A lot of child stars end up having trouble finding success in later years but one actor who managed to buck that trend is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He took a break from acting after a lengthy role in 3rd Rock from the Sun, only to return better than ever as an adult.
Gordon-Levitt has now shined while working for legendary directors like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan and in genres from emotional dramas to superhero blockbusters. With such a varied and impressive filmography, it is difficult to nail down his best films but the ratings at Letterboxd can certainly be helpful.
50/50 (2011) - 3.55
Stream On Peacock
Joseph Gordon-Levitt was on the best run of his career between 2009 and 2012, showing up in box office hits, delivering great performances, and always impressing. During that run came 50/50, which sees him share the screen with Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, and Bryce Dallas Howard.
The film follows Adam (Gordon-Levitt), a man in his 20s who gets diagnosed with cancer, and how he deals with his 50/50 chance of beating it. The movie was lauded for how it handled a serious subject, the good amount of humor, and for the chemistry between the cast members.
(500) Days Of Summer (2009) - 3.65
Stream On Hulu & Amazon Prime
After first starring together in Manic, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel did their best work together in (500) Days of Summer. The movie starts by explaining that it is not a love story but a story about love, which is an important distinction to make.
The story is told in non-linear fashion and focuses on the relationship between Tom and Summer, with the former reading more into their romance than he should've. In some ways, (500) Days of Summer teaches the viewers about love but it doesn't totally hold up due to Tom's behavior. Still, there's no denying how clever and witty the entire thing is.
Treasure Planet (2002) - 3.67
Stream On Disney+
The early 2000s wasn't the best time for Walt Disney Animation Studios in terms of financial success. The Renaissance Era was over and movies didn't perform well at the box office, with Treasure Planet grossing a paltry $110 million on a $140 million budget.
Despite the struggles commercially, reviews were strong for Treasure Planet thanks to the interesting animation style and fun adventure at the heart of it all. Gordon-Levitt lends his voice to Jim Hawkins, the protagonist. It's one of his few voice-acting roles.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - 3.68
Rent On Apple TV
Two years after first appearing in a Christopher Nolan movie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt teamed up with the director again. This time, it was for The Dark Knight Rises, which had the tall task of closing out Nolan's critically-acclaimed Batman trilogy.
He plays John Blake, a cop on the streets of Gotham who forms a close bond with Bruce Wayne through shared experiences. The reveal that he's technically the Robin of this universe was a cool twist and fans still wish they got a Robin film with Gordon-Levitt in the lead role.
The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (2020) - 3.71
Stream On Netflix
The last few years were kind of quiet for Joseph Gordon-Levitt in terms of feature films as he mostly showed up in smaller-budget pictures and focused on TV shows like Mr. Corman. However, his biggest film was likely the Netflix original, The Trial of the Chicago 7.
The movie tells the true story of the unfair trial against a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors in the '60s. Gordon-Levitt is part of a tremendous cast in it as he portrays Richard Schultz, a prosecutor on the case who sees how wrong the whole thing is. The Netflix film was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, showcasing how well-received it was.
Brick (2005) - 3.71
Rent On Vudu
Another acclaimed director who Joseph Gordon-Levitt has worked with multiple times is Rian Johnson. Their relationship began in Johnson's 2005 directorial debut, Brick, and Gordon-Levitt has gone on to cameo in his other films, including Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Here, Gordon-Levitt plays the protagonist, Brendan, as he investigates the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. Johnson makes masterful use of a small budget to tell a gripping story that holds up incredibly well to this day and remains one of Johnson's best works.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) - 3.98
Stream On Disney+
Most people agree that the best film featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt from his early years was 10 Things I Hate About You. A modern retelling of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, the film has gone on to become a staple of the decade.
A highlight is certainly the cast, which includes Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Larisa Oleynik, and of course, Gordon-Levitt. He plays Cameron James, a teen who sets a plot in motion to get a date with the girl he likes. There are strong performances all around this film and its part of why it remains beloved today.
Knives Out (2019) - 4.04
Stream On IMDb TV
As soon as trailers hit YouTube, everyone understood that Knives Out had a remarkably strong ensemble cast. Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Lakeith Stanfield, Toni Collette, and more rounded out one of the best casts in recent memory.
The mystery film was met with widespread praise and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. Joseph Gordon-Levitt isn't someone who appears physically in the movie and instead just has a cameo (it is a Rian Johnson film after all) voicing a character named Detective Hardrock.
Mysterious Skin (2004) - 4.07
Rent On Apple TV
Following the unfortunate flop that was Treasure Planet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt began really honing his craft in indie flicks. That included the likes of Brick but one of the true highlights of that era of his career was Mysterious Skin.
Gordon-Levitt has a lead role in it as Neil McCormick in this film based on a novel of the same name. The film follows two teens who went through hardships in childhood and the different ways that they deal with these things. While not well-known, it was heavily lauded though it isn't for those with weak stomachs.
Inception (2010) - 4.17
Stream On Netflix & HBO Max
The start of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's work with Christopher Nolan came in 2010's Inception. The film was a rare box office smash for something that isn't a sequel or part of an existing IP and nearly everyone understands what the concept of "inception" is because of it.
The movie was a huge hit commercially and critically, winning four Oscars and landing a Best Picture nomination. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was one of the scene-stealers as Arthur, most notably shining in the iconic rotating hallway fight scene.