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With a stellar career spanning almost 70 years, Christopher Plummer has earned his reputation as one of the best actors of all time; whether it's his work in illicit dramas or in animated films, he captivates with his magnetic presence and charisma. Plummer plays many morally complex and powerful characters, from cruel villains to gritty businessmen, his roles and his career have left a lasting impact on Hollywood and cinema in general.
Potentially best known for his legendary role as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, one of the best musicals of all time, or his Academy Award-winning performance as Hal Fields in Beginners, Plummer always shows incredible depth and nuance in his abilities. Even in his later work, like All The Money In The World, Plummer continues to evolve and change the expectations of his characters. His filmography is filled with incredible films and brilliant roles that capture the essence of one of the most talented actors of his generation.
15 Syriana (2005)
Dean Whiting
A complex web of corruption and intrigue unfolds as an oil executive, a CIA operative, and a young laborer become entangled in the cutthroat world of oil politics. As global tensions rise and personal ambitions collide, their fates intertwine in a gripping exploration of power and betrayal.
Release Date November 23, 2005
Runtime 128 Minutes
Director Stephen Gaghan
In 2005, Stephen Gaghan directed the political thriller Syriana. The film tells several different stories about the oil industry and tensions in the Middle East from the perspectives of oil owners, the media, lobbyists, lawyers, and politicians. George Clooney was the biggest name in the cast at the time, playing Bob Barnes, a veteran CIA officer trying to stop illegal arms trafficking in the Middle East. Clooney went on to win an Oscar for his performance in the movie, but this was an ensemble cast that included the great Christopher Plummer.
Plummer stars in Syriana as Dean Whiting, the head of a Washington D.C.-based law firm hired to deal with the merger between two oil companies. However, he plays into several stories, including the Emir storyline, and was responsible for much of Clooney's Bob Barnes storyline, as he was part of a group involved with the Prince Nasir assassination in the Middle East. On top of CLooney's Oscar, the movie also received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
14 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Dr. Rosen
A Beautiful Mind is a biographical drama depicting the life of renowned mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr., portrayed by Russell Crowe. Released in 2001, the film follows Nash's groundbreaking contributions to his field and his struggle with schizophrenia, capturing his profound impact on mathematics and personal resilience.
Release Date January 4, 2002
Runtime 135 Minutes
Main Genre Biography
A Beautiful Mind saw Russell Crowe star as John Nash in this based-on-a-true-story biopic. Nash was a brilliant mathematician who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, A Beautiful Mind plays this close to the chest for much of the movie, as audiences are led to believe that many of the people that Nash speaks to are real, whereas the twist is that most of them only exist in Nash's mind. Despite this, Nash remains a groundbreaking mathematician who realizes that, when it is medicated, it hurts his analytical mind.
Dr. Rosen diagnosed Nash and revealed that many of Nash's friends were never real.
On top of Crowe, Jennifer Connelly won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as Nash's wife Alicia, and Christopher Plummer impressed in a supporting role as well. Plummer played Dr. Rosen, the psychiatrist who helps Nash when he is admitted to a mental health facility after a paranoid breakdown. Dr. Rosen diagnosed Nash and revealed that many of Nash's friends were never real. A Beautiful Mind won four Oscars in eight nominations
13 The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Dr. Parnassus
Parnassus, the leader of a traveling theater troupe, makes a bet with the Devil over who can win more souls. Parnassus troupe shows audience members their dreams and imaginative depths in a magic mirror. If, at the end, the soul chooses the difficult path of enlightenment, Parnassus wins; if they choose easy ignorance, the soul goes to the Devil.
Release Date October 16, 2009
Runtime 123 minutes
Director Terry Gilliam
Distributor(s) Lionsgate
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was an interesting and chaotic movie production. It was directed by Terry Gilliam and was supposed to star Heath Ledger as Tony Shepard in the film. However, Ledger died during production, and Gilliam kept him in the scenes he filmed. Then, Gilliam hired Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell to play Tony in different "transformations." However, while Ledger and his three replacements were the stars, Plummer played the titular Doctor Parnassus.
