/23/too-young-die/|title=Too Young to Die?|first=Ken|last=Tucker|date=February 23, 1990|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316190415/http://www.ew.com/article/1990/02/23/too-young-die|archive-date=March 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, Pitt co-starred in six episodes of the short-lived Fox drama ''[[Glory Days (1990 TV series)|Glory Days]]'' and took a supporting role in the [[HBO]] television film ''[[The Image (TV)|The Image]]''.<ref name="pitt interesting" /> His next appearance came in the 1991 film ''[[Across the Tracks]]''; Pitt portrayed Joe Maloney, a high school [[Running|runner]] with a criminal brother, played by [[Ricky Schroder|Rick Schroder]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/739/Across-the-Tracks/details |title=Across the Tracks&nbsp;– Cast, Crew, Director, and Awards |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216143414/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/739/Across-the-Tracks/details |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The same year he featured in a [[Levi Strauss & Co.|Levi's]] jeans TV commercial based around the song  "[[20th Century Boy]]" which played in the background.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Advertising |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=457}}</ref>

After years of supporting roles in film and frequent television guest appearances, Pitt attracted wider recognition in his supporting role in [[Ridley Scott]]'s 1991 road film ''[[Thelma & Louise]]''.<ref name="pitt interesting">{{cite news|first=Russell|last=Smith|title=Brad Pitt Only Does Interesting Movie Roles|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/315705/BRAD-PITT-ONLY-DOES-INTERESTING-MOVIE-ROLES.html|date=October 19, 1993|work=[[Deseret News]]|page=EV6|quote=It was in 1991, when he hitched his ride with [[Geena Davis]] and [[Susan Sarandon]] in ''Thelma & Louise'', that Pitt's star began to twinkle in earnest.|access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504142719/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/315705/BRAD-PITT-ONLY-DOES-INTERESTING-MOVIE-ROLES.html|archive-date=May 4, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He played J.D., a small-time criminal who befriends Thelma ([[Geena Davis]]). His love scene with Davis has been cited as the event that defined Pitt as a [[sex symbol]].<ref name="bio channel" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3687795.stm |title=Brad Pitt's epic journey |date=May 13, 2004 |work=BBC News |access-date=May 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406123623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3687795.stm |archive-date=April 6, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> After ''Thelma & Louise'', Pitt starred in the 1991 film ''[[Johnny Suede]]'', a low-budget picture about an aspiring rock star,<ref>{{cite news |first=Ashley |last=Meeks |title=On DVD: "Walk Hard" hits the right notes; Pitt's "Johnny Suede" sizzles |date=September 24, 2008 |work=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]]}}</ref> and the 1992 live-action/animated fantasy film ''[[Cool World]]'',<ref name="bio channel" /> although neither furthered his career, having poor reviews and box office performance.<ref name="earnings" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1040378-cool_world/ |title=Cool World Movie Reviews, Pictures |access-date=March 13, 2010 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228201816/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1040378-cool_world/ |archive-date=February 28, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Pitt took on the role of Paul Maclean in the 1992 biographical film ''[[A River Runs Through It (film)|A River Runs Through It]]'', directed by [[Robert Redford]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9811/13/brad.pitt/ |title=Meet Brad Pitt: Actor talks traps, perfection, and honesty |author=Laurin Sydney |date=November 13, 1998 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=November 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425062814/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9811/13/brad.pitt/ |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> His portrayal of the character was described by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''{{'}}s Janet Mock as a career-making performance,<ref name="river runs">{{cite news |first=Janet|last=Mock |url=http://www.people.com/people/brad_pitt/biography |title=Brad Pitt Biography |work=[[People (American magazine)|People]] |page=1 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809103647/http://www.people.com/people/brad_pitt/biography |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> proving that Pitt could be more than a "cowboy-hatted hunk."<ref name="giles">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inglourious_basterds/news/1838607/total_recall_brad_pitts_best_movies |title=Total Recall: Brad Pitt's Best Movies |author=Jeff Giles |date=August 20, 2009 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=March 13, 2010 |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906113956/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inglourious_basterds/news/1838607/total_recall_brad_pitts_best_movies/ |archive-date=September 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He has admitted to feeling under pressure when making the film<ref name="slipping four" /> and thought it was one of his "weakest performances&nbsp;... It's so weird that it ended up being the one that I got the most attention for."<ref name="slipping four" /> Pitt believed that he benefited from working with such a talented cast and crew. He compared working with Redford to playing tennis with a superior player, saying "when you play with somebody better than you, your game gets better."<ref name="river runs" /><ref name="giles" /> In 1993, Pitt reunited with Juliette Lewis for the road film ''[[Kalifornia]]''. He played Early Grayce, a [[serial killer]] and the abusive husband of Lewis' character, in a performance described by [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' as "outstanding, all boyish charm and then a snort that exudes pure menace."<ref name="kalifornia">{{cite magazine |title=Kalifornia: Review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/kalifornia-19930903 |first=Peter|last=Travers |author-link=Peter Travers |date=December 8, 2000 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628214517/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/kalifornia-19930903 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt also garnered attention for a brief appearance in the cult hit ''[[True Romance]]'' as a stoner named Floyd, providing comic relief to the action film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inglourious_basterds/news/1838607/2/total_recall_brad_pitts_best_movies |title=Total Recall: Brad Pitt's Best Movies |first=Jeff|last=Giles |date=August 20, 2009 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=March 13, 2010 |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213112113/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inglourious_basterds/news/1838607/2/total_recall_brad_pitts_best_movies |archive-date=February 13, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> He capped the year by winning a [[National Association of Theatre Owners|ShoWest]] Award for Male Star of Tomorrow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.showest.com/filmexpo/showest/general/past_winners.jsp |title=Showest Awards: Past Award Winners |publisher=[[National Association of Theatre Owners|ShoWest]] ([[Nielsen Company|Nielsen Business Media Film Group]]) |access-date=August 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517060340/http://www.showest.com/filmexpo/showest/general/past_winners.jsp |archive-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref>

=== Breakthrough (1994–1998) ===
[[file:SevenYearsInTibeta.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Pitt with [[Losang Thonden]] in Argentina on the set of ''[[Seven Years in Tibet (1997 film)|Seven Years in Tibet]]'' in 1997]]

