James McAvoy, probably best known for his role as Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, has been on the acting scene for a while and has had some truly iconic roles.
From The Chronicles of Narnia to The Last King of Scotland James McAvoy has proven his acting chops over and over in widely different types of genres. He has steadily been building his acting resume and continues to surprise and delight audiences with engaging and dedicated acting no matter the film. Let's revisit his greatest movies according to IMDb and see what comes in at number one!
The Chronicles of Narnia (6.9)
This 2005 family fantasy adventure, directed by Andrew Adamson, comes in rated at 6.9 by reviewers on IMDb. Based on the children's series by the same name, written by C.S. Lewis, the movie brings to life characters and worlds from the books.
James McAvoy plays a character, Mr. Tumnus, who lives in the fantasy world and is half human half faun. He is a friend to the four main characters who happen to find the fantasy world in the back of their wardrobe. He helps them safely navigate the good vs evil world of Narnia and becomes a trusted ally throughout the movie.
The Last Station (7.0)
This 2009 biography dramatic romance, directed by Michael Hoffman, comes in rated at 7.0 by reviewers on IMDb. This film sees McAvoy alongside big-name stars like Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer. The movie follows the historical life of Leo Tolstoy (Plummer) as he struggles with the juxtaposition of a vow to live a life without material things, but finding himself tempted with newfound fame and money. Sofya (Mirren) attempts to persuade Tolstoy and those around him (including McAvoy as his personal secretary) that he shouldn't leave his life's work and inheritance to the Russian people.
Becoming Jane (7.1)
This 2007 biographical romance, directed by Julian Jarrold, comes in rated at 7.1 by reviewers on IMDb. Based on letters written by Jane Austen to a young Irishman, McAvoy's Tom Lefroy, this movie focuses on Austen's pre-fame romance instead of the romance from one of her classic novels. If you're looking for a period romance that isn't Pride and Prejudice but has a similar feeling and instead focuses on the author who penned the classic, give this one a try!
Filth (7.1)
This 2013 dark comedic crime drama, directed by Jon S. Baird, comes in rated at 7.1 by reviewers on IMDb. Typically McAvoy is cast as a nice guy, but this one we see he can just as easily portray a dark individual.
McAvoy stars as Bruce, a corrupt cop with various vices including drugs, sex, and alcohol. There are countless twists and turns as we follow Bruce on a mission to get a promotion and find his daughter and wife, which all leads to a pretty shocking and enjoyable payoff. Based on a book penned by the same author who wrote Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh, we see another dark and gritty portrayal of Scottish characters. If you love Trainspotting and haven't seen Filth, give it a try!
Arthur Christmas (7.1)
This 2011 animated adventure comedy, directed by Sarah Smith, comes in rated at 7.3 by reviewers on IMDb. This delightful animated film follows Arthur (voiced by McAvoy) as one of Santa's sons. Arthur is a klutz with a big heart while his older brother, Steve (voiced by Hugh Laurie), is efficient and the natural successor when their father decides to retire. When one child is overlooked on Christmas Eve, Arthur goes on a quest to deliver the present himself. If you're looking for a new classic to watch every December, give this one a try!
Split (7.3)
This 2016 psychological thriller, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, comes in rated at 7.3 by reviewers on IMDb. McAvoy plays a character diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, having 24 different personalities (which is incredibly rare in reality and those who do have it don't go to the extreme that the movie represents) and kidnaps three women. The audience sees McAvoy's acting prowess as he portrays at least 8 of these personalities on the screen, switching back and forth with whiplash speed but the audience should be able to keep up with who McAvoy is, due to the detailed acting, at any given moment.
The Last King of Scotland (7.7)
This 2006 historical drama, directed by Kevin Macdonald, comes in rated at 7.7 by reviewers on IMDb. The film is based on the real-life events of the brutal Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, played by Forest Whitaker. The film documents the brutality in detail as we follow the story through the eyes of his personal doctor, Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, played by McAvoy. The movie is tense and at times rough to watch, but it's incredibly well done and considered one of McAvoy's best roles to date and won Forest Whitaker an Academy Award.
X-Men: First Class (7.7)
This 2011 action-adventure, directed by Matthew Vaughn, comes in rated at 7.7 by reviewers on IMDb. The film shares the backstory of the formation of X-Men and the widespread acknowledgment of mutants in the world. Namely the film follows a young Charles Xavier (McAvoy), Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), and Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence).
James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, in particular, do a fantastic job portraying younger versions of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen respectively. The film is engaging, fun, and gives good insight into the backstory of characters of the X-Men franchise.
Atonement (7.8)
This 2007 dramatic romance with a side of mystery directed by Joe Wright, and based on the book by Ian McEwan, comes in rated at 7.8 by reviewers on IMDb. Nominated for countless awards, this film was well received. McAvoy and Keira Knightley star as lovers during World War II whose lives are irrevocably changed by her young sister (Saoirse Ronan). The film is undeniably depressing, but also gritty, real and incredibly well done with one of the best extensive tracking shots in cinema. If you are in need of a good cry, try this film.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (8.0)
This 2014 action-adventure sci-fi continuation of the X-Men franchise, directed by Bryan Singer, comes in rated at 8.0 by reviewers on IMDb. The younger cast of characters from X-Men: First Class clash and interact with the present cast of characters from the X-Men franchise. The premise is interesting, Wolverine is sent back in time to ensure a present devastating villain never comes to life, and it's fun to see both casts on screen in the same film.