Robert Pattinson is one of the biggest movie stars of his generation, with his best movies highlighting a versatility and embrace of the bizarre that helps him stand out from his peers. After making his big break with the Twilight series of films as Edward Cullen, Robert Pattinson began to explore other genres that proved far more complex and challenging than his romantic vampire. Pattinson’s best performances are the ones that ground a surreal situation in a painfully human experience. Whether that’s fleshing out a cool secret agent, bringing tragic pathos to a caped crusader, or infusing a piece of social satire with genuine rage, Pattinson has proven to be one of the more exciting performers of the last decade in Hollywood.
Here are the best movies Pattinson has starred in so far and where to find them on streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, and more!
Good Time
Directed by the Safdie Brothers, Good Time focuses on Robert Pattinson's Connie, a small-time crook in New York City who is desperate to free his developmentally disabled brother Nick from prison. A purposefully hectic film about desperation and family, Good Time lives and dies on Pattinson’s performance. He brings a deep amount of complexity to Connie, a man who’s willing to lie, cheat, and steal his way to a happy ending but condemns others for taking similar paths. Connie is one of Pattinson’s best ever performances; simultaneously frustrating and compelling in equal measure. Much as the Safdie Brothers would subsequently pull out an all-timer performance from Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems, Good Time is a brilliant showcase for Pattinson.
The Batman
There have been over a dozen Batman movies over the years, ranging from the campy self-aware comedy of the 1960s to the grim and grounded approaches taken by Christopher Nolan. One of the most surprisingly compelling has to be Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson as the titular vigilante superhero. Rather than embracing the power fantasy or embarking on a wild adventure, Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is a more complex and troubled character who is forced to confront his own limitations and embrace heroism if he wants any chance of saving Gotham and redeeming his family name. A soul-wrenching performance from Pattinson is the main draw, headlining one of the best ever cinematic takes on the Caped Crusader.
The Lighthouse
Directed by Robert Eggers with the same darkly funny and hauntingly mesmerizing approach that he’d later bring to Nosferatu, The Lighthouse is one of the strangest and most memorable films in Robert Pattinson’s filmography. Taking place almost entirely in the titular lighthouse in the nineteenth century, Pattinson stars alongside Willem Dafoe as Ephraim Winslow, a new recruit to the remote lighthouse under the command of Thomas Wake. The black and white visuals of The Lighthouse provide a clear sense of unsettling ambiance that carries through the ambiguous nature of madness that pervades the film. Shifting easily from bizarre to tragic to horrifying with ease, The Lighthouse is a deeply thoughtful and well-constructed modern horror.
Mickey 17
Bong Joon-ho's follow-up to his Academy Award-winning Parasite, Mickey 17 is a darkly hilarious satire that uses sci-fi trappings to explore the abuse of the working class by the super wealthy. Robert Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, a sad-sack onboard a spaceship that is carrying human colonists to a distant alien world. Mickey serves as an Expendable, suffering several deaths in the film before getting a new clone to replace him. Mickey 17 is a laugh-riot, especially once the meek Mickey 17 is forced to deal with the presence of his more hot-headed clone Mickey 18. Pattinson plays both characters with an entertaining commitment to their unique foibles and flaws, giving two great performances for the price of one.
High Life
Helmed by the legendary French director Claire Denis, High Life is a challenging approach to the sci-fi/horror genre. Taking place on a spaceship full of convicts hoping to escape a death sentence by carrying out dangerous missions, High Life largely follows Robert Pattinson's Monte, splitting its story across two periods: one in which he's one of several crew members, and a future period where he and his daughter Willow are the last ones left aboard the ship as it drifts closer to a black hole. The film is stunning on a visual level and uniquely complex on an emotional level as it explores the lengths that lust, depression, and desperation can force someone to.
The Rover
Set in the Australian outback a decade after a global societal collapse, The Rover is a grim and compelling fusion of the western genre with a post-apocalyptic setting. The film centers on Eric, a bitter former soldier who wanders the wastelands and finds himself chasing after a trio of criminals who stole his car. His only lead is Rey, the younger brother of one of the thieves who was left behind after a robbery. Pattinson and Eric's actor Guy Pearce find a devastatingly real chemistry as unlikely companions and makeshift family. The grim film isn't for the faint of heart, but The Rover was early proof following the Twilight films of Pattinson could do with more complex material.
Tenet
Christopher Nolan’s time-bending action flick Tenet benefits greatly from one of Robert Pattinson’s most self-aware and charming performances to date. Tenet follows the agents of the titular secret organization, who are investigating weapons sent back in time as part of an attack from the future. Pattinson plays Neil, the handler of the film's central protagonist and his guide to the world of espionage lurking behind the scenes. Neil is the closest Pattinson has ever gotten to playing a James Bond archetype, a fatalist with a noble heart who genuinely commits to protecting his friends and fellow agents. Tenet can be needlessly muddled at places, but performances from Pattinson, John David Washington and Elizabeth Debicki keep it all engaging.
The Lost City Of Z
The Lost City Of Z is a tragic epic about the life of Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who traversed the wilds of Brazil in search of a lost city in the jungle. It's a compelling story with visually stunning settings, all grounded by performances by the likes of Charlie Hunnam and Tom Holland. Robert Pattinson appears in the film as Henry Costin, who initially accompanies Fawcett on his expeditions into South America. The critically acclaimed film is a throwback to the kind of epic historical dramas that aren’t often made anymore, with Pattinson helping elevate an overall impressive cast as they reexamine the life and disappearance of Percy Fawcett.
The King
Robert Pattinson has typically been cast in the leading heroic roles of his films, which is what makes it so exciting when he gets the chance to play a more complex or even villainous character. The latter aptly describes his role as the Dauphin in The King, Netflix’s gritty reimagining of William Shakespeare's Henriad. The Dauphin is one of the royals in France who finds himself at odds with Timothée Chalamet’s Henry, leading to a massive war between their nations. A pompous and dangerously overconfident ruler, Pattinson brings a surprising amount of preening self-importance and unexpected comedy to the film’s climactic third act.
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
The fourth entry in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire follows the titular teenage wizard as he finds himself competing in a dangerous tournament boasting some of the greatest young magic users of his world. This film was an early breakout role for Robert Pattinson, where he plays the skilled and sweet-natured Hufflepuff Cedric Digory, who was also chosen as a rival Hogwarts champion. Positioned as a picture-perfect young man in contrast to the more rough-around-the-edges and overwhelmed Harry, Pattinson’s Cedric was memorable enough to ensure his casting in the Twilight films that really spurred on his career.
Where To Watch Robert Pattinson’s Best Movies Streaming Online
With a ton of great performances to choose from, scroll down below to find out where to stream all the best Robert Pattinson movies online!
