Many movies are released every year and the quality of these films can often be debated. When it comes to Aaron Eckhart, most people know him from the blockbuster role in The Dark Knight. However, Eckhart has also starred in a number of other films that have received critical acclaim. Here is a list of the Top 10 Aaron Eckhart Movies.
1. Rabbit Hole
The plot is filled with top TV drama, including a wonderfully choreographed espionage sting, a dramatic explosion and two murders. But there’s also plenty of room for well-made spy nonsense, and this is where Rabbit Hole shines. The cast is strong, the production value is high and the pace reaches mach speed. There’s even a little humor, with quippy one-liners from Hailey (Meta Golding) and self-deprecating remarks from Weir.
Ultimately, it’s the performance of Kiefer Sutherland that keeps Rabbit Hole entertaining. He’s still playing the cocky smart-ass we all know and love, but this time with a hint of devilish charm. This is a role that suits him perfectly, even though the show can’t seem to decide what it wants to be. There are moments when it tries to be a loosey-goosey screwball comedy and other times when it tries to say something meaningful about the world.
2. Thank You For Smoking
In his most pronounced leading role to date, Eckhart shines as Naylor, a man who doesn’t seem to realize that his profession is not only harmful but also dangerous to society. He’s a cocky character who’s not far off from the Wolf of Wall Street’s Jordan Belfort, and thanks to his unflinching performance, Thank You for Smoking is one of the best Aaron Eckhart movies ever made.
Eckhart’s star continued to rise after this film, earning roles in Neil LaBute’s black comedy In the Company of Men and Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich. He was also seen as District Attorney Harvey Dent / Two-Face in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Dark Knight, cementing his status as one of the top actors working today. In recent years, he’s been in a few more big-budget films, including the action flick Classified and the Vietnam war movie Ambush. However, it’s this role that proves he still has the chops to be a great lead actor. The caustic wit and razor-sharp satire of this repelisplus film make it a true gem.
3. Sully
In 2008, Eckhart starred in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Batman film The Dark Knight as Harvey Dent / Two-Face, a role that has gone down in history as one of the best superhero performances ever. The movie broke records, and, along with Heath Ledger’s unforgettable Joker, catapulted Eckhart to even greater heights in the entertainment industry.
While it is impossible to accurately depict the events of the Hudson River incident, Sully does a great job at portraying Sullenberger’s torment as he is interrogated by a board of people trying to figure out whether he made the right decision in landing his plane on the water instead of returning back to LaGuardia airport. The film portrays how the public instantly anointed him a hero, while privately he was wracked with guilt over his actions. It’s a solid and compelling film that features great work from both Eckhart and Tom Hanks.
4. Olympus Has Fallen
A year later, he delivered another excellent performance in the crime drama Argo, co-starring with Ben Affleck and Melissa Leo. In his portrayal of CIA agent Nick Naylor, Eckhart was once again superb, making the character completely believable and delivering an outstanding performance. The film is a story about the 2008 Iranian hostage crisis, and it follows the rescue attempt of American Ambassador Ben Bradlee (Affleck). It was directed by Ben Affleck and written by Matt Damon, which helped to create an engaging narrative that was both thrilling and incredibly realistic.
Olympus Has Fallen was a 2013 action thriller that is often referred to as a “Die Hard in the White House” movie. It was directed by Antoine Fuqua and starred Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman in the leads. The film was a solid entry in the genre and while it did lack the depth of Roland Emmerich’s more accomplished 2012 disaster flick, it was still a lot of fun thanks to its old-fashioned stylism and great chemistry between the stars.
5. Bleed for This
It might be easy to overlook this overlooked war movie, but it’s a solid entry in the Aaron Eckhart canon and a fine example of the actor’s range. He’s a Lieutenant Colonel named Jim Doolittle who leads the US Navy to victory in the battle that was considered a major turning point in WWII. The film doesn’t quite achieve the heights of Full Metal Jacket or Black Hawk Down, but it’s still a well-crafted action flick with some outstanding visuals. Eckhart’s performance is strong and nuanced, and he’s supported by a talented cast that includes Matt Damon and Noah Wyle.
