Image: Cecchi Gori Pictures / Juno Pix
About This Quiz
As the opening narration of his 2007 film goes, "You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you." If Morgan Freeman is our yardstick for meaningful success, then that's one great career for measurement!
We all know Freeman as that tall, unassuming and kind-looking man who still looks dignified no matter the role. He started out his movie career back in the '60s and, after almost five decades, it's still going strong. But before achieving commercial cinema success, he appeared in theatrical productions and television. Kids who grew up watching "The Electric Company" will remember him as the Easy Reader. Onstage, he played familiar Shakespearean characters in productions of "Coriolanus," "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Julius Caesar." He also appeared with the legendary Cab Calloway in an African American cast production of "Hello, Dolly!"
His deep godlike voice also helps a lot in his overall characterization. When documentary filmmakers thought of the term "voice of God narration," they might have had Morgan Freeman in mind for that, or at least a premonition of him doing Godly V.O. work! He actively does that now, too, for documentary TV shows such as National Geographic's "The Story of God with Morgan Freeman."
With so many great movies and memorable film roles, we're sure you can recognize these scenes from his filmography. To use another movie quote of his: "There are no perfect men; only perfect intentions." So intend to perfect this quiz, OK? Have fun!
"Batman Begins"
Wayne Enterprises won't be the same without Lucius Fox who's in charge of research and development then later gets promoted to CEO by Bruce himself in "Batman Begins." Morgan Freeman played Fox opposite Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne-Batman character here. Christopher Nolan directed them both.
"Batman Returns"
"Batman Forever"
"Batman and Robin"
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"The Bonfire of the Vanities"
"The Power of One"
"Levity"
"Bruce Almighty"
When he speaks, Morgan Freeman sounds like he's God. So what better way to prove that he can play God, too, than by playing Him in "Bruce Almighty." He even reprised that role in the spinoff/sequel "Evan Almighty," but Jim Carrey wasn't here anymore.
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"An Unfinished Life"
"The Shawshank Redemption"
Playing a prisoner who smuggles in contraband stuff in "The Shawshank Redemption" still suited Freeman. He appeared respectable enough for other prisoners to deal with him in this 1994 prison drama based on a Stephen King novella.
"Guilty by Association"
"Thick as Thieves"
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"Seven"
The numeral mentioned here in "Seven" refers to the seven deadly sins which a serial killer uses as his murder themes. Morgan Freeman played a detective about to retire when a younger detective, played by Pitt, solicited his help to catch this killer.
"The Magic of Belle Isle"
"The Love Guru"
"Last Knights"
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"Going in Style"
"Driving Miss Daisy"
The 1989 film "Driving Miss Daisy" won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay because the original material came from a play by Alfred Uhry. Freeman played the same Hoke Coleburn character in the film and in the play's 1987 off-Broadway production.
"Under Suspicion"
"Hard Rain"
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"Bopha!"
"Invictus"
"Invictus" is a 2009 biopic that intersected Nelson Mandela's reign as the president of South Africa with the 1995 Rugby World Cup event hosted by his country. Clint Eastwood directed this one while Matt Damon played the South African rugby captain.
"Dreamcatcher"
"Edison"
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"Hard Rain"
"Brubaker"
"The Bucket List"
"The Bucket List" is a buddy film since Morgan Freeman teamed up with Jack Nicholson, where they played terminally ill old men. It's also a road trip film of sorts since the two men embark on a journey to tick off things they want to do before kicking the bucket.
"A Man Called Adam"
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"Pawnbroker"
"Attica"
"Harry & Son"
"Unforgiven"
Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood worked together in many projects where the former was acting and the latter was directing. But in some instances, they both shared screen time. One such film is the 1992 award-winning western "Unforgiven."
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"Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
Morgan Freeman played Azeem, whom Robin of Locksley rescued while in Jerusalem in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." Sean Connery played King Richard the Lionheart here while Alan Rickman played the Sheriff of Nottingham.
"Who Says I Can't Ride A Rainbow!"
"Eyewitness"
"That Was Then... This Is Now"
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"Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?"
"Teachers"
"Lucy"
Freeman played the scientist-professor who has researched how humans can have or develop special cognitive abilities. This is the info needed by Scarlett's titular character "Lucy." The provocative sci-fi film came from the equally innovative mind of French writer-director Luc Besson.
"Clean and Sober"
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"Kiss The Girls"
Crime thriller writer James Patterson's novels also got turned into movies; one of them is the successful title "Kiss the Girls." Freeman brings the novel character Alex Cross to life while Ashley Judd co-stars as the doctor abducted by a serial killer-kidnapper.
