5 Jeff Goldblum movies to watch on the Jewish actor’s 69th birthday

Alec Baris, Digital Engagement Associate

Jeff Goldblum, the Jewish dad, actor, musician and avid fan of local children’s art turns 69 years old today (Friday, Oct. 22)!

Goldblum grew up in an Orthodox family in West Homestead, Penn. Last year, in the PBS celebrity genealogy show “Finding Your Roots,” he learned how his great-grandparents escaped antisemitism in the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires before immigrating to the United States.

In honor of Goldblum’s birthday, here are five movies to watch in which the actor steals the show.

 

The Fly

Alongside Geena Davis and John Getz, Goldblum stars in this 1980s science fiction-horror flick about a scientist who slowly turns into a human-fly hybrid. Despite the movie’s setbacks of being a gory remake of a classic story, the film is critically acclaimed, mostly due to Goldblum’s performance as scientist Seth Brundle and the ahead-of-its-time special effects.

 

Thor: Ragnarok

Joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one of the most popular film franchises of all time, can be a tall order for some, but not for Goldblum. Playing the role of Grandmaster, he takes the spotlight away from mainstays like Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Tessa Thompson through his snappy remarks and quirky personality. One only hopes that MCU reprises his role at some point because Goldblum truly stood out in a film widely regarded as one of the best in the franchise.

(Skip to 1:10 for Goldblum’s entrance)

Is this amazing writing, or just Jeff Goldblum being Jeff Goldblum? You decide for yourself.

 

Independence Day

This film is often considered to be the turning point in the history of the Hollywood blockbuster, as it played into the large-scale disaster and sci-fi resurgence in the 1990s and became the highest-grossing film of 1996. And, wouldn’t you know it, Goldblum is in it! While Will Smith is the first star that comes to mind in “Independence Day,” Goldblum’s role as MIT-graduate David Levinson plays a pivotal role in the story, often serving the audience with exposition.

 

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Another example of a supporting role that overshadows the main characters, Goldblum once again catches eyes in a star-studded film by Wes Anderson. Playing the serious Deputy Vilmos Kovacs, he often outshines the likes of Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes and many others. In addition, he delivers arguably the funniest scene in the whole movie.

 

Jurassic Park

What would a Jeff Goldblum movie list be without “Jurassic Park?” The 1993 science fiction epic grossed over $900 million, winning over 20 awards, three of them Oscars. Goldblum plays Dr. Ian Malcolm, often the moral compass of the movie, warning others about the implications of genetic engineering and the danger that can be involved. In addition, he provides a quote that ends up encompassing the theme of the entire franchise: