Since making his way into the movie industry in the late 1990s, Hugh Jackman has had his fair share of Hollywood hits. From the X-Men movie series to The Greatest Showman, the actor has proved he is a big box office draw and this has helped him build a sizeable collection of films, as well as a loyal fan base.
But Hugh Jackman hasn’t won over producers, directors, and audiences by luck; he’s done it by delivering excellent performances. Jackman is a talented actor with excellent range, and this has ensured a packed portfolio of pictures, covering action, sci-fi, drama, musicals, and everything in between.
And should you not be well-versed on Jackman’s movies, don’t worry, now is a great time to play catch up. There’s plenty of gold on offer, and many gems too, so simply set aside some time and get stuck in.
In fact, below you will find a run through of the eleven best Hugh Jackman movies. These are the must-see Jackman pictures you should add to your playlist.
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The Prestige (2006)
First up, is the psychological thriller, The Prestige. Directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan, The Prestige sees Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play rival magicians locked in a long-running feud.
In the movie, it’s the 1890s and in London, Robert Angier (Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Bale) are working as magician’s assistants when a water tank trick goes wrong and Angier’s wife dies. Following the incident, Angier blames Borden, the two become bitter enemies, and they go their separate ways.
But the feud continues, reaching a peak when Borden develops a seemingly impossible new trick called The Transported Man. This trick proves to be an obsession for both showmen, as well as a source of great mystery.
Based on the book of the same name by Christopher Priest, and featuring a supporting cast which includes Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Andy Serkis, and David Bowie, The Prestige is a mind-boggling movie filled with intrigue, as well as impressive turns from Jackman and Bale. The central mystery creates suspense, but it’s the performances from the lead actors which cements the movie as a classic.
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Prisoners (2013)
Up next is the intense thriller, Prisoners. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the movie tells the story of a desperate father who takes matters into his own hands when his daughter and her friend go missing.
In the film, Jackman takes on the role of Keller Dover – a father and family man living in Pennsylvania. On Thanksgiving, his daughter and her friend go missing, in what appears to be an abduction.
A suspect is arrested, but is later released by the police. However, believing the suspect to be guilty of his daughter’s disappearance, Keller kidnaps the man and tortures him for information.
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Kate & Leopold (2001)
Something much lighter now – the romantic fantasy film, Kate & Leopold. The movie – directed and co-written by James Mangold – tells the story of a 19th Century man named Leopold, who finds love in the 21st Century after he is inadvertently transported through time.
Jackman is at his charming best in the movie, taking on the role of Leopold. Meanwhile, Meg Ryan plays market researcher and love interest, Kate.
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Eddie the Eagle (2015)
Next up is the biographical sports comedy-drama, Eddie the Eagle. The film tells the real-life story of British skier and Olympic hopeful, Michael ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards, charting his journey to achieve glory.
Taron Egerton takes on the role of Eddie, with Jackman as his trainer, Bronson Peary. The film is a delightful picture, filled with feel-good moments, which ensured it was a critical hit upon release.
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Australia (2008)
Directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, Australia is an epic adventure picture set to the backdrop of World War II. The film looks at key events during this time, including the bombing of Darwin, while telling a love story between a widow and a cattle drover.
Jackman takes on the role of ‘The Drover’, while Nicole Kidman co-stars as English aristocrat and widow, Lady Sarah Ashley. Bryan Brown, Essie Davis, and Ben Mendelsohn feature amongst the cast.
And now onto something a little different…
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X-Men 2 (2003)
Out of all of Hugh Jackman’s roles, the one which stands out as his signature character is Wolverine in the X-Men movie series. Jackman has played the part of Wolverine multiple times, across various Marvel films, and he never fails to entertain in the process.
In fact, the X-Men movie series as a whole is always worth a watch, but when it comes to Jackman, three key films stand out, and the first of these is X-Men 2 (aka X2: X-Men United). In this film, Jackman’s Wolverine begins to explore his mysterious past, while a familiar face puts the lives of the X-Men in danger.
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X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
In this next X-Men movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Wolverine plays a key role in a time-travel adventure which straddles the 1970s as well as a dystopian future. In the movie, mutant killing robots known as the Sentinels are in the process of wiping out all mutant life on the planet, prompting Wolverine to travel back to the past to alter the timeline.
Featuring a huge collection of X-Men, with Jackman’s Wolverine front and centre, this epic super hero film is a thrilling action tale. It mixes characters from different eras of the X-universe and is one of the best comic book movies of all time.
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Logan (2017)
In this third X-instalment, the X-Men are no more and an aged Wolverine is left to care for his friend and mentor, a mentally unstable Professor Charles Xavier. But when Wolverine is approached by a former nurse, who begs for his help to escort her and a young girl named Laura to a refuge camp, he and Xavier are pulled into another adventure.
Directed and co-written by James Mangold, and originally envisioned as Jackman’s final outing as Wolverine (before 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine changed all that), Logan provides a fitting send-off for Marvel’s most famous mutant. The film is a gritty picture, with a superb central performance from Jackman.
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The Son (2022)
Directed and co-written by Florian Zeller, and based on his 2018 play, Le Fils, The Son is a powerful and emotive drama about a father’s relationship with his estranged, depressed, and suicidal son. Jackman takes on the role of Peter Miller in the film, while Zen McGrath plays the titular son, Nicholas.
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Reminiscence (2021)
Written and directed by Lisa Joy, Reminiscence is a neo-noir sci-fi thriller about a scientist named Nick Bannister (Jackman), who has the technology to help people relive their memories. In the movie, Nick utilises his advanced tech to unlock a mystery surrounding his lost love, but discovers more than he bargained for.
Upon release, Reminiscence received mixed reviews from critics and was largely overlooked by audiences, causing it to tank at the box office, but don’t overlook this movie. Reminiscence features a great performance from Jackman, has cult movie written all over it, and is destined to be reappraised in due course.
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The Greatest Showman (2017)
And finally, could any other movie end this list other than The Greatest Showman? Outside of the X-Men films, The Greatest Showman is arguably one of Hugh Jackman’s best-loved pictures and it’s a real showstopper too!
For those unfamiliar with the movie, Jackman stars as a fictionalised version of real-life entertainer and showman, P. T. Barnum. In the film, Barnum hires a group of outcasts to perform at his circus, turning them and himself into a huge success in the process.
Featuring a collection of toe tapping songs, as well as some dazzling performances, The Greatest Showman is an all-singing, all-dancing entertainment extravaganza. The film provides Jackman with the perfect opportunity to showcase his talents, alongside an excellent cast which includes Zac Efron, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Keala Settle, and Michelle Williams.
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Recap
So, those are the best Hugh Jackman movies. Now, to save you the hassle of having to scroll back up, here are the titles of all the movies in one handy list:
- The Prestige (2006)
- Prisoners (2013)
- Kate & Leopold (2001)
- Eddie the Eagle (2015)
- Australia (2008)
- X-Men 2 (2003)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Logan (2017)
- The Son (2022)
- Reminiscence (2021)
- The Greatest Showman (2017)
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about the best Hugh Jackman movies on It’s A Stampede!. For more posts, check out the recommended reads below.
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