Christian Bale is one of the most prolific and accomplished actors in Hollywood today. He started his career way back in the late ’80s, breaking out as just a kid and only expanding his versatility and resume over the years. He has now won an Academy Award and was the lead star of a billion-dollar franchise.
Coming up, he’ll also be entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thor: Love and Thunder. While his most iconic roles are certainly known to almost everyone, that means some of his best work has flown under the radar and become underrated despite their high quality.
Updated on June 8th, 2022, by Kevin Pantoja: As fans count down the days until Christian Bale’s debut as Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder, there is no better time to look back at the career of the iconic actor. While everyone likely remembers his roles in American Psycho, The Dark Knight trilogy, Vice, The Prestige, and The Figther, his impressive filmography actually features plenty of other performances that have flown under the radar over the years. If you haven’t seen these films yet, now is the perfect time to check them out.
Joseph J. Blocker – Hostiles (2017)
Stream On Hulu
In between every major movie that Christian Bale seems to do, he appears in a handful of smaller films. While Hostiles wasn’t totally made on a small budget, it was certainly not a blockbuster or an Oscar nominee but it’s worth seeking out.
Christian Bale plays the lead character of Captain Joseph J. Blocker, a war veteran who must escort a Cheyenne chief and their family through a dangerous area. Reviews were strong for this film and while Rosamund Pike steals the show, Bale’s performance shouldn’t be overlooked.
Jim Davis – Harsh Times (2005)
Stream On The Roku Channel, Tubi, & Hoopla
It isn’t often that Christian Bale also works as a producer on a film but he did just that for 2005’s Harsh Times. Directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch), the movie centers on a pair of friends in south Los Angeles who go through some rough patches due to violence.
For the most part, the reviews of the film were mixed which may make some viewers avoid it. However, the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes makes sure to note that the performance by Bale as Jim Davis is the standout. Any Bale fan needs to check it out.
Chris Myers – The Promise (2016)
Stream On Kanopy & Showtime
After becoming a box office star and a household name thanks to The Dark Knight, it seems difficult for any movie starring Christian Bale to get overlooked. Alas, that’s what happened with The Promise, which grossed a mere $12.4 million on a $90 million budget.
The movie focuses on a love triangle between an Armenian woman from France (Charlotte Le Bon), a medical student (Oscar Isaac), and a journalist (Bale) before the American genocide. Reviews were mixed but most critics still had good things to say about the cast, including Bale.
Howl Pendragon – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Stream On HBO Max
There’s no doubt that Studio Ghibli is one of the top animation studios in the world. They constantly put out high quality animated films, especially the ones written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, with Howl’s Moving Castle being one of his greatest works.
Based on a 1986 novel of the same name, the film is considered a classic but many fans watch the original Japanese version. Those who don’t check out the English dub might not know that Bale voices Howl Pendragon in it, joining a cast including Emily Mortimer and Billy Crystal.
Jack Kelly – Newsies (1992)
Stream On Disney+
One of the earliest roles for a young Christian Bale came in Newsies. It marked the directorial debut for Kenny Ortega, setting the stage for a career helming musicals like High School Musical, The Descendants, and more.
Bale has the lead as Jack Kelly, a newspaper hawker who takes part in a strike during the late 1890s. It’s interesting to see this as even with Bale’s varied career, he never really added another musical to his filmography.
Russell Baze – Out Of The Furnace (2013)
Stream On AMC+, Freevee, & Tubi
Christian Bale seems very much like one of those actors who takes a big-budget role and will follow it up with a couple of smaller independent projects for himself. Somewhere in the middle lies Out of the Furnace, which had a $22 million budget when it was first released to theaters in 2013.
The crime drama helmed by Scott Cooper saw Bale as the lead character Russell Baze. He’s a steel mill worker who goes out to discover the truth about his war veteran brother’s disappearance following some interactions with ruthless crime lords due to gambling. The film got mixed reviews but the cast, especially Bale, received acclaim.
Walter Wade Jr. – Shaft (2000)
Stream On Paramount+, Amazon Prime, & Epix
Most people completely forget that Christian Bale is actually even in this movie. Released in 2000, Shaft is most recalled for Samuel L. Jackson getting to play the titular private detective as he works as a vigilante throughout the streets of New York City.
This was an early case of Bale getting to play someone who is unlikable. He portrays Walter Wade Jr., the son of a real estate tycoon who gets arrested by Shaft for the assault of a man named Trey Howard. That puts him at odds with Shaft and while this wasn’t an instant classic film, Bale does well in his role.