Parnassus made a deal with the Devil (Tom Waits) hundreds of years in the past, and he has lost numerous children to the Devil as part of the deal. His newest daughter, Valentina (Lily Cole), is next. The movie ended up as a cult favorite for hardcore Terry Gilliam fans and did decent at the box office, although it wasn't a major hit. It also earned two Oscar nominations for Art Design and Costume Design.
12 Knives Out (2019)
Harlan Thrombey
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, there are suspects aplenty. Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.
Release Date November 27, 2019
Runtime 130 minutes
Distributor(s) 20th Century
Christopher Plummer didn't have a lead role in Rian Johnson's Knives Out, but he played one of the most important characters. Plummer portrays bestselling author Harlan Thrombey, the man who was killed to start the mystery and the film that Daniel Craig's detective Benoit Blanc showed up to help solve. The suspects were all members of Thrombey's family, and it was up to Blanc to piece together the clues and figure out what happened to the author.
While Thormbey was killed to start the story, Christopher Plummer still had a role to play as Blanc was looking back at things that happened to lead to his death. This movie was a great showcase for Johnson, and it helped start a new franchise, with Glass Onion following it as a Netflix exclusive, and a third movie is on the way. Johnson earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for the film, and while Plummer was only in a small role, he was part of a great ensemble cast.
11 12 Monkeys (1995)
Dr. Leland Goines
In 12 Monkeys, convict James Cole (Bruce Willis) travels back in time to learn the origin of a man-made virus that has unleashed worldwide chaos in the future. Terry Gilliam's 1995 sci-fi movie, which boasts a cast that includes Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer, Madeleine Stowe, and David Morse, is based on Chris Marker's 1962 short film La Jetée and originated a 2013 TV series adaptation.
Release Date January 5, 1996
Runtime 129minutes
Director Terry Gilliam
Distributor(s) Universal Pictures
12 Monkeys was a masterpiece science fiction film by former Monty Python cast member Terry Gilliam. The movie sees Bruce Willis as James Cole, a prisoner in 2035, living in a world that has become almost uninhabitable after a terrorist attack released a virus that killed most of humanity. He is then sent back in time to learn more about the "12 Monkeys," the group the people believe caused the attack, but he overshoots his target year and ends up in 1990 instead of 1996. Here, he starts his investigation, although he ends up institutionalized as mentally ill.
Christopher Plummer stars as Dr. Leland Goines, a virologist. Goines' son Jeffrey (Brad Pitt) is an extreme environmentalist and anti-corporate man who wants to use the virus his dad developed to wipe out humanity and allow animals to take over once again. Seeing Plummer's frustrated father dealing with Pitt's unhinged son allowed both actors to really stretch their muscles. Pitt even earned an Oscar nomination for his role and the movie remains a cult classic.
10 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Christoper Plummer As Henrik Vanger
Based on the award-winning novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he searches for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. Along the way, he makes an unexpected ally in Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a computer hacker and survivor of a traumatic childhood. The film is directed by David Fincher and won an Oscar in 2012 for Best Achievement in Film Editing.
Release Date December 21, 2011
Studio(s) 20th Century
Distributor(s) 20th Century
Writers Steven Zaillian
Runtime 158 minutes
Directed by David Fincher, adapted from the 2005 novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows the story of wealthy family patriarch Henrik Vanger (Plummer) who hires outcasted journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) to solve the mystery of his niece's mysterious disappearance from the family's island decades before. The film has been praised widely for Fincher's direction, the cast's portrayals of the characters in the story, and the film's sleek and stylish cinematography.
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Plummer quite frankly nails his role as Henrik Vanger, portraying him with a steely, quiet intensity and a calming maturity that is lacking in many of the other characters around him. With many of Plummer's films, he provides the grounded role that helps the narrative and supports other characters and creates a truly stunning and compelling narrative. Vagner is a role that could have been one dimensional, a wealthy, angry older man who wants answers, but Plummer's portrayal adds layers and depth with showings of vulnerability at the continued haunting he feels for the mysterious loss of his niece.
