Ten Best Tom Hardy Movie Performances: In his two-decade-plus acting career, Tom Hardy has evolved into a star. At the same time, he chooses roles that make it difficult to pigeonhole him. Tom Hardy can be a leading man, a charming anti-hero, an intimidating villain, and a scene-stealing supporting character. The actor’s preoccupation to try different accents has had its share of criticism. Yet, there’s no denying that Tom Hardy is one of the most distinctive performers of his generation. Born on September 15, 1977, in Hammersmith, London, to an artist mother and a writer father, Edward Thomas Hardy is an alumnus of Richmond Drama School and Drama Centre London.
Tom Hardy made his screen debut with the famous HBO war drama limited series “Band of Brothers” (2001). Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down” marked his film debut, which was followed by a lackluster antagonist performance in “Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002). Tom Hardy has spoken about his battle with addiction in his adolescence and early twenties. After “Star Trek: Nemesis,” the actor sought treatment and returned in 2003 to work in theatre, television and films. In 2007, Hardy’s transformative performance in “Stuart: A Life Backwards” earned him a BAFTA Best Actor nomination. A year later, Tom Hardy’s striking performance as the notorious prisoner Charles Bronson earned him worldwide critical acclaim. Hardy’s appearances in gangster dramas, “Layer Cake” and “RocknRolla,” also brought him mainstream attention.
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Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending thriller “Inception” (2010) took Hardy to Hollywood. Though Hardy was solid in an ensemble cast, his later collaborations with Nolan—in “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Dunkirk”—had a greater scope for acting. Tom Hardy bestowed upon us an impressive range of characters in the 2010s, although the Academy recognized him only once – a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for “The Revenant.” Post-Dunkirk, there has been a bit of a slump in his acting outputs (I’m not a fan of the “Venom” films). However, there are some exciting upcoming projects that will hopefully use Hardy’s extraordinary acting abilities.
Now, let’s delve into Tom Hardy’s best movie performances (it’s the ranking of the performances, not the movies per se). It’s important to remember that Tom Hardy has been part of many TV series, and he is particularly excellent in shows like “The Take,” “Peaky Blinders,” and “Taboo.”
Honorable Mentions:
Legend (2015)
Brian Helgeland’s crime drama focuses on the notorious Kray twins, London’s East End gangsters in the 1960s. In 1990, Peter Medak made a film on the Krays, casting musician brothers Gary and Martin Kemp as Ronald and Reggie Krey. Helgeland’s dramatized version instantly intrigues us because of the casting of Tom Hardy as the infamous twins. Moreover, the story is narrated by Frances Shea (Emily Browning), Reggie’s wife, who is attracted to Reggie’s glitzy life as a club owner, only to be gradually subjected to the madness surrounding her. Tom Hardy, as usual, brings an extraordinary screen presence. He particularly excels as the mentally unstable Ronnie, whose swings between deranged violence and confused demeanor remind us of Hardy’s role in Refn’s “Bronson.”
The issue with “Legend” is that Tom Hardy isn’t strongly supported by the material, which offers nothing revelatory about the twin characters. The brothers are wildly different in terms of temperament, and Ronnie’s increasingly unhinged behavior creates problems on personal and professional fronts. Yet, we never feel the tension between the brothers as the script is stuck in a rut, setting up the Krays’ fall through the most conventional narrative choices. It’s entertaining to see the swagger of Reggie and Ronnie going nuts now and then. But apart from Tom Hardy’s bold and brash acting, “Legend” doesn’t have much going for it.
Lawless (2012)
John Hillcoat’s “Lawless” is set in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, and revolves around three brothers who run a small bootlegging business during Prohibition. While the narrative unfolds from the perspective of the relatively meeker younger sibling, Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeouf), Tom Hardy’s Forrest Bondurant plays the sullen leader of the family. Jason Clarke plays Howard Bondurant, who is the family’s muscle. The local legend pitches Forrest as an indestructible man, and the events in the narrative fit this inflated legend. Forrest is yet another role where Tom Hardy offers an immersive performance through brooding silence and a few shrewd throwaway lines. The actor somewhat succeeds in elevating an archetypal characterization.
Hardy’s restrained performance perfectly contrasts Guy Pearce’s flamboyant screen presence as the sadistic Special Agent Charlie Rakes. “Lawless” is a pulpy period crime drama that mainly works due to the ensemble cast, which also includes Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Gary Oldman. But it’s nowhere as brilliant as the musician-turned-screenwriter Nick Cave and Hillcoat’s previous collaboration, “The Proposition” (2005).
