Ewan McGregor’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Ewan McGregor’s best movies and TV shows include some of the biggest franchises of all time as well as some underseen gems. The Scottish actor began his on-screen career in the early 1990s on British television, eventually leading to early roles such as Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave. When McGregor teamed with Boyle again for Trainspotting, it helped to launch the young actor’s career while leading him to a galaxy far, far away and success in Hollywood.

McGregor may have become iconic as Obi-Wan Kenobi, but unlike other actors in the Star Wars universe, he has been able to maintain a career with many varied roles. He has worked with movie legends like Ridley Scott and Tim Burton, starred alongside Oscar winners like Nicole Kidman and Christopher Plummer, and led his own acclaimed projects. With such varied roles in his career thus far, the best movies and TV shows from McGregor stand out as truly great projects.

10

Halston (2021)

As Halston

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Halston

Biography

Drama

Release Date

2021 – 2020

Network

Netflix

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Krysta Rodriguez

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    Gian Franco Rodriguez

  • Headshot Of Ewan McGregor In The New York premiere of 'A Gentleman In Moscow'

    Ewan McGregor

  • Headshot Of Kelly Bishop

    Kelly Bishop

Showrunner

Daniel Minahan

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Ewan McGregor’s recent work on television has earned him some of the best reviews of his career, especially his Emmy-winning turn in Halston. McGregor steps into the role of famed fashion designer Halston, a man whose bold vision took hold of the industry while his approach to making his designs something that was not exclusive or elite further changed how the industry worked. However, his success was also mirrored by his destructive lifestyle and his hidden sexuality.

McGregor is sensational in the lead role, delivering one of his most charismatic performances that holds the entire miniseries together. Halston is a truly entertaining figure, but he is also very complicated and volatile. McGregor captures all of that wonderfully within this fun period journey through the stunning fashion world of the era. It is McGregor’s performance that makes the series worth watching.

9

Fargo (2017)

As Ray Stussy & Emmit Stussy

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Fargo

TV-MA

Anthology

Crime

Drama

Comedy

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

10/10

9/10

Release Date

2014 – 2023

Network

FX

Cast

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    Billy Bob Thornton

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    Allison Tolman

Showrunner

Noah Hawley

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Ewan McGregor pulled double duty in the third season of Fargo with two electrifying performances. Fargo is an anthology series based on the Oscar-winning crime movie from the Coen brothers. Each season assembles a new crop of talented actors for a completely new crime story which often finds mild-mannered people getting in way over their heads. At the center of Fargo season 3 was the tale of sibling rivalry with McGregor playing both brothers butting heads.

As Ray Stussy, McGregor plays the sad-sack brother of the family, a balding and out-of-shape parole officer who has fallen for one of his convicts (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Emmit Stussy is Ray’s successful brother whose wealth can’t protect him when he finds himself mixed up in a business deal with some dangerous people. The third season is a grim, funny, and thought-provoking crime saga that makes for a worthy entry into the excellent series.

8

Big Fish (2003)

As Young Ed Bloom

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Big Fish

PG-13

Adventure

Documentary

Drama

Fantasy

Release Date

December 25, 2003

Runtime

125 minutes

Cast

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    Ewan McGregor

    Ed Bloom (senior)

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Albert Finney

    Ed Bloom (young)

  • Headshot OF Billy Crudup

    Billy Crudup

    Will Bloom

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    Jessica Lange

    Sandra Bloom (senior)

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Ewan McGregor stepped into the world of Tim Burton in a movie that might be the best use of the filmmaker’s unique style. Big Fish stars Albert Finney as Ed Bloom, a man who has always had a loose connection with reality, telling his family tall tales of his life which his son Will (Billy Crudup) has never believed and thus never felt like he knew his father. However, when Ed gets sick, Will sits down to hear the literally unbelievable story of his life.

McGregor plays young Ed Bloom in the fantasy flashbacks, going on these larger-than-life adventures. McGregor’s charm and earnestness within these tall tales help to sell them as worthwhile stories. It is a funny and lively movie that culminates in a touching story about family and legacy, making it one of Burton’s best movies.

7

Beginners (2010)

As Oliver Fields

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Beginners

R

Comedy

Documentary

Drama

Romance

Release Date

June 9, 2011

Runtime

104 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ewan McGregor In The New York premiere of 'A Gentleman In Moscow'

    Ewan McGregor

  • Headshot Of Christopher Plummer

    Christopher Plummer

  • Headshot Of Mélanie Laurent

    Mélanie Laurent

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    Goran Visnjic

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Beginners is not as big of a movie as some of Ewan McGregor’s most popular projects, but it features one of his most underrated performances. McGregor plays Oliver, a reserved man who has developed commitment issues throughout his life thanks to the seemingly loveless marriage of his parents. However, after the death of his mother, Oliver’s elderly father comes out as gay and begins embracing that aspect of his life openly for the first time.

McGregor gives an understated and quiet performance that is extremely effective in this funny and touching story. Oliver struggles with the revelations that shift his life, while also being happy for his father. Beginners is a tale of people confronting the fact that it is never too late to make a change and seek happiness, with the movie beautifully communicating that universal message.

6

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

As Obi-Wan Kenobi

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Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

7/10

53

9/10

Release Date

May 19, 2005

Runtime

140 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ewan McGregor In The New York premiere of 'A Gentleman In Moscow'

    Ewan McGregor

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While the Star Wars prequels received plenty of criticism, one of the universally acclaimed aspects was Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi. McGregor would get his own spinoff series on Disney+ later on, but it was the closing chapter of the prequel trilogy that gave him his best material as the Jedi master. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith finds Obi-Wan battling against a growing threat as Anakin Skywalker falls deeper into the seduction of the dark side.

