
(Photo by Dee Cercone/Everett Collection)
All Mark Wahlberg Movies Ranked
During the early ’90s, while he was flashing his abs and modeling underwear as Marky Mark, few could have suspected that beneath Mark Wahlberg’s b-boy cap lurked the soul of a thespian. Now, that’s no longer the case — with dozens of roles and a pair of Academy Award nominations to his credit, Wahlberg has compiled an impressive filmography since making his big-screen debut in Danny DeVito’s 1994 comedy Renaissance Man. Since then, he’s branched out quite a bit, showing a flair for drama (Boogie Nights), comedy (Ted), and blockbuster action (Shooter, the Transformers franchise) along the way. It’s never a bad time to look back on Mr. Wahlberg’s career — and with that in mind, we’ve rounded up all of his major roles, sorting the bunch by Tomatometer. Where do your favorites rank? Read on to find out.
16%
Critics Consensus: While it boasts some stylish action, Max Payne suffers severely from an illogical plot and overdirection.
Synopsis: After the murders of his family and his partner, maverick cop Max (Mark Wahlberg) becomes hell-bent on revenge. Teamed with beautiful and deadly Russian mobster... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Ludacris
Directed By: John Moore
16%
Critics Consensus: Cacophonous, thinly plotted, and boasting state-of-the-art special effects, The Last Knight is pretty much what you'd expect from the fifth installment of the Transformers franchise.
Synopsis: Humans are at war with the Transformers, and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving the future lies buried in the secrets of the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Stanley Tucci
Directed By: Michael Bay
13%
Critics Consensus: Renaissance Man tries to simultaneously be a literary comedy, an inspirational drama, and a star vehicle that caters to Danny DeVito's strengths, but proves to be a master of none.
Synopsis: After getting canned from his advertising job, down-and-out divorcé Bill Rago (Danny DeVito) gets a gig teaching English at a nearby army base. There, he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines, James Remar, Cliff Robertson
Directed By: Penny Marshall
17%
Critics Consensus: The Happening begins with promise, but unfortunately descends into an incoherent and unconvincing trifle.
Synopsis: An apocalyptic threat to humanity arrives out of the clear blue sky with a series of violent, inexplicable deaths spreading across the country. The cause... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Betty Buckley
Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
18%
Critics Consensus: With the fourth installment in Michael Bay's blockbuster Transformers franchise, nothing is in disguise: Fans of loud, effects-driven action will find satisfaction, and all others need not apply.
Synopsis: After an epic battle, a great city lies in ruins, but the Earth itself is saved. As humanity begins to pick up the pieces, a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing, Kelsey Grammer
Directed By: Michael Bay
23%
Critics Consensus: Mile 22 lets the bullets fly -- and not much else -- in a thrill-deficient action thriller whose title proves sadly fitting for a film that feels close to a marathon endurance test.
Synopsis: CIA operative James Silva leads a small but lethal paramilitary team on an urgent and dangerous mission. They must transport a foreign intelligence asset from... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais, John Malkovich
Directed By: Peter Berg
21%
Critics Consensus: A formulaic comedy that's unlikely to spread much yuletide merriment, Daddy's Home 2 can only muster a few stray yuks from its talented cast.
Synopsis: Father and stepfather Dusty and Brad join forces to make Christmastime perfect for the children. Their newfound partnership soon gets put to the test when... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, John Lithgow
Directed By: Sean Anders
26%
Critics Consensus: Broken City's thinly sketched, formulaic script offers meager rewards for all but the least demanding noir aficionados.
Synopsis: Former cop Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) sees a chance at redemption for past sins when New York City's Mayor Nicolas Hostetler (Russell Crowe) calls on... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright
Directed By: Allen Hughes
31%
Critics Consensus: Mojave has no shortage of talent on either side of the camera; unfortunately, it amounts to little more than a frustrating missed opportunity.
