Billy Bob Thornton’s favourite movie of all time: “I watch it probably three times a month”
(Credits: Far Out / YouTube Still)
Billy Bob Thornton’s favourite movie of all time: “I watch it probably three times a month”
Mon 14 April 2025 1:30, UK
Growing up incredibly impoverished and fighting his way into Hollywood by tooth and nail, Billy Bob Thornton is one of those household names that never quite got the love he deserved. But despite his underrated star standing, he’s long been present in cinema, from his fantastic performances in incredible ensemble casts to his Academy Award-winning work as a screenwriter.
After trying and failing to make it as an actor throughout the 1980s, after a string of small roles, Thornton made his breakthrough in 1997, when he won the Oscar for ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’ for his acclaimed film Sling Blade. While many actors take their turn at filmmaking, it often comes much later in their careers, and they often don’t do the writing. But to write and direct what some call a masterpiece, there’s no doubt you’re on familiar terms with the best that Hollywood has offered over the years. And, it’s clear Thornton is one of those obsessive film lovers, given his favourite movie of all time.
1.4M
94
Patrick Schwarzenegger’s message of thanks to fans of The White Lotus
On numerous occasions, the actor has named the 1952 western High Noon as his favourite movie ever. Also appearing on the favourite film lists of filmmakers like Sergio Leone and Quentin Tarantino, it’s your favourite directors favourite film. But, Thornton – as with many things – takes his love for it to a new level. “My favourite movie of all time is High Noon. I watch it probably three times a month. I think it’s a perfect movie. Everything is in that movie,” he told The Hollywood Interview.
And, he’s not wrong. The film follows Gary Cooper as a town marshall whose sense of duty is put to the test when he must decide to face a returning gang of outlaws or leave town with his new wife. But, despite being a western, it’s more filled with emotional, moralistic dialogue than chases, fights and spectacular scenery. Of course, it does have those elements towards the end of the film with the final shoot-out, but it’s also filled with tales of romance, loss, and friendship and, at the time, was seen as an allegory for blacklisting in Hollywood.
As Thornton says, “Everything you need to know about human beings is in that movie. The poetry of that movie is so beautiful, yet so simple. I believe in simple stories with complex people, about behavior.” It even has a proto-femininist ending that would still be praised by women today, as the hero is saved by the unsuspecting heroine. But while the movie is still heavily praised to this day and was said to be shown in the White House a whole 17 times by Bill Clinton, it was once not so popular among the die-hard Americans in Hollywood.
Due to writer Carl Foreman’s previous associations with the Communist Party – and eventual blacklisting – many saw the film as an un-American movie criticising the mass blacklisting present in Hollywood at the time. In fact, the lead role was originally meant for John Wayne, but he was so disgusted by the allegations that he turned it down and made his own movie in response.
However, the film managed to transcend what were serious allegations at the time, winning four Academy Awards and eventually being one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States Film Registry.
High Noon’s importance is still very present among film-makers, as proved by Thornton. In many ways, it seems all of his working efforts have been an attempt to get back to the movie, with Thornton citing it as inspiration for his own films, like his (sadly poorly received) adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s All The Pretty Horses.
