50 Greatest Movie Drunks

Buster Keaton in What! No Beer? (1933)

The Drunk: Taxidermist Elmer just loves him a beer. Or 12. Which comes back to bite him in the arse during one scene where he’s forced to dodge giant beer barrels that are rolling down the hill toward him. Dangerous business being a drunk.

Tipple Of Choice: Um, beer.

Will Ferrell in Old School (2003)

The Drunk: Frank Ricard’s enrolled back in school, which naturally means he has to attend parties with all the other students. You’d think that being older would mean he can handle his booze…

Tipple Of Choice: Anything that you can yell “Chug! Chug!” to.

James Mason in A Star is Born (1954)

The Drunk: Norman Maine, an ex-matinee idol whose career isn’t doing so great anymore. His drunken ways catch the eye of Esther (Judy Garland), who’s unaware that his charms are merely a cover for his deep-set depression.

Tipple Of Choice : Anything that will numb the pain.

Paul Newman in The Verdict (1982)

The Drunk: Lawyer Frank Galvin, a lonely chap who spends his days smoking, drinking and playing on pinball machines. Until a case comes along that revitalises him.

Tipple Of Choice: Beer. A classic never dies.

Anthony Michael Hall in Weird Science (1985)

The Drunk: Gary Wallace gets taken to The Kandy Bar with his beautiful sci-fi creation, and forced to drink liquor by the patrons. Soon enough he has a cigar hanging out of his mouth as he complains about women.

Tipple Of Choice:
Some kind of shot. Phew.

Jackie Chan in The Legend Of The Drunken Master (1994)

The Drunk: Wong Fei-hung, who needs to get plastered in order to fight. Which is probably true of a lot of guys, now we come to think of it.

Tipple Of Choice: Beer. Lots and lots of beer.

Sandra Bullock in 28 Days (2000)

The Drunk: Gwen Cummings ruins her sister’s wedding by getting well and truly trollied and crashing the limo. Which is one way to draw attention away from the bride.

Tipple Of Choice: Wedding wine. Deadly stuff.

Richard Burton in Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

The Drunk: George, a teacher who could learn a thing or two about when to stop drinking. Probably right around the time that you start strangling your wife, George.

Tipple Of Choice: Whatever Martha says he's allowed to drink.

John Belushi in Animal House (1978)

The Drunk: John 'Bluto' Blutarsky, who comes up with absolutely genius ideas whenever he’s had a few (too many) drinks. Most genius plan? Dumping a horse in the dean’s office. Nice one.

Tipple Of Choice: Can anybody say ‘keg’?

Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers (1986)

The Drunk: Town drunk Shooter, who is the definition of 'mess'. Until Coach Dale (Gene Hackman) helps him go straight in order to help his son out on the basketball team.

Tipple Of Choice:
Beer.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.