Want to know the best Christian Bale movies? How about the worst Christian Bale movies? Curious about Christian Bale’s box office grosses or which Christian Bale movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Christian Bale movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information and much much more.
I have been a huge Christian Bale fan ever since I saw him in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. The first time I saw Empire of the Sun, I thought it was two child actors playing the role of Jamie Graham. It was just Bale. The movie covers World War II over the years 1937 to 1945. In my opinion it is one of the best performances from a child actor ever
As he got older, Bale graduated from mostly supporting roles to lead actor by 2000’s American Psycho. In 2005 he was cast as Bruce Wayne in the Batman reboot. This reboot has produced monster hits in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. He played Bruce Wayne/Batman three times in The Dark Knight trilogy. Since becoming Batman, Bale has also managed to star in the hits The Prestige, 3:10 to Yuma, and Terminator Salvation. Christian Bale’s The Fighter won him the Academy Award® and Golden Globe® as Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter. About the only bad thing to happen to Bale in the last few years is the release of his infamous rant on the set of Terminator Salvation.
His IMDb page shows over 50 acting credits since 1986. This page will rank Christian Bale movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television appearances, shorts, cameos and movies that were not released in theaters were not included in the rankings.
Christian Bale Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
2008
The Dark Knight (2008)
2013
American Hustle (2013)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Actor Nom
2012
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
2019
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
AA Best Picture Nom
2010
The Fighter (2010)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Supp Actor Win
2005
Batman Begins (2005)
1994
Little Women (1994)
2022
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
1995
Pocahontas (1995)
2015
The Big Short (2015)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Supp Actor Nom
2009
Public Enemies (2009)
2009
Terminator Salvation (2009)
2006
The Prestige (2006)
2007
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
2000
Shaft (2000)
2023
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Voice Only
1989
Henry V (1989)
1987
Empire of the Sun (1987)
2018
Vice (2018)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Actor Nom
2004
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Voice Only
2017
Hostiles (2017)
2000
American Psycho (2000)
2006
Rescue Dawn (2006)
2014
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
2002
Reign of Fire (2002)
2007
I'm Not There. (2007)
2004
The Machinist (2004)
1999
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
2005
The New World (2005)
2013
Out of the Furnace (2013)
1998
Velvet Goldmine (1998)
2022
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
Netflix
2002
Laurel Canyon (2002)
1987
Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987)
1998
All the Little Animals (1998)
2016
The Promise (2016)
1997
Metroland (1999)
2018
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)
2022
Amsterdam (2022)
2005
Harsh Times (2005)
2011
The Flowers of War (2011)
1992
Newsies (1992)
1993
Swing Kids (1993)
1996
The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
2001
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
2002
Equilibrium (2002)
2015
Knight of Cups (2015)
1996
The Secret Agent (1996)
Christian Bale 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 Christian Bale movies by titles and that movie’s trailers
- Sort Christian Bale movies by co-stars of his movies
- Sort Christian Bale movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
- Sort Christian Bale movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Christian Bale movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Christian Bale movie received.
- Sort Christian Bale 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.
