Heath Ledger Movies

Heath Ledger

Want to know the best Heath Ledger movies?  How about the worst Heath Ledger movies?  Curious about Heath Ledger box office grosses or which Heath Ledger movie did the worst at the box office? Need to know which Heath Ledger movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences?  Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.

Heath Ledger (1979-2008) was an Oscar®-winning Australian actor.  Ledger had many memorable movie roles but it is his role in 2008’s The Dark Knight that he will best be remembered.  Ledger won an Oscar® for that critically received performance.  Sadly, Ledger passed away while The Dark Knight was in post-production.  His IMDb page shows 23 acting credits from 1992 to 2009. This page will rank 15 Heath Ledger movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos and movies that were not released in theaters were not included in the rankings.

Heath Ledger in 2008’s The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort by Heath Ledger movies and the movie’s trailer
  • Sort by Heath Ledger movies by his co-stars
  • Sort Heath Ledger movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort Heath Ledger movies by adjusted worldwide box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Heath Ledger movie received.
  • Sort Heath Ledger movies how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort Heath Ledger movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.

Stats and Possibly Interesting Things From The Above Heath Ledger Table

  1. Three Heath Ledger movies crossed the magical $100 million domestic gross mark.  That is a percentage of 20.00% of his movies listed. The Dark Knight (2008)  is still his biggest hit.
  2. An average Heath Ledger movie grosses $84.70 million in adjusted box office gross.
  3. Using RottenTomatoes.com’s 60% fresh meter.  12 Heath Ledger movies are rated as good movies…or 80.00% of his movies.  The Dark Knight (2008) is his highest rated movie while The Order (2003)  is his lowest rated movie.
  4. Seven Heath Ledger movies has received at least one Oscar® nomination in any category…..or 46.66% of his movies.
  5. Four Heath Ledger movies has won at least one Oscar® in any category…..or 26.66% of his movies.
  6. A “good movie”  Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score is 60.00 or higher. 7 Heath Ledger movies scored higher that average….or 46.66% of his movies.  The Dark Knight (2008) got the the highest UMR Score whileThe Order (2003) got the lowest UMR Score.
Heath Ledger in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain

Possibly Interesting Facts About Heath Ledger

1. Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1979.

2.  Heath Ledger and his older sister, Kate Ledger, are named after the two main romantic characters of the Emily Brontë novel, “Wuthering Heights“.

3. Heath Ledger’s first acting experiences, starring in a school production as Peter Pan at age 10

4. Heath Ledger was the second person to win a posthumous acting Oscar®. The first was Peter Finch for 1976’s Network.

5. Heath Ledger was the very first performer to win an Oscar for acting in a comic movie-adaptation.

6. As a tribute, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law helped Terry Gilliam complete 2009’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by taking over Heath Ledger’s unfinished role. Thus the public was able to watch his last performance. The three actors donated their salaries to his daughter.

7. Heath Ledger was never married but did have a daughter with actress Michelle Williams.

8. Heath Ledger’s acting mentor was Mel Gibson.

9. Heath Ledger’s hobbies were surfing, skateboarding, chess, photography, directing.

10. Check out Heath Ledger’s career compared to current and classic actors.  Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.

Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences. Golden Globes® are the registered trademark and service mark of the Hollywood Foreign Press.

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9 thoughts on “Heath Ledger Movies

  1. hi Bruce, I was bemoaning the lack of great actors in the now generation when i thought of heath ledger. it was triggered by looking at 2 joseph Gordon levitt movies: brick and 500 days of summer . I blame UMR, I didn’t mean to but I am now a Gordon levitt fan. I suspected it when I saw him in angels in the outfield and 3rd rock from the sun. so I am now calling Gordon levitt a star. I thought who is better at just acting and up came heath ledger (our equivalent to James dean). in reviewing the ledger page it said in the interesting facts that he was the second posthumous Oscar actor winner with peter finch. my question is should dean be on that list? Wikipedia says so but I trust you more. should we challenge the commenters to share their favourite 25 or so great actors under the age of 50? Flora will really have to push herself and hers may all be over 40. LOL. uh oh, now that I start visualizing this list mine might all be near or over 40. LOL

    1. double oops. it is me . and ignore the question about dean, I re read the Wikipedia and it did note he was nominated only.