In 1994, Pitt portrayed the [[vampire]] [[Louis de Pointe du Lac]] in the horror film ''[[Interview with the Vampire (film)|Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles]]'', based on [[Anne Rice]]'s 1976 [[Interview with the Vampire|novel of the same name]].<ref name="austin">{{cite news |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1994-11-11/138413/ |title=Interview With the Vampire review |first=Marc|last=Savlov |date=November 11, 1994 |work=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629192316/http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1994-11-11/138413/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was part of an [[ensemble cast]] that included [[Tom Cruise]], [[Kirsten Dunst]], [[Christian Slater]], and [[Antonio Banderas]].<ref name="austin" /> Despite his winning two [[MTV Movie Awards]] at the [[1995 MTV Movie Awards|1995 ceremony]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1995/ |title=1995 Movie Awards |website=[[MTV]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830211407/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1995/ |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> his performance was poorly received. According to the ''[[Dallas Observer]]'', "Brad Pitt&nbsp;[...] is a large part of the problem [in the film]. When directors play up his cocky, hunkish, folksy side&nbsp;[...] he's a joy to watch. But there's nothing about him that suggests inner torment or even self-awareness, which makes him a boring Louis."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/1994-11-10/film/bloodlust/ |title=Bloodlust |first=Matt Zoller|last=Seitz |date=November 10, 1994 |work=[[Dallas Observer]] |page=1 |access-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227223848/http://www.dallasobserver.com/1994-11-10/film/bloodlust/ |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the release of ''Interview with the Vampire'', Pitt starred in ''[[Legends of the Fall]]'' (1994),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/11/14/legends_of_the_fall_1994_review.shtml |title=BBC Films review&nbsp;– Legends of the Fall |first=Almar|last=Haflidason |date=November 14, 2000 |work=[[BBC Online|BBC Movies]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216072343/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/11/14/legends_of_the_fall_1994_review.shtml |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> based on a novel by the same name by [[Jim Harrison]], set in the American West during the first four decades of the twentieth century. Portraying Tristan Ludlow, son of Colonel William Ludlow ([[Anthony Hopkins]]) a [[Cornish American|Cornish]] immigrant,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VgBtaDT-evYC&pg=PA204|title=The Celtic Languages in Contact: Papers from the Workshop Within the Framework of the XIII International Congress of Celtic Studies, Bonn, July 26-27, 2007|first=Hildegard L. C.|last=Tristram|date=January 1, 2007|publisher=Universitätsverlag Potsdam|via=Google Books|isbn=978-3940793072|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=January 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117032317/https://books.google.com/books?id=VgBtaDT-evYC&pg=PA204#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt received his first [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination, in the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor&nbsp;– Motion Picture Drama|Best Actor]] category.<ref name="golden globes">{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/28464 |title=HFPA&nbsp;– Awards Search |access-date=May 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globes]] Official Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811021752/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/28464 |archive-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> [[Aidan Quinn]] and [[Henry Thomas]] co-starred as Pitt's brothers. Although the film's reception was mixed,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/legends-of-the-fall |title=Legends of the Fall (1995): Reviews |date=January 13, 1995 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818225157/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/legends-of-the-fall |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> many film critics praised Pitt's performance. [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said, "Pitt's diffident mix of acting and attitude works to such heartthrob perfection it's a shame the film's superficiality gets in his way."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A04E1DF1F38F930A15751C1A962958260 |title=Grit vs. Good Looks In the American West |first=Janet|last=Maslin |authorlink=Janet Maslin|date=December 23, 1994 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117202807/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A04E1DF1F38F930A15751C1A962958260 |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[Deseret News]]'' predicted that ''Legends of the Fall'' would solidify Pitt's reputation as a lead actor.<ref name="deseret">{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700001019/Legends-of-the-Fall.html |title=Legends of the Fall |first=Chris|last=Hicks |date=January 17, 1995 |work=[[Deseret News]] |access-date=February 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206034903/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700001019/Legends-of-the-Fall.html |archive-date=December 6, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1995, Pitt starred alongside [[Morgan Freeman]], [[Gwyneth Paltrow]], and [[Kevin Spacey]] in the crime thriller ''[[Seven (1995 film)|Seven]]'', playing a detective on the trail of a serial killer who preys on people he considers guilty of the [[Seven Deadly Sins]].<ref name="seven">{{cite news |first=Janet|last=Maslin |authorlink=Janet Maslin|title=Seven Movie Review |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=990CE1D81F3AF931A1575AC0A963958260 |date=September 22, 1995 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206143415/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=990CE1D81F3AF931A1575AC0A963958260 |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt called it a great movie and declared the part would expand his acting horizons.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jamie|last=Portman |title=Into the Pitt: The actor talks about how he chooses roles&nbsp;– and how his last one may have done him permanent injury |date=September 16, 1995 |work=[[The Hamilton Spectator]] |page=7}}</ref> He expressed his intent to move on from "this 'pretty boy' thing&nbsp;[...] and play someone with flaws."<ref>{{cite news |first=Cindy|last=Pearlman |title=Brad Pitt's Seven Deadly Sins |date=September 17, 1995 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=1}}</ref> His performance was critically well received, with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' saying that it was screen acting at its best, further remarking on Pitt's ability to turn in a "determined, energetic, creditable job" as the detective.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=review&reviewid=VE1117794764&categoryid=31&cs=1 |title=Se7en Review |date=January 1, 1995 |work=Variety |access-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815174232/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=review&reviewid=VE1117794764&categoryid=31&cs=1 |archive-date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Seven'' earned $327&nbsp;million at the international box office.<ref name="earnings" /> Following the success of ''Seven'', Pitt played psychotic [[anarchy|anarchist]] Jeffrey Goines in [[Terry Gilliam]]'s 1995 science fiction film ''[[12 Monkeys]]''. The movie received predominantly positive reviews, with Pitt praised in particular. Janet Maslin of ''The New York Times'' called ''Twelve Monkeys'' "fierce and disturbing" and remarked on Pitt's "startlingly frenzied performance", concluding that he "electrifies Jeffrey with a weird magnetism that becomes important later in the film."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D03E7DF1239F934A15751C1A963958260 |first=Janet|last=Maslin |authorlink=Janet Maslin|title=FILM REVIEW;A Time Traveler With Bad News|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 27, 1995|access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206143359/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D03E7DF1239F934A15751C1A963958260 |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> He won a Golden Globe Award for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] for the film<ref name="golden globes" /> and received his first [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/press/presskits/nominations/pdf/81aa_fact_sheet.pdf |title=81st Annual Academy Awards&nbsp;– Oscar Nominations Fact Sheet |access-date=January 27, 2010 |publisher=[[Academy Award]]s Official Website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206022110/http://www.oscars.org/press/presskits/nominations/pdf/81aa_fact_sheet.pdf |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The following year, he appeared in the legal drama ''[[Sleepers (film)|Sleepers]]'' (1996), based on [[Lorenzo Carcaterra]]'s novel of the same name.<ref name="sleep cast">{{cite news |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294799,00.html |title=Like a Bad Dream |first=Owen|last=Gleiberman |authorlink=Owen Gleiberman|date=November 1, 1996 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=November 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029030640/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294799,00.html |archive-date=October 29, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/sleepers |title=Sleepers (1996): Reviews |date=October 18, 1996 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=March 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408003339/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/sleepers |archive-date=April 8, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1997 film ''[[The Devil's Own]]'' Pitt starred, opposite [[Harrison Ford]], as [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Irish Republican Army]] terrorist Rory Devany,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,287134,00.html |title=The Devil's Own Movie Review |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |authorlink=Owen Gleiberman|date=March 21, 1997 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001225930/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,287134,00.html |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a role for which he was required to learn an Irish accent.<ref>{{cite news|first=Larry|last=Ratliff |title=Sexy integrity&nbsp;– Brad Pitt worked hard to match co-star Ford's 'every day look' |date=March 28, 1997 |newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]] |page=10H |quote=[Brad] Pitt had to master an Irish accent [in ''The Devil's Own''] to play the bitter freedom fighter who befriends the New York cop portrayed by [Harrison] Ford.}}</ref> Critical opinion was divided on his accent; "Pitt finds the right tone of moral ambiguity, but at times his Irish brogue is too convincing&nbsp;– it's hard to understand what he's saying", wrote the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]].''<ref>{{cite news|author=Ruthe Stein|url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/A-Divine-Duo-in-Devil-s-Own-The-Irish-2849106.php|title=A Divine Duo in 'Devil's Own' / The Irish Troubles are brewing&nbsp;– Ford, Pitt add to the chemistry|access-date=March 15, 2010|date=March 26, 1997|work=San Francisco Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119073629/http://articles.sfgate.com/1997-03-26/entertainment/17744750_1_northern-ireland-ira-rory-devaney|archive-date=January 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Charleston Gazette]]'' opined that it had favored Pitt's accent over the movie.<ref>{{cite news|first=Linda B.|last=Blackford|title=Pitt Was Right About 'The Devil's Own'|date=April 4, 1997|newspaper=[[The Charleston Gazette]]|page=P2D}}</ref> ''The Devil's Own'' grossed $140&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref name="earnings" />

