Steve Buscemi’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Steve Buscemi is a legendary actor, appearing in some of the best movies and television shows of all time. Buscemi’s career dates back decades, when he initially gained notice for his role in the 1986 film, Parting Glances, just a few years after becoming an actor, eventually going on to have a prolific career, which includes movies like Reservoir Dogs, The Big Lebowski, Ghost World, and Fargo.

Even with acting in some truly incredible movies, Steve Buscemi makes time for fantastic TV shows, too, as he has appeared in a recurring role in The Sopranos, and a main role in Boardwalk Empire. Alongside his live-action roles, Buscemi has voice-acted in Pixar’s beloved film Monsters, Inc. Incredibly talented, Buscemi continues to prove why he is a legend in Hollywood.

10

Parting Glances (1986)

Steve Buscemi as Nick

One of the first films to truly explore the AIDS epidemic and its devastation within the gay community, Parting Glances is an integral LGBTQ+ film, following a couple that navigates a long-distance relationship at the time. Parting Glances is never exploitative to what it is exploring on screen, crafting an honest, authentic, and respectful look at a horrific moment in human history. It’s a fantastic, powerful film full of genuine performances.

Not only is it indicative of Steve Buscemi’s massive talent so early on, but a glance at how great he would become as his career progressed.

Parting Glances is the first major role in Steven Buscemi’s career as he plays Nick, the ex-boyfriend of Richard Ganoung’s Michael, living with his AIDS diagnosis. As Nick, Buscemi is poignant and often tender, showing great empathy for the situation the character is in throughout the movie. Not only is it indicative of Buscemi’s massive talent so early on, but a glance at how great he would become as his career progressed.

9

The Death Of Stalin (2017)

Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev

The Death of Stalin is a fantastic political satire, following the internal social and political struggle of the Soviet Politburo following the death of dictator, Joseph Stalin. Often hilarious, but never losing sight of what it wants to say about one of humanity’s darkest periods in history, The Death of Stalin is definitely in tune with what is currently happening within the political landscape, making it just as timely as it was when it was first released eight years ago.

Steven Buscemi is so good as Nikita Khrushchev in The Death of Stalin, the First Secretary of the Moscow Committee. Buscemi has always been a natural at comedy, with his unique line delivery and tone lending itself well to witty, hilarious dialogue, and he nails each beat throughout the film. He is a major standout in a film with some truly incredible performances.

8

Living In Oblivion (1995)

Steve Buscemi as Nick Reve

Sadly not talked about nearly enough, Living in Oblivion is incredible, telling the story of a director, actors, and crew trying to make a low-budget movie. Tapping into the dark comedy present throughout, Living in Oblivion is hilarious and often inspiring, with the three-part story structure making it even more interesting to see how everything unfolds. It also features some career-best performances from Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener.

Steve Buscemi leads the way in Living in Oblivion, playing indie-film director Nick Reve. Bright-eyed and wanting to make something great, Nick respects everyone on set, but as problems begin to stack up, his frustration continues to grow. It’s a layered, genuinely funny performance from Buscemi, fleshing out Reve to an impressive degree, making him feel incredibly authentic. It might honestly be one of the most underrated performances of his career.

7

Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)

Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson

Despite not being as popular as other series like Game of Thrones or The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire is still one of the best HBO shows of all time, telling a gritty crime story set during the 1920s Prohibition era in Atlantic City. What makes Boardwalk Empire work so well is its brutal, often harrowing depiction of crime bosses and their empires of the time, building an extensive narrative yarn that feels immensely satisfying once it all comes together. It’s an incredible piece of television throughout its five-season run.

Steve Buscemi is masterful as Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the corrupted treasury of Atlantic County, and its most powerful political figure at the time. He often finds himself in the company of mobs while dabbling in bootleg liquor, making him a fascinating figure to watch. Buscemi dives deep into the character of Nucky Thompson, making him wholly realized and complex, as he tries to navigate the various situations he finds himself in.

6

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Steve Buscemi as Mr. Pink

Reservoir Dogs was a significant moment in film history, as it was the debut of Quentin Tarantino, and remains one of the best movies in his filmography. Forgoing a linear narrative throughout, Reservoir Dogs is a violent, profane and twisty crime drama about a group of thieves whose jewel heist goes wrong. It set the stage for what Tarantino would become, who emerged ready to drastically change the film industry.

