Bradley Cooper is an American actor and filmmaker whose career has developed from supporting roles in early-2000s comedies into acclaimed performances, blockbuster franchises, and ambitious directing projects. He made his feature-film debut in Wet Hot American Summer in 2001 before gaining wider recognition through films such as Wedding Crashers, The Hangover, and The A-Team. His dramatic work became increasingly prominent with Limitless, The Place Beyond the Pines, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and American Sniper. Cooper later expanded his career behind the camera, directing and starring in A Star Is Born and Maestro, both of which earned major awards attention. He has also become widely recognized as the voice of Rocket in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing across several Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers films. This complete guide to Bradley Cooper movies by year covers his released feature films, including voice performances, cameos, documentaries, and films in which he was credited in a production role.
2001 — Wet Hot American Summer
Wet Hot American Summer was released in 2001 and marked Bradley Cooper’s feature-film debut. Directed by David Wain, the cult comedy follows counselors and campers at a chaotic summer camp during the final day of 1981. Cooper plays Ben, a camp counselor who becomes involved in the film’s deliberately absurd romantic and comedic situations. Although the film was not a major commercial success when first released, it eventually developed a strong cult following and became an important early entry in Cooper’s film career.
2002 — My Little Eye
My Little Eye is a 2002 psychological horror thriller directed by Marc Evans. The film follows five young people who agree to live together in an isolated house while being secretly monitored as part of a mysterious online experiment. Cooper appears as Travis Patterson, one of the film’s characters, in one of his early feature-film performances. The movie is notable for using surveillance and reality-show concepts to create an unsettling atmosphere before those ideas became increasingly common in popular entertainment.
2002 — Bending All the Rules
Bending All the Rules is a 2002 romantic comedy directed by Morgan Klein and Peter Knight. Bradley Cooper plays Jeff, one of two very different men competing for the affection of a free-spirited photographer named Kenna. The film blends relationship comedy with romantic conflict and features Cooper alongside Colleen Porch and David Gail. It was released in Tampa in 2002 before later receiving a DVD release, making it one of Cooper’s earliest completed feature-film roles.
2005 — Wedding Crashers
Wedding Crashers arrived in 2005 as a comedy directed by David Dobkin and starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. Cooper plays Sack Lodge, the aggressive and competitive fiancé of Claire, played by Rachel McAdams. The role was a significant change from Cooper’s earlier parts because Sack is an intentionally unlikeable character who serves as an antagonist to the film’s central characters. The movie became a major box-office success and helped raise Cooper’s profile in Hollywood.
2006 — Failure to Launch
Failure to Launch is a 2006 romantic comedy directed by Tom Dey and led by Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Cooper appears as Demo, a friend within the group surrounding McConaughey’s character, Tripp. The film centers on an adult man who continues living with his parents and the unusual plan created to encourage him to move out. Cooper’s supporting performance was part of a period when he was frequently cast in ensemble and romantic-comedy projects.
2007 — The Comebacks
The Comebacks was released in 2007 and directed by Tom Brady as a broad sports comedy parodying familiar clichés from inspirational sports movies. Cooper plays Cowboy, appearing alongside David Koechner and a large ensemble cast. The film follows a college football coach attempting to rebuild his career after a string of embarrassing failures. Although Cooper’s role was relatively small, the movie represents another early comedy credit in his filmography.
2008 — Older Than America
Older Than America is a 2008 independent drama directed by Georgina Lightning. Cooper plays Luke, appearing in a story centered on a Native American woman confronting painful memories connected to a residential school and her community’s history. The film explores trauma, cultural identity, family relationships, and the long-term consequences of abuse. It is one of Cooper’s less widely seen dramatic films from the period before his major breakthrough.
2008 — The Rocker
The Rocker is a 2008 musical comedy directed by Peter Cattaneo. Cooper plays Trash, a member of the fictional band Vesuvius, in a story about a failed drummer who gets another opportunity at rock stardom decades after being left behind by his former bandmates. The film stars Rainn Wilson, Josh Gad, Emma Stone, and Christina Applegate. Cooper’s appearance is brief but fits the music-oriented comedy’s ensemble approach.