Later that year, he led as Austrian mountaineer [[Heinrich Harrer]] in the [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] film ''[[Seven Years in Tibet (1997 film)|Seven Years in Tibet]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.salon.com/ent/movies/1997/10/10tibet.html |title=Seven Years in Tibet |first=Dwight|last=Garner |date=October 10, 1997 |work=[[Salon.com]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216071455/http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/1997/10/10tibet.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref> Pitt trained for months for the role, which demanded significant mountain climbing and trekking practice, including rock climbing in California and the European [[Alps]] with his co-star [[David Thewlis]].<ref name="tibet">{{cite news |first=Chris|last=Nashawaty |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/06/13/brad-pitts-seven-years-tibet-dilemma/ |title='Seven Years' Hitch |date=June 13, 1997 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010232531/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,288347,00.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt had the lead role in 1998's fantasy romance film ''[[Meet Joe Black]]''. He portrayed a [[death (personification)|personification of death]] inhabiting the body of a young man to learn what it is like to be human.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/movies/mcgurk/meetjoeblack.html |title=Meet Brad Pitt |first=Margaret A.|last=McGurk |work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814015129/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/movies/mcgurk/meetjoeblack.html |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews, and many were critical of Pitt's performance. According to [[Mick LaSalle]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', Pitt was unable to "make an audience believe that he knows all the mysteries of death and eternity."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1998/11/13/DD24338.DTL |title=Colorless 'Joe Black'/ Pitt's Death is lethally dull, but Hopkins breathes life into overlong romance |first=Mick|last=LaSalle |authorlink=Mick LaSalle|date=November 13, 1998 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128032045/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1998%2F11%2F13%2FDD24338.DTL |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] remarked, "Pitt is a fine actor, but this performance is a miscalculation."<ref>{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|authorlink=Roger Ebert|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19981113/REVIEWS/811130304/1023|title=Meet Joe Black|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=November 13, 1998|access-date=January 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402202651/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19981113%2FREVIEWS%2F811130304%2F1023 |archive-date=April 2, 2013|via=rogerebert.com}}</ref>

=== Rise to prominence (1999–2003) ===
In 1999, Pitt portrayed [[The Narrator (Fight Club)|Tyler Durden]] in ''[[Fight Club]]'',<ref>{{cite book |title=Fight Club |author=Chuck Palahniuk |author-link=Chuck Palahniuk |year=1996 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=978-0393039764 |page=25|title-link=Fight Club (novel)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/film/the-business-of-being-brad/2008/12/13/1228585167094.html |title=The business of being Brad |author=Stephanie Bunbury |date=December 13, 2008 |work=[[The Sun-Herald]] |page=4 |access-date=May 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603061437/http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/film/the-business-of-being-brad/2008/12/13/1228585167094.html |archive-date=June 3, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> a film adaptation of [[Chuck Palahniuk]]'s [[Fight Club (novel)|novel of the same name]], directed by [[David Fincher]].<ref name="fight">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9910/19/fight.club.salon/index1.html |title='Fight Club': It 'Just sort of clicked' |author=Michael Sragow |date=October 19, 1999 |work=[[Salon.com]] |publisher=CNN |page=2 |access-date=December 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206061834/http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9910/19/fight.club.salon/index1.html |archive-date=December 6, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt prepared for the part with lessons in [[boxing]], [[taekwondo]], and [[grappling]].<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Stephen Garrett |title=Freeze Frame |magazine=[[Details (magazine)|Details]]|date=July 1999}}</ref> To look the part, Pitt consented to the removal of pieces of his front teeth which were restored when filming ended.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Chris Nashawaty |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,83604,00.html |title=Brad Pitt loses his teeth for a "Fight" |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=July 16, 1998 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906114224/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,83604,00.html |archive-date=September 6, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> While promoting ''Fight Club'', Pitt said that the film explored not taking one's aggressions out on someone else but to "have an experience, take a punch more and see how you come out on the other end."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9910/14/fight.club/ |title=Brad Pitt spars with 'Fight Club' critics |author=Paul Vercammen |date=October 14, 1999 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425062803/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9910/14/fight.club/ |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Fight Club'' premiered at the 1999 [[Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jAMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6070,980986|title=Cruise, Kidman visit Venice Film Festival|work=The Free Lance-Star|date=September 4, 1999|page=26|access-date=September 23, 2013|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183149/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jAMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6070,980986|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite divided critical opinion on the film as a whole,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/fight-club/critic-reviews |title=Fight Club: What The Critics Said |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=February 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228045627/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/fight-club/critic-reviews |archive-date=February 28, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=David Gritten |title=Premiere of ''Fight Club'' leaves critics slugging it out in Venice |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=September 14, 1999}}</ref> Pitt's performance was widely praised. [[Paul Clinton]] of [[CNN]] noted the risky yet successful nature of the film,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9910/15/review.fight.club/ |title=Review: 'Fight Club' a two-fisted knockout |author=Paul Clinton |date=October 15, 1999 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=March 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425062806/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9910/15/review.fight.club/ |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> while ''Variety'' remarked upon Pitt's ability to be "cool, charismatic and more dynamically physical, perhaps than [...] his breakthrough role in ''Thelma and Louise''".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117752116.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |title=Fight Club Review |author=David Rooney |date=September 13, 1999 |work=Variety |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208200156/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117752116.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |archive-date=December 8, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> In spite of a worse-than-expected box office performance, ''Fight Club'' became a [[Cult following|cult classic]] after its DVD release in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dennis Lim |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/movies/homevideo/08lim.html |title='Fight Club' Fight Goes On |access-date=December 10, 2009 |date=November 8, 2009 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120310035311/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/movies/homevideo/08lim.html |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Brad Pitt at Incirlik2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Pitt in 2001]]

Pitt was cast as an [[Irish Travellers|Irish Traveller]] [[boxing|boxer]] with a barely intelligible accent in [[Guy Ritchie]]'s 2000 gangster film ''[[Snatch (film)|Snatch]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/18/review.snatch/index.html |title='Snatch': Bloody kid stuff |author=Paul Tatara |date=January 18, 2001 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629045714/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/18/review.snatch/index.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref> Several reviewers were critical of ''Snatch''; however, most praised Pitt.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/snatch |title=Snatch (2001): Reviews |date=January 19, 2001 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=December 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117021154/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/snatch |archive-date=November 17, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mick LaSalle of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' said Pitt was "ideally cast as an Irishman whose accent is so thick even Brits can't understand him", going on to say that, before ''Snatch'', Pitt had been "shackled by roles that called for brooding introspection, but recently he has found his calling in black comic outrageousness and flashy extroversion;"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/19/DD166302.DTL&type=movies |title=Pitt Finds His Groove |author=Mick LaSalle |date=January 19, 2001 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=December 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018183017/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2001%2F01%2F19%2FDD166302.DTL&type=movies |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Amy Taubin]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' claimed that "Pitt gets maximum comic mileage out of a one-joke role".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-01-16/film/miscarried-justice-jejune-miscreants/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020215057/http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-01-16/film/miscarried-justice-jejune-miscreants/2/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |title=Miscarried Justice; Jejune Miscreants |author=Amy Taubin |date=January 16, 2010 |work=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=February 26, 2010}}</ref>

