26 thoughts on “James McAvoy Movies”

1. Hey Bob
   1. Thanks for the comments.
   2. As for WoC…for the first time in 5 days she seems to be making some improvements….she had a flu virus that was messing with her heart….a pretty nasty virus…..hopefully tomorrow will be even better…..today no doctors or hospital trips.
   3. Thanks for the good wishes for her…I will pass them on.
   4. Unlike Box Office Mojo….we have changed our minds on lots of things….from errors to listening to suggestions…..so although we are not moving on this issue….we have shown a willingness to making changes in the past….and will continue in the future.
   5. As I wrote before…there is a much greater chance that Willis loses Split than Brando gains Superman….being a huge Willis fan….the only thing to hang our hat on since 2012….is Split……the last five years have been BLEAK as a Willis fan.
   Good feedback as always.

   Reply

   1. 1 HI BRUCE Outside YOUR own family few if any of us who use this site will have ever met but one does come to think of some people as distant “penpals” and I’m sure that your other regulars will join me in asking you to convey to W o C that we are pleased at her improvement and we would wish you to keep the site informed of her further progress.

      2 I can certainly understand how bleak the Willis situation has been for you. Think of poor little Bob in the 1960s! Also for 4 and a half years from Wimbledon 2012 until the Oz Open in 2017 Roger never won a grand slam, his total sat at albeit a record 17 slams, it looked as if he would never win another and as his years were well advancing everybody had written him off.

      3 Therefore you can imagine the tonic it has been for me to see Roger now win 3 slams in one year at the age of 35/36 and bring his total to 20. The last occasions on which I felt so elated in relation to the renaissance of an idol were when Godpop took the movie world by storm way back in 1972 and when against all odds Muhammad Ali came back from the dead to beat George Foreman in the “rumble in the Jungle” in 1974. And of course this time I have the consolation of knowing that YOU cant’ take away from me any of Roger’s slam totals the way you robbed me of some of of poor ole Mumbles’ Julius Caesar grosses!

      4 Anyway whilst I immensely enjoy our friendly arguments I think we have said all that is to be said on the SR/Sky Captain/Split subject. I have done my best to convince you of the validity of my own arguments and “When men on earth have done their best the angels in Heaven can’t do better!”

      Reply

      1. Hey Bob
         1. Thank you and will do.
         2. I can feel your Marlon pain of the 1960s…lol.
         3. Roger’s totals will probably never be beaten….he is amazing.
         4. Good quote.
         Thanks as always for the feedback.

         Reply

         1. HI BRUCE

            1 I suppose all people who follow any sport or artistic provision like the cinema will feel emotional pain when things are not going well for their own favourite player or performer. However I like Jack Nicholson’s Joker’s line in the 1989 Batman when all his ventures weren’t going according to plan “I’ve found a name for my pain -it’s called Batman!”

            2 Yes Fed’s stats are amazing but most of the time people concentrate on the total number of Grand Slam wins and ignore the impressive underlying figures. For example from Wimbledon 2005 until the Oz Open in 2010 Roger reached 18 out of 19 consecutive grand slam finals winning 12 of them. He has now won 10% of all Grand Slam finals played in the Open Era. Tremendous consistency!.

            Reply

            1. Hey Bob….Roger is a legend for sure….enjoy this latest triumph…..great stats indeed.

2. James has of yet to make the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the actors on the 2016 list who appeared in a film with him;

