Starting at the age of 13 in a Steven Spielberg war classic, Empire of the sun, Christian Bale established himself as an intense method actor yet now. No one can be a very best Batman, other than Bale himself. His solidified acting and the knack to orient himself in body and act is highly commended for. This English-American actor has come a long way and here is a list of Bale’s very best movies starting from the least best, including the upcoming films, Vice, which is slated for this Christmas, and Ford vs. Ferrari, slated for 2019!
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- The Fighter (2010)
- The Machinist (2004)
- The Prestige (2006)
- American Hustle (2013)
- American Psycho (2000)
- The Big Short (2015)
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- Batman Begins (2005)
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
- Empire of the Sun (1987)
- Rescue Dawn (2007)
- Out of the Furnace (2013)
- Public Enemies (2009)
- Equilibrium (2002)
- Newsies (1992)
- The New World (2005)
- Little women (1994)
- Reign of Fire (2002)
- Harsh Times (2005)
- Terminator: Salvation (2009)
- The Flowers of War (2011)
- I’m Not There (2007)
- Knight of Cups (2015)
- Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
- Shaft (2000)
- Hostiles (2017)
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
- Velvet Goldmine (1998)
- The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
- Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)
- Metroland (1997)
- The Secret Agent (1996)
- Swing Kids (1993)
- Laurel Canyon (2002)
- The Promise (2016)
- All the Little Animals (1998)
- Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)
- Pocahontas (1995)
- Henry V (1989)
- Prince of Jutland (1994)
- Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987)
- Vice (2018)
- Ford vs. Ferrari (2019)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Dubbed as the best Christian Bale movie of all time by Ranker, it is undoubtedly his best of the Batman films. Splendidly crafted by Christopher Nolan, the second movie of the epic series became a huge fan-favorite in 2008. Arriving after Batman Begins, this one takes you to a continuation of the marvelous heroism and the “good deed”. Batman’s face-off with Joker, played by Heath Ledger, became one of the most memorable moments in the Batman franchise.
The Fighter (2010)
In this movie, Bale delivered one of his best performances as the crack-addicted former boxer, Dicky, who helps train his younger half-brother, Micky. A true story revolving around Micky Ward, makes it a classic for Boxing lovers, a must watch. Although Bale played a supporting character in this boxing biography drama, it earned him an Oscar for the role of the Best Supporting Actor.
The Machinist (2004)
Bale lost around 60 pounds within 4 months to play the anorexic machinist in this chilling psychological thriller. This harrowing role of the insomniac, Trevor Reznik, who has a really distorted perception of reality, demanded great skill in its portrayal, which Bale carried out with a lot of commitment. Well received among the audience, this movie is high on intensity and paranoia was delivered amazingly well by Bale.
The Prestige (2006)
Bale brilliantly plays the role of a magician performing the trick of a lifetime in this Christopher Nolan film. When he is rivaled by another magician, played by Hugh Jackman, who tries to outdo him, we discover a twist we would never have expected. Acclaimed with many Academy Award nominations, this provoking film outdid the other 2 illusion-centered releases of the year plus, you will love the ending!
American Hustle (2013)
This is another of Bale’s shape-shifting movies, in which he gained about 40 pounds to play the role of a con artist, Irving Rosenfeld, who scams many of his characters with his partner and love interest, Sydney Prosser. Yet now, hired by an FBI agent, to become a part of a sting operation, that would disclose high profile criminals, is the backdrop of the movie. His believable character-depiction even earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
American Psycho (2000)
Still one of Bale’s exceptional roles till date, he deftly highlights all the key emotions of an investment banker who is also a psychotic killer of women in this horror comedy adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel. Bale is wondrous in his portrayal as a blood lusted psycho which was a financial success and went well among the critics.
The Big Short (2015)
Bale plays the role of a socially awkward but exceedingly smart Michael Burry, who discovers a bubble while going through some home-loan figures in his office. Amongst a select few to predict the 2008 financial collapse, Bale’s expert depiction the real-life genius who has Asperger’s Syndrome earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
In this Batman reboot, Bale plays the exiled Bruce Wayne, who now pairs up with Catwoman, played by Anne Hathaway, to save Gotham once and for all. Christopher Nolan delivers yet another Batman movie with stellar visuals, successfully concluding “The Dark knight trilogy”. It became the highest grossing superhero movie of all time.
Batman Begins (2005)
After losing a frightening 60 pounds for The Machinist, Bale had to gain back over 100 pounds in 6 months and build the superhero body of Batman for this film. Bale proved to be the perfect Bruce Wayne, a billionaire out to avenge his parents’ death by ensuring peace in Gotham city. The first of the Batman Trilogy which gave way to the best of Batman and earned itself many nominations of Academy and BAFTA awards.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Starring alongside Russell Crowe, Bale plays a one-legged rancher tasked with escorting a captured outlaw onto the 3:10 train bound for Yuma Territorial Prison in this remake of the 1957 classic Western film.
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Scouted by Steven Spielberg at 13, Bale performed the role of young Jim Graham with vivid realism as the English boy faces the harsh struggles of World War II under the Japanese-occupied Shanghai. You would witness the outstanding work of Bale at this very young age which he is highly applauded for.
Rescue Dawn (2007)
Yet another film where Bale had to lose weight for his character portrayal of the vet pilot, Dieter Dengler, who, after being imprisoned at a POW camp, was tortured along with many others while awaiting an escape. An adaptation from a 1997 documentary film Little Dieter needs to fly, on the American military camp during the Vietnam War.
Out of the Furnace (2013)
Sharing the screen with Casey Affleck, Christian Bale realistically depicts an honest man with a blue-collar job who decides to seek justice himself when his younger brother goes missing. The film did great with the opening and impressed the critics with seat-locked performances of Bale and Affleck.
Public Enemies (2009)
In this film, we see Bale in the role of a federal agent, Purvis, hunting down a notorious gangster group led by Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp. Set in the backdrop of the Great Depression crime rise, about the real story of mobster Dillinger and his capture.
Equilibrium (2002)
In this Dystopian sci-fi film, Bale depicts a man’s revolution against a world where having emotions are outlawed. In order to suppress the emotions, people are given drug doses which, John Preston(Bale) misses on one and sets out to overthrow the Lawmakers.
Newsies (1992)
In this Disney musical, Bale is seen in one of his earliest roles as a newspaper boy who goes on strike against Joseph Pulitzer. Joining with his other newspaper seller friends sets out to rebel against the exploitation of their bosses. The movie wasn’t a well-received one but later gained a much more positive response.
The New World (2005)
After having voiced the character of Thomas in the 1995 animated film, Pocahontas, Bale plays the role of John Rolfe, a key character in this retelling of the popular legend.
Little women (1994)
Christian Bale plays the charming neighborhood boy, Laurie, in this fifth adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. The film received many nominations at the Academy Awards and highlighted Bale’s character in a positive mark.