The following year Pitt starred opposite [[Julia Roberts]] in the [[romantic comedy]] ''[[The Mexican]]'',<ref>{{cite news|author=Jay Boyar|title=Runaway Ride&nbsp;– 'The Mexican' Is Freewheeling Fun From Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt|date=March 2, 2001|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|page=21}}</ref> a film that garnered a range of reviews<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-mexican |title=Mexican, The (2001): Reviews |date=March 2, 2001 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=March 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921132757/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-mexican |archive-date=September 21, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> but enjoyed box office success.<ref name="earnings" /> Pitt's next role, in 2001's $143&nbsp;million-grossing [[Cold War]] thriller ''[[Spy Game]]'',<ref name="earnings" /> was as Tom Bishop, an operative of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s [[Special Activities Division]], mentored by [[Robert Redford]]'s character.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-11-27/film/international-men-of-history/1 |title=International Men of History |author=Mark Holcomb |date=November 27, 2001 |work=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825223940/http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-11-27/film/international-men-of-history/1/ |archive-date=August 25, 2011}}</ref> Mark Holcomb of [[Salon.com]] enjoyed the film, although he noted that neither Pitt nor Redford provided "much of an emotional connection for the audience".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/2001/11/21/spy_game/ |title=Spy Game |author=Charles Taylor |date=November 21, 2001 |work=[[Salon.com]] |page=2 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924093548/http://www.salon.com/2001/11/21/spy_game/ |archive-date=September 24, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 22, 2001, Pitt made a guest appearance in the [[The One with the Rumor|eighth season]] of the television series ''[[Friends]]'', playing a man with a grudge against [[Rachel Green]], played by [[Jennifer Aniston]], to whom Pitt was married at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1668756.stm |title=Pitt joins Aniston in Friends |access-date=September 23, 2013 |date=November 21, 2001 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321195950/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1668756.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> For this performance he was nominated for an [[Primetime Emmy Award|Emmy Award]] in the category of [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor&nbsp;– Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,321601,00.html |title=Trophy Time |author=Gary Susman |date=July 17, 2002 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605233103/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,321601,00.html |archive-date=June 5, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2001, Pitt played [[Rusty Ryan (character)|Rusty Ryan]] in the heist film ''[[Ocean's Eleven (2001 film)|Ocean's Eleven]]'', a remake of the 1960 [[Ocean's Eleven (1960 film)|Rat Pack original]]. He joined an ensemble cast including [[George Clooney]], [[Matt Damon]], [[Andy García]], and Julia Roberts.<ref name="oceans">{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20011207/REVIEWS/112070302/1023 |title=Ocean's Eleven |author=Roger Ebert |date=December 7, 2001 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402202645/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20011207%2FREVIEWS%2F112070302%2F1023 |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Well received by critics, ''Ocean's Eleven'' was highly successful at the box office, earning $450&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref name="earnings" />

Pitt appeared in two episodes of MTV's reality series ''[[Jackass (franchise)|Jackass]]'' in February 2002, first running through the streets of Los Angeles with several cast members in gorilla suits,<ref>{{cite episode |title=Night Monkey 2 (with Brad Pitt) |series=[[Jackass (franchise)|Jackass]]|network=MTV |airdate=February 10, 2002 |season=3 |number=8 |minutes=22–23}}</ref> and in a subsequent episode participating in his own staged abduction.<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Abduction (with Brad Pitt) |series=[[Jackass (franchise)|Jackass]]|network=MTV |airdate=February 17, 2002 |season=3 |number=9 |minutes=22–23}}</ref> In the same year, Pitt had a cameo role in George Clooney's directorial debut ''[[Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (film)|Confessions of a Dangerous Mind]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/30/barris.cnna/ |title=Chuck Barris' 'Dangerous Mind' |author=Bill Hemmer |date=December 30, 2002 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=July 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629045725/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/30/barris.cnna/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref> He took on his first voice-acting roles in 2003, speaking as the titular character of the [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]] animated film ''[[Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas]]''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D01E7DD123AF931A35754C0A9659C8B63 |title=Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas review |author=Elvis Mitchell |author-link=Elvis Mitchell |date=July 2, 2003 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117222921/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D01E7DD123AF931A35754C0A9659C8B63 |archive-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and playing [[Boomhauer]]'s brother, [[Patch Boomhauer|Patch]], in an episode of the animated television series ''[[King of the Hill]]''.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Patch Boomhauer |series=King of the Hill |credits=J.B. Cooke, Anthony Lioi |network=Fox |airdate=November 2, 2003 |season=8 |number=150 |minutes=22}}</ref>

=== Worldwide recognition (2004–2008) ===
Pitt had two major film roles in 2004, starring as [[Achilles]] in ''[[Troy (film)|Troy]]'', and reprising his role, [[Rusty Ryan (character)|Rusty Ryan]], in the sequel ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]''. He spent six months sword training before the filming of ''Troy'', based on the ''[[Iliad]]''.<ref name="troy">{{cite news |author=Rome Neal |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brad-pitts-sailing-along/ |title=Brad Pitt's Sailing Along |date=July 1, 2003 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |work=[[The Early Show]] |access-date=November 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216000421/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/01/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main561157.shtml |archive-date=December 16, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> An on-set injury to his [[Achilles tendon]] delayed production on the picture for several weeks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/06/1083635286338.html |title=For Pitt's sake |access-date=May 15, 2008 |date=May 7, 2004 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406100911/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/06/1083635286338.html |archive-date=April 6, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Stephen Hunter]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' stated that Pitt excelled at such a demanding role.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25869-2004May13.html |title=The Boy Toys Of 'Troy' |author=Stephen Hunter |date=May 13, 2004 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726125943/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25869-2004May13.html |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Troy'' was the first film produced by [[Plan B Entertainment]], a film production company he had founded two years earlier with Jennifer Aniston and [[Brad Grey]], CEO of [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Roger Friedman |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/anistons-star-shines-with-and-without-pitt |title=Aniston's Star Shines With and Without Pitt |access-date=May 16, 2005 |date=November 1, 2005 |publisher=[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609215017/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,174126,00.html |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Ocean's Twelve'' earned $362&nbsp;million worldwide,<ref name="earnings">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=bradpitt.htm |title=Brad Pitt Movie Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=December 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120031827/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=bradpitt.htm |archive-date=November 20, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Pitt and Clooney's dynamic was described by CNN's Paul Clinton as "the best male chemistry since Paul Newman and Robert Redford."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/09/review.oceans/index.html |title=Review: 'Ocean's Twelve' high-spirited fun |author=Paul Clinton |date=December 9, 2004 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=December 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420013026/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/09/review.oceans/index.html |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, Pitt starred as John Smith in the [[Doug Liman]]-directed action comedy ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'', in which a bored married couple discover that each is an assassin sent to kill the other. The feature received reasonable reviews but was generally lauded for the chemistry between Pitt and [[Angelina Jolie]], who played his character's wife Jane Smith. The ''[[Star Tribune]]'' noted that "while the story feels haphazard, the movie gets by on gregarious charm, galloping energy and the stars' thermonuclear screen chemistry".<ref>{{cite news |author=Colin Covert |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mr_and_mrs_smith/ |title=Mr. & Mrs. Smith |access-date=September 8, 2008 |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |work=[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215124516/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mr_and_mrs_smith |archive-date=December 15, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Mr. & Mrs. Smith'' earned $478&nbsp;million worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits of 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm |title=2005 Yearly Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=January 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130235103/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm |archive-date=January 30, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:BradPittBAR08.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Pitt at the premiere of ''[[Burn After Reading]]'' in 2008]]

