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)
2005
Batman Begins (2005)
2010
The Fighter (2010)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Supp Actor Win
2019
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
AA Best Picture Nom
2022
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
1995
Pocahontas (1995)
1994
Little Women (1994)
2015
The Big Short (2015)
AA Best Picture Nom
AA Best Supp Actor Nom
2009
Public Enemies (2009)
2006
The Prestige (2006)
2009
Terminator Salvation (2009)
2007
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
2000
Shaft (2000)
1989
Henry V (1989)
2023
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Voice Only
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)
2006
Rescue Dawn (2006)
2000
American Psycho (2000)
2014
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
2007
I'm Not There. (2007)
2004
The Machinist (2004)
2002
Reign of Fire (2002)
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)
2011
The Flowers of War (2011)
2005
Harsh Times (2005)
1992
Newsies (1992)
1996
The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
1993
Swing Kids (1993)
2002
Equilibrium (2002)
2001
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
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 | 800.8 | 1,506.00 | 1 | 95 | 08 / 02 | 99.7 | |
| 2 | American Hustle (2013) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence |
150.10 | 199.0 | 333.00 | 17 | 76 | 10 / 00 | 98.8 | |
| 2 | The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Morgan Freeman & Tom Hardy |
458.10 | 620.4 | 1,482.20 | 2 | 88 | 00 / 00 | 98.7 | |
| 3 | Batman Begins (2005) | Michael Caine & Liam Neeson |
205.30 | 345.9 | 627.80 | 8 | 82 | 01 / 00 | 97.9 | |
| 3 | The Fighter (2010) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Win |
Mark Wahlberg & Amy Adams |
93.60 | 127.8 | 176.40 | 35 | 88 | 07 / 02 | 97.1 | |
| 4 | Ford v Ferrari (2019) AA Best Picture Nom |
Matt Damon | 117.60 | 138.4 | 264.40 | 22 | 86 | 04 / 02 | 97.0 | |
| 8 | Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) | Chris Hemsworth & Bradley Cooper |
343.30 | 351.4 | 779.00 | 8 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 95.1 | |
| 9 | Pocahontas (1995) | Mel Gibson | 141.60 | 350.9 | 857.60 | 4 | 61 | 02 / 02 | 93.8 | |
| 10 | Little Women (1994) | Winona Ryder & Susan Sarandon |
50.10 | 132.3 | 251.20 | 27 | 84 | 03 / 00 | 93.6 | |
| 10 | The Big Short (2015) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Nom |
Brad Pitt & Steve Carell |
70.30 | 89.8 | 170.60 | 41 | 84 | 05 / 01 | 92.4 | |
| 12 | Public Enemies (2009) | Johnny Depp & Channing Tatum |
97.10 | 139.6 | 307.70 | 31 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 89.2 | |
| 13 | The Prestige (2006) | Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johansson |
53.10 | 87.0 | 179.70 | 61 | 81 | 02 / 00 | 88.2 | |
| 15 | Terminator Salvation (2009) | Sam Worthington | 125.30 | 180.1 | 533.80 | 22 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 88.2 | |
| 14 | 3:10 to Yuma (2007) | Russell Crowe | 53.60 | 84.0 | 109.70 | 48 | 79 | 02 / 00 | 87.4 | |
| 15 | Shaft (2000) | Samuel L. Jackson | 70.30 | 140.7 | 214.40 | 33 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 84.6 | |
| 16 | Henry V (1989) | Kenneth Branagh | 10.20 | 27.6 | 27.60 | 82 | 89 | 03 / 01 | 84.4 | |
| 16 | The Boy and the Heron (2023) Voice Only |
Willem Dafoe | 46.80 | 46.8 | 294.20 | 52 | 84 | 01 / 01 | 84.2 | |
| 17 | Empire of the Sun (1987) | Directed by Steven Spielberg | 22.20 | 61.3 | 182.60 | 52 | 76 | 06 / 00 | 83.5 | |
| 17 | Vice (2018) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Amy Adams & Steve Carell |
47.80 | 56.6 | 87.10 | 60 | 67 | 08 / 01 | 82.8 | |
| 20 | Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Voice Only |
Lauren Bacall | 4.70 | 8.2 | 408.30 | 167 | 87 | 01 / 00 | 77.8 | |
| 21 | Hostiles (2017) | Rosamund Pike | 29.80 | 35.8 | 42.90 | 82 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 72.6 | |
| 22 | Rescue Dawn (2006) | Steve Zahn | 5.50 | 9.0 | 11.80 | 185 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 71.9 | |