10. Dunkirk (2017)
“Dunkirk” was Tom Hardy’s third collaboration with Christopher Nolan and the second time in a Nolan movie where his character spends much of the narrative behind a mask. Nevertheless, Hardy lends gravitas to the RAF segment through his intense eyes and a muffled yet determination-exuding voice. Christopher Nolan has often employed time as a significant narrative tool. The filmmaker does it even in the most conventional genres like historical drama and biopic. While the evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers during WWII from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France (between 26 May and June 1940), have been portrayed in movies before, Nolan’s non-linear presentation brilliantly weaves together the courageous stories of survival, perseverance, and sacrifice through three distinct perspectives.
Tom Hardy’s spitfire pilot, Farrier, flies towards Dunkirk to provide cover for the evacuating British vessels. He and his fellow spitfire pilots also engage with the German bombers that are attacking the fleeing boats. Though the fuel supply limits Farrier’s mission, the pilot makes most of the time, which ticks far too quickly for him. Despite only having a few lines, the sum of Farrier’s actions and his calm exterior makes him an intriguing character to follow. Though Farrier’s eventual fate doesn’t look hopeful, Nolan, thankfully, gives a fine send-off to the character with a beautiful medium close-up shot.
9. The Bikeriders (2024)
Jeff Nichols’ star-studded drama “The Bikeriders” offers a sprawling account of the Midwestern biker gang The Vandals during their heydays in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film is inspired by Danny Lyon’s photobook of the same name. Lyon is played by Mike Faist, of “Challengers” fame, who chronicles the genesis, rise, and fall of the motorcycle rebels. Our guide into this swaggering and masculine world is Kathy (Jodie Comer), the wife of brooding and handsome biker Benny (Austin Butler). Tom Hardy plays The Vandals’ defacto leader, Johnny, a truck driver with a family who decided to be a rebel of the open road after watching Marlon Brando starrer “The Wild One.”
Sporting a leather jacket and channeling his inner Brando, Tom Hardy infuses strength, menace, and vulnerability into a seemingly archetypal supporting character. Thankfully, Johnny is a vividly fleshed-out character – so are Comer’s Kathy and Butler’s Benny – who is unable to stop himself from playing up to the myth and ideals surrounding his gang. Though Jeff Nichols pays homage to the masculinity-defining cinemas of the era, the script shows enough pathos for these characters to contextualize their masculine urges. While Johnny’s protege, Benny, eventually understands what this idealistic notion of freedom entails, Hardy’s Johnny becomes a prisoner of his own myth. Maintaining a stoic demeanor throughout, Hardy mesmerizingly plays the tough yet sympathetic Johnny.
8. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Tom Hardy has been part of bigger projects like “Inception” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” However, George Miller’s action blockbuster “Mad Max: Fury Road” saw the English actor headlining a big-budget production for the first time. Interestingly and rightfully, Hardy is overshadowed by the deft characterization and riveting performance of Charlize Theron’s Furiosa. Though the dramatic focus on Hardy’s Max is relatively minimal (plus Tom Hardy’s face is once again obscured in the earlier half), he carefully etches the portrait of a haunted man with his idiosyncratic mannerisms and little nods.
Little is revealed about Max’s haunting visions in “Fury Road.” However, specific details aren’t necessary since we understand that Max is attempting to exorcise his inner demons by helping Furiosa. Hardy gradually reveals that beneath Max’s steely-eyed looks and stoic exterior, there is compassion and a yearning for camaraderie. Mel Gibson’s Max withheld the kind of charisma that effortlessly plays into the character’s mythical nature. On the other hand, Hardy’s Max has an edgy intensity that focuses more on his brokenness and trauma.
Of course, Max’s journey of redemption in “Fury Road” is often offset by the tales of Hardy’s off-screen feud with Theron. Nevertheless, despite the character limitations, Tom Hardy offers a gratifying performance as Max.
7. Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007)
David Attwood’s “Stuart: A Life Backwards” is a nuanced and emotionally honest film featuring the outstanding lead performances of Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch. Based on the biographical book of the same name by Alexander Masters, the TV movie revolves around the mentally unstable Stuart Shorter, who is in his early thirties. An abuse-filled childhood and adolescence have pushed Stuart to live in the streets from the age of twelve and find respite in alcohol and drugs. Cumberbatch plays aspiring writer Alexander Masters, who works on a campaign to free the incarcerated charity workers. During the campaign, Alexander strikes an unlikely friendship with Stuart.
