The 15 Greatest Jude Law Movies Ranked

Jude Law is one of the most versatile actors of his generation. With more than two decades in the industry, it's impressive that Law continues to reinvent himself. Law is part of a generation of young stars that emerged in the late '90s and was frequently cast in leading roles because of his natural charisma and ability to reliably bring in an audience.

What remains interesting about Law is that his star power hasn't faded as he's grown older. While other actors might be so egocentric that they're unwilling to take on smaller parts, Law manages to crush any role he's handed regardless of his screen time.

Law has managed to take lead roles in major film franchises, including the modern "Sherlock Holmes" series that may be returning for a third installment. He's also done some equally strong work on television, playing major parts in the HBO shows "The Third Day," "The Young Pope," and its sequel series "The New Pope." The prolonged storylines show his ability to develop a character over time.

Here are the fifteen greatest Jude Law movies, ranked.

Steven Soderbergh's 2013 thriller "Side Effects" is an unusual mix of tones. While the film centers around complex themes within the medical field, relating to the psychological, ethical, and moral debates surrounding experimental drugs, it's also a lurid romantic thriller. The brilliant screenplay by Scott Z. Burns required the cast to have a working knowledge of their respective on-screen medical careers while also embracing the story's pulpy romantic elements — something Jude Law is perfect for. He is charismatic and intelligent and fits in perfectly with the grounded nature of the story.

Law stars as Dr. Jonathan Banks, a psychiatrist assigned to the suicidal (and wealthy) Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara). Emily's husband (Channing Tatum) has recently been released from prison. Banks understands the stress that Emily is under, despite her privilege. In order to best serve his patient, Banks reaches out to Emily's former psychiatrist, Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones).

If great actors are praised for the "humanity" they bring to their roles, then Jude Law deserves particular credit for bringing empathy and emotion to a robotic character. The 2001 science fiction drama "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" is a film from two cinematic masters. It was initially developed by the late, great Stanley Kubrick (who died in 1999) and eventually completed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. Both directors are geniuses and among the best filmmakers of all time, but their stylistic impulses are very different.

Thankfully, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" combines the warm humanity of familial relationships and a sense of adventure with darker philosophical themes of identity, death, and the passage of time. While the story primarily centers around the childlike android David (Haley Joel Osment), Law has a standout supporting role as the entertainment robot Gigolo Joe who must cope with existing solely to fulfill sexual fantasies.

Taking on biopic roles always requires a bit of research on an actor's part, and that's certainly the case when they're playing an iconic figure from Hollywood history. Martin Scorsese's 2004 biopic "The Aviator" explores the life of idiosyncratic inventor and entrepreneur Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) during his rise to prominence in the aviation and film industries and his eventual descent into madness. The film's early moments depicting old Hollywood are particularly compelling. Jude Law appears in the critical role of Robin Hood himself, movie star Errol Flynn.

Flynn was one of the most famous stars of that era, and Law captures his mannerisms and charisma perfectly. It would be one thing if the performance was nothing but a recreation, but Law's portrayal of Flynn lends fascinating insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of movies during film's Golden Age. Law also has excellent chemistry with Cate Blanchette who plays Katherine Hepburn.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are two of the most frequently adapted film characters of all time. It's particularly challenging for a new version to have a refreshing take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth and his partner. The mysteries need to feel exciting and stay true to the essence of the characters despite the audience's familiarity with the fascinating relationship between Holmes and Watson. Guy Ritchie took a new stab at the material with 2009's hyper-stylized "Sherlock Holmes." The film is much more action-packed than older interpretations, but what makes it so much fun is the "buddy cop" relationship between the central characters.

Robert Downey Jr. gives a now-iconic performance as the titular character. Casting an American was a surprising choice given the character's history. Downey's performance is highly eccentric and drew acclaim for honing Holmes' mind. As a result, it was harder for another actor to play Watson. Jude Law, however, had no problem delivering, and their comedic banter is hilarious.

Jude Law is one of those actors who seems to seamlessly navigate between independent arthouse dramas and mainstream blockbuster fare. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is a little bit of both. Kerry Conran's nostalgic take on the superhero story incorporates the influences of classic serials, comic books, steampunk, World War II dogfight movies, and real aerial combat to create a brilliant modern adventure movie. 

Law is the focus of the film and gives a winking performance that acknowledges its hyper-stylized tone. He's not openly mocking the material but rather playing up the classic movie star charisma of actors like Errol Flynn (who, ironically enough, he'd already played). 

The film centers around World War II pilot Joseph Sullivan (Law) who, with the help of his journalist companion (and romantic interest) Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), discovers that a wicked scientist is planning to build a destructive weapon that will change the course of the war. A famed hero of almost supernatural abilities, he takes on the persona of Sky Captain as he leads a group of flying aces on a secret mission to save the world.

Jude Law is capable of balancing major tonal shifts and tackling projects with experimental and ambitious mixes of comedy and drama. He's equally capable of being absolutely hilarious and eccentric and delivering devastating moments of emotion. Writer and director David O. Russell certainly takes bold swings with his films, and 2004's "I Heart Huckabees" is his wildest project to date. A bizarre satire of psychology, consumerism, class, and relationships, "I Heart Huckabees" isn't meant to be completely appreciated on an initial viewing. Law had the unique challenges of having to be completely sincere and being unafraid to act like a total fool. There was a risk that if his performance was too over-the-top, the satire would be too obvious. However, Law is subtle enough to incorporate the film's latent humor into his performance.

The film centers on the "existential" psychological detectives Bernard Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman) and Caterine Vauban (Isabella Hupert) as they serve a variety of quirky clients.

Law appears as Brad Stand, the wildly confident top executive at the retail store chain Huckabees, but he has loftier ambitions in mind. Brad becomes a top employee at the Open Spaces environmental group through his charismatic attitude, replacing the diminutive Albert Markovski (Jason Schwartzman). As Brad, Law is able to make his bullying nature unquestionably cruel, capturing director Russell's dark sense of humor. Brad appears in many television commercials that are developed for Open Spaces promoting their deceptive tactics. Law is absolutely hilarious as a completely plastic salesman.

Jude Law has worked with some very strong directors throughout his career, and in 2004's "Closer," he got the opportunity to work with one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Mike Nichols was renowned for his ability to capture dynamic performances from huge stars in films that blend romance, intrigue, comedy, and realism.

Appearing in one of Nichols' final films raised expectations for the cast of "Closer." Thankfully, they succeeded with an incredibly dark satire that explores the seedy underside of relationships. Based on Patrick Marber's acclaimed play, the film is fascinating in how it isolates the ensemble's performances with the intimacy of the stage. Set in London, the film follows two couples who become engaged in a series of betrayals and heartbreaking farewells.

Law plays writer Daniel Woolf who is inspired to write an acclaimed novel after a chance encounter with a young woman named Alice Ayres (Natalie Portman). Daniel's relationship with Alice ends his engagement with photographer Anna Cameron (Julia Roberts). In his boredom, he also deceives Larry Gray (Clive Owen), a prominent doctor, into a fake online relationship. As each of his partners discovers his illicit ways, Daniel is forced to face the consequences of his actions, and he's thrust into a series of embarrassing situations. "Closer" bubbles with tension thanks to Law's electric performance.