Tom Hardy’s 5 Best Movie Performances From The Past Decade

One of the most captivating and versatile artists of his generation, over the years, Tom Hardy established himself as a force to be reckoned with. The British actor has continuously impressed the audience and critics with the intensity of his performances and his ability to immerse himself in different genres. From period crime shows to superhero live-actions, Hardy distinguished himself on TV and on the silver screen.

His substantial work in the cinema, however, is what allowed Hardy to rise to international stardom. Aside from his notorious collaborations with Christopher Nolan, which started with the movie Inception almost 15 years ago, in the past decade, the actor has delivered a series of breathtaking performances. With a commanding presence and a penetrating gaze that speaks more than any lengthy dialogue, the British star has shown an impressive range, proving his ability to transform himself into any character he plays.

5

Capone (2020)

As Al Capone

Close

Capone might have received a mixed reception from the critics, who did not appreciate the uneven tone of the film. However, Tom Hardy still delivered an epic performance as the most famous gangster of Prohibitionism. Unlike the portrayal of Robert De Niro, who is fearsome and brutal, Hardy reveals a different side of the criminal. The movie shows the man behind the legend, as he struggles with health problems. Regardless of the reviews, this was an unusual angle to adopt.

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

Capone

R

Biography

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

4/10

8/10

Release Date

May 12, 2020

Runtime

103 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Jack Lowden

    Jack Lowden

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Al Sapienza

Written and directed by Josh Trank, Capone is a Drama and Biography feature film that explores famed mobster Al Capone after he’s captured and sentenced to prison time. Now retired, he begins to experience deep psychological distress and hallucinations. The 2020 release stars Tom Hardy in the lead role.

Director

Josh Trank

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Portraying the most famous mobster in America is not an easy job. But playing him as a more vulnerable version of what the public knows him as can be even more challenging. Hardy managed to do that. With the role, the actor proved once again his nuanced yet powerful emotional range, capturing the multifaceted nature of a real-life villain. Capone might not be Hardy’s best crime film ever, but it’s worth a mention.

4

The Bikeriders (2023)

As Johnny

Close

Based on 1968 Danny Lyon’s photobook of the same name, The Bikeriders is a crime drama that depicts the lives of a Midwestern motorcycle club, known as the Vandals. The movie is an aesthetically beautiful homage to the gritty atmosphere of the biker subculture in the 1960s. Tom Hardy plays Johnny, the leader of the group. The character and the performance were partially inspired by Marlon Brando’s iconic work as Johnny Stabler in The Wild One.

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

The Bike Riders Movie Poster Showing Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy With a Motorcycle Gang

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 Bikeriders

R

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

6/10

12

8.2/10

Release Date

June 21, 2024

Runtime

116 Minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Jodie Comer In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

    Jodie Comer

  • Headshot Of Austin Butler In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

    Austin Butler

The Bikeriders tells the story of a 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Through the eyes of Kathy, played by Jodie Comer, the film explores the club’s evolution from a group of local outsiders to a dangerous gang.

Director

Jeff Nichols

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Johnny is a complex character, a family man who wishes to run wild. The role enables Hardy to channel his usual intensity and emotional vulnerability. Furthermore, his chemistry with Austin Butler, who plays the role of younger biker Benny Cross, adds a compelling layer to the film. The Bikeriders is a testament to Hardy’s talent for stepping into the uncomfortable shoes of conflicted, albeit charismatic anti-heroes.

3

Dunkirk (2017)

As Farrier

Close

Despite the limited dialogue, Tom Hardy’s performance in Dunkirk is no less deserving of recognition. The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a tension-filled historical war thriller that tells the story of the Dunkirk evacuation, which took place in France during WW2. Hardy plays Farrier, a Royal Air Force pilot who spends most of the movie hidden behind a mask.

The actor, therefore, was forced to rely solely on his gaze and mannerisms to convey the internal turmoil of the character.

The actor, therefore, was forced to rely solely on his gaze and mannerisms to convey the internal turmoil of the character. The film could easily be described as Hardy and Nolan’s best collaboration. Venom‘s star did not fail to bring to the surface the emotional depth of his role.

