With a spectacular silver screen career spanning twenty-five years, the always charming Hugh Jackman has headlined a slew of unforgettable films and starred as a colorful array of characters throughout his Hollywood reign. The decorated performer has collaborated with many revered directors including Darren Aronofsky, Bryan Singer, Christopher Nolan, and Woody Allen and landed his major breakthrough role when he took on the iconic character Wolverine in the 2000 superhero extravaganza X-Men.
Though he has starred in countless blockbuster hits like The Prestige, The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, and of course the groundbreaking X-Men franchise, Jackman has also appeared in some lesser-known flicks that deserve just as much appreciation and love as the bigger projects he’s headlined. Here are 10 of Hugh Jackman’s most underrated movies fans of the charismatic actor should check out.
10 Kate & Leopold (2001)
Hugh Jackman teamed up with the queen of rom-coms Meg Ryan for the 2001 fantasy film Kate & Leopold, which tells the story of amateur physicist Stuart Besser (Liev Schreiber) who inadvertently plucks his great-great-grandfather Leopold (Jackman) from 1876 through a gravitational time portal and bringing him into modern day New York City.
Leopold falls head-over-heels for Stuart’s ex-girlfriend, the brilliant-yet-cynical Kate (Ryan), as he marvels at the many wonders around him in the 21st century.
Jackman’s Scene-Stealing Portrayal
The enchanting rom-com garnered a mixed-bag response from critics, who praised Jackman and Ryan’s sensational chemistry and its light-hearted humor but pointed out the flaws behind the time travel element.
Audiences awarded Kate & Leopold a respectable B+ CinemaScore and it proved to be a modest financial success at the box office, earning $76 million worldwide during its theatrical release. Jackman’s charismatic performance was also singled out, with the celebrated actor receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his compelling work in the flick.
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9 Bad Education (2020)
Based on Robert Kolker’s New York magazine article chronicling the biggest and most notorious public school embezzlement in United States history, the 2019 crime drama Bad Education stars as Roslyn Union Free School District superintendent Dr. Frank Tassone, a beloved member of the Long Island community who along with his assistant superintendent Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney) stole millions of dollars from the affluent district and attempted to cover-up the lucrative scheme after a student reported discovering the scheme.
Jackman Embraces His Devious Side
Bad Education had its worldwide premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival where its garnered rave reviews for its exceptional screenplay, dark humor, and both Jackman and Janney’s powerhouse deliveries.
Rolling Stone described Jackman’s contributions to the drama as “a career-best performance from a movie star with a genuine actor’s depth and range”, and he ended up nabbing both a Primetime Emmy and Satellite Award nomination for his outing as the cunning Frank Tassone.
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8 The Fountain (2006)
Undeniably one of Jackman’s most criminally-underrated films of his illustrious career was Darren Aronofsky’s 2006 epic romantic drama The Fountain, which features three interconnected storylines centering on spirituality and immortality that each share a recurring element: a man desperately tries to save his one true love (Rachel Weisz) in the past, present, and future and goes on a time-traveling quest to do so.
Jackman appeared as a Spanish conquistador, scientist, and astronaut while on his valiant journey to protect his beloved partner.
A Powerfully Moving Romance for the Ages
Both Jackman and Weisz play the main characters in all three poignant tales, and Aronofsky describedThe Fountain‘s complexity and fundamental message as: “[The film is] very much like a Rubik’s Cube, where you can solve it in several different ways, but ultimately there’s only one solution at the end.”
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett were initially attached to lead the engrossing drama, but were ultimately replaced by Jackman and Weisz as the perpetually star-crossed lovers. Neither a critical nor commercial hit upon its initial debut, The Fountain has gone on to garner a newfound appreciation and has emerged as a bona fide cult classic.
7 Real Steel (2011)
Adapted from the 1950s Richard Matheson short story that eventually became the basis for an episode of The Twilight Zone, the 2011 sci-fi sports flick Real Steel focuses on former boxer Charlie Kenton (Jackman) as he builds and trains a dilapidated and obsolete robot named Atom to perform in the boxing ring for a high-stakes championship after the sport was overtaken by robots.
Charlie enlists the help of his estranged 11-year-old son Max to help Atom become a prized fighter and fulfill his ultimate boxing dreams.
A True Feast for the Eyes
Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard served as an adviser for the film’s fighting sequences in the ring, and he trained and gave Jackman boxing lessons so that his moves would look more effortless and natural. Real Steel topped the box office and went on to gross over $299 million worldwide, with the sci-fi extravaganza dazzling moviegoers with its thrilling action, gorgeous visuals, and top-tier performance by Jackman. The talented actor also won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie Star for his portrayal in the exciting flick.
6 Scoop (2006)
Scoop
- Release Date
- July 27, 2006
- Cast
- Jim Dunk , Robert Bathurst , Geoff Bell , Christopher Fulford , Nigel Lindsay , Ian McShane
Enduring Hollywood director Woody Allen enlisted the talents of Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson to headline his 2006 romantic crime comedy Scoop, telling the kooky tale of ambitious American journalist Sondra Pransky as she gets the story of a lifetime after she is visited by the spirit of a British reporter (Ian McShane) during a magician’s (Allen) show, who claims he was murdered by the prominent aristocrat Peter Lyman (Jackman). Sondra finds herself falling in love with the potential serial killer, with amusing chaos naturally ensuing.
