Ranking 13 Best Kevin Bacon Movies
Few actors have built a career as varied and consistently watchable as Kevin Bacon.
He has moved easily between thrillers, dramas, comedies, and character-driven roles that stick with audiences long after the credits roll.
Some performances became pop culture staples, while others earned quieter praise for emotional depth and range.
That versatility makes ranking his films both fun and a little challenging, since different fans connect with different sides of his work.
Disclaimer: This ranking reflects editorial opinion and viewing preferences, not definitive fact or universal consensus about Kevin Bacon’s filmography.
1. Footloose (1984)
When a city kid moves to a town where dancing is banned, you know sparks are about to fly!
Ren McCormack becomes the ultimate rebel with a cause, challenging outdated rules with cool dance moves and an infectious spirit.
This film turned Bacon into a household name and gave us one of the most iconic soundtracks of the 1980s.
Though some might dismiss it as a simple teen flick, the heart and energy behind this story still gets feet tapping decades later.
2. Mystic River (2003)
Clint Eastwood directed this haunting tale where childhood trauma echoes through adult lives in devastating ways.
Detective Sean Devine finds himself investigating a murder that connects him to painful memories and complicated friendships.
Bacon delivers a measured, nuanced performance that anchors the film’s emotional weight.
3. Apollo 13 (1995)
Houston, we have a problem, and Bacon is right in the middle of it! As astronaut Jack Swigert, he joins one of cinema’s most thrilling space missions that almost ended in tragedy.
Ron Howard’s direction combined with stellar performances makes this historical drama feel incredibly immediate.
The tension builds even though most viewers know how it ends. Bacon captures the professionalism and fear of an astronaut facing impossible odds, proving dramatic roles suit him perfectly.
4. A Few Good Men (1992)
Can you handle the truth? Captain Jack Ross certainly can in this explosive courtroom drama that pits military honor against moral responsibility.
Bacon holds his own opposite Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, no small feat considering the powerhouse performances surrounding him. His prosecutor brings intelligence and conviction to every scene.
The film remains a masterclass in dialogue-driven tension, with Aaron Sorkin’s script giving everyone memorable moments to shine brightly.
5. JFK (1991)
Oliver Stone’s conspiracy thriller weaves a complex web around one of history’s most debated events.
Bacon appears as Willie O’Keefe, a key witness whose testimony adds another layer to the Kennedy assassination investigation.
Though his role is smaller compared to other entries on this list, Bacon makes every second count with raw intensity. Stone’s ambitious film polarized critics but remains endlessly fascinating.
6. The Woodsman (2004)
Brave doesn’t begin to describe Bacon’s choice to tackle this challenging role. Walter is a man attempting to rebuild his life after prison, facing society’s judgment and his own inner demons daily.
This independent film showcases Bacon’s fearless commitment to complex characters that demand empathy and understanding. His wife Kyra Sedgwick co-stars, adding genuine chemistry.
7. Tremors (1990)
Giant underground worms terrorizing a desert town sounds ridiculous until you actually watch this creature feature masterpiece!
Val McKee just wants to leave Perfection, Nevada, but subterranean monsters have other plans entirely.
Bacon brings likable everyman charm to what could’ve been a forgettable B-movie. Instead, clever writing and practical effects created a cult classic that spawned multiple sequels.
8. Friday the 13th (1980)
Camp Crystal Lake claimed another victim when young Jack met his gruesome end in one of horror’s most infamous franchises.
Bacon’s early role as a camp counselor showcases him before stardom, delivering a performance that horror fans still reference today.
The film launched countless sequels and made Jason Voorhees a household name in terror. Though Bacon’s screen time is limited, his death scene became iconic slasher movie history.
9. Stir of Echoes (1999)
What happens when hypnosis unlocks terrifying supernatural visions? Tom Witzky finds out the hard way in this underrated psychological thriller that got overshadowed by another ghost movie that year.
Bacon conveys genuine terror and obsession as his character unravels a neighborhood mystery. Released the same year as The Sixth Sense, this film deserved more attention than it received.
10. Sleepers (1996)
Few villains feel as genuinely menacing as Sean Nokes, the sadistic prison guard Bacon portrays with chilling conviction.
This revenge drama follows childhood friends seeking justice for horrific abuse they endured at a juvenile facility decades earlier.
Bacon disappears into this despicable character, creating one of cinema’s most hateable antagonists without overacting.
11. The River Wild (1994)
Whitewater rafting turns deadly when criminals hijack a family vacation in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Wade is charming at first, but Bacon gradually reveals the character’s dangerous desperation as the river journey becomes a fight for survival.
Meryl Streep leads as the capable mother protecting her family, while Bacon provides the menace.
12. X-Men: First Class (2011)
Sebastian Shaw brings world-ending ambitions to the mutant universe, and Bacon clearly relishes playing this stylish supervillain.
As the antagonist orchestrating the Cuban Missile Crisis for his own purposes, he faces off against young Professor X and Magneto in their origin story.
Bacon brings gravitas to comic book material, never winking at the camera or treating the role as beneath him.
13. Murder in the First (1995)
Based on a true story, this prison drama exposes the brutal conditions of Alcatraz through one man’s horrific experience.
Bacon physically transforms to portray Henri Young, an inmate subjected to years of solitary confinement that destroyed his mental and physical health completely.
Christian Slater co-stars as the lawyer fighting for justice, but Bacon’s haunting performance dominates every frame he occupies.
