When it comes to being a movie star, Jude Law hits every mark on the list. He has the charisma, physicality, and sheer talent to make him one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood. He has had a long career that has spanned across several genres. At the same time, he has worked with some of the most prominent directors and actors around. Throughout his career, Law has earned three Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe nominations, proving his abilities as an actor. The latest trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has recently premiered, and many fans are eager to see Law reprise his role of Albus Dumbledore. The third film of Harry Potter spinoff series looks like it will deliver the goods, including an epic fight between Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
Law was born in Lewisham, South London, to parents who worked in education. Law's acting career began in the late 80s where he worked for the National Youth Music Theatre. He continued to appear in several plays and earned a Tony Award nomination for his work in the Broadway production of Indiscretions. In 1994, he made his feature film debut in the British crime movie, Shopping. From there, Law continued to star in several films and has worked with directors such as Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes. He also continued to work in theater, and he is a prominent philanthropist. Before Fantastic Beasts 3 releases, let's take a look at Jude Law's best movies, ranked.
8 Conatagion
Contagion is a riveting story about what would happen if an extremely deadly super virus spread across the globe. Jude Law gives a fantastic performance as Alan Krumwiede, a conspiracy theorist who blogs about the government and virus to a wide audience. Although the film features an ensemble cast, Law's character is a scene-stealer, and he perfectly encapsulates an independent journalist attempting to reveal government lies. He also shows us the importance of the media in deadly situations.
7 Gattaca
The science fiction film, Gattaca, shows us a dystopian world where people’s lives are limited and defined by their genetic makeup. Jude Law plays Jerome Eugene Morrow, a paralyzed former swimming star who offers samples of his genes to Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), so Vincent can achieve his goals of space travel. Law gives a fantastic dramatic performance of a man who is completely broken physically and emotionally. This is a must see science fiction film for any fans of the genre.
6 Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law took on the iconic role of Dr. John Watson in Guy Ritchie's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. Watson is Holmes' (Robert Downey Jr.) closest companion throughout his adventures. Law completely made the character his own and offered new aspects to the personality of Watson that we had never seen before. At the same time, the chemistry between Downey Jr. and Law was on point, giving us a fantastic duo. Law went on to reprise his role as Watson in Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. News of a script for Sherlock Holmes 3 has ignited rumors of a third installment in the franchise.
5
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Playing a robot is never an easy feat for an actor. Playing a robot who is also a sex worker is even harder. This is exactly what Jude Law does in Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Although Law is not the focus of the entire film, he does steal every scene that he is in as Gigolo Joe. His physicality is on point, and he is totally convincing as a robot. The film is a fascinating take on how the world could change through the invention of artificial intelligence, and the subplot of Gigolo Joe is one of the greatest parts.
4 Road To Perdition
In Sam Mendes' Road To Perdition, Jude Law plays Harlen Maguire, a freelance killer who is hired to track down and kill Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), who is a gangster on the run with his son. At the same time, Maguire takes pleasure in photographing corpses and crime scenes. Law is absolutely chilling with his performance as Maguire and is able to say so much by saying so little. His physicality and emotions are on point, proving that he can play an effective villain.
3 Closer
Mike Nichol's Closer is an adaptation of the award-winning play of the same name. The story follows four intersecting characters and tackles many themes including love, lies, and infidelity. Jude Law and the rest of the cast are fantastic in their roles and their captivating performances definitely gave the play justice. It is never an easy task for a dialogue-driven film to keep the audience's attention unless you have the right actors. Closer is a fantastic dramatic film that features a thought-provoking plot and great performances.
2 Cold Mountain
Cold Mountain is a Civil War drama that features an excellent ensemble cast. The film focuses on a wounded soldier named Inman (Jude Law) who embarks on an epic journey home to be reunited with his love, Ada (Nicole Kidman). Jude Law gives an honest and gritty performance and shines from beginning to end. At the same time, the cast, filled with several A-list actors, all hold their own. Law deservingly earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
1 The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Talented Mr. Ripley, based on the novel of the same name, tells the story of Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), who is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to convince his son, Dicky Greenleaf (Jude Law), to return home. While there, Ripley becomes consumed by a series of lies, deceit, and murders. Law is untouchable as Dicky Greenleaf. He totally encapsulates the persona of an extremely wealthy man who lives life to the fullest, with little regard to other people's feelings. The movie is a fascinating character study and features several great performances. Law earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.