10 Best Colin Farrell Movies, According to Metacritic

Following his impressive turn as the Penguin in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, now seems like as good a time as any to reflect on Colin Farrell’s diverse and reliable filmography over the years. The actor has been involved in all sorts of projects, from big-budget blockbusters to independent dramas, but always provides a memorable performance regardless.

Farrell is undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s most watchable actors, as his performances are consistently entertaining and refreshing to watch. He never allows the audience to be bored, always trying out something new and commanding attention when on screen.

10 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) – 66

Although Fantastic Beasts wasn’t met with quite the same critical acclaim as the Harry Potter franchise, Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Auror Percival Graves was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the film. He fit perfectly into the Wizarding World, bringing a fitting air of mystery and unpredictability to the character.

The fate of Percival Graves was never revealed in the film (or its sequel), which has led many fans to theorize that the character may return in one of the Fantastic Beasts sequels. This would certainly be an interesting way to develop the story, particularly considering the shocking reveal that occurs at the end of the first film surrounding Graves’ true identity.

9 In Bruges (2008) – 67

In Martin McDonagh’s classic comedy In Bruges, Farrell plays hitman Ken, who gets stranded in Bruges after an unsuccessful mission. The situation becomes even more complicated when his partner Ray (Brendan Gleeson) is ordered to kill him by their boss.

As with many of McDonagh’s films, In Bruges has an extremely clever and witty screenplay that allows every single character to play off of each other in a way that’s constantly entertaining to watch. Farrell’s rapport with Gleeson is hilarious, and the intensity of the entire ordeal makes for a thrillingly fun ride.

8 The War Zone (1999) – 68

The War Zone marked Colin Farrell’s first film appearance, after having appeared only on British television up until that point. The film is a family drama that centers around the incestuous relationship between a father and daughter which threatens to tear the family apart.

Although it’s not the most well-known film in his repertoire, The War Zone is a highly underrated independent drama that helped propel Farrell’s career into mainstream film. Despite not playing a lead role, his presence in the movie is still felt thanks to his raw and emotive performance.

7 The New World (2005) – 69

Directed by artistic auteur Terrence Malick, The New World is a stirring drama that retells the romance of Pocahontas and John Smith. Much like in the original story, the story explores Pocahontas’ inner conflict as she is torn between the man she loves and her disapproving family.

Farrell plays Captain Smith with a striking emotivity, truly capturing the audience’s attention every moment he’s on-screen. He’s both extremely relatable and notably distant, which makes his character somewhat enigmatic and mysterious. His chemistry with Q’Orianka Kilcher’s Pocahontas is clear and makes the film all the more engaging.

6 The Batman (2022) – 72

The Batman might not have been out for long, but it’s already beginning to climb critics’ and audiences’ lists of Farrell’s strongest movies. His performance as the Penguin is one of the film’s most engaging aspects and adds a much-needed sense of humor to an otherwise dark and gothic story.

Even among actors like Paul Dano and Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell easily provides one of the best and most entertaining performances in The Batman, mostly thanks to his character’s over-the-top persona and the sticky situations that he finds himself in.

5 The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) – 73

In his second collaboration with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, Colin Farrell plays Dr. Steven Murphy, a surgeon who begins to suffer under the influence of his young friend Martin (Barry Keoghan).  The relationship between Farrell and Keoghan is what makes The Killing of a Sacred Deer such an intriguing watch, with the two constantly opposing and tormenting each other.

Lanthimos’ works are far from ordinary, but Farrell’s unique style of acting seems to fit into his bizarre world perfectly. Especially in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, where he manages to craft a character that’s jarring apathetic towards his life while growing more and more consumed by anger as the film goes on. It’s this unique characterization that makes the film easily one of A24’s best.

4 The Beguiled (2017) – 77

Directed by Sofia Coppola, The Beguiled is a thrilling war drama that tells the story of John McBurney, a soldier forced to seek refuge in an all-girls boarding school. His arrival causes a stir among many of the students, with most growing concerningly fond of the soldier.

Like much of Coppola’s works, the film is an interesting examination of femininity and its place within society. Farrell does a great job as one of the film’s only male cast members, and his chemistry with the girls in the film perfectly balances charming with uncomfortable to make a film that raises plenty of interesting points about the world we live in.

3 After Yang (2022) – 78

After Yang is an extremely thoughtful and philosophical story about grief, memory, and what exactly it means to be human in a world where humanity is becoming increasingly obsolete. The film is directed by Kogonada, whose previous film Columbus was an equally pensive examination of purpose and destiny.

What’s so striking about After Yang is just how dense and rich the film’s screenplay is. It’s bursting with ideas, and Kogonada manages to explore his thoughts expertly through his characters and precise narrative. Farrell’s performance is the heart of the film, and his character’s journey represents the exact journey that Kogonada is attempting to take the audience on.

2 The Lobster (2016) – 82 

The Lobster might not be for everybody, but there’s no denying that it’s an extremely ambitious film that has plenty to say about contemporary society. It’s extremely quirky and unusual, but Farrell’s lead performance matches this energy in a way that makes this unfamiliarity seem overwhelmingly normal.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ films rarely play it safe, often going out of their way to make the audience feel unsettled. It makes for an experience that sacrifices comfort for critical thinking and allows the director to push his intriguing ideology to the front of his narrative.

1 Widows (2018) – 84

Directed by Steve McQueen, Widows is a compelling crime drama that follows the wives of a group of murdered criminals who come together to pull off the heist that their husbands had been planning before their deaths. It’s just as thought-provoking as it is thrilling, much like all of McQueen’s prior work.

Widows is famously full of several outstanding performances, but it’s Viola Davis’ lead role as Veronica that stands out the most. She embodies all of the film’s key themes – grief, crime, revenge – while remaining an interesting character that audiences are sure to be gripped by.

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