Robert Pattinson is best known for his role as Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter series. While the British actor mostly plays character roles, he has also starred in several major motion pictures, such as Twilight and The Great Gatsby. With several hit movies behind him, it’s time to find out just what were the top 5 movies that starred Robert Pattinson.
Harry Potter Series
It’s no secret that Harry Potter is one of the most popular book series of all time. Thanks to J.K. Rowling’s magical universe and its cast of memorable characters, the stories have continued to capture readers for more than a decade. In the Harry Potter series, Pattinson plays wizard Cedric Diggory, a role he reprised in the film series’ final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In that movie, Voldemort (played by Tom Hardy) forces Diggory to use his last remaining memory to assassinate Harry Potter.
Rowling’s novels have been turned into four films so far. After the phenomenal success of the Harry Potter series, the author continued to write novels for the screen, with more than one series being adapted for film. As of late 2020, there are plans for a fifth film in the franchise. The first four films took home more than $16 billion at the box office worldwide, making it one of the best-selling movie franchises of all time. Thanks to the popularity of the Harry Potter series, it’s no wonder that Robert Pattinson was one of the most sought-after actors of his generation.
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is one of the most beloved American novels of all time, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story follows the adventures of Nick Carraway, a businessman who travels to the wealthy enclave of Jazz Age, New York, in an attempt to find out more about the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Alice. In the course of his investigation, Carraway uncovers a scandalous social experiment that changes the course of his life forever. The book and the movie are almost inseparable, with the former often being considered a spiritual successor to the latter.
The book was first adapted into a movie in 2013, with Leonardo DiCaprio taking on the role of Carraway. A year later, director Baz Luhrmann made his own version, which featured an all-star cast, including Robert Pattinson, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, and Katherine Waterston. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well at the box office, grossing just $16 million against expectations.
Luhrmann is back with a new take on the story in 2021. This time, Carraway is played by Tom Hardy, while a young Finn McCool, one of the novel’s supporting characters, takes the lead as Nick. Once again, Robert Pattinson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Carey Mulligan star.
The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass is one of the most acclaimed fantasy novels written by Phillip Pullman. It tells the story of Lyra, a young, orphaned girl burdened with an extraordinary gift: the ability to see the various shades of brown and gray in between. As she journeys across the magical, otherworldly land of Golaran, following the guidance of the alethei (spiritual advisors), Lyra meets a variety of fascinating characters, including the brilliant, yet arrogant scientist Dr. Jordan Palmer, who becomes her friend and mentor. In the course of their experiments, Palmer and Lyra discover an astonishing artifact: the alethei’s Compass, a device that can measure the magnetic fields surrounding a region, allowing one to accurately determine their location.
A movie adaptation, directed by Michael Shearn, was released in 2010. The film adheres closely to the plot of the book, featuring Sam Elliot (James McAvoy) and his assistant, Will Canyell (Jason Flemyng), as they travel to Golaran to find Dr. Jordan Palmer. Along the way, they encounter Lord Asriel (Tom Hardy), a legendary, exiled Führer of an interplanetary expedition, who offers them a job, which leads them to the legendary artifact.
The Golden Compass is one of the few fantasy novels to ever become a movie, which is no accident, as Pullman is a noted fantasy writer. While the book mostly focuses on action sequences and adventure, the film adaptation features a more intimate, character-driven story line, focusing on Sam Elliot’s quest to locate Dr. Palmer, as well as the friendship he develops with Lyra.
The Martian
The Martian is a science fiction novel by Andy Weir, which was first published in 2011. In the book, Weir interweaves two narratives: the story of an astronaut, Mark Watney, who is the first human to successfully colonize Mars; and that of an intrepid journalist, Carol Ann Abbot, who travels to Mars to interview Watney about his expedition. As she waits for him to come back from his extended excursion on the red planet, Ann sets up base camp in the nearby town of Hermes, where she meets a colorful cast of characters, including the spirited botanist Dr. Vogel (Samantha Neill) and the intrepid, yet naive photographer Kenji (Aksel Henriksen).
The novel was first adapted into a movie in 2013, with Matt Damon taking on the role of astronaut Mark Watney. Director Ridley Scott, who also helmed the previous year’s The Martian, returns with a brand-new adaptation, set for release next year. Joining Damon in the cast are Vera Farmiga, Michael Pena, and Kristen Wiig.
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a 2017 American science fiction war film directed by Matt Reeves. It is the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes and the third film in the Planet of the Apes series, following the adventures of Caesar, a genetically modified ape who is now the ruler of the planet. In the film, Caesar must lead his surviving followers in a fight for survival against the human colony of Bluecoats, who are led by Colonel Brand.
The plot of the film revolves around the aftermath of Caesar’s third, successful, attack on the fort, which sees him brutally slay the opposing forces, including Colonel Brand. Following this battle, Caesar and his followers begin to drift in search of a new home, soon encountering a series of conflicts with other groups, who all want to live under his rule. While the first two films in the series were critical acclaimed and popular at the box office, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes marks the series’ lowest domestic gross to date, only earning $23 million against an $85 million budget.
The film’s cast includes Jason Clarke as well as Keri Russell, both of whom portray members of the opposing forces. On the positive side, Andy Serkis returns, reprising the role of Caesar for which he is best known. The veteran British actor is also accompanied by a young chimpanzee, called Igor, who acts as Caesar’s devoted bodyguard and right-hand man. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the first installment in a planned trilogy, which will continue the story of the apes in future films.
It’s been 10 years since Matt Damon last played the role of a lifetime in the movie The Informant!, which was released in 2012. Aside from a short-lived sitcom called Hello Ladies, his film career was on a slow decline, with only a few critically-acclaimed roles, such as The Great Gatsby, which he starred in alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, and Downsizing, which was co-starring Chris Pratt, as well as a lead role in the upcoming Bumblebee.
Then, at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, fans were surprised when they saw Damon step out on the Gala Stage to present the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role to Mahershala Ali for his performance in the film Green Book. When the audience realized that it was Damon, they went wild, giving him a standing ovation and bursting into cheers.
It seems like Hollywood took notice of Damon’s impromptu wining and dining, with him being offered several high-profile projects, including a cameo appearance in Quentin Tarantulin’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the leading role in the upcoming Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson. What were the top 5 movies that starred Matt Damon? Let us know in the comments below!