Ethan Hawke's stardom struck in the 90s and successfully carried on to the 2000s, appearing in films ranging from action blockbusters to rom-com flicks. Hawke is a rare find with a skill set applicable to tons of characters, playing both heroes and villains.
From his role as the naive rookie cop in Training Day to the father in Boyhood which took years to film, Hawke's resume has established him as one of Hollywood's most versatile actors.
Updated on January 9th, 2023 by Colin McCormick: Ethan Hawke returns to the movie with his latest ing role as part of the massive ensemble of Glass Onion. It is yet another role that reminds audiences that Hawke is exceptional no matter the part he has to play. From the leading man to just a couple of scenes in a great movie, Hawke's filmography is filled with movies that get plenty of love from the fans on IMDb. Looking at the best Ethan Hawke movies according to IMDb s highlights what an amazing career he has had and how the actor continues to deliver great work in both leading and ing roles.
The Northman (2022): 7.1
- Available on Prime Video
Filmmaker Robert Eggers tackled his biggest and most brutal movie yet with the Viking epic, The Northman. Alexander Skarsgard plays a Viking prince who embarks on a long and violent journey to take revenge on his uncle who betrayed and killed his father (Hawke).
Eggers creates an intense and thrilling revenge tale with a strong Shakespearean vibe. Though Hawke's role is limited, he is a terrific addition to the ensemble that also includes Anya Taylor Joy, Nicole Kidman, and Willem Dafoe.
First Reformed (2018): 7.1
- Available on HBO Max, Kanopy and DIRECTV
Hawke gave one of his best performances in the intense drama First Reformed. He plays a priest struggling with a crisis of faith while overseeing his small and isolated church. When a young married woman (Amanda Seyfried) enters his life, he goes down a path of new beliefs.
The movie is a captivating character study featuring Hawke's complex and brilliant performance. While there are not any easy answers when it is all over, fans seem to have enjoyed the stirring experience.
Tape (2001): 7.2
Tape features a minimal cast of two actors and an actress but is still able to tell a compelling story of friendship and heartbreak as three friends reunite to weave through old memories.
Coming off of the success of Before Sunrise from 1995, Hawke plays a troubled character whose recent substance abuse has started to take over his life. An intimate tale of human characters, Tape is an emotional roller coaster that explores old friendships and how small the world can really be sometimes.
Glass Onion (2022): 7.3
- Available on Netflix
Hawke is just one of the many famous faces in the new murder mystery Glass Onion. This sequel to Knives Out finds Daniel Craig returning as detective Benoit Blanc who finds himself investigating a new murder surrounding a group of trend-setting rich people.
Rian Johnson continues to make this an entertaining, funny, and intriguing franchise with another amazing whodunnit. Many fans are even calling it a rare sequel that improves on the original and more are eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Benoit Blanc mystery.
Before The Devil Know's You're Dead (2007): 7.3
- Available on fuboTV, Hulu, the Roku Channel, Hoopla, Tubi, Kanopy, Crackle, Pluto TV and Plex
From legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead served as a terrific final movie in his incredible life as a director. Hawke stars opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman as two desperate brothers who plan to rob their parents' jewelry store.
It is a classic movie about a simple crime going horribly wrong with shocking results. Hawke s the stellar cast that includes Marisa Tomei and Michael Shannon, all giving intense performances in this dark and gripping crime story.
Predestination (2014): 7.4
- Available on the Roku Channel
Time travel movies have been popular in Hollywood for decades, so it is always nice to find one that brings something new to the genre. Predestination stars Hawke as a time-traveling agent on his last mission to find the criminal he could never catch.
The movie is an entertaining and clever mystery that deals with its difficult time-travel science in a fun and fresh way. While a small movie, it manages to accomplish a lot as a thrilling genre movie that more audiences should seek out.
Lord Of War (2005): 7.6
- Available on HBO Max
Among the best characters Nicolas Cage has played in his long career, Yori Orlov in Lord of War is one of his most underrated. The crime movie finds Yuri, an arms dealer, facing his own crisis of morals with the shady business he conducts. Hawke has a standout ing role as an INTERPOL agent on his trail.
Cage gives a more grounded and reserved performance than some of his other while the movie itself is not shy about showing the flaws in Yuri's character. It makes for a thought-provoking dark comedy that is popular among its small audience.
Maudie (2016): 7.6
- Available to rent on Apple TV
Hawke made this small Canadian biopic that managed to capture the hearts of many fans despite its small size. Maudie stars Sally Hawkins as Nova Scotian artist Maude Lewis whose simple paintings accomplished despite her arthritis made her a beloved figure in her community. Hawke plays a local fish seller who forms a romantic bond with her.
Hawkins is charming in the lead role while Hawke gives a terrific performance as the soft-spoken and reserved love interest. It is a sweet love story that takes audiences to the beautiful 1930s rural Nova Scotia while examining the life of this great artist.
Waking Life (2001): 7.7
- Available on HBO Max and DIRECTV
Hawke's collaborations with filmmaker Richard Linklater have produced some of the best movies in their respective careers. However, Waking Life is an overlooked and interesting project they made together that fans should seek out.
The experimental animated movie was digitally rotoscoped to give it a surreal look. That serves it well in the story of a young man exploring the world of dreams and the meaning of life. Hawke re-teamed with Julie Delpy to reprise their roles from Linklater's Before Sunrise.
Training Day (2001): 7.7
- Available on Netflix, HBO Max and Netflix Basic
Training Day is not only one of Hawke's most memorable roles, but Denzel Washington's as well. Hawke stars as a rookie cop on his first day as a narcotics officer in the Los Angeles Police Department. In the span of one day, Jake is taken on a dangerous ride with his partner, a veteran detective who plays loose with the law.
Hawke is terrific in a role that earned him his first Oscar nomination. But this is Washington's show, and he went on to win an Oscar for his commanding, terrifying, and hugely entertaining performance. Overall, the movie is an exceptional thriller and the kind of intense movie taking place over a short period of time.
