James Brown: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 80
- as director
- 1
- on screen
- 1942–2025
- box office
- $134M
- average score
- 72
- Born
- May 3, 1933
- Birthplace
- Barnwell, South Carolina, U.S.
- Full name
- James Joseph Brown
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Singer, dancer, musician, record producer, bandleader
- Years active
- 1954–2006
- Spouses
- Velma Warren, Deidre Jenkins, Adrienne Rodriguez
- Children
- 9
The Best James Brown Movies
The films of James Brown that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: The Blues Brothers (1980) leads with $115M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $115M The Blues Brothers 1980 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $14.1M Blues Brothers 2000 1998 · Comedy -
Worldwide box office: $4.35M A Star Is Born 1954 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $255K Soul Power 2009 · Music -
Worldwide box office: $202K Glastonbury 2007 · Music -
Worldwide box office: $2.22K Going My Way 1944 · Drama
James Brown's Career in Numbers
James Brown's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Brown works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Wake Island (1942) to You Can Tutu (2017), and the 1950s were the busiest decade.
James Brown Movies by Decade
- 1940s 11
- 1950s 16
- 1960s 6
- 1970s 5
- 1980s 3
- 1990s 1
- 2000s 5
- 2010s 4
The 1950s were James Brown's busiest decade, with 16 films.
James Brown Movies by Genre
- Drama 11
- Western 11
- Action 6
- Music 5
- Crime 5
- War 3
- Family 2
- Documentary 2
- Thriller 2
- Comedy 2
Drama is the genre James Brown has worked in most, with 11 films, ahead of western (11).
James Brown Career Milestones
- First film
- Wake Island 1942
- Biggest box office hit
- The Blues Brothers $115M worldwide
- Newest film
- You Can Tutu 2017
James Brown Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Brown is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 1 as director and 50 as actor. Rated films average a score of 72. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by James Brown
1James Brown Movies as an Actor
50- 2014
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove Documentary - 2013
Exit to Hell as Red Stone resident · Thriller - 2010
After Armageddon as Gang Member · Documentary - 2009
Soul Power Music Worldwide box office: $255K - 2007
Glastonbury Music Worldwide box office: $202K - 2006
James Brown - Live In Montreux Jazz Festival 1981 Music - 2002
Beat the Devil as Mr. James Brown · Action - 2001
About a Girl as Fishing Boy 1 · Drama - 1998
Blues Brothers 2000 as Cleophus James · Comedy Worldwide box office: $14.1M - 1985
Living in America as James Brown · Music - 1981
Miracle on Ice as Reporter #1 · Family - 1980
The Blues Brothers as Cleophus James · Action Worldwide box office: $115M - 1979
The Swap as Lt. Benson · Crime - 1979
The Rebels as Masters · Tv movie - 1975
Adiós Amigo as Sheriff · Western - 1975
Whiffs as State Trooper · Crime - 1970
The Phynx as James Brown · Comedy - 1968
Targets as Robert Thompson Sr. · Drama - 1965
Town Tamer as Davis · Action - 1965
Black Spurs as Sheriff · Western - 1963
The Ceremony as Gendarme · Crime - 1961
Gun Fight as Wayne Santley · Western - 1961
Five Guns to Tombstone as Billy Wade · Western - 1959
Inside the Mafia as Capt. Doug Blair · Crime - 1954
A Star Is Born Drama Worldwide box office: $4.35M - 1953
Crazylegs as Bill · Drama - 1953
Thunder Over the Plains as Conrad · Western - 1953
The Charge at Feather River as Pvt. Connors · Western - 1953
Woman They Almost Lynched as Frank James · Western - 1953
The Man Behind The Gun as Lt. Catliff (uncredited) · Western - 1952
Springfield Rifle as Pvt. Ferguson (uncredited) · Western - 1952
The Pride of St. Louis as Moose · Drama - 1951
The Wild Blue Yonder as Sgt. Pop Davis · War - 1951
Missing Women as Sgt. Mike Pernell · Thriller - 1950
The Fireball as Allen · Drama - 1950
Between Midnight and Dawn as Officer Haynes (uncredited) · Crime - 1950
Sands of Iwo Jima Action - 1950
Chain Lightning as Maj. Hinkle · Action - 1950
Montana as Tex Coyne · Romance - 1949
Brimstone as Bud Courteen · Western - 1949
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby as Tony Cresnovitch · Music - 1949
Anna Lucasta as Buster · Drama - 1949
The Younger Brothers as Bob Younger · Western - 1945
Objective, Burma! Action - 1944
Reward Unlimited as Paul · Drama - 1944
Going My Way Drama Worldwide box office: $2.22K - 1943
Corvette K-225 as Lt. Paul Cartwright · War - 1943
Young and Willing as Tony Dennison · Drama - 1943
Air Force as Pilot Tex Rader · War - 1942
Wake Island as Wounded Marine (uncredited) · Drama
James Brown in Documentaries & Specials
29- 2025
