Easily one of the most versatile and committed actors of the past few decades,Gary Oldmanhas been delighting and terrifying moviegoers for generations. While he is receiving some of the best reviews of his entire career for his standout performance on the Apple TV+ spy seriesSlow Horses, Oldman has appeared in numerous classic films across many different genres. Oldman may have earned a reputation for playing menacing villains, but he’s mixed in a few heroic and comedic roles in order to indicate his full range as a performer.
Oldman is a massive cinephile who often recommendsunderseen films, and has even taken a stab at directing with films likePrick Up Your Ears.He’s one of the rare actors who can even manage to make a bad movie more enjoyable; however, Oldman’s best work ranks among the finest in cinematic history.It’s evident that he has many years of great performances left in him, but Oldman’s filmography as it stands is already quite impressive. Here are the ten best Gary Oldman movies, ranked.
15‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (2014)
Appeared as Dreyfus
Dawn of the Planet of the Apesis one of the strongest entries in thePlanet of the Apesfranchise, as it is the rare installment that does a good job of balancing the heroes and villains that exist within both the human and ape communities. Whilethe villainous ape known as Koba(Toby Kebbell), may be the strongest antagonist of the series, Oldman is great as a human survivor who believes that there is no opportunity to bridge any peace treaty with Caesar (Andy Serkis).
Oldman is able to show how heartbreak can turn even the best men into villains, as his character becomes completely subservient to his own desire for revenge. He’s the rare villain who truly believes what he is doing is the right thing, andDawn of the Planet of the Apesbenefits from this measured approach.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
14‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
Appeared as Harry S. Truman
Oppenheimerisa Best Picture-winning masterpiecethat was immensely acclaimed for its performances, with bothCillian MurphyandRobert Downey Jr.taking home trophies for their roles as Robert Oppenheimer and Lewis Strauss, respectively. However, it is a film that is filled with many great supporting performances, including Oldman in the memorable role of the United States President Harry S. Truman.
Oldman’s performance as Truman is absolutely haunting, as he shows a clear endorsement and enthusiasm about the use of atomic weapons that completely shocks Oppenheimer. Although it would have been very easy for Oldman to just become a caricature of a well-known political figure, he manages to show a realistic depiction of Truman that fits into Nolan’s unique understanding of history. In a film packed with many supporting characters, Oldman manages to make the most of his minimal screen time, asOppenheimerwouldn’t be the same without him.
Oppenheimer
13‘The Fifth Element’ (1997)
Appeared as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
The Fifth Elementisa cult classic space opera filmthat is extraordinarily imaginative in how it merges elements of the hero’s journey with a steampunk aesthetic and anti-capitalist themes. WhileBruce WillisandMilla Jovovichare undeniably captivating as the film’s unusual set of heroes, Oldman appears to be having the time of his life as the main villain.
The Fifth Elementis the rare film that calls for overacting, and thusOldman’s larger-than-life performance never feels like it is out of touchwith the thematic approach. Although villains in many modern science fiction films are given tragic backstories that are intended to court the viewers’ sympathies, Oldman is given the opportunity to play a villain who simply enjoys being evil for the sake of it. It’s a surprisingly bold swing that could have easily gone awry had Oldman’s focus not been on point.
The Fifth Element
12‘Basquiat’ (1996)
Appeared as Albert Milo
Basquiatis not a traditional biopic by any stretch of the imagination, as it explores only a few elements of the life of the beloved street artistJean-Michel Basquiat(played byJeffrey Wright). Although a majority of the film focuses on Basquiat’s relationship withAndy Warhol(David Bowie), Oldman does have an important role asAlberto Milo, another artist who was active in New York City.
Oldman is perfectly cast as a talented artist whose work is often appreciated by his peers; considering Oldman’s standing as one of the industry’s greatest actors, it’s easy to see why he was able to relate to the character.Basquiatis a film that smartly puts the emphasis on its characters of color, but Oldman does succeed in giving a standout supporting role that does not take the attention away from Wright in his breakout role.
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11‘Air Force One’ (1997)
Appeared as Egor Korshunov
Air Force Oneis one ofthe best action movies of the 1990s, as it uses the model that had been perfected byDie Hardand turned it into a nail-biting thriller where the President of the United States (Harrison Ford) is an action hero. Any film with a premise this good needs a captivating villain, and Oldman more than fulfills the assignment as a political terrorist who takes the President’s personal plane captive as part of an attempted coup.
