Known as one of the most acclaimed actors in the industry, Christian Bale started his career when he appeared in Empire of the Sun in 1987 and has been impressing ever since. The Academy Award winner has an immersive method of acting. TechTrends put together a list of the best Christian Bale movies of all time to celebrate his outstanding career.
Christian Bale is still one of the greatest talents in Hollywood, with an impressive filmography. He has played in many hit movies and for his role in The Fighter, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Moreover, he got three Oscar nominations since then for his performances in American Hustle, The Big Short, and Vice. However, his first role came in the was epic, Empire of the Sun. The talented star has gone on to shine in more than 40 movies, with different roles, showing how versatile he can be. One of his most famous roles is Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Fans got excited when they found out that he appeared as a Marvel supervillain character, Gorr the God Butcher, in the Thor movie recently.
Here at TechTrends, we decided to make a list of the best must-see Christian Bale performance that are highly recommended and ranked by their ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Here we go.
Best Christian Bale Movies of All Time
Known as one of the best actors of his time, Christian Bale started his career at the age of 12 and worked alongside legendary Steven Spielberg. Unlike many other kids, he was able to keep that shining talent and make a remarkable career for himself. Here are the best Christian Bale movies of all time.
12. Vice 2018
- Genre: Drama/Comedy
- Director: Adam McKay
- Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Tyler Perry, Sam Rockwell
- Rating: IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 65%
Christian Bale performs as Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co, who governer George W Bush chooses to be his Republican running mate in the election back in the 2000. As he is not a stranger to politics, his impressive resume has spells as the chief of staff at White House, House Minority Whip and defence secretary. When Bush wins the presidential election, Cheney starts to utilize his power to help make the country better. Bale was able to perform outstandingly in his role and made this one of the best Christian Bale films of all time.
11. American Hustle 2013
- Genre: Drama/Crime
- Director: David O. Russell
- Stars: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner
- Rating: IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
American Hustle is also one of the Best Christian Bale movies of all time, where he plays the role of Irving Rosenfeld. Bradley Cooper features as an FBI agent undercover who was able to turn a pair of grifters, played by Christian Bale and Amy Adams. Jennifer Lawrence also performed in the movie and brought a comedic sensibility to the genre of crime thriller. Bale can be very funny if he is given the chance, but since he is known for his ability to play dark characters, this became one of his most underrated aspects. In this crime history, however, he was handed a role as a con artist, who aids the FBI in a frantic fraud case with his partner Sydney Prosser.
Read more: Best Bradley Cooper Movies of All Time
10. American Psycho 2000
- Genre: Horror/Thriller
- Director: Mary Harron
- Stars: Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon
- Rating: IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 69%
American Psycho is yet another one of the best Christian Bale movies of all time and it is an adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s novel. The movie revolves around Patrick Bateman, portrayed by Bale. He is a banker who tries to lives a double life as a serial killer and wants to keep his identity hidden. As time goes by, this film only gains more popularity. Many of Bale’s fans believe this is his finest performance to date. Moreover, the character he played also became the best-known serial killer ever appeared in a movie.
9. The Machinist 2004
- Genre: Thriller/Drama
- Director: Brad Anderson
- Stars: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Sharian
- Rating: IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 77%
The amount of dedication Bale showed for his role in the movie The Machinist has shocked the fans and critics. His physical transformation was mind-blowing as he lost about 63 pounds to feature as Trevor Reznik, turning from 173 to 110 pounds. He wanted to aim for 100 pounds but the producers were worried about his life and did not allow it to happen. Considering all that, the tale of an industrial machinist who could not sleep for a year because of the remorse he felt after a fatal accident became of the best work of Bale. The Machinist is indeed one of the best Christian Bale movies of all time that we strongly recommend if you haven’t watched it already.
Read more: Best Horror Movies of All Time
8. The Big Short 2015
- Genre: Drama/Comedy drama
- Director: Adam McKay
- Stars: Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie
- Rating: IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 89%
Christian Bale got nominated for an Oscar for the third time for the role he portrayed in The Big Short, which is a comedic examination of the housing bubble of the U.S. that resulted in the economic crash that occurred in 2008. This was the third time Bale has appeared in a real-life role that got him an Academy Award nomination. He played the role of Michael Burry, the fund manager with intelligent foresight on the housing bubble, letting him capitalize on the trends of the market. For his slacker appearance, he is underestimated and not respected for professional norms. However, he is able to use his intel to game the system. The Big Short is also one of the best Christian Bale films ever.