Theodore Laurence – Little Women (1994)
Stream On Netflix
At this point, there are almost countless iterations of Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women. The most recent was the multiple Oscar nominee in 2019 directed by Greta Gerwig but back in 1994, Gillian Armstrong delivered one that featured a cast of future stars, including Winona Ryder and Christian Bale.
Jo’s (Ryder) ambitious nature and lack of desire to get married caused a rift between her and her best friend Theodore “Laurie” Laurence (Bale), who attempted to wed her, only to end up marrying her sister Amy. Critics liked this version but considering Bale’s age and other takes on the source material, many have forgotten it.
Michael Burry – The Big Short (2015)
Rent On Apple TV
The partnership between director Adam McKay and Christian Bale led to two impressive performances for the latter. One came in 2018’s Vice, where Bale played former Vice President Dick Cheaney and earned himself another Oscar nomination. He actually also got an Academy nod for their first work together, 2015’s The Big Short.
The film tells a dramatized version of the 2007-2008 United States housing crisis. Bale plays Michael Burry, one of the first people to stumble upon the truth of what was happening. Although he did get an Oscar nomination, it’s often hard to bring this up among his best performances because Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, and other notable actors have bigger roles.
John Miller – The Flowers Of War (2011)
Stream On Kanopy, Tubi, Freevee, & Vudu
It’s a shame but it’s a common trend for some American moviegoers to not check out foreign-language films. Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho noted that getting past subtitles will open up a viewer to so many great films. In 2011, Christian Bale took part in one titled The Flowers of War.
The Chinese war epic takes place during the Nanking Massacre of 1937. Bale took on the lead role of John Miller, a mortician from the United States posing as a priest. During the massacre, Miller helps lead a group of women to safety. It’s a dramatic performance that is Bale at his finest even if it went overlooked.
Bagheera – Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle (2018)
Stream On Netflix
Throughout his career, Christian Bale has portrayed real life people, iconic staples like Batman, and some totally original characters. The one thing that Bale hasn’t done a lot of is voice acting, with his most memorable role there coming in the English dub of Howl’s Moving Castle.
In 2018, he voiced the legendary Bagheera in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. The thing is that most people didn’t really notice as they’re used to the Disney variations of The Jungle Book, including the 2016 box office blockbuster. This version really allowed Bale to shine as the panther who protects the protagonist.
Melvin Purvis – Public Enemies (2009)
Stream On Netflix
Thanks to The Dark Knight trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, two of the biggest stars in Hollywood by 2009 were Christian Bale and Johnny Depp. Putting them together as opposing forces in one movie was a recipe for success and Public Enemies soared for that reason.
Everyone remembers Depp as real-life gangster and bank robber John Dillinger. However, Bale’s turn as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent in charge of catching Dillinger, is rarely mentioned. While he doesn’t have to display the charisma that Depp did, Bale delivers a subtle performance as a good man who was simply doing his job.
Dan Evans – 3:10 To Yuma (2007)
Stream On HBO Max
The back half of the 2000s saw Christian Bale deliver some of the finest performances of his career. There was Batman, Alfred Borden in The Prestige, and Dan Evans in 3:10 to Yuma. The 2007 Western was a remake of a 1957 film of the same name, and it could be argued that this was even better than the original.
Dan Evans is the hero of the story as a war veteran with one leg who has money troubles. He ends up in the crosshairs of notorious villain Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and when the two actually spend some time together, they form an unlikely bond of sorts. Bale is masterful alongside Crowe.
Quinn Abercromby – Reign Of Fire (2002)
Stream On Hulu & Epix
Long before Game of Thrones made them popular again, dragons were at the forefront of an underrated gem in 2002. That movie was Reign of Fire, set in England years after construction led to the awakening of dragons, who have gone on to take over as the most dominant species.
It’s surprising that this film isn’t more remembered considering the cast. Christian Bale stars as Quinn Abercromby, who fights against the dragons alongside his best friend Creedy, played by Gerard Butler. Throw in Matthew McConaughey and this is a film that deserves more recognition.
John Preston – Equilibrium (2002)
Stream On HBO Max
Another hidden gem from 2002 saw Christian Bale enter the world of science fiction. Written and directed by Kurt Wimmer, Equilibrium seemed ahead of its time at certain points, especially upon watching it back all these years later.
The film is set in a future where artistic expressions and most emotions are outlawed and suppressed by drugs. Bale plays John Preston, a law enforcement officer who misses his dose one day and then uses that to propel himself into a resistance movement. The action is absurd in the best way possible and Bale delivers the goods.