"Street Smart"
"Levity"
"The Big Bounce"
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"Conan the Barbarian"
"Evan Almighty"
"War of the Worlds"
"Million Dollar Baby"
Freeman narrates "Million Dollar Baby" as Scrap-Iron Dupris, the friend and manager overseeing a rickety boxing gym owned by has-been fighter Frankie Dunn. Clint Eastwood starred as Dunn while directing this film. Hilary Swank co-starred as the young boxer here; she won an Oscar for this role.
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"The Maiden Heist"
"The Dark Knight"
"RED"
"RED" means "retired, extremely dangerous" and this is the last thing you'd think about when you see former secret agents together for a new hit job. Willis leads them out of retirement, including his CIA mentor played by Freeman. Helen Mirren and John Malkovich complete the cast of retirees.
"The Contract"
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"Glory"
The 1989 historical drama "Glory" came from real-life stories about a Union Army unit whose soldiers were all African Americans. Part of that group was Pvt. Silas Trip portrayed by Denzel Washington and Sgt. Major John Rawlins played by Freeman. Matthew Broderick played officer Col. Robert Gould.
"The Patriot"
"Momentum"
"Gone With the Wind"
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"Deep Impact"
Two films with similar themes premiered back in 1998: "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" where Morgan Freeman appeared as the U.S. president. While the former talked of an asteroid about to hit the earth, the latter's plot was about a comet hitting the planet, too.
"The Lego Movie"
"JFK"
"Pulp Fiction"
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"Going in Style"
"Last Knights"
"The Nutcracker and the Four Realms"
"Now You See Me"
The French director of two "Transporter" films, Louis Leterrier, uses the same fast-paced storytelling style in "Now You See Me." It's an appropriate style because the film is about modern-day magicians-illusionists who pull off bank heists. Freeman played an ex-magician investigating the heisters.
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"Wanted"
Jolie and McAvoy's assassin characters in "Wanted" demonstrated a special way of bending a bullet's trajectory as it gets fired. Freeman played the leader of this secret assassin group to which Jolie's character belongs.
"The Manuscript"
"The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard"
"The Poison Rose"
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"Lean on Me"
The 1989 film "Lean on Me" showed the biopic storytelling trope of "the strict teacher who disciplines students for a better life" much like what "Stand and Deliver" did in 1988. While the latter discussed problems with underperforming Hispanic kids, this one was about African American kids.
"Brian Banks"
""Do The Right Thing"
"Stand and Deliver"
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"Olympus Has Fallen"
Aaron Eckhart played the U.S. president in "Olympus Has Fallen" while Morgan played the U.S. congressman Allan Trumbull who's also speaker of the House. The film was about how North Korean terrorists attacked the White House, which the Secret Service calls Olympus as a code.
"Thick as Thieves"
"Lucky Number Slevin"
"The Big Bounce"
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"Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit"
"The Sum of All Fears"
The Jack Ryan film storylines popularized earlier by Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford got a 2002 reboot with Ben Affleck taking over that agent role in "The Sum of All Fears." Freeman played CIA Director William Cabot, who solicits Ryan's help to track down neo-Nazi terrorists.
"The Hunt for Red October"
"Splinter Cell"
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"Oblivion"
Freeman played Malcolm Beech, a leader of the human resistance in the dystopian film "Oblivion." Tom Cruise played an unsuspecting astronaut commander who got cloned and became earth's attacker.
"Mission: Impossible"
"Top Gun"
"Risky Business"
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"Schindler's List"
"Saving Private Ryan"
"The Abyss"
"Amistad"
"Amistad" told the true account of captured people from Sierra Leone being transported for the slave trade when they had an uprising and overpowered their ship's officers. "12 Years a Slave" star Chiwetel Ejiofor also appeared here alongside Freeman and "Blood Diamond" star Djimon Hounsou.
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"Jerry Maguire"
"Chicago"
"Nurse Betty"
When you put Freeman and Chris Rock in hitmen roles, you're certain to produce comedy gold in there. Add to that Renée Zellweger, who played a big soap opera fan, and you'll get the dark comedy plot of "Nurse Betty."
"Cinderella Man"
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"The Matrix"
"The Next Karate Kid"
"Rumble in the Bronx"
"Unleashed"
Chinese martial artist turned actor Jet Li starred in "Unleashed" about how a loan shark treats his assistant character, Danny, like a trained mad dog killer. Morgan played the role of Sam here, a blind pianist who was nice enough to treat Danny kindly.
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"Chain Reaction"
Before Reeves and Rachel Weisz got together for "Constantine," they were first in the 1996 sci-fi film "Chain Reaction." Freeman played a scientist-leader again here, this time of a laboratory project where Reeves' character gets framed for bombing the lab.
"Johnny Mnemonic"
"John Wick"
"Constantine"
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"The Hangover"
"Last Vegas"
Childhood friends turned older buddies reunited once more during their senior citizen years for a possible "last" Las Vegas trip, hence the title "Last Vegas." Based on its high box office performance, audiences seem to support Hollywood films featuring older actors like this 2013 comedy.