2008 — The Midnight Meat Train
The Midnight Meat Train is a 2008 horror thriller directed by Ryūhei Kitamura and based on Clive Barker’s short story. Cooper stars as Leon Kaufman, a photographer who becomes obsessed with tracking a mysterious killer operating on New York City’s subway system. His character’s investigation gradually pulls him into an increasingly violent and supernatural nightmare. The film is particularly notable within Bradley Cooper’s movies by year because it gave him an early opportunity to lead a darker genre production.
2008 — Yes Man
Yes Man was released in 2008 and directed by Peyton Reed, with Jim Carrey playing the central character Carl Allen. Cooper portrays Peter, Carl’s close friend, in the romantic comedy about a man who challenges himself to say “yes” to every opportunity. The movie combines romantic comedy with elements of self-improvement and absurd humor. It became one of Cooper’s better-known supporting roles before his breakthrough the following year.
2009 — He’s Just Not That Into You
He’s Just Not That Into You is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama based on the popular relationship advice book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. Cooper plays Ben, a married man whose infidelity becomes part of the film’s interconnected collection of relationships. Directed by Ken Kwapis, the ensemble cast includes Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, and Ginnifer Goodwin. The movie gave Cooper an opportunity to work in a large ensemble while playing a more complicated relationship character.
2009 — The Hangover
The Hangover was the breakthrough film that transformed Cooper into a major Hollywood star. Directed by Todd Phillips, the comedy follows four friends who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party and wake up unable to remember what happened the previous night. Cooper plays Phil Wenneck, a confident schoolteacher and one of the three friends searching for the missing groom. The film became a major box-office hit and launched one of the most successful R-rated comedy franchises of its era.
2009 — All About Steve
All About Steve is a 2009 romantic comedy directed by Phil Traill and starring Sandra Bullock and Cooper. Cooper plays Steve, a television cameraman who becomes the focus of Mary Horowitz’s obsessive romantic interest. The film follows Mary’s increasingly unusual attempts to pursue Steve across the country. Although the movie received a negative critical response, it remains part of Cooper’s early post-Hangover filmography.
2009 — Case 39
Case 39 is a 2009 supernatural horror film directed by Christian Alvart. Cooper plays Doug Ames, the boyfriend of social worker Emily Jenkins, portrayed by Renée Zellweger. The story follows Emily after she intervenes in what appears to be a case of child abuse and discovers that the situation is far more dangerous than expected. Cooper’s role is supporting, giving him another opportunity to work in a darker genre during a rapidly expanding period of his career.
2009 — New York, I Love You
New York, I Love You is a 2009 anthology film made up of interconnected stories set across New York City. Cooper appears as Gus in the segment directed by Allen Hughes, alongside a large international ensemble of actors. Like the other segments, his story focuses on relationships and human connections within the city. The film is a distinctive entry in Cooper’s filmography because his appearance forms part of an anthology rather than a conventional single narrative.
2010 — Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a 2010 romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall and featuring a large ensemble cast. Cooper plays Holden Wilson, a character whose storyline becomes connected to several other romantic relationships taking place around Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles. The cast includes Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, and Jennifer Garner. Cooper’s role demonstrates how quickly he had moved into high-profile ensemble productions following The Hangover.
2010 — Brother’s Justice
Brother’s Justice is a 2010 comedy mockumentary directed by Dax Shepard and David Palmer. Cooper appears as himself, with the film presenting a fictionalized version of Shepard’s attempt to become a martial-arts movie star. The project deliberately blurs the line between documentary and scripted comedy while featuring appearances from several Hollywood personalities. Cooper’s participation is therefore a non-standard, self-referential film appearance rather than a conventional dramatic role.
2010 — The A-Team
The A-Team is a 2010 action-adventure film directed by Joe Carnahan and based on the popular television series. Cooper stars as Templeton “Faceman” Peck, the team’s charismatic strategist, alongside Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, and Quinton Jackson. The story follows four former military operatives who are framed for a crime and set out to clear their names. The movie helped establish Cooper as a credible action-film lead in addition to his comedy work.
2011 — Limitless
Limitless is a 2011 science-fiction thriller directed by Neil Burger. Cooper stars as Eddie Morra, a struggling writer who discovers a mysterious drug that appears to unlock extraordinary mental abilities. His newfound intelligence and confidence initially transform his life but eventually create increasingly dangerous consequences. Cooper also served as an executive producer, making the film an important step toward his later expansion into filmmaking and production.