- If Co-Star has a link…it will take you to that person’s UMR page
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | The Dark Knight (2008) | Heath Ledger & Michael Caine |
533.30 | 928.5 | 1,746.20 | 1 | 95 | 08 / 02 | 99.7 | |
| 2 | American Hustle (2013) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence |
150.10 | 230.8 | 386.20 | 17 | 76 | 10 / 00 | 98.7 | |
| 3 | The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Morgan Freeman & Tom Hardy |
458.10 | 719.4 | 1,718.70 | 2 | 88 | 00 / 00 | 98.6 | |
| 5 | Ford v Ferrari (2019) AA Best Picture Nom |
Matt Damon | 117.60 | 160.5 | 306.60 | 22 | 86 | 04 / 02 | 98.1 | |
| 6 | The Fighter (2010) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Win |
Mark Wahlberg & Amy Adams |
93.60 | 148.2 | 204.60 | 35 | 88 | 07 / 02 | 98.1 | |
| 4 | Batman Begins (2005) | Michael Caine & Liam Neeson |
205.30 | 401.1 | 727.90 | 8 | 82 | 01 / 00 | 97.7 | |
| 8 | Little Women (1994) | Winona Ryder & Susan Sarandon |
50.10 | 153.4 | 291.30 | 27 | 84 | 03 / 00 | 94.8 | |
| 7 | Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) | Chris Hemsworth & Bradley Cooper |
343.30 | 383.0 | 849.10 | 8 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 94.7 | |
| 9 | Pocahontas (1995) | Mel Gibson | 141.60 | 406.8 | 994.50 | 4 | 61 | 02 / 02 | 93.0 | |
| 10 | The Big Short (2015) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Nom |
Brad Pitt & Steve Carell |
70.30 | 104.2 | 197.90 | 41 | 84 | 05 / 01 | 92.8 | |
| 11 | Public Enemies (2009) | Johnny Depp & Channing Tatum |
97.10 | 161.8 | 356.80 | 31 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 90.3 | |
| 12 | Terminator Salvation (2009) | Sam Worthington | 125.30 | 208.9 | 618.90 | 22 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 88.9 | |
| 13 | The Prestige (2006) | Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johansson |
53.10 | 100.9 | 208.40 | 61 | 81 | 02 / 00 | 88.3 | |
| 14 | 3:10 to Yuma (2007) | Russell Crowe | 53.60 | 97.4 | 127.20 | 48 | 79 | 02 / 00 | 87.4 | |
| 15 | Shaft (2000) | Samuel L. Jackson | 70.30 | 163.1 | 248.60 | 33 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 85.8 | |
| 17 | The Boy and the Heron (2023) Voice Only |
Willem Dafoe | 46.80 | 51.0 | 320.70 | 52 | 84 | 01 / 01 | 84.1 | |
| 16 | Henry V (1989) | Kenneth Branagh | 10.20 | 32.0 | 32.00 | 82 | 89 | 03 / 01 | 83.5 | |
| 18 | Empire of the Sun (1987) | Directed by Steven Spielberg | 22.20 | 71.1 | 211.80 | 52 | 76 | 06 / 00 | 83.2 | |
| 19 | Vice (2018) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Amy Adams & Steve Carell |
47.80 | 65.3 | 100.40 | 60 | 67 | 08 / 01 | 82.6 | |
| 20 | Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Voice Only |
Lauren Bacall | 4.70 | 9.5 | 473.40 | 167 | 87 | 01 / 00 | 76.3 | |
| 21 | Hostiles (2017) | Rosamund Pike | 29.80 | 41.6 | 49.70 | 82 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 72.8 | |
| 22 | American Psycho (2000) | Reese Witherspoon | 15.10 | 34.9 | 79.50 | 112 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 71.7 | |
| 23 | Rescue Dawn (2006) | Steve Zahn | 5.50 | 10.4 | 13.60 | 185 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 70.7 | |
| 24 | Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) | Directed by Ridley Scott | 65.00 | 99.5 | 410.30 | 53 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 67.6 | |
| 26 | Reign of Fire (2002) | Matthew McConaughey & Gerard Butler |
43.10 | 92.8 | 177.00 | 56 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 63.8 | |
| 25 | I'm Not There. (2007) | Cate Blanchett & Heath Ledger |
4.00 | 7.3 | 21.20 | 178 | 74 | 01 / 00 | 62.5 | |
| 27 | The Machinist (2004) | Jennifer Jason Leigh | 1.10 | 2.2 | 16.50 | 202 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 61.0 | |
| 28 | A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) | Kevin Kline | 16.10 | 39.7 | 61.80 | 97 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 59.5 | |
| 29 | The New World (2005) | Colin Farrell | 12.70 | 24.8 | 59.60 | 139 | 64 | 01 / 00 | 55.2 | |
| 30 | Out of the Furnace (2013) | Woody Harrelson & Casey Affleck |
