Top 15 Best Tom Hardy Movies

Edward Tom Hardy is one of the most popular English actors, you must have seen him in most blockbuster movies of the past few decades. In the beginning of his career he played minor roles including SPC Lance Twombly in black Hawk down by Ridley Scott in 2001. After 9 years he appeared as Eames in the film inception. This movie garnered Tom Hardy international recognition. He has also featured in major franchises like Mad Max and the Dark Knight. 

From his debut film Hawk Down in 2001 to his Dunkirk released in 2017, Tom Hardy always put his best efforts to make his fans happy. He played hundreds of roles and gave his best for each one, big or small. Few films of his also get Oscar nominations and he received awards for best performance. In this article, I have listed the top 15 Tom Hardy movies of all time to watch.

Best Tom Hardy Movies

15 Best Tom Hardy Movies You Must Watch

  1. Locke

    Director: Steven Knight

    Writer: Steven Knight

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson

    Genre: Drama

     Locke (2013) on IMDb

    Locke was the turning point in Hardy’s career. This film showed what Tom Hardy could do as a film actor. This movie featured the sensitivity and subtlety that he owns. In this movie, Tom Hardy plays the role of a construction manager named Ivan Locke who is British.

    The entire movie was filmed at the wheel of his car as he talks to the different people on his hands-free mobile. Ivan Locke is a professional, dependable and unemotional bloke. He will supervise the pouring of tonnes of wet cement in the development of a new building in the Midlands.

    In this Movie, you will be surprised by the outstanding performance of hardy and his less is more acting will show you how he keeps everything even after an emotional breakdown. 

  2. The Revenant

    Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

    Writers: Mark L. Smith, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Michael Punke

    Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Western

     The Revenant (2015) on IMDb

    This movie is based on the life of a fur trader who is trying to survive the elements after a dangerous bear attack. DiCaprio won an Oscar for this story. In this movie, Tom Hardy is playing a character of a vicious trapper. He got an Oscar nomination for this movie as a best-supporting actor.

    This 2015 film by Tom Hardy showcases an American adventure drama directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. This film is based on a  2002 novel named the Revenant, written by Michael, that features the experiences of frontiersman Hugh Glass in 1823. In this movie, Hugh Glass utilizes his survival skills to explore a way back to his home.

  3. Mad Max: Fury Road

    Director: George Miller

    Writers: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

     Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) on IMDb

    This movie was released in 2015 and is based on Australian post-apocalyptic action. The Mad Max movie is directed and co-produced by George Miller. This movie features a woman who rebels against a ruler in search of her village in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

    To make everything more real the director set this movie in a stark desert landscape, furthest reaches of the planet where there is no humanity left. There are two exciting rebels in the world, Max who lost his wife and is seeking peace of mind. And Furiosa is a woman who has great acting skills and has a group of female prisoners to aid her in searching her homeland.

  4. The Dark Knight Rises

    Director: Christopher Nolan

    Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer

    Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway

    Genres: Action, Drama

     The Dark Knight Rises (2012) on IMDb

    The Dark Knight Rises is a superhero film released in 2012. Christopher Nolan directed this movie, he also co-wrote the story with David S. Goyer and the screenplay of this movie with his brother Jonathan Nolan. This film by Tom Hardy is based on DC Comics favorite character Batman.

    The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment in the Nolan series of the Dark Knight trilogy. This movie features  Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne or Batman, Tom Hardy, and Anne Hathaway alongside him. After eight years of the dark Knight events the revolutionary character bane forces Batman/Bruce Wayne to resume his role and save Gotham City from getting destroyed by nuclear destruction. 

  5. Dunkirk

    Director: Christopher Nolan

    Writer: Christopher Nolan

    Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Barry Keoghan, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy

    Genres: Action, Drama, History, Thriller, War

     Dunkirk (2017) on IMDb

    Another war film which is released in 2017, Dunkirk is produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. Syncopy Inc. produces this movie, and Warner Bros disturbed it. Along with Tom Hardy, other cast members of this film include Jack Lowden, Aneurin Barnard, Cillian Murphy, and many other stars.

    This movie is set in May/June 1940 when over four hundred thousand French and British soldiers are held up in the town of Dunkirk in the French port. The only way to get out of the trap is via sea. Germans are attacking British soldiers as they have air superiority. The entire movie depicts the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II. 

  6. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

    Director: Tomas Alfredson

    Writers: John le Carré(novel), Bridget O’Connor(screenplay), Peter Straughan(screenplay)

    Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy

    Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

     Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) on IMDb

    It is a 2011 movie based on the spy thriller genre. Tinker tailor soldier spy is a cold War film directed by Tomas Alfredson. Along with that, Peter Straughan and Bridget O’Connor have written the screenplay of this movie. This movie by Tom Hardy is based on a novel of the same name written by John le Carré’s 1974.

