With the release of his current superhero revival The Batman, now seems like as good a time as any to take a look back through Robert Pattinson's diverse and intriguing filmography over the past few years. After serving as one of the protagonists of the successful Twilight franchise many years ago, Pattinson's career has recently taken a much more mature and versatile turn.
The actor has been involved in a wide range of projects over the past few years, including sci-fi adventures, crime thrillers, and even dark, folklore fairytales. There are few actors who have been able to turn their career in a new direction as effortlessly and efficiently as Pattinson, and that clearly shows in his recent success.
The King (2019) - 3.3/5
Stream On Netflix
Netflix's The King is a loose remake of Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V, which tells the story of England's warrior King and his attempts to conquer the French empire. In the film, Robert Pattinson stars as The Dauphin, a French warrior who causes plenty of trouble for the film's protagonist, Hal.
The King is often praised for its stunning visuals and impressive performances, from both lead actor Timothée Chalamet and also Pattinson himself, who embodies the antagonistic nature of The Dauphin with a chilling intensity and a real sense of power. The film is extremely accessible and engaging, which makes it a great Shakespeare movie for beginner fans.
The Childhood of a Leader (2015) - 3.3/5
Stream On AMC+
In one of the actor's less mainstream roles, Pattinson plays Charles Marker in Brady Corbet's The Childhood of a Leader - an intense drama that follows the story of a young American boy living in France, whose father is working for the American government in the creation of the Treaty of Versailles.
What this film does differently than most historical dramas is its focus on character over story - whilst the historical events and background information are still present and important, The Childhood of a Leader excels when it gives time to its characters and allows its actors time to focus on their raw and emotional performances.
The Devil All The Time (2020) - 3.3/5
Stream On Netflix
The character of Reverend Preston Teagardin is undoubtedly one of Pattinson's most complex and intriguing roles to date, as it gives him plenty of opportunities to explore the moral ambiguity of such a charming yet detestable person. The film itself was met with a fairly mixed critical reception, but both Pattinson and Tom Holland's performances were universally praised.
Netflix's The Devil All The Time follows the life of Holland's Arvin Russel, who is forced to fight off the evil forces that surround him and his family in the remote Ohioan town of Knockemstiff. It's a film whose narrative unfolds in an unusual and interesting way, opting to push most of its effort into crafting an unsettling sinister atmosphere rather than a clear storyline.
The Lost City of Z (2016) - 3.4/5
Stream On Amazon Prime & Paramount+
2016's The Lost City of Z is a real-life historical drama that follows the adventures of British explorer Col. Percy Fawcett, who discovered evidence of an ancient civilization in the deep Amazon rainforest and disappeared during his long search for the lost people.
Pattinson plays Fawcett's adventuring partner, Henry Costin. Although it's a less challenging and layered role than some of the others that Pattinson went on to adopt, there are still plenty of intriguing moments that allow the actor to truly delve into the mind of somebody who would put their life on the line all in the name of discovery.
The Rover (2014) - 3.4/5
Stream On Showtime, Hoopla, & Kanopy
In a dark role that was somewhat atypical for the actor, Pattinson's turn as Rey in 2014's The Rover was one that really began to characterize his transition into more mature and prestigious films. He stars opposite Guy Pearce, who plays Eric, a man journeying through the lawless wasteland of the Australian outback in pursuit of the men who stole his car.
The Rover is an extremely dark and hopeless film, with an abundance of grit and realism that make it often difficult to watch. It's extremely unpredictable, and both Pearce and Pattinson bring their characters to life through a pair of restrained and grounded performances that never comply with what you'd expect from the duo.
Tenet (2020) - 3.4/5
Stream On HBO Max
When it comes to directors who have had the biggest influence on film over the past couple of decades, Christopher Nolan's name should certainly be in the conversation. With his latest sci-fi adventure Tenet, the auteur flips everything that audiences thought they knew about the genre on its head, offering a typically mind-bending experience from start to finish.
There's never a moment of Tenet that feels predictable or traditional, and a lot of that comes down to the presence of Pattinson's enigmatic character Neil. He has a huge influence on the events of the film, and the actor's mysterious performance really adds another level of engagement to the already compelling story.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - 3.8/5
Stream On HBO Max & Peacock
This wouldn't be a fair list without recognizing Pattinson's fan-favorite turn as Cedric Diggory in the fourth installment of the Harry Potter film franchise. The character may have only played a small role in the franchise's central narrative, but his legacy and impact on the future of the Wizarding World is immense.
There are plenty that believe Cedric Diggory to be Robert Pattinson's best role, but the actor has recently begun to drift away from studio franchises towards more prestigious, independent films - so it seems highly unlikely that fans will see him a role like this again.
Good Time (2017) - 4.0/5
Stream On Showtime & Kanopy
The impressive Safdie Brothers' filmography is one of the most chaotic and intense out there, and the pair have only released four feature-length films together to date - which speaks to their ability to craft memorable and immersive stories that stick with the audience for a long time.
2017's Good Time is no different - bolstered by a strong lead performance from Pattinson and driven forward by the Safdies' intensely stressful screenplay, the film is one that works its way under your skin and refuses to let you go until the credits roll.
The Lighthouse (2019) - 4.0/5
Stream On Amazon Prime & Kanopy
Robert Eggers is one of the most twisted and visionary horror directors working today, and his dark fairytale The Lighthouse just goes to prove this. The story blends visual poetry with a deep and thematic screenplay that allows both Pattinson and Willem Dafoe to flex their acting muscles at every possible opportunity, crafting two immensely complex and unpredictable characters that are often impossible to look away from.
The Lighthouse is a movie designed to instill claustrophobia, and it succeeds on every level. The story is one that's both extremely unsettling whilst being equally engaging, pulling together plenty of different thematic ideas to craft a narrative that's as rich in imagery as it is distilled in fear and terror.
The Batman (2022) - 4.4/5
See In Theaters
Debuting to an astounding 4.4 on Letterboxd, there's no question that both critics and audiences are already going wild for The Batman. The film is being praised for its dark and grounded take on Gotham City's iconic mythos and the slowly paced unraveling of its central mystery.
Many are already hailing The Batman as Pattinson's best performance to date, which makes sense when you take into account the level of complexity and intrigue surrounding the character of Bruce Wayne that's developed over the years. There are few fictional characters that can get audiences in seats quite like Batman, and Matt Reeves' new version is one that's sure to subvert expectations and turn heads in the best way possible.