11.30 | 17.4 | 24.10 | 126 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 53.0 | |
| 31 | Velvet Goldmine (1998) | Ewan McGregor | 1.10 | 2.8 | 2.80 | 194 | 69 | 01 / 00 | 51.2 | |
| 32 | The Pale Blue Eye (2022) Netflix |
Robert Duvall | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 292 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 51.2 | |
| 33 | Laurel Canyon (2002) | Frances McDormand | 3.70 | 7.9 | 9.50 | 171 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 49.3 | |
| 34 | Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987) | Christopher Lee | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 287 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 42.5 | |
| 35 | All the Little Animals (1998) | John Hurt | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 250 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 39.9 | |
| 36 | The Promise (2016) | Oscar Isaac | 8.20 | 11.9 | 15.20 | 149 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 39.9 | |
| 37 | Metroland (1999) | Lee Ross | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 255 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 37.7 | |
| 38 | Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018) | Benedict Cumberbatch & Cate Blanchett |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 395 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 36.3 | |
| 39 | Amsterdam (2022) | Margot Robbie & Robert DeNiro |
14.90 | 16.7 | 32.70 | 60 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 34.8 | |
| 41 | Harsh Times (2005) | Eva Longoria | 3.30 | 6.5 | 11.70 | 170 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 32.2 | |
| 40 | The Flowers of War (2011) | Ni Ni | 0.40 | 0.6 | 150.40 | 209 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 32.0 | |
| 42 | Newsies (1992) | Robert Duvall | 2.80 | 8.5 | 8.50 | 141 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 31.4 | |
| 44 | Swing Kids (1993) | Robert Sean Leonard | 5.60 | 17.0 | 17.00 | 136 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 29.8 | |
| 43 | The Portrait of a Lady (1996) | Nicole Kidman | 3.70 | 10.4 | 10.40 | 164 | 55 | 02 / 00 | 29.5 | |
| 46 | Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) | Nicolas Cage | 25.50 | 56.5 | 137.40 | 88 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 29.2 | |
| 45 | Equilibrium (2002) | Sean Bean | 1.20 | 2.6 | 11.60 | 200 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 27.9 | |
| 47 | Knight of Cups (2015) | Cate Blanchett & Natalie Portman |
0.60 | 0.8 | 1.50 | 189 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 21.8 | |
| 48 | The Secret Agent (1996) | Bob Hoskins & Robin Williams |
0.10 | 0.3 | 1.00 | 250 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 18.5 |
Christian Bale Adjusted World Wide Box Office Grosses
| Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | World-Wide Box Office Adjusted (mil) | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | World-Wide Box Office Adjusted (mil) | S |
| The Dark Knight (2008) | Heath Ledger & Michael Caine |
1,746.20 | |
| The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Morgan Freeman & Tom Hardy |
1,718.70 | |
| Pocahontas (1995) | Mel Gibson | 994.50 | |
| Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) | Chris Hemsworth & Bradley Cooper |
849.10 | |
| Batman Begins (2005) | Michael Caine & Liam Neeson |
727.90 | |
| Terminator Salvation (2009) | Sam Worthington | 618.90 | |
| Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Voice Only |
Lauren Bacall | 473.40 | |
| Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) | Directed by Ridley Scott | 410.30 | |
| American Hustle (2013) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence |
386.20 | |
| Public Enemies (2009) | Johnny Depp & Channing Tatum |
356.80 | |
| The Boy and the Heron (2023) Voice Only |
Willem Dafoe | 320.70 | |
| Ford v Ferrari (2019) AA Best Picture Nom |
Matt Damon | 306.60 | |
| Little Women (1994) | Winona Ryder & Susan Sarandon |
291.30 | |
| Shaft (2000) | Samuel L. Jackson | 248.60 | |
| Empire of the Sun (1987) | Directed by Steven Spielberg | 211.80 | |
