Known for his unfortunately small yet no less beloved role as Hawk-Eye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with his first appearance in Avengers (2012), it may be surprising to some that Jeremy Renner is no small-time actor; he has been in the film industry for over 2 decades and has starred in more than 2 dozen films so far.
He’s had a strong presence in several significant franchises the likes of which are almost comparable to the MCU: Bourne and Mission Impossible. He’s even scraped up a total of two Oscar nominations thus far for his work in the critically acclaimed films The Town and The Hurt Locker. Here, according to Rotten Tomatoes, are Jeremy Renner’s 10 best roles.
Wind River: 88%
Renner shines in this 2017 dramatic mystery as Cory Lambert, an expert on the Wyoming wild; he is a tracker and a hunter and a true native of the mostly frozen expanse. On a hunting trip, he discovers the frozen body of a local girl who had been his daughter’s friend before she died, also of similarly mysterious circumstances. An investigation begins, led by the local Tribal Police and a rookie FBI agent, though Cory quickly becomes involved, intent to solve this murder as an attempt to find closure for his daughter’s death. While the film might be a bit heavy on symbolism, the scenery is stunning and the film, on the whole, is powerful.
Captain America: Civil War: 91%
Taking place after Avengers: Age of Ultron, Civil War focuses on a sharp divide that grows between the Avengers after some, led by Tony Stark, agree to follow and enforce certain government sanctions placed upon their actions. What follows is fierce and bitter warfare between Cap and Tony, with each man leading a team of loyal fighters.
Renner fights as Hawk-Eye against Tony and the government, with only a handful of notable scenes, the greatest of which is likely his brief battle with the young Spider-Man (Tom Holland). Civil War is widely regarded as one of the best films of the MCU.
Marvel’s The Avengers: 91%
Jeremy Renner made his first appearance as Hawk-Eye in this, the first of the 4 Avengers films. While it’s on a much smaller scale than Infinity War or Endgame, the first Avengers might be one of the best. It introduced a variety of alluring characters, and it brought together six of our favorite heroes. Hawk-Eye made quite the splash in his first appearance, more than holding his own with the team of super-powered soldiers, gods, and beasts that he fought alongside.
American Hustle: 92%
One of the best films of the 2010s, American Hustle stars Christian Bale (Irving Rosenfield), Bradley Cooper (Richie DiMaso), Amy Adams (Sydney Prosser), Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence. It follows Irv, a small-time forger/loanshark, who falls for Sydney and, with her at his side, expands his operation. That is, until Richie, a rookie FBI agent, forces him to either aid in his sting operation, or go to prison.
Irv and Sydney reluctantly join forces with Richie and attempt to bring down the corrupt New Jersey Mayor (Renner), all while Irv’s jealous wife (Lawrence) consistently increases their risks of exposure. Filled with stunning performances, thrilling moments, and fantastic writing, American Hustle is a vibrant and alluring film.
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation: 93%
It might be easy to forget that Jeremy Renner had relatively significant roles in some of the later Mission Impossible movies, which star Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt. In Rogue Nation, Renner plays William Brandt, an IMF director who spends much of the film at court, avoiding questions about the IMF’s actions.
Meanwhile, Ethan Hunt, while on the search for a secretive crime organization known only as The Syndicate, is disavowed when the IMF gets shut down. It certainly was not the best Mission Impossible film, but, like all of them, it was definitely enjoyable.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: 93%
After a mission in Budapest goes awry, the US government activates its Ghost Protocol, which disavows the entire IMF. Ethan Hunt and his team, which includes Renner’s William Brandt, go underground, intent on both preventing a missile attack while also proving their innocence to the government.
Filled with the usual amount of explosions, deceit, dramatic mask-reveals, and high-intensity hand-to-hand combat, Rogue Nation is another thrilling component of the long, exciting saga.
The Town: 93%
This 2010 thriller places Jeremy Renner as James alongside his close friend Doug, played by Ben Affleck. Doug is the leader of a band of ruthless bank robbers, a band of which James is a part. But, when James takes a woman hostage during their latest heist, their situation quickly grows more dangerous.
Doug finds out that the girl who had been taken hostage, Claire, lives in their neighborhood, and he goes to see what she knows. He soon falls in love and is inspired to abandon his criminal life, though that may not prove as easy as he wishes it to be. Renner might well be the best part of this film; he expertly portrays the ruthless, loose cannon that is James in a chilling, fascinating manner.
Arrival: 94%
Renner once again stars alongside Amy Adams in what may well be one of the most unique films of the past few decades. When 12 mysterious space ships land on the planet, the world’s nations are, naturally, uncomfortable. Louise (Amy Adams), a linguistics professor, is called upon to attempt to communicate with the aliens within. At the site, she meets Ian Donnely (Renner) a theoretical physicist. They work together to communicate with the aliens, all while global tensions rise and the risk of global warfare grows ever closer. Though it had its slower moments, much of the film was smart, unique, and exciting.
Avengers: Endgame: 94%
In the stunning, shocking conclusion to a 10-year saga comprising more than 20 films, Renner’s performance as Hawk-Eye might well be the most interesting and human aspect of the film. Set against a canvas of magic and universal power, Hawk-Eye has always provided a starkly real presence to the Avengers films.
This presence was all the more powerful for the fact that he alone survived The Snap, but his wife and children did not. Motivated by grief, Hawk-Eye becomes Ronin, a brutal soldier who blurs the lines between good and evil, acting out of nothing more than pain. Both parts exciting and terrifying, Endgame was truly a cinematic masterpiece.
The Hurt Locker: 97%
Largely regarded as Jeremy Renner’s best film, and certainly the one that rocketed him into stardom, The Hurt Locker provides a stunning look into the Iraq War. Staff Sergeant William James (Renner) is nothing more or less than an expert at bomb defusion. He’s reckless and painfully addicted to the drug that is war. And, though he does not speak much, his performance is visceral and stunning and truly telling of the man that James is.
This is a real film, an intelligent film. It does not rely on phony Hollywood gimmicks or false moments to build brittle tension; the tension and suspense within this film are powerful thanks to the realism behind it. The Hurt Locker, led by Jeremy Renner, is truly a wartime masterpiece.
