(Photo by A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection. HERETIC)
We’re ranking the films of Hugh Grant! The guide starts with his Certified Fresh movies, demonstrating he was the king of period drama (The Remains of the Day, Sense and Sensibility) and romantic comedies (Four Weddings and a Funeral, About a Boy, Notting Hill). Ever since playing the cad in Bridget Jones’s Diary, Grant has signaled gleeful intent to portray more brusque characters and outright villains, paying off in more Certified Fresh films like Florence Foster Jenkins, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Paddington 2, which at one point was the best-reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes.
Grant’s darker roles extend into his Fresh catalogue, including The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (whose director, Guy Ritchie, he’s know collaborated with further on with The Gentlemen and Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre) and Cloud Atlas. And if you absolutely need more rom-coms, continue on through Grant’s filmography with Love Actually, Music and Lyrics, Two Weeks Notice, and Nine Months. —Alex Vo
#1
Adjusted Score: 112729%
Critics Consensus: Paddington 2 honors its star’s rich legacy with a sweet-natured sequel whose adorable visuals are matched by a story perfectly balanced between heartwarming family fare and purely enjoyable all-ages adventure.
[More]
#2
Adjusted Score: 101668%
Critics Consensus: Sense and Sensibility is an uncommonly deft, very funny Jane Austen adaptation, marked by Emma Thompson’s finely tuned performance.
[More]
#3
Adjusted Score: 100617%
Critics Consensus: Hugh Grant has infectious fun playing against type in Heretic, a religious horror that preaches the gospel of cerebral chills over cheap shocks.
[More]
#4
Adjusted Score: 102171%
Critics Consensus: Hugh Grant ably snatches up the bouquet of leading man status with Four Weddings and a Funeral, a sparkling romantic comedy given real charm by its chummy ensemble and Richard Curtis’ sharp-witted screenplay.
[More]
#5
Adjusted Score: 100331%
Critics Consensus: Smart, elegant, and blessed with impeccable performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, The Remains of the Day is a Merchant-Ivory classic.
[More]
#6
Adjusted Score: 99243%
Critics Consensus: About a Boy benefits tremendously from Hugh Grant’s layered performance, as well as a funny, moving story that tugs at the heartstrings without tilting into treacle.
[More]
#7
Adjusted Score: 108954%
Critics Consensus: An infectiously good-spirited comedy with a solid emotional core, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves offers fun fantasy and adventure even if you don’t know your HP from your OP.
[More]
#8
Adjusted Score: 99074%
Critics Consensus: Florence Foster Jenkins makes poignant, crowd-pleasing dramedy out of its stranger-than-fiction tale — and does its subject justice with a reliably terrific turn from star Meryl Streep.
[More]
#9
Adjusted Score: 93866%
Critics Consensus: It may not quite scale Aardman’s customary delirious heights, but The Pirates! still represents some of the smartest, most skillfully animated fare that modern cinema has to offer.
[More]
#10
Adjusted Score: 89061%
Critics Consensus: A rom-com with the right ingredients, Notting Hill proves there’s nothing like a love story well told — especially when Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are your leads.
[More]
#11
Adjusted Score: 85748%
Critics Consensus: Zellweger’s Bridget Jones is a sympathetic, likable, funny character, giving this romantic comedy a lot of charm.
[More]
#12
Adjusted Score: 89565%
Critics Consensus: It may not win writer-director Guy Ritchie many new converts, but for those already attuned to the filmmaker’s brash wavelength, The Gentlemen stands tall.
[More]
#13
Adjusted Score: 84456%
Critics Consensus: Maurice sensitively explores the ramifications of forbidden desire with a powerful love story brought to life by the outstanding efforts of a talented cast.
[More]
#14
Adjusted Score: 74895%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
[More]
#15
Adjusted Score: 75585%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
[More]
#16
Adjusted Score: 72955%
Critics Consensus: Restoration spins an engaging period yarn out of its bestselling source material, brought to life through the efforts of an eclectic ensemble cast led by Robert Downey Jr.
[More]
#17
Adjusted Score: 69819%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
[More]
#18
Adjusted Score: 82409%
Critics Consensus: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. tries to distract from an unremarkable story with charismatic stars and fizzy set pieces, adding up to an uneven action thriller with just enough style to overcome its lack of substance.
[More]
#19
Adjusted Score: 68782%
Critics Consensus: With an ample serving of Huge Grant’s trademark charm, a quirky Welsh town comes together to put their town on the map in this feel-good folksy tale.
[More]
#20
Adjusted Score: 79998%
Critics Consensus: Its sprawling, ambitious blend of thought-provoking narrative and eye-catching visuals will prove too unwieldy for some, but the sheer size and scope of Cloud Atlas are all but impossible to ignore.
[More]
#21
Adjusted Score: 69647%
Critics Consensus: Woody Allen rises from his recent slump with Small Time Crooks. A simple, funny movie, Crooks proves Allen still has the touch that made his name synonymous with off-beat comedy.
[More]
#22
Adjusted Score: 68054%
Critics Consensus: The Rewrite‘s unremarkable plot is enlivened considerably by its likable cast, adding up to a comedy that coasts capably on the charms of Hugh Grant and his co-stars.
[More]
#23
Adjusted Score: 72093%
Critics Consensus: A sugary tale overstuffed with too many stories. Still, the cast charms.
[More]
#24
Adjusted Score: 69514%
Critics Consensus: Music & Lyrics is a light and pleasant romantic comedy that succeeds because of the considerable charm of its co-stars. The music segments featuring Hugh Grant are worth the price of admission.
[More]
#25
Adjusted Score: 65471%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
[More]
#26
Adjusted Score: 57717%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
[More]
#27
Adjusted Score: 58966%
Critics Consensus: Operation Fortune can’t keep up with the best modern action movies, but it’s got just enough firepower for viewers seeking a few undemanding thrills.
[More]
#28
Adjusted Score: 48403%
Critics Consensus: High-brow humorists doing low-brow humor never hit their stride.
[More]
#29
Adjusted Score: 45816%
Critics Consensus: Though Two Weeks Notice has nothing new to add to the crowded genre, Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock make the movie a pleasant, if predictable, sit.
[More]
#30
Adjusted Score: 40269%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
[More]
#31
Adjusted Score: 46404%
Critics Consensus: A cheerfully silly satire with an unfortunate lack of focus, American Dreamz takes aim at numerous targets, but isn’t pointed enough for relevant social commentary.
[More]
#32
Adjusted Score: 30946%
Critics Consensus: Bogged down in slapstick and silliness, Edge of Reason is a predictable continuation of the Bridget Jones story.
[More]
#33
Adjusted Score: 28792%
Critics Consensus: Nine Months finds writer-director Chris Columbus playing to his worst comedic instincts — and relying far too heavily on the trademark tics of his miscast leading man.
[More]
#34
Adjusted Score: 16441%
Critics Consensus: It gets a certain amount of mileage out of the inherent likability of its stars, but with an unfunny script and a lack of onscreen chemistry, Did You Hear About the Morgans? falls flat.
[More]