Dennis Quaidhas been in a lot of movies throughout his multi-decade career. Whilehe is best known for his work in movies such asFar From HeavenandThe Day After Tomorrow,Quaid’s acting careerbegan back in the 1970s. His first role was as an uncredited Bellhop inCrazy Mama. He then played a tiny role in the filmI Never Promised You a Rose Garden, before later rising to greater prominence with his part in the 1979 cycling filmBreaking Away.
While he is still a working actor himself, Quaid’s legacy also lives on through his son, Jack. Jack Quaid had his first big role playing Hughie in the Prime Video comic book adaptationThe Boys, and he is already having a big year in 2025 withNovocaineandCompanion. As for Dennis Quaid,one of his recent roles includes a supporting part in 2024’s smash-hit horror filmThe Substance. Playing sly and corrupt executive Harvey, Quaid became a disturbing yet memorable part of theBest Picturenominee. Now, the actor picks his two favorite movies from his career.
Quaid Sets His Picks For His Two Favorite Movies Starring Himself
One Came Out In 2024
Quaid picksThe Right StuffandReaganas his two favorites of his movies.The Right Stuffis based on the Tom Wolfe book of the same name, telling the story of the development of the U.S. space program. Quaid played Gordon Cooper in the acclaimed 1983 film, whose cast also included Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, and Fred Ward.Reagansaw Quaid play the titular former presidentin a biopic that chronicled the figure’s life from childhood to his time in office.
Speaking withBusiness Insider,Quaid reveals his two favorite movies in which he starred.In his interview, the actor was first asked to speak about his experience in 1983, when three of his movies came out:Tough Enough,Jaws 3D, andThe Right Stuff. He then stated thatThe Right Stuff, “along with Reagan” were his “favorite movies [he’s] ever done.“Check out the full quote from Quaid below:
“Tough Enough” came out and went [points down]. Boom. Then “Jaws 3D” was No. 1 at the box office, but I was a little embarrassed about it — not anymore. And “The Right Stuff,” I put all my marbles in that, and it came out, and it bombed. It made $2 million. It has since become a classic. That, along with “Reagan,” are my favorite movies that I’ve ever done, personally. But by the end of that year, it was a disappointment.
What This Means For Reagan & The Right Stuff
These Are Two Very Different Movies
The Right StuffandReaganare a unique pairing of films to be Quaid’s career favorites because they are movies with starkly different reputations. Though it made $30.1 million at the box office and got a 98% Popcornmeter from audiences,Reaganwas loathed by critics, who gave it an18% Tomatometer. Nevertheless, Quaid remains one of its staunch supporters.The Right Stuffhad the opposite effect, asQuaidaddresses, making very little at the box office but receiving critical acclaim. Both films show that critics and audiences can often be at odds.
