10 Best Ewan McGregor Movies, According To Letterboxd

With the upcoming release of Obi-Wan Kenobi, fans are happy to welcome Ewan McGregor back to their screens. However, just because the greatest Jedi has been away, it doesn’t mean the Scottish actor hasn’t been busy with several movies. From a Bohemian poet to a US soldier, Ewan McGregor has done it all.

While he has been part of both blockbusters and indie projects, it’s only natural that some titles are vastly more appreciated than others. According to the average rating of Letterboxd reviews, some of the actor’s films stand out among the highs and lows of his filmography.

10 The Impossible (2012) – 3.55

Available To Stream On Prime Video.

After McGregor had fantastic duels in Star Wars, he didn’t catch a break from the action. In The Impossible, the actor plays a relentless father who tries to save his family after a tsunami interrupts their holiday.

While some people enjoyed this film, it’s easy to understand why it doesn’t have a high Letterboxd rating given it follows the general formula of disaster movies. Nonetheless, this is not the worst movie McGregor has been in, nor is his worst acting.

9 The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid (2006) – 3.55

Available To Stream On Amazon Prime Video.

This documentary is likely the less known project in the actor’s filmography, and that might be because McGregor doesn’t star in the project but narrates it.

The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid follows the most popular motorcycle race in America, a 2005 Grand Prix, which took place in Laguna Seca, California. Although this is certainly a niche title, its Letterboxd rating is higher than the ratings of many other projects in his career like The Impossible and Doctor Sleep.

8 Black Hawk Down (2001) – 3.56

Available To Stream On HBO Max.

In another of his action movies, McGregor plays one of the US Rangers who find themselves in a bungled mission in Somalia. Directed by Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down is based on an actual event that occurred in the African country around the 1990s.

This film also remains one of the actor’s highest rating projects on Letterboxd, which is no surprise given it’s regarded as one of Ridley Scott’s best movies. Along with Hugh Dancy and Tom Hardy, McGregor delivers an honest portrayal of the horrors of war, making this a must-watch movie of his career.

7 Perfect Sense (2011) – 3.57

Available To Rent On Amazon Video.

Although this is a decades-old movie, Perfect Sense is too familiar in a post-pandemic world. Along with Eva Green, the Scottish actor plays a chef who falls in love with Green’s Susan amidst an epidemic that impacts people’s sensory perceptions.

This might not be among McGregor’s memorable roles, but the movie’s rating shows it was successful with viewers. That’s likely due to the chemistry the actors share, and the genuine depiction of a diseased reality, which seemed like a far stretch back in 2011.

6 Moulin Rouge! (2001) – 3.7

Available To Stream On Paramount+.

Unsurprisingly, Moulin Rouge! is rated high among McGregor’s projects, largely thanks to how famous the movie is. This Baz Luhrmann musical was a hit in the early 2000s, and it includes one of the most memorable roles of Ewan McGregor.

As a Bohemian poet, the actor dances and sings along with Nicole Kidman, and this rating shows that Letterboxd users still appreciate his portrayal in Moulin Rouge! even 20 years later.

5 Shallow Grave (1994) – 3.7

Available To Rent On AppleTV.

This might not be a famous McGregor movie in the US, but it’s certainly enjoyed by cinema fans worldwide given its high rating on Letterboxd. In Shallow Grave, the Scottish actor plays one of three friends who find a new roommate to rent the empty room in their apartment.

The movie takes a twist when the newest roommate is found dead and the friends discover an abundant amount of cash with him. This is one of the most riveting films of McGregor’s early career, and although he was just getting started, his captivating performance is notable.

4 Velvet Goldmine (1998) – 3.73

Given that this film includes one of the most enthralling roles of Ewan McGregor’s career, it’s no wonder Velvet Goldmine has one of the highest ratings of his entire filmography. The movie explores the glam rock scene of the 1970s, following Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ character in his fascination with McGregor’s Curt Wild. McGregor steals the spotlight as the rock musician, which explains this successful rating.

For 1998, Velvet Goldmine was a bold film for providing a non-timid depiction of gay and bisexual men, and McGregor isn’t shy to deliver a phenomenal performance as Curt Wild, decades before his poignant performance as the American designer Halston.

3 Big Fish (2003) – 3.8

Available To Stream On Netflix.

In this Tim Burton movie, McGregor plays a younger version of Ed Bloom, the father of Will Bloom (Billy Crudup), in flashbacks that mix reality and fiction to tell the story.

Big Fish is an unconventional father-and-son film precisely because it involves different timelines, but ultimately the focus of the story is the relationship between them. While McGregor doesn’t have prolonged screentime in this one, he provides a portrayal that fits perfectly in the overall fantasy atmosphere of the movie.

2 Beginners (2010) – 3.85

Available To Stream On IMDb TV.

In Beginners, the actor stars along with Christopher Plummer in the role of Plummer’s son, Oliver. The movie follows Oliver after he discovers his father has a younger lover and terminal cancer.

Like many other movies with Christopher Plummer, the late actor steals the spotlight, but McGregor’s performance doesn’t stay behind either. The chemistry the two actors share on-screen explains why this film has the second-highest rating on Letterboxd, even though the scenes between McGregor and the adorable Jack Russell terrier are a close second reason.

1 Trainspotting (1996) – 4.1

Available To Stream On fuboTV.

The highest-rated movie of Ewan Mcgregor’s career is unsurprisingly the most acclaimed one. Trainspotting remains McGregor’s most iconic project, apart from the Star Wars franchise.

As Mark Renton, the actor tells a story about addiction, self-destruction, and, ultimately, hope as the protagonist tries to get into rehabilitation. This movie is a brutal look at drug use and the search for leaving an addiction behind, all of which are enhanced by McGregor’s complex portrayal. For those who want to explore McGregor’s acting range, Trainspotting is the best option, as this Letterboxd rating confirms.

About The Author