Movies - TV
Ranking Patrick Swayze’s 10 Best Movies Of All Time
By BJ COLANGELO
10. Donnie Darko
Patrick Swayze is by no means the lead in this sci-fi thriller, but he's arguably the most essentially cast character in the film as the "f***ing antichrist."
Swayze's casting as Jim Cunningham cautions that anyone is capable of villainy, and his performance helps the film be the best it can be.
9. Red Dawn
Set during World War III, Swayze plays Jed Eckert, a de facto leader who tries to avenge his father, keep his squad safe, and potentially single-handedly end the war.
"Red Dawn" has a painfully conservative view of international relations and how to "win" a war, but a stand-out performance from Swayze leads the young cast's dedication.
8. Youngblood
More of a vehicle for Rob Lowe than anything else, the hockey drama "Youngblood" lets Swayze use his skills to elicit sympathy from viewers as injured player Derek.
Swayze has always been great at playing the older, more experienced teen/young adult leader to help guide the rookies, and this oft-forgotten pic is certainly one of his best.
7. 11:14
Most people don't know this black comedy neo-noir film exists, but the direct-to-DVD movie about the stories of two car crashes is the definition of underrated cinema.
While Swayze had his heyday in the '80s and '90s, "11:14" showed that he still had the goods in his 50s. It's best watched without knowing anything; we'll hold the spoilers.
6. The Outsiders
Swayze plays Darrel "Darry" Curtis, the older brother of Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) and Sodapop (Rob Lowe), their caregiver after their parents' deaths.
He's the unofficial leader of the Greasers despite not being as actively involved in club activity since he's working two jobs, the glue that holds all of "The Outsiders" together.