Edward Norton – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 18, 2025

Primal Fear introduced him with an Oscar-nominated debut built entirely on a late twist, and Fight Club gave him one of the decade’s most quoted lead roles. Motherless Brooklyn is a passion project he wrote, directed and starred in, Glass Onion gives him a sharp, self-satisfied villain, Moonrise Kingdom adds a gentle supporting role, and The Illusionist is a restrained period mystery. American History X, 25th Hour, Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel round out the list.

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Edward Norton wrote, directed and starred in this passion project.

Directed by Edward Norton · 2h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A tech billionaire's island getaway turns into a real murder investigation for his guests.

Directed by Rian Johnson · 2h 20m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.7

Two twelve-year-olds fall in love and run away together, prompting a town-wide search.

Directed by Wes Anderson · 1h 34m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Illusionist (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A gifted stage magician's reunion with his childhood love threatens a powerful crown prince.

Directed by Neil Burger · 1h 50m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, Sundance Now, FlixFling · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

25th Hour (2002)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Edward Norton plays a man spending his last day of freedom before a prison sentence, quiet and controlled.

Directed by Spike Lee · 2h 15m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Birdman (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A washed-up superhero actor risks everything to reinvent himself with a serious Broadway production.

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu · 2h 00m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 92% Metacritic 88

A legendary concierge and his loyal lobby boy become entangled in a stolen painting and a family fortune.

Directed by Wes Anderson · 1h 40m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars137 wins & 227 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American History X (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 84% Metacritic 62

A former neo-Nazi tries to stop his younger brother going down the same path of hate that consumed him.

Directed by Tony Kaye · 1h 59m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar4 wins & 15 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Primal Fear (1996)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A hotshot defence attorney defends a stuttering altar boy accused of murdering a beloved archbishop.

Directed by Gregory Hoblit · 2h 10m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Fight Club (1999)

IMDb ★ 8.8 RT 81% Metacritic 67

A satire so stylish that a lot of viewers missed it was a satire at all.

Directed by David Fincher · 2h 19m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar12 wins & 38 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Edward Norton – 10 Best Movies

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

The Illusionist (2006)

25th Hour (2002)

Birdman (2014)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

American History X (1998)

Primal Fear (1996)

Fight Club (1999)

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