A riveting crime thriller that features a near unrecognisable Walking Dead star is being hailed as showcasing “Tom Hardy’s best on screen performance in years.”
This is a bold claim for an actor who has consistently wowed audiences with his performances in both film and television over the past decade.
His notable roles include playing the Kray twins in Legend, as well as parts in The Revenant, Dunkirk and more recently, a leading role in the series Mob Land.
However, some might argue that his involvement in the less critically acclaimed Venom trilogy may have caused audiences to overlook his true acting prowess.
A recent reminder of his capabilities was seen in 2024’s The Bikeriders.
Hardy was part of a star-studded cast for this film, sharing the screen with Elvis star Austin Butler and Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, as well as The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus, who went through a transformation for his part and Man of Steel’s Michael Shannon.
Set in the 1960s, the narrative unfolds over a decade, tracing the evolution of a Midwestern motorcycle club from a gathering spot for local outsiders into a menacing gang, posing a threat to the original group’s way of life, reports the Mirror.
In the film, Hardy portrays the leader of this gang, with Butler as his young protégé and Comer as his wife. While the plot is fictional, writer and director Jeff Nichols drew inspiration from the book of the same name by photographer Danny Lyon, which documented images of a real-life bike gang.
A Collider critic has hailed the film as “Tom Hardy’s best on screen performance in years,” adding: “Not only was it a blessing to see Hardy work with such a rich cast and visionary director again, but he also gave perhaps his most revelatory performance since breaking out with American audiences in Inception. On the surface, Hardy could play the leader of a bike gang in his sleep, as the actor is known for his brutish tough guys.”
While some may have had their doubts, the flick scored an impressive 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with nods especially towards the standout acts of Hardy, Butler, and Comer. British movie enthusiasts who missed the chance to watch it can stream the film on Sky Cinema or NOW by acquiring a movies pass.
Fans were quick to echo the high praise for Hardy; one person said online: “Tom Hardy shines and gives a Marlon Brando-esque performance that made me enjoy every scene he was in.”
Another chimed in with enthusiasm: “The Bikeriders is an electrifying journey into the heart of 1960s biker culture! Jeff Nichols masterfully captures the gritty essence of an outlaw motorcycle club’s evolution from a band of misfits to a formidable crime syndicate. Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy deliver powerhouse performances, breathing life into complex characters that stay with you long after the credits roll.”
An enthused film buff exclaimed: “Gripping, gritty and raw with stellar performances in a film that only Jeff Nichols could bring to vivid cinematic life.”
Another cinema-goer drew parallels to an iconic gangster movie, admitting their surprise at the direction: “I checked to see if Martin Scorsese directed it; he didn’t. Jeff Nichols is certainly a Scorsese admirer. Great Film!”
The Bikeriders is streaming on Sky Cinema and NOW.