2011 — The Hangover Part II
The Hangover Part II reunited Cooper with Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms for another Todd Phillips comedy. Cooper again plays Phil Wenneck, this time joining his friends in Thailand for Stu’s wedding celebration. The sequel repeats the original film’s missing-memory structure while moving the chaos from Las Vegas to Bangkok. It became another major commercial success and reinforced Cooper’s status as one of Hollywood’s leading comedy stars.
2012 — The Words
The Words is a 2012 mystery drama directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal. Cooper stars as Rory Jansen, a struggling writer who discovers an old manuscript and passes it off as his own work. The film explores ambition, artistic integrity, deception, and the consequences of success built on someone else’s work. Cooper also served as an executive producer, making the project another important early example of his involvement beyond acting.
2012 — Hit & Run
Hit & Run is a 2012 action comedy directed by Dax Shepard and David Palmer. Cooper plays Alex Dimitri, a dangerous former criminal whose presence complicates the journey of Shepard’s character as he attempts to protect his girlfriend. The movie mixes road-movie elements with chase sequences and broad comedy. Cooper’s performance allowed him to combine his comedic timing with a more intimidating action-oriented character.
2012 — The Place Beyond the Pines
The Place Beyond the Pines is a 2012 crime drama directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Ryan Gosling, Cooper, Eva Mendes, and Dane DeHaan. Cooper plays Avery Cross, a rookie police officer whose decisions have consequences that extend across multiple generations. The film is structured around interconnected stories involving crime, family, guilt, and inherited consequences. Cianfrance specifically developed the role with Cooper in mind, and the performance helped demonstrate his growing dramatic range.
2012 — Silver Linings Playbook
Silver Linings Playbook was released in 2012 and directed by David O. Russell. Cooper stars as Pat Solitano, a troubled man attempting to rebuild his life and relationships after a difficult period, opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. The romantic comedy-drama balances mental health, family conflict, grief, and an unexpected relationship between two emotionally complicated people. Cooper received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for the performance, marking a major turning point in his dramatic career.
2013 — The Hangover Part III
The Hangover Part III brought Cooper back as Phil Wenneck for the third and final main installment of Todd Phillips’ comedy trilogy. Rather than repeating the bachelor-party setup, the film follows the group as they become involved in a dangerous criminal situation. Cooper once again shares the screen with Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and Justin Bartha. The movie completed the theatrical Hangover trilogy and remains one of the defining commercial franchises of his career.
2013 — American Hustle
American Hustle is a 2013 crime comedy-drama directed by David O. Russell and inspired by the FBI’s Abscam investigation. Cooper plays FBI agent Richie DiMaso, an ambitious investigator who pressures con artists Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser into helping him expose corruption. The ensemble includes Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence. Cooper earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, further establishing him as a serious dramatic performer.
2013 — Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Cooper made a brief cameo in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, released in 2023, not 2013. His appearance is therefore covered below under the correct release year rather than being placed in this section.
2014 — Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy introduced Cooper’s most recognizable voice role as Rocket, the genetically modified, weapons-loving raccoon. Directed by James Gunn, the Marvel superhero adventure follows an unlikely group of criminals who become the Guardians of the Galaxy. Cooper’s performance brought Rocket a distinctive combination of sarcasm, aggression, vulnerability, and humor despite the character being digitally created. The film became a major international success and established Rocket as one of the MCU’s most popular supporting characters.
2014 — Serena
Serena is a period drama directed by Susanne Bier and based on Ron Rash’s novel. Cooper stars as George Pemberton, a timber businessman whose life and marriage to Serena, played by Jennifer Lawrence, become increasingly complicated. Set in Depression-era North Carolina, the film explores ambition, jealousy, power, and the destructive consequences of obsession. It reunited Cooper and Lawrence after Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.
2014 — American Sniper
American Sniper was released in 2014 and directed by Clint Eastwood, with Cooper portraying U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. The biographical war drama follows Kyle’s military service and the effects of combat on his personal life after returning home. Cooper also produced the film and underwent a major physical transformation for the role. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, while the film became the highest-grossing domestic release of 2014.