    2. Hey bob cox….glad UMR got you to appreciated JGL…he had a nice roll going a few years ago….but it seems to have slowed down…..but I think he will be back. I loved him in Looper, 500 Days of Summer, 50/50 and Brick. I see you saw that Dean was nominated but did not win. I think nominations have happened a few times….winning only twice.

      As for Under 40……that is going to be really difficult…..JGL would be on my list….will really have to think about more…even young stars (in my mind) like Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Robert Downey, Jr. have crossed the 40 mark.

      Good stuff as always.

  2. My ‘Joker’ will probably always be Jack Nicholson, Ledger’s version of the role came across more like a psychotic kid who wasn’t interested in money, women or even power, he just wanted chaos. But he did play the role very effectively. And I appreciate his Joker more after seeing Jared Leto’s over the top ‘tribute’ to the late actor in Suicide Squad.

    I’ve seen 6 of the 15 films on the chart – The Patriot, A Knight’s Tale, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Brother’s Grimm, Dr. Parnassus and The Dark Knight.

    The only one from the 6 I haven’t bought on blu-ray is 10 Things I Hate About You.

    Another top page Bruce. Vote Up!

    1. Hey Steve
      1. I loved Jack’s Joker…but Ledger’s Joker was one of the best performances I have ever seen in a movie.
      2. Leto’s Joker was barely in the movie, so I do not even have an opinion on that performance…other than to say….I am not eager to see him return in that role anytime soon.
      3. I have 13 of 15 Ledger movies. Only Candy and Casanova have escaped me.
      4. Favorites would be The Dark Knight, The Patriot and 10 Things.
      5. Thanks for the comment, tally and vote….all are greatly appreciated.

  3. Heath was never on the Oracle of Bacon top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the people on the 2016 list who appeared in a film with him.

    1 ERIC ROBERTS The Dark Knight (2008)
    10 MICHAEL CAINE The Dark Knight (2008)
    12 MORGAN FREEMAN The Dark Knight (2008)
    14 JOSEPH OLIVEIRA THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
    26 CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    41 GARY OLDMAN The Dark Knight (2008)
    46 MATT DAMON The Brothers Grimm (2005)
    52 PETER STORMARE The Brothers Grimm (2005)
    52 PETER STORMARE The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    61 TINY LISTER JR. The Dark Knight (2008)
    73 JOHNNY DEPP The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    104 CHRISTIAN BALE I’m Not There. (2007)
    104 CHRISTIAN BALE The Dark Knight (2008)
    110 TOM WILKINSON THE PATRIOT (2000)
    129 NAOMI WATTS Ned Kelly (2003)
    136 KRIS KRISTOFFERSON I’m Not There. (2007)
    149 OLIVER PLATT Casanova (2005)
    165 JONATHAN PRYCE The Brothers Grimm (2005)
    175 JULIANNE MOORE I’m Not There. (2007)
    193 BILLY BOB THORNTON Monster’s Ball (2001)
    202 JASON ISAACS The Patriot (2000)
    216 BRUCE GREENWOOD I’m Not There. (2007)
    236 JEREMY IRONS Casanova (2005)
    250 WILLIAM FICHTNER The Dark Knight (2008)
    331 CATE BLANCHETT I’m Not There. (2007)
    368 RANDY QUAID Brokeback Mountain (2005)
    374 JUDE LAW The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    380 RICHARD GERE I’m Not There. (2007)
    399 LUKE BURNYEAT THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
    406 RITCHIE MONTGOMERY MONSTER’S BALL (2001)
    408 TCHEKY KARYO The Patriot (2000)
    410 ALLISON JANNEY 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999)
    412 JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
    414 LARRY MILLER 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
    418 CHRIS COOPER The Patriot (2000)
    432 COLIN FARRELL The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    458 PETER MCROBBIE BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)
    474 JULIO OSCAR MECHOSO LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    497 JEREMY RENNER LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    529 CHRIS WILSON THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
    533 DONAL LOGUE The Patriot (2000)
    559 SHEA WHIGHAM LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    574 MEL GIBSON The Patriot (2000)
    595 VINCENT LARESCA LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    599 NICKY KATT THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
    606 PAUL BETTANY A KNIGHT’S TALE (2001)
    637 DJIMON HOUNSOU THE FOUR FEATHERS (2002)
    653 GEOFFREY RUSH Candy (2006)
    653 GEOFFREY RUSH Ned Kelly (2003)
    661 MATT MALLOY LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    669 NED BELLAMY LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    696 MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL The Dark Knight (2008)
    717 HALLE BERRY Monster’s Ball (2001)
    746 PETER BOYLE Monster’s Ball (2001)
    771 FEODOR ATKINE LOS ANGELES (1980)
    806 ROSE BYRNE TWO HANDS (1999)
    821 AARON ECKHART THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
    866 MICHAEL JAI WHITE THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
    882 JULIA STILES 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999)
    898 PETER WELLER The Order (2003)
    916 JOHN MCCONNELL MONSTER’S BALL (2001)
    947 WILLIAM MAPOTHER LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005)
    957 DAVID KRUMHOLTZ 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999)
    958 ANNE HATHAWAY Brokeback Mountain (2005)
    964 LENA OLIN Casanova (2005)
    980 CILLIAN MURPHY THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