For his next film, Pitt starred opposite [[Cate Blanchett]] in [[Alejandro González Iñárritu]]'s [[multiperspectivity|multi-narrative]] drama ''[[Babel (film)|Babel]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/12/15/babel_departed_top_golden_globe_picks/|author=Ty Burr|title='Babel,' 'Departed' top Golden Globe picks|date=December 15, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2010|work=The Boston Globe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113062529/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/12/15/babel_departed_top_golden_globe_picks/|archive-date=January 13, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt's performance was critically well-received, and the ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' said that he was credible and gave the film visibility.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/290909_babel03q.html |title=Three gripping stories intertwine in 'Babel,' a grim view of a borderless world |author=William Arnold |date=November 3, 2006 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321195954/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/Three-gripping-stories-intertwine-in-Babel-a-1218776.php |url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt later said he regarded taking the part as one of the best decisions of his career.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebrity-news-gossip/pitts-pitch-brad-babbles-on-in-the-buildup-for-babel-77615.html |title=Pitt's pitch Brad babbles on in the build-up for 'Babel' |date=September 11, 2006 |work=[[Irish Independent]] |access-date=December 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104002624/http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebrity-news-gossip/pitts-pitch-brad-babbles-on-in-the-buildup-for-babel-77615.html |archive-date=November 4, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was screened at a special presentation at the [[2006 Cannes Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Geoff Pevere|title=Babel speaks volumes&nbsp;– Movie lauded as first hit at 2006 Cannes film fest Star Brad Pitt a no-show as he awaits baby's birth|date=May 24, 2006|work=Toronto Star|page=E01}}</ref> and was later featured at the 2006 [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="tongue">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-09-10-pitt-toronto_x.htm |title=Babies and 'Babel' loosen Brad Pitt's tongue |author=Harlan Jacobson |date=September 10, 2006 |work=USA Today |access-date=December 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304034236/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-09-10-pitt-toronto_x.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Babel'' received seven Academy and Golden Globe award nominations, winning the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture&nbsp;– Drama|Best Drama]] Golden Globe, and earned Pitt a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] Golden Globe.<ref name="golden globes" /> That same year, Pitt's company Plan B Entertainment produced ''[[The Departed]]'', which won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. Pitt was credited on-screen as a producer; however, only [[Graham King]] was ruled eligible for the Oscar win.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/24/business/fi-grey24/2 |title=Academy to ponder credit for 'Departed' |author=Claudia Eller |date=January 24, 2007 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 14, 2008 |quote=Along with [Graham] King, [Brad] Grey and his former producing partner, actor Brad Pitt, were given screen credit on the movie by Warner. |page=2 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018203740/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/24/business/fi-grey24 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Reprising his role as Rusty Ryan in a third picture, Pitt starred in 2007's ''[[Ocean's Thirteen]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/oceans-thirteen-pacino-clooney-hot-stuff |title='Ocean's Thirteen': Pacino + Clooney = Hot Stuff |author=Roger Freidman |date=May 24, 2007 |publisher=[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] |access-date=October 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414133502/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,275238,00.html |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> While less lucrative than the first two films, this sequel earned $311&nbsp;million at the international box office.<ref name="earnings" /> Pitt's next film role was as American outlaw [[Jesse James]] in the 2007 [[Western (genre)|Western]] drama ''[[The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford]]'', adapted from [[Ron Hansen (novelist)|Ron Hansen]]'s [[The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (novel)|1983 novel of the same name]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Manohla Dargis |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/movies/21assa.html |title=The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)&nbsp;– Movie Review |access-date=May 15, 2008 |date=September 21, 2007 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527113242/http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/movies/21assa.html |archive-date=May 27, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Directed by [[Andrew Dominik]] and produced by Pitt's company Plan B Entertainment, the film premiered at the [[64th Venice International Film Festival|2007 Venice Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-17-brad-pitt-cover_N.htm |title=Brad Pitt: Hollywood's most wanted man |author=Donna Freydkin |date=September 17, 2007 |work=USA Today |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202035211/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-17-brad-pitt-cover_N.htm |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> with Pitt playing a "scary and charismatic" role, according to Lewis Beale of ''[[Film Journal International]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003639817 |title=The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford&nbsp;– Review |access-date=February 25, 2009 |author=Lewis Beale |work=[[Film Journal International]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101075657/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003639817 |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and earning Pitt the [[Volpi Cup]] award for Best Actor at the [[64th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Christopher Hastings |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/exclusions/venice-film-festival/nosplit/venice-thewinners.xml |title=Venice Film Festival&nbsp;– the winners |date=December 7, 2007 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914201439/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2Fexclusions%2Fvenice-film-festival%2Fnosplit%2Fvenice-thewinners.xml |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He eventually collected the award one year later at the [[65th Venice International Film Festival|2008 festival]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Tom O'Neil |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/08/brad-pitt-venic.html |title=Brad Pitt finally claims last year's best-actor trophy at the Venice Film Festival |access-date=August 27, 2008 |date=September 9, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820082903/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/08/brad-pitt-venic.html |archive-date=August 20, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of January 2019, it was his own favorite of his films.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gq.com/story/brad-pitt-gq-style-cover-story |title=Brad Pitt Talks Divorce, Quitting Drinking, and Becoming a Better Man |first=Michael |last=Paternity |date=May 3, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2019 |magazine=[[GQ Style]] |editor-first=Ryan |editor-last=McGinley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121100357/https://www.gq.com/story/brad-pitt-gq-style-cover-story |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Pitt's next appearance was in the 2008 black comedy ''[[Burn After Reading]]'', his first collaboration with the [[Coen brothers]]. The film received a positive reception from critics, with ''[[The Guardian]]'' calling it "a tightly wound, slickly plotted spy comedy",<ref name="Guard0827">{{cite news |author=Andrew Pulver |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/27/venicefilmfestival.coenbrothers1 |title=Review: Burn After Reading |access-date=October 15, 2008 |date=August 27, 2008 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219071701/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/27/venicefilmfestival.coenbrothers1 |archive-date=December 19, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> noting that Pitt's performance was one of the funniest.<ref name="Guard0827" /> He was later cast as Benjamin Button, the lead in [[David Fincher]]'s 2008 film ''[[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)|The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]]'', a loosely adapted version of a 1921 [[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (short story)|short story]] by [[F. Scott Fitzgerald]]. The story follows a man who is born an [[octogenarian]] and ages in reverse,<ref name="Benjamin">{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1553713/20070302/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104024515/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1553713/20070302/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |title=Director David Fincher: Beyond The Zodiac |author=Kurt Loder |author-link=Kurt Loder |date=March 2, 2007 |publisher=MTV Movie News |access-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref> with Pitt's "sensitive" performance making ''Benjamin Button'' a "timeless masterpiece", according to [[Michael Sragow]] of ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=One for the ages |author=Michael Sragow |date=December 25, 2008 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> The performance earned Pitt his first [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] nomination,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7850879.stm |title=SAG Awards 2009: The winners |date=January 26, 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=February 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218132102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7850879.stm |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as a fourth Golden Globe and second Academy Award nomination,<ref name="golden globes" /> all in the category for Best Actor. The film received thirteen Academy Award nominations, and grossed $329&nbsp;million at the box office worldwide.<ref name="earnings" />

=== Established actor (2009–present) ===
[[File:Brad Pitt Cannes 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|Pitt at the 2012 [[Cannes Film Festival]]|alt=A Caucasian male has long brown hair pushed back and a short brown beard. He wears a black suit jacket and a white shirt.]]