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault as Self · Documentary - 2024
Loaded: Lads, Mags & Mayhem as Self · Documentary - 2024
James Brown: Say It Loud as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2023
Sunday Best as Self (archive footage) · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 81 - 2021
The Making of ‘Rocky vs. Drago’ as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2021
Who Killed the KLF? as Self · Music Movie Echo Score: 52 - 2021
The Legend of the Underground as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $115K - 2020
King Rocker as Self · Music - 2019
The Apollo as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 83 - 2018
Nice Girls Don’t Stay for Breakfast as Self - Singer (archive footage) · History - 2018
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond as Self (archive footage) · Tv movie - 2015
The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World as Self · Documentary - 2014
Mr. Dynamite - The Rise of James Brown as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2014
Finding the Funk as Self · Music - 2012
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ as Self (archive footage) · Music - 2011
The Real Rocky as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2008
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968 as Self · Music - 2008
James Brown Live At The Apollo ’68 as Self · Music - 2008
Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene as self - sportscaster · Documentary - 2005
Live 8 as Self · Documentary - 2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2003
James Brown: Soul Survivor as Self · Music - 2003
Live Forever as Self · Documentary - 2002
It’s Black Entertainment as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 1999
Withnail and Us as Self · Documentary - 1995
The History of Rock ’n’ Roll as Self · Music - 1965
The Golden Ring as Himself - The Recording Team · Documentary - 1965
Ski Party as Self · Music - 1964
The T.A.M.I. Show as Self · Music
Who Is James Brown?
James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, U.S. in 1933. Credited on films since 1942, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, and musician. A central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is often referred to by various nicknames such as "Mr. Dynamite", "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business", "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk", "Godfather of Soul", "King of Soul", and "Soul Brother No. 1". Brown's music career, which spanned over 50 years, was marked by his relentless dedication and contributions to several music genres, most notably Soul, R&B and funk. Known for his dynamic live performances, his influence on the music industry is immeasurable.
Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia in the mid-1950s and quickly rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a rhythm and blues vocal group. He was noted for his vocals and dance moves, which greatly contributed to his rise to stardom. During the late 1960s, Brown moved from blues and gospel-based forms to a new music style, funk, emphasizing interlocking rhythms. By the early 1970s, he had established the funk sound with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Who James Brown Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Brown shares the most films with. Smokey Robinson comes first, with 5 films together, followed by Forrest Tucker (4).
James Brown: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Brown has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Brown been in?
James Brown is credited on 80 films, from 1942 to 2025. 50 of them as an actor and 1 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is James Brown's highest-grossing movie?
The Blues Brothers (1980) is James Brown's biggest box office hit, with $115M worldwide, ahead of Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) ($14.1M). Across every film with box office figures, James Brown's movies have made $134M.
James Brown's biggest hits What is the best James Brown movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, James Brown's best-rated film is The Apollo (2019) with a score of 83, followed by Sunday Best (2023) (81).
Best James Brown movies, ranked What is James Brown's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Brown's filmography is The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (2025), in the role of Self.
Who does James Brown work with most often?
James Brown shares the most films with Smokey Robinson (5 films), Forrest Tucker (4 films) and Aretha Franklin (4 films).
The Best James Brown Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 80 credits.
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