Over the past two decades, Tom Hardy has quietly become one of the most versatile actors in modern cinema. From his early days in minor roles to headline-making performances in Oscar-winning epics, his career has covered everything from lowkey indie dramas to blockbuster franchises.

While many know him best for roles like Bane in The Dark Knight Rises or Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road, his filmography is far more expansive – with biopics, war films, and even period dramas adding layers to his versatile career.

This list looks at 12 of his most notable film performances, ranked by order of greatness according to the general audience on the reviewing platform Letterboxd.

12 – Bronson (2008)

3.6/5

Biographical drama Bronson tells the story of Michael Peterson (Hardy), a young man who, after robbing a post office, is sentenced to prison and spends decades in solitary confinement. During his imprisonment, his personality transforms, and he becomes known as Charles Bronson, an infamous and violent prisoner.

The film explores his struggles within the prison system and the impact of solitary confinement on his psyche, and was received with positive reviews by specialised media.

11 – Black Hawk Down (2001)

3.7/5

Black Hawk Down is a dramatisation of a failed US military raid in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a humanitarian mission in 1993. The film centers on a Task Force Ranger mission to capture two key lieutenants of a Somali warlord, Mohamed Farrah Aidid.

The mission quickly spirals into a deadly battle when two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, leading to a prolonged and intense firefight between US soldiers and Somali militia. Tom Hardy plays the minor role of SPC Lance Twombly in the film, which got two Academy Awards for Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing.

10 – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

3.7/5

Based on the 1974 novel by John le Carré, this Cold War espionage thriller follows retired intelligence officer George Smiley (Gary Oldman) as he’s called back to uncover a Soviet mole within the top ranks of British Intelligence. Tom Hardy plays Ricki Tarr, a British field agent whose report about a potential mole sets off the events of the film.

Directed by Tomas Alfredson, the all-star cast also features Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch. It received three Academy Award nominations – Best Actor (Oldman), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score – and won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.

9 – Marie Antoinette (2006)

3.7/5

Directed by Sofia Coppola, Marie Antoinette is a historical drama that offers a stylised retelling of the life of the French queen (played by Kirsten Dunst), from her teenage marriage to Louis XVI through the build-up to the French Revolution.

Tom Hardy has a supporting role as Raumont, a courtier in the lavish, yet increasingly strained world of Versailles. Though the film divided critics upon release, it won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and has since gained recognition for its visual style and soundtrack choices.

8 – Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)

3.8/5

This BBC television film stars Tom Hardy as Stuart Shorter, a homeless man with a violent past who befriends writer Alexander Masters (played by Benedict Cumberbatch). The film is based on Masters’ memoir of the same name and chronicles Stuart’s life in reverse – starting with his adult struggles and tracing back to his troubled childhood.

Hardy’s portrayal of Stuart was widely acclaimed, earning him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. The film aired on BBC Two and was later released internationally.

7 – Dunkirk (2017)

3.8/5

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is a World War II epic about the 1940 evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France. The film unfolds through three interwoven timelines—land, sea, and air. Tom Hardy plays RAF pilot Farrier, whose mission is to provide aerial support and protect stranded soldiers from German attacks.

Hardy’s role is largely wordless, relying on physical expression as he navigates combat above the Channel. The film was a major critical and commercial success, earning eight Academy Award nominations and winning three (Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing). It also won the BAFTA for Best Direction.

6 – The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

3.8/5

The concluding chapter in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises sees Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) come out of retirement to face a new threat – Bane, a masked revolutionary played by Tom Hardy.

Hardy’s physically transformative performance involved bulking up significantly and adopting a distinctive voice for the character, whose plan involves the destruction of Gotham City and the exposure of the elite’s corruption. The film was a box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, and was praised for its ambition and scale.

5 – Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

3.8/5

While not a lead character, Tom Hardy made a surprise appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man: No Way Home in a post-credits scene. He reprises his role as Eddie Brock/Venom from Sony’s Venom series, transported into the MCU via multiverse mechanics introduced in the film.

The film, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Benedict Cumberbatch, was a massive global hit, earning over $1.9 billion and becoming the highest-grossing film of 2021. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

4 – The Revenant (2015)

3.9/5

Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s survival drama stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who is mauled by a bear and left for dead by his hunting team in the 1820s. Driven by survival and a thirst for vengeance, he embarks on a perilous journey through the harsh wilderness to find the man who betrayed him and killed his son. Tom Hardy plays John Fitzgerald, a member of Glass’ expedition that gains unexpected importance in the plot.

The Revenant was a critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards—Best Director (Iñárritu), Best Actor (DiCaprio), and Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki). Hardy received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

3 – Warrior (2011)

4.0/5

Directed by Gavin O’Connor, Warrior is a sports drama about two estranged brothers – Tommy (Tom Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton) – who enter a mixed martial arts tournament for different personal reasons, culminating in an emotional showdown.

Hardy’s portrayal of Tommy, a former Marine with a troubled past, highlights both his physical intensity and vulnerability. The film received positive critical reception and earned Nick Nolte an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

2 – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

4.2/5

A reboot of George Miller’s Mad Max franchise, Fury Road stars Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky, a drifter caught in a chase across a post-apocalyptic desert landscape, and Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a renegade warrior aiding a group of women escaping a tyrannical warlord.

The film received widespread acclaim for its direction, stunts, and practical effects, winning six Academy Awards including Best Production Design, Best Editing, and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.

1 – Inception (2010)

4.2/5

Christopher Nolan’s science fiction thriller explores the concept of shared dreaming and corporate espionage through the eyes of Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), who assembles a team to implant an idea into a target’s subconscious – and Tom Hardy plays Eames, a suave forger who can shape identities within dreams.

The film was a massive box office hit and received eight Academy Award nominations, winning four including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects. Inception is regarded as one of the defining films of the 2010s, with Hardy’s role marking one of his earliest collaborations with Nolan.