Although being in Hollywood for several decades, Gerard Butler has seen both sides of fame. From failure films to movies that defined his entire career, Butler has different fingers in different pies, something that fans love about the actor.
From medieval sword fights to futuristic weapons and crashing satellites, Gerard Butler has predominantly worked in the action thriller genre. With the release of Butler’s Greenland 2: Migration, we decided to rank all of his action thriller movies from worst to best.
15. Gods of Egypt
Often deemed as the lowest point in Gerard Butler’s career, the actor starred in a 2016 film named Gods of Egypt. Being a fantasy action film, Butler portrayed the villainous role of Set, who murders the king and takes the Egyptian Empire for himself.
With the land falling victim to his dark terror, a mortal saves Horus, who vows to take vengeance on Set. Being CGI-heavy, the film felt very out of place, and Butler’s portrayal of Set was also criticized as being clunky.
However, the film was noted for its cinematic visuals and casting choices, but fans of Gerard Butler were sad to see their actor do a film like this.
Key Facts About:Gods of EgyptDirected By:Alex ProyasCast:Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brenton Thwaites, Chadwick Boseman, and others.Release Date:February 26, 2016IMDb Rating:5.4/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:15%Worldwide Box Office:$150 MillionProduction House:Summit EntertainmentWhere to Watch:MovieSphere+
14. Geostorm
A still from Geostorm | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
Released one year after Gods of Egypt, Geostorm was the second streak of failure for Gerard Butler. Released in 2017 by director Dean Devlin (in his directorial debut), the film was a ‘hate-to-love’ flick for many fans.
Despite earning a decent amount at the box office, Geostorm failed to break even, with critics panning the movie for being soulless.
Butler plays a scientist-turned-astronaut in a weather-disaster flick. However, the film’s clunky dialogue made things awkward for fans who simply wanted to see disaster unfold.
Key Facts About:GeostormDirected By:Dean DevlinCast:Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, and others.Release Date:October 20, 2017IMDb Rating:5.4/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:18%Worldwide Box Office:$221 MillionProduction House:Warner Bros. PicturesWhere to Watch:Amazon
13. London Has Fallen
A still from London Has Fallen | Credits: Millennium Films
Another Gerard Butler movie that felt like an okayish flick was London Has Fallen. Being the weakest of the Has Fallen trilogy, the action was indeed relentless, but it lacked the focus of the original and leaned into some dated tropes.
The film stars Gerard Butler as Secret Service agent Mike Banning, who must protect United States President Benjamin Asher from terrorists who orchestrated a threat against the G7 during the British Prime Minister’s funeral in London.
The film had themes of alleged racism and xenophobia, which didn’t sit well with the audience. The only good thing about this film was its action scenes.
Key Facts About:London Has FallenDirected By:Babak NajafiCast:Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, and others.Release Date:March 4, 2016IMDb Rating:5.9/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:28%Worldwide Box Office:$205 MillionProduction House:Millennium FilmsWhere to Watch:YouTube TV
12. Gamer
A still from Gamer | Credits: Lionsgate
A better okayish film from Gerard Butler, Gamer, released in 2009, is a hyper-kinetic, futuristic thriller. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the film stars Butler as a participant in an online game in which participants can control human beings as players, and Logan Lerman as the player who controls him.
The film received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box office bomb. Although the film has found some fans around the world, the “video game” editing style felt more like a headache-inducing than immersive.
Key Facts About:GamerDirected By:Mark Neveldine, Brian TaylorCast:Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Amber Valletta, and others.Release Date:September 4, 2009IMDb Rating:5.7/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:29%Worldwide Box Office:$40 MillionProduction House:LionsgateWhere to Watch:Peacock
11. Hunter Killer
A still from Hunter Killer | Credits: Millennium Media
Released in 2018, Hunter Killer proved to be yet another disappointment (maybe due to the cringey name that the film had). Starring Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman in the lead roles, the film is based on the 2012 novel Firing Point by Don Keith and George Wallace.
