Brad Pitt Admits There Is One Movie He Was Truly Disappointed With

Brad Pitt has built a legendary career by working with some of the most respected directors in Hollywood, from Quentin Tarantino to David Fincher. While he rose to fame in the early 90s with hits like Thelma & Louise and Seven, it took a few more decades for him to consistently secure the industry’s highest honors.

He eventually took home an Oscar for producing 12 Years a Slave and earned an acting win for his role as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Despite this massive success, Pitt has been very open about one specific project that left him feeling deeply unsatisfied.

The role in question was Achilles in the 2004 historical epic Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen. In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Pitt admitted that he was disappointed with the film and felt like he was struggling to find his own voice at that stage of his career. He explained that during that time, he was receiving a lot of conflicting advice from people telling him which path his career should take.

Pitt felt that the movie became too commercial and lacked the depth he usually looked for in a story. He mentioned that he felt stuck in the middle of the frame and was frustrated by the way every shot was designed just to show him off as a hero.

After being used to the artistic style of David Fincher, he found the lack of mystery in Troy difficult to handle. He noted that the film became a very commercial thing, and he eventually decided he would only focus on quality stories moving forward.

Interestingly, Pitt revealed that he only took the role because he had to fulfill a studio obligation after dropping out of a different project. While he didn’t find the experience painful, he realized the storytelling style wasn’t what he wanted, and he admitted to making his own mistakes during production. This realization led to a major shift in his career, prompting him to follow his gut and prioritize artistic value over big-budget spectacles.

As of early 2026, Brad Pitt is currently enjoying a massive resurgence in both his acting and producing careers. He recently starred in the high-octane racing drama F1, which became the highest-grossing auto racing film of all time following its release in late 2025.

In January, he wrapped filming on his latest collaboration with David Fincher and writer Quentin Tarantino, a period comedy-drama titled The Adventures of Cliff Booth. This film, which is a spin-off from the Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood universe, features an ensemble cast including Elizabeth Debicki and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

In late February, Pitt is expected to head to the Greek island of Hydra to begin filming a mystery thriller called The Riders. Directed by Edward Berger, the movie follows a father searching for his wife after she mysteriously vanishes at an airport.

Do you think Brad Pitt’s performance in Troy was as disappointing as he claims, or has the film actually aged better than the actor gives it credit for? Share your thoughts in the comments!