Ethan Hawkeis an impressively versatile actor who has turned in great work in a host of genres.He has consistently chosen roles that challenge both himself and his audience, allowing him to flex new muscles and explore new spaces. As a result, he’s grown a lot since his early days as a fresh-faced teenager inDead Poets Society, deliveringnuanced lead performancesin masterpieces likeFirst Reformedand theBeforetrilogy.
Beyond acting, Hawke has also ventured into directing and writing, showcasing his multifaceted talent. With all this in mind, this list looks at some of the must-see movies in Hawke’s filmography. They range from science fiction to intimate drama, romance to crime thrillers, but all of them demonstrate the actor’s depth and sincerity.
10’Tape' (2001)
Directed by Richard Linklater
“You know, the past is never really past.“Tapeis an incredibly lean movie, clocking in at just 86 minutes, unfolding in real-time, shot on grainy digital video, using one location, and featuring just three actors. It sees Hawke playing Vince, a volatile volunteer firefighter who reunites with his high school friend, Jon (Robert Sean Leonard), in a seedy motel room. The tension escalates when Vince reveals he has invited Amy (Uma Thurman), a woman from their past, to join them.
Tapewas adapted from a play, andithas a very theater-like presentation, sparse and minimalist.The stripped-back elements have a lot in common withthe Dogme 95 movement. However, directorRichard Linklaterstill puts his own personal stamp on it. Rather than being a hindrance, the limited setting amplifies the claustrophobia, and the unvarnished style makes everything feel more authentic. It all adds up to an absorbing, intimate drama.
9’Predestination' (2014)
Directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig
“The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless.” Hawke has top billing inthis sci-fi thrilleras Agent Doe, a temporal agent tasked with preventing future crimes by traveling through time. His mission leads him to a mysterious individual known as the “Fizzle Bomber,” whose attacks have catastrophic consequences. The movie uses this premise to dive into some mind-bending takes on time travel, identity, and destiny.
Predestinationwas based on a short story by genre legendRobert A. Heinlein, and it does justice to that author’s big-brain vision. The plot is intricate and meticulously crafted, hiding key details in plain sight, and misdirecting the audience in the best way. It also manages to feel pretty real and believable, even when serving up highly speculative ideas. On the acting front,Sarah Snookalso shines in a very tricky role, hinting at the skills she would later bring to bear onSuccession.
Predestination
8’Maudie' (2016)
Directed by Aisling Walsh
“I was loved.” Hawke appears in this biopic asEverett Lewis, a reclusive fish peddler in 1930s Nova Scotia who hiresMaud Dowley(Sally Hawkins), a woman with severe arthritis, as his housekeeper. Despite initial resistance, a deep bond forms between the two, leading to marriage and a partnership that transforms both their lives. Maud’s passion for painting blossoms, and her folk art gains national recognition.
While not everyone’s cup of tea,Maudieis a sweet and well-made biographical drama, anchored by nuanced performances, especially from the always-terrific Hawkins. It’s moving and uplifting, with plenty to say about resilience, love, and the power of art. The actor has said that he was drawn to the project because of its focus on character study. “So often, I’m asked to pay people that are in service of a plot,” Hawkeexplains. “This movie is just about the people and their relationship.”
7’First Reformed' (2018)
Directed by Paul Schrader
“I know that nothing can change and I know there is no hope.” Hawke delivers a powerful performance here as Reverend Ernst Toller, a former military chaplain grappling with a crisis of faith. Leading a dwindling congregation at a historic church in upstate New York, Toller’s life takes a turn when he counsels a troubled environmental activist (Philip Ettinger) and his pregnant wife (Amanda Seyfried). Writer-directorPaul Schradervery much places the focus on the priest’s inner struggle.
This is a precise and strikingly austere drama, drawing inspiration from filmmakers likeYasujiro Ozu,Robert Bresson, andCarl Theodor Dreyer. The restrained visual style reinforces its thematic weight, with cinematographerAlexander Dynancomposing a series of powerful, desaturated shots.It’s a bleak but intelligent and intense movie, easily ranking among Schrader’s very best work (and the man wroteTaxi Driver). Playing such an embittered and woeful character is not easy, but Hawke excels in the part.
First Reformed
6’Gattaca' (1997)
Directed by Andrew Niccol
“There is no gene for the human spirit.” Another great sci-fi flick,Gattacafeatures Hawke as Vincent Freeman, a man born naturally in a future where genetic engineering dictates social hierarchy. Determined to overcome his “inferior” status, Vincent assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a genetically superior individual, to pursue his dream of space travel.The movie’s ideas are uncomfortably plausible, as gene editing and related technologies continue to raise ethical debate today.
