Christian Bale's 8 Best Movies, Ranked

Christian Bale has rebuilt himself for a role more times than most actors change agents. His 8 best by movie.guru score, counting down.

Number one is his best movie, and he's not even its best performance.

1. 8
   The Machinist (2004)7.3

   Trevor Reznik is a commitment. The movie is a mood.

   Made for $5 million and it shows, in a good way. Audiences rank it above 92% of notable movies. 101 minutes of insomnia, fridge notes and pure dread.
2. 7
   American Hustle (2013)7.9

   Irving Rosenfeld's comb-over acted harder than the plot.

   Metacritic gave it a 90. Audiences rank it above just 63% of notable movies. 138 minutes of great hair, loud suits and a con nobody can recap.
3. 6
   The Dark Knight Rises (2012)8.0

   Retired Bruce Wayne beats full-time Batman in this one.

   $1.09 billion worldwide and an A CinemaScore. Bruce limps around Wayne Manor with a cane, and that's when it's most interesting. Too much plot, not enough Batman.
4. 5
   The Big Short (2015)8.5

   Michael Burry, barefoot with drumsticks, is Bale's sneakiest great role.

   Made for $50 million, scored 81 on Metacritic. 130 minutes that make mortgage bonds legit gripping, and that's a sentence nobody expected to type.
5. 4
   Batman Begins (2005)8.5

   Bale's fake playboy act is the secret best part.

   140 minutes, a $150 million budget, and an A CinemaScore. Bale plays Bruce pretending to be a shallow rich kid, so well you forget he's the hero.
6. 3
   The Fighter (2010)8.9

   As Dicky Eklund, Bale walks off with Wahlberg's movie.

   A real story told straight. Bale is all nervous energy for 116 minutes, Melissa Leo matches him, and audiences rank it above 95% of notable movies.
7. 2
   Ford v Ferrari (2019)9.2

   Ken Miles is Bale's warmest role, and it's not close.

   Made for $97.6 million, and Metacritic gives it an 81. Bale turns a cranky British racer into the most lovable guy in the pits.
8. 1
   The Dark Knight (2008)9.3

   Bale's best Batman movie, and he plays it exhausted on purpose.

   Bruce spends 152 minutes losing an argument with his own city. Critics rank it above 92% of notable movies. Michael Caine's Alfred keeps him upright.

$572.76 says you can't say Irving Rosenfeld out loud without touching your hairline.

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