With over 25 years of acting under his belt, ranking Mads Mikkelsen's movies from worst to best is far from straightforward. The Danish actor established himself by appearing in popular franchises and for his ability to elevate any story. From indie films to blockbusters, Mikkelsen's vast catalog crosses a variety of genres.

Mads Mikkelsen was born in Østerbro, Denmark in 1965. In Denmark, he began a career in dancing before his breakout role in Pusher skyrocketed him to stardom. Since, Mikkelsen has acted in several Danish arthouse films and big-budget franchises like Harry Potter and soon, Indiana Jones. His key roles in recent years include the nefarious Dr. Hannibal Lecter from NBC's Hannibal, where Mikkelsen showcased a unique talent for portraying charming villains.

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Over the course of his impressive career, Mikkelsen has featured in no less than 30 different movies. These run the gamut from big-budget Hollywood epics to more considered character-driven dramas. However, with almost every appearance, Mikkelsen demonstrates his range and skill as a performer. Here is every Mads Mikkelsen movie ranked.

30. The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman

Mads Mikkelsen in Charlie Countryman

The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman is a neo-noir romance. At the request of his dying mother, Charlie (Indiana Jones' Shia LaBeouf) travels to Bucharest, Romania where he meets a mysterious woman who weaves him into a dangerous web involving her possessive husband Nigel and his crime syndicate. For a film based around Romanian gang violence and overarching conflicts of marital abuse, it faces substantial issues with its pacing. Mikkelsen's sexy and charismatic take on Nigel's character uplifts the scenes that have minimum connective tissue to hold a cohesive plot structure together. Overall, however, the surreal film lacks solid objectives and relatability.

29. The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, The Three Musketeers is a 2011 adaptation about D'Artagnan (Percy Jackson's Logan Lerman) who valiantly goes up against France's king and his forces, namely Captain Rochefort who Mikkelsen portrays to a playfully wicked degree. However, Anderson's film suffers from a bloated plot and stale characters. The best aspects are the action sequences and joyously campy performances. The cast is filled with A-list names such as Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans, and Christoph Waltz (of Django Unchained), so the end result is entertaining, even with its confusing narrative.

28. Age Of Uprising: The Legend Of Michael Kohlhaas

Age of Uprising

Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas tells the tale of the horse trader Michael who experiences abuse of royal power in the 1500s. Amongst several instances of a Baron's prejudiced injustice, Michael decides to enact violent revenge. Mads Mikkelsen demonstrates incredible skill in this role, since Michael's stoicism and righteous charm are traits Mikkelsen frequently excels in. However, if any film could be described to overutilize its liminal spaces in both dialogue and plot structure, it would be Age of Uprising as its snail's pace and overly broad conflict prove that the story could have had a much shorter run time.

27. Shake It All About

Mads Mikkelsen in Shake It Off

Shake It All About is an LGBTQ+ romcom about engagement of Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen) and Jørgen (Troels Lyby). Despite asking Jørgen to marry him, Jacob grows romantically entangled with a woman named Caroline. Though the film is progressive in 2001 for open discussions of gay marriage, the implication of Jacob's possible bisexuality is not expanded upon aside from being the catalyst of his pattern of cheating. Danish humor and Mikkelsen's natural charisma and chemistry with his co-stars elevate a comedy that would have otherwise left audiences frustrated and unsatisfied with an underdeveloped love triangle.

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26. Clash Of The Titans

Clash of the Titans

Louis Leterrier's 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans follows the mythological tale of Persues, Zeus' son, on a quest to thwart Hades' plans to overthrow the Gods and destroy the Earth. While the film is made with an obvious passion for both its source material and respective mythology, the cheesy script and poor special effects detract from the tale it is trying to tell. Mads Mikkelsen's Draco is a convincing authority figure, but as underdeveloped as every other character. It's also notably tailor-made for 3-D which ruins the immersion.

25. Chaos Walking

Chaos Walking Jonas and Mikkelsen

Chaos Walking is a 2021 dystopian flick starring Tom Holland where men can hear each other's thoughts and women are absent from a group of New World colonists. The group is led by Mads Mikkelsen's Mayor David Prentiss. The film experienced so-called production hell for nearly a decade after dismissing Charlie Kaufman as the lead writer, obvious in its final product. Excessive rewrites highlight plot holes in exposition and dialogue. Mikkelsen plays a convincingly conniving villain but the Mayor's intelligence is disregarded in moments when it's convenient for the plot, boiling Chaos Walking down to an average YA novel adaptation.

24. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

Mads in Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is a 2009 French romantic drama directed by Jan Kounen. In France in the early 20th century, famous composer Igor Stravinsky (played by Mads Mikkelsen) meets fashion designer Coco Chanel (Anna Mouglalis) who begins an affair with him after Stravinsky has fled to France to escape the Russian Revolution. Mikkelsen and Mouglalis share palpable chemistry which the film heavily depends on. Though it starts out strong, the period piece never regains the strength it attempts to exude from its first minute of screen time.

23. Nu

Mikkelsen in Nu

Nu is an abstract short film directed by Simon Staho. The relatively silent and black-and-white style allows room for hypothesizing its deeper meaning, but regardless of the beautiful locations and meticulous mise-en-scène, the film lacks depth beyond its impressive visuals. Mikkelsen and Persbrandt (of Netflix's Sex Education) are outstanding at highlighting the friction caused by heterosexual marriage when one party is homosexual. While the film properly expresses the consequence of repressing yourself, its leisurely pacing does not always meld with Nu's shock value concepts.

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22. Arctic

Arctic Movie with Mikkelsen

Arctic is a run-of-the-mill survival drama directed by Joe Penna. Following the crash of his plane, Mikkelsen becomes stranded in the arctic and attempts to rescue himself from harsh conditions. Mikkelsen's increasing desperation throughout his grueling journey creates the proper amount of anxiety for this genre, and each arduous step away from the safety of the plane’s shelter adds additional stress. However, Arctic gives off a placid impression of a documentary rather than a drama. Despite setbacks, the storytelling is cohesive.

21. Polar

Mads in Polar

Directed By Jonas Åkerlund, Polar stars Mikkelsen in the role of Duncan "The Black Kaiser" Vizla. The concept of a retired assassin isn't new and is likely marketing off the success of John Wick, Mikkelsen develops the baseline plot into an exciting action-revenge flick, but Polar suffers from a glaring overuse of tropes. Mikkelsen's combat abilities in taking out his captors one-by-one in the style of Park Chan-wook’s Old Boy are undeniably impressive, but Polar falls flat when it doesn't have much to offer aside from great action sequences.

20. The Green Butchers

The Green Butchers

Mikkelsen stars alongside Nikolaj Lie Kaas as a co-owner of an organic meat shop that sells cuts of coveted mystery meat in The Green Butchers. Though Anders Thomas Jensen's personalized humor does not often fall flat, The Green Butchers struggles to balance its grim subject matter with the quirky Coen Brothers-esque comedy Jensen is known for. Along with its hilarious cannibalism concept, Kaas and Mikkelsen's captivating dynamic in the film is the sole element that keeps the story afloat.

19. After The Wedding

After the Wedding film

The 2006 Danish-Swedish drama film After the Wedding revolves around Jacob (Mikkelsen) who runs an impoverished Indian orphanage. Later, Jacob discovers he has a biological child. The tragic tale of loneliness, love, and betrayal is simple but powerful, effectively portrayed by both Mads Mikkelsen and Sidse Babett Knudsen (playing Helene, the mother of Jacob's child). The script does not mince words when it comes to exposing hard-to-stomach topics like poverty and cheating. After the Wedding is an average story with meaningful themes about rediscovering love.

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18. The Salvation

Mikkelsen in Salvation

The Salvation is a Danish western film starring Mads Mikkelsen, Sin City's Eva Green, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (of Supernatural and The Walking Dead). After witnessing the assault and murder of his wife, Mikkelsen's Jon takes revenge on the man responsible. Mikkelsen proves he can be adopted into any genre of film and elevate a typical narrative into an unforgettable experience. The Salvation is an excellent homage to old Western cinema, but it occasionally puts so much attention on paying its homage that it neglects to weave originality into the story.

17. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Redmayne, Law, and Mikkelsen in Fantastic Beasts

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore is the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts series. Though a marked improvement from its preceding films, it still falls victim to the muddled lore its universe depends on. That said, Jude Law and Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal of Dumbledore and Grindelwald's shattered relationship stands out. There is never a moment where Dumbledore and Grindelwald's past love isn't felt, uplifting what could have been another dispassionate adventure in the wizarding world into a profound romantic tragedy.

16. King Arthur

Tristan in King Arthur

King Arthur 2004 is a Sarmatian variation on the tale of the knights of the round table, starring Mads Mikkelsen, his co-star from Hannibal Hugh Dancy, Keira Knightly, and several other big names. By reputation, King Arthur is remembered as one of the more historically inaccurate adaptations to portray the legendary knights, but its atmosphere and commitment to its characters and their legacy make the issues of realism not as blaring. Though each actor is not given an equal amount of time on screen to shine, their acting chops elevate an over expository script into an exciting action-adventure flick.

