
(Photo by New Line/courtesy Everett Collection)
All Viggo Mortensen Movies Ranked
Viggo: Renaissance man. He’s a poet. He’s a photographer. He’s a horse whisperer. He’s a book publisher. He’s an ethnographer. And did you know he’s also a movie star? Let’s hope so because we’re about to rank all his films by Tomatometer!
Mortensen will forever be associated with his role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. As Aragorn, the man who would be king, he brought steely empathy as a noble human among orcs, elves, talking trees and a variety of creatures in the biggest movie fantasy epic ever. Before Rings, his chiseled good looks made him notable in roles that were anything but: Building a house in Witness, getting crushed by debris in Daylight, or playing a reincarnated inmate in Prison. And after Rings, Mortensen has challenged himself with deep, dynamic roles – since all his other hobbies keep him plenty busy. Check him out as literally The Man in The Road, nude brawler in Eastern Promises, or a survivalist dad in Captain Fantastic. And now with all his movies with a Tomatometer in one place, it’s easier than ever to Viggo the distance. —Alex Vo
0%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: An Ohio engineering student (Andrew McCarthy) falls in love with a country girl (Molly Ringwald) rumored to be 16 and married.
Starring: Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, Patti D'Arbanville, Molly Hagan
Directed By: David Anspaugh
44%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Desire torments a former cultist (Brendan Fraser) taking refuge at the home of a scantily clad woman (Ashley Judd) whose husband (Viggo Mortensen) is away.
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Ashley Judd, Viggo Mortensen, Loren Dean
Directed By: Philip Ridley
17%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A Treasury agent (Wesley Snipes) and a mobster (Dennis Hopper) hunt each other according to their separate-but-equal deadlines for success.
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Dennis Hopper, Lolita Davidovich, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: James B. Harris
13%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Driving through Texas, young yuppie couple Michelle (Kate Hodge) and Ryan (William Butler) stop at the Last Chance Gas Station, but after they witness the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kate Hodge, Viggo Mortensen, William Butler, Ken Foree
Directed By: Jeff Burr
29%
Critics Consensus: The opening's got a great fiery explosion and Stallone puts in another earnest, sympathetic performance, but all else in Daylight feels designed to annoy the audience into submission.
Synopsis: A group of armed robbers fleeing the police head for the New Jersey Tunnel and run right into trucks transporting toxic waste. The spectacular explosion... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya
Directed By: Rob Cohen
33%
Critics Consensus: Even though 28 Days is tackling a difficult subject, it comes off light and superficial, and maybe even a little preachy.
Synopsis: The story of Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock), a successful New York writer living in the fast lane and everyone's favorite party girl -- until she... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Diane Ladd
Directed By: Betty Thomas
35%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Desperate to begin a new life, a man (Viggo Mortensen) assumes his late twin's identity. He gets more than he bargained for when he unwittingly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Soledad Villamil, Daniel Fanego, Javier Godino
Directed By: Ana Piterbarg
34%
Critics Consensus: Though ambitious, Good stumbles in the transition from stage to screen, and Mortensen's performance isn't enough to cover its flaws.
Synopsis: A novel about a mercy killing brings a German professor (Viggo Mortensen) to the attention of the Nazi Party, which now wants him to write... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Jason Isaacs, Jodie Whittaker, Mark Strong
Directed By: Vicente Amorim
33%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: New York City drug enforcement officer John Harris (Harvey Keitel) travels to London to help ineffective local policemen battle a powerful drug cartel. Harris needs... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Iain Glen, John Wood, Terence Rigby
Directed By: Danny Cannon
31%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: En route to Mexico from the United States, Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) and his associates are pursued by federal agents hell-bent on bringing them... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater
Directed By: Geoff Murphy
40%
Critics Consensus: Van Sant's pointless remake neither improves nor illuminates Hitchcock's original.
Synopsis: Hoping for a fresh start with her broke boyfriend, Marion (Anne Heche) steals a huge sum from her boss and skips town, eventually stopping at... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: Gus Van Sant
40%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: An innocent convict returns from the grave and seeks vengeance against the warden responsible for his death 25 years ago.
Starring: Lane Smith, Viggo Mortensen, Chelsea Field, Andre De Shields
Directed By: Renny Harlin
48%
Critics Consensus: Beautiful, indulgently heady, and pretentious, The Portrait of a Lady paints Campion's directorial shortcomings in too bright a light.