Steve Buscemi plays Mr. Pink, who is immediately irritated by his code name in the film’s iconic opening scene before it is revealed that he doesn’t tip when dining out. It reveals basically everything to know about the character prior to his actions throughout the rest of the film, and Steve Buscemi gives a masterclass comedic performance, making him one of the best characters in the film.

5

Ghost World (2001)

Steve Buscemi as Seymour

Based on the ’90s comic book of the same name, Ghost World is a delightful coming-of-age black comedy as two teenage outsiders find their friendship threatened when one of them takes an interest in an older man with the intention of helping out his romantic life. Witty and often poignant, Ghost World perfectly captures teenage angst and the pains of having to face the idea of growing up and eventually moving on.

Despite not being financially successful upon release, Ghost World has since gained a strong cult following.

Though Ghost World is a showcase for both Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch, Steve Buscemi is also fantastic throughout the film. He plays Seymour, the lonely, older man who, Thora Birch’s Enid befriends after feeling bad for pranking him earlier in the film in response to his dating ad. Steve Buscemi’s performance as Seymour feels so real, tapping into the loneliness the character has slipped into over the course of his adult life.

4

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Steve Buscemi as Theodore Donald “Donny” Kerabatsos

The ultimate hangout movie, The Big Lebowski follows Jeff Bridges’ “The Dude”, as he accidentally gets caught up in a ransom scheme after being mistaken for another person. Frequently hilarious with a smart and witty screenplay, The Big Lebowski is one of those laid-back films that can put a smile on just about anyone’s face, featuring some all-time performances throughout, and some memorable characters that have endured in pop culture.

Steve Buscemi plays Donny Kerabatsos, an avid bowler and friend of The Dude. A running gag throughout the film is the characters often telling Donny to “shut the f*ck up”, forcing the usually witty, dialogue-spouting Buscemi to not talk nearly as much as some might anticipate. Despite his stripped-back dialogue, Steve Buscemi delivers an incredible comedic performance with a lot of physical talent on display.

3

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Steve Buscemi as Randall Boggs

A defining entry into Pixar’s canon, Monsters, Inc. is an animated film staple, with its incredibly creative story about a society of monsters that use children’s screams as their society’s source of energy. Hilarious from beginning to end, Monsters, Inc. is also extremely heartwarming, as the narrative continues to spiral out of control. It’s a Pixar masterpiece, and easy to watch over and over again.

Monsters, Inc. features some fantastic voice acting performances from Billy Crystal and John Goodman, but Steve Buscemi also shines as Randall Boggs, a chameleon-like monster who is the rival to Crystal and Goodman’s Mike and Sulley, making him a worthy antagonist throughout the movie. Randal Boggs is a slimy, scheming character, and Steve Buscemi voices those characteristics perfectly. His voice work just shows how tremendous of a talent he really is, and how versatile of an actor he can actually be.

2

The Sopranos (2004, 2006)

Steve Buscemi as Tony Blundetto / The Man

It’s hard to overstate just how amazing The Sopranos actually is, as it is largely considered one of the greatest TV shows ever made, if not the best. The Sopranos tells the story of an Italian American mobster who tries to balance his family life in contrast with his criminal empire. It’s a perfect television series, and proof of how engaging long-form storytelling can be, making it one of the most rewarding viewing experiences of all time. It’s a true masterpiece from start to finish.

Though he isn’t a main staple in the entire series, Steve Buscemi has a role as Tony Blundetto in season 5, where he is a significant character throughout. Blundetto is Tony Soprano’s cousin who is released from prison and attempts to live a life without crime before eventually being brought back into the fold. Buscemi fits right in with the rest of the cast of The Sopranos, delivering a layered, complex performance as the character.

1

Fargo (1996)

Steve Buscemi as Carl Showalter

One of the Coen brothers’ best films, Fargo is a masterclass of eccentric comedic writing, revolving around a kidnapping scheme that goes wrong, resulting in a pregnant Minnesota police chief having to investigate a triple homicide. Fargo is often violent, quirky, and frequently hilarious, nailing the tone and icy atmosphere present throughout the entire film. It’s unlike anything else and a staple of American cinema, and was eventually followed up by a TV series of the same name.

Steve Buscemi plays Carl Showalter in Fargo, one of the film’s antagonists who was hired to kidnap a car salesman’s wife to extort her wealthy family for money. Steve Buscemi is the perfect actor for films from the Coen brothers, as his striking looks and unique voice lend themselves well to the quirky characters and stories they tell. He proves it in Fargo, too, perfectly playing his character throughout.