Henry Cavill’s 10 Best Roles, According To Rotten Tomatoes

Ever since first jumping to prominence with his role as Charles Brandon in Showtime’s The Tudors, Henry Cavill has been consistently working. He’s played everything from Greek mythology heroes to dashing American spies, all the way to classic British literary characters. Throughout his career, he’s shown considerable range, making him a very in-demand actor.

Although his filmography is still short, every role he plays is accompanied by his trademark mix of confidence and stoicism. The Brit, widely known for his good looks and quiet charm, has carved his own place in Hollywood, and his collection of characters are a clear indication of how good he is when given the right role.

10 Theseus – Immortals (50%)

In his first cinematic starring role, Cavill plays Greek hero Theseus. The film is a very loose adaptation of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, while also containing elements of the classic myth of the Titanomachy, the war fought between the Olympians and the Titans.

Directed by Tarsem Singh, the film was praised for its visuals and performances, but heavily criticized for its conventional story-telling. Cavill was well-received in his role as an action hero and, over time, the film has become a cult hit and is now considered an underrated fantasy classic.

9 Randy James – Whatever Works (50%)

A supporting role, Cavill appears opposite Evan Rachel Wood. He plays Randy, a man recruited by Wood’s character’s mother to separate Wood from her much older husband. The plot of the film is slightly problematic, as it is based on a screenplay from the 1970s and features several dated concepts.

Still, Cavill manages to shine in his role and shares wonderful chemistry with Wood. Although the film was a box-office failure, grossing only $35 million against a $15 million budget, it’s still a worthy addition to Cavill’s resumé.

8 Superman/Clark Kent – Man Of Steel (56%)

Arguably Cavill’s most iconic role, 2013’s Man of Steel launched him to superstardom. He plays the classic superhero in Zack Snyder’s reboot of the Superman franchise, a role he was practically born to play. In the film, and after finding out he’s a superpowered alien from Krypton, Superman must become humanity’s protector against the threat of General Zodd.

Although the film received a mixed reception when first premiering, and it still is quite divisive to this day, Cavill received an overwhelmingly positive reception. The actor would reprise his role in a sequel, 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and in 2017’s controversial Justice League. Although no MoS sequel has been greenlit (yet), Cavill will don the suit once more next year in the anticipated Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

7 Napoleon Solo – The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (67%)

Sporting an American accent and all the smoothness and swagger of James Bond, Cavill’s charisma was in full display when he played the leading role in Guy Ritchie’s stylish adaptation of the 1964 television series.

As Napoleon Solo, a thief turned spy for the United States who must join forces with an ill-tempered Russian, Cavill displayed an obscene amount of charm. And while the film received mix-to-positive reviews from both critics and audiences, almost everyone agreed that the Brit shone in the role, sharing great chemistry with his on-screen partner in crime, Armie Hammer.

6 Geralt Of Rivia – The Witcher (67%)

Some actors are born to play certain characters. And just like Cavill was the perfect choice to play Superman, he also took on another role that seemed tailor-made for him: Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s 2020 adaptation of The Witcher.

Based on the series of fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the series follows Geralt, a magically enhanced monster hunter, and his relationships with both Princess Cirilla, Crown princess of Cintra, and Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful sorceress. The show received a positive reception from critics and overwhelming support from fans, who’re eagerly waiting for the second season, to premiere sometime in 2022.

5 Charles Brandon – The Tudors (69%)

The role that introduced him to mainstream audiences, Cavill portrayed historical figure Charles Brandon over four seasons in Showtime’s The Tudors. Playing King Henry VIII’s best friend and confidante, Cavill appeared on every episode and played a significant role in the story.

The show itself received positive reviews for its entire duration, with Cavill attracting a decent amount of attention for his performance. However, it was never as critically lauded or commercially popular as some of the other historical shows to come out of cable television.

4 Humphrey – Stardust (76%)

A blink and you’ll miss it role, Cavill wore a blonde wig and mustache to play the small part of Humphrey in Matthew Vaughn’s enchanting fantasy film, Stardust. He acts as a rival to main character Tristan, played by a pre-Daredevil Charlie Cox, who tries to win the heart of Victoria, the beauty of the town.

The film is wonderful and received a very positive reception from critics and audiences. Cavill has a charming scene at the end of the film, where his character shares a flirtatious moment with Robert De Niro. Now, that’s reason enough to see this movie!

3 Stephen Colley – I Capture The Castle (79%)

One of Cavill’s earliest roles, he was twenty when he played the role of Stephen Colley in the 2003 adaptation of Dodie Smith’s classic. Stephen is a supporting character, serving as a love interest for main character Cassandra. He is the handyman of Cassandra’s family who’s deeply in love with her.

The film is rather unknown and grossed only $6.5 million when released in 2003. However, Cavill manages to leave his mark, playing a sweet and noble character who doesn’t get the best of treatments.

2 Sherlock Holmes – Enola Holmes (91%)

Stepping into the shoes of a classic literary character is never easy, especially one that’s been portrayed so many times before, to great acclaim. Yet, Cavill successfully played the most famous detective in literature in Netflix’s Enola Holmes. And while the film centers on Sherlock’s younger sister, Enola, he still gets his moments to shine and definitely makes an impression.

Cavill manages to separate his Sherlock from those of Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch, creating a third iteration that’s still faithful to the character’s essence. Positively received by both critics and audiences, he is expected to return should a sequel be made.

1 August Walker – Mission: Impossible – Fallout (97%)

One of the best action films of the last decade, Mission: Impossible – Fallout might very well be the best entry in the series. And for a franchise that’s been around for more than twenty years, that’s a very admirable feat.

A large part of why Fallout is such a smashing success is Cavill. Playing the silent but deadly antagonist, August Walker, Cavill proved himself not only a consummate action star, but a great actor for villainous and morally ambiguous characters. His Walker is threatening, imposing, and lethal, and Cavill gave Tom Cruise a run for his money when on screen together. It’s no wonder why August is at the very top of the list, and why it’s Cavill’s best role yet.

About The Author

David Caballero
(801 Articles Published)

David is a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican writer and reader. Having studied Marketing in school, he spent three years working a nine-to-five desk job before deciding to pursue a writing career. He now works as a Senior Writer in ScreenRant and does some more freelancing job, talking about the entertainment business he so loves. Currently, he’s also writing his second novel while actively working to get his first one published.

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