| The Prestige (2006) | Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johansson |
208.40 | |
| The Fighter (2010) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Win |
Mark Wahlberg & Amy Adams |
204.60 | |
| The Big Short (2015) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Nom |
Brad Pitt & Steve Carell |
197.90 | |
| Reign of Fire (2002) | Matthew McConaughey & Gerard Butler |
177.00 | |
| The Flowers of War (2011) | Ni Ni | 150.40 | |
| Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) | Nicolas Cage | 137.40 | |
| 3:10 to Yuma (2007) | Russell Crowe | 127.20 | |
| Vice (2018) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Amy Adams & Steve Carell |
100.40 | |
| American Psycho (2000) | Reese Witherspoon | 79.50 | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) | Kevin Kline | 61.80 | |
| The New World (2005) | Colin Farrell | 59.60 | |
| Hostiles (2017) | Rosamund Pike | 49.70 | |
| Amsterdam (2022) | Margot Robbie & Robert DeNiro |
32.70 | |
| Out of the Furnace (2013) | Woody Harrelson & Casey Affleck |
24.10 | |
| I'm Not There. (2007) | Cate Blanchett & Heath Ledger |
21.20 | |
| The Machinist (2004) | Jennifer Jason Leigh | 16.50 | |
| The Promise (2016) | Oscar Isaac | 15.20 | |
| Rescue Dawn (2006) | Steve Zahn | 13.60 | |
| Harsh Times (2005) | Eva Longoria | 11.70 | |
| Equilibrium (2002) | Sean Bean | 11.60 | |
| Laurel Canyon (2002) | Frances McDormand | 9.50 | |
| Knight of Cups (2015) | Cate Blanchett & Natalie Portman |
1.50 | |
| The Secret Agent (1996) | Bob Hoskins & Robin Williams |
1.00 |
Steve’s Christian Bale YouTube Video
Check out Christian Bale‘s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
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Christian Bale might be a great actor, but he is a total ass. It has become hard not to remember it while watching his films.
Hey daskittlz69….thanks for the visit and the comment….I am sure you are right….that he can be difficult in real life….but it seems that he is mellowing as he gets older.
i’ve seen the prestige keeping jackman as hero and bale as villian in mind .but i loved batman begins ,bale looks really royal in that movie and did a true justice with wayne and batmans character.thanx for giving a list of his movies m yet to watch the machanist,fighter yuma and the empire of sun
Hey medha…thanks for checking out my Christian Bale…which needs an update as Flowers of the War has finally been released in the United States. As for Prestige…I think one of the brothers was the villian….and one was the hero…with Jackman going from hero to villian by the end of the movie. I think you will enjoy the movies that you have yet to watch….especially Empire of the Sun.
I’ve thought highly of Bale since American Psycho. It is one of my favorite movies of his, that the two Batmans, The Prestige, The Fighter and 3:10 to Yuma.
Hey Nickalooch…i have followed Bale since Empire of the Sun and I even went to see Newsies(one of the few) because of him. So I have been very happy to see him reach box office success and critical success. I think 2012 will be big for him as well…thanks for checking out my Bale page…it is greatly appreciated.
Superb actor!!! A fantastic hub!! The Dark Knight is a bit dark for me but next time i’ll watch it during the day and not knight to enjoy it more! 🙂
Hey Sunshine625….The Dark Knight is indeed a very intense movie….I remember the first time I saw the movie….Heath Ledger was so intense as the Joker….that I got tense whenever he was on the screen. Thanks for the comments and the compliments.
Very nice post!! I like Christian Bale a lot, he’s pretty high on my list of favorite actors. I think American Psycho and then the Machinist are my two favorite movies with him, though I really enjoyed the Prestige and the Fighter too. I’ve seen most of them up there but there’s a couple there I still need to see. Great post!
Thanks for stopping by GarretBohl….besides his hits another one I really liked was Equlibrum….it was a low budget film that Bale is very good in….the best part of Bale is he is just getting started in some ways….Oscar winner and franchise movie star….lots more great Bale movies coming.