9 Waterloo (1970)
Christoper Plummer As The Duke Of Wellington
Waterloo, released in 1970, depicts the historic confrontation between Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington following Napoleon's escape from Elba. The film highlights the strategic maneuvers of the Anglo Allied army as they prepare for a decisive battle against the French forces led by their charismatic leader.
Director Sergey Bondarchuk
Release Date October 26, 1970
Studio(s) Mosfilm , Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica
Writers H.A.L. Craig
Runtime 134 minutes
Main Genre History
Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, Waterloo is an expansive story that dramatizes the last battle of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Plummer takes on the intriguing and challenging role of the Duke of Wellington, who has to face off against Bonaparte (Rod Steiger) at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. Waterloo shows the events in all its gruesome glory. A large-scale production with stunning visuals that see hundreds of deaths and destruction in the fight for supremacy.
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Plummer shines in a film that is made to be an epic war drama, with one of the best battle scenes in the history of the genre. His portrayal of Wellington is, once again, mature, poised, and intelligent, conveying the man behind the myths perfectly. The contract with Steiger's Napoleon is a masterfully crafted juxtaposition, with one calm and controlled and the other manic and fiery. Plummer's chemistry with everybody he shares the screen with is one of the main highlights of a high-quality cinematic masterpiece.
8 The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Christoper Plummer As Rudyard Kipling
The Man Who Would Be King is a 1975 film directed by John Huston, featuring Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Set in British India, it follows two ex-soldiers who undertake an ambitious journey to a remote region of Afghanistan with the intent of becoming kings. The film explores themes of ambition and hubris against a backdrop of adventure and cultural clash.
Director John Huston
Release Date December 19, 1975
Writers John Huston , Gladys Hill , Rudyard Kipling
Runtime 129 Minutes
Main Genre Adventure
In a film directed by John Huston, adapted from Rudyard Kipling's 1888 novel, The Man Who Would Be King, Plummer stars as Kipling, the journalist and narrator of the story. It tells the adventures of two rag-tag British ex-soldiers, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan (Sean Connery and Michael Caine), who set off in 1885 from British India in the hopes of further adventure in Kafiristan. Once they arrive, Dravot is accidentally deemed a god after surviving an arrow to the chest (because of a pendant around his neck) and is taken in as the King of the area.
Plummer's role as Kipling is arguably the most important of the film, providing the footing for the story as well as the 'anonymous' narration that would provide the springboard for his future voice work. Though the two leads, Connery and Caine are the stars of the film, Plummer's supporting work is nothing short of stellar, allowing the two to shine with a nuanced performance in the background. Showing an actor with immense talent who can elevate a film even with limited screen time and other A-listers dominating the scenes.
7 Inside Man (2006)
Christoper Plummer As Arthur Case
In a meticulously planned bank heist, masked robbers seize control of a Manhattan bank, strategically maneuvering hostages and covertly blending in among them. As negotiations ensue between the police and the robbers, hidden agendas emerge, including the protection of a mysterious safe deposit box's contents. Detectives Keith Frazier and Bill Mitchell navigate the complexities of the standoff, uncovering layers of deception that challenge their understanding of the unfolding crisis and its true motivations.
Release Date March 24, 2006
Writers Russell Gewirtz
Runtime 129 minutes
Inside Man is a 2006 crime thriller by Spike Lee depicting an elaborate yet intricate bank heist turned hostage situation in a bank on Wall Street. The film is full of twists and turns when a seemingly 'normal' hostage situation turns into much more as the bank robber (Clive Oven) and the bank's owner, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), become embroiled in a further game of hidden secrets, lies, and discovering the contents of a special safe deposit box.
|
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) |
7.8/10 |
|
Waterloo (1970) |
7.3/10 |
|
The Man Who Would Be King (1975) |
7.7/10 |
|
Inside Man (2006) |
7.6/10 |
|
All The Money In The World (2017) |
6.8/10 |
|
The Last Station (2009) |
6.9/10 |
|
The Sound Of Music (1965) |
8.1/10 |
|
Up (2009) |
8.3/10 |
|
Beginners (2011) |
7.2/10 |
|
The Insider (1999) |
7.8/10 |
The film revolves around a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between the bank, the robbers, and the detectives trying to figure out what is happening. Plummer's performance is perfect in the role, as he expertly portrays the morally ambiguous banker with a charming side who is doing everything he can to keep his secrets safe. Even in a cast list like this one, with Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, and Jodie Foster, Plummer stands out for his multi-layered performance of a memorable character with an ending that stuns the audience.
