1. "Almost Famous" (2000)
This is the film that made us all (well, if you actually were old enough) wish we were rock 'n' roll journalists in the '70s. Crudup plays Russell Hammond, the charismatic lead guitarist of the band Stillwater.
The story is told through the eyes of William, a young and naive journalist assigned to write an article about the band for Rolling Stone. Throughout their tour, Russell grapples with the pressures of fame and his complex relationship with William and groupie Penny Lane. The band has ups and downs, including a near-plane crash where truths are hilariously shouted.
2. "Big Fish" (2003)
Directed by Tim Burton, "Big Fish" is a visually spectacular and heartwarming story. Crudup's character, Will, is trying to reconcile with his dying father, Edward Bloom, who's known for telling exaggerated stories about his life.
Will goes on a journey to separate fact from fiction, retracing his father's steps through a fantastical world that includes a giant, a witch, and a utopian town. As Edward's life hangs by a thread, Will comes to appreciate the narratives his father crafted.
3. "Jesus' Son" (1999)
Billy Crudup plays FH (short for F**khead), a lost soul navigating love and addiction in the 1970s. The movie is a series of episodic events that take us through FH's chaotic life — helping to steal copper wiring from abandoned houses, working in a hospital where he befriends a mentally ill patient, and navigating a turbulent relationship with his girlfriend Michelle, who is also an addict.
4. "Watchmen" (2009)
Superheroes, but make it dark and complex – that's "Watchmen". Crudup plays Dr. Manhattan, a physicist turned god-like being after a nuclear accident.
Set in an alternate 1985 America, the film follows the lives of retired superheroes as they investigate the murder of one of their own, The Comedian. Dr. Manhattan tries to come to terms with his detachment from humanity due to his omnipotence, and eventually exiles himself to Mars.
5. "Public Enemies" (2009)
Crudup takes on the role of J. Edgar Hoover, who's hell-bent on taking down infamous criminals like John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp. The film offers a pulse-pounding cat-and-mouse chase, as Hoover employs 'advanced' tactics (for the 1930s, mind you) to capture or kill Dillinger. As the leader of the FBI, Crudup's Hoover is calculating yet controversial, a bureaucrat right in the middle of the violent underbelly of crime.
6. "Stage Beauty" (2004)
Set in the 1660s, Crudup plays Ned Kynaston, an actor famous for his female roles during an era when women were prohibited from acting. Things get complicated when King Charles II changes the law, allowing women to act, but also banning men from playing female roles. Ned's life spirals downwards as his former dresser, Maria, rises to stardom playing the roles he once did.
7. "Spotlight" (2015)
In this Oscar-winning masterpiece, Crudup plays Eric MacLeish, an attorney entangled in the Boston Globe's investigation into child sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests. The Spotlight team, a group of investigative journalists, uncovers a massive scandal implicating dozens of priests in Boston. While MacLeish initially appears to be part of the problem, it turns out he's also been trying to expose the abuse.
8. "Rudderless" (2014)
Directed by William H. Macy, "Rudderless" tells the story of a father, Sam (Crudup's character), who discovers his deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Quentin is a young musician who becomes captivated by Sam's performances of his son's songs. Together, they form a band, unknowing of the true origin of the music.
As they gain local fame, the emotional weight of the songs starts to unfold, especially when Quentin learns the heartbreaking backstory.
9. "The Stanford Prison Experiment" (2015)
This film is based on the infamous 1971 psychological study where college students were randomly assigned to be prisoners or guards in a simulated prison. Crudup plays Dr. Philip Zimbardo, the psychologist who conducts the experiment. Things spiral out of control quickly as the guards begin to show sadistic tendencies, and Zimbardo himself gets caught up in the ethical dilemma of whether to stop the experiment.
10. "20th Century Women" (2016)
Here Crudup takes a supporting role as William, a carpenter and a free-spirited handyman who lives with Dorothea, a single mom, and her son Jamie. Set in 1979, the film revolves around Dorothea's attempt to teach her son about life with the help of Abbie and Julie, two young women who are close to Jamie.