In case you hadn’t heard, Robert Pattinson has finally done something right in Hollywood. After being cast in a string of box-office duds, the actor has finally found the sweet spot and landed a role in a major motion picture that will be released this year. And just like that, his career took a dramatic turn for the better.
With his new movie, BTS: Life On The Line, entering theaters this April, it’s time for Pattinson to prove to the world that he is more than worthy of all the praise he’s been receiving.
So sit back and relax, because we’ve got you covered on this front. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 Robert Pattinson movies to watch before he signs on for another project.
1. Waterfor Elephants
The first movie on our list is a bit of a departure from the others, but it’s a good example of what made Pattinson’s career so special in the first place. With a mix of humor and heartache, this 2015 film follows the journey of a struggling farmer, who, in order to save his wife and child, sells off the last of his possessions and gets mixed up in a bizarre plot involving elephants.
A fantastic cast including Emily Blunt, Charlize Theron, and Tom Hardy round out an incredible ensemble as the trio embark on a dangerous adventure, which, in the end, they survive. But more importantly, this is one of the few movies where Pattinson actually got to show off his acting chops, something he’s clearly missed out on ever since taking on serious roles in big Hollywood productions.
2. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Breaking Dawn Part 2 is the second installment of the Twilight Saga, and it doesn’t disappoint. One of the most anticipated movies of the year (and for good reason), this 2018 sequel picks up immediately where the last movie left off, as Bella (Kristen Stewart) finally comes into her own and shows everyone exactly who she is as a vampire. It’s an incredibly powerful performance and one of the greatest female coming-of-age roles of all time.
While there’s plenty to love about this movie, it’s also one of the most tragic films we’ve ever seen. The fact that Stewart’s performance is so raw and emotional makes it that little bit more special, and it’s definitely one to watch if you’re looking for an engaging story and an actor to root for.
3. The Prestige
The Prestige is one of the most acclaimed black-and-white films of all time, and it’s not hard to see why. The story of rivalry and deception between two stage magicians, who are so obsessed with each other that they even make up elaborate schemes just to outwit one another, it’s an incredibly tense and captivating movie that consistently delivers high highs and low lows, which is exactly what makes it so special.
It’s an incredible showcase for Michael Caine, who plays both roles, and it’s also the first movie where director Christian Bale puts his gritty Batman persona on full display. The two-time Oscar winner isn’t known for being very comedic, which made him a perfect fit for this story. While the film has aged very gracefully, with its sharp satire and cutting wit, it still feels fresh and entertaining.
4. Great Expectations
Adapted from the classic novel by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations charts the coming of age of Pip, who is unexpectedly appointed as the long-lost younger brother of the well-off Edwin (Mark Addison) and his wife Estelle (Helen Mirren). As the novel progressed, Pip learns that his benefactors have ulterior motives, which brings him, in the end, into conflict with the many different people he encounters along the way — be they servant or master class.
Pip is a complex character, which is evident in how many aspects he embodies. At various times, his actions can be selfish and naive, and yet, there’s also a clear moral center to him, which causes problems for those around him, especially his brother and sister-in-law, who are clearly unfit to rule the empire they were born into. It’s an incredibly rich and rewarding story with some terrifically written and performed scenes, which, despite the movie being over a century old, still hold up fairly well today. If you’re a fan of Dickens, then you owe it to yourself to watch this classic.
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson’s fifth feature-length film, and it continues his streak of creating unique and immersive worlds, which he weaves into elaborate costume dramas and comedies alike. This time, he transports us to the 1950s, where a renowned artist (Leslie Mann) and her assistant (Olivia Wilde) travel to Europe’s most famous fashion hotel, located in the heart of Budapest. Having recently turned 70, Anderson decides to celebrate his latest cinematic milestone by taking his camera on a grand tour of Europe, during which he visits many of the locations he’s filmed in.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is very much a Wes Anderson movie. Not only are the visuals fantastic, but so is the sense of humor. In true Anderson fashion, the jokes are often sharp and surreal, and even those who don’t usually get the allusion may find it funny. Plus, if you’re a fan of the director’s previous work, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that he decided to make another funny movie. The year 2020 will mark the 70th anniversary of Anderson’s first feature-length film, which was also an adaptation of a classic novel.
6. Mary Queen of Scots
While he started out as a character actor, known for small, indie films that didn’t do well at the box office, Colin Farrell slowly transitioned into more prominent roles, eventually leading to him becoming one of the most in-demand stars of his time. His acclaimed performance in Mary Queen of Scots marks the culmination of this transformation, cementing his place among cinema’s greats.
Even before the movie’s premiere, it was clear that Farrell’s portrayal of the 16th-century Mary, Queen of Scots would go down in history. The very fact that it was an adaptation of a bestselling novel made it even more notable, given that the film was expected to be a major contender at the box office. In the end, it underperformed at the box office, only breaking even with its budget, but it has since gone on to become one of the greatest movie adaptations of all time.
7. The Librarian
After a bit of a break from action movies, we move onto a more comedic role for Robert Pattinson, who lends his talent to the prestigious film franchise based on the popular John Grant books. In The Librarian, a spy from another world storms London, determined to destroy it, and along with him comes a fleet of warriors and a giant talking owl. As the movie opens, we learn that this is the same owl that helped General George Patton (John Hurt) during World War II, and it’s clearly not going to take kindly to being kidnapped by aliens and woken up in a spaceship, where he is forced to fight for his freedom. Once again, this is one of the few instances where Pattinson actually got to show off his comedic chops, which, as we’ve established, isn’t something he usually gets the chance to do.
8. The Lost City
The Lost City is yet another movie inspired by a John Grant novel, which makes it yet another funny, action-adventure from the popular franchise. An expedition team led by Dr. Richard Kim (Brian O’Driscoll) is searching for a legendary city on a tropical island, but they soon find themselves face to face with the terrifying creatures that made the place a whole lot more dangerous. The combination of comedy and action makes this movie slightly less sophisticated than the others on this list, but that’s precisely what makes it so much fun.
9. Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is, hands down, one of the funniest movies we’ve ever seen. At first, it seems like a relatively straightforward tale of a man who wakes up one day with ice hockey players for neighbors. But the more you watch this 2003 classic, the more you realize that it’s something else. A dark comedy that boldly addresses topical issues like climate change, consumerism, and apathy in the face of ecological devastation, Mr. Sunshine is an indictment of the corporate world and the impact that the unnecessary consumption of fossil fuels has on our planet. It’s also one of the very first mainstream movies to feature a gay character as a comedic protagonist, which undoubtedly helped pave the way for future LGBT+ characters in big-budget movies.