"American Wedding"
"The Stag"
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"The Revenant"
"The Great Outdoors"
"Grizzly"
"An Unfinished Life"
Freeman played a rancher in "An Unfinished Life" who got attacked by a bear, leaving him disabled. He lives with his fellow rancher friend played by Robert Redford in this Lasse Hallström drama. Jennifer Lopez co-starred as Redford's daughter-in-law.
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"Rain Man"
"Outbreak"
Hoffman and Freeman played military medical doctors tasked to contain a dangerous virus in "Outbreak." The film also co-starred Rene Russo, Kevin Spacey and Cuba Gooding Jr. The virus featured here was parallel to the real-life ongoing Ebola outbreak in 1995, the same year the film premiered.
"Drugstore Cowboy"
"All the President's Men"
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"Transcendence"
Freeman's character served as the scientist-mentor of Depp's and Rebecca Hall's scientist characters in "Transcendence." The two played the husband and wife tandem researching artificial intelligence and the process of transferring a human's consciousness into computer technology.
"Murder on the Orient Express"
"Nick of Time"
"From Hell"
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"Princess Bride"
"Unbreakable"
"Forrest Gump"
"Moll Flanders"
Author Daniel Defoe's famous 1722 novel "Moll Flanders" got a movie adaptation back in 1996. Freeman played the aristocratic nobleman named Hibble while Wright took on the titular character. Stockard Channing co-starred with them here as Mrs. Allworthy.
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"Something's Gotta Give"
"5 Flights Up"
The 2014 film "5 Flights Up" contains a very simple story if you analyze it further, but its success lies at the sincerity conveyed by the characters. It's about an elderly couple named Ruth and Alex who are looking for a new place to live while dealing with domestic issues.
"Book Club"
"Annie Hall"
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"High Crimes"
"Double Jeopardy"
"Twisted"
"Along Came a Spider"
Freeman revives Tom Clancy's Alex Cross character in 2001's "Along Came a Spider" and its story is a direct sequel to "Kiss the Girls." But for casting, Freeman teamed up again with Judd in the 2002 film "High Crimes" also adapted from another thriller novel, this time by Joseph Finder.
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"The Hangover Part II"
"Brother Bear 2"
"Ted 2"
The talking teddy bear comes back for his sequel in "Ted 2" still with Mark Wahlberg as his companion-friend and beer drinking buddy. This time, Freeman and "Mad Men" co-star John Slattery join the cast for more laughs.
"Christopher Robin"
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"Jaws"
"Flipper"
"Free Willy"
"Dolphin Tale"
Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd appear together in yet another film called "Dolphin Tale." Judd played the mother of the kid who discovers the injured dolphin while Freeman played the doctor who creates a prosthetic tail for the amputated animal.
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"London Has Fallen"
Following the events of 2013's "Olympus Has Fallen," the 2016 sequel "London Has Fallen" still featured Aaron Eckhart as the U.S. president. He travels to the U.K. for state duties when terrorists attack them anew there. Freeman, who now plays U.S. Vice President Allan Trumbull, tries to help.
"Vice"
"White House Down"
"Dave"
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"Troy"
"Spartacus"
"Clash of the Titans"
"Ben-Hur"
In the 2016 "Ben-Hur" reboot, Freeman played the sheik who mentors, yet again, the titular underdog hero in the dangerous art of chariot racing. The 1959 film version had Hugh Griffith play the same role while Charlton Heston played Ben-Hur.
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"Edison"
"Lucky Number Slevin"
Before working on 2010's "RED," Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis teamed up in the action thriller "Lucky Number Slevin" back in 2006. Josh Hartnett, Lucy Liu, Stanley Tucci and Ben Kingsley complete the cast.
"The Dark Knight"
"The Love Guru"
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"Johnny English"
"Johnny Handsome"
Freeman played a stern police officer who doubts an ex-convict's reformed ways in "Johnny Handsome." Rourke played the titular character of the ex-con who underwent experimental plastic surgery before being released from prison.
"Johnny Angel"
"Johnny Dangerously"
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"The Town"
"Gone Baby Gone"
Ben Affleck directs his brother Casey Affleck in the lead with supporting cast Morgan Freeman in the 2007 film "Gone Baby Gone." It's a movie adaptation of the 1998 Dennis Lehane novel about two private investigators based in the Boston area.
"Argo"
"Live by Night"
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"Last Knights"
"Now You See Me 2"
"10 Items or Less"
Freeman saw the future of digital movie downloads back in 2005, so he founded a company serving this purpose. When he made a small independent film entitled "10 Items or Less," they released the film for downloading while it was still showing in theaters. Spanish actress Paz Vega co-starred here.
"The Lego Movie"
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You Got:
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