   2 MICHAEL MADSEN The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
   12 MORGAN FREEMAN Wanted (2008)
   16 LIAM NEESON The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
   18 BRUCE WILLIS SPLIT (2017)
   26 CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER The Last Station (2009)
   36 JOHN GOODMAN ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
   53 PAUL GIAMATTI The Last Station (2009)
   68 RAY LIOTTA Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
   74 WILLIAM HURT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM (2014)
   84 PHILIP BAKER HALL 50/50 (2011)
   86 DAN AYKROYD Bright Young Things (2003)
   95 MICHAEL IRONSIDE X-Men: First Class (2011)
   102 THOMAS KRETSCHMANN Wanted (2008)
   110 TOM WILKINSON THE CONSPIRATOR (2010)
   114 FOREST WHITAKER The Last King of Scotland (2006)
   125 VANESSA REDGRAVE Atonement (2007)
   126 TERENCE STAMP Wanted (2008)
   145 HELEN MIRREN The Last Station (2009)
   149 OLIVER PLATT X-Men: First Class (2011)
   152 JAMES REMAR X-Men: First Class (2011)
   159 RADE SERBEDZIJA X-Men: First Class (2011)
   163 JAMES CROMWELL Becoming Jane (2007)
   165 JONATHAN PRYCE Behind the Lines (1997)
   168 STAN LEE X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (2016)
   230 DANNY HUSTON The Conspirator (2010)
   233 JIM BROADBENT Arthur Christmas (2011)
   233 JIM BROADBENT Bright Young Things (2003)
   233 JIM BROADBENT FILTH (2014)
   233 JIM BROADBENT The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
   248 GLENN MORSHOWER X-Men: First Class (2011)
   249 STEPHEN ROOT The Conspirator (2010)
   253 TOBY JONES ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
   253 TOBY JONES MUPPETS MOST WANTED (2014)
   256 RAY WISE X-Men: First Class (2011)
   257 SALMA HAYEK Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
   262 COLM MEANEY The Conspirator (2010)
   267 CIARAN HINDS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY (2014)
   276 KIRSTEN DUNST Wimbledon (2004)
   303 LASCO ATKINS X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
   351 ROSARIO DAWSON Trance (2013)
   356 TILDA SWINTON The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
   358 JASON FLEMYNG Welcome to the Punch (2013)
   358 JASON FLEMYNG X-Men: First Class (2011)
   377 SAM NEILL Wimbledon (2004)
   382 ANJELICA HUSTON 50/50 (2011)
   383 ROSEMARY HOWARD SPLIT (2017)
   398 PATRICK STEWART X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   411 JON FAVREAU Wimbledon (2004)
   412 JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT 50/50 (2011)
   424 IAN MCSHANE BOLLYWOOD QUEEN (2002)
   426 CHARLES DANCE STARTER FOR 10 (2006)
   426 CHARLES DANCE VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (2015)
   435 KEVIN BACON X-Men: First Class (2011)
   450 JASON STATHAM Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
   451 CHARLIZE THERON ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
   453 ANGELINA JOLIE Wanted (2008)
   464 CHRISTINA RICCI Penelope (2006)
   473 MIRANDA RICHARDSON Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
   494 BILL NIGHY Arthur Christmas (2011)
   503 PETER O’TOOLE Bright Young Things (2003)
   511 JOAN CUSACK ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011)
   518 KEVIN KLINE THE CONSPIRATOR (2010)
   534 TIL SCHWEIGER ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
   534 TIL SCHWEIGER MUPPETS MOST WANTED (2014)
   545 ROBIN WRIGHT The Conspirator (2010)
   559 SHEA WHIGHAM THE CONSPIRATOR (2010)
   562 STOCKARD CHANNING Bright Young Things (2003)
   591 RAY WINSTONE THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (2005)
   596 FAMKE JANSSEN X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   606 PAUL BETTANY WIMBLEDON (2004)
   611 RONALD GUTTMAN WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (2013)
   626 EMILY MORTIMER BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS (2003)
   641 NORMAN REEDUS THE CONSPIRATOR (2010)
   662 DEREK JACOBI Strings (2004)
   675 VINCENT CASSEL Trance (2013)
   693 RICHARD E. GRANT Bright Young Things (2003)
   693 RICHARD E. GRANT Penelope (2006)
   695 LEE NICHOLAS HARRIS MUPPETS MOST WANTED (2014)
   695 LEE NICHOLAS HARRIS Trance (2013)
   695 LEE NICHOLAS HARRIS WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (2013)
   698 JAMES MARSDEN X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   716 HUGH JACKMAN X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (2016)
   716 HUGH JACKMAN X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   716 HUGH JACKMAN X-Men: First Class (2011)
   717 HALLE BERRY X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   745 LAURA LINNEY ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011)
   747 MARK STRONG WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (2013)
   751 NICHOLAS GUEST X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   780 STEVE COOGAN ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (2011)
   801 IAN MCKELLEN X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   806 ROSE BYRNE X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (2016)
   806 ROSE BYRNE X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
   810 JUSTIN LONG THE CONSPIRATOR (2010)
   817 TONY CURRAN X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
   824 ISABELLE HUPPERT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM (2014)
   827 VIOLA DAVIS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HER (2014)
   827 VIOLA DAVIS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HIM (2014)
   827 VIOLA DAVIS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM (2014)
   831 EDDIE MARSAN ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
   831 EDDIE MARSAN FILTH (2014)
   870 KELSEY GRAMMER X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   873 RANDALL BATINKOFF X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
   880 PAUL BLACKWELL MUPPETS MOST WANTED (2014)
   889 MATT CRAVEN X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
   930 OLEK KRUPA X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)
   946 OSCAR ISAAC X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (2016)
   958 ANNE HATHAWAY Becoming Jane (2007)
   982 RUPERT EVERETT THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (2005)
   999 REESE WITHERSPOON Penelope (2006)