Synopsis: A down-and-out artist (Garrett Hedlund) has a dangerous and shocking encounter with an evil drifter (Oscar Isaac) in the desert, leading to terrifying consequences when... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Louise Bourgoin, Walton Goggins
Directed By: William Monahan
30%
Critics Consensus: Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg have proven comedic chemistry, but Daddy's Home suffers from a dearth of genuinely funny ideas - and lacks enough guts or imagination to explore the satirical possibilities of its premise.
Synopsis: Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell) is a kindhearted radio executive who wants to be the best possible stepfather to his wife's (Linda Cardellini) two children. When... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church
Directed By: Sean Anders
31%
Critics Consensus: It's stuffed full of Peter Jackson's typically dazzling imagery, but The Lovely Bones suffers from abrupt shifts between horrific violence and cloying sentimentality.
Synopsis: After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) -- and her killer (Stanley... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci
Directed By: Peter Jackson
35%
Critics Consensus: Newton has star quality, but this exercise in style can't hold a candle to the original.
Synopsis: Regina (Thandie Newton) meets charming Joshua (Mark Wahlberg) while vacationing in Martinique, as she contemplates ending her whirlwind marriage to enigmatic Charlie (Stephen Dillane). Then... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Thandiwe Newton, Tim Robbins, Park Joong-hoon
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
47%
Critics Consensus: Fear has an appealing young cast, but their efforts aren't enough to consistently distract from an increasingly overblown - and illogical - teen stalker story.
Synopsis: When 16-year-old Nicole Walker (Reese Witherspoon) meets 23-year-old David McCall (Mark Wahlberg) at a Seattle nightclub, she falls in love. David is exciting and charming,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen, Amy Brenneman
Directed By: James Foley
41%
Critics Consensus: The Big Hit seeks to blend the best of Hong Kong and American action cinema, but ends up offering a muddled mush that mostly misses.
Synopsis: Affable hit man Melvin Smiley (Mark Wahlberg) is constantly being scammed by his cutthroat colleagues in the life-ending business. So, when he and his fellow... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christina Applegate, Avery Brooks
Directed By: Kirk Wong
43%
Critics Consensus: Well-paced and reasonably entertaining in its own right, The Gambler still suffers from comparisons to the James Caan classic that inspired it.
Synopsis: Literature professor Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) leads a secret life as a high-stakes gambler. Always a risk-taker, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Michael Kenneth Williams
Directed By: Rupert Wyatt
42%
Critics Consensus: This remake of Planet of the Apes can't compare to the original in some critics' mind, but the striking visuals and B-movie charms may win you over.
Synopsis: Director Tim Burton ("Batman") reinvents one of the most acclaimed and beloved works of science fiction, Pierre Boulle's classic novel "Planet of the Apes." Burton's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan
Directed By: Tim Burton
46%
Critics Consensus: In spite of its young leading man's heroic efforts to hold it all together, a muddled message prevents The Basketball Diaries from compelling as a cautionary tale.
Synopsis: Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) is consumed by his life as a high school basketball star. Pressured by a wicked coach (Bruno Kirby) and a concerned... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruno Kirby, Lorraine Bracco, Ernie Hudson
Directed By: Scott Kalvert
45%
Critics Consensus: Ted 2 reunites Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane for another round of sophomoric, scatological humor -- and just as before, your enjoyment will depend on your tolerance for all of the above.
Synopsis: Life has changed drastically for thunder buddies John (Mark Wahlberg), now a bachelor, and best pal Ted (Seth MacFarlane), now married to the woman (Jessica... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth
Directed By: Seth MacFarlane
47%
Critics Consensus: While the special effects are well done and quite impressive, this film suffers from any actual drama or characterization. The end result is a film that offers nifty eye-candy and nothing else.
Synopsis: Based on a true story, the film tells of the courageous men and women who risk their lives every working day, pitting their fishing boats... View Full Synopsis
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane
Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen
47%
Critics Consensus: With an implausible story and numerous plot holes, Shooter fails to distinguish itself from other mindless action-thrillers.