Revenge of the Sith is not a perfect movie as it still relies too heavily on CGI, but it does fulfill the tragic story that was promised with the prequels. McGregor is particularly great in hero mode and heartbreaking when seeing his friendship with Anakin breaking apart. As iconic as Alec Guinness was in originating the role, this movie helped cement McGregor’s own worthy take on the character.

5

The Impossible (2012)

As Henry Bennett

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The Impossible

PG-13

Drama

History

Thriller

10/10

Release Date

September 9, 2012

Runtime

114 Minutes

Cast

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    Naomi Watts

    Maria

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    Ewan McGregor

    Henry

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The Impossible is a true story that makes for a harrowing and surprisingly uplifting survival story. The movie is set around the devastating tsunami that struck Thailand in 2004. McGregor plays Henry Bennett, the patriarch of a family vacationing in Thailand when the disaster strikes. With the powerful waves hitting without warning, the Bennett family is left injured and separated as they fight to survive and reunite amid the chaos.

McGregor steps into the grounded family man role, playing a man who is vulnerable yet determined to do whatever it takes to save his loved ones. He is joined in the movie by some terrific performances from Naomi Watts as his wife and Tom Holland as his son. It makes for a profound story of a family facing an extraordinary situation and using their love for one another to overcome it.

4

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

As Sebastian J. Cricket

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Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

PG-13

Drama

Animation

Fantasy

10/10

Release Date

December 9, 2022

Runtime

114 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ewan McGregor In The New York premiere of 'A Gentleman In Moscow'

    Ewan McGregor

  • Headshot Of David Bradley In The BFI London Film Festival 2022

    David Bradley

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While Ewan McGregor has done a number of voice acting roles in his career, none are as brilliant nor as impactful as his role in Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. The stop-motion animated movie tells the story of the famous puppet with dreams of becoming a real boy as he embarks on a journey full of mistakes and missteps to discover what being a real boy actually means. McGregor narrates the story and serves as Pinocchio’s iconic mentor, Sebastian J. Cricket.

McGregor is hilarious in this reimagining of the character, playing the role not as an insect who is looking to be of help, but as a rather pompous writer who wants a story to tell. The movie is a mix of beauty and darkness as only Guillermo Del Toro can achieve and the result is a worthy version of Pinocchio with some profound new lessons to be gleaned from the oft-told story.

3

Moulin Rouge (2001)

As Christian

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Moulin Rouge!

PG-13

Musical

Drama

Romance

9/10

Release Date

June 1, 2001

Runtime

127 Minutes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Nicole Kidman In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix's 'A Family Affair'

    Nicole Kidman

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    Ewan McGregor

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While his role in Star Wars made Ewan McGregor a household name, Moulin Rouge was proof that he would not allow his career to be defined by one role. Baz Luhrmann’s bold and lavish musical is set in Paris at the end of the 19th century. McGregor plays Christian, an optimistic young poet who falls for a cabaret performer named Satine (Nicole Kidman), who is involved with a wealthy man.

The movie tells the typical star-crossed lovers story with McGregor and Kidman having wonderful romantic chemistry. McGregor’s performance helps to sell the tragedy of the love story, with Christian’s view of the world endearing and naïve. He was nominated for a Golden Globe in this wild movie, which will be too much for some viewers to take in but remains a favorite for countless fans.

2

Black Hawk Down (2001)

As SPC John Grimes

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Black Hawk Down

R

War

Drama

History

11

8.9/10

Release Date

January 18, 2002

Runtime

144 minutes

Cast

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    Jason Isaacs

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    Eric Bana

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Ewan McGregor joined the star-studded cast of Black Hawk Down, alongside the likes of Josh Hartnett, Tom Hardy, and Eric Bana. From director Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down tells the true story of a disastrous military operation by the United States military in 1993. American forces entered the city of Mogadishu in Somalia in order to apprehend several high-ranking generals of a local warlord. However, they soon found themselves overwhelmed by the rebel forces and had to fight their way out of the city.

McGregor has a standout role in the cast as SPC John Grimes, a soldier who has spent most of his military career working behind a desk. However, after one of the men is injured he is tasked with going in as part of the ill-fated mission. Black Hawk Down is basically an extended battle sequence with the audience thrust into the chaos and brutality of the situation. Scott delivers one of his most impressive works as a director from his storied career.

1

Trainspotting (1996)

As Mark Renton

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Trainspotting

R

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

9/10

Release Date

August 9, 1996

Runtime

93 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ewen Bremner

    Ewen Bremner

  • Headshot Of Ewan McGregor In The New York premiere of 'A Gentleman In Moscow'

    Ewan McGregor

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The movie that serves as Ewan McGregor’s breakout role remains his best movie to date. Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting is based on the novel by Irvine Welsh and tells the story of Renton (McGregor), a young Scottish man and heroin addict, as he lives his life controlled by his addiction and seeking the means to finally get clean and put his life together.

The movie is an energetic and entertaining ride while also being harrowing and unsettling at the same time. It is able to find humor in Renton’s life, especially with his eccentric group of friends. However, it also shows the grim realities of this life. McGregor expertly handles these conflicting tones, playing a protagonist who is charming, funny, frustrating, heartbreaking, and more throughout the movie. It is not hard to see how this became his star-making role.