Bradley Cooper characters ranked by personality
Most people love Bradley Cooper the person, and Bradley Cooper's movies. But his characters themselves occasionally leave something to be desired on the nice-human front. Maybe it's because we've never gotten over the fact that Sack's name isn't Zack, but it's become apparent to the editors at EW that we have a thing or two to say to some of these characters about the level of douchiness they're contributing to society. Click through to find out who's the nicest and who's, well, not.
Holden in Valentine's Day (2010)
He offers his limo to Julia Roberts' character so she can go meet her son and he supports his boyfriend — a famous football player played by Eric Dane — as he comes out on national television. Holden is seemingly Bradley Cooper's nicest character, but he's also the nicest person in this movie who isn't played by Hector Elizondo or Shirley MacLaine.
Pat in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
It depends on who you ask, but, to a lot of people, this Bradley Cooper is the best Bradley Cooper. It's a point that's irrelevant to this ranking, but still worth mentioning. More specifically, Pat is great, and thinking about the letter he wrote Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) makes us want to cry on the spot.
Phil in The Hangover film series (2009–13)
Everyone in this movie is kind of a d-bag, but, at least in the first film, Phil is more of a bro than a full-on, categorical douchebag. He's also pretty loyal, considering he continually puts himself on the line to track down his friends. (Friends that his own toxic partying helped disappear, but who's keeping track?)
Rocket in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Sneaky, snarky, a heart of gold, has a friend that's also a houseplant, helps the Avengers: all things that are true about Rocket.
Jack in A Star Is Born (2018)
He's not always the best friend to Ally (Lady Gaga) or his brother (Sam Elliott), but he's also an artiste with complicated emotions. He would be douchier if he wasn't a famous musician. Plus, it's not polite to speak ill of the [spoiler alert] dead.
Richie in American Hustle (2013)
He's a crooked FBI agent entangled in an art scam, yet oddly not the worst offender on this list — which means hold on to your hats, people. Also, it's worth pointing out that whether or not his hairstyle helps or hurts his cause depends on what kind of mood we're in.
Sack in Wedding Crashers (2005)
Behold, the list of overly a-hole-esque qualities of Sack's:
He dropped the Z for an S (why is his name not Zack?). He takes touch football too seriously. He cheats on Claire (Rachel McAdams). His only redeeming quality is that he looks good in a striped polo.
Ben in He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
This is a picture of Ben and the woman with whom he cheats on his wife. (The cheatee is a yoga instructor).
He also tells Ben Affleck's character that "No guy actually wants to get married, and, when they do, all they're thinking about is the women they're gonna miss out on."
Cringe.
Stanton "Stan" Carlisle in Nightmare Alley (2021)
Stan Carlisle may be the most insidious character on this list, if only for how his phony clairvoyant act gradually turns him into a self-interested monster whose actions have deadly ramifications for those who trust in him. —Kevin Jacobsen
Jon Peters in Licorice Pizza (2021)
Cooper makes a big impression in his handful of scenes in Licorice Pizza as real-life film producer Jon Peters. None of them paint a very pretty picture of the former partner of Barbra Streisand, from his pretentious "Do you know who I am" energy to his threatening the lives of teenagers. —Kevin Jacobsen
Henry in War Dogs (2016)
It's nearly impossible to be a genuinely nice person with that slicked-back hairdo. Oh, and Henry is also an arms dealer who illegally sells Albanian ammunition to two people (who are practically teenagers) to be used in the Iraq war, presumably killing innocent civilians.
Jake on Sex and the City (1999)
"His name was Jake, he was everything I was looking for that night: single, straight, and a smoker." —Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker)
Plus, he had a Porsche that he drove while intoxicated. We rest our case.