47 Christian Bale Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

Considered to be one of the best superhero films ever made, The Dark Knight is the saga of the Batman’s quest to rid the city of Gotham of organized crime. Heath Ledger won a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of deadly antagonist Joker in the highest grosser of 2008.

Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, who work as shills for a magician, become sworn enemies following a tragic accident that kills the former's wife. Now working separately as famous magicians, they are obsessed with outwitting each other in developing the ultimate disappearance trick, teleportation, which eventually drives their loved ones away and leads to their downfall.

Christopher Nolan concludes his The Dark Knight trilogy featuring DC superhero Batman by bringing him back from self-imposed exile to tackle the merciless mercenary Bane, who plans to take over Gotham city by controlling its dark underworld, with the help of the mysterious cat burglar Selina Kyle and his trusted butler Alfred.

Christopher Nolan's reboot of the Batman series details the origin of the caped crusader as he travels to Asia, where he conquers his fears and trains in combat under Henri Ducard. However, after learning about Ducard's true identity and mission, he returns to Gotham to protect the city as Batman with help from associates Alfred and Lucius Fox.

Schoolboy Jamie Graham gets separated from his wealthy British family in Shanghai after the Japanese army begins occupying China during WWII and struggles to overcome hunger on the streets until being taken to a POW camp. He remains upbeat despite witnessing the horrors of war firsthand and survives with the help of several strangers whom he befriends.

3:10 to Yuma is a Western drama that features a poor Civil War veteran and rancher who is entrusted with delivering a notorious outlaw to the authorities in another city. It stars Russell Crowe as the outlaw and Christian Bale as the rancher who agrees to the task in return for a reward to repay his debts and restore his honor.

Ford v Ferrari is a biographical sports drama film which tells the story of Carroll Shelby, an automotive designer and Ken Miles, a race car driver.  Together, they unite to achieve their goal, which is to build a vehicle to compete against the Ferrari race cars.    

During Vietnam War, Dieter Dengler’s—a German-born American navy pilot—aircraft is shot down in Laos while on a secret operation. He is held in captivity in a prison camp and tortured but together with other prisoners, he soon hatches an escape plan. After the escape, there are more problems to deal with—avoid getting caught again, contact American aircraft and most importantly stay alive.

Patrick Bateman is a handsome and wealthy investment banker who is focused on maintaining a high status in front of his friends and fiancée Evelyn and living a life full of vanity. However, by the night, he turns into a violent serial killer who mindlessly murders anyone around him .

FBI agent Richie DiMaso catches two con artists and lovers—Irving and Sydney—in a loan scam and compels them to set up detailed sting operations to nab corrupt politicians and mafia including the Mayor, Carmine Polito. Meanwhile Rosalyn, Irving’s unpredictable wife, has her own interests and can ruin the entire operation.

Following World War III, the totalitarian government in control of the whole world outlaws basic human feelings in order to prevent future wars. John Preston, a high-ranking Cleric who tracks down and executes Sense Offenders, accidentally misses his daily dose of Prozium, a drug to suppress emotions, and gradually becomes involved in the Underground resistance against the government.

Little Women is a family drama film, which tells the story of the March sisters, and their struggles to live and grow in a 19th century America that is struck by the Civil War, after their father leaves to fight for the Union Army. 

The historical drama based on Shakespeare’s play about the British monarch features young Henry who sets out in 1415 to conquer France. But Henry falters with self-doubt, and the sinking morale of his troops doesn’t help either. However, a resolute Henry emboldens his army with impassioned words and leads them into the battle of Agincourt, conquering France and winning Princess Katherine as his Queen. 

Ramesses is the real son of the Pharaoh of Egypt, Seti while Moses is his adopted son. When Seti dies, Ramesses becomes the new Pharaoh and learn of Moses Hebrew origin. Moses is banished but, on God’s will soon becomes the leader of Jews and takes up a difficult task of leading six-hundred-thousand of them across the Red Sea.

Dicky Eklund, a former boxing champion is now a crack addict and also a trainer for his brother, Micky Ward. Micky realises that his brother and mother are not good for his boxing career and hence part ways to create his own success story. However, in a crucial fight, it is Dicky who once again assumes the trainer role for his brother.

The psychological thriller revolves around Trevor Reznik, a machinist who suffers from chronic insomnia. His emaciated appearance and unsocial behavior alienate people as he sinks deeper into paranoia and delusion. Trevor’s delusions are eventually revealed to be stemming from his deep-rooted guilt of running over a boy with his car and just driving away. 

This Western adventure drama film takes us to 1892. It tells the story of Joseph Blocker, a legendary Army Captain, who agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their land through dangerous territory. However, the mission seems far more difficult than they imagined.  

After a lot of struggles and challenges, Dick Cheney manages to become a powerful bureaucrat in Washington. Eventually he becomes the Vice President to George W Bush.

Jim Hawkins is a young man who is running the Benbow Inn along with his mother. His life takes a turn when he discovers the map to a hidden treasure. He embarks on a dangerous adventure, hoping to find the treasure, and on the way, he forms an unlikely bond with a pirate who is also looking for the treasure.

Realizing the fragile United States housing bubble, eccentric hedge fund manager Michael Burry makes a huge bet against the housing market that attracts the attention of several opportunists like banker Jared Vennett and hedge-fund specialist Mark Baum. They make a fortune as the American economy collapse in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2008.

The biographical crime-drama is based on the real-life story of bank robbers John Dillinger, Homer Van Meter, and Baby Face Nelson as they are pursued by FBI agent Melvin Purvis. The movie shows how Dillinger was revered by the American downtrodden public and FBI’s attempts to bring the criminals to justice. 