2015 — Aloha
Aloha is a 2015 romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Cameron Crowe. Cooper plays Brian Gilcrest, a former Air Force officer and military contractor who returns to Hawaii for a satellite project and reconnects with people from his past. The ensemble includes Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, and John Krasinski. The film combines romance, military themes, family relationships, and Hawaiian cultural elements.
2015 — Burnt
Burnt is a 2015 culinary drama directed by John Wells. Cooper stars as Adam Jones, a talented but troubled chef trying to rebuild his reputation and earn a coveted third Michelin star after his career has collapsed. The film features an ensemble cast including Sienna Miller, Omar Sy, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander, and Emma Thompson. It gave Cooper another intense character built around ambition, addiction, personal failure, and professional redemption.
2015 — Joy
Joy is a 2015 biographical comedy-drama directed by David O. Russell and starring Jennifer Lawrence in the title role. Cooper plays Neil Walker, a television executive who becomes involved with Joy’s business ambitions as she attempts to turn her invention into a successful product. The movie explores entrepreneurship, family pressure, perseverance, and the difficult path toward financial independence. Cooper’s appearance reunites him with Russell and several of his Silver Linings Playbook collaborators.
2016 — 10 Cloverfield Lane
10 Cloverfield Lane is a 2016 psychological thriller directed by Dan Trachtenberg. Cooper provides the voice of Ben, a character heard through a telephone during the film, making this a voice-only appearance rather than a conventional on-screen role. The story centers on a young woman held inside an underground bunker by a mysterious man who claims that the outside world has become uninhabitable. Cooper’s brief contribution connects him to the wider Cloverfield universe while remaining one of his more unusual film credits.
2016 — War Dogs
War Dogs is a 2016 crime comedy directed by Todd Phillips and based loosely on the true story of two young arms dealers who secured government contracts. Cooper plays Henry Girard, a mysterious and influential international arms dealer who becomes involved with the protagonists. Jonah Hill and Miles Teller lead the film, with Cooper also serving as a producer. The movie reunited Cooper with Phillips after their successful collaboration on The Hangover trilogy.
2017 — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continued Cooper’s role as the voice of Rocket. James Gunn returned to direct the sequel, which explores the Guardians’ relationships while expanding Rocket’s emotional storyline and his complicated connection with the team. Cooper again provides the character’s voice, while Sean Gunn supplied much of Rocket’s physical on-set reference work. The sequel strengthened Rocket’s role within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2018 — Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brought Cooper’s Rocket into a much larger Marvel ensemble. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the superhero epic brings together the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy against Thanos and his campaign to obtain the Infinity Stones. Cooper voices Rocket, who becomes involved with Thor and other heroes during the increasingly desperate fight. His appearance is entirely a voice performance within the digitally created character.
2018 — A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born marked Cooper’s feature directorial debut as well as one of his most important acting achievements. He plays Jackson Maine, an established musician whose life changes after he discovers and falls in love with Ally, played by Lady Gaga. The musical romantic drama examines fame, addiction, artistic ambition, and the pressures placed on relationships in the entertainment industry. Cooper directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred in the film, which received multiple Academy Award nominations and became a defining project of his career.
2018 — The Mule
The Mule is a 2018 crime drama directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Cooper plays DEA agent Colin Bates, who investigates a mysterious older man transporting drugs across the United States. The film is inspired by the story of an elderly horticulturist who became involved in drug trafficking. Cooper’s supporting performance places him on the investigative side of the film while Eastwood’s character remains at the center of the story.
2019 — Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame continued Cooper’s voice performance as Rocket following the events of Infinity War. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film brings together the surviving heroes as they attempt to reverse the catastrophic consequences of Thanos’ actions. Rocket has an important role within the remaining Guardians and Avengers group, particularly as the heroes search for a way to restore those who disappeared. The movie became one of the biggest box-office successes in film history and concluded a major chapter of the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
2019 — Joker
Joker is a 2019 psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix. Cooper did not appear on screen in the film; instead, he was credited as a producer alongside Phillips and other production partners. The movie presents a standalone origin-inspired story about Arthur Fleck and his transformation into the Joker. Cooper’s production involvement reflects his continuing move from actor into a broader filmmaking role.
