Asa Butterfield is one of Britain's most recognizable young actors, having been in the industry since he was nine years old. Since then, he has been nominated for 18 film and television awards, winning the 2012 Young Hollywood Awards Male Breakthrough Performance and the 2020 Newport Beach Film Festival Artist of Distinction awards.
Since his breakthrough performance in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Butterfield has continued to find success in leading roles for major movies and television shows. His current project is Sex Education, which has itself been nominated for 20 television awards. The young star is still only 24 years old and fans are anxious to see where his career takes him next.
Ender's Game (2013) - Stream On Tubi - 6.6
Ender's Game explores a world where child soldiers are trained for war from a young age, tested through a series of games that help them develop their military prowess. The film follows Ender, a young boy chosen to be the commander of Earth's forces against the alien Formics.
Reviewers explain that while the visuals and cast are fantastic, the story misses. The excitement doesn't seem to be quite high enough for a fun adventure, and the moral of the story seems to be so blurred that it is hard to grasp what, exactly, the audience is supposed to be getting out of it. But as far as projects featuring Butterfield go, the actor does shine in an early starring role.
Journey's End (2017) - Stream On Tubi - 6.7
Journey's End is an adaptation of the R. C. Sherriff play by the same name, in which a group of British soldiers attempts to make peace with their possible fate while waiting in a dugout in 1918. Butterfield plays Second Lieutenant Raleigh, a young man who was just sent out to the frontlines of the war when the film begins. He deals with the terror of waiting, the politics of soldiers, and a personal journey during the conflict that makes audiences marvel at the unique horrors of war.
Reviewers claim that it is a successful adaptation of the play, capturing the themes and character dynamics of the original. Those who came into it looking for a sad war film were disappointed, but many other reviewers appreciated the deep character study for what it was. It is a strong showcase of Butterfield's dramatic potential, and worth checking out for those looking for movies filled with character exploration.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) - Stream On Disney + - 6.7
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a wild ride into a time-looped world where children with special talents can avoid persecution from the regular world. Butterfield plays protagonist Jake, who found the time loop on the advice of his grandfather and quickly becomes enmeshed in the world himself.
While the film is based on a successful novel, some reviewers took issue with the Tim Burton-ness of the adaptation, complaining that the directorial vision took away from the merits of the book. That being said, the general consensus appears to be that it was a bad adaptation but a good movie overall, worth watching despite not necessarily being a life-long favorite.
Right Place, Wrong Tim (2018) - Stream On YouTube - 6.8
This short film was made for those who can't seem to get enough of Asa Butterfield. The eccentric film features multiplying Asa Butterfields, terrible puns, and fourth wall breaks. There is plenty of violence and weirdness to go around in its short seven-minute runtime.
Reviewers enjoy the way the film parodies '90s sitcoms and showcases the growing horror of its non-Butterfield actors, but remain divided over whether the over-the-top conclusion was the perfect ending or simply shocking for shock's sake. Either way, there are easily over a dozen duplicates of Asa Butterfield by the end, making it a must-see for fans of the young actor.
Then Came You (2018) - Stream On Netflix - 7.0
Game of Thrones's Maisie Williams). The two try to complete all of the eccentric tasks on Skye's bucket list, forcing Calvin to confront his relationship with his health and the way he's been living his life.
While there is likely hesitancy for some to enjoy a teen romance about cancer, reviewers found themselves getting caught up in the chemistry between Butterfield and Williams. The film isn't the most complex, what it does commit to is done well, and reviewers generally left the film satisfied.
X+Y / A Brilliant Young Mind (2014) - Stream On Starz - 7.1
A Brilliant Young Mind tells the story of Nathan, a young autistic math prodigy who understands math better than people. When he competes in the International Mathematical Olympiad, he finds himself struggling with imposter syndrome and social anxiety, all of which grow and mount until he meets fellow competitor Zhang Mei, who helps him to process his feelings.
Reviewers loved Butterfield's complex performance as Nathan but wished the script was a little more tightly written, focusing on the elements that worked best. All in all, though, it is an engaging, humorous film worth watching.
Hugo (2011) - Stream On Paramount+ - 7.5
Hugo follows the story of an orphaned young boy skilled at fixing clocks and automatons, who attempts to solve the mystery of one of his father's creations. Along the way, he meets Isabelle, the goddaughter of a toy store owner who becomes fast friends with him and helps him solve the mystery.
Overall, the reviews for this film are strong, singing the praises of Hugo as a uniquely magical book-to-movie adaptation directed by Martin Scorsese. However, some reviewers struggled with the pacing and a subplot involving Sacha Baron Cohen. For fans of Asa Butterfield, who plays the titular character, it is a fun romp and one which brought him international fame.
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (2008) - Stream On Max Go - 7.8
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is a complex movie about the Holocaust through the eyes of two young boys, Bruno and Schmuel, one living outside of a concentration camp and the other inside of it. Bruno (Butterfield) is unaware of the horror of the camp and is convinced by his family and teachers that it is little more than a farm where the prisoners play. Schmuel, on the other hand, knows the harsh realities of the camp but lives for the fun times he shares with his friend.
Reviews of the film are extremely mixed, going from thinking of it as a modern masterpiece to seeing it as a manipulative and trivializing revision of history. The heart of this contradiction comes down to the character of Bruno's father, who runs the concentration camp, and the ease with which the boys can interact. It is a compelling film, but its moral is still up for debate.
Merlin (2008 - 2009) - Stream On Netflix - 7.9
Merlin is a portrayal of the early years of King Arthur and Merlin's relationship, where Merlin hides his magic and serves Arthur as his servant. Butterfield took his place in the series as a young druid boy revealed to be Mordred, the future enemy of the king. He forces Merlin to question whether to eliminate threats early on or help magic s until they prove themselves dangerous.
While Asa Butterfield was eventually replaced by Alexander Vlahos as an aged-up version of Mordred, Butterfield made his mark as a memorable character who symbolizes all the darkness to come. Most reviewers describe the show as entertaining and fun, though its deviations from legend upset some of the more dedicated Arthurian fans.
Sex Education (2019 - ) - Stream On Netflix - 8.3
Sex Education follows Otis, the teenaged son of a sex therapist who teams up with his crush, Maeve, to begin a sex clinic at their school when their fellow teenagers experience problems from insufficient sex education.
Fans of Sex Education fill the reviews, describing it as entertaining and educational. Many of those who dislike the show stopped watching at the first season, where they feel it fell into stereotypical traps, missing later seasons' attempts to fix those problems. The show is very open about its sexual content, so it might not be best to watch with family, but it is a strong show that shows off Butterfield's full range of acting potential.
