Robert Pattinson's movies have been the definition of an upward spiral in his career. He was at his most popular in 2008, when Pattinson was engulfed in mega-stardom thanks to his casting as the brooding, glistening vampire Edward Cullen in all five movies of The Twilight Saga. However, instead of basking in the limelight as most would, Pattinson plunged himself into the waters of indie and arthouse cinema, going on to work with the likes of Werner Herzog (Queen of the Desert), David Cronenberg (Cosmopolis), and Claire Denis (High Life).

Recently, Robert Pattinson's movies have made a return to the mainstream, which feels like a natural transition, belting out one stellar performance after another in films like Robert Eggers’ psychological horror The Lighthouse and Netflix’s noir-thriller The Devil All the Time. Today, all eyes are on him, as he starred as the titular DC superhero Batman in Matt Reeves’ film, The Batman, and ed up with Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho for the sci-fi dark comedy, Mickey 17, leaving Twilight in the rear-view mirror.

24 Queen of the Desert (2015)

T.E. Lawrence

Based on the life of British archaeologist and cartographer Gertrude Bell, Werner Herzog’s 2015 biopic Queen of the Desert received mostly negative reviews and tanked at the box office. In addition to Pattinson, the film starred Nicole Kidman (as Gerfrude Bell), James Franco, and Damian Lewis, who, despite their efforts, failed to weave the narrative together into a comprehensive whole.

Pattinson appears briefly as renowned archaeologist and diplomat T.E. Lawrence (the basis of Lawrence of Arabia) and manages to lend an aura of significance to the role. The movie lacks Herzog’s trademark eccentricity, which is almost always tinged with genius, such as the likes seen in Nosferatu the Vampyre and Aguirre, the Wrath of God. While based in history, things just never seemed to pull together to tell a satisfying or fulfilling story in the end.

23 Bel Ami (2012)

Georges Duroy

In Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod’s Bel Ami, Robert Pattinson is cast as Georges Duroy, the protagonist of Guy de Mauant’s 1885 French novel of the same name. Having served in the French army in Algeria, Duroy arrives in Paris with the hopes of climbing up the social ladder. He goes on to garner explosive public recognition as editor of an influential Parisian newspaper, all while using his power of seduction to charm wealthy women and become a high-class prostitute.

While Mauant carves Duroy’s transformation as drastic and awe-inspiring in the Robert Pattinson movie, it seems believable simply because of his Machiavellian cunning and wicked charm. As Roger Ebert put it, Pattinson’s portrayal of Duroy lacks vitality and conviction, which marks “the downfall of the film.” While Pattinson was not at his best, his co-star Christina Ricci was in top form in the film as Clotilde de Marelle, a woman who truly loves the man.

22 Little Ashes (2009)

Salvador Dali

Hinged on a premise brimming with potential, Little Ashes could have been a daring glimpse at repressed sexuality between surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. Instead, the Robert Pattinson movie flounders, meanders, and finally loses its way, despite being set against stunning cityscapes and rural backdrops. Pattinson plays Dalí with an affected accent and evident uncertainty, which seems much akin to going through the motions for the sake of it.

ittedly, Little Ashes is sprinkled with poetically poignant moments, such as when Dalí is evicted from the Surrealist movement or when Lorca exudes a kind of vulnerable innocence in certain scenes. However, the film ultimately fails to impress, not even making $1 million at the box office and receiving mostly poor reviews, with critics saying it has a beautiful cast but is mostly an uneven viewing experience.

21 The Twilight Saga (2008-2012)

Edward Cullen

The Twilight Saga warrants no introduction, being a five-part fantasy romance series that grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide, helmed by none other than Pattinson’s rendition of Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan. While the series as a whole has been fairly popular at the box office, Twilight’s narrative and performances come off as inconsistent and sometimes border on parody.

When compared to the source material, The Twilight Saga pales in comparison while heightening the melodrama, especially in New Moon and Breaking Dawn - Part 1. Pattinson says that Twilight is his most difficult role due to the fact that filling the shoes of an immortal vampire for five movies straight can eventually become hackneyed and uninspiring, coupled with the absence of genuine, meaningful stakes. However, its box office success and lasting fanbase prove its appeal.

20 Me (2010)

Tyler Hawkins

Allen Coulter’s 2010 coming-of-age drama, Me garnered mostly negative reviews due to its sluggish pace and ending, while it starred Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper, Lena Olin, and Pierce Brosnan. While certain junctures in the movie are heartfelt and the chemistry between Pattinson and de Ravin exudes genuine charm, Me suffers from a misguided attempt to imbue a lackluster story with the heavyweight of real-life tragedy, which ultimately mars character motivations.