2021 — Licorice Pizza
Licorice Pizza is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy-drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Cooper makes a memorable supporting appearance as Jon Peters, a flamboyant Hollywood producer who becomes involved with the young protagonists during their adventures in 1970s California. The film stars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman and explores adolescence, ambition, romance, and the strange world of show business. Cooper’s energetic cameo became one of the film’s most talked-about supporting performances.
2021 — Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley is a 2021 psychological thriller directed by Guillermo del Toro and based on William Lindsay Gresham’s novel. Cooper stars as Stanton Carlisle, an ambitious drifter who learns the techniques of carnival mentalism before using them to manipulate wealthy people in New York. The film features Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, and Richard Jenkins alongside Cooper. Cooper also produced the movie, and the role gave him one of his darkest and most psychologically demanding leading performances.
2022 — Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder continued Cooper’s MCU voice role as Rocket. Directed by Taika Waititi, the superhero film follows Thor as he confronts Gorr the God Butcher while reconnecting with Jane Foster and other allies. Cooper’s Rocket appears as part of the Guardians of the Galaxy during the film’s opening sequence and is credited as a voice performance. Although Rocket’s appearance is limited compared with the Guardians films, it continues his place in the MCU’s larger ensemble.
2023 — Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was released in 2023 as a fantasy action-comedy directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Cooper makes a brief cameo as Marlamin, the former partner of Michelle Rodriguez’s character Holga Kilgore. The appearance is intentionally short and comedic, making it a cameo rather than a standard leading or supporting role. It is nevertheless an official feature-film appearance in Cooper’s released filmography.
2023 — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 brought Cooper back as the voice of Rocket in James Gunn’s final Guardians feature as director. The film explores Rocket’s traumatic origins and his relationship with the other Guardians while they face the High Evolutionary. Cooper’s vocal performance is especially central to the emotional story because Rocket’s past becomes one of the film’s primary narrative threads. The movie expanded Rocket from a comedic supporting character into one of the franchise’s emotional anchors.
2023 — Maestro
Maestro is a 2023 biographical drama directed by Cooper about legendary American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Cooper stars as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, focusing on their complicated lifelong relationship. The film examines music, marriage, identity, family, and the pressures surrounding Bernstein’s public and private life. Cooper also co-wrote, produced, and directed the movie, making it his second major feature as a director after A Star Is Born.
2024 — IF
IF is a 2024 family fantasy comedy written and directed by John Krasinski. Cooper provides the voice of Ice, an imaginary friend depicted as an ice cube, joining an extensive voice cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and George Clooney. The story follows a young girl who can see imaginary friends and attempts to reconnect them with the children who once imagined them. Cooper’s role is a voice performance rather than an on-screen appearance.
2024 — Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is a 2024 musical psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Cooper did not reprise an acting role in the sequel but was credited as a producer. The film continues the story of Arthur Fleck while expanding the musical and psychological elements of the original Joker. Cooper’s production credit makes this a behind-the-scenes contribution rather than an acting appearance.
2025 — Superman
Superman is a 2025 superhero film written and directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Superman. Cooper makes a brief cameo as Jor-El, Superman’s biological father, appearing through a message connected to the history of Krypton and Kal-El. The appearance is a cameo rather than a conventional supporting role, and it reunited Cooper with Gunn after their work together on the Guardians of the Galaxy films. DC Studios released the film internationally beginning in July 2025.
2025 — Is This Thing On?
Is This Thing On? is a 2025 comedy-drama directed by Cooper and starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern. Cooper appears as Balls while also directing, co-writing, and producing the film, which follows a husband facing divorce and discovering a new sense of purpose through New York’s stand-up comedy scene. The film premiered at the 2025 New York Film Festival and received its U.S. theatrical release on December 19, 2025. It represents Cooper’s latest released feature film and continues his development as a filmmaker as well as an actor.
Conclusion
Bradley Cooper’s movie career has evolved through several distinct stages, from early supporting roles in comedies and independent productions to major Hollywood hits, acclaimed dramatic performances, superhero voice work, and ambitious filmmaking. The Hangover established him as a major comedy star, while Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and American Sniper demonstrated his dramatic range. His work on A Star Is Born and Maestro further established him as a director, writer, producer, and leading actor. From his first feature in 2001 to Is This Thing On? in 2025, Bradley Cooper movies by year show a career defined by considerable variety and a steady expansion of his creative responsibilities.