Pitt's next leading role came in 2009 with the [[Quentin Tarantino]]-directed [[war film]] ''[[Inglourious Basterds]]'', which premiered at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1897891,00.html|title=Cannes 2009: Great&nbsp;– or the Greatest&nbsp;– Festival?|first1=Richard|last1=Corliss|first2=Mary|last2=Corliss|date=May 13, 2009|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=September 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331063121/http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1897891,00.html|archive-date=March 31, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt played Lieutenant Aldo Raine, an American resistance fighter battling [[Nazi]]s in German-occupied France.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/22/tarantino.filmography/index.html |title=Have Tarantino and his 'Inglourious Basterds' got what it takes? |author=Mairi Mackay |date=May 22, 2009 |publisher=[[CNN|CNN: Showbiz/Movies]] |access-date=May 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525211354/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/22/tarantino.filmography/index.html |archive-date=May 25, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was a box office hit, taking $311&nbsp;million worldwide,<ref name="earnings" /> and garnered generally favorable reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/inglourious-basterds |title=Inglourious Basterds (2009): Reviews |access-date=December 19, 2009 |date=August 21, 2009 |website=[[Metacritic]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818163447/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/inglourious-basterds |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film received multiple [[List of accolades received by Inglourious Basterds|awards and nominations]], including eight Academy Award nominations and seven [[MTV Movie Award]] nominations, including [[MTV Movie Award for Best Performance|Best Male Performance]] for Pitt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html |title=Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards |work=Academy Awards Official Website |access-date=April 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408193211/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html |archive-date=April 8, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2010/|title=2010 MTV Movie Awards|publisher=MTV|access-date=March 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331225625/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2010/|archive-date=March 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> He next voiced the superhero character Metro Man in the 2010 animated feature ''[[Megamind]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Stephen Holden|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/movies/05mega.html|title=Animated Ambiguity, Featuring a Big Head|access-date=November 5, 2010|date=November 5, 2010|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304193500/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/movies/05mega.html|archive-date=March 4, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt produced and appeared in [[Terrence Malick]]'s experimental drama ''[[The Tree of Life (film)|The Tree of Life]]'', co-starring [[Sean Penn]], which won the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2011 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Anthony|last=Breznican|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/05/22/cannes-film-festival-2011awards/|title=Cannes Film Festival: Top prizes go to 'Tree of Life,' Kirsten Dunst, 'The Artist'|access-date=May 23, 2011|date=May 22, 2011|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523193504/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/05/22/cannes-film-festival-2011awards/|archive-date=May 23, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In a performance that attracted strong praise, he portrayed the [[Oakland Athletics]] general manager [[Billy Beane]] in the drama ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'', which is based on the 2003 [[Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game|book of the same name]] written by [[Michael Lewis]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Bill Madden|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/09/03/2010-09-03_hoping_moneyball_movie_is_not_also_the_pitts.html|title='Moneyball' strategy insufficient for Oakland A's, general manager Billy Beane vs. New York Yankees|access-date=March 3, 2011|date=September 3, 2010|work=[[Daily News (New York)]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906080042/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/09/03/2010-09-03_hoping_moneyball_movie_is_not_also_the_pitts.html|archive-date=September 6, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Moneyball'' received six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Pitt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html|title=Nominees for the 84th Academy Awards|work=Academy Awards Official Website|access-date=January 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825202636/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html|archive-date=August 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

His next role was as mob hitman Jackie Cogan in [[Andrew Dominik]]'s 2012 ''[[Killing Them Softly]]'', based on the novel ''[[Cogan's Trade]]'' by [[George V. Higgins]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10841657|title=Movie review: Killing Them Softly|last=Baillie|first=Russell|date=October 20, 2012|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|publisher=APN Holdings NZ Limited|access-date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119183045/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10841657|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Pitt starred in ''[[World War Z (film)|World War Z]]'', a thriller about a [[zombie apocalypse]], based on [[Max Brooks]]'s [[World War Z|novel of the same name]]. Pitt also produced the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/06/brad-pitt-world-war-z-drama|title=Brad's War|last=Holson|first=Laura M.|date=June 2013|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=June 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508123317/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/06/brad-pitt-world-war-z-drama|archive-date=May 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> ''World War Z'' grossed $540&nbsp;million at the box office worldwide,<ref name="earnings" /> becoming Pitt's highest grossing picture.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-world-war-603984|title=Box Office Milestone: 'World War Z' Becomes Brad Pitt's Top-Grossing Film|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|date=August 11, 2013|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=August 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813120849/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-world-war-603984|archive-date=August 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Next in 2013, he produced, and played a small role in, ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'', a historical drama based on the autobiography of [[Solomon Northup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/06/18/12-years-a-slave-movie-first-look/2429803/ |title=First look: 'Twelve Years a Slave' |first=Brian|last=Truitt |date=June 18, 2013 |work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626042603/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/06/18/12-years-a-slave-movie-first-look/2429803/ |archive-date=June 26, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film received critical acclaim<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/12-years-a-slave |title=12 Years a Slave |access-date=January 17, 2014 |website=[[Metacritic]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808104900/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/12-years-a-slave |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning three, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/86/nominees.html|title=Nominees for the 86th Oscars|work=Academy Awards Official Website|access-date=January 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093645/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/86/nominees.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2013, Pitt had a supporting role in [[Ridley Scott]]'s ''[[The Counselor]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/26/counselor-first-trailer-ridley-scott |title=The Counselor: first trailer for new Ridley Scott film released |first=Ben|last=Child |date=June 26, 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=June 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029125104/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/26/counselor-first-trailer-ridley-scott |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Plan B Entertainment landed its first television series on the 2013–2014 schedule, as their joint venture with [[ABC Studios]], the sci-fi/fantasy drama ''[[Resurrection (U.S. TV series)|Resurrection]]'', was picked up by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Justin|last=Kroll |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/jeremy-kleiner-tapped-as-co-president-of-plan-b-entertainment-1200486686/ |title=Jeremy Kleiner Tapped as Co-President of Plan B Entertainment |access-date=October 8, 2013 |date=May 22, 2013 |work=Variety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015103915/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/jeremy-kleiner-tapped-as-co-president-of-plan-b-entertainment-1200486686/ |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:War Machine Japan Premiere Red Carpet- Brad Pitt (38338138066) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Pitt at the Japan premiere of ''[[War Machine (film)|War Machine]]'' in 2017]]