6 All The Money In The World (2017)
Christoper Plummer As J. Paul Getty
Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World is a crime thriller based on the real-life kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in 1973. The film follows Getty's mother, Gail (Michelle Williams), as she tries to convince his grandfather, the billionaire J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer, replacing Kevin Spacey), to pay the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
Release Date December 21, 2017
Studio(s) Sony
Distributor(s) Sony
Writers David Scarpa , John Pearson
Runtime 133minutes
Based on John Pearson's 1995 book Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty, In All The Money In The World, Plummer takes on the role of J. Paul Getty III. The story follows the events surrounding Getty III's kidnapping in 1973 and his grandfather, the multi-billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty's absolute refusal to cooperate with the kidnapper's demands, leading to many issues surrounding his obligation to do what he can for his grandson.
Plummer made the role his own, giving a cold, calculated, and brilliant take on a man whose moral compass seems to be broken.
This is one of Plummer's more memorable roles for some of the wrong reasons. Kevin Spacey was initially cast as J. Paul Getty and had completed two months of filming before sexual misconduct allegations came to light, causing filming to pause and for Plummer to be recast in this main role. Plummer made the role his own, giving a cold, calculated, and brilliant take on a man whose moral compass seems to be broken. His work in this film was universally celebrated, and he earned himself an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
5 The Last Station (2009)
Christoper Plummer As Leo Tolstoy
Written and directed by Michael Hoffman and adapted from Jay Parini's 1990 biographical novel of the same name, The Last Station follows author Leo Tolstoy (Plummer) during the final year of his life. It follows the exploration of Tolstoy's ideological beliefs and his conflict with his wife, Sofya (Helen Mirren), about his work and philosophies. Tolstoy, for example, is opposed to private property, and 'Tolstoyans' are eager for him to place all his work in the public domain, where his family sees this as leaving them without financial support after his passing.
Plummer and Mirren show a passionate and chaotic long-term marriage that starts to suffer in later years, exploring themes of love, adultery, abandonment, and suicide. The two share electric chemistry throughout the runtime, and Plummer's Tolstoy is deeply moving, showing a love for his wife while conflicted in his philosophical viewpoints and succumbing to temptation. Plummer received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, cementing his status as an all-time great.
4 The Sound Of Music (1965)
Christoper Plummer As Captain Georg Von Trapp
The Sound of Music is a musical movie adaptation of the stage play from 1959, which tells the story of the Trapp Family Singers. The classic 1965 musical follows Maria, a young woman who becomes the governess for a family of seven children in Austria just before World War II. It features beloved songs such as "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favorite Things".
Director Robert Wise
Release Date March 2, 1965
Studio(s) 20th Century
Distributor(s) 20th Century
Writers Ernest Lehman , Howard Lindsay , Russel Crouse
Runtime 174 minutes
In one of the most famous and beloved films of all time, The Sound of Music follows the story of Maria, a free-spirited young Austrian woman studying to become a nun who is sent to the villa of retired naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp to learn discipline while working as the new governess to his seven children. The film follows the family and relationship between Georg and Maria, as the stern widower learns to open up his feelings once more through Maria's carefree attitude and shared love of music.
The Sound of Music sold 283 million cinema admissions worldwide, earning a worldwide gross of $286 million.
In one of Plummer's most memorable roles in film history, he portrays the Captain absolutely masterfully throughout. While the film is predominantly known for Julie Andrews and its incredible musical sequences, Plummer's performance as Captain von Trapp adds many different elements, such as tension, intimacy, and love. His transformation from a lonely and authoritarian widower into a touching father figure who opens up his heart to his children and a new woman is incredible. His commanding on-screen presence stands up to Andrew's spotlight, and the two make one of the best-leading pairs in film history.