Cumberbatch’s Alexander exhibits distrustfulness toward the vagrants in general and comes across as condescending in his initial meetings with Stuart. Yet, gradually, Alexander empathizes with the troubled young man and is compelled by his life story to write a book about him. Their journey together and the resulting bromance makes “Stuart: A Life Backwards” an absorbing character drama. In the hands of a lesser actor, Stuart’s idiosyncratic nature could have been reduced to shticks. Tom Hardy, however, brilliantly guides us into Stuart’s complex inner world.
Hardy offers a grounded performance that’s totally opposite to his larger-than-life screen presence in Refn’s “Bronson” – a character though somewhat similar to Stuart in terms of temperament. Tom Hardy and Cumberbatch shared screen space again in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” but they have extraordinary chemistry here.
6. The Drop (2014)
Belgian filmmaker Michael R. Roskam’s English-language debut, “The Drop,” is based on Dennis Lehane’s 2009 short story “Animal Rescue.” The film’s opening refers to the title – gangsters using random local bars as temporary drop points to deposit and collect money. Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini in his last movie role) was once a respected and feared gangster in Brooklyn. But he is now relegated to manage his own bar as Chechen gangs rule the streets. Working for Marv is Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy), a soft-spoken loner who rescues a puppy pit bull and strikes up a relationship with an anguished waitress, Nadia (Noomi Rapace).
Though it’s not the drop night, a robbery at Marv’s bar brings some heat from the gangsters. Moreover, Bob seems to be in the middle of criminal activities that could overturn his life. At the same time, the nonchalance with which Bob handles certain things raises questions about his past actions. “The Drop” is built mainly around Tom Hardy’s portrayal of a seemingly loveable yet enigmatic central character. The mob subplot is familiar, but the heart of the narrative is the way Bob shuffles around awkwardly and gradually forms a connection with Nadia and the dog, Rocco. Mr. Lehane’s script offers enough glimpses where Bob’s facade of normality drops, and the darkness within him shows itself.
There aren’t many surprises in “The Drop,” but it’s a solid, slow-burn character study of an individual who has grown up in hard circumstances. Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini’s standout performances make it worth watching.
5. The Revenant (2015)
From the grueling desert shoot to the chilling detours in the snow landscape, 2015 saw Tom Hardy performing in extreme climates and portraying two wildly different characters. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “The Revenant” – partially based on Michael Punke’s 2002 novel of the same name – finally got Leonardo DiCaprio his Best Actor Oscar, a gut-wrenching portrayal of physical and emotional agony that the Academy members couldn’t easily snub. The film also featured an incredibly nuanced Tom Hardy performance as the greedy and slimy antagonist, John Fitzgerald.
Tom Hardy once again adopted a unique (and, of course, a hard-to-understand) accent for the 19th-century fur trapper. Hardy effortlessly blends into his character and never turns Fitzgerald into a bad guy caricature. There are moments when he comes across as a regular prejudiced white guy of the era and looks very convincing when he deceives people. The “God is a Squirrel” monologue is one of the spellbinding scenes in the film. The silent and wild stare at the end of the speech is profoundly intimidating. Hardy consistently and effectively portrays Fitzgerald’s aggressive physical demeanor and weak-willed nature. Unlike Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises,” Hardy has a glorious death scene that feels as cathartic as one can expect from a revenge flick.
4. Warrior (2011)
Gavin O’Connor’s extraordinary emotional drama, “Warrior,” pits a brother against a brother, who both share a turbulent past, courtesy of their physically abusive father. Tommy Hardy plays the haunted ex-marine, Tommy Riordan. As a teenager, he was an undefeated young wrestling champion who had to leave home with his mother. Tommy’s elder brother, Brendan, stayed with the abusive dad, Paddy Conlon, to be close to Tess, who later became Brendan’s life partner. Away from home, Tommy had only found more heartbreaks than solace.
However, circumstances bring together the estranged siblings as Tommy and Brendan compete for the top prize at a mixed martial arts tournament. “Warrior” is pretty straightforward and predictable. The narrative has quite a few logical lapses. Yet, the script by O’Connor, Cliff Dorfman & Anthony Tambakis turns this grounded tale of regret and redemption into a rousing parable. Most importantly, it moves us immensely because of the three central performances by Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte. Nolte’s riveting performance as the world-weary father seeking forgiveness from his sons got him an Oscar nomination.
