Matthew McConaughey: Here Are His 5 Must-See Movies According to IMDb

Matthew McConaughey, through his five best films, shows an extraordinary acting transformation, from science fiction to biographical drama.

by Gilang Rahmatullah AkbarPublish Date 09 February 2026, 07:10 PM
Matthew McConaughey, through his five best films, shows an extraordinary acting transformation, from science fiction to biographical drama.

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Matthew McConaughey, a renowned American actor, has proven his prowess in the world of cinema with a series of diverse and transformative roles.

Known for his ability to immerse himself in character, Matthew McConaughey has captivated audiences and critics alike with his iconic performances.

These films were selected based on high IMDb scores, demonstrating positive reception from both the public and critics for the quality of the productions and the performances of the cast.

Through these reviews, readers will be invited to revisit Matthew McConaughey's best works and understand why he is one of the most respected actors in Hollywood.

Interstellar (2014)

Matthew McConaughey stars in the epic science fiction film "Interstellar," directed by Christopher Nolan, with his brother Jonathan Nolan writing the screenplay.

The film is set in a dystopian future where Earth faces severe drought and famine, forcing humanity to seek a new planet.

McConaughey plays Joseph "Coop" Cooper, a former NASA pilot turned farmer after the agency was shut down by the government.

Cooper is recruited to lead a dangerous mission through a wormhole, searching for a habitable planet in another galaxy as the last hope for human survival.

With a strong ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, "Interstellar" earned an IMDb rating of 8.7/10, making it one of the best science fiction films of all time.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

In Martin Scorsese's biographical dark comedy-drama "The Wolf of Wall Street," Matthew McConaughey delivers a captivating performance in a memorable supporting role as Mark Hanna.

Hanna is a seasoned, unscrupulous Wall Street stockbroker and early mentor to Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio).

The film loosely recounts Belfort's career as a stockbroker in New York City and the involvement of his firm, Stratton Oakmont, in Wall Street corruption and fraud.

Hanna introduces Belfort to a hedonistic lifestyle and the "make money for the broker" philosophy, which lays the foundation for Belfort's later downfall.

"The Wolf of Wall Street" itself holds an IMDb score of 8.2, confirming its quality as one of the best films featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Matthew McConaughey stars in the biographical drama "Dallas Buyers Club" as Ron Woodroof, a Texas cowboy diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1980s.

The film, written by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, chronicles Woodroof's struggle to accept his grim prognosis.

In his quest for treatment, Ron begins smuggling unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into the US and founds the "Dallas Buyers Club" to help fellow AIDS sufferers access treatment.

Matthew McConaughey's performance in "Dallas Buyers Club" earned him not only widespread critical acclaim but also the highest honor, the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The film holds an IMDb rating of 8.0/10, confirming the quality of Matthew McConaughey's acting and its powerful narrative of struggle, hope, and activism.

The Gentlemen (2019)

In Guy Ritchie's action comedy "The Gentlemen," Matthew McConaughey stars as Michael "Mickey" Pearson, an American marijuana kingpin who has built a lucrative criminal empire in London.

The film, co-written by Marn Davies and Ivan Atkinson, stars McConaughey as a central figure in the machinations of the criminal underworld.

When Mickey Pearson plans to sell his drug empire, a series of intrigues, blackmail, and violence ensue among various characters seeking to take over his business.

"The Gentlemen" has an IMDb rating of 7.8/10, indicating positive reception from audiences and critics for its combination of action, comedy, and a complex crime plot.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

The classic coming-of-age comedy "Dazed and Confused," written and directed by Richard Linklater, is set on the last day of school in 1976, following a group of teenagers in Texas.

Matthew McConaughey plays David Wooderson, an older man still hanging out with the high school students.

He became known for his iconic line, "Alright, alright, alright," which became his character's trademark and even synonymous with Matthew McConaughey himself.

The film captures the essence of adolescence with humor and nostalgia, and has an IMDb rating of 7.6/10, indicating its status as a cult classic.