Synopsis: Ms. Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman) isn't afraid to challenge societal norms. Impressed by her free spirit, her kindhearted cousin writes her into his fatally ill... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich, Barbara Hershey, Mary-Louise Parker
Directed By: Jane Campion
46%
Critics Consensus: The Prophecy has its moments, but any fantasy thriller starring Christopher Walken as a murderous angel should be a good deal more engaging than this.
Synopsis: Evil angel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) has come to earth to strengthen his powers by claiming the wicked spirit of a psychotic veteran. The benevolent angel,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Christopher Walken, Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, Eric Stoltz
Directed By: Gregory Widen
50%
Critics Consensus: Matt Dillon's intense performance is the best aspect of Albino Alligator, a mannered thriller that pantomimes the tropes of film noir to phony effect.
Synopsis: When a robbery in New Orleans ends in disaster, the mercurial burglar Dova (Matt Dillon) escapes with his cohorts to a seedy, nearby bar. Capturing... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner
Directed By: Kevin Spacey
47%
Critics Consensus: Beautiful to look at but a bit too respectfully crafted, On the Road doesn't capture the energy and inspiration of Jack Kerouac's novel.
Synopsis: An aspiring writer (Sam Riley), his new friend (Garrett Hedlund) and his friend's seductive wife (Kristen Stewart) heed the call of the open road.
Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams
Directed By: Walter Salles
46%
Critics Consensus: The scenery looks great, but this overstuffed horse story contains too much cheese.
Synopsis: Rugged cowboy Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) is an expert horseman who performs in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. When affluent Sheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif), piqued... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Louise Lombard, Said Taghmaoui
Directed By: Joe Johnston
55%
Critics Consensus: Demi Moore admirably does her duty, but G.I. Jane's well-intentioned message is obscured by stylistic bombast and an overload of jingoism.
Synopsis: In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven (Anne Bancroft), the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, Anne Bancroft, Jason Beghe
Directed By: Ridley Scott
55%
Critics Consensus: A slick little thriller that relies a bit too much on surprise events to generate suspense.
Synopsis: Wall Street baron Steven Taylor (Michael Douglas) discovers that his pretty young wife, Emily (Gwyneth Paltrow), is cheating on him. But what concerns him more... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, David Suchet
Directed By: Andrew Davis
72%
Critics Consensus: An impressive showcase for Diane Lane and an assured debut from director Tony Goldwyn, A Walk on the Moon finds absorbing period drama within a family at a crossroads.
Synopsis: Unfulfilled housewife Pearl Kantrowitz (Diane Lane) suffers in quiet misery as the tumultuous events of the summer of 1969 unfold on the surface of her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Liev Schreiber, Anna Paquin
Directed By: Tony Goldwyn
74%
Critics Consensus: The Road's commitment to Cormac McCarthy's dark vision may prove too unyielding for some, but the film benefits from hauntingly powerful performances from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi McPhee.
Synopsis: America is a grim, gray shadow of itself after a catastrophe. A man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) wander through this post-apocalyptic... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall
Directed By: John Hillcoat
76%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: After getting into trouble with the law, violence-prone Frank Roberts (Viggo Mortensen) seeks help from his brother Joe (David Morse), an even-tempered policeman. Frank hopes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: David Morse, Viggo Mortensen, Valeria Golino, Patricia Arquette
Directed By: Sean Penn
77%
Critics Consensus: A traditional genre western, Appaloosa sets itself apart with smart psychology, an intriguing love triangle, and good chemistry between the leads.
Synopsis: Virgil Cole (Ed Harris) and his longtime friend and partner Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) travel the 1880s Southwest, bringing justice to lawless towns desperate enough... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons
Directed By: Ed Harris
78%
Critics Consensus: A provocative historical fiction about the early days of psychoanalysis, A Dangerous Method is buoyed by terrific performances by Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, and Viggo Mortensen.
Synopsis: Dr. Carl Jung treats Sabina, a beautiful and unbalanced patient, using the methods of his mentor, Dr. Sigmund Freud, but a rivalry between the doctors... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Gadon
Directed By: David Cronenberg
84%
Critics Consensus: Carlito's Way reunites De Palma and Pacino for a more wistful take on the crime epic, delivering a stylish thriller with a beating heart beneath its pyrotechnic performances and set pieces.
