10 Best Dennis Quaid Movies

Dennis Quaid is one of those actors who has been around forever and is still making great movies. From romantic comedies to intense thrillers, he’s done it all. Here’s a look at some of his best movies.

1. The Big Easy (1987)
   In this classic romantic comedy, Quaid plays a New Orleans detective who falls for an attorney (Ellen Barkin) investigating police corruption. His character is the epitome of charm and wit as he navigates the murky bayous of Louisiana’s criminal underworld and the complications that arise from his relationship with Barkin’s character. The two stars have amazing chemistry in this movie, and it was a breakout role for both of them.
2. Innerspace (1987)
   This science fiction film sees Quaid playing Jack Putter, an experimental test pilot who ends up being miniaturized and injected into the body of a grocery store clerk by an evil scientist. To get out alive, he must team up with a renegade scientist (Martin Short) to save the world from destruction at the hands of the villainous scientist. Innerspace is an action-packed adventure featuring top-notch special effects, plenty of laughs, and a thrilling storyline. Quaid shines in this role, showing off his comedic timing while keeping viewers on the edge of their seats at every turn. It’s a classic from its era that holds up today as well.
3. Great Balls Of Fire! (1989)
   This biographical drama tells the story of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis (Quaid). What sets this movie apart is not just its incredible soundtrack but also its incredibly accurate portrayal of Lewis’ life and career as it tracks his rise to fame as well as his struggles with substance abuse, infidelity, and other personal issues that plagued him throughout his career in music. Quaid gives an electrifying performance as Lewis, and it earned him both an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role as well as Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama and Best Original Song – Motion Picture (“Great Balls Of Fire!”).
4. Far From Heaven (2002)
   Quaid stars alongside Julianne Moore in this film set in 1950s Connecticut, where Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, a housewife whose perfect suburban life unravels when her husband discovers her having lunch with another man (Dennis Haysbert). Quaid plays Cathy’s husband, Frank Whitaker, whose own struggles with homosexuality lead to tension between him and Cathy which ultimately causes them both to reexamine their lives together in ways neither had anticipated beforehand. Far From Heaven was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Moore’s performance, but unfortunately, none were won by either actor despite their excellent performances.
5. Frequency (2000)
   This time-traveling action thriller starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid follows John Sullivan (Caviezel), who discovers he can communicate with his deceased father, Frank Sullivan (Quaid), via ham radio 30 years into the past. By doing so, John can prevent tragedies that could change his future forever. With strong performances by both leads, Frequency delivers plenty of thrills while touching on themes such as family dynamics, fate, redemption, faith, hope, love, friendship, past mistakes, and more. It’s one of those rare movies that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking at once.
6. Soul Surfer (2011)
   Based on true events, Soul Surfer tells the story of Bethany Hamilton played by AnnaSophia Robb ), who loses her arm in a shark attack when she was 13 years old yet remains determined to become one competitive surfer again. Dennis Quaid plays Tom Hamilton, Bethany’s supportive father whose unwavering faith helps keep her going during her darkest times. Along with strong performances by Robb & Quaid, Soul Surfer contains inspiring messages about overcoming adversity through determination & courage while also providing plenty of emotional moments throughout its runtime, making it hard not to root Bethany on her journey towards success no matter what obstacles stand in her way.
7. The Day After Tomorrow (2004 )
   This disaster epic stars Dennis Quaid as Jack Hall, a paleoclimatologist whose theories are put into practice when global warming causes catastrophic weather conditions leading humanity to the brink of extinction due to rapid climate change, which could potentially destroy all life on planet Earth if something isn’t done about it quickly enough. Featuring spectacular special effects & tense scenes filled with suspense, The Day After Tomorrow does more than entertain viewers; instead, it serves warning sign about the potential dangers global warming poses to our planet if we don’t take steps soon enough to mitigate climate change or else suffer consequences disastrous consequence like those seen throughout movie itself.
8. Any Given Sunday (1999)
   Any Given Sunday is a sports drama directed by Oliver Stone and starring Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, James Woods & Dennis Quaid. In this movie, Quaid plays Tony D’Amato, a veteran head coach of the Miami Sharks football team, as he struggles to keep his team motivated and competitive in the face of a changing league landscape which includes new owners and new players who have different ideas about how the game should be played. The intense on-field scenes are matched by performances that easily draw viewers into the story while also providing them with plenty of thought-provoking moments throughout its runtime.
9. Traffic (2000)
   This complex crime drama, directed by Steven Soderbergh, stars an ensemble cast that includes Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, and Dennis Quaid. Quaid plays General Ralph Landry, an ambitious politician with his sights set on becoming President of the United States. His character’s ambition leads him into a web of political intrigue as he navigates the murky waters of drug trafficking in Mexico while trying to maintain his public image. Quaid’s performance is powerful and multi-dimensional as he gets across his character’s inner turmoil while also making him sympathetic despite his questionable decisions.
10. The Rookie (2002)
    This inspiring sports drama stars Quaid as Jim Morris, a former minor league pitcher who made his major league debut in 1999 at the age of 35 after spending 14 years in the minor leagues due to injuries and other setbacks. Despite being likely too old for such an endeavor, Morris never gave up on his dream and became one of baseball’s most memorable stories ever told. The Rookie is an uplifting movie full of optimism about following one’s dreams no matter what obstacles stand. It’s also a great reminder that it is never too late to strive for something you truly want in life, no matter how hard it may seem at times.