Colin Farrell’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Colin Farrell’s best movies and TV shows give a glimpse at an actor who seems to only be getting better over time. The Irish actor began his career in the 1990s with small television roles and made his debut in movies alongside Ray Winstone and Tilda Swinton in the drama The War Zone by director Tim Roth. Farrell found his breakout role with his acclaimed performance in Joel Schumacher’s Vietnam movie Tigerland. It was that movie that caught the attention of Hollywood and some big-name directors.

Indeed, Farrell has worked for some amazing filmmakers over the years, including legends Steven Spielberg and Terrence Malick, as well as cultivating relationships with new talents, like Martin McDonagh and Yorgos Lanthimos. Though Hollywood attempted to make him a blockbuster leading man, Farrell has shown more of a desire to go the character actor route with versatile performances in challenging projects. Narrowing down his best work is hard, but some titles stand above the rest.

10

Miami Vice (2006)

As Sonny Crockett

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Miami Vice - poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Miami Vice

R

Action

Crime

Drama

Release Date

July 28, 2006

Runtime

132 Minutes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

  • Headshot Of Jamie Foxx In The European premiere of 'Creed III'

    Jamie Foxx

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Li Gong

  • Headshot Of Naomie Harris

    Naomie Harris

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

While it might have once been seen as the biggest misfire of Colin Farrell’s career, Miami Vice has become known as one of his most underrated projects over time. Director Michael Mann returns to the iconic television show he created in the 1980s, this time reimagining it as a thrilling crime story in a modern setting. Farrell stars alongside Jamie Foxx as Miami detectives Crockett and Tubbs, who are recruited by the FBI to help take down a dangerous drug lord.

Farrell slips into the ultra-cool and suave detective role effortlessly, making Crockett the most compelling character in the movie. His relationship with the drug lord’s mistress (Gong Li) also shows his flaws. The movie is a stylish cop saga that only Mann can deliver, with some outstanding action sequences and a captivating aesthetic.

9

Phone Booth (2003)

As Stu Shepard

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Phone Booth (2002)

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Phone Booth

R

Mystery

Thriller

8.5/10

Release Date

April 4, 2003

Runtime

81 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

    Stu Shepard

  • Headshot Of Kiefer Sutherland

    Kiefer Sutherland

    The Caller

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Colin Farrell fell on many people’s radar with his excellent breakout leading man role in the thriller Phone Booth. Farrell plays hotshot New York City publicist Stu Shepard, whose day is interrupted when he chooses to answer a ringing phone in a phone booth. On the other end of the line is a man who tells Stu that he will be shot if he leaves the booth. With his life on the line, Stu has to play the mind games of this unseen sniper.

Farrell carries the movie with his performance, which is no easy task considering he is stuck in one setting and speaking into a telephone for basically the entire runtime. However, he manages to make the premise work by playing this character as an unlikable man whose humanity gradually starts to shine through the more dire his situation becomes.

8

The Gentlemen (2020)

As Coach

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Gentlemen

R

Crime

Action

ScreenRant logo

7/10

Release Date

January 24, 2020

Runtime

113 minutes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Henry Golding

    Henry Golding

  • Headshot Of Jeremy Strong

    Jeremy Strong

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

While Colin Farrell became a leading man earlier in his career, he gradually started to move towards more supporting roles in interesting projects. The Gentlemen is one example of how he is able to shine in such roles. From director Guy Ritchie, The Gentlemen stars Matthew McConaughey as Mickey, an expatriate who has become one of the biggest weed kingpins in the UK. As he attempts to sell his criminal enterprise and go legitimate, he finds the deal threatened with one complication after another.

The Gentlemen cast also features the likes of Hugh Grant and Charlie Hunnam, but Farrell steals the show as Coach. He is a no-nonsense coach of a boxing gym who attempts to get his wayward fighters out of the gangs and into a ring. The movie was a return to form for Ritchie as a funny and thrilling crime saga with plenty of colorful characters.

7

After Yang (2022)

As Jake

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

After Yang (2021) - Poster-1

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

After Yang

PG

Science Fiction

Drama

ScreenRant logo

5/10

8/10

Release Date

March 4, 2022

Runtime

96 Minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Justin H. Min

    Justin H. Min

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Though Colin Farrell has starred in some big projects in his career, After Yang is a reminder that there are some underseen movies in his filmography as well. After Yang is a subdued sci-fi story in which Farrell plays Jake, a family man who finds himself growing apart from his wife and adopted daughter. In an attempt to fix the relationship, he sets about repairing the family’s broken AI helper unit but ends up reflecting on the meaning of humanity.

After Yang is a quiet and contemplative movie with Farrell’s performance matching that. While he is usually the most charismatic actor in a movie, Farrell’s reserved and nuanced performance adds so much to the ambiguous story. It is a beautiful tale of family and connection that cleverly comments on the modern tech world at the same time.

6

The Lobster (2015)

As David

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

The Lobster (2015) - Poster - Collin Farrell

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Lobster

R

Comedy

Drama

Romance

5/10

Release Date

October 15, 2015

Runtime

119 Minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

  • Headshot Of Rachel Weisz

    Rachel Weisz

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Colin Farrell proved his eye for visionary directors while working alongside Yorgos Lanthimos in one of his earlier movies. The Lobster is a dark comedy that stars Farrell as David, a lonely man living in a society that makes it required to be in a romantic relationship. He signs up for a program that encourages people to find a match with some interesting punishments in order to motivate them. However, David soon discovers a community of rebels willing to fight for their right to be single.