| 22 | American Psycho (2000) | Reese Witherspoon | 15.10 | 30.1 | 68.50 | 112 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 71.7 | |
| 25 | Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) | Directed by Ridley Scott | 65.00 | 85.8 | 353.80 | 53 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 63.7 | |
| 23 | I'm Not There. (2007) | Cate Blanchett & Heath Ledger |
4.00 | 6.3 | 18.30 | 177 | 74 | 01 / 00 | 63.2 | |
| 24 | The Machinist (2004) | Jennifer Jason Leigh | 1.10 | 1.9 | 14.20 | 202 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 61.9 | |
| 27 | Reign of Fire (2002) | Matthew McConaughey & Gerard Butler |
43.10 | 80.0 | 152.70 | 56 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 59.1 | |
| 26 | A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) | Kevin Kline | 16.10 | 34.2 | 53.30 | 97 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 57.7 | |
| 28 | The New World (2005) | Colin Farrell | 12.70 | 21.4 | 51.40 | 139 | 64 | 01 / 00 | 54.3 | |
| 31 | Out of the Furnace (2013) | Woody Harrelson & Casey Affleck |
11.30 | 15.0 | 20.80 | 126 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 52.3 | |
| 29 | Velvet Goldmine (1998) | Ewan McGregor | 1.10 | 2.4 | 2.40 | 194 | 69 | 01 / 00 | 51.8 | |
| 30 | The Pale Blue Eye (2022) Netflix |
Robert Duvall | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 317 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 51.3 | |
| 32 | Laurel Canyon (2002) | Frances McDormand | 3.70 | 6.8 | 8.20 | 171 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 49.4 | |
| 33 | Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987) | Christopher Lee | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 285 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 42.3 | |
| 34 | All the Little Animals (1998) | John Hurt | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 250 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 40.3 | |
| 36 | The Promise (2016) | Oscar Isaac | 8.20 | 10.2 | 13.10 | 149 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 38.5 | |
| 35 | Metroland (1999) | Lee Ross | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 255 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 38.0 | |
| 37 | Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018) | Benedict Cumberbatch & Cate Blanchett |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 411 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 36.5 | |
| 38 | Amsterdam (2022) | Margot Robbie & Robert DeNiro |
14.90 | 15.3 | 30.00 | 60 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 33.7 | |
| 39 | The Flowers of War (2011) | Ni Ni | 0.40 | 0.6 | 129.70 | 209 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 32.2 | |
| 40 | Harsh Times (2005) | Eva Longoria | 3.30 | 5.6 | 10.10 | 170 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 31.9 | |
| 41 | Newsies (1992) | Robert Duvall | 2.80 | 7.3 | 7.30 | 141 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 30.6 | |
| 42 | The Portrait of a Lady (1996) | Nicole Kidman | 3.70 | 9.0 | 9.00 | 164 | 55 | 02 / 00 | 28.8 | |
| 44 | Swing Kids (1993) | Robert Sean Leonard | 5.60 | 14.7 | 14.70 | 136 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 28.5 | |
| 43 | Equilibrium (2002) | Sean Bean | 1.20 | 2.2 | 10.00 | 199 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 27.9 | |
| 46 | Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) | Nicolas Cage | 25.50 | 48.7 | 118.50 | 88 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 25.0 | |
| 45 | Knight of Cups (2015) | Cate Blanchett & Natalie Portman |
0.60 | 0.7 | 1.30 | 188 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 21.6 | |
| 47 | The Secret Agent (1996) | Bob Hoskins & Robin Williams |
0.10 | 0.3 | 0.90 | 250 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 18.4 |
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 |
1,506.00 | |
| The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Morgan Freeman & Tom Hardy |
1,482.20 | |
| Pocahontas (1995) | Mel Gibson | 857.60 | |
| Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) | Chris Hemsworth & Bradley Cooper |
779.00 | |
| Batman Begins (2005) | Michael Caine & Liam Neeson |
627.80 | |
| Terminator Salvation (2009) | Sam Worthington | 533.80 | |
| Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Voice Only |
Lauren Bacall | 408.30 | |
| Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) | Directed by Ridley Scott | 353.80 | |
| American Hustle (2013) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence |
333.00 | |
| Public Enemies (2009) | Johnny Depp & Channing Tatum |
307.70 | |
| The Boy and the Heron (2023) Voice Only |
Willem Dafoe | 294.20 | |
| Ford v Ferrari (2019) AA Best Picture Nom |
Matt Damon | 264.40 | |
| Little Women (1994) | Winona Ryder & Susan Sarandon |
251.20 | |
| Shaft (2000) | Samuel L. Jackson | 214.40 | |
| Empire of the Sun (1987) | Directed by Steven Spielberg | 182.60 | |
| The Prestige (2006) | Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johansson |
179.70 | |
| The Fighter (2010) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Win |
Mark Wahlberg & Amy Adams |
176.40 | |
| The Big Short (2015) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Supp Actor Nom |
Brad Pitt & Steve Carell |
170.60 | |
| Reign of Fire (2002) | Matthew McConaughey & Gerard Butler |
152.70 | |
| The Flowers of War (2011) | Ni Ni | 129.70 | |
| Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) | Nicolas Cage | 118.50 | |
| 3:10 to Yuma (2007) | Russell Crowe | 109.70 | |
| Vice (2018) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
Amy Adams & Steve Carell |
87.10 | |
| American Psycho (2000) | Reese Witherspoon | 68.50 | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) | Kevin Kline | 53.30 | |
| The New World (2005) | Colin Farrell | 51.40 | |
| Hostiles (2017) | Rosamund Pike | 42.90 | |
| Amsterdam (2022) | Margot Robbie & Robert DeNiro |
30.00 | |
| Out of the Furnace (2013) | Woody Harrelson & Casey Affleck |
20.80 | |
| I'm Not There. (2007) | Cate Blanchett & Heath Ledger |
18.30 | |
| The Machinist (2004) | Jennifer Jason Leigh | 14.20 | |
| The Promise (2016) | Oscar Isaac | 13.10 | |
| Rescue Dawn (2006) | Steve Zahn | 11.80 | |
| Harsh Times (2005) | Eva Longoria | 10.10 | |
| Equilibrium (2002) | Sean Bean | 10.00 | |
| Laurel Canyon (2002) | Frances McDormand | 8.20 | |
| Knight of Cups (2015) | Cate Blanchett & Natalie Portman |
1.30 | |
| The Secret Agent (1996) | Bob Hoskins & Robin Williams |
0.90 |
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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I just watched The Fighter and he earned his Academy Award, very cool list of Bale movies
Thank you Cole for the compliment
I, too have followed Christian Bale’s career closely since seeing him in Empire of the Sun. He is truly a consummate actor.
I agree justmesuzanne, i am glad he can he brought home Oscar gold …thanks for reading
Empire of the Sun was my favourite film for years after i saw it in the cinema. i must have watched it about a million times since! I was so glad when he broke through and made it as an adult actor. Great article!
Thank you Clare-Louise…in the States, Empire of the Sun is pretty much a forgotten film…..which I do not understand at all….thanks for reading and commenting
the machine,prestige,batman movies(there prequils not reboots) wait I like most of his movies. I cant wait to see the figher ans by the way great article.
thanks for stopping by and commenting…optimus
Christian Bale is also my favorite actor of all time….his range is impressive. Movies like “The Machinist” and “The Fighter”, while gritty, show off his versatility. He’s able to get super yoked for shows like “Reign of Fire” and then all skinny for movies like “The Machinist”. I think he does best in his edgier roles like “Harsh Times”(It’s here where I disagree with a lot of folks)and “The Fighter”. “Batman Begins” is great, but a little too part of a franchise for me to take Bale seriously in.
Good points frynch…..I like when he takes chances….Rescue Dawn is another great example of him getting “super yoked”