Bradley Cooper turned 50: Five movies you should re-watch

Voicing a snarky raccoon? Check. Portraying a bitter, down-on-his-luck musician? Perfection. As Bradley Cooper’s fans often say—what can’t he do? The 12-time Oscar-nominated Hollywood star, who just turned 50 on January 5 while celebrating with his daughter Lea at a football game, has built a remarkable career across diverse genres.

From gritty dramas to feel-good comedies, Cooper’s range is undeniable. To celebrate his impressive journey, here are five must-watch Bradley Cooper films for your next movie marathon.

Cooper might not have featured in the film, Guardians of the Galaxy, but he sure made a strong mark with his voice. Playing Rocket the raccoon, Cooper voices the feisty character who finds himself a family in the other guardians – Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, and Groot played by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and Vin Diesel.

Another major blockbuster in the Marvel franchise, the Avengers films boast a lineup of superheroes portrayed by some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Yet once again, Cooper’s Rocket steals the show with his razor-sharp wit and memorable comebacks.

Not only does this movie star Bradley Cooper alongside Lady Gaga, it also happens to be Cooper’s directorial debut. The film, a hit, even received seven Oscar nominations, including ‘Best Actor’, ‘Best Picture’, and won the award for the hit song ‘Shallow’, in the ‘Original Song’ category.

Starring Cooper, Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence, the movie follows Pat Solitano (Cooper) who moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. The multi-starrer comedy drama movie not only won 89 awards, but was also nominated 148 times across several award shows. It also earned Cooper a nomination for ‘Best Actor’ at the Oscar awards in 2013.

This documentary-drama explores the complex relationship between conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein, played by Cooper, and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, played by Carey Mulligan,  Cooper not only stars in the film but also directs, earning Oscar nominations in seven categories, including ‘Best Motion Picture of the Year,’ ‘Best Actor,’ and ‘Best Original Screenplay.’