A Wonderfully Zany Premise
Scoop was one of three films released that year that explored the theme of stage magicians and magic, with both The Illusionist and The Prestige (also starring Jackman opposite Christian Bale) also debuting on the silver screen.
Critics were underwhelmed by the Allen picture and its clunky screenplay, though its stellar cast performances were singled out as a bright spot in the delightfully strange comedy. Despite its mixed reviews, Scoop still proved to be a hit at the box office and earned over $39 million on a modest $4 million budget.
5 Flushed Away (2006)
Touting a decorated ensemble voice cast led by Jackman, Kate Winslet, Bill Nighy, and Ian McKellen, the 2006 animated adventure comedy Flushed Away follows the epic and thrilling adventure spoiled pet rat Roddy St. James (Jackman) goes upon after he is flushed down the toilet of his ritzy Kensington luxury apartment by a devious and overweight sewer rat named Sid.
Roddy meets the savvy scavenger rat Rita Malone (Winslet), who attempts to help the pampered pet find his way back to his cushy home.
Wholesome Fun for Audiences of All Ages
Flushed Away was the third and final DreamWorks Animation picture co-produced by Aardman Features, joining in the prestigious company of fellow films/ collaborations Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and it was the first Aardman endeavor to mostly utilize CGI animations as opposed to stop-motion.
Flushed Away was a knockout with critics and it went on to win a whopping five Annie Awards while receiving a BAFTA and Critics’ Choice nod, though it unfortunately was a box-office dud.
4 Prisoners (2013)
Jackman showcased his impressive acting prowess when he appeared alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Paul Dano in the taut 2013 thriller Prisoners, in which he portrayed the desperate and determined father Keller Dover as he faces an unfathomable nightmare when his 6-year-old daughter Anna goes missing along with her friend, prompting Keller to go rogue and take matters into his own hands to find his beloved child. Keller teams up with the driven Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) to track down the missing children.
A Harrowing Big Screen Thriller
Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio were at one point attached to star in the chilling picture before Jackman and Gyllenhaal took over, with each talented actor demonstrating their commanding skills as performers in the gripping thriller.
Prisoners was named one of the Top Ten Films of the year by the National Board of Review and received the award for Best Cast, and also landed on numerous critics’ lists for best films of the year. Though it was lauded upon its release, Prisoners is still an overlooked entry in Jackman’s extensive film catalog.
3 The Front Runner (2018)
Based on the Matt Bai book of the same name chronicling the 1987 media scandalization of then-Democratic presidential nominee Senator Gary Hart, the 2018 political drama The Front Runner once again showcased Jackman’s dazzling range as he took on the lead role of the infamous American politician, who’s extramarital affairs caused him to drop out of the presidential race. Jackman is joined by Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, and Alfred Molina in the intriguing film, which depicts Hart’s epic rise and fall.
Jackman Carries the Political Drama
Jackman’s complex portrayal of Senator Gary Hart earned him immense praise and appreciation by fans and critics, with many expressing that the movie star was the greatest aspect of the otherwise underwhelming drama. Audiences felt that the X-Men star dominated every scene he was in and served up a charismatic performance, but that the rest of the phenomenal cast was underutilized; Jackman won a Hollywood Film Award for his contributions to the engaging flick.
2 Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Another underrated animated film that Jackman offered his distinct voice to was the 2012 fantasy action-adventure Rise of the Guardians, which also included the talents of Chris Pine, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, and Alec Baldwin, centering on the courageous eponymous team consisting of beloved figures like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny (Jackman), and the Tooth Fairy as they band together to protect the children of the world from dark threats like the terrifying boogeyman known as Pitch Black.
A Gorgeous & Unique Animated Picture
Celebrated for its stunning animation, entertaining premise, and charming cast performances, Rise of the Guardians was a smash hit with moviegoers, earning an A CinemaScore and bringing in over $306 million throughout its theatrical run.
Despite this seemingly impressive number, it was considered a box office disappointment because of its hefty price tag and was one of DreamWorks Animation’s biggest duds, though the heartwarming flick nonetheless was a critical triumph, landing both a Golden Globe and Annie Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
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1 The Son (2023)
The Son
- Release Date
- January 20, 2023
Jackman rightfully earned yet another Golden Globe nomination when he starred in the 2022 drama The Son, an adaptation of director Florian Zeller’s stage play of the same name that follows a hard-working father and husband Peter Miller (Jackman) as he attempts to juggle life with his new wife Beth (Vanessa Kirby) and their infant as his estranged 17-year-old son Nicholas arrives to stay with him while he battles depression. The poignant film also stars Laura Dern and Anthony Hopkins, who portray Peter’s ex-wife Kate and father Anthony, respectively.
A Heartrending Cautionary Tale
While the drama itself attracted less-than-glowing reviews from moviegoers, Jackman was once again singled out for his moving portrayal of the flawed and stubborn family patriarch who wrestles with his own guilt and role in his son’s depression.
Slant magazine raved about Jackman’s powerful performance, commending his exceptional work in the drama: “All by himself, Hugh Jackman imbues The Son with a tragic power that makes even Florian Zeller’s most manipulative excesses easier to tolerate.”
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