   There are only 4 actors on the 2000 list who have since fallen off who were in a film with James;

   122 JOHN MILLS Bright Young Things (2003)
   602 MAGGIE SMITH Becoming Jane (2007)
   803 JOHN NEVILLE Behind the Lines (1997)
   999 JULIAN GLOVER Strings (2004)

   James has appeared with 19 Oscar winners including 3 times or more with 3 of them;

   ANGELINA JOLIE Wanted (2008)
   ANJELICA HUSTON 50/50 (2011)
   ANNE HATHAWAY Becoming Jane (2007)
   CHARLIZE THERON ATOMIC BLONDE (2017)
   CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER The Last Station (2009)
   FOREST WHITAKER The Last King of Scotland (2006)
   HALLE BERRY X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   HELEN MIRREN The Last Station (2009)
   JENNIFER LAWRENCE X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (2016)
   JENNIFER LAWRENCE X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)
   JENNIFER LAWRENCE X -Men: First Class (2011)
   JIM BROADBENT Arthur Christmas (2011)
   JIM BROADBENT Bright Young Things (2003)
   JIM BROADBENT FILTH (2014)
   JIM BROADBENT The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
   JOHN MILLS Bright Young Things (2003)
   KEVIN KLINE THE CONSPIRATOR (2010)
   MAGGIE SMITH Becoming Jane (2007)
   MAGGIE SMITH Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
   MORGAN FREEMAN Wanted (2008)
   REESE WITHERSPOON Penelope (2006)
   TILDA SWINTON The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
   VANESSA REDGRAVE Atonement (2007)
   VIOLA DAVIS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HER (2014)
   VIOLA DAVIS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HIM (2014)
   VIOLA DAVIS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM (2014)
   WILLIAM HURT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM (2014)

   Reply

   1. Hey Dan
      1. As always….. thank you.
      2. As big as the second list is….it is surprising that he is not among the Top 1000.
      3. At this rate he will soon be there.
      4. In the Oscar winners….I did not see Sir Michael Caine….they were in Gnemo and Juliet together.
      5. Interesting lists as always.

      Reply

3. 1 HI BRUCE We can always rationalise choices that suit our own preferences though you are usually more objective than you appear to me to have been in this case. I went to see Superman Returns because I KNEW Brando was in it from all the publicity HE got for the film and so did Kevin Spacey go to see it when aware of Brando’s presence–though Spacey’s approval is maybe a minus now! I didn’t know that Mr Demi Moore was in Split until he popped up. It would be a boring site if everybody agreed with you, Steve and Flora!

   2 It’s often hard to know where to draw the line in crediting grosses to this star or that but I feel it is important that we should try to avoid going too far over it or we might eschew the fine-tuning of comparisons of grosses for those not familiar with particular actors or certain films and therefore do not have the opportunity to consider whether to discount some figures. Either that fine-tuning is important, as it is to me, or it is not as seems to be the case with Steve for example.

   3 Box Office Mojo regularly includes small roles, cameos, uncredited parts etc on an actor’s page but makes it clear that the grosses for those films are not included in the actor’s totals. Even Mojo though doesn’t give Split the bare mention on Mr Moore’s page.

   4 The Numbers does not mention Split on the Bruce Moore page but DOES credit Mumbles with it. You of course are have your own criteria and indeed generally your criteria across the board is excellent.

   5 Therefore it is not for me to behave like those 2 Muppets who sit loftily in a theatre box and hurl criticisms at the actors below so all I can say is – “Superman Returns and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow that world is often an unfair and cold place and it certainly is a lot warmer down in Mayoland or Willisland.” Anyway great as always trading opinions with you Work Horse.

   Reply

   1. BRUCE

      1 My last post at para 4 should of course have read that The Numbers credits Mumbles with Superman Returns. I didn’t spot it in time for the correction button – still being effectively used a lot by me and I once again express my appreciation of it. Can you do the necessary correction?