Oldman is a terrifying and relentless villain who more than holds his own against Ford, making the film more intense. Although a majority of the film’s action is contained in the isolated location of the plane itself,Air Force Oneuses this to its advantage by keeping the focus of the story on the dynamic between Oldman and Ford.
Air Force One
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10‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Appeared as Sirius Black
TheHarry Potterfranchise managed to give its young actors great material to work with by casting veteran stars as some of the series’ older characters. Oldman changed the saga’s tone with his performance as Sirius Black inHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a character who was blamed for the death of Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) parents. After realizing that Sirius is innocent, Harry accepts his father’s former friend as a mentor.Oldman’s dramatic performance helpedHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanbecome the darkestchapter in the series.
While the previous two installments of the series fromChristopher Columbuswere more family-friendly,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanreflected the characters’ maturation. Alfonso Cuarón contributed some of the most stunning visuals, scariest villains, and most intimate moments of the entireHarry Potterfranchise.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
9‘State of Grace’ (1990)
Appeared as Jackie Flannery
Sometimes films are simply a victim of their release dates; the excellent crime thrillerState of Gracewas released so close toMartin Scorsese’s classic mobster movieGoodfellasthat it couldn’t help but suffer in comparison. Nonetheless,State of Graceis a powerful mafia thriller that examines loyalty, societal violence, and police corruption. The film centers on the undercover cop Terry (Sean Penn) as he is forced to inform upon his former allies in the Irish mafia, including his childhood best friend Jackie (Oldman).
State of Graceis certainly not lacking in great actors;Robin Wright,Ed Harris,John Turturro, andJohn C. Reillyall gave memorable performances. However,Oldman’s performance is critical to makingState of Gracemore emotional, as the dynamic between Terry and Jackie is what drives the tension. Oldman was able to play an eccentric mafia character who never risked being too over-the-top.
State of Grace
8‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992)
Appeared as Count Dracula
Dracula is a character who has been adaptedto the screen many times, as films likeNosferatuandThe Horror of Draculaare already regarded as all-time horror classics. However,Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation ofBram Stoker’s Draculaturned the classic source material into a gothic historical epic with no shortage of gruesome moments. Oldman steals every scene he’s in, which is impressive considering that the film co-starred such acclaimed actors asAnthony Hopkins,Keanu Reeves, andWinona Ryder. The Academy Award-nominated makeup effects only made Oldman’s performance more creepy.
Oldman managed to make Dracula scary again, as other interpretations of the character had made him into a more comical figure. Impressively, Oldman was able to turn Dracula into a somewhat empathic figure at times; it was clear that he was as much a victim as he was a villain.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
7‘Mank’ (2020)
Appeared as Herman Mankiewicz
While he’s played his fair share of historical figures, Oldman took on one of the most challenging roles of his career when he played the famous screenwriterHerman MankiewiczinDavid Fincher’s biopicMank. Setduring the Old Hollywood era, the film chronicles the relationship between Mank andOrson Welles(Tom Burke) during the production ofCitizen Kane. As he wrestles with creative control of the film, Mank is forced to deal with the rise of propaganda filmmaking in Hollywood.
Mankis a richly entertaining and thought-provoking window into history in which Oldman captures the mannerismsof a larger-than-life historical figure. While the excellent production design transports the viewers back to the world of classic Hollywood, it’s Oldman’s depiction of an artist fighting for independence that makesManksuch a powerful indictment of studio interference. Oldman’s performance earned him a well deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
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6‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Appeared as Commissioner James Gordon
The character of Commissioner Jim Gordon is one of the most important in the entire Batmanmythology. While he made an impressive debut as the character inBatman Begins, Oldman explored Gordon’s ethical dilemma with his performance inThe Dark Knight. As he works alongside Batman (Christian Bale) and Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to put Gotham City’s criminal days behind it, Gordon questions whether the ends justify the means. He’s often the most relatable character in the film, as his desire to protect his family makes him more vulnerable.
While not every character in the trilogy was well-utilized,Gordon is the real heart ofThe Dark Knight. Oldman showed that Gordon recognized what true heroism really is, and delivered a fiery monologue that concludes the film on an empowering note. The film’s ending set up another great performance from Oldman inThe Dark Knight Rises.
