Liev Schreiber Reveals His Top Five Films Ever

Liev Schreiber has built a reputation as one of the most adaptable actors around, moving from quirky comedies to hard-hitting dramas and even nabbing a Tony Award for his stage work in Glengarry Glen Ross. With such a varied career, it’s no surprise that his personal list of top films is just as diverse, covering everything from sharp-witted satire to groundbreaking science fiction. While he’s best known to many for his tough-as-nails lead in Ray Donovan, Schreiber’s comedic chops and sharp sense of humour have often flown under the radar.

Back in the late ‘90s, Schreiber’s roles in cult comedies like Party Girl and The Daytrippers showed off his knack for clever, intellectual laughs. He’s said that his taste for smart satire comes from a deep appreciation for Peter Sellers, especially in Being There.

“I think Peter Sellers’ performance in that just really knocked me out, what you can do with character,”

Schreiber explained.

“I think Hal Ashby just embraced that naturalistic and really deep performance and took it to the next level, so it became this almost remarkable piece of surrealist social commentary.”

Minimalism and Meaning

Schreiber’s love for natural, understated acting is clear in his next pick, the French drama The Promise by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. It’s not the most famous work from the Dardenne brothers, but for Schreiber, it’s a masterclass in doing more with less. He described it as

“a lesson in minimalism”

and praised how it showed

“just how simply you could tell a powerful and substantive story”.

While some might reckon listing a lesser-known arthouse flick is a bit pretentious, Schreiber’s next choice is about as mainstream as it gets.

Growing up, Schreiber wasn’t allowed to watch big Hollywood blockbusters until he was nearly a teenager. But when he finally saw Star Wars, it was a game-changer.

“It just blew my mind,”

he recalled.

“It was the first colour film I saw, and it just knocked me out. I don’t think I ever forgave my mother after I saw that film. But also just the kind of iconoclastic myth retelling that combined with science fiction, which has always been huge to me.”

Science Fiction and Surreal Worlds

For Schreiber, Star Wars wasn’t just a personal milestone—it opened the door to a new era of bold, imaginative science fiction. Still, he reckons no one has topped Blade Runner when it comes to the genre. He calls it

“the ultimate, deep, immersive fantasy picture,”

a film that set the bar for all that followed.

But his admiration for sci-fi doesn’t stop there. Schreiber is also a big fan of Brazil, Terry Gilliam’s wild, visually inventive dystopian epic. He’s full of praise for Gilliam’s creativity, saying,

“Terry Gilliam’s imagination is just unrivalled,”

and noting how Brazil was

“pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on film”.

Influence and Ongoing Inspiration

Schreiber’s thoughtful approach to his favourite films says a lot about his own work. In recent years, he’s popped up in everything from Asteroid City to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Caught Stealing, proving he’s got a keen eye for quality storytelling. His choices reflect a love for films that challenge, surprise, and stick with you long after the credits roll.

Here are Liev Schreiber’s five favourite films:
* Being There (Hal Ashby, 1979)
* The Promise (Dardenne brothers, 1996)
* Star Wars (George Lucas, 1987–present)
* Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
* Brazil (Terry Gilliam, 1985)