In 1984, British journalist, Arthur Stuart, investigates the career of the 1970s glam superstar Brian Slade, who was heavily influenced in his early life by the rebellious life of American singer Curt Wild.

After being tired of the constant exploitation from their bosses, a group of newspaper sellers decide to fight back to bring about a change. However, they are also met with ruthlessness from the big businesses.

Returning from the Gulf War, army ranger Jim Davis faces difficulties on many fronts while adjusting to routine life. When he doesn’t get the police department job he wanted, Jim with friend Mike go back to their old criminal ways. Later, he receives an offer from Homeland Securities to work in Columbia. Troubled with war experiences, can he settle into the job?

I’m Not There is a 2007 musical drama film, in which six diverse characters inspired by the life and music of Bob Dylan, portray different aspects of his life.  

After losing his daughter, Gorr becomes Gorr the God Butcher and sets out to eliminate all gods. Meanwhile, Thor is looking for inner peace, but he is forced to return to action against Gorr. Thor joins forces with Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster, in order to put an end to Gorr’s plans.

As he resumes working at a steel mill after release from jail, Russell Baze finds his brother Rodney, an Iraq war veteran who incurred a huge debt gambling, missing following an illegal bare-knuckle prizefight with sociopathic drug dealer Harlan DeGroat. When the police refuse to go after the culprit, he takes it upon himself to attain justice.

Set up against a historical backdrop, the film focuses on the passionate native princess, Pocahontas. In love with John Smith, an ambitious English soldier taken prisoner by the natives, she helps him in many ways before being banished by her father. Although Smith reciprocates her love, his career is equally important to him. So, he leaves for England while Pocahontas is told that he has died. 

This musical drama film revolves around a few teens in Nazi Germany who adore American music. However, problem arises due to the fact that the music is banned in their nation.

The fourth installment in the Terminator film series, the movie revolves around humanity’s war against Skynet’s network and its army of terminators. John Connor leads the resistance against Skynet and forms a bond with a cyborg Marcus Wright. Marcus ultimately sacrifices himself to save John and to help destroy the Skynet base. 

Armenian origin apothecary Mikael Boghosian promises himself to a rich neighbor to fund his medical studies in Constantinople. There, he falls in love with Armenian origin woman Ana Khesarian, who is involved with American reporter Chris Myers. The love triangle becomes more complicated as the Ottoman government begins mass murder of Armenian people at the outbreak of WWI.

Based on Shakespeare’s play, the film illustrates 19th century Italy. When Hermia’s father promises her hand to Demetrius, she flees to forest with her lover, Lysander, while Demetrius follows them. As they meet fairy-world’s rulers Oberon and Titania, Oberon’s aide Puck creates mischief between the lovers. Even a play troupe rehearsing in the forest is not spared by Puck, thus escalating the confusion.

Laurel Canyon is a drama film which tells the story of Sam, who moves to Los Angeles to stay in his mother’s house, along with his fiancée Alex. Although Sam expected that his mother would be away, and he and Alex would have the luxurious house to himself, he finds his mother still at their house working on a project with her boyfriend who is a record producer.

After his mother’s death and his father’s disappearance, Bosse suffers neglect at the hands of his guardians. Eventually, one night, he decides to run away to seek his own father. He soon meets a genie who takes him to a fantasy land where his actual father is the King. He begins to live a happy and comfortable life, but things take a turn when he learns that an Evil Knight has been kidnapping children and turning them into slaves. He decides to set out on a quest to set things right. 

At a young age, Quinn witnesses the awakening of fire-breathing dragons and the subsequent death of his mother while protecting him. Two decades later, Quinn is responsible for protecting a group of people from the dragons who have destroyed much of humanity. There appears to be little hope, but when dragon Slayer Van Zan arrives, the two get together to face the powerful monster.

Based on a 1881 novel of the same name, The Portrait of a Lady is a drama film which tells the story of Isabel Archer, a woman who is known for being extremely beautiful. After her uncle passes away, Isabel receives a huge fortune. In order to explore herself, she decides to travel to Europe, where she gets entangled in several misfortunate events.

NYPD Detective John Shaft II arrests Walter Wade, Jr. for the murder of Trey Howard but Wade escapes with a bail. Years later Wade is again arrested by Shaft. Now Shaft must fight corrupt officials, officers, and drug lords to keep the only witness of Trey’s murder safe and bring Wade to justice. 

A fisherman leaves to fight with the Greek Army against the Italians, during the Second World War. However, during this time, his fiancée starts to fall in love with the local Italian commander.

Rick is a successful screenwriter living in Los Angeles, California, but his life is filled with emptiness. He searches for love and for himself via a series of adventures with six different women.

Mowgli is a human child who is raised by a pack of wolves in the Indian jungles. As he learns the rules of the jungle, he is accepted by the animals as their own. However, the tiger Shere Khan doesn’t take a liking to him.  

Soon after young milliner Sophie Hatter befriends the wizard Howl, she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste into a ninety-year-old woman. In her quest to end the curse, she finds Howl's moving castle with help from a living scarecrow, befriends fire demon Calcifer who powers the castle, and alters the course of war between two kingdoms.

Chief of the Powhatan tribe in North America decides to marry his beautiful daughter Pocahontas to great warrior Kocoum, while the free-spirited woman falls in love with British Captain John Smith. When Kocoum dies at the hand of an English soldier and Smith is captured by the natives, an all-out war gets in the way of the star-crossed lovers.