    The cast of this movie includes Gary Oldman playing George Smiley, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, and Kathy Burke as supporting actors. Tinker tailor soldier spy is set in the early 1970s London. Showcasing the Cold War and the hunt for an agent belongs to the soviet double. 

  7. Inception

    Director: Christopher Nolan

    Writer: Christopher Nolan

    Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Elliot Page

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

     Inception (2010) on IMDb

    Inception is a science fiction action movie released in 2010. It was directed and written by Christopher Nolan. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of a professional thief named Dom cobb. He can enter into people’s dreams and steal information about them from their subconscious.

    Because of his dream-sharing ability, he steals corporate secrets. His rare skills have made him an international fugitive and coveted player in corporate espionage. It has cost him everything he ever loved in his life. He is offered an impossible task which is the last chance for redemption. He has to plant an idea in someone else’s mind instead of stealing an idea from the mind. 

    On the other hand, Tom Hardy played the role of another who specialises in identity theft. Inception has won 4 Oscars awards and best picture nominations in technical categories

  8. Legend

    Director: Brian Helgeland

    Writers: Brian HelgelandJohn Pearson(book “The Profession of Violence”)

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, Taron Egerton

    Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller

     Legend (2015) on IMDb

    Tom Hardy’s legend is one of my favorite movies of all time. It was released in 2015 and features a biographical crime thriller genre. Brian has directed as well as written this film. This movie is based on the book The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins, written by John  Pearson. This movie shows how the twins deal with their relationship and career that bound them together.

    In this film, Hardy played the twins, which is not easy. However, Hardy made his complete efforts and rocked the dual role as he was born to play it. His character’s name is Ronnie Kray and Reggie. Reggie is a more rational man, and Ronnie, on the other has a barking-mad nature. Reggie’s character is closer to being the romantic lead in the film. 

  9. The Drop

    Director: Michaël R. Roskam

    Writer: Dennis Lehane

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini

    Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

     The Drop (2014) on IMDb

    The Drop is a 2014 crime drama about Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy), a bartender at an unwatched bar in Brooklyn. The bar is owned by Chechen gangsters and is used as a way for the mobsters to launder money “on the drop” using it as an anonymous intermediary to collect “dirty” cash and bundle it into larger packages.

    When Bob finds an abused dog in his garbage bin one night, he takes it home with him and quickly grows attached to the puppy and begins to put his trust in its new owner, Nadia (Noomi Rapace). But when the bar is robbed, and close-kept secrets start to unravel, Bob must rely on all of his instincts to survive a web of violence and betrayal.

    Despite its heavy mood, The Drop is ultimately an uplifting film that highlights the power of resilience and justice in a cruel world. Through Bob’s eyes, viewers see how humans can reconnect with their better natures even in the worst of circumstances, we have the ability to connect and help one another for the greater good.

  10. Warrior

    Director: Gavin O’Connor

    Writers: Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis, Cliff Dorfman

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton

    Genres: Action, Drama, Sport

     Warrior (2011) on IMDb

    Another great Tom Hardy movie was released in 2011. Warrior is an American sports action movie directed by Gavin O’Connor. The makers chose Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy to play the role of two estranged brothers. Also, Jennifer Morrison, Nick Nolte, and Frank Grillo play supporting characters.

    This movie has delivered the best action to the fans. In this film, Tom Hardy is playing as Tommy, an Iraq war veteran, and a boxer. Tommy is returning home in Philadelphia to meet his dad, as his father is the MMA fighter coach. Nick Nolte is playing the role of Tommy’s dad as a boozy and bullying father.

    Nick Nolte who is playing the role of the alcoholic father received SAG nominations and Oscar for his acting. 

  11. Lawless

    Director: John Hillcoat

    Writers: Nick Cave, Matt Bondurant

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce

    Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama

     Lawless (2012) on IMDb

    Lawless is another popular Tom Hardy movie, and it was released in 2012. It is an American crime drama film starring Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska, and Tom Hardy. John Hillcoat directed this movie, and Nick Cave wrote the screenplay. This movie is based on a famous historical novel named The Wettest County in the World (2008) by Matt Bondurant.

    This movie is set in 1931 in Franklin, Virginia. Showing the Bondurant family as a legend because they are immortals as they have survived the war. They have a bootlegging and distillery business. When corrupted Mason Wardell arrived in Franklin, they refused to pay the bribe to the higher authorities.

    In this movie, Hardy plays the role of deadpan Forrest Bondurant, a hooch runner in Virginia. He has a cool slow-moving presence in this movie which adds some more ballast.

  12. Bronson

    Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

    Writers: Brock Norman Brock, Nicolas Winding Refn

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Kelly Adams, Luing Andrews

    Genres: Action, Biography, Crime, Drama

     Bronson (2008) on IMDb

    Bronson is a British biographical situation-based movie released in 2008. In this movie, Tom Hardy is featured as Michael Peterson, you will see the list of prisoners known as Britain’s most violent criminals.