Pitt starred in ''[[Fury (2014 film)|Fury]]'', a [[World War II]] film directed and written by [[David Ayer]], and co-starring [[Shia LaBeouf]], [[Logan Lerman]], [[Jon Bernthal]], [[Michael Peña]], and [[Jason Isaacs]].<ref name="THR Fury">{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Brad Pitt WWII Thriller 'Fury' to Hit Theaters November 2014|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/brad-pitt-wwii-thriller-fury-436987|newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=June 6, 2014|date=April 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906115949/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/brad-pitt-wwii-thriller-fury-436987|archive-date=September 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Shia LaBeouf in Talks to Join Brad Pitt in WWII Thriller 'Fury' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/shia-labeouf-eyes-world-war-ii-pic-fury-with-brad-pitt-1200409503/|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=June 6, 2014|date=April 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828150042/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/shia-labeouf-eyes-world-war-ii-pic-fury-with-brad-pitt-1200409503/|archive-date=August 28, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Edward|title=First Look: Brad Pitt Is "Wardaddy" In Photos From WWII Tank Movie 'Fury'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-brad-pitt-is-wardaddy-in-photos-from-wwii-tank-movie-fury-20140502|work=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=June 6, 2014|date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505185009/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-brad-pitt-is-wardaddy-in-photos-from-wwii-tank-movie-fury-20140502|archive-date=May 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was released on October 17, 2014.<ref name="THR Fury" /> By the end of its run, ''Fury'' proved to be a commercial and critical success; it grossed more than $211&nbsp;million worldwide<ref name="earnings" /> and received highly positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fury_2015/ |title=fury (2014) |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=July 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703095708/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fury_2015/ |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Pitt starred opposite his wife, Jolie, in her third directorial effort, ''[[By the Sea (2015 film)|By the Sea]]'', a romantic drama about a marriage in crisis, based on her screenplay. The film was their first collaboration since 2005's ''Mr. & Mrs. Smith''. Pitt's next role came with the biographical comedy-drama ''[[The Big Short (film)|The Big Short]]'', which he also produced and also co-starred alongside [[Christian Bale]], [[Steve Carell]], and [[Ryan Gosling]]. The film was a commercial and critical success. It went on to gross over $102 million worldwide<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bigshort.htm |title=The Big Short (2015) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=February 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130175347/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bigshort.htm |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and received positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_big_short/ |title=The Big Short reviews |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120165025/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_big_short/ |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-big-short |title=The Big Short reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=January 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109150905/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-big-short |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, earning Pitt his third Academy Award nomination as producer. In 2016, Pitt starred in [[Robert Zemeckis]]'s romantic thriller ''[[Allied (film)|Allied]]'', in which he plays an assassin who falls in love with a French spy (played by [[Marion Cotillard]]) during a mission to kill a German official in [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hayden|first1=Erik|title=Robert Zemeckis to Direct Brad Pitt Romantic Thriller|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/robert-zemeckis-direct-brad-pitt-770867|access-date=August 3, 2016|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405054400/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/robert-zemeckis-direct-brad-pitt-770867|archive-date=April 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Geier|first1=Thom|title=Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard to Play Spies and Lovers in Robert Zemeckis' WWII Movie|url=https://www.thewrap.com/brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-to-play-spies-and-lovers-in-robert-zemeckis-wwii-movie/|website=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|date=June 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210012515/https://www.thewrap.com/brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-to-play-spies-and-lovers-in-robert-zemeckis-wwii-movie/|archive-date=December 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, he starred in the [[Netflix]] satirical war comedy ''[[War Machine (film)|War Machine]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Couto |first=Anthony |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/06/08/brad-pitt-to-star-in-netflix-original-movie-war-machine |title=Brad Pitt to Star in Netflix Original Movie, War Machine |website=[[IGN]]|date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922040512/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/06/08/brad-pitt-to-star-in-netflix-original-movie-war-machine |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> which he also produced.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Kenny|first1=Glenn|title=With 'War Machine', Netflix Bets on Brad Pitt in Afghanistan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/movies/war-machine-netflix-brad-pitt-afghanistan.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112132304/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/movies/war-machine-netflix-brad-pitt-afghanistan.html|archive-date=November 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt played a recurring role as a weatherman on the late-night talk show ''[[The Jim Jefferies Show]]'' throughout 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Weaver|first1=Hilary|title=Brad Pitt Is Still Delivering Doomsday Weather Reports Thanks to Donald Trump|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/06/brad-pitt-is-back-delivering-doomsday-weather-reports|access-date=December 20, 2017|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416222841/http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/06/brad-pitt-is-back-delivering-doomsday-weather-reports|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2017 sequel to ''World War Z'' was in announced in 2016,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movienewsguide.com/world-war-z-2-2017-movie-everything-know-director-screenwriter/322166 |title=World War Z 2 (2017) Movie: Everything We Know So Far About Director and Screenwriter |publisher=Movienewsguide.com |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111090403/http://www.movienewsguide.com/world-war-z-2-2017-movie-everything-know-director-screenwriter/322166 |archive-date=January 11, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> before the film was briefly delayed, then confirmed to be directed by David Fincher, and then ultimately shelved due to budget issues.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/01/05/from-xxx-to-friday-the-13th-paramount-is-betting-on-franchises-and-nostalgia-in-2017/#73dfcbe16e0f |title=From 'xXx' To 'Friday The 13th,' Paramount Is Betting On Franchises And Nostalgia In 2017 |magazine=Forbes |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830214814/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/01/05/from-xxx-to-friday-the-13th-paramount-is-betting-on-franchises-and-nostalgia-in-2017/#73dfcbe16e0f |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='World War Z' Sequel Pulled From Release Calendar|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/world-war-z-sequel-pulled-release-calendar-972612|access-date=March 26, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165528/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/world-war-z-sequel-pulled-release-calendar-972612|archive-date=March 27, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt starred as Cliff Booth, a stunt double, opposite [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], in [[Quentin Tarantino]]'s 2019 film ''[[Once Upon a Time in Hollywood]]'', reuniting with DiCaprio after ''The Departed'', which Pitt produced and DiCaprio starred in.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Quentin Tarantino Taps Brad Pitt To Join Leonardo DiCaprio In 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/quentin-tarantino-brad-pitt-leonardo-dicaprio-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-1202306448/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=March 4, 2018|date=February 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303190445/http://deadline.com/2018/02/quentin-tarantino-brad-pitt-leonardo-dicaprio-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-1202306448/|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> For his performance in the film, he received awards for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|BAFTA Awards]], [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role|Screen Actors Guild Awards]], and [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor|Critics' Choice Movie Awards]].<ref>Accolades for ''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'':
*Academy Awards: {{cite news|last=Pulver|first=Andrew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/10/brad-pitt-wins-best-supporting-actor-oscar-for-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood|title=Brad Pitt wins best supporting actor Oscar for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood|work=The Guardian|date=February 10, 2020|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210021240/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/10/brad-pitt-wins-best-supporting-actor-oscar-for-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood|archive-date=February 10, 2020|url-status=live}}
*BAFTA Awards: {{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/02/baftas-2020-film-winners-full-list|title=The full list of winners at the 2020 Bafta film awards|work=The Guardian|date=February 2, 2020|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202233655/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/02/baftas-2020-film-winners-full-list|archive-date=February 2, 2020|url-status=live}}
*Critics' Choice Awards: {{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Angelique|url=https://variety.com/2020/scene/awards/critics-choice-awards-winners-list-2020-1203464376/|title=Critics' Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List|work=Variety|date=January 12, 2020|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113000523/https://variety.com/2020/scene/awards/critics-choice-awards-winners-list-2020-1203464376/|archive-date=January 13, 2020|url-status=live}}
*Golden Globe Awards: {{cite news|last=Lang|first=Brent|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/golden-globes-2019-biggest-wins-netflix-1203457082/|title=Golden Globes: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' '1917' Win Big|date=January 5, 2020|work=Variety|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108034816/https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/golden-globes-2019-biggest-wins-netflix-1203457082/|archive-date=January 8, 2020|url-status=live}}
*Screen Actors Guild Awards: {{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/sag-awards-winners-list-2020-screen-actors-guild-1203472568/|title=SAG Awards: The Complete Winners List|work=Variety|date=January 19, 2020|access-date=January 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120033504/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/sag-awards-winners-list-2020-screen-actors-guild-1203472568/|archive-date=January 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> This is the second Academy Award for Brad Pitt, his first that he received for acting.<ref>{{Cite news|access-date=February 10, 2020|first=Andrew|last=Pulver|date=February 10, 2020|id=0261-3077|website=The Guardian|title=Brad Pitt wins best supporting actor Oscar for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/10/brad-pitt-wins-best-supporting-actor-oscar-for-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood|archive-date=February 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210021240/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/10/brad-pitt-wins-best-supporting-actor-oscar-for-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, he also starred in [[James Gray (film director)|James Gray]]'s deep space epic ''[[Ad Astra (film)|Ad Astra]]'', in which he played Roy McBride, a space engineer searching the galaxy for his father.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike|title=Tommy Lee Jones To Star With Brad Pitt In Deep-Space Epic|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/tommy-lee-jones-brad-pitt-ad-astra-james-gray-new-regency-1202119181/|website=Deadline|access-date=September 12, 2017|date=June 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623224233/http://deadline.com/2017/06/tommy-lee-jones-brad-pitt-ad-astra-james-gray-new-regency-1202119181/|archive-date=June 23, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt's performance was praised as one of his career-best turn,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tallerico |first1=Brian |title=Ad Astra (2019) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ad-astra-movie-review-2019 |website=rogerebert.com |access-date=March 13, 2020 |date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404083208/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ad-astra-movie-review-2019 |archive-date=April 4, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mottram |first1=James |title=Ad Astra Review: "Brad Pitt is on sensational, Oscar-worthy form in James Gray's Sci-fi masterpiece" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/ad-astra-review/ |website=gamesrader |publisher=Total Film |access-date=March 13, 2020 |date=August 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417024315/https://www.gamesradar.com/ad-astra-review/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> delivering a performance "that weaponizes passivity into a lethal form of self-defense".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ehrlich |first1=David |title='Ad Astra' Review: James Gray's Space Odyssey Is an Interstellar Masterpiece |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/ad-astra-review-brad-pitt-james-gray-venice-1202169692/ |website=IndieWire |access-date=March 13, 2020 |date=August 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829202901/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/ad-astra-review-brad-pitt-james-gray-venice-1202169692/ |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Saturday Night Live season 45|2020]], Pitt portrayed [[Dr. Anthony Fauci]] in the cold open on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', earning him a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]] nomination.<ref name="w174">{{cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Zach |title=Saturday Night Live: Brad Pitt plays Dr Anthony Fauci in standout virtual episode |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=April 27, 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/26/saturday-night-live-brad-pitt-dr-anthony-fauci-virtual-episode |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref><ref name="w846">{{cite magazine |last=Aquilina |first=Tyler |title=Dr. Fauci reacts to Brad Pitt's Emmy nom for playing him on 'SNL': 'It doesn't go to my head' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=July 29, 2020 |url=https://ew.com/awards/emmys/anthony-fauci-reacts-brad-pitt-emmy-nomination-saturday-night-live/ |access-date=December 3, 2024}}</ref>

