The 12 Best Dave Bautista Movies, Ranked
Of all the professional wrestlers that pivoted to a career acting in Hollywood, none have a filmography as varied, celebrated, and high-profile as Dave Bautista. Whereas many of Bautista's former pro wrestler contemporaries have since leaned into conventional action and comedy roles, Bautista has broadened his range considerably. While Bautista has certainly played characters that reflect his physical stature, he has also taken on roles that play against type in a growing number of genres, from thrillers to hard science fiction.
More than just a breadth of genres, Bautista is working with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the industry today, including M. Night Shyamalan, Denis Villeneuve, and Sam Mendes, each taking full advantage of Bautista's talents. A fearless actor in his own right, Bautista's performances can go from vulnerable to intimidating in an instant, as he shows increasing amounts of depth with each subsequent project. That's part of the reason Rian Johnson argued Bautista is the best wrestler-turned-actor out there. Here are the 12 best movies featuring Dave Bautista, with everything from his major blockbuster roles to more intimate productions filling out his growing filmography.
12. My Spy
It almost feels like a rite of passage for professional wrestlers trying to branch into feature film acting to do an action-comedy pairing them with precocious children. Interestingly, Dave Bautista's own foray into this oddly specific subgenre came after he had already well-established himself in Hollywood outside of his wrestling career with 2020's "My Spy." The Prime Video original movie blends espionage action with child-centric comedy, with Bautista playing a CIA operative named JJ, who is given the most family-friendly mission of his career.
Bautista has a fine enough rapport with his child co-star Chloe Coleman, with Coleman's character Sophie convincing JJ to train her to become a spy after learning his own clandestine secret. What hinders "My Spy" is the decision to make the movie PG-13, a bit too mature for its target demographic, though it does put it a cut above other wrestler-with-kid buddy movies that pander to younger audiences. A fine enough comedic performance from Bautista, the movie offers a decent balance of his action-hero and comical capacities without reinventing the wheel.
11. Avengers: Infinity War
Dave Bautista's breakout role was playing Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy," before moving on to bigger MCU ensemble projects. Of Drax's supporting appearances throughout the franchise, his best outside of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy is in 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War." Though Drax only appears in a handful of scenes in the cosmic blockbuster, he steals virtually every one he's in with Drax's signature deadpan sense of humor.
From believing himself to be invisible whenever he remains completely motionless to his banter with Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), "Infinity War" is an excellent comedy showcase for Drax. Beyond some action beats, Bautista doesn't get much of a chance to dig into the more serious side of the character, which is an unfortunate side effect of the larger MCU ensemble projects. Bautista would reprise his role as Drax in "Avengers: Endgame" and "Thor: Love and Thunder," but "Infinity War" is where he really shines.
10. Hotel Artemis
The 2018 crime movie "Hotel Artemis" is a slick action flick in the tradition of "Bullet Train" or "Smokin' Aces" that tends to favor style over substance. The eponymous location is a secret hospital frequented by illicit types in a dystopian, near-future Los Angeles gripped in violent riots. Dave Bautista plays an imposing man simply known as Everest, the right-hand man and primary enforcer of the Hotel Artemis' proprietor, Jean Thomas (Jodie Foster).
In lesser hands, Everest could've been a generic tough guy role, working as a no-nonsense lapdog to Thomas and not much else, but Bautista brings enough of his usual charisma to elevate the thankless role. "Hotel Artemis" is a largely forgettable affair but its cast makes do with the material they're given, including Bautista bringing both intimidating menace and a surprising heroic turn by the movie's end. A slickly-executed action film, "Hotel Artemis" gives Bautista the chance to shine amidst an impressive ensemble cast, playing off of each of them with gusto.
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" is a strange film, one that tells a much more intimate story about fathers and sons set within the MCU, while splitting up its core team for most of the movie. This time around, Drax is primarily paired with MCU newcomer Mantis (Pom Klementieff), an empath working for Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell). And while it's always a joy to see Dave Bautista play Drax, he really doesn't get much to do in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," certainly not compared to the first "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie.
