Joseph Gordon-Levitt has had a long career in Hollywood despite his young age. He worked steadily as a child actor, appearing in movies and the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun before moving onto the more interesting adult phase of his career. He quickly solidified himself as a genuine talent and began building an impressive career.
His versatility as an actor has caught the eye of some of the best filmmakers in the world which has allowed him to be a part of some truly great films. While he no doubt has a long and successful career ahead of him, we can already look back on some of his most acclaimed work. Here are Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s best movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Brick (79%)
One of Gordon-Levitt’s most important creative collaborators has been Rian Johnson and their partnership started with Johnson’s first film, Brick. Gordon-Levitt stars as an isolated high school student who begins investigating the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
Though set in a modern high school the script is written as if it is a classic hardboiled detective story. Though that might seem gimmicky, Johnson turns it into an engrossing storytelling device that works surprisingly well. It is a clever and unique film that features a great lead performance and hints at the great career Johnson would soon have.
The Walk (83%)
In The Walk, Gordon-Levitt helped to tell one of the most unbelievable true stories you might not have heard of. He plays Philippe Petit, a French high-wire artist, who in 1974 attempts to cross between the two World Trade Center buildings in New York City without any safety equipment.
The movie plays out like a heist film with Petit assembling a crew of colorful characters to help him pull off this amazing feat. Gordon-Levitt makes for a great hero with wild dreams while the actual high-wire walk sequence is some of the most suspenseful moments you’ll witness in a movie.
Mysterious Skin (85%)
After leaving the sitcom world behind, Gordon-Levitt gravitating towards more complex and challenging independent work in films like Mysterious Skin. He stars as a young street hustler who begins a friendship with a boy he knew from his youth. Together the two form a bond while uncovering the disturbing truths of their past.
Though a small film, Gordon-Levitt’s talents did not go unnoticed. His raw and powerful performance was highlighted and his reputation as one of the most promising young actors was on the rise.
500 Days of Summer (85%)
Gordon-Levitt has mostly steered away from the typical romantic comedies, but one of his earliest leading man roles was this stylish and inventive entry into the genre. The movie explores 500 days in a relationship between Gordon-Levitt and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), told out of order and showing the ups and downs.
The movie is a completely different look at this kind of relationship and plays on the expectations we have for these movies. Gordon-Levitt is charming and funny as well as frustrating as a man who seems to think he is owed love.
The Dark Knight Rises (87%)
Gordon-Levitt got his chance to join the superhero genre as part of the final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s epic Dark Knight trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises finds Bruce Wayne forced to come out of retirement when a madman named Bane threatens Gotham City. Gordon-Levitt plays John Blake, a cop who partners with Batman in this final fight.
Though the movie’s plot might be a little over-the-top and some twists were poorly executed, the movie did serve as a satisfying end to one of the greatest trilogies of all time. It is a grand, fun and emotional journey for Caped Crusader.
Inception (87%)
Gordon-Levitt’s first collaboration with Christopher Nolan came with one of the most ambitious mainstream movies ever made. Inception stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a thief who enters people’s dreams to steal their ideas. He and his team are tasked with one final impossible mission that could change their lives. Gordon-Levitt plays a member of his team.
The wild ideas of the movie may take a moment to understand, but you soon find yourself immersed in a unique and thrilling world. Nolan constructs amazing and inventive sequences that you’ve never seen before.
The Lookout (88%)
Gordon-Levitt’s filmography is filled with big, high-profile movies as well as smaller films you might have missed. The Lookout is one of his most underrated projects that is certainly worth checking out.
He stars as a young man who, following a car accident, finds his future as an athlete cut short. Working as a janitor at a bank, he finds himself lured into a bank heist. The movie is a great noir thriller with Gordon-Levitt providing a stellar performance as the complex lead. It is a gritty and clever entry into the thriller genre.
Lincoln (89%)
Working with a filmmaker like Steven Spielberg must be enough of a thrill for any actor but add to that it will be a film about Abraham Lincoln and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, and it becomes a project made in movie heaven. The film depicts the struggles and obstacles Lincoln faced in passing the Emancipation Proclamation. Gordon-Levitt plays Lincoln’s eldest son.
The movie is a rousing courtroom drama centered on one of the most important moments in American history. Day-Lewis is predictably amazing as the titular president and he is backed by an incredible cast.
Looper (93%)
One of Gordon-Levitt’s most important creative collaborators has been Rian Johnson. He has appeared in some capacity in all of Johnson’s films. Looper starred Gordon-Levitt as Johnson’s leading man in the story of a hitman who is tasked with killing an older version of himself who was sent back in time.
The movie is a complex and clever concept that Johnson expertly realizes. Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis are excellent as the younger and older versions of the same character while Emily Blunt gives a strong performance as well. It’s a fun, thrilling and mind-blowing sci-fi adventure.
50/50 (93%)
Gordon-Levitt is one of those rare actors who seems able to switch between comedy and drama effortlessly. In 50/50, he got the chance to show off both sides of his acting talent in this comedic drama in which he plays a man who is told he has a rare condition that gives him a fifty percent chance of survival.
The movie does an incredible job of managing the challenging tone of the film. It is laugh-out-loud hilarious at times and heartbreaking in the next scene. Gordon-Levitt gives one of his best performances in a very challenging role.