    There are only 2 actors on the original list who have since fallen off and appeared in a film with Heath;

    467 VAN JOHNSON Clowning Around (1992)
    473 RENE AUBERJONOIS The Patriot (2000)

    Van Johnson!!! Anyway Heath appeared with 11 Oscar winners and he may get more, some of the actors he appeared with are still pretty young like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michelle Williams.

    ANNE HATHAWAY Brokeback Mountain (2005)
    CATE BLANCHETT I’m Not There. (2007)
    CHRIS COOPER The Patriot (2000)
    CHRISTIAN BALE I’m Not There. (2007)
    CHRISTIAN BALE The Dark Knight (2008)
    CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
    GEOFFREY RUSH Candy (2006)
    GEOFFREY RUSH Ned Kelly (2003)
    HALLE BERRY Monster’s Ball (2001)
    JEREMY IRONS Casanova (2005)
    JULIANNE MOORE I’m Not There. (2007)
    MICHAEL CAINE The Dark Knight (2008)
    MORGAN FREEMAN The Dark Knight (2008)

    1. Hey Dan
      1. It is a shame that Ledger passed away so young. I am sure he would be in the Top 1000 if he was still around.
      2. Van Johnson and Heath in a movie together…I did not know that.
      3. I of course like seeing Michael Caine on any list…lol.
      4. Actually surprised Randy Quaid is still so high…..seems like it has been years since he made a movie. He might still be in prison….his last decade was been a stuggle.
      5. You are correct….his Oscar winning co-stars should increase as the years go by.
      Thanks for sharing these lists, it is always appreciated.

  4. BRUCE – Previous post on this subject incomplete. Please delete it when you have a moment.

    1 HI WH “Good thinking Bruceman!” A Heath Ledger page is another good New Year call on your part.

    2 As you say Mel Gibson was Heath’s mentor and indeed such was the hype surrounding their joint involvement with The Patriot that I thought for a time that Ledger was Mel’s real life as well as his on-screen son. NB Harrison Ford turned down the Gibson role in The Patriot because he objected to its treatment of the American Revolutionary War subject and Jake Gyllenhaal Heath’s Brokeback Mountain co-star was tested for the Ledger role in The Patriot

    3 Apparently though Mel distanced himself from Heath because of the nature of the character that the latter played in Brokeback Mountain. As I you know whilst I think Mel is now a bit long in the tooth for action-man roles I always admired him in his heyday even, and maybe especially, in the low key Man without a Face. I also liked his at times self-depreciating character in Tequila Sunrise.

    4 However it seemed incongruous to me that Mel would on the one hand get personal over a character in a movie [and whom in my view sensible people would anyway find OK] and yet on the other hand seemingly think it in order to indulge in the kind of anti-social behavior that may well have ruined Mel’s own top-star career. According to Kirk Douglas for reasons similar to Mel’s displeasure with Heath the Duke criticized Kirk’s portrayal of Van Gogh in Lust for Life though the pair never fell out over it.

    5 Anyway a good profile from you of a sadly all-too-short career and as Steve would say Vote Up.

    1. Hey Bob
      1. Not seeing the comment you want me to delete. I will look again.
      2. I did not know Ford turned down The Patriot…but I can easily see him in that role.
      3. Glad to see you mention Tequilla Sunrise…I love that movie.
      4. It is a shame if Gibson did that to Ledger after Brokeback Mountain.
      5. Kirk and Wayne got along enough to star in a few movies together in the 1960s…though many predicted trouble when they first got cast together in a movie.
      6. Ledger’s career was way too short.
      Good stuff.

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