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

Dunkirk

PG-13

History

Drama

Action

ScreenRant logo

9/10

7.8/10

Release Date

July 21, 2017

Runtime

106 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Kenneth Branagh In The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

    Kenneth Branagh

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Aneurin Barnard

This epic tale of World War II tells the story of soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who are surrounded by the German army, and the dangerous operation that evacuated and saved the lives of thousands.

Director

Christopher Nolan

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

His ability to convey opposite feelings and thoughts through nothing more than a gaze deserves credit. Regardless of what is shown or not in his scenes, it is easy for the public to comprehend Farrier’s mental processes, and that alone is a testament to Hardy’s talent. If he had more screen time, this performance could have risen to the top.

2

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

As Max Rockatansky

Close

The legendary Max Rockatansky was an intimidating role to take on. However, Tom Hardy does not seem like the type of actor who backs down before a challenge, and we are all grateful for that. His performance in Mad Max: Fury Road is one of his best works in the past decade.

2:56

Tom Hardy's 5 Best Movies, Ranked

Related

Tom Hardy’s 5 Best Movies, Ranked

Today, Screen Rant lists the five best movies that made the most out of Tom Hardy’s uncanny screen presence.

Posts

6

Indeed, the comparisons with Mel Gibson, who had previously worn the shoes of the iconic anti-hero, were highly complimentary. Like the role of Farrier in Dunkirk, Max has little dialogue in the movie. Hardy’s interpretation demonstrates once again the actor’s ability to say a thousand words with a simple look.

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Mad Max Fury Road 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

Mad Max: Fury Road

R

Action

Adventure

Thriller

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

9/10

56

8.7/10

Release Date

May 14, 2015

Runtime

120 Minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Tom Hardy In The Premiere Of The Bikeriders

    Tom Hardy

  • Headshot Of Charlize Theron

    Charlize Theron

Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth film in George Miller’s long-running sci-fi franchise, with Tom Hardy starring as Max Rockstansky, a vagabond who lives on the road in an apocalyptic wasteland. When Max comes across a cult group that keeps its people in fear and under control with a monopoly on water and other crucial supplies, he joins up with Imperator Furiosa, a warrior woman leading a rebellion against the cult’s leader, Immortan Joe.

Director

George Miller

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

The protagonist of Mad Max: Fury Road is a man haunted by a traumatic past. Behind the character’s stoic facade, there is an entire world to learn about, and Hardy never fails to show it. Unsurprisingly, his portrayal, one of the best in the Mad Max franchise, earned him a Critics’ Choice Award.

1

The Revenant (2015)

As John Fitzgerald

Close

Among many anti-heroes, Tom Hardy’s most commendable performance in the past decade is his work as the iconic villain of The Revenant. John Fitzgerald is one of the most sinister and ruthless characters ever played by the British actor. The film is a vicious story about survival and revenge, and Hardy’s role adds another layer of brutality to it, heightening the already tense atmosphere. Although his hoarse timbre and rugged appearance make Hardy a terrifying antagonist who radiates unspeakable danger, there is still a human quality to him.

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

The Revenant Movie 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 Revenant

R

Adventure

Drama

ScreenRant logo

7/10

11

8.7/10

Release Date

December 25, 2015

Runtime

156 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot OF Will Poulter

    Will Poulter

  • Headshot Of Leonardo DiCaprio In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

    Leonardo DiCaprio

Inspired by the true events in the life of Hugh Glass, The Revenant is an action-drama movie that sees Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role. Betrayed and left for dead by one of the members of his hunting group, Glass finds himself contending with some of the harshest elements imaginable while tending to his deadly wounds, as his will to carry on and need for revenge push him to carry on in this gripping tale of survival.

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Hardy made John Fitzgerald much more than a one-dimensional villain. The star of Venom acts alongside one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, but not once does he get overshadowed, emerging as an equally significant presence. Unsurprisingly, the performance earned Tom Hardy an Academy Award nomination. Although he did not win, it deserves as much recognition as possible.