Equally mesmerizing were Tom Hardy and Edgerton, who played contrasting characters with different life experiences. Hardy’s Tommy is more like a wounded animal who, even in conversational moments, maintains a sort of fighting position. Though profoundly traumatized at a young age, Tommy has never lost his humanity. He is terrifying in the cage when he lets out his rage on the opponents. Yet, in certain moments, Tom Hardy subtly brings out the character’s vulnerability and anguish. The ending feels so cathartic because, like Brendan, we also want to offer a hug to the tormented Tommy.
3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
It’s never easy to play a genuinely terrifying villain in a superhero flick, particularly when that villainous performance follows up Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal of the anarchic criminal mastermind, Joker. In Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” Tom Hardy’s Bane is a villain with brawn and brains. He isn’t an unpredictable agent of chaos like Joker, but rather a rational and highly determined individual with a plan. The best aspect of Hardy’s rendition of Bane is the distinctive and a bit distorted voice. The voice is the result of the mask Bane wears, which dispenses a steady dose of anesthetic to control the pain caused by the severe injuries Bane sustained in the Pit.
While there was a polarizing reaction to Bane’s voice, I believe the incredible voice elevates Bane’s physically intimidating and cunning nature. Of course, there are moments when the character’s intonations demand our focus to understand what he is saying. Nevertheless, Tom Hardy’s deeper voice and the way he draws out the syllables make it as clear as it could be, mainly during Bane’s confrontation with Batman or Gotham’s reckoning speech. Hardy’s unique brand of menace convinces us of the large-scale mayhem Bane could possibly create. The only gripe about the supervillain is how the narrative eventually reduces Bane to a head henchman and provides him with an undramatic death.
2. Bronson (2008)
Violent men populate Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn’s hyper-stylized crime dramas. Refn’s “Bronson” is based on Britain’s most violent prisoner, Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson. Made on the titular character’s 34th year of incarceration (of which thirty years were spent in solitary confinement; the man is still incarcerated), Refn’s film is not a typical biopic. Instead, the filmmaker adopts a detached and deliberate theatrical style as the narrative slips now and then inside Bronson’s mind. The prisoner perceives himself as an entertainer, and hence, we see him standing on a stage and bestowing monologues about his violent impulses. There are no clear-cut explanations for the man’s self-destructive behavior and wanton fury.
Refn’s approach is Kubrick-ian, treating “Bronson” as a case study of human viciousness. And Tom Hardy perfectly rises up to the task of playing a nasty and bizarrely compelling figure. Bronson was Hardy’s breakthrough performance and became his calling card to Hollywood. This kind of no-holds-barred performance reminds us of early Gary Oldman performances (though, of course, I understand it’s not wise to compare any actor with the chameleonic acting style of Mr. Oldman). With a shaven head and bulked-up physique, Hardy, aided by Refn’s visual touches, brilliantly energizes the narrative.
Hardy’s unique display of outrageousness captivates you from the first moment to the last. It’s the kind of unshackled physical performance that’s hard to emulate. At the same time, in subsequent years, Tom Hardy proved that he could also offer seamless performances full of restraint. One such performance by Tom Hardy occupies the top spot.
1. Locke (2013)
Ivan Locke, a well-respected construction manager and a dedicated family man, gets into his BMW and embarks on a trip to London from Birmingham. Locke is in charge of the biggest concrete pour in Europe the following day. But he leaves the construction site, telling his frantic boss that he has some urgent business. Locke’s wife, Katrina, and their two sons eagerly wait for him to come home to watch the football game. During the drive, Locke calls Katrina and delivers the life-changing news: he needs to attend to the birth of his child with a lonely older woman with whom he had a one-night stand.
Locke’s personal and professional upheaval unfolds entirely within the confines of the car. It’s simply about a guy having the worst day of his life while being determined not to repeat his father’s mistakes. He has to make many calls as he keeps his frustration in check while solving complex issues at the work site. Writer/director Steven Knight’s “Locke” has an intriguing conceit (and some quality dialogues) that’s made all the more compelling by the tour de force performance of Tom Hardy. Hardy’s Locke is a weary man with slightly hunched shoulders who conveys his burden through subtle gestures. The unbelievable coolness and stoicism with which Hardy plays Locke helps to gradually build this three-dimensional character.
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The occasional burst of emotions as Locke speaks to his dead father (as if he is in the back seat) would have come across as ostentatious in the hands of a lesser performer. These monologues reveal the demons Locke is fighting within. Tom Hardy has brilliantly played a wide range of tough and bad guys. But Hardy is truly exceptional here as a flawed, ordinary man. Unobscured by masks and unburdened by ferocious method acting, the profoundly fascinating performance of Tom Hardy in “Locke” will be the actor’s most memorable role.
