After almost 30 years in the industry,Hugh Jackmanhas become one of the most loved and respected out there. Even since his first appearanceas Wolverine in the firstX-Menfilmback in 2000, Jackman has become one of many few actors that’s synonymous with a character. But even though he’s best known as the clawed hero, he’s starred in some films across multiple genres, succeeding in all, cementing his brilliant acting abilities. Here are his 20 best films, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
20The Fountain - 52%
In this sci-fi romance epic from Darren Aronofsky, Jackman plays the lead role inThe Fountain, about a time-traveling quest of his character trying to save the woman (Rachel Weisz) that he loves. The film takes place in three parallel time settings, one in the 16th century, one in the present day, and one in the year 2500. Each of them depicts different ways that Jackman’s character is trying to save Weisz’s character, all while depicting the underlying theme of being fearful of mortality, this being the ultimate message for the audience.
Although upon release, the film wasn’t reviewed well by critics and fell short of box office hopes by quite a considerable amount, the film has since gained a dedicated fan base who have learned to love the film, despite its flaws. One thing that most can agree on is how much value Jackman added to the film with his emotional range, ultimately driving the film forward. If you’re a fan of eye-opening films with underlying meaningful themes,The Fountainis definitely a film to add to the watch list.
19Australia - 54%
Another film that delves into the romance genre, Baz Luhrmann’sAustraliais a film that Jackman’s casting makes perfect sense. The film follows Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who travels from England to Australia to see a ranch she inherited. As well as developing a relationship with Jackman’s character, Drover, the film is set in 1942 when the world is on the brink of war. As Sarah and Drover reach the town of Darwin where the ranch is, they have to contend with Japanese soldiers who just destroyed Pearl Harbor.
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Although this isn’t necessarily one of Jackman’s best performances, he delivers everything required for a character who’s easy to support. His relationshipwith Kidman’s charactercomes naturally, leading to the plot development running much smoother. The film also contains intense, dramatic action sequences to keep you on the edge of your seat in true Luhrmann style.
18The Greatest Showman - 56%
One of Jackman’s most successful films at the box office,The Greatest Showmantothe musical genreto new heights. Jackman has always had a love for the stage, making it so much sweeter for this to be near the top of his box office list. This is also one of his most exciting roles, bringing entertainment every time he’s on the screen.
Growing up, P.T. Barnum had always had a talent for promotion throughout his upbringing. With his wonderfully creative imagination, he turns to show business to create the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Although the critic score is quite low, the film is full of exciting performances and instant classic songs, making the film a joy to watch from start to finish for audiences.
17X-Men: The Last Stand - 57%
The final installment to the iconic originalX-Mentrilogy might not have lived up to the first two entries, but it’s by no means a bad superhero film.X-Men: The Last Standcontains slightly more action compared to the first two films, which makes up for the decrease in character-focused moments. But as it’s the finale in the trilogy, we know the characters enough to be OK with some full-on mutant action.
Hugh Jackman delivers as always as Wolverine or Logan, reminding everyone why no one else could embody the role as well as him. Alongside Wolverine, the film features so many more mutants in their full glory including Magneto (Ian McKellen), Professor X (Patrick Stewart), and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen).
16The Front Runner - 58%
With Jackman entering the political scene with this film,The Front Runnersees him in a type of role that he always shines in. Based on the real-life story of Gary Hart, former senator of Colorado who becomes the front-runner for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1987. He’s super popular with young voters until it all comes crashing down when allegations of an affair surface in the media.
Playing a real-life person isn’t something that Jackman tends to do, he delivers another memorable performance that adds so much to the film overall, even making up for areas that are lacking. Ifa political dramais what you’ve been looking for, Jackman’s performance makes this film worth the watch.
15Real Steel - 60%
A unique entry to the sports drama genre,Real Steelsees Jackman re-enter the world of boxing, in an unconventional way for a boxing film. Although the film doesn’t specify the time period, it’s clear that it’s set in the near future, especially due to human boxing being phased out for robot boxing. Jackman’s character, Charlie Kenton, is a small-time promoter, piecing together robot scraps for low-end fights. It’s not until he joins teams with his son to build and train a championship-winning robot for one last chance at a comeback at the highest level.
Despite the film taking on board sci-fi elements with the use of robots, the film still carries the best traits for sports dramas that we know and love. Along with some incredibly exciting action sequences, this film leaves any boxing fan (or sports fan in general) full of the electric energy thatmake sports films so special.
14Les Misérables - 69%
Another musical in Jackman’s filmography,Les Misérableswas another box office hit, alongside three Academy Award wins and an additional five nominations. Among the nominations was Hugh Jackman for best actor in a leading role, after masterfully bringing Jean Valjean to life. With exceptional performances from the entire cast, this film is undoubtedly one of Jackman’s standout roles in his career.
The story follows Valjean after he’s released as a prisoner of 19 years by Javert (Russel Crowe), then uses money from stolen silver to reinvent himself as a mayor and factory owner. Alongside the plot that draws you in from the get-go, the musical performances are some of the best in recent motion picture memory.
13The Wolverine - 71%
After the rather disappointing turnout forX-Men Origins: Wolverine, James Mangold’s 2013 filmThe Wolverinewas the next time we’d see Jackman in his iconic role. Setting the film in Japan was an excellent choice, giving the character a refreshing film compared to the four previous outingsJackman had as Logan. Returning to the country for the first time since World War II when the atomic bombs were dropped, Wolverine finds himself on the run with a powerful industrialist’s daughter (Tao Okamoto) with Yakuza and Samurai breathing down his neck.
Besides the setting, the film provides something else new for Logan, the prospect of death with his powers compromised. Staying mostly true to the comics,The Wolverinewas a great return for Jackman as Logan, a perfect return to set him up for future outings. Full of action, relations, and mutations, this film is perfect for any comic book fan.
12Flushed Away - 73%
The lowest rated of Jackman’s animated films happens to be one of the most well-known animated films this century, that beingFlushed Away. Jackman voices the lead character, Roddy, a rat living a luxurious lifestyle. However, his life takes a swirl when he’s flushed down a toilet into the sewers of London.
Flushed Awayis the perfect easy-going family film for those looking for some light entertainment. Jackman’s skill is shown heavily throughout this film, conveying the emotions he uses when acting for voice work only. The film is also full of laughs, making it ideal for an easy laugh.
11Rise of the Guardians - 74%
In another slightly higher-rated animated film,Rise of the Guardiansis another triumphant outing for Jackman (who voices the Easter Bunny) in the animated genre. The main premise of the film is the Immortal Guardians having to team up when the evil spirit Pitch Black (Jude Law) launches an attack on the world.
As well as Jackman’s and Law’s roles, the film includes Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin) and the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) delivering equally great performances. To save the guardians from destruction, it all falls in the hands of Jack Frost (Chris Pine) to stop Pitch’s plan. Not only does the film feature a standout cast, the visuals make this film a unique entry into both Jackman’s filmographyand the animated genre overall.
