The always dynamic and commanding Michael Fassbender has crafted quite an illustrious career for himself. The German-born Irish actor has starred in a wide assortment of outstanding pictures, embracing a colorful array of genres and compelling characters that have established him as a prominent performer. Fassbender first rose to fame after appearing in the 2007 historical action flick 300, and from that point on began to craft a notable and distinct Hollywood resume.

The accomplished actor has gone on to headline countless noteworthy films and has collaborated with distinguished directors like Quentin Tarantino, Steve McQueen, and Danny Boyle. Fassbender has portrayed many famous characters, as well, such as Macbeth, Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre, and Magneto in the X-Men movie franchise. The star has been the recipient of numerous prestigious accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, in addition to earning Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominations.

As hard as it is to believe, it has been four years since he was last seen in a movie which was 2019's X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and given that the film was delayed from its original 2018 release date he has not been since the big screen since 2017 with Alien: Covenant and The Snowman. Yet 2023 is a big year for the actor as November saw three movies of his get released. First was David Fincher's The Killer on Netflix, followed by Takia Waitit's Next Goal Wins and Kung Fury 2 which both open on November 17, 2023. With that in mind, these are the best Michael Fassbender movies.

Update November 17, 2023: In honor of Michael Fassbender's busy November with The Killer, Next Goal Wins, and Kung Fury 2, this article has been updated with more great Michael Fassbender movies and where you can watch them.

13 Macbeth

Justin Kurzel’s 2015 epic historical drama Macbeth is an adaptation of the Shakespeare play that stars Michael Fassbender in the title role, and follows a Scottish general’s rise to power after receiving a prophecy from a trio of witches that he is destined to one day become King of Scotland. For the prominent picture, the actor is joined by the talented Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth, and details the famed literary character’s political ambitions and its profoundly damaging physical and psychological effects on those who seek power for their own sake.

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On portraying the Shakespeare protagonist, Fassbender told Square Mile: “It was a great opportunity to play Macbeth. It was a rare privilege for me to be able to do a Shakespeare play and Macbeth happens to be my favorite of his works…I like taking risks, and this was one I couldn’t pass up.” The historical drama premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews, with praise for Fassbender and Cotillard's brilliant performances, visual style, script, and direction.

Stream on DirecTV, Mubi

12 A Dangerous Method

A Dangerous Method
A Dangerous Method
R
Release Date
September 30, 2011
Director
David Cronenberg

Featuring an impressive A-list cast including Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, and Viggo Mortensen, the 2011 historical drama A Dangerous Method tells the fascinating true story of Carl Jung's intense personal and professional relationship with Sigmund Freud as he conceptualized psychoanalysis. Fassbender is outstanding as Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology and collaborated with Austrian neurologist Freud as well as colleague and Russian physician Sabina Spielrein on psychoanalysis.

For his impressive portrayal, the star won British Actor of the Year at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, and both he and Mortensen garnered immense praise and numerous accolades for their gripping performances as the influential figures. Critics applauded the David Cronenberg movie and his efforts, with the Washington Post noting, “Perhaps Cronenberg’s most transgressive movie yet, one in which ideas–rather than their fetishistic signifiers–possess more energy and verve than the most calculated shock effect.” The movie is at once intriguing with its subject matter and enthralling with its storytelling and performances, making it a worthwhile watch.

Stream on Hulu

11 Frank

Frank
Frank
R
Release Date
May 2, 2014
Director
Lenny Abrahamson
Cast
Domhnall Gleeson , Moira Brooker , Paul Butterworth , Phil Kingston , Billie Traynor , Shane O'Brien

The 2014 indie black comedy film Frank has a star-studded cast consisting of Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film tells the story of a man named Jon (Gleeson) who joins a band and takes an interest in the mysterious lead singer Frank, who always wears a paper-mache head over his face to cover his identity. The character of Frank is played by Fassbender, and it has to be his most unique performance till date. The movie takes on a emotional journey as Jon tries to take control of the band, and most importantly, Frank, despite his deteriorating mental health.

There is a sense of mystery going through the film, as the audience does not get to see who is behind the weird mask right until the very end. But the movie paints a really vivid picture with the help of dark comedy and music, which is realistic and quite bleak. The character of Frank is one of Fassbender's best performances, and it will resonate with the audience for a long time to come. The Guardian cited it as "A funny yet poignant film", which truly is a perfect description of the movie.

Stream on Amazon Prime Video

10 Prometheus

From the innovative mind of esteemed director Ridley Scott comes the 2012 sci-fi horror flick Prometheus, which is set in the late 21st century and centers on the crew of the titular spaceship as it follows a map made of cave drawings discovered among the artifacts of multiple ancient Earth cultures, in search of clues for the origin of mankind. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, and Charlize Theron, the intriguing film precedes the story of Alien, with Scott returning to the franchise after over 35 years.

