Content Warning: This article contains references to Nazism/xenophobia
Viggo Mortensen has developed a hugely popular and beloved filmography over the years, starring in plenty of successful films that have made him one of the most reliable actors in the business. Even though not all of his films have been box office hits, he’s always elevated his roles with bold and intriguing acting choices.
Mortensen’s most notable role was as Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous trilogy, but the actor has gone on to be involved in plenty more successful films since then, filling his resume with underrated gems in the process. To celebrate his career, Ranker has compiled a list of the internet’s favorite movies in his filmography.
10 A Dangerous Method (2011)
Available To Stream On Starz
Mortensen stars opposite Kiera Knightley and Michael Fassbender in this acclaimed thriller from auteur filmmaker David Cronenberg. The film chronicles the complicated relationship between leading psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, as they begin to argue about each other’s contrasting methods.
Mortensen’s performance as Sigmund Freud is undoubtedly one of the actor’s greatest accomplishments to date, truly bringing this film to life opposite Fassbender’s Jung. The pair have incredible chemistry on-screen that makes this gripping story impossible to look away from.
9 Appaloosa (2008)
Available To Buy On Amazon Prime Video
In this gripping Western from Ed Harris, Mortensen stars as Everett Hitch, a crime fighter hired by the desperate residents of a small town that a tyrannical local rancher is targeting. The Western genre might not be the most popular in the modern age, but Appaloosa is just one example of why it should be.
Alongside directing the film, Ed Harris also stars in the lead role as Hitch’s crime-fighting partner, Virgil Cole. Harris and Mortensen make a great pair together, really managing to elevate this film beyond the material written in front of them.
8 Good (2008)
Available To Stream On Peacock
Viggo Mortensen plays the lead role of John Halder in Good, one of the most intriguing and underrated war dramas of the early 2000s. The film explores Halder’s life as a Professor under Nazism, as he’s forced to swallow his pride and beliefs in order to advance through the system and succeed in his career.
The film explores the ambiguous morality of those who did nothing to oppose Nazism in its early years. Although Mortensen is fantastic in the role and several historians, such as Frank McDonough, recommend that people watch it in his podcast, there are still some critics who would not consider it one of the best modern war drama movies, with many preferring the play.
7 Eastern Promises (2007)
Available To Buy On Amazon Prime Video
In another one of David Cronenberg’s dramatic thrillers, Viggo Mortensen plays a morally corrupt aid to one of the most dangerous crime families in London. The film explores many of the unspeakable acts that are often buried under the rug by the officials in charge of these deadly crime-ridden areas.
Mortensen has previously claimed that he speaks seven languages (via Hollywood Reporter), and after seeing how easily the actor perfected his Russian accent in this movie, that makes complete sense. He’s fantastic in the role, and he completely manages to tell himself as a criminal.
6 The Reflecting Skin (1990)
Available To Buy On Amazon Prime Video
The Reflecting Skin is a great gothic horror that tells the story of Dolphin Blue, an older widow who quickly comes under suspicion from her neighbors after a young boy’s friend goes missing. Whilst the children begin to gossip that Dolphin may be a vampire, one of the boy’s brothers takes a strong liking to the recluse.
Unlike a lot of horror movies from the 1990s, The Reflecting Skin doesn’t shy away from taking its time to let its story unravel gradually. It’s pretty slow-paced, but that works perfectly for this kind of unsettling, gothic story.
5 The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
Although The Two Towers is commonly believed to be the worst of Peter Jackson’s trilogy, it’s still a fantastic fantasy film that does a great job of building upon the first entry whilst setting up for the third. The only thing setting it back is its slow pacing and often irrelevant subplots.
Mortensen reprises his role as Aragorn, and his character gets a lot more time to shine in The Two Towers. The film dedicates a lot of time to explore his relationship with Liv Tyler’s Arwen, the Lady of Rivendell. It might not be as action-packed or story-focused as the other two installments, but it’s still a thrilling adventure throughout.
4 A History Of Violence (2005)
Available To Stream On TubiTV
In one more collaboration with David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen plays a simple diner owner who becomes a local hero after stopping a robbery. His actions soon put him in the crosshairs of a deadly criminal gang, who seek revenge for their wrongdoings.
A History Of Violence is one of the best crime thrillers for those who seek two hours of non-stop adrenaline and gripping filmmaking. Not only does Mortensen provide one of his most vulnerable and compelling performances to date, but the story that’s unraveling around him is expertly written to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
3 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
Very few fantasy trilogies are blessed to have a conclusion as epic and satisfying as The Return Of The King, which manages to wrap up the entire saga’s narrative in an incredibly exciting and gratifying way. All of the characters’ journeys end fittingly, whilst the overall story manages to pull itself together in a believable and rewarding way.
Mortensen’s character Aragorn plays a huge role in the conclusion of this trilogy, as he finally reaches his true potential and leads the armies into battle against the dark forces. It’s over three hours of epic fantasy storytelling, and there are very few films that could ever replicate anything this immersive.
2 The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
Available To Stream On Amazon Prime Video
Whilst The Two Towers shines in its character development and Return of the King features plenty of rewarding payoffs, it is the Fellowship of the Ring that boasts the strongest storytelling of the entire trilogy. It perfectly captures the spirit of Tolkien’s novels, building this incredible world from scratch with ease.
It’s up to The Fellowship of the Ring to introduce all of these incredible characters, which is certainly no easy task. The trilogy has a huge cast of eccentric characters and gripping subplots, so it’s nothing short of a miracle that Jackson managed to introduce all of these elements whilst keeping the film exciting throughout.
1 Green Book (2018)
Available To Stream On DIRECTV
Although it’s far from the most critically acclaimed movie in Mortensen’s filmography, there’s no denying that Green Book is one of the actor’s most famous movies thanks to its memorable Best Picture win at the 2019 Academy Awards.
The film follows a Black pianist named Don Shirley, who forms a close bond with his Italian-American chauffeur as they journey through America and learn about themselves through each other’s experiences. It’s an extremely important story that’s told through two standout performances from Mortensen and his co-star Mahershala Ali.
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