15. Flame & Citron

Flame & Citron

Based on the Danish resistance during WWII, Flame & Citron is a 2008 war drama about two men, Citron played by Mads Mikkelsen and Flame played by Thur Lindhardt, working together to assassinate Nazi collaborators. Through its fast-paced and dramatized depiction of war violence, Ole Christian Madsen manages to direct an exemplary and tense narrative revolved around a relatively unexplored side of WWII in cinematic history. Even so, Madsen doesn't always hit his points home. Mikkelsen as the nervous and self-conscious Citron plays a perfect foil for Lindhardt's Flame and makes for a vibrant starring dynamic to contrast the film's gritty themes.

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14. Valhalla Rising

Mikkelsen Valhalla Rising

Centered around 1th-century Scandinavian warriors, Valhalla Rising focuses on the captivity of a legendary fighter named One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) who rises up against his captors and violently kills them before leaving to go on a spiritual journey. The violence is as unabashedly gory as it is in any Nicolas Winding Refn film which is favorable for Valhalla's concept. Slowly formatted and with little exposition throughout to link every scene together smoothly, Valhalla Rising can submerge its viewer in a wistful quest. The cinematography and beautifully desolate locations add to the superb realism of the period piece. Mads Mikkelsen shows he is the master of micro-expressions, as he is able to express the feelings and fears of an otherwise indifferent warrior.

13. Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange Mikkelsen

Doctor Strange is the Marvel film that introduces the character Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) into the MCU. Mads Mikkelsen plays the villain named Kaecilius, the typecast to which he has grown accustomed by this point having played notorious antagonist Hannibal Lecter just a year before 2016. The Marvel formula makes for an equally funny and melodramatic magical adventure. Cumberbatch and Mikkelsen play off each other wonderfully, both hamming up their matter-of-fact personalities. Though Doctor Strange faced controversy during its release, it remains a substantial installment in the MCU.

12. Adam's Apples

Mikkelsen in Adam's Apples

From Anders Thomas Jensen, Adam's Apples is a 2007 black comedy about a former neo-Nazi who is sent for rehabilitation at a religious commune run by the buoyant priest Ivan (Mads Mikkelsen). Adam's Apples perhaps does the best job out of any Jensen film elevating drama to a level equal to its outlandish comedy. The drastically contrasting personalities of Ivan and Ulrich Thomsen's neo-Nazi character draw out a feature-length tension that never quite dissipates yet adds seamlessly to the themes of reform and unreachable pipe dreams. The film's serious moments are occasionally undercut by quirky comedy but generally, Adam’s Apples sufficiently communicates its message.

11. Flickering Lights

Mikkelsen in Flickering Lights

Buddy comedy Flickering Lights peaks with the chemistry of four criminals who steal thousands of dollars from their boss, eventually planning to use it to open a restaurant. The dark characters imposed into a light-hearted situation works to thaw out the tension and instead highlight the seamless humor this film relishes in. Each actor including Mikkelsen is able to individualize their characters and spotlight their traumatic backgrounds without detracting from the film's wistful atmosphere. Flickering Lights succeeds in its thematic journey of accepting found family.

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10. Bleeder

Mikkelsen in Bleeder

Nicolas Winding Refn's Bleeder from 1999 stars Mads Mikkelsen and returning actors from Refn's breakout directorial debut of Pusher. Bleeder explores a less dire narrative than the Pusher trilogy. It is about the interpersonal lives of film fanatics, namely Mads Mikkelsen's Lenny who endearingly knows the name of nearly every director. Despite its shallow start, the conclusion packs a bloody punch and contrasts harshly with much of the film's static tone. Refn proves his directorial talent in portraying isolated violence, both by highlighting the squalid conditions of Denmark's underworld and the lonely nature of a film fanatic's optimistic but flawed view of romance.

9. Rogue One

Mikkelsen in Star Wars

The first installment in the Star Wars anthology and a prequel to A New Hope follows a group of rebels journeying to steal the blueprints of the Death Star. Rogue One sets out to have a theme entirely unique to itself in the Star Wars franchise and it succeeds. The cinematography is clean, stark, and a pristine extension of intricate world-building and immense lore. Though Mikkelsen's screen time is short, he sufficiently plays a fundamental role that highlights the foundations of the Resistance and the First Order.