      2 However I am so happy that Roger Federer today won his 20th Grand Slam title – as you would be if Hanks or Mr Moore won 20 Oscars – that I have no heart for arguing further with anyone today so bring on something from Joel that aims more vitriolic criticism at The Duke and/or Mr Mumbles and Ill happily agree with it!

      Reply

      1. Hey Bob….when I saw Roger had won….I thought of you. The man is getting better with age. Currently in a Hospital Emergency room (WoC is very sick)….so I can not fix the error. No argument from me…..lol.

         Reply

         1. HI BRUCE

            1 I have just seen your post about W o C being sick. Sorry I missed it earlier. It is rather alarming because she is of course a big part of our favourite movies site.

            2. PLEASE flag up as soon as you can an update and ensure the flag stays ther for a little while in case I miss it while for example sleeping.

            Reply

      2. Hey Bob…..the two missing sections have been added to the McAvoy page. So you now have all the stats and the facts.

         Reply

   2. Hey Bob. Years ago, we had a great debate on whether or not Laurence Olivier should get credit for Sky Pirate and the World of Tomorrow….or whatever it is called. In the end we went with no. with the rule being that the actor needed to “know” he was in the movie. Willis knew he was going to be in Split…..plus his appearance generated some buzz in the movie. In the end it is more likely Bruce willl lose Split more than Brando will gain Superman Returns. Thanks for sharing your movie thoughts on this.

      Reply

      1. 1 HI BRUCE Regarding your reason for giving Split to Bruce Moore I am reminded of what Bing and Danny kept saying to each other in White Christmas about contentious matters that one of themwas pressing and to which the other was objecting – “Well it’s a reason. Not a good one but a reason.” You have conceded that you can’t really defend the Bruce Moore decision and when I was a Civil Servant our training was that if we couldn’t defend something in public we should drop it.

         2 But your reason for excluding Supe Returns from the Mumbles page I find incredulous – that he didn’t know he is in it. I might ask you tongue in cheek how you know what Brando knows unless you have been able to establish conclusively that persons with religious persuasions are completely wrong and there is definitely no Hereafter. For all we know Mr M could be sitting somewhere now watching SR and planning to get his own back on you someday [and give Joel a good hiding into the bargain!]

         3 Also, again tongue in cheek, how do you know for sure that those with a belief in reincarnation are wrong? If HE was right Glenn Ford could be among us now in his new skin quite well aware of the history of his movies after he left his old life. For example he found out where Charley Bill Stuart was buried.

         4 However I think that the “Brando doesn’t know” argument is irrelevant and the litmus test should be whether a performer’s presence in a film has been a marketing contribution. Posthumous fortunes have long been made out of legends like Elvis, Monroe, McQueen and Dean and the makers of SR claim that Brando’s presence in SR was essential to the project, his association with it was heavily publicised in the media, he unlike Demi’s wimp and Virginia Mayo is high up in SR’s cast lists, and his estate got a healthy fee for the Mumbles participation in SR.

         5 In the 1996 A Time to Kill lawyer Matthew McConnaughey urged jurors to close their eyes and put aside their normal personal feelings and prejudices and imagine they were in the position of people simply wanting to see justice done. We all have our idols and I would ask you to put yourself in the place of a regular who feels that although normally a fair person you are now letting self- indulgence take precedence over fairness to the regular’s own idol and perhaps those of other viewers. How would you feel in the place of those viewrs?

         6 A couple of times you have complained to me about representations that you have made to Box Office Mojo about perceived errors on their part but as you put it to me “They will not change anything.” Am I therefore not entitled to say to you “Physician heal yourself!”

         7 But to give extra grosses to Mr Moore of all people! I am reminded of the time when McEnroe and Ivan Lendl were on the Tennis Players’ Committee and McEnroe put forward a motion to give more cash to double players though that meant that the singles players would have to take less. Lendl who already had millions in the bank opposed McEnroe’s motion and John reportedly shouted across the table at him “How much money do YOU need?!”

         Reply

4. The first time I saw James McAvoy was as the son of Paul Atreides in the mini-series Children of Dune (2003). He quickly became one of my favorite young actors. He was especially good in the action movie Wanted and as the young Professor Xavier in the X-Men series.

   I’ve seen 17 of the 25 films listed. Favorites include – Narnia, X-Men, Wanted, Atonement, Filth, Trance, Arthur Christmas, Atomic Blonde and Welcome to the Punch.

   I wasn’t that crazy about Split, maybe I should give it one more spin. Like Tarantino, M. Night Shyamalan is an acquired taste, the only one of his films I’ve seen a number of times was Signs and that was only because my ex was a fan, it frightened her at the cinema and she loved being frightened.