In 2021, Pitt entered the recording business by creating a company with French record producer [[Damien Quintard]]. Set in Pitt's [[Château Miraval, Correns-Var|Chateau Miraval]] in South of France, Miraval Studios will re-open in 2022 after two decades of inactivity. The previous version of the studio was one of the most iconic studios in the world, producing the records for [[Pink Floyd]], [[the Cranberries]], [[AC/DC]], [[Sade (singer)|Sade]] and [[Muse (band)|Muse]], among others.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brad Pitt & Damien Quintard Set Reopening Of France's Miraval Studios Recording Facility|website=Deadline|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=2021-12-13|access-date=2022-07-11|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/brad-pitt-miraval-studios-reopening-france-1234889821/|archive-date=March 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324175858/https://deadline.com/2021/12/brad-pitt-miraval-studios-reopening-france-1234889821/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, Pitt starred in ''[[Bullet Train (film)|Bullet Train]]'', directed by [[David Leitch]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/brad-pitt-bullet-train-david-leitch-sony-pictures-japanese-action-film-maria-beetle-kotaro-isaka-1202978440/|title=Brad Pitt Commits To Board 'Bullet Train'; David Leitch To Helm Sony Pictures Action Film|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=July 6, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706214757/https://deadline.com/2020/07/brad-pitt-bullet-train-david-leitch-sony-pictures-japanese-action-film-maria-beetle-kotaro-isaka-1202978440/|archive-date=July 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> and reunited with his ''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'' co-star [[Margot Robbie]] in ''[[Babylon (2022 film)|Babylon]]'', directed by [[Damien Chazelle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rising-mexican-actor-nabs-critical-role-opposite-margot-robbie-brad-pitt-in-damien-chazelles-babylon|title=Rising Mexican Actor Nabs "Critical" Role Opposite Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt in Damien Chazelle's 'Babylon'|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Borys|last=Kit|date=2021-03-16|access-date=2021-03-20|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421061430/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rising-mexican-actor-nabs-critical-role-opposite-margot-robbie-brad-pitt-in-damien-chazelles-babylon-4151161/|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 5, 2022, he signed on to star in and produce a racing film on [[Formula One]] titled ''[[F1 (film)|F1]]'', directed by [[Joseph Kosinski]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-05|title=Apple Signs Another Movie Deal with Brad Pitt, This Time for a Formula One Racing Flick|url=https://www.idropnews.com/news/apple-signs-a-second-movie-deal-with-brad-pitt-for-a-formula-one-racing-flick/176665/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=iDrop News|language=en-US|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106000415/https://www.idropnews.com/news/apple-signs-a-second-movie-deal-with-brad-pitt-for-a-formula-one-racing-flick/176665/|url-status=dead}}</ref> for which he will earn $30 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/features/movie-star-salaries-joaquin-phoenix-joker-2-tom-cruise-1235320046/|title=Inside Movie Stars' Salaries: Joaquin Phoenix Nabs $20M for ''Joker 2'', Tom Cruise Heads to Over $100M and More|date=July 20, 2022|first=Brent|last=Lang|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=July 21, 2022|archive-date=July 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720160107/https://variety.com/2022/film/features/movie-star-salaries-joaquin-phoenix-joker-2-tom-cruise-1235320046/|url-status=live}}</ref> He reteamed with George Clooney in ''[[Wolfs (film)|Wolfs]]'', a comedy-thriller written and directed by [[Jon Watts]], which was released in September 2024.<ref name="k170">{{cite web |first1=Patrick |last1=Brzeski |first2=Lily |last2=Ford |title='Wolfs' Director Jon Watts to Miss Venice World Premiere After Catching COVID |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 1, 2024 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wolfs-director-jon-watts-venice-2024-premiere-covid-1235989060/ |access-date=September 29, 2024}}</ref>