With his upcoming movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness set to make a splash very soon, now seems like a perfect time to look back through lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch's diverse and acclaimed filmography up to this point. To help, Ranker has put together an exhaustive list of the internet's favorite movies of his.
Cumberbatch has plenty of experience with acting both on the screen and on the stage. and as the son of two successful actors, the practice has clearly always been a huge part of his life. The actor received his second Best Actor nomination at the Oscars this year for his performance in Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Although Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy wasn't quite as successful as his original Lord of the Rings adaptations, Tolkien fans still found plenty to love - namely, Cumberbatch's chilling performance as the primary antagonist Smaug opposite Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins.
Incidentally, this isn't the first time that Cumberbatch and Freeman have starred opposite each other on-screen. The pair also played close friends Holmes and Watson in BBC's Sherlock, a performance with which Cumberbatch has become somewhat synonymous.
Third Star (2010)
Third Star is a touching comedy/drama by British director Hattie Dalton that chronicles a dying young man named James' journey to his favorite place on Earth - Barafundle Bay. The film also stars Tom Burke and Adam Robertson, whose secondary characters really bring this quaint story to life.
Although it may not be the most popular or mainstream pick, there are many that believe Third Star to be one of Cumberbatch's most underrated films to date. It tells an extremely emotional and important story without ever wallowing in misery, instead bringing a much-needed aspect of comedy to keep the audience engaged.
1917 (2019)
Although Cumberbatch's role in Sam Mendes' sweeping war drama 1917 is admittedly small, he still makes a strong impression on the audience due to his character's bold and striking personality. He may only have a few minutes of screentime, but he does much more with them than you'd imagine.
Despite narrowly missing out on Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars, 1917 has undeniably been one of the most influential films of the past few years thanks to its revolutionary and engrossing look at trench warfare. There are few films as immersive and compelling as 1917, so it should come as no surprise to find it on this list.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the iconic franchise character Khan - despite what many fan theories might say about his character's true identity. His presence in this Star Trek sequel is unforgettable, as he truly makes an impression as this arresting villain.
Although Cumberbatch's casting as Khan was widely disputed upon the film's release, it's hard to argue that the actor didn't at least give 100% to the role and put his own unique spin on the character. He stands out as one of the most interesting villains in the Star Trek universe even today.
Hawking (2004)
Before Eddie Redmayne embodied Hawking in one of his best movies, The Theory of Everything, Benedict Cumberbatch also captured the spirit of the eccentric scientist in this BBC TV movie. The film follows the early period of Hawking's academic career, including his life-changing diagnosis.
Despite being one of Cumberbatch's earlier performances, his acting talent still shines through in this complex and difficult role. He manages to embody the physicist perfectly, capturing all of his individual traits and qualities whilst carefully exploring the challenges of his disability.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Widely regarded as the best film in the MCU's Thor trilogy, Ragnarok explores a story that sees the titular hero trapped on a faraway planet as his long-lost sister Hela razes his homeworld Asgard to the ground. It has a much more entertaining and comedic tone than the previous two installments thanks to Waititi's unique direction.
Ragnarok also boasts the inclusion of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, a character that had previously been missing within the MCU for several years. Ruffalo and Hemsworth's on-screen chemistry is consistently entertaining to watch, but it's the new and returning side characters like Loki and Valkyrie that really steal the show.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Endgame was indisputably one of the defining cultural events of this generation. Marking the conclusion of a whole decade of cinema, the film chronicled the remaining Avengers' journey into the past to retrieve the destroyed Infinity Stones, save their friends, and take down Thanos for good.
Cumberbatch reprised his role as Doctor Strange in the film, though his character's 'vanishing' at the end of the previous installment prevented him from helping out the remaining Avengers until the final battle. Regardless, his character still had a huge role to play and made a grand impression on this epic story.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Despite featuring one of the largest ensemble casts ever in a superhero movie, Avengers: Infinity War still makes plenty of time for Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange in its grand and epic story. He spends much of the film off-world, whether that's taking down Thanos' crew or visiting the homeworld of the Mad Titan himself.
Strange plays a huge role in this story, with his visions of the future ultimately saving the day for the Avengers and their friends. He's able to figure out exactly what needs to happen in order for Thanos to be stopped, and follows through with this even if it means sacrificing himself and plenty of others to do so.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Doctor Strange was the film that really kicked off the cosmic, multiversal aspect of the MCU on which it's focusing so strongly right now. It also introduced audiences to the Time Stone, which not only played a huge part in the culmination of the Infinity Saga but also allowed for some of the most engaging action sequences in the entire MCU.
Cumberbatch's performance as Stephen Strange is one of the all-time great superhero performances, and this film knows exactly how to draw the best out of the actor. His relationship with love interest Christine Palmer gave the film a much-needed human element, and fans are excited to see their dynamic rekindled in Multiverse of Madness
The Imitation Game (2014)
In this critically-acclaimed historical biopic, Benedict Cumberbatch plays famous mathematician Alan Turing, who became famous for cracking the Enigma Code during World War 2. The Imitation Game explores Turing's early life, including his work with the British cryptography team.
The film is often praised as one of the most gripping and insightful historical wartime biopics of all time, with Cumberbatch's performance often cited as the film's strongest aspect. And whilst the screenplay and direction are all great, there's no denying that it's Cumberbatch that's the real star of the film.