Synopsis: A free man after years in prison, Carlito Brigante intends to give up his criminal ways, but it's not long before the ex-con is sucked... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzmán
Directed By: Brian De Palma
82%
Critics Consensus: Captain Fantastic's thought-provoking themes -- and an absorbing starring turn from Viggo Mortensen -- add up to an above-average family drama with unexpected twists.
Synopsis: Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen), his wife Leslie and their six children live deep in the wilderness of Washington state. Isolated from society, Ben and Leslie... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, George MacKay, Samantha Isler
Directed By: Matt Ross
80%
Critics Consensus: With striking visuals, complex characters, and Hitchcockian plot twists, The Two Faces of January offers a pleasantly pungent treat for fans of romantic thrillers.
Synopsis: After he kills a detective, a con artist (Viggo Mortensen) and his wife (Kirsten Dunst) must trust a potentially dangerous stranger (Oscar Isaac) to help... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Bevan
Directed By: Hossein Amini
84%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In the 1950s Algeria, a schoolteacher (Viggo Mortensen) agrees to deliver an admitted murderer (Reda Kateb) to a French court for trial.
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Reda Kateb, Djemel Barek, Vincent Martin
Directed By: David Oelhoffen
81%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Growing up in the 1950s in small-town Idaho, 8-year-old Seth (Jeremy Cooper) and his friends play a prank on the town recluse, a widow named... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Lindsay Duncan, Jeremy Cooper, Sheila Moore
Directed By: Philip Ridley
88%
Critics Consensus: A History of Violence raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces.
Synopsis: When a pair of petty criminals attempt to rob his small-town diner, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) quickly and easily kills them both. In the flush... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, William Hurt, Ashton Holmes
Directed By: David Cronenberg
89%
Critics Consensus: Boasting taut, high energy thrills and some cracking dialogue courtesy of an uncredited Quentin Tarantino, Crimson Tide finds director Tony Scott near the top of his action game.
Synopsis: After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) signs on... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: Tony Scott
90%
Critics Consensus: David Cronenberg triumphs again, showcasing the Viggo Mortensen's onscreen prowess in a daring performance. Bearing the trademarks of psychological drama and gritty violence, Eastern Promises is a very compelling crime story.
Synopsis: Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is both ruthless and mysterious, has ties to one of the most dangerous crime families in London. He crosses paths with... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Directed By: David Cronenberg
77%
Critics Consensus: Green Book takes audiences on an excessively smooth ride through bumpy subject matter, although Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen's performances add necessary depth.
Synopsis: Dr. Don Shirley is a world-class African-American pianist who's about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South in 1962. In need of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco
Directed By: Peter Farrelly
88%
Critics Consensus: Jauja will prove haunting for those lured in by its deliberate pace and lovely visuals, though it may test some viewers' patience.
Synopsis: A father and daughter travel from Denmark to a desert.
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Diego Roman, Ghita Nørby, Mariano Arce
Directed By: Lisandro Alonso
91%
Critics Consensus: Full of eye-popping special effects, and featuring a pitch-perfect cast, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring brings J.R.R. Tolkien's classic to vivid life.
Synopsis: The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces are unrelenting in their search... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: Peter Jackson
94%
Critics Consensus: A wonderfully entertaining thriller within an unusual setting, with Harrison Ford delivering a surprisingly emotive and sympathetic performance.
Synopsis: An eight-year-old Amish boy witnesses a drug-related murder in a Philadelphia train station. The Philadelphia police captain discovers that the murderers are cops trying to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Alexander Godunov, Josef Sommer
Directed By: Peter Weir
94%
Critics Consensus: Visually breathtaking and emotionally powerful, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a moving and satisfying conclusion to a great trilogy.
Synopsis: The culmination of nearly 10 years' work and conclusion to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien classic, "The Lord of the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: Peter Jackson
95%
Critics Consensus: The Two Towers balances spectacular action with emotional storytelling, leaving audiences both wholly satisfied and eager for the final chapter.
Synopsis: The sequel to the Golden Globe-nominated and AFI Award-winning "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers" follows the continuing... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: Peter Jackson