   Good work Bruce. Vote Up!

   Reply

   1. Hey Steve
      1. Thanks for checking out our James McAvoy page.
      2. I just recently realized he was the little creaturein Narnia…..I must have gone 10 years not connecting those dots.
      3. I have seen 20 of his movies…..seen his Top 13 and bottom 6…..lots of misses in the 14 thorough 19 area. Though I do confuse….not sure I remember his role in Wimbledon.
      4. Seen all of your favorites….his Filth, Trance and Welcome to the Punch movies remind me of Michael Caine’s classic late 60s early 70s British gangster movies he made….Get Carter, The Italian Job.
      5. I remember you talking about Welcome To The Punch…..Mr. Mark Strong is excellent as the “good bad” guy.
      6. Actually…..our UMR score ranked Victor Frankenstein dead last….I actually really liked that different spin on the classic story….I thought McAvoy was awesome as the crazed scientist. Guess I am on that boat by myself….lol.
      7. Arthur Christmas is in my kids’ Christmas movie rotation……all this talk about Wanted has me interested in watching it again.
      8. I was working on this comment late last night….when apparently I fell asleep….I woke up this morning with the iPad on the floor…and when I turned it on…..this is where it was…..falling asleep while commenting….that goodness I don’t smoke….lol.
      This morning’s comments
      9. Signs is a fun movie….my soon to be married daughter stopped watching it during the knife under the door scene….and has never finished it.
      10. Thanks for the vote up….and for the feedback.

      Reply

      1. “SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE BRANDO EFFECT

         “How did Bryan Singer bring back Jor-El?

         BY STEVE HEAD “I remember all of us were very excited about Marlon Brando being in Superman,” says Kevin Spacey (Lex Luthor) recalling the time he and his friends went to see the first Superman movie in 1978. “Everyone was excited about Brando being in that movie. We saw it on opening weekend and we just loved it.” Bring your heart rate down. It’s safe to read onward as the filmmakers explain how they brought back Brando. “Embracing the first film was the most important thing from the beginning,” says co-screenwriter Dan Harris. “The movie was not only our visual bible and reference, but everything that we remember as kids about Superman has come from that movie. We wanted to use what we loved about it.” The filmmakers felt one of the most effective ways to establish an ambiance that connected Superman Returns to Superman: The Movie would be to bring back Brando. “If we could get to hear Marlon Brando’s voice as Superman’s conscience it would be the best way to convey that Superman is looking for his place in the universe.

         NB SPACEY was in Superman Returns but was excited to see him and Brando on the screen in the one scene they share so he actually watched it a few times

         Reply

5. 1 HI BRUCE I feel guilty about not having seen too many of McAvoy’s films as being Scottish and residing in London he obviously comes from the United Kingdom over here so at least I can to a degree salve my conscience by writing about him on your site.

   2 I very much enjoyed him in the 2008 mega hit Wanted [$411 million worldwide in your chart] but even more so in the 2016 Split. In that one he reminded me of Norman Bates except that Bates thought that he was just his mother at times whereas in Split McAvoy thinks that he is in turn 23 different people many of whom are frightening, with apparently the new and most terrifying of all No 24 on the verge of appearing on the scene.

   3 James got very good reviews for playing an obviously difficult role. Above you have awarded the film a respectable 75% rating and credit it with a WW gross of $280 million. That figure must represent mega profits as the film cost a paltry $9 million to make just 2 years ago
   .
   4 I did think though that even for you it is extravagant to give Willis credit for the film as his role was uncredited and just fractionally longer than Virginia Mayo’s Up in Arms but “one swallow doesn’t make a summer” and your chart I found otherwise interesting and highly informative given my own limited knowledge of James’ flicks, though I couldn’t see your usual end of table general summary or any Possible Interesting Facts and I always like those.

   Reply

   1. Hey Bob
      1. Glad writing about McAvoy helps you deal with the guilt.
      2. I liked Wanted…but have only seen it one time….it is time to re-visit that one.
      3. As for Split…..good thoughts on his performance. He is easily the best part of the movie. Should be fun to see him back in Glass.
      4. And now to Mr. Bruce Willis…..I had no interest in seeing Split in theaters, but when I heard about the Willis part….off to the theater we went…so in my mind, Bruce had a part in that movie being so financially successful. But I realize my position is not easily defended.
      Good feedback.

      Reply

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