8. Men And Chicken

Men and Chicken Mikkelsen

Men and Chicken is an oddball comedy about two brothers, Gabriel and Elias, who find they have a much larger missing family than they first expected and a hereditary secret that looms over the film until its dramatic twist conclusion. If any film can be said to have a firm grasp on the fine intricacies of Danish humor, it would be Anders Thomas Jensen's Men and Chicken. Between taboo topics such as bestiality and the bone-dry sarcasm in its outlandish script, Jensen solidifies his mastery of black comedy. Mikkelsen's outcast portrayal of Elias is equally depressing as it is darkly hilarious, not to mention Mikkelsen may be the sole actor who can shamelessly pull off a convincing attraction towards a chicken.

7. At Eternity's Gate

At Eternity's Gate Mikkelsen and Dafoe

At Eternity's Gate doesn't fail to communicate the hardships of Vincent Van Gogh's final years. Julian Schnabel's biographical drama runs with the theory Van Gogh did not commit suicide but instead died due to some miscreants. While both Willem Dafoe's performance as Van Gogh and Schnabel’s elegant direction constructively display the painter's zeal for life, the film still dwells on incidents like the severed ear and his struggling poverty. Due to the fact it lacks scenes of genuine reprieve, the tale comes across as overly melancholy at times, yet remains the most moving Van Gogh tale to date.

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6. Casino Royale

Mikkelsen in Bond's Casino Royale

Casino Royale starts Daniel Craig's Bond series off with a bang. Bond is starting fresh as 007, striving to bankrupt the terrorist compensator Le Chiffre by beating him in poker. Having dispensed with the cheesiness of the previous Bonds, Casino Royale accentuates a suspenseful atmosphere and ups the stakes to sufficiently represent the reality of an MI6 mission. As per usual, Mikkelsen excels in his villainy. With a scarred eye and platinum inhaler he carries around, Le Chiffre's traits make his brutal character as memorable as the action-packed spy film.

5. Riders of Justice

Riders of Justice

Riders of Justice opens with the brutal death of a beloved mother and wife. Without the film being plumped up with Anders Thomas Jensen's infamous oddball humor, deeper themes are allowed to flourish here. While Mikkelsen's character Markus sets off on a quest to find his wife's killer, the film at its core is about opening up emotionally to your family. Mikkelsen's impassivity (compared to other performers) leads to friction between him and his daughter, a novelty absent from Jensen’s other works. With individualistic characters that express their trauma differently, Riders of Justice offers an exceptional narrative not only about family but the gravity of mental illness.

4. A Royal Affair

A Royal Affair

A Royal Affair is the true 18th-century story of the romantic affair between the Queen of Denmark and her physician Johann Friedrich Struensee. From Nikolaj Arcel's picturesque framing of Denmark's royalty in the 18th-century to the stand-out performances, this historical retelling is a diamond in the rough. Its Shakespearean tragedy is never overly harrowing and the romance is believable intense and inspiring. While the revolutionary aspect is sometimes grandiose, A Royal Affair sticks its landing hauntingly.

3. Another Round

Another Round Mikkelsen

Thomas Vinterberg's film Another Round follows middle-aged friends who change up their monotonous lives by drinking alcohol every day to see how it affects them socially. Vinterberg shines when it comes to sympathizing with both sides of an argument, and here it's no different. Through Mads Mikkelsen's incredibly focused performance and the seamless tonal shifts, the film argues alcohol is neither good nor bad. Another Round showcases one of Mikkelsen's most talented performances since his Refn work.

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2. Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands

Pusher Sequel with Mikkelsen

Submerging into the Danish criminal underworld, Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands focuses on despondent individuals with drug addiction and gang affiliation. It excels past its predecessor due to Mikkelsen's talent for expressing a damaged character's conflicts in a relatable way. At first glance, Tonny isn't in as tight of a spot as Pusher's Frank was, but through the film's turbulently escalating stakes and Mikkelsen's acting, Pusher II effectively laments the trickle-down effect of this dangerous lifestyle through generations.

1. The Hunt

Mads in The Hunt

The Hunt tells the harrowing story of Lucas from a small Danish town where the child of his best friend falsely accuses him of sexually abusing her. Thomas Vinterberg's films are reputable for their disturbingly realistic narratives and The Hunt doesn't back down from its morbid representation of an innocent man's ruin. Natural as ever, Mikkelsen plays Lucas with outstandingly sympathetic and guileless desperation which forces whoever is watching The Hunt to feel like they're in his shoes.

Mads Mikkelsen's filmography has shown a variety of distinctive films from bland adaptions to original psychodramas. Mikkelsen continues to get hired in huge franchises and will likely grace the big screens again by the turn of the next year. Given his legacy of success, it seems likely that his career may not yet have reached its peak.

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