Academy Award-winning British actor Gary Oldman has an incredibly vast body of work that he has built throughout his career. From starring in critically acclaimed dramas such as David Fincher’s Mank where Oldman plays Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz to making a hilarious cameo in the hit sitcom Friends, it seems as though everything the actor does turns out to be a success.
One of Oldman’s best received performance was his portrayal of the iconic Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. The film follows Churchill in the beginning of World War II as he debates whether he should negotiate with Hitler. The war/drama won Oldman his first Academy Award for Best Actor in 2018. He had previously been nominated in 2012 for his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and most recently in 2021 for his role in Mank. Next, Oldman is set to appear in Apple TV+'s new British thriller series Slow Horses. Until then, here are Gary Oldman's best performances, ranked.
8 True Romance
True Romance is a cult classic 1993 romance/crime directed by Tony Scott and written by the incredibly talented filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. The film follows a huge Elvis Presley fan and a sex worker who fall in love and go on a wildly dangerous adventure to sell a suitcase full of cocaine that they accidently stole before the mob can find them. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette star as the aforementioned lead lovers Clarence Worley and Alabama Whitman, and Gary Oldman plays Drexel Spivey, the pimp who gets into an argument with Clarence when he tells Drexel that Alabama is leaving her old life behind to be with him. This movie is hilarious and has incredible music from Hans Zimmer.
7 The Professional
Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Jean Reno, and Danny Aiello star in Luc Besson's action/drama The Professional. This film is a story of abuse, loss, heartache, and revenge. Portman's character Mathilda is seeking revenge for her family's death despite the fact that they corrupted her youth by exposing her to drugs and major neglect at the age of 12. All the performances given in this film are great, and the movie as a whole was arguably snubbed at the 67th Academy Awards.
6 Pick Up Your Ears
Pick Up Your Ears released in 1987 and is one of Gary Oldman's earliest films. Stephen Frears' drama/romance stars the talented Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters, Lindsay Duncan, and Wallace Shawn. Despite the fact that the film has a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, it was not nominated for any Academy Awards. One of the greatest accolades the film did receive that award season was a Best Actor nomination for Oldman at the BAFTAs.
5 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Akzaban
The Harry Potter movies are considered some of the most successful and highest-grossing franchises in cinema history. With all ten films grossing a little under $1 billion each at the box office, the impact these films have had on audiences around the globe is unforettable. Gary Oldman's portrayal of Sirius Black is an extremely important role in the movies as he is the closest thing Harry Potter has to a parental figure. Growing up Sirius was best friends with Harry's parents James and Lily Potter leaving Harry to feel a special connection with his family's former friend. Sirius gives Harry advice, guidance, and a sense of comfort that he can't get from anyone else. Oldman first played the beloved character in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
4 The Dark Knight Trilogy
Christopher Nolan's wildly successful Batman trilogy, consisting of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, dominated cinema from 2005 to 2012. Besides the plot, direction, gorgeous cinematography, and special effects, one of the most compelling aspects of the films is its cast. Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne alongside Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Aaron Eckhart, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Marion Cotillard. Out of all three films, The Dark Knight received the most critical acclaim, earning eight Oscar nominations and ultimately winning two.
3 Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Gary Oldman's portrayal of George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was widely raved about amongst film critics, and in 2011 was considered the actor's best performance to date. Tomas Alfredson directed the thriller/mystery adapted from the Le Carré novel Tinker Tailor Soilder Spy that earned Oldman his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. In addition to his Academy Award nomination, the film was also nominated for Best Original Song and Best Adapted Screenplay.
2 Mank
David Fincher's black and white drama Mank follows the life of troubled alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he pushes to finish writing his latest work know known as Citizen Kane. We see a side of Hollywood that isn't normally unveiled once Mank finishes the screenplay and receives almost no credit. Oldman gives an incredible performance as Mankiewicz, one that he says has been the most difficult portrayal of his career. The film received two Academy Award wins in 2021 for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design and was nominated in the categories of Best Picture, Best Actor (for Oldman), Best Original Score, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (for Amanda Seyfriend), Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Sound. Overall, Mank is a beautiful movie that is available to stream on Netflix and everyone should see.
1 Darkest Hour
Director Joe Wright's 2017 war/drama Darkest Hour was a career-changing film for Gary Oldman, winning him his first Academy Award for Best Actor. His portrayal of British Prime minister Winston Churchill was incredible, and while you would think taking on a feat like this would be daunting for an actor, Oldman makes the transformation seem so effortless and allows the audience to completely forget who's behind the makeup and prosthetics.