Synopsis: A top Marine sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, leaves the military after a mission goes awry and disappears without a trace. Swagger is coaxed back into... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
48%
Critics Consensus: This uninspiring cop thriller doesn't measure up to Chow Yun-Fat's Hong Kong work.
Synopsis: Martial arts expert Detective Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) teams up with his colleague Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg) to keep several gangs in New York City's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg, Ric Young, Jon Kit Lee
Directed By: James Foley
49%
Critics Consensus: It may be his most thought-provoking film to date, but Michael Bay's Pain & Gain ultimately loses its satirical edge in a stylized flurry of violent spectacle.
Synopsis: Danny Lupo (Mark Wahlberg), manager of the Sun Gym in the 1990s Miami, decides that there is only one way to achieve his version of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Ed Harris, Anthony Mackie
Directed By: Michael Bay
50%
Critics Consensus: It's more entertaining than your average January action thriller, but that isn't enough to excuse Contraband's lack of originality and unnecessarily convoluted plot.
Synopsis: Ex-smuggler Chris Farraday gave up his criminal ways long ago. But, he's forced back into the game after his brother-in-law, Andy, botches a drug deal... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi
Directed By: Baltasar Kormákur
53%
Critics Consensus: Like its title, Rock Star is rather generic, being not so much about the heavy metal scene than about rock cliches and formula.
Synopsis: A comedy set in the world of '80s rock 'n' roll, Rock Star is the story of an office supplies salesman who moonlights as a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Flemyng, Timothy Olyphant
Directed By: Stephen Herek
53%
Critics Consensus: Despite striking a believable rapport among its principal actors, Four Brothers overwhelms with ultra-violent, vigilante-glorifying action and devolves into too many fractured, insubstantial thematic directions.
Synopsis: When an inner-city Detroit foster mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is murdered in a botched holdup, four of her now-grown adopted children suspect it was no random... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, André Benjamin, Garrett Hedlund
Directed By: John Singleton
57%
Critics Consensus: Bland characters, clichéd dialogue and rickety plotting ensure We Own The Night never lives up to its potential.
Synopsis: In 1988, New York's police wage an all-out war on drugs, and guilty and innocent alike become casualties. Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix), manager of a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall
Directed By: James Gray
63%
Critics Consensus: I Heart Huckabees certainly isn't for everyone, but audiences attuned to its quirky wavelength will find a singularly brainy screwball comedy that refuses to pander.
Synopsis: Environmentalist Albert (Jason Schwartzman) enlists the services of existential detectives Bernard (Dustin Hoffman) and Vivian (Lily Tomlin) to solve the meaning of a succession of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Isabelle Huppert, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin
Directed By: David O. Russell
64%
Critics Consensus: Featuring strong performances and direction, The Yards is a richly textured crime thriller with an authentic feel.
Synopsis: After serving time in prison for taking the fall for a group of his friends, Leo just wants to get his life back on track.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, James Caan
Directed By: James Gray
64%
Critics Consensus: Formulaic and often jarringly violent, 2 Guns rests its old-school appeal on the interplay between its charismatic, well-matched stars.
Synopsis: For the past year, DEA agent Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) and U.S. Navy intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) have been working under cover as... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton
Directed By: Baltasar Kormákur
67%
Critics Consensus: An uneasy blend of action and comedy, Date Night doesn't quite live up to the talents of its two leads, but Steve Carell and Tina Fey still manage to shine through most of the movie's flaws.
Synopsis: Dragged down by the daily grind, suburbanites Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire (Tina Fey) try to invigorate their marriage by visiting a trendy Manhattan bistro.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson
Directed By: Shawn Levy
68%
Critics Consensus: Ted's "romance versus bromance" plot is familiar, but the film's held aloft by the high-concept central premise and a very funny (albeit inconsistent) script.
Synopsis: When John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) was a little boy, he made a wish that Ted (Seth MacFarlane), his beloved teddy bear, would come alive. Thirty... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale
Directed By: Seth MacFarlane
71%
Critics Consensus: As simple and authentic as the gritty South Philly invirons in which it's set in, Invincible sends a uplifting and heartfelt message packed with an athletic enthusiasm that shouldn't be missed.