The film follows a submarine crew and a group of United States Navy SEALs who rescue the captured Russian president from a coup. The initial reviews for the film were mixed, with some praising the submarine action and others not liking the predictable storyline that followed.
Key Facts About:Hunter KillerDirected By:Donovan MarshCast:Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Linda Cardellini, and others.Release Date:October 26, 2018IMDb Rating:6.6/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:38%Worldwide Box Office:$31 MillionProduction House:Millennium MediaWhere to Watch:YouTube TV
10. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life
Gerard Butler in a still from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life | Credits: Mutual Film Company
One of the earlier films that made Gerard Butler a prominent hero, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, starred Angelina Jolie alongside Gerard Butler as Terry Sheridan.
Based on the Tomb Raider video game series, the film was a sequel to the original Tomb Raider movie but did not achieve the same level of box office success as the previous installment.
Although not his best work, the film showcased Butler as an actor who could show off his potential as an action lead opposite other major stars in the future.
Key Facts About:Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of LifeDirected By:Jan de BontCast:Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, Noah Taylor, and others.Release Date:July 25, 2003IMDb Rating:5.5/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:24%Worldwide Box Office:$160 MillionProduction House:Mutual Film CompanyWhere to Watch:Hoopla
9. Angel Has Fallen
A still from Angel Has Fallen | Credits: Millennium Media
The third installment in the Has Fallen film series, following Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen, the film stars Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Jada Pinkett Smith, and more.
The plot follows United States Secret Service agent Mike Banning as he races against time to clear his name after being framed for a drone attack on the President of the United States, Allan Trumbull.
Although being the latest part in the franchise, the reviews were mixed, but it did perform better than its predecessor, London Has Fallen.
The third film essentially grounded the entire series by making the hero vulnerable and adding Nick Nolte as his eccentric father, adding a layer of depth that was necessary.
Key Facts About:Angel Has FallenDirected By:Ric Roman WaughCast:Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others.Release Date:August 23, 2019IMDb Rating:6.4/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:38%Worldwide Box Office:$146 MillionProduction House:Millennium MediaWhere to Watch:Netflix
8. Kandahar
Gerard Butler in a still from Kandahar | Credits: MBC Studios
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Mitchell LaFortune, Kandahar is loosely based on actual events. The film stars Gerard Butler as CIA operative Tom Harris.
Trying to flee from Afghanistan after their covert mission is exposed, Kandahar sees the CIA operative and his translator trying to make it alive from the enemies.
Being a more realistic, slow-burning political thriller, the film is more ‘serious’ than Butler’s usual fare; however, fans admitted that the action was a bit less than they had anticipated, making the film feel a bit underwhelming.
Key Facts About:KandaharDirected By:Ric Roman WaughCast:Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, and others.Release Date:May 26, 2023IMDb Rating:6.1/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:45%Worldwide Box Office:$9.3 MillionProduction House:MBC StudiosWhere to Watch:Prime Video
7. Last Seen Alive
A still from Last Seen Alive | Credits: Voltage Pictures
An iconic action thriller film directed by Brian Goodman and written by Marc Frydman, Last Seen Alive stars Gerard Butler in the lead role alongside Jaimie Alexander and Russell Hornsby.
Formerly titled Chase, the film follows a man who takes the law into his own hands in the search for his missing wife. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews and was later released on Netflix, and became the streaming site’s most-watched film in the United States.
The film’s only problem was that it felt a bit small-scale, but it remains effective at its core.
Key Facts About:Last Seen AliveDirected By:Brian GoodmanCast:Gerard Butler, Jaimie Alexander, Russell Hornsby, and others.Release Date:June 3, 2022IMDb Rating:5.7/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:14%Worldwide Box Office:$5.9 MillionProduction House:Voltage PicturesWhere to Watch:Hulu
6. Copshop
A still from Copshop | Credits: Sculptor Media
As the years went on, Gerard Butler’s taste in movies started improving again. In 2021, he starred in a neo-noir action thriller titled Copshop.
Directed by Joe Carnahan and based on a story by Kurt McLeod and Mark Williams, the film starred Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, and Alexis Louder in leading roles.