Fassbender stars as David, an android that acts as the ship’s butler and maintenance man; the actor elaborated on the character’s unique perspective, saying, “David’s views on the human crew are somewhat childlike. He is jealous and arrogant because he realizes that his knowledge is all-encompassing, and therefore he is superior to humans.” To prepare for the fascinating role, the actor drew inspiration from the replicants in Scott’s Blade Runner and the voice of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The success of Prometheus led to its follow-up, Alien: Covenant, in which Fassbender reprises his role in even more demanding, unique ways.

Rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Videos, Google Play Movies

9 The Light Between Oceans

the light between oceans
The Light Between Oceans
PG-13
Release Date
September 2, 2016
Director
Derek Cianfrance
Cast
Michael Fassbender , Alicia Vikander , Rachel Weisz , Florence Clery , Jack Thompson , Thomas Unger

The Light Between Oceans is a romantic drama movie that takes place in the year 1918, and is based on M.L. Stedan's novel of the same name. It tells us the story of a couple Tom and Isabel, who live in a lighthouse, of which Tom is the caretaker. Tom is tormented by the memories of the war that he was a hero of and the couple try but fail to have children. When they find a rowboat containing a dead man and an infant girl, instead of giving her up to the authorities, they raise the little girl as their own. But when Tom finds out the real mother of their adoptive daughter, he is moved by guilt and makes a decision that will change all their lives forever.

Fassbender did a fantastic job in the role of Tom Sherbourne, who is not only torn with the guilt of surviving the war, but also with the guilt of keeping someone's child away from them due to selfishness. Alicia Vikander is also amazing in the role of his wife Isabel, whose desire to be a mother made her make a decision that could destroy all their lives. In the end, the movie is heartfelt and melancholy, which will move the audience to tears.

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8 Jane Eyre

jane eyre
Jane Eyre
PG-13
Release Date
March 11, 2011
Director
Cary Fukunaga
Cast
Mia Wasikowska , Jamie Bell , Su Elliot , Holliday Grainger , Tamzin Merchant , Amelia Clarkson

Based on the beloved Charlotte Brontë novel of the same name, the 2011 romantic drama Jane Eyre stars Mia Wasikowska as the eponymous character, who becomes the governess at the estate of Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender), developing a close friendship with her often dark and moody employer. When Jane discovers a terrible secret lurking within the walls of Thornfield Hall, she finds her newfound happiness threatened and begins to not only question her feelings for Edward but her safety as well.

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Director Cary Fukunaga opened up to Indie Wire about nabbing such an impressive cast, saying, “I just really liked them. I wasn’t really thinking about whether they’d be bankable as movie stars at all, just raw talent. ‘Cause I saw Fassbender in Hunger, and I just knew I really wanted to work with him…It was kind of dreamy in a sense that all these people I wanted to work with, I got to put into one film.” Upon its release, Jane Eyre was positively received by both critics and audiences.

Stream on Starz, DirecTV

7 The Killer

The Killer
The Killer (2023)
R
Release Date
November 10, 2023
Director
David Fincher
Cast
Michael Fassbender , Tilda Swinton , Kerry O'Malley , Charles Parnell , Lacey Dover

The 2023 action thriller The Killer, which only came out on November 10th 2023, is another feather on the incredibly well-decorated cap pf David Fincher. In the movie, Fassbender stars as an unnamed assassin who is only referred to as 'the killer'. The movie shows how he goes on a journey of revenge and retribution after one of his missions goes awry and his handler hurts his partner. Based on a French graphic novel series of the same name (written by Alexis 'Matz' Nolent, and illustrated by Luc Jacamon), the movie is a tantalizing journey of a man's hunt for revenge across the globe.

The Killer could have been just another assassin movie, but the way Fincher treats it is quite poetic and yet macabre. The film is full of violence, yet poignant pauses and the protagonist's introspective monologs tap into the mind behind the man with the gun. Fassbender's incredible performance carries the film to its finish line, resulting in a tremendous victory only this duo could have successfully brought on screen.

Stream on Netflix

6 X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class
PG-13
Release Date
June 3, 2011
Director
Matthew Vaughn

Taking on a role previously portrayed by acting legend Ian McKellen is quite an intimidating task, but Michael Fassbender delivered a seriously superb performance when he appeared as Magneto in the 2011 superhero flick X-Men: First Class. At the time of its debut, the action movie was intended to be a reboot of the Marvel Comics franchise, and features the additional talent of James McAvoy, Rose Byrne, and Jennifer Lawrence.

The installment is set in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and focuses on the relationship between Charles Xavier (McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto while delving into the origins of their groups the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants. To prepare for the role, Fassbender studied McKellen’s performances but ultimately chose to “paint a new canvas” with the character, “just going my own way and working with whatever is in the comic books and script.” X-Men: First Class is credited with re-popularizing the X-Men franchise and earned praise for its acting, screenplay, action sequences and visual effects.

