Gary Oldman has had roles in at least 80 films since 1982 (Image: Getty)
Gary Oldman has long been recognised as one of Britain’s most versatile and intense actors, with a film career spanning over four decades and covering everything from gothic horror and historical drama to animation and big-budget franchises.
This list, based on reviews and ratings from Letterboxd users, highlights his twelve most acclaimed roles, ranked in order of greatness.
12. Darkest Hour (2017)
Oldman plays the key main character in Darkest Hour, a historical drama that shows the early days of Winston Churchill’s premiership during World War 2, focusing on his decision to fight against Nazi Germany rather than negotiate a peace treaty. Oldman’s Churchill grapples with political pressure, skepticism from the King, and the daunting reality of the war.
When released, Darkest Hour received numerous accolades, primarily for Oldman’s performance – winning the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as the Golden Globe, BAFTAs, and Screen Actors Guild awards. The film also received nominations for Best Picture and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the Academy Awards.
11. Hannibal (2001)
Manipulated by Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), a disfigured and wealthy child molester who seeks revenge against Dr. Hannibal Lecter, FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling is drawn back into the case of Hannibal Lecter after he escapes from custody. Verger’s plan is to get Lecter back into the United States so he can inflict his own brutal revenge.
Oldman’s performance as Verger was lauded for the extensive prosthetic makeup required to portray his grotesque physical state. The film is based on the novel of the same name and is a sequel to The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
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Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour (Image: Universal Pictures, Focus Features)
10. Mank (2020)
In Mank, Gary Oldman portrays Herman J. Mankiewicz, an alcoholic screenwriter in 1930s Hollywood, as he works on the screenplay for Citizen Kane. The film explores Mankiewicz’s struggles, his relationship with Orson Welles, and the contentious pre-production of the film. Mank re-evaluates Hollywood through Mankiewicz’s sharp wit and social commentary, while also exploring the complex dynamics between the key figures involved in Citizen Kane.
During awards season, Mank led the nominations board with ten nods at the Academy Awards – including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Oldman), and Best Supporting Actress (Amanda Seyfried). It won the awards for Best Production Design and Best Cinematography.
9. True Romance (1993)
True Romance follows Clarence, a comic book store employee and Elvis fan, who meets a call girl named Alabama at a kung fu movie theater. They quickly fall in love and get married the next day. Clarence, spurred on by an apparition of Elvis, kills Alabama’s pimp, Drexl Spivey, and takes a bag he believes contains Alabama’s belongings. Clarence and Alabama, now married and on the run, drive across the country with a suitcase full of cocaine they intend to sell, while being chased by both the mafia and the police.
In the midst of the chaos, Gary Oldman plays Drexl Spivey, a white pimp who identifies as Black, and who has a crucial role in the plot.
Gary Oldman as Herman Mankiewicz in Mank (2020) (Image: NETFLIX)
8. The Fifth Element (1997)
In Luc Besson’s sci-fi epic The Fifth Element, Earth is threatened by a cosmic force that returns every 5,000 years, and only the mysterious Fifth Element can stop it. Caught in the middle is Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), a taxi driver and former soldier who ends up protecting Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), a powerful humanoid being who holds the key to saving the universe. Gary Oldman plays Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, a weapons manufacturer and antagonist working with the malevolent force.
The film received strong praise for its visual effects and unique style, winning a BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects and gaining cult status in the years since.
7. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
In the second installment of DreamWorks’ animated martial arts series, Oldman voices the villainous Lord Shen, a power-hungry peacock who seeks to conquer China with a powerful new weapon. As Po and the Furious Five confront their most dangerous enemy yet, Shen’s backstory becomes intertwined with Po’s own origins, turning the sequel into a deeper emotional journey.
Oldman’s vocal performance was widely praised for adding sophistication and menace to the role, and the film itself received critical acclaim, with an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. It also became a commercial hit, grossing over $665 million worldwide.
6. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this gothic horror adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel features Gary Oldman in the title role of Count Dracula. The film reimagines Dracula as a tragic, romantic figure cursed with immortality, tying his fate to the reincarnation of his lost love.
Oldman’s transformative performance – complete with elaborate costumes, old-age prosthetics, and an Eastern European accent – was central to the film’s unique style. Despite mixed reviews upon release, the film won three Academy Awards and has since developed a strong cult following.
5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Set ten years after a pandemic has decimated the human population, this sequel follows a fragile peace between human survivors and a growing society of intelligent apes. Oldman plays Dreyfus, a hardened leader of the human survivors who views the apes with suspicion and fear.
His portrayal adds emotional weight to the conflict, as his character struggles with grief and the need to protect what’s left of civilization. The film was praised for its visual effects, strong performances, and moral complexity. It was both a critical and commercial success, earning over $710 million at the global box office.
4. Léon: The Professional (1994)
In this French action thriller directed by Luc Besson, Oldman plays corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield, a villain known for his unpredictable and psychotic behavior. When a 12-year-old girl’s family is murdered in a drug bust gone wrong, she takes refuge with her neighbor, Léon (a hitman), leading to an unusual mentor-mentee relationship.
Oldman’s portrayal of Stansfield is often cited as one of the most iconic villain performances of the 1990s, particularly for his delivery of the line “Bring me everyone!”
Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) (Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing)
3. Harry Potter Franchise (2004–2011)
Oldman joined the Harry Potter universe in Prisoner of Azkaban as Sirius Black, Harry’s wrongly imprisoned godfather. Over the course of several films, Sirius becomes one of Harry’s closest emotional anchors and a tragic figure in the ongoing war against Voldemort.
Oldman’s performance added depth and warmth to the series, with fans and critics praising his chemistry with Daniel Radcliffe. He appeared in three of the franchise’s eight films.
2. The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012)
Oldman portrayed Gotham City police officer James Gordon across all three films in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Batman trilogy. Starting as a lone voice of reason in a corrupt department, Gordon gradually rises to Commissioner, becoming a crucial ally to Bruce Wayne.
His grounded and understated performance stood out in a trilogy full of complex themes and intense performances. The trilogy’s massive critical and commercial success solidified Oldman’s role as a vital part of one of the most influential superhero franchises in film history.
1. Oppenheimer (2023)
In Christopher Nolan’s historical biopic about the father of the atomic bomb, Oldman appears in a key supporting role as President Harry S. Truman. In a brief but memorable scene, Truman meets J. Robert Oppenheimer in the aftermath of World War II, and Oldman’s performance was singled out for its intensity and sharp contrast to Cillian Murphy’s style.
Oppenheimer went on to become a critical giant, winning multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture.