The Top 15 Best Benedict Cumberbatch Movies Ranked

While it took the trilogy a while to get there, the eventual reveal of the dragon Smaug in 2013's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" was well worth the wait. Smaug is only teased in the first film, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Still, the dwarves know the challenging task of retaking their homeland will involve a battle with the fire-breathing beast. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is finally introduced to his main task when he infiltrates Smaug's lair. However, the sleeping serpent is far from what he imagined.

As the voice of Smaug, Benedict Cumberbatch does a brilliant job capturing the dragon's intelligence while tormenting Bilbo. He deceives Bilbo into a conversation by masking his suspicions, toying with the fragile Hobbit as they play mind games. Cumberbatch does a great job utilizing motion-capture technology to craft Smaug's body language, and his bellowing voice rattles the scenery. Smaug's conversation with Bilbo is the highlight of the trilogy.

There's a fascinating story behind the release of the historical thriller "The Current War." The film initially debuted to mixed reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival. However, that print was eventually revealed to be an incomplete version that director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon was forced to premiere. With the film's release in question, it sat on the shelf for two years. "The Current War" eventually hit theaters as Gomez-Rejon's director's cut, and It's a terrific look at the behind-the-scenes conflicts in the development of 19th century technology.

Benedict Cumberbatch is simply phenomenal as the legendary Thomas Edison, giving insights into how the famed inventor developed his innovations in electricity as safer and more practical alternatives to the gas industry. Edison's rise to prominence is questioned by the gas titan George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) who sees Edison's inventions as fads. Their rivalry turns the story into an exciting battle of wits.

As Johnny Depp turned to makeup-heavy roles in the 2000s, his performances began to slip. However, he returned to form in 2015's "Black Mass" as notorious gangster Whitey Bulger. Director Scott Cooper establishes an old-fashioned mob movie tone and employs an excellent cast to portray the real-life figures. In the film, Bulger begins a partnership with the FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). Connolly eventually ropes in Bulger's brother Billy (Benedict Cumberbatch), a leading politician who has recently become the Massachusetts Senate President.

Cumberbatch (who speaks with a surprisingly strong Irish accent in the film) crafts a complex portrayal of a shady politician. He dismisses his brother's criminal activities with willful ignorance and attempts to mask his involvement with anything explicitly illegal. Cumberbatch helps to craft an interesting portrayal of familial relationships and the bonds that siblings feel. The death of the Bulgers' mother packs a surprising emotional punch and shows a softer side to these dangerous men.

Benedict Cumberbatch has rarely been more likable than he is in Dominic Cooke's old-fashioned spy thriller, "The Courier." A mix of author John le Carré's Cold War politics and Alfred Hitchcock's penchant for placing regular people in incredible situations, "The Courier" tells the amazing true story of British businessman Greville Wynne (Cumberbatch). Wynne is a family man who loves his wife Sheila (Jessie Buckley). In an unlikely turn of events, he's courted by CIA officer Helen Talbot (Rachel Brosnahan) to negotiate with Soviet informant Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze).

"The Courier's" early scenes are surprisingly humorous. Wynne has no experience in espionage and is awkward performing the duties of a spy. His infiltration of a volatile international situation is thrilling as he adjusts to his duties and is tasked with the responsibility of preventing nuclear conflict. However, the story takes a dark turn when Wynne is targeted by his own government and imprisoned.

While many films centered around the aftermath of 9/11 are simplistic celebrations of patriotism that don't consider nuanced political context, "The Mauritanian" is a strong historical biopic that appeals to an international perspective. Based on a true story, the film follows a Mauritanian man named Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) who is accused of being one of the orchestrators of the terrorist attack. Slahi is imprisoned without being charged with a crime. Defense lawyer Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her assistant Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) take his case. As they listen to his story, they realize his innocence.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives a brilliant performance as Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Couch, a character who at first glance might appear to be the story's antagonist. Stuart lost many friends during 9/11, and he's given the task of investigating Slahi. Stuart is determined to convict Slahi, but after conversations with Hollander and Duncan, he realizes that he wasn't given all the facts. Stuart is a patriot and believes that justice cannot be served unless all the evidence is in. He begins to look deeper into the case and realizes that his supervising officers have hidden critical details from his division. Stuart reassesses his ideals when he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy. Eventually, he joins Hollander in Slahi's defense.

Sam Mendes's World War I epic "1917" captures the gripping nature of combat and realistically depicts the war through the eyes of soldiers of different ranks. The film is centered around two young infantrymen, Lance Corporals William Schofield (George McKay) and Thomas Blake (George MacKay). In the film, Schofield and Blake are assigned a critical mission to go behind enemy lines by their superior officer, General Erinmore (Colin Firth). They soon discover that a  secret German invasion could potentially devastate half of the British Army and cripple the war effort. In order to prevent the loss of life, the pair must deliver the message to Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Reaching Mackenzie is the goal of their mission, and Cumberbatch's appearance during the film's most exciting sequence immediately establishes the gravity of the situation. Mackenzie is a long-time commanding officer who wants to see a quick resolution to the conflict, and Cumberbatch perfectly embodies the spirit of the character. Still, he is skeptical of Schofield's insistence that he must halt his assault. However, when he realizes what the Germans are planning, he immediately begins to fix the situation and change his frontline strategy.

Steven McQueen's 2013 historical biopic "12 Years a Slave" is a 21st century masterpiece. Rather than attempting to encapsulate the entirety of slavery into a single story, the film focuses on the reflections of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery at a plantation in Louisiana. Tackling important subject matter doesn't necessarily make a film an instant classic, but McQueen's film is a finely crafted work that allows the audience to witness Solomon's torment.

The film makes use of an excellent ensemble, and Benedict Cumberbatch plays a particularly critical character. He appears as plantation owner William Ford who purchases Solomon from slave catcher Theophilus Freeman (Paul Giamatti). Ford is interested in Solomon's musical talents and gives him a violin to practice with. Cumberbatch expertly meets the challenge of depicting the deceptive kindness that Ford shows to Solomon. Although he appears to be fond of Solomon, Ford is still an oppressor who holds sinister beliefs and is indifferent to the suffering of enslaved people.

Jane Campion's modern masterpiece "The Power of the Dog" is a slowly-paced, deconstructive take on the American Western that steadily reveals itself to be a grippingly beautiful and tragic tale of masculinity. Benedict Cumberbatch gives the most complex and heartbreaking (and nearly unrecognizable) performance of his career). He makes a bold choice in playing the character of Phil Burbank from Thomas Savage's novel of the same name as a brutal and cruel man. Cumberbatch makes the viewer despise him and then has the nearly impossible task of peeling back the layers and finding something relatable within him.

Set in the farmlands of Montana in 1925, "The Power of the Dog" follows Phil as he heads a team of cowboys on his family's ranch. Phil's reclusive behavior makes it difficult for his brother George (Jesse Plemons) to relate to him. Nevertheless, the friendlier man looks up to him. As George grows romantically involved with waitress Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst), Phil mocks his romantic yearnings and takes pleasure in tormenting Rose. When George marries Rose, Phil finds a new target for his insults — Rose's adolescent son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

Peter's lack of ranching experience and soft nature make him an easy target, but Phil soon discovers something in the young man that he's fond of — even if he can't understand it. Phil takes Peter under his wing and becomes a father figure to him.