7. The Fighter 2010
- Genre: Drama/Sport
- Director: David O. Russell
- Stars: Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Dicky Eklund, Melissa Leo, Jill Quigg
- Rating: IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
For the performance Bale showed in the movie The Fighter as Dicky Eklund, Christian Bale was able to win his first and only Oscar award. Fans and critics believe this is one of the best Christian Bale movies of all time to this day. The title of the movie is about the boxing career Mickey Ward, Dicky’s brother had held. Moreover, it refers to the battle Dicky was enduring with addiction to crack. In order to feature as Dicky, Bale lost 30 pounds and became the heart and sole of the movie. He also showed a lot of dedication when it came to learning the rhythms and mannerisms of Eklund as he spent hours with the real Eklund for that purpose.
6. Le Mans ’66 2019
- Genre: Drama/Sport
- Director: James Mangold
- Star: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 92%, IMDb 8.1
Another one of Christian Bale greatest movie roles is in the movie Ford v Ferrari, also known as Le Mans ’66. The movie shows very thrilling racing scenes with a great story of beating the odds by overcoming serious adversity. Matt Damon plays the role of Carroll Shelby, who is a racecar driver and works with Ford in order to design the perfect car for competing in a grueling race. The race is the 1966 Le Mans race, which is a 24-hour race that needs great endurance and a fascinating driver to match Ken Miles, portrayed by Christian Bale. Exhausted at always losing to Ferrari, Miles and Shelby’s combination might bring Ford what they have long been waiting for.
Read more: Best Matt Damon Movies of All Time
5. Batman Begins 2005
- Genre: Action/Fantasy
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Stars: Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 84%, IMDb 8.2
One of the best Christian Bale movies of all time is Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie brand, with DC superhero’s interpretation. Christian Bale’s performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman is astonishing. His character is haunted by the death of his parents, and he witnessed their murders as a kid. Thirsty to get vengeance, he begins learning martial arts. He is determined to make Gotham City clean, and with the help of his butler Alfred, who raised him, and Lucius Fox, a tech expert, he creates Batman. Bale returned Batman to his humble origin in this movie. Make sure to watch it if you haven’t already; it will be worth your while.
Read more: Best Morgan Freeman Movies of All Time
4. Howl’s Moving Castle 2004
- Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Stars: Christian Bale, Takuya Kimura, Chieko Baisho, Tatsuya Gashuin
- Rating: IMDb 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes 87%
Since Bale is a very serious actor, thinking that he might voice act in an animation is impossible. Therefore, when he did lend his voice in the classic animated film in 2004, the viewers were surprised. He is the voice behind the main character, the titular, in this imaginative movie. The story revolves around Sophie, who is a teenager cursed by a witch. Her body is turned into an old lady and when he meets Howl, a magician, in his weird floating castle, she has to make a choice that will determine what her fate would be. Howl’s Moving Castle is one of the best Christian Bale movies of all time.
3. The Dark Night Rises 2012
- Genre: Action/Thriller
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy
- Rating: IMDb 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes 87%
The Dark Knight Rises is an epic end to one of the most well-made movies in a film trilogy of all time. It is not only one of the best Christian Bale movies ever, arguably the best, but one of the greatest superhero films ever. Batman, played by Bale, comes out of an eight-year exile after he disappears to go against a terrorist and a burglar. This was another thrilling Christopher Nolan movie, so make sure to add it to your watchlist. Bale’s performance was outstanding as always and he is one of the best actors the role has ever seen.
Read more: Best DC Comics Movies of All Time
2. The Prestige 2006
- Genre: Mystery/Drama
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Stars: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall
- Rating: IMDb 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes 76%
The Prestige came out between Bale’s Batman Begins and The Dark Night, with Christopher Nolan doing his best to squeeze in one of the best Christian Bale movies of al time. Bale and Hugh Jackman are the main characters, who are magicians. The film tells the tale of rivaling magicians in the 20th century and Bale played two characters who appeared as one. He portrays the roles of Alfred and Freddy Borden, who are twins, and Bale has showcased one of his trickiest characters to perform on the screen.
1. The Dark Knight 2008
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy
- Rating: IMDb 9, Rotten Tomatoes 94%
The Dark Knight is Batman Begins’ sequel that Christopher Nolan directod. The movie has Christian Bale coming back as Gotham’s superhero vigilante, who goes against arch-nemesis, the joker, portrayed with unforgettable talent by late heath Ledger. The character is able to bring a new type of menace to Gotham City, causing chaos. Batman realizes that he is up to no good, so he has to team up with Police Lieutenant James Gordon, played by Gary Oldman, and District Attorney Harvey Dent, portrayed by Aaron Eckhart. The Dark Knight is one of the best Christian Bale movies of all time, setting the groundwork for the DCEU. It will stay timeless for many generations to come, and Heath Ledger’s performance was out of this world; as many believe he is a true hero and he gave his life for this performance.