(Photo Credit: A24)
Robert Pattinson has quickly become one of the biggest actors in the world, and rightfully so. The actor has starred in a number of high-profile films over the years, and put forward amazing performances in many of them.
Pattinson’s next role comes in A24’s Primetime, where he plays real-life personality Chris Hansen, who hosted the reality television series To Catch a Predator. For Pattinson, its his latest film of his in a year that includes some huge releases, including The Drama, The Odyssey, and the upcoming Dune: Part Three.
In celebration of Primetime coming out, we’re taking a look at some of Pattinson’s best roles. Everything from strange sci-fi films to superhero fare is here.
5 best Robert Pattinson movies ranked
5) The Drama
Pattinson’s latest film on the list, The Drama, is one of 2026’s best movies, and for good reason. Pattinson and Zendaya star as Charlie and Emma, a couple that’s engaged and preparing for their wedding. A week before the event, the pair meet up with some friends and discuss some of their darkest secrets. When it’s Emma’s turn, it absolutely throws things into chaos, and sees Charlie spiraling as he wonders whether or not the woman he’s marrying is who she really says she is.
While the highlight of The Drama is certainly the “twist” and fallout of it, Pattinson’s role is excellent. The movie gives him a chance to explore the mental distress that comes with it, and gives him a chance to really judge whether or not he should condemn his soon-to-be wife or not.
4) High Life
2018’s High Life isn’t for everyone, but is well worth the watch if you haven’t seen it yet. Claire Denis’ sci-fi film follows a group of criminals serving death sentences that are sent on a mission in space to try and extract energy from a black hole. The prisoners, essentially guinea pigs, must navigate the loneliness of space as well as their impending arrival at a black hole. Then, things are thrown into even further chaos.
Told in non-linear fashion, High Life reveals that Pattinson is soon joined by a daughter, Willow, aboard the spaceship. The movie lets Pattinson explore a much softer side than he’s ever shown on film, and with most of the movie featuring just him, it’s a great showcase of his abilities and skills as an actor.
3) The Batman
It feels like just yesterday that many were mocking the decision to have Pattinson portray Batman in a movie. Coming after the massive success of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, Pattinson seemed like an odd choice to many. Instead, the actor shut everyone up, turning in what many consider to be the best rendition of the character to date. Matt Reeves’ 2022 movie, for my money, is the best live-action Batman, and features a Gotham City that feels true to the comics it’s adapting.
The Batman largely focuses on Batman trying to solve a series of crimes perpetrated by the Riddler, a mysterious criminal targeting many of Gotham City’s elite. While the film is mostly grounded in reality, it still does an excellent job showcasing the city as a character in and of itself, which is exactly what it should be. Reeves’ entry also features some stellar performances by Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, and more. Although it’s been some time in between the original and the upcoming sequel, Pattinson seems well-positioned to cement himself as the Batman.
2) Good Time
In 2017, Pattinson was still largely seen as the guy who was in the Twilight movies. His role in the Safdie Brothers’ Good Time completely changed all that, and cemented his status as a bona fide acting star. Pattinson stars in the thriller as Constantine “Connie” Nikas, a bank robber who must try and free his brother, Nick, after the latter is jailed following a botched robbery.
Like most of the Safdie’s movies, Good Time is filled with chaos, adrenaline, and tense discomfort. You know things are likely not going to end up okay for Connie, but you still can’t help but root for him. Pattinson’s performance exemplifies this, and catapulted him out of the stigma of just being a heartthrob.
1) The Lighthouse
If Good Time made Pattinson an indie movie darling, The Lighthouse absolutely thrust him into superstardom. Robert Eggers’ second feature film after The Witch, The Lighthouse follows a pair of lighthouse keepers, played by Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, as they arrive at an isolated lighthouse in 1890s New England. Predictably, things begin to spiral into chaos, as Dafoe’s harsh attitude as the older sailor begins to grate on Pattinson’s Ephraim, and is only exacerbated by the isolation they experience.
Soon, Ephraim begins to spiral into madness, and the movie gets even more eccentric and ridiculous toward its end. The movie is shot in fully black-and-white, and its extremely claustrophobic 1.19:1 aspect ratio only helps to showcase just how intense and uncomfortable the movie can get..
