After starring in the BAFTA-winning film Kneecap last year, Michael Fassbender followed it up with a top-notch performance in the thriller Black Bag. Starring as an intelligence agent who suspects his wife of being a national security threat, Fassbender adds a touch of severity and emotion to the role, raising it above a typical espionage thriller.
Viewers intrigued by his performance can use our guide to find his 10 best movies and where to watch them on platforms like Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and more. The movies are ranked from the best based on film quality and Fassbender’s performance.
12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave tells the story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free African-American man and violinist who is tricked by two con men and sold into slavery. The film follows his harrowing 12-year journey to regain his freedom. Fassbender stars as Edwin Epps, a sadistic plantation overseer who comes to own Northup. He deviated far from his typical roles as the notoriously evil overseer, earning an Oscar nomination for his chilling performance. Meanwhile, 12 Years a Slave is a must-see movie for those interested in an unabridged version of American history that brutally, unflinchingly captures the reality of slavery and racism.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: Days of Future Past stands out as the best film in the X-Men series. The movie takes place in a dystopian future where mutants have been hunted to near extinction. Desperate to save his people, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) travels back in time to employ the help of young Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Fassbender). In addition to its dazzling visuals, superhero action, and unique time travel premise, X-Men: Days of Future Past capitalizes on emotional character development, driving home the X-Men’s commentary on prejudice. Fassbender also shines as the conflicted anti-hero Magneto, torn between saving his people and getting vengeance on humanity.
Black Bag
Black Bag follows intelligence agent George Woodhouse (Fassbender) as he investigates a leak of sensitive information that has threatened national security. However, things grow complicated as he hones in on the primary suspect: his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). Black Bag isn’t a film that goes much deeper than entertainment value, but it is impeccably made. Fassbender and Blanchett shine on the screen with their chemistry and emotion, while director Steven Soderbergh never lets off the gas. The result is a riveting, condensed, and wildly entertaining story with twists and turns that will leave viewers stunned.
Hunger
Hunger was one of Fassbender’s earliest and best roles. The film sees him portray Bobby Sands, a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), who garnered international attention for staging a hunger strike in prison. Fassbender stuns as Sands, poignantly capturing his conviction, resilience, and passion with a grounded performance. At times, Hunger can be difficult to watch with its unrestrained brutality and realism, but it is a compelling story of how one man gave everything to fight for the rights of political prisoners to be treated as prisoners of war.
Kneecap
Kneecap is a biographical film that captures the rise of the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap. The movie actually stars band members Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh as themselves, following the trio as they not only strive to make music but use it to send a message in support of Irish reunification and the maintenance of the Irish language in Northern Ireland. Fassbender stars as Arlo, Naoise’s father, who lives in hiding due to his past opposition to British rule. Kneecap goes beyond the typical musical biopic with its intriguing political commentary, music, storyline, and authenticity in having the band members portray themselves.
Fish Tank
Fish Tank follows Mia Williams (Katie Jarvis), a rebellious teen who is acting out due to neglect and loneliness. When she finds a connection with her mother’s boyfriend, Connor O’Reily (Fassbender), he inspires her to follow her dreams. However, their relationship soon starts to cross boundaries. Fish Tank is a heartbreakingly realistic movie that explores how teens with troubled home lives often struggle to break free of that environment and are more vulnerable to abuse. Jarvis and Fassbender’s convincing performances further elevate the feeling of realism, making Fish Tank quite a mesmerizing watch.
Steve Jobs
Fassbender offers what may be his career-best performance in Steve Jobs, in which he wholly transforms into the titular Apple co-founder. Fassbender’s knack for realistic, serious, and grounded roles allows him to perfectly capture Jobs’ severity, perfectionism, and control issues across 14 years. The film follows Jobs from the unveiling of the first Macintosh in 1984 to the release of the first iMac in 1998, exploring his personal life and experiences with fatherhood in between. Fassbender’s iconic performance is reason enough to watch Steve Jobs, while the film also serves as an intriguing and honest biopic of a complex figure.
X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class serves as a prequel to X-Men, exploring the early friendship that sparks between Erik Lehnsherr (Fassbender) and Professor Xavier (McAvoy) despite their different backgrounds. The pair form a mutant team but soon realize that their clashing views may be not only incompatible but also disastrous as the Cold War looms on the horizon. Fassbender effectively captures Lehnsherr’s complexity, exploring how the Holocaust shaped his extreme mutant rhetoric later in life. Meanwhile, X-Men: First Class combines superhero action with a strong script and performances, elevating it beyond the typical superhero film.
Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds tells an alternate version of World War II history, which includes a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler (Martin Wuttke) and a special unit of Jewish American soldiers wreaking havoc on the Nazis. In the film, First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) recruits Jewish American soldiers to a black ops team known as the “Basterds,” who are tasked with terrorizing the Nazis in occupied France by all means necessary, including scalping them. Fassbender appears as British Commando Lieutenant Archie Hicox, who assists the Basterds in a special operation. Inglourious Basterds is a unique, creative, bloody, and audacious satirical take on wartime propaganda, though its irreverence may not sit well with all viewers.
Shame
Shame follows Brandon Sullivan (Fassbender), a sex addict who finds it impossible to hide or ignore his struggles when his sister, Sissy (Carey Mulligan), shows up at his place unannounced to spend a few days with him. Fassbender once again offers an incredible performance as the film explores the reality of sex addiction, unflinchingly probing the shame, loneliness, and self-loathing with compassion and non-judgment. Shame is a bold film that tackles a topic rarely broached in Hollywood and poignantly explores human struggles, though it can be an uncomfortable and graphic watch.
Where to watch the best Michael Fassbender movies streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to watch the best Fassbender movies online in the U.S.!