The movie leads to a shocking twist ending that puts the characters in the middle of a real-life American tragedy, one that many viewers felt was used as emotional manipulation, which was an insult to people who lost loved ones during the 9/11 disaster. Me's twist ending can be distasteful for some, owing to the fact that it aims for profundity without substance. However, Pattinson’s performance as Tyler is sincere and believable.

19 Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)

Officer Mandel

Ciro Guerra’s Waiting for the Barbarians is a 2020 action drama based on J.M. Coetzee’s namesake novel, which draws from the author’s experiences in apartheid-era South Africa, which he re-frames into a fictional desert setting. The drama film has some strong performances from Johnny Depp as Colonel Joll and Mark Rylance as The Magistrate, along with a competent portrayal of Officer Mandel by Pattinson in a ing role.

Nevertheless, if one were to dissect the film’s core, the historical and geographical setting seems too vague, albeit beautifully shot. While the film was a hit at the Venice Film Festival, it failed to impress when released, was mostly ignored at the box office, and ended up receiving lukewarm reviews at best. Critics said Waiting for the Barbarians was an irable attempt but wasn't executed strongly enough, and the performances all seemed to let the story down in the end.

18 Water for Elephants (2011)

Jacob Jankowski

Francis Lawrence is best known for directing three of the four Hunger Games films and the post-apocalyptic horror I Am Legend. Lawrence’s Water for Elephants is a romantic drama starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christopher Waltz, and it garnered mixed reviews. The Robert Pattinson movie set in a 1930s circus is filmed in beautiful vignettes and retells Sara Gruen’s spectacular 2006 circus tale to good effect.

The only point of contention in Water for Elephants is the lack of chemistry between the leads, especially Witherspoon and Pattinson. This makes their forbidden affair lack agency and appear contrived. Despite that, fans turned out for the movie, which was a minor box office success, while critical reviews were mixed to positive, with praise going to the look of the movie but points being taken off for the performances, especially concerning the romantic leads.

17 Maps to the Stars (2014)

Jerome Fontana

Starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack, and Robert Pattinson, David Cronenberg’s Maps to the Stars is a satirical drama film with praiseworthy performances and a hyperreal aura that is deeply Cronenbergian, as seen in Dead Ringers. The Cronenberg movie delves into the unsavory underbelly of show business and does not hold back in expressing its venomous scorn. The film mostly follows a child star and a washed-up actress and shows the entertainment industry's relationship with the world.

While Julianne Moore is spectacular as the aging, fading actress, almost in a visceral manner, Robert Pattinson plays struggling actor Jerome Fontana with just the perfect amount of subtlety. Jerome is a limo driver, but he has big dreams of becoming a successful screenwriter and believes he might be the sanest person in the entire film, although he is still waiting for his big break.

16 Damsel (2018)

Samuel Alabaster

An American Western comedy by David and Nathan Zellner, Damsel pairs Pattinson with Mia Wasikowska in an anti-quest story rife with unexpected twists and a refreshing dose of humor. Set in a coastal shantytown, the black comedy opens with Samuel Alabaster (Pattinson), looking for a preacher man, whereas Wasikowska’s Penelope assumes center-stage in the second half, proving that she is not the damsel in need of saving.

Pattinson wears Samuel’s cloddish, good Samaritan aura with ease, bringing in a special brand of foolish naivete as he croons a love ballad with fervor. All in all, Damsel might be too tongue-in-cheek for its own good, but the film does a commendable job of capturing the essence of the Old West and evoking a rare kind of beauty true to the genre. The movie received mixed to positive reviews, with praise going to the twists, humor, and design, but with complaints about its slow pace.

15 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Cedric Diggory

The fourth installment of the beloved Harry Potter franchise sees Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory. Goblet of Fire zeroes in on the Triwizard Tournament, which sets up the premise for a host of new characters, which include students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, and Hogwarts’ very own Cedric Diggory. Pattinson fleshes out Diggory’s boyish charm pretty well, which leaves even those not familiar with the books invested in his character.

In the Harry Potter movie, Cedric’s death carries a significant amount of weight, as it is a testimony to Voldemort’s return and his unflinching cruelty — making it a turning point in the narrative and Harry’s journey as a whole. Patterson carried himself with poise and dignity as Cedric, and it seems shocking to know that it was one of his first-ever movie roles, although it is easy to see how he nabbed the lead Twilight role after this performance.