Gattacais one of the smartest sci-fi films of the 1990s, a “thriller with ideas”, asRoger Ebertcalledit. The well-researched script provides a strong foundation for Hawke to flesh out, turning Vincent into a compelling underdog character. Finally, in terms of the visuals, the film’s sleek, retro-futuristic aesthetic enhances its dystopian atmosphere and has aged well. The opening title sequence is also memorably inventive, created with the use of oversized models of hair and fingernails.
5’Waking Life' (2001)
“The idea is to remain in a state of constant departure while always arriving.” Richard Linklater’s most philosophical outing,Waking Lifeis a unique movie that blends dreams and existential musings through a rotoscope animation technique. Each dialogue-heavy scene serves as a meditation on the human experience, blurring the lines between reality and the dream world.It works because the conversations are genuinely engaging and thought-provoking, rather than just idle dorm room speculation.
In its best moments,Waking Lifecan even be a little exhilarating, giving the viewer that sublime feeling of gaining a new perspective or momentarily stepping outside of their own subjectivity. While not the main character, Hawke shows up in a memorable scene, reuniting with Julie Delpy to reprise their roles from theBeforetrilogy in a surreal conversation about love, dreams, and the nature of reality. It’s a nice meta moment, creating a link with the rest of the director’s filmography.
4’Boyhood' (2014)
“The moment seizes us.” The incredibly ambitiousBoyhoodfollows Mason Evans Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) from childhood to early adulthood, filmed over the course of 12 years. Hawke plays Mason’s father, a well-meaning but unreliable presence in his son’s life. Over the years, his character evolves from a carefree, divorced dad to a more responsible and introspective man.The fact that Hawke’s aging was real adds to the impact of this character development.
On top of that, Hawke brings warmth and nuance to his role, making every scene he’s in more engaging. Patricia Arquette is also terrific as Mason’s mom. Overall, while the movie’s second half is not quite as compelling as the first,Boyhoodis still an impressive and moving film, authentic in feel despite the troubles posed by such an extended production process. Not for nothing, it remains the highest-rated 21st-century movie on Metacritic, with a score of 100 out of 100.
Directed by Peter Weir
“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” One of Hawke’s earliest and most iconic roles,Dead Poets Societyfocuses on a group of students at a prestigious all-boys preparatory school whose lives are changed by their unorthodox English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams). Hawke plays Todd Anderson, a shy and reserved student who struggles with self-expression.
Hawke’s portrayal of Todd is a masterclass in subtle transformation.The character gradually gains confidence, finding his voice in the powerful scene where he delivers the famous “O Captain! My Captain!” line. Sure, the movie is a little melodramatic at times and wraps things up with a neat, feel-good ending, but the characters are also so likable and the story so uplifting that it doesn’t matter. It’s a classic for a reason. It was also at the time a major step forward for Williams as a dramatic actor.
Dead Poets Society
2’Training Day' (2001)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
“You gotta decide if you’re a wolf or a sheep.” On the other end of the cinematic spectrum isTraining Day, an electrifying crime thriller about rookie cop Jake Hoyt (Hawke) and his 24-hour evaluation under the supervision of the charismatic but corrupt Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). As the day progresses, Jake is drawn into Alonzo’s morally ambiguous world. Forced to make life-altering decisions, Jake must confront his own ethics in a brutal game of survival.
Playing against type, Washington steals the show as Alonzo, rightly winning an Oscar for his efforts, buthis performance is heightened by its contrast with Hawke’s.The latter is a believable mix of innocence, determination, and growing disillusionment, which is a great foil for Alonzo’s embrace of unchecked power. While this gripping character study ultimately gives way to a conventional shoot-‘em-up, the strong acting alone elevatesTraining Dayabove most other movies in this genre.
Training Day
1’Before’ Trilogy (1995-2013)
“I guess when you’re young, you just believe there will be many people with whom you’ll connect.” Claiming the top spot on this list is theBeforetrilogy, comprised ofBefore Sunrise(1995),Before Sunset(2004), andBefore Midnight(2013). Hawke is Jesse, an American traveler who meets Céline (Delpy) on a train to Vienna. What begins as a spontaneous, deeply philosophical night together in ‘Before Sunrise’ turns into a decades-spanning relationship marked by love, regret, and the passage of time.
It’s a brilliant, poignant love story, and one of the best cinematic trilogies of all time. The dialogue is amazingly organic and thoughtful, a lot of it improvised by the stars, who share a writing credit with Linklater. LikeBoyhood, these movies follow the same actors over many years. Seeing the performers themselves really aging blurs the line between reality and fiction and lends weight to their existential reflections. With their humor, tenderness, and moments of aching realism, theBeforemovies represent Hawke’s finest achievement as a performer.
