OK, Can We Talk About How Josh Brolin Became One Of The Biggest Hollywood Stars In 2007?

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Josh Brolin has been a major actor for almost twenty years, known for complex roles like a Marvel villain and numerous award nominations, starring in hit films consistently. But his success wasn’t always guaranteed. While he started strong with the classic film *The Goonies* in the 1980s, he spent the next two decades working on various projects until a particularly productive year launched him into a new level of fame.

2007 marked a turning point for Josh Brolin. He quickly rose from a consistently solid character actor to become a leading Hollywood star. With standout roles in films like *Planet Terror*, *American Gangster*, and the critically acclaimed *No Country for Old Men*, Brolin reached a new level of success that continues to resonate today.

Josh Brolin Was Far From A Leading Man In The ’90s And Early 2000s

Josh Brolin acted in a few popular ’90s films, including *Flirting with Disaster* and *Mimic*, but he wasn’t a major star at that time. This continued into the early 2000s, where he delivered strong performances in lesser-known movies like *Melinda and Melinda* and *Milwaukee, Minnesota*.

Look, Josh Brolin was working, definitely, but honestly, he hadn’t *arrived* yet. He was doing a lot of smaller roles in indie films and stuff that went straight to DVD. But all that was about to change – pretty quickly, actually. He went from supporting player to a full-blown leading man, and then just became one of the most consistently working actors around. Let’s rewind to 2007 and see where it all started…

But That Would Be A Completely Different Story By The End Of 2007

Josh Brolin experienced a massive career breakthrough in 2007. In just a few months – from April to November – he delivered some of his most acclaimed performances and quickly became a major Hollywood star. He went from being a solid, working actor to one of the most famous faces in the industry, and it all happened thanks to the incredible projects he took on that year.

  • Grindhouse (The “Planet Terror” Segment) – April 4, 2007
  • In the Valley of Elah – September 14, 2007
  • American Gangster – November 2, 2007
  • No Country for Old Men – November 9, 2007

It’s unusual to see an actor become a leading man so quickly, especially after being a supporting player for so long. The dedication and hard work he must have put in over the past couple of years to achieve this is truly remarkable – it would make a compelling story in itself.

While *In The Valley of Elah* isn’t as widely discussed as some of his other films, and his role is relatively small, it clearly boosted Josh Brolin’s career, especially since it was led by his *No Country for Old Men* co-star Tommy Lee Jones. It’s also worth noting that Brolin appeared in a short film by the Coen Brothers, called “World Cinema,” which was included in the 2007 anthology film *To Each His Own Cinema*.

All His Performances Were Great That Year, But No Country For Old Men Was On A Different Level

Many consider *No Country for Old Men* a standout film about being caught in unfortunate circumstances, and Josh Brolin’s audition for the role of Llewelyn Moss was surprisingly lucky. While he had a strong year in 2007 with several good films, it’s his portrayal of a Texan who accidentally finds a bag of money from a failed drug deal that audiences still remember almost two decades later.

I saw this movie in theaters five or six times – both when it first came out and again before the 2008 Oscars – and I’ve watched it countless times since then. Whenever I think of Josh Brolin, this movie (and a story about his arrest in my hometown during filming) immediately comes to mind. The character is a man of few words, burdened by his conscience, and focused on simply surviving, and that really connected with viewers.

Everyone often focuses on Javier Bardem’s portrayal of Anton Chigurh, which was an incredibly rare and memorable villainous performance. However, Josh Brolin’s performance as the calm, thoughtful, and ultimately tragic protagonist opened many doors for him, leading to numerous roles in the years that followed.

Brolin’s Work Has Continued To Get Better Over The Years

Everyone talks about 2007 being Josh Brolin’s big year – and rightfully so, with *No Country for Old Men* really bringing him back into the spotlight. But it wasn’t just a flash in the pan for him, thankfully. He kept the momentum going! The very next year, he took on the challenging role of George W. Bush in *W*, which, honestly, is a much stronger film than most people give it credit for. And then, also in 2008, he played Dan White, the man who assassinated Harvey Milk, in the Sean Penn-directed *Milk*. That performance was incredible and earned him his first – and so far, only – Academy Award nomination. It’s been amazing to watch his career unfold since then.

After working again with acclaimed directors like Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, and the Coen Brothers – who created the classic Western *True Grit* – Brolin’s career reached a new height when he played Thanos, the main villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Infinity Saga.” His performance in *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame* redefined movie villainy, similar to his impact in *No Country for Old Men*.

And With Some Massive Movies On The Way, He’s Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon

Josh Brolin has had the opportunity to retire from acting several times, but he remains incredibly active in Hollywood, with several projects already lined up for 2025. He’s already starred in one of the year’s top horror films, *Weapons*, and will soon appear in the new Netflix movie *Wake Up Dead Man*, as well as Edgar Wright’s adaptation of *The Running Man* – a film I’m particularly excited about. And that’s just what he has coming out this year!

Josh Brolin has a busy schedule planned before 2026 ends. He’ll be back as Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s *Dune: Part Three* – marking their fourth collaboration – and will reunite with Ridley Scott for a new film called *The Dog Stars*. He’s also starring in the upcoming survival movie, *Whalefall*. It seems like he’s constantly working on exciting projects!

It’s difficult to picture Josh Brolin’s career – or even Hollywood itself – without considering his incredibly successful year in 2007. Thankfully, we don’t have to, as that year actually happened and launched him to new heights.

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2025-10-12 18:55