3 Up (2009)
Christoper Plummer As Charles Muntz
Pixar's Up follows widower Carl (Ed Asner) who travels to South America with young wilderness explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai) by attaching thousands of balloons to his home after the bank threatens to foreclose on it. Discovering the legendary Paradise Falls, Carl meets his childhood hero, explorer Charles Muntz. However, Muntz isn't the kind-hearted man Carl hoped he would be, and the grieving widower finds himself pitted against his former idol.
Release Date June 11, 2009
Cast Ed Asner , Bob Peterson
Runtime 96minutes
In one of the finest animated films of all time, Up tells the story of elderly widower Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), who travels to South America with young 'Wilderness Explorer' scout Russell (Jordan Nagai) in order to fulfill a lifelong promise that he made to his wife, Ellie to move their house to Paradise Falls, a faraway destination the two adventurers fell in love with. Plummer voices Charles Muntz, an explorer and young Carl's idol who goes from hero to antagonist as the film progresses.
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Plummer's presence and charisma are in full effect even without being shown on screen. His voice acting is some of the best of the entire film and adds to Up being regarded as one of the last great Pixar movies. Muntz's transition from childhood hero to menacing villain is extremely captivating and provides one of the main plot points of Up. Plummer expertly conveys the full range of emotions, and his voice work leads to some of the most intriguing and suspenseful moments of the film.
2 Beginners (2011)
Christoper Plummer As Hal Fields
Beginners, directed by Mike Mills, follows Oliver as he navigates a new relationship with Anna, shortly after his father, Hal Fields, passes away. The film explores Oliver's reflections on his father's late-in-life coming out and the vibrant life Hal led with a younger partner, following his wife's passing.
Director Mike Mills
Release Date June 9, 2011
Writers Mike Mills
Runtime 104 minutes
Beginners is a romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Mike Mills. It tells the story of Oliver Fields (Ewan McGregor) and his life and relationship with his father, Hal (Plummer), a 75-year-old who came out as gay six months after his wife of 44 years and Oliver's mother died of cancer. It focuses on the next four years of his life, where he lived as an openly gay man, exploring the gay scene and starting a relationship with a much younger man. The film is intercut with many flashbacks and memories of Oliver's parents as he pieces together his relationship with the two.
Plummer's portrayal of Hal is the definition of nuanced, showing a man who is full of warmth and joy yet has many moments of emotional turmoil and issues within a potentially loveless marriage.
A touching story that explores many themes, including identity, marriage, and love, with incredible performances and chemistry between McGregor and Plummer. Plummer's portrayal of Hal is the definition of nuanced, showing a man who is full of warmth and joy yet has many moments of emotional turmoil and issues within a potentially loveless marriage. It is a heart-warming film, with one of Plummer's most graceful and understated performances that rightly won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
1 The Insider (1999)
Christoper Plummer As Mike Wallace
The Insider, directed by Michael Mann, is a gripping drama that follows research chemist Jeffrey Wigand, who faces intense personal and professional turmoil after agreeing to expose corporate secrets of the tobacco industry in a 60 Minutes segment. The film explores themes of integrity and the power of investigative journalism.
Director Michael Mann
Release Date November 5, 1999
Writers Marie Brenner , Eric Roth , Michael Mann
Runtime 157 Minutes
The Insider is an American biographical drama directed by Michael Mann, adapted from Marie Brenner's 1996 Vanity Fair article "The Man Who Knew Too Much." It tells the fictionalized account of the true life story of Jeffrey Wigand, a whistleblower in the tobacco industry who appeared in a controversial 60 Minutes segment with interviewer Mike Wallace (Plummer), and the web of fury, retaliation, and intimidation that he is thrown into.
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The Insider stars Russell Crowe and Al Pacino, with another incredible supporting role from Plummer. His portrayal of Wallace is perfect in the film, adding a mature and captivating presence to the complexities of whistleblowing stories in the media and the surrounding issues of sacrificing or upholding journalist integrity. His chemistry with Crowe and Pacino is electric, and he more than stands up to these other acting greats, giving a rounded, professional edge to a thrilling and intense film. It's the best performance of Christopher Plummer's career.
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