    This movie was set in 1974, Michael Peterson is a 19-year-old boy who wants to get famous. To fulfill his dreams, he tried to rob a post office. Because of this crime, he was initially sentenced to 7 years in jail. He named himself Charles Bronson, a strange and destructive character played by Hardy.

    Further, his mental Instability leads him to develop a different personality. You will see hardy playing each persona with his full efforts to give memorable quirks to each personality.

  13. Layer Cake

    Director: Matthew Vaughn

    Writer: J.J. Connolly

    Stars: Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller, Michael Gambon

    Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

    Layer Cake (2004) on IMDb

    Layer Cake is a British crime thriller film released in 2004 that revolves around a London-based drug dealer embroiled in a complex and dangerous situation.

    The film’s protagonist, who is never named but is referred to as XXXX, is a successful and intelligent cocaine dealer who has managed to maintain a low profile in London’s criminal underworld. He aspires to retire from the drug trade and start a new, clean life. To do this, he plans to make one last major drug deal that would set him up for retirement.

    However, things quickly go awry when his boss, Jimmy Price, assigns him two dangerous tasks. First, he’s asked to find the missing daughter of a powerful mobster, Eddie Temple. Second, he’s tasked with securing a large shipment of ecstasy pills stolen by a gang of small-time criminals.

    As XXXX delves deeper into the criminal underworld, he encounters a wide range of eccentric and unpredictable characters, including drug addicts, thugs, and criminals, as he attempts to fulfill his tasks. Along the way, he forms alliances and rivalries, all while trying to stay one step ahead of law enforcement and rival drug dealers.

  14. Capone

    Director: Josh Trank

    Writer: Josh Trank

    Stars: Tom Hardy, Linda Cardellini, Matt Dillon

    Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama

    Capone (2020) on IMDb

    Capone is a biographical crime drama film released in 2020, directed by Josh Trank. The film delves into the later years of the notorious American gangster Alphonse Al Capone. The film is set in the final years of Al Capone’s life, during the 1940s, after he has been released from prison. Capone, once a feared and powerful crime boss, is now suffering from advanced neurosyphilis and is living in seclusion in his mansion in Florida. His physical and mental health has deteriorated significantly due to the effects of the disease.

    The movie portrays Capone as a shadow of his former self, haunted by his violent and criminal past. He experiences hallucinations and deteriorating mental faculties. His family, including his wife Mae, is trying to care for him, but Capone’s condition creates a significant burden on them.

    The plot of the film explores the decline of Al Capone as he grapples with the consequences of his criminal career and the impact it has had on his life and those around him. The movie delves into the character’s fractured state of mind, his struggles with memories and hallucinations, and the ongoing investigation by the FBI into his past activities.

    As the story unfolds, Capone’s past and present collide, and the audience is taken on a journey through the mind of a man who was once a feared and ruthless gangster but is now suffering from the devastating effects of his disease.

  15. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

    Director: Rian Johnson

    Writers: Rian Johnson, George Lucas

    Stars: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

    Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) on IMDb

    Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the eighth installment in the main Star Wars saga, released in 2017 and directed by Rian Johnson. The film continues the story of the Resistance’s struggle against the First Order, with Rey’s training as a Jedi and the mysterious connection between her and Kylo Ren at its center.

    The film begins with the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, fleeing from the First Order, which is hot on their trail. The Resistance is struggling for survival, and their numbers are dwindling. Poe Dameron, Finn, and the new character Rose Tico are sent on a mission to find a way to help the Resistance escape from the relentless pursuit of the First Order.

    Meanwhile, Rey, who discovered her Force sensitivity in The Force Awakens, has sought out Luke Skywalker on the remote planet Ahch-To to receive Jedi training. Luke is initially reluctant to train Rey, as he has become disillusioned with the Jedi Order and the Force.

    The film explores the evolving relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren. They share a mysterious Force connection, which allows them to communicate across great distances. Rey believes there is still good in Kylo, while he is torn between the light and dark sides of the Force.

    As the Resistance faces dire straits, with the First Order closing in, battles, betrayals, and confrontations ensue. Finn and Rose’s mission takes them to the casino city of Canto Bight, where they meet the enigmatic DJ and encounter the social and economic injustices of the galaxy.

    In the climactic battle on the mineral planet Crait, the Resistance finally stands against the First Order. Luke Skywalker returns to confront Kylo Ren, providing a distraction that allows the Resistance to escape.

Conclusion

Hope this article helped you to find the best 15 Tom Hardy movies till this date. However, some of the upcoming movies are yet to be released like fronzo, in this movie Hardy will play the role of Al Capone. Also he is going to appear in the squeals of his blockbuster movies such as Mad Max: The Wasteland and Venom 2.

Kierra Rowsey
Kierra Rowsey

Kierra Rowsey is a freelance TV, Film and anime critic for over 12 years, living in Arkansas with her husband and three kids. She graduated from NYU College of Arts & Science in 2008.

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