Michael Caine has been one of the most respected and popular actors in the business for decades now. He is a welcome presence in any film adding life and gravitas to every film he is a part of. While the material doesn’t always live up to his level of skill, he has built a truly incredible filmography.
From massive blockbusters to quiet dramas, Caine’s versatility is always impressive. He has worked with some amazing filmmakers throughout his career and been in some of the most popular films around. Here are Michael Caine’s best movies according to IMDb.
The Man Who Would Be King (7.8)
Caine teamed with another British legend, Sean Connery for this fantastic adventure film. The Man Who Would Be King starred Connery and Caine as two members of the British military in the late 1800s who attempt to find fortune in the Middle East. When Connery is mistaken for an immortal god, the two men exploit their new position for a life of luxury.
The movie is an epic adventure that explores thought-provoking ideas while being a hugely entertaining ride. The two leads make for a winning team and add a lot of charm to the story as well.
Hannah And Her Sisters (7.9)
Caine won his first Oscar for his role in Woody Allen’s 1986 comedy-drama Hannah and Her Sisters. The film follows three close sisters living in New York City and dealing with various relationship problems that they don’t necessarily confide to each other about.
Caine gives a wonderfully comedic performance and fits right into the neurotic feel of the film. It is a simple comedic tale with interesting characters, witty writing and a very talented cast.
Children Of Men (7.9)
Children of Men is an ambitious science-fiction film from acclaimed director Alfonso Cuaron. It is set in a near future in which years have passed since a new child has been born. Clive Owen stars as a man who is tasked with traveling across the war-torn country with a refugee who is pregnant. Caine plays Owen’s close friend who helps them in their quest.
The movie is a mesmerizing and engrossing drama with a brilliant premise at its center. The action sequences as inventive and grounded with Cuaron thrusting the viewer in the midst of all the chaos. It makes for an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Sleuth (8.0)
Caine had the pleasure of working with an acting legend when he teamed with Laurence Olivier for the mystery thriller Sleuth. Olivier plays a man with a taste for theatrics who invites his wife’s lover (Caine) to his house where the two men engage in a battle of wits.
The film is an entertaining and compelling mystery that keeps you guessing all the way through. It’s also a thrill to see these two immensely talented thespians spar on the big screen with such a fun story at the center.
Batman Begins (8.2)
As we’ll see throughout the rest of this list, Caine has built an amazing collaborative career with Christopher Nolan and has become Nolan’s good luck charm. They worked together for the first time in Batman Begins with Caine taking over the role of Alfred Pennyworth opposite Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne aka Batman.
After some disappointing films, this was Batman’s return to the big screen. Nolan decided to take a grounded and gritty approach to the character which impressed critics. Bale made for an effective hero while Caine provided solid comedic relief.
The Dark Knight Rises (8.4)
Nolan’s Batman trilogy came to an end with this epic conclusion which saw Caine play Alfred for the last time. After years of steeping away from the crimefighting life, Batman must return when a madman named Bane threatens to destroy Gotham once and for all.
The Dark Knight Rises continued to show that Nolan was willing to get very ambitious with this series. Some thought the story was a bit too much to take seriously, but the stunning action, memorable characters, and thrilling scope made for a suitably epic finale.
The Prestige (8.5)
Caine partnered with Nolan again for a much smaller film. The Prestige is a mystery thriller set in the 1800s that follows two magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) whose intense rivalry turns deadly as the years go on. Caine plays a mentor to the two men who gets caught up in their battle.
Critics praised Nolan for his tense and compelling storytelling that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and guessing until the final moments. The cast was also praised for their great work in the underrated gem from Nolan.
Interstellar (8.6)
Interstellar was Nolan’s attempt to pay homage to one of his favorite films, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film is set in the not-too-distant future and stars Matthew McConaughey as an engineer who is selected for a space mission to find a planet suitable to sustain human life. Caine plays the head of the space program.
The movie is another ambitious project from Nolan in terms of visuals and storytelling. The storytelling aspects didn’t work for everyone, but many found it to be a powerful and thought-provoking story told through the lens of a sci-fi epic.
Inception (8.8)
Caine joined forces with Nolan yet again for Inception, a unique and wildly ambitious action film. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a thief who specializes in entering people’s dreams and stealing their thoughts. Caine plays a friend of DiCaprio’s character who represents the life the man has been forced to leave behind.
Fans were blown away by the originality of the film and the massive scope of the action. The film is filled with so many mind-blowing sequences that show what a master of filmmaking Nolan truly is.
The Dark Knight (9.0)
Nolan’s Batman series gave us one of the most interesting superhero films ever made and one of the most groundbreaking films in the genre. Christian Bale returns as Batman who faces a crisis as the anarchist villain known as Joker wreaks havoc through Gotham, targeting its most powerful citizens.
Nolan turned a Batman story into a massive crime epic. The action sequences in the film are unforgettable and the scope feels like no other film in the genre. Of course, Heath Ledger’s Joker steals the show as an unsettling yet fascinating take on the iconic villain.