Farrell gives a reserved performance with brilliant dry humor. It adds to the odd world this movie inhabits, mixing the mundane with the absurd. The actor leads an incredible cast that includes Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, and Olivia Colman. However, it is his lead performance that guides the quirky story towards The Lobster’s memorable ending.

5

The Batman (2022)

As Oz Cobb / The Penguin

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

The Batman Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Batman

PG-13

Crime

Action

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

135

8.6/10

Release Date

March 4, 2022

Runtime

176 minutes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Robert Pattinson In The Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 show

    Robert Pattinson

    Bruce Wayne / The Batman

  • Headshot Of Zoë Kravitz In The Vanity Fair Oscar Party

    Zoë Kravitz

    Selina Kyle

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

While there was a time when Colin Farrell could have conceivably played Batman, the actor proved his willingness to take risks as the out-of-the-box casting choice for one of the Caped Crusader’s most memorable villains. The Batman finds Robert Pattinson stepping into the iconic role as Gotham City’s hero during his early days of fighting crime. A new murderer known as The Riddler begins targeting Gotham’s elite, dragging Batman through the underbelly of the city in search of the truth.

Farrell steals many scenes as Oz Cobb, a reimagining of the Penguin. Farrell plays this low-level gangster with a mixture of humor and menace, giving a colorful performance that stands out in the dour movie. Matt Reeves’ noir take on the hero is very effective with fans still eagerly awaiting the return of the Penguin and the other characters in The Batman II.

4

The Penguin (2024)

As Oz Cobb / The Penguin

TV Show

My Favorite TV Shows
My Watchlist

Success!

The Penguin

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Penguin

TV-MA

Crime

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

227

9.3/10

Release Date

2024 – 2023

Showrunner

Lauren LeFranc

Cast

See All

  • instar54133519

    Colin Farrell

    Oz Cobb

  • Headshot Of Cristin Milioti In The Los Angeles Premiere Screening For Peacock's Original Series 'The Resort'

    Cristin Milioti

    Sofia Falcone

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

While the wait for The Batman II has been a long one, fans of this take on the world were given a special treat with Colin Farrell headlining his own spinoff series. The Penguin sees Farrell reprise his role as Oz in the aftermath of the first movie. With the city in chaos and a power vacuum in Gotham’s criminal world, Oz sees this as his opportunity to climb the ranks and become the boss he has always envisioned himself to be.

Despite Batman never actually appearing in the series, The Penguin is an exhilarating return to this world and a brutal crime story in its own right. However, the shining aspect of the series is Farrell’s transformative performance, which earned him a Golden Globe. He not only physically disappears into the role but becomes this complex character who can be endearing and vulnerable but also a man of pure evil.

3

Minority Report (2022)

As Danny Witwer

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Minority Report

PG-13

Crime

Sci-Fi

Action

Mystery

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

8/10

Release Date

June 21, 2002

Runtime

145 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Tom Cruise In The UK premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning’ Part One

    Tom Cruise

  • Headshot Of Neal McDonough In The Los Angeles premiere of 'The Shift'

    Neal McDonough

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Colin Farrell helped to mark one of his first Hollywood roles by working for one of the greatest directors of all time and facing off with one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Minority Report is a sci-fi thriller set in the future in which murder can be predicted and people are arrested before the crimes even occur. Tom Cruise stars as a cop leading this new division of the police only to find himself accused of a future murder.

Farrell plays the chief antagonist of the movie, Danny Witwer, a skeptic of the program who leads the hunt for Cruise when he goes on the run. The combined power of Spielberg and Cruise was going to make for an entertaining movie no matter what, but Minority Report also features a sharp and clever story with some terrific action set pieces and shocking twists.

2

The Banshees Of Inisherin (2023)

As Colm Doherty

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

The Banshees of Inisherin Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Banshees of Inisherin

R

Comedy

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

7/10

Release Date

October 21, 2022

Runtime

109 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

  • Headshot Of Brendan Gleeson iN The 66th BFI London Film Festival

    Brendan Gleeson

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

While Colin Farrell has worked with some incredible filmmakers in his career, there is no doubt that the most successful collaborative relationship he has had is with Martin McDonagh. The most recent movie they did together, The Banshees of Inisherin, shows how effortlessly they work together. Set on a small Irish island in 1923, Farrell plays Colm Doherty, a friendly local who discovers that his best friend, Pádraic (Brendan Gleeson), doesn’t want to continue their friendship.

Farrell is hilarious, frustrating, and heartbreaking in the role of a man who just wants his friend back. It is a movie about loneliness but is filled with McDonagh’s pitch-dark sense of humor that makes for some huge laughs. Farrell earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance, with the movie also earning a Best Picture nomination.

1

In Bruges (2008)

As Ray

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

In Bruges

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

In Bruges

t

Comedy

Crime

ScreenRant logo

7/10

Release Date

February 8, 2008

Runtime

107minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

  • Headshot Of Brendan Gleeson iN The 66th BFI London Film Festival

    Brendan Gleeson

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Before making The Banshees of Inisherin together, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson starred in Martin McDonagh’s debut feature film, In Bruges. The crime movie follows Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson), two Irish hitmen who travel to Bruges, Belgium after one of their jobs goes wrong. There, the two men struggle with their different personalities as Ken attempts to enjoy the city and Ray is deadset on complaining the entire time.

Farrell got the chance to showcase his comedic side in this wonderful role, having a lot of fun playing Ray as a childish man. However, he is also heartbreaking and guilt-ridden with the truth about why they are there becomes clear. It is a wonderful introduction to McDonaugh’s talent for mixing the dark and macabre with humor. Farrell won a Golden Globe for what ended up being a bit of a comeback performance.