Synopsis: Lifelong football fan Vince Papale sees his wildest dreams come true when he becomes a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. While teaching at his high-school... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway
Directed By: Ericson Core
72%
Critics Consensus: Despite some iffy plot elements, The Italian Job succeeds in delivering an entertaining modern take on the original 1969 heist film, thanks to a charismatic cast.
Synopsis: After a heist in Venice, Steve turns on his partners in crime, killing safecracker John Bridger and keeping all the gold for himself; the rest... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green
Directed By: F. Gary Gray
75%
Critics Consensus: A true account of military courage and survival, Lone Survivor wields enough visceral power to mitigate its heavy-handed jingoism.
Synopsis: In 2005 Afghanistan, Navy SEALs Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) and Matthew "Axe" Axelson (Ben Foster) deploy on... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Eric Bana, Emile Hirsch
Directed By: Peter Berg
79%
Critics Consensus: All the Money in the World offers an absorbing portrayal of a true story, brought compellingly to life by a powerful performance from Christopher Plummer.
Synopsis: In 1973, kidnappers demand $17 million from billionaire J. Paul Getty in exchange for his grandson's release. Getty refuses to pay the perpetrators a single... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris
Directed By: Ridley Scott
78%
Critics Consensus: A clever parody of cop-buddy action-comedies, The Other Guys delivers several impressive action set pieces and lots of big laughs, thanks to the assured comic chemistry between Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
Synopsis: Unlike their heroic counterparts on the force, desk-bound NYPD detectives Gamble and Hoitz garner no headlines as they work day to day. Gamble relishes his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton
Directed By: Adam McKay
77%
Critics Consensus: Though it may not explore its core issues as deeply as some may like, Traveller is nevertheless a smart and funny portrait of a relatively unfamiliar subculture with some strong performances.
Synopsis: A con man (Bill Paxton) teaches a novice (Mark Wahlberg) the rules for membership in an Irish-American grifters gang.
Starring: Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, Julianna Margulies, James Gammon
Directed By: Jack N. Green
80%
Critics Consensus: Patriots Day offers a stirring, solidly crafted tribute to the heroes of a real-life American tragedy without straying into exploitative action thriller territory.
Synopsis: Tragedy strikes on April 15, 2013, when two bombs explode during the Boston Marathon. In the aftermath of the attack, police Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Mark... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, J.K. Simmons
Directed By: Peter Berg
82%
Critics Consensus: Deepwater Horizon makes effective use of its titular man-made disaster to deliver an uncommonly serious -- yet still suitably gripping -- action thriller.
Synopsis: On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, igniting a massive fireball that kills several crew members. Chief... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Douglas M. Griffin, James DuMont
Directed By: Peter Berg
91%
Critics Consensus: Led by a trio of captivating performances from Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams, The Fighter is a solidly entertaining, albeit predictable, entry in the boxing drama genre.
Synopsis: For Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), boxing is a family affair. His tough-as-nails mother is his manager. His half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), once a promising boxer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo
Directed By: David O. Russell
91%
Critics Consensus: Featuring outstanding work from an excellent cast, The Departed is a thoroughly engrossing gangster drama with the gritty authenticity and soupy morality we come to expect from Martin Scorsese.
Synopsis: South Boston cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover to infiltrate the organization of gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As Billy gains the mobster's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
91%
Critics Consensus: Grounded in strong characters, bold themes, and subtle storytelling, Boogie Nights is a groundbreaking film both for director P.T. Anderson and star Mark Wahlberg.
Synopsis: In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly
Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
94%
Critics Consensus: Three Kings successfully blends elements of action, drama, and comedy into a thoughtful, exciting movie on the Gulf War.
Synopsis: Just after the end of the Gulf War, four American soldiers decide to steal a cache of Saddam Hussein's hidden gold. Led by Sergeant Major... View Full Synopsis
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze
Directed By: David O. Russell




