Sir Anthony Hopkins has been a Hollywood icon for over three decades now. Born on 31st December 1937 in Wales, Anthony grew up in a very middle-class working family. According to the legendary actor himself, growing up in a working-class family has particularly been why he achieved such massive success because he always knew how valuable hard work was. Sir Anthony Hopkins grew up as a student immersed in artistic talents, as he can paint, draw and act. Moreover, his majesty also knighted him in 1993 for his services in the field of art.
Given below are the top 15 movies starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.
1. The Silence Of The Lambs
Source: Enzian Theater
Do you even know an investigative horror movie if you haven’t seen TSOTL? Sir Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of the infamous Hannibal Lector earned him an academy award and became his whole career’s defining role. Certainly, the absolute bone-chilling acting where he tormented (and ate) his co-stars is not only his greatest acting role, but it is one of the all-time great roles in the history of Hollywood movies.
2. The Father
Source: Decider
A career that has amassed over four decades, who knew one of his greatest ever performances would come so late in his career. The Father, which was released in 2020, is a heart-warming story about a daughter’s relationship and a stubborn father, featuring Olivia Colman as the supporting cast; this movie will bring you to absolute tears.
3. The Elephant Man
Source: Youtube
One of the most bizarre and surreal movies ever made, David Lynch’s The Elephant Man, was released back in the 1980s and blew the audience’s minds with its uncanny storyline. Sir Anthony Hopkins plays a Victorian-era surgeon who saves a heavily disfigured man’s life and later helps him guide through his life.
4. The Remains Of The Day
Source: Medium
A thought-provoking and powerful film about a loyal butler who has a change of heart with regards to his masters when he realizes that the family he has been serving for such a long time are Nazi sympathizers. However the beautifully shot film is set against World War 2, and Sir Anthony delivered an absolute gem of a performance.
5. Titus
Source: Goomba Stomp
Yet another peculiar and surreal film, Titus, is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. Sir Anthony plays Titus’s role, who returns home after a successful war and slowly starts to lose his mind. This is yet another powerful film about the human psyche.
6. Dracula
Source: The Film Experience
One of the most critically acclaimed horror films ever, Dracula, is Dracula, who arrives in England to create absolute chaos and mayhem and corrupt Mina Murray. Sir Anthony plays the legendary folk character Van Helsing in this masterfully directed horror.
7. The Two Popes
Source: Netflix
Yet another one of his latest classics, The Two Popes, released in 2019, is one of the best satirical comedies based on the lives of the two Popes who lie on either side of the political spectrum. Sir Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Pope Benedict earned him yet another Oscar nomination for this masterful acting piece.
8. Shadowlands
Source: Roger Ebert
A beautifully shot Shadowlands lands on number 8 on our list, with Sir Anthony’s simple yet stunning performance. This is a biography about a Christian theologian CS Lewis, who falls in love with Joy Gresham from the USA.
9. Magic
Source: Amazon Prime
And yet another entry about a bizarre horror movie, Magic, was released in 1978 and had a very mild audience reaction. Still, nonetheless, Sir Anthony’s portrayal of a manic depressive man was absolutely brutal and terrifying. Sir Anthony plays a ventriloquist who talks to his horrifying dummy.
10. The World’s Fastest Indian
source: Parent Previews
A beautifully shot and magnificently acted movie, The World’s Fastest Indian is an inspirational story about Burt Munro, a speed racer from New Zealand who rebuilds his classic 1920s Indian motorcycle and tries to break the land speed record.
11. Fracture
Source: YTS
An underrated gem of a thriller, Fracture stars Sir Anthony Hopkins alongside Ryan Gosling and Rosamund Pike. This is an edge-of-the-seat thriller about the life of an ambitious attorney who finds a very dangerous opponent in his next case.
12. Thor
Source: Slasher Film
How can this list be completed without the introduction of Thor? Sir Anthony’s portrayal of Odin made him almost like a grandfather to the MCU movies. It showed a different side of his acting range, where he clearly showed that the man could go from acting in small-budget indie flicks to absolutely mega-blockbuster commercial films too.
13. Nixon
Source: Research Gate
An astounding portrayal of the shamed President Nixon, Sir Anthony delivered yet another cracking performance of a president involved in one of the biggest scandals in American history. Sir Anthony’s portrayal of Nixon earned him yet another Oscar nomination and further cemented his A-lister position.
14. Amistad
Source: IMDB
One of Steven Spielberg’s most underrated films, Amistad is a harrowing portrayal of reality back in the 19th century; it centers around the story of a Spanish-owned ship that is carrying Mende captives. Sir Anthony stars as John Quincy Adams alongside the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Morgan Freeman.
15. The Bounty
Source: 17QQ
Stacked with impressive cast members like Sir Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, and Laurence Olivier’s legendary, The Bounty falls last on our list. Moreover, this movie is for all the ship enthusiasts and almost even feels like a pirate movie with a mutiny plot.
Conclusion:
So, Anthony Hopkins has turned himself into a living legend over the time of his career. With his movies ranging from light-hearted comedies to period dramas to horrifying terror movies and gripping thrillers, Sir Anthony is one of the greatest actors alive. Apart from films. Moreover, he has also acted in some of the best TV series. Above are the top 15 Sir Anthony Hopkins movies. Happy Watching!