The film is set in a small-town police station that becomes the battleground between a hitman, a novice police officer, and a con artist. The film received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release.
Key Facts About:CopshopDirected By:Joe CarnahanCast:Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, and others.Release Date:September 17, 2021IMDb Rating:6.2/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:83%Worldwide Box Office:$6.8 MillionProduction House:Sculptor MediaWhere to Watch:Prime Video
5. Plane
A still from Plane | Credits: MadRiver Pictures
A 2023 American action thriller film directed by Jean-François Richet, the film stars Gerard Butler and Mike Colter in leading roles.
The film follows a commercial pilot allying with a suspected murderer to save his passengers from hostile territory after an emergency landing.
Although not his finest work, Plane received generally favorable reviews from critics upon its release and was considered a box office success. The only point of contention is that the film over-delivered on a simple premise of a survival thriller.
Key Facts About:PlaneDirected By:Jean-François RichetCast:Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, and others.Release Date:January 13, 2023IMDb Rating:6.5/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:78%Worldwide Box Office:$74 MillionProduction House:MadRiver PicturesWhere to Watch:Hulu
4. RocknRolla
A still from RocknRolla | Credits: Dark Castle Entertainment
Being a Guy Ritchie film, the flick received mixed reviews from critics when it was initially released. However, Gerard Butler found much fame and acclaim for his role as One Two in RocknRolla.
Being a mobster who is the leader of the Wild Bunch, Butler shared the screen with Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and more, but led the movie with a more charismatic and lighter side of his action persona.
Key Facts About:RocknRollaDirected By:Guy RitchieCast:Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandiwe Newton, and others.Release Date:31 October 2008IMDb Rating:7.2/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:60%Worldwide Box Office:$25 MillionProduction House:Dark Castle EntertainmentWhere to Watch:Amazon
3. Law Abiding Citizen
A still from Law Abiding Citizen | Credits: The Film Department
A 2009 American vigilante action thriller film starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler in leading roles, Law Abiding Citizens is an iconic movie from the late 2000s.
The film takes place in Philadelphia, telling the story of a man who seeks justice by targeting not only his family’s killer but also those who have supported a corrupt criminal justice system.
Although the film was a commercial success, it received generally negative reviews from critics (a review that changed as the years went on). Naturally, Law Abiding Citizen is one of the best movies of Hollywood and Gerard Butler’s third-best in terms of action thrillers.
Key Facts About:Law Abiding CitizenDirected By:F. Gary GrayCast:Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Leslie Bibb, and others.Release Date:October 16, 2009IMDb Rating:7.4/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:26%Worldwide Box Office:$127 MillionProduction House:The Film DepartmentWhere to Watch:Fubo
2. Greenland
A still from Greenland | Credits: Thunder Road
A 2020 American apocalyptic survival disaster thriller film directed by Ric Roman Waugh, Greenland was delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The film follows a family who must fight for survival as a planet-destroying comet races to Earth. The film skipped a theatrical release and was instead made available to buy via video on demand.
Upon release, it received favorable reviews from critics and praised the destruction of Earth scenes rather than showcasing an Armageddon-style fight between humans and comets.
Key Facts About:GreenlandDirected By:Ric Roman WaughCast:Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd, and others.Release Date:December 18, 2020IMDb Rating:6.4/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:77%Worldwide Box Office:$52 MillionProduction House:Thunder RoadWhere to Watch:HBO Max
1. 300
A film that defined his career and gave the world the most iconic war cry in modern cinema, 300 was directed by Zack Snyder and starred Gerard Butler in the lead role of King Leonidas.
The plot revolves around King Leonidas, who leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian “God-King” Xerxes and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers.
The Zack Snyder film redefined modern cinema and has been parodied countless times, making the Gerard Butler role his finest.
Key Facts About:300Directed By:Zack SnyderCast:Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, and others.Release Date:March 9, 2007IMDb Rating:7.6/10Rotten Tomatoes Score:61%Worldwide Box Office:$456 MillionProduction House:Legendary PicturesWhere to Watch:Amazon
Which one is your favorite Gerard Butler movie? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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