Drax is played mostly for comic relief in the 2017 sequel, with the character usually seen laughing uproariously in most of the scenes he appears in. A touching moment between Drax and Mantis, where she uses her powers to learn how much he's lost, stands as the best moment for the character in the entire movie, with Bautista subtly depicting Drax's grief. However, these moments are all too rare in the film, with "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" failing to take full advantage of Bautista's wider capabilities as an actor.
8. Stuber
It feels like good buddy-cop movies are hard to come by these days, and while 2019's "Stuber" might not quite qualify as a good one, it does feature entertaining turns from its lead actors. Dave Bautista plays veteran police detective Vic Manning, who is reeling from losing his partner Sara (Karen Gillan) and corrective eye surgery temporarily impairing his ability to drive until he recovers. When Vic receives a time-sensitive tip to track down Sara's killer, he has to order an Uber, pairing him with unassuming rideshare driver Stu Prasand (Kumail Nanjiani).
Despite its highly contrived premise, Bautista and Nanjiani make the best of the material that they're given and strike up an easygoing rapport. Vic starts out as a poster boy for toxic masculinity, often resorting to violence to get the job done while neglecting his daughter Nicole (Natalie Morales), growing through his unlikely partnership with Stu. There are a lot of problems in "Stuber" but, thankfully, Bautista and Nanjiani are not among them, leaving viewers to wonder what the two could do with a better script.
7. Dune (2021)
The 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune" is an ambitious achievement in science fiction filmmaking, faithfully recreating while streamlining the original novel into a sweeping cinematic spectacle. The big reason why it doesn't place higher on this list isn't an indicator of the film's overall quality, but the sheer fact that Dave Bautista doesn't particularly get much to do quite yet in the two-part adaptation. Bautista's character, Beast Rabban Harkonnen, figures prominently later in the film and is sure to play a vital part in "Dune: Part Two," but his role here leans more towards setting him up for the sequel.
Rabban is the nephew of "Dune" principal antagonist Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), who is given command of the spice mines on Arrakis after House Harkonnen betrays House Atreides. With his bleached skin and darkened eyes, Bautista cuts an intimidating figure when he is introduced in "Dune," quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with amidst an all-star cast. Bautista is no stranger to playing musclebound antagonists, and he certainly gives Rabban a memorable introduction that's sure to deliver as House Harkonnen and House Atreides continue their bloody feud.
6. Spectre
James Bond has tangled with plenty of cold-blooded killers across the spy movie franchise's extensive history, with several demonstrating feats of superhuman strength and endurance. Daniel Craig's Bond got a musclebound opponent of his own in "Spectre," with Dave Bautista playing the lethal Mister Hinx in the 2015 film. Armed with a large pistol and sporting steel-tipped fingers, Hinx pursues Bond around the globe before the two men's hard-hitting showdown on a speeding Moroccan train.
Hinx follows in the tradition of Bond antagonists like Oddjob or Jaws, who are men of few words, with Hinx only uttering a single word across the entire runtime of "Spectre." With his silent presence, Bautista provides Craig's Bond with a memorable adversary, matching 007 with his own immaculate style as he hunts the British secret agent, even as "Spectre" struggles to maintain its pacing. Hinx's final extended fight with Bond is a standout scene in the film, though one would've hoped the character would've survived their encounter for one last rematch in Craig's swan song "No Time to Die."
5. Bushwick
One of Dave Bautista's more politically overt works is the 2017 action-thriller "Bushwick," blending its social commentary with gritty violence in a war-torn vision of New York City. As conservative areas of the country plan to secede from the United States, their militias launch devastating attacks across the nation's urban centers. Bautista plays Stupe, a combat veteran who pairs with a graduate student (Brittany Snow) to evacuate civilians caught in the crossfire of their Brooklyn neighborhood.
Though the overarching premise of "Bushwick" perhaps strikes a little too uncomfortably close to home with its messaging of all-out civil war, the film itself doesn't really do much to forward these divisive themes. However, for all the movie's unrealized potential and visibly low production budget, Bautista does bring a more vulnerable approach to his typical tough guy protagonist. A middle-of-the-road action piece, "Bushwick" would be a throwaway B-movie if not for Bautista's earnest performance as an impromptu mentor as New York descends into civil war, significantly elevating the material.
4. Knock at the Cabin
While a lot of movies take advantage of Dave Bautista's physical stature to position him as an imposing figure to intimidate and oppose various protagonists, "Knock at the Cabin" cleverly subverts this archetype. Bautista plays Leonard, a man who leads a small group of zealots to menace a family vacationing in a remote cabin in the woods. Claiming to be tasked by a higher power, Leonard and his associates demand that the family sacrifice one of their own or risk incurring holy wrath on humanity.
Leonard is a formidable figure to be sure, but Bautista imbues his home-invader character with a deceptive amount of gentleness and grace to contrast the gruesome premise. Leonard comes off as just as much of a victim as the family, horrified by what he believes he has to do as the stakes become increasingly grim. A fittingly understated performance from Bautista, "Knock at the Cabin" finds a fresh way to position the character, balancing his stature and demeanor effectively. Director M. Night Shyalaman said Bautista's work in the film was everything he hoped for.
3. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
As dynamic as Dave Bautista and Daniel Craig were co-starring together in "Spectre," their on-screen reunion in "Glass Onion" gives both actors considerably better material to work with together. The "Knives Out" sequel has Bautista play men's rights streamer Duke Cody, who is enabled by eccentric billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) to deliver his absurdly misogynistic rants online. While introduced as a bit of an aloof buffoon on a remote island full of them, Duke plays a surprising role in the murder mystery that unfolds.
Early in the film, Bautista gives Duke all the boastful bluster one might expect from a bad-boy Twitch streamer but offers moments of vulnerability and thoughtfulness behind the facade. One scene has Duke's mother (Jackie Hoffman) quickly deflate Duke's disrespectful bravado, with Bautista turning the character into a pathetic shadow of himself in an instant. Later in the film, Duke is revealed to have set up his girlfriend, Whiskey (Madelyn Cline), to seduce Miles in one of the character's more strategically manipulative moments. Filmmaker Rian Johnson crafts tightly written scripts and, in Bautista's more-than-capable hands, Duke is a solid addition to the entertaining ensemble.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
There is Dave Bautista before he stepped into the role of Drax the Destroyer, and there is Dave Bautista after bringing his beloved MCU superhero role to life. Bautista's debut as Drax in 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy" remains his strongest turn as the character, with the green-skinned warrior out to avenge his family by targeting Thanos (Josh Brolin) and Ronan (Lee Pace). As he obsessively pursues his revenge, Drax finds a new family in the Guardians, learning how to trust and work with the motley crew of spacefaring heroes.
After the first "Guardians of the Galaxy," the MCU had a tendency to relegate Drax primarily to comic relief which, while certainly taking advantage of Bautista's comedic chops, undercuts the character's potential. Filmmaker James Gunn deftly balances the laughs and emotional nuances that Drax is capable of, with Bautista wisely knowing when to unleash the character's raw fury and quiet grief that motivates him. "Guardians of the Galaxy" officially catapulted Bautista into the Hollywood mainstream, though there is one role that exceeded it in better showcasing his multifaceted potential.
1. Blade Runner 2049
What's wild about Dave Bautista's role in "Blade Runner 2049" is that, while only appearing in the opening scene and occasional flashback, he not only leaves a lasting impact but sets the tone for the entire movie. Bautista plays Sapper Morton, a rogue replicant who quietly works alone on a protein farm just outside of the 2017 film's cyberpunk vision of Los Angeles. Morton's tranquil life is disrupted and brought to a decisive end by the advanced replicant K (Ryan Gosling), a Blade Runner hunting non-compliant replicants for the LAPD.
Narratively, K's encounter with Morton is what sets off the movie's story, with Morton helping deliver and conceal the first biologically born replicant. This cover-up informs K's journey in "Blade Runner 2049," as K learns this seemingly routine job has wider implications that will completely upend human-replicant relations.
However, Bautista delivers a haunting performance in his one scene, capturing the melancholy of a man living alone to avoid being noticed, only to be faced with his own impending doom in the form of K. Morton is arguably the most tragic character Bautista has ever played and — despite his synthetic make-up — the most human. Bautista balances this with Morton's raw fury, in an action sequence that sees Morton refuse to go down without a fight as he confronts K. Bautista does so much with so seemingly little, getting to showcase understated pathos with brute force in equal measure.