Ranking the Best Performances to Date From Christian Bale

No one dives into a role like Christian Bale. No matter the part, Bale has a commitment that few can even approach, let alone match. It got him attention early on in his career, helped make him a star, and even won him an Academy Award. Now, he’s a legitimate A-lister, with anything he signs on to participate in getting major buzz. Now, with The Bride! about to hit theaters, a look at his best work to date is in order. So, join me…

In my review of The Bride! (here), I spoke of Bale’s work alongside Jessie Buckley like so:

Christian Bale and especially Jessie Buckley are turning in bold and fearless work, the kind needed in an ambitious film like this. Bale portrays Frank as already a gentlemen, violent when needed, but often timid, and it’s a fascinating take on the creature. He’s clearly having fun and engaged with the material, as well as with the vibrant work from his co-star. Together, they’re certainly delighting in the big swing provided for them.

Below, you can see how Bale’s best stacks up for me. I’ve long been a fan of his turn in American Psycho and still feel like it’s the pinnacle of his work. Frankly, it’s an all-timer of a performance, too, at least in my eyes. So, that’s tops for yours truly. Next in line would be his Oscar-winning performance in The Fighter, which also rocks (it does feel weird that he only has won Best Supporting Actor, but that will change one day, I’m sure). Then, it’s whichever of the transformations strike your fancy, be it The Machinist, Rescue Dawn, Vice, etc. As always with someone this talented, you really can’t go wrong wherever you choose to plant your flag. Where does The Bride! debut on this list? Does it even crack the top ten? Find out below…

Here now is my ranking of the best Christian Bale performances so far. Behold:

Honorable Mention: American Hustle, The Big Short, The Bride!, The Dark Knight Rises, Harsh Times, Laurel Canyon, Newsies, Out of the Furnace, The Pale Blue Eye, and Velvet Goldmine

10. Batman Begins

9. Empire of the Sun

8. The Dark Knight

7. The Prestige

6. Ford v Ferrari

5. The Machinist

4. Vice

3. Rescue Dawn

2. The Fighter

1. American Psycho

What are your favorite Christian Bale performances? Let us know!