Stream on Starz

5 Hunger

A shirtless Fassbender lights a cigarette in Hunger

Pathe Distribution 

Michael Fassbender first rose to prominence as IRA volunteer Bobby Sands in the 2008 historical drama Hunger, which depicts the 1981 Irish hunger strike and focuses on the Irish Republican as he leads the inmates of a Northern Irish prison in a hunger strike in an effort to regain political status. To play Sands, Fassbender adopted a diet that restricted him to 600 calories a day, with the actor reportedly weighing 125 pounds during production.

The picture was the star’s breakthrough role, and his performance in the gripping drama earned him the British Independent Film Award while winning newcomer director Steve McQueen the prestigious Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Fassbender would go on to headline McQueen's masterpiece Shame, and star in his Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave. Empire Magazine raved about both Fassbender and McQueen, proclaiming, “Anchored by Fassbender’s turn, Hunger is as much about the personal as the political. The real breakthrough, though, is McQueen, who turns in a film that dazzles and challenges in equal measure.” The film's story was intriguing to begin with, but Fassbender's intense performance in the role of Bobby Sands made the movie a masterpiece.

Stream on AMC+

4 Steve Jobs

steve jobs
Steve Jobs
R
Release Date
October 9, 2015
Director
Danny Boyle

For Danny Boyle’s enthralling 2015 biographical drama Steve Jobs, Michael Fassbender stars as the innovative Apple co-founder and business magnate, which details his life over the span of 14 years from 1984 to 1998. He is joined in the brilliant picture by Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels, with the drama taking audiences behind the scenes of the digital revolution while showcasing the backstory of three iconic product launches by the gifted creator.

Fassbender opened up to Variety about the pressure of playing the influential figure, saying, “The fact that he wasn’t going to be there to judge me himself had no effect, I felt the pressure. But once you start on the first day, you’re in it…I just wanted to do justice to the writing and the fact it is very much an ensemble piece and I didn’t want to let anyone down.” People close to Jobs, such as Steve Wozniak and John Sculley praised the performances in the picture, and both Fassbender and Winslet went on to receive Academy Award nominations for their portrayals. The film was able to portray the world's favorite entrepreneur in a realistic and humane way, making it a great watch for anybody.

Stream on Starz

3 X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: Days of Future Past
PG-13
Release Date
May 23, 2014
Director
Bryan Singer

Superhero movie sequels do not always have the best track record, but all of that seems to be inconsequential in front of the 2014 superhero flick X-Men: Days of Future Past, which is arguably one of the best films in the X-Men franchise. The film is a time travel adventure where Wolverine from the future must reunite Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) to stop the government from capturing Mystique and bringing about a terrible future for mutant kind.

X-Men: First Class was able to renew the audience's interest in X-Men movies, and Days of Future Past took it to the peak. It was a bold spin on one of the most popular X-Men storylines, one that paid respect to the source material while giving it new layers of depth that fit within the world of movies. Fassbender himself has been critical of his performance in this one, saying he is mainly monologuing. Yet Fassbender really knows how to deliver a monologue and truly captures the Magneto fans' love from the comics. Plus in a nice change of pace from First Class, he is aiming for a voice and speech pattern much closer to Ian McKellen's.

Stream on Max

2 Inglourious Basterds

The king of stylized violence, Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the 2009 war film Inglourious Basterds, which tells an alternate history tale of two plots to assassinate Nazi Germany’s leadership, one planned by a young French Jewish cinema proprietor and the other by the British and Jewish American soldiers. The renowned director spent over a decade creating the script, ultimately becoming “too precious about the page” while viewing the project as a masterpiece in the making.

The epic film includes an incredible A-list cast, including Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Michael Fassbender, with the latter portraying British commando and former film critic Lieutenant Archie Hicox. Inglourious Basterds was Tarantino’s highest-grossing film at the time and was heralded for its dynamic performances, screenplay, and direction; Waltz won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor playing one of Tarantino's best movie characters, but Fassbender is quietly revelatory as well. The genre-blending picture received a roughly nine-minute standing ovation from critics after its first screening at Cannes.

Stream on Amazon Prime Video

1 12 Years a Slave

The renowned Steve McQueen helmed the 2013 biographical drama 12 Years a Slave, which is based on the slave memoir of the same name about Solomon Northup, and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Benedict Cumberbatch. The harrowing film tells the story of a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C. by two con men in 1841 and sold into slavery; he was put to work on plantations in Louisiana for 12 years before finally being released. Ejiofor portrays real-life abolitionist Solomon Northrup, with Fassbender appearing as Edwin Epps, a slaveholder on a cotton plantation that was the third and longest enslaver of Northrup.

McQueen’s poignant picture is often difficult to stomach, as he provides a brutally real and honest depiction of American slavery; the director did not want to sugarcoat history, telling The Guardian, “This film for me is about love,” calling the drama “a discussion about human dignity…It’s a fight for the soul, it’s a war for his spirit. It’s a very silent war, but a war nonetheless.” 12 Years a Slave earned widespread critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture and making McQueen the first Black director of the Best Picture winner.

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