Hannibal

Morgan Freeman or Samuel Jackson?

Highlights so far

MF
Driving Miss Daisy
Glory
The Shawshank Redemption
The Dark Knight Trilogy
Se7en
Million Dollar Baby

5 Time Academy Award Nomination
Distinctive voice


SJ
Spike Lee films
Quentin Tarantino films
M. Night Shyamalan films

Academy Award Nomination
Less distinctive voice but easily recognizable

dex14

What is the basis for comparison? Being black?

Hannibal

No, not at all. But I guess in light of recent events everyone is on nerves now so delete if you want.

kd5

I think both men have had equally impressive careers, I believe both will leave equally impressive legacies.

dex14

I'm not on nerves. I'm just curious what's your basis for comparison? Their careers, while both in a lot of movies, are pretty different. It's not like they're both action stars or something.

Sonic

Which one of them is going to die?

They both great actors but Samuel L Jackson got more badass memories lol

dex14

While true... only one has an Oscar and 4 additional noms.

RichC2

Morgan Freeman for the voice alone

2Hype

Jackson as Steven in Django can't be topped.

GatorDeb

SLJ is one of my most favorite actors.

Mr. Flix

I've never thought of Jackson as a particularly gifted actor. He's OK in some roles, not so OK in others. IMO, his Mace Windu performance is worse than Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker, and that's saying something.

Morgan Freeman? A national treasure, that man is.

Noonan

Serious question? Freeman...and it's not even close.

I love SLJ as much as anyone but his career was mostly based on luck. Doesn't get the chance to say MF'er a couple times in Coming to America and none of us would have ever heard of him.

TomOpus

No poll?

Morgan Freeman, by a longshot.

TheMovieman

Freeman is God.

/Thread

inri222

Morgan Freeman because when it comes to roles and his personal life, he plays it safe. Not saying Sam Jackson is some ground breaking method actor who pisses people off like Marlon Brando, but he is outspoken about social issues pertaining to minorities and associates himself with controversial filmmakers like QT & Spike Lee.

Also, SLJ wasn't on The Electric Company.

mcnabb

While they are both great actors, I think Morgan Freeman has more acting range to play different roles. Jackson is great at playing a mother fuckin bad ass like Pulp Fiction.

james2025a

Morgan Freeman by a long way. Not only has he got the Shawshank Redemption, which alone shoots anyone in it to legendary status, but he has as you listed Seven, The Dark Knight and Unforgiven. He also played against type in the pretty damn good Street Smart as a nasty pimp. Great movie and one that doesn't get much recognition.

movieguru

They are both African American actors that have had a long carreer and a large following beyond their own race.

I think Morgan Freeman has the better legacy. Most SLJ movies are pretty much the same where there is lots of violence and he calls people 'mother f'ers" multiple times in nearly ever movie. You pretty much know what to expect when going to a SLJ movie as most of the characters he plays are the same badass type.

Morgan Freeman seems more versitile in his roles and can play many different types of characters and can be looked at as more of a role model than SLJ. He also is a great voice actor.

GoldenJCJ

To me Morgan Freeman's legacy boils down to Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, and his voice work.

Samuel L. Jackson's legacy will boil down to Pulp Fiction, Black Snake Moan, Django Unchained, and saying the word "Motherfucker" a lot.

Tough call. As much as I want to give it to Jackson for Pulp Fiction, I think Freeman wins for his voice!

inri222

Jackson was also great in Jackie Brown, The Hateful Eight, Jungle Fever, Hard Eight, Unbreakable, The Negotiator and was the best thing in A Time to Kill.

d2cheer

I am not so sure that is accurate...

2Hype

Throw out Shawshank and it aint even close. Throw out Pulp Fiction and SLJ has many more iconic rolls to replace it.

Groucho

Morgan Freeman by FAR. I loved the original Office, and of course The Hobbit.

GoldenJCJ

Wait a second...
Nobody loves The Hobbit.

stvn1974

Freeman has worked with his Lord and Savior of Film Christopher Nolan so he will.