He’s gone from being a vampiric sex symbol for teenage girls, to being one of the most fascinating actors of his generation, with an eclectic filmography that demands respect. With this in mind, and his new film Mickey 17 hitting the big screen, we decided now was the time to dive into the best Robert Pattinson movies, and we can tell you exactly where to watch them all, too.
The Twilight connection hurt Pattinson’s career for a while, with the actor finding it difficult to shake that reputation and indeed, that franchise’s hold on him. But, having gone to the extreme and pushed his work to the limits, Pattinson has come out the other side and shown himself to be an incredibly versatile and impressive performer.
So, picking the best Robert Pattinson movies may be harder than you think. But we did it anyway, and we’ve included details on where they’re all streaming so you can enjoy his work.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Let’s be honest, the Harry Potter series peaked with its fourth movie, and while Pattinson may not play the biggest role in the franchise, his impact in The Goblet of Fire is immense. Indeed, his final moments at Hogwarts are some of the most upsetting and traumatic the Wizarding World has ever witnessed. Voldermort, we’ll never forgive you.
As Cedric Diggory, Pattinson radiates such a natural charm and warmth. He’s a character not without his flaws, but he’s someone we root for all the same, and a lot of that is down to the work Pattinson does in bringing him to life.
High Life
From one of Pattinson’s most mainstream movies, to one of his most bizarre and graphic, High Life is essentially Claire Denis’ sordid exploration of sex in space, with the double act of Pattinson and Juliette Binoche putting in formidable work and commitment to the no-holds-barred nature of the film itself.
It’s not one for the faint of heart, and even admirers of the more unorthodox side of the sci-fi genre may struggle with High Life. But, even in its technical elements alone there is so much to admire here, even if the story could be considered a little too abstract.
The Boy and the Heron
If you’re a fan of Robert Pattinson doing strange voice work, you’ll love the energy he brings to The Boy and the Heron. The Studio Ghibli movie is as weird and wonderful as you’d expect from legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, and obviously, it looks incredible, but the voice cast do impeccable work here, too.
Pattinson plays the titular heron, and totally transforms his vocals to deliver an eerie, sinister side to his character, but that soon makes way for a quirky charm and playful vibe as the true machinations of the unusual creature come to light when the winding narrative unravels.
The Devil All the Time
Another entry in our list of the best Robert Pattinson movies, and yet another outlandish choice when it comes to accent work for the man himself in this downright nasty supporting role. He’s joined by Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, and Riley Keogh in The Devil All the Time, but as you may have guessed, it is Pattinson who steals the scene every time he comes on screen.
This Antonio Campos film is a brooding and slow-burning drama, and definitely has some issues with pacing, but it’s worth watching for Pattinson’s delightfully dark turn as Reverend Preston Teagardin alone.
The Rover
Part of the early wave of A24 movies, The Rover comes from acclaimed director David Michod, and it’s the kind of film that’ll take you by surprise as the grisly, gritty story unfolds before your eyes. With the Australian outback providing the setting for this dystopian tale, there’s plenty of visual treats for the eyes, too.
Pattinson is almost unrecognisable in his portrayal of Rey here, with an inner conflict brewing inside the young criminal that is absolutely captivating to watch. He and Guy Pearce share an intriguing chemistry on screen, and it’s frankly thrilling to watch two powerhouse actors go toe-to-toe.
The Lost City of Z
Ironically, another film where Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson both appear, though in very different circumstances here. The Lost City of Z is far more reliant on the work of Charlie Hunnam and Sienna Miller, but Pattinson’s supporting role is still important and interesting in equal measure.
In many ways, this is the movie which really announced Pattinson as a very different actor to the one we knew from his Twilight era. It’s a mature performance in a sprawling epic from director James Gray, with Pattinson starting to showcase his gravitas and screen presence for the first time.
Tenet
We couldn’t possibly attest to fully understanding what is going on in Tenet — the temporal pincer movement sounds cool, but it’s complex to say the least — but this Christopher Nolan flick is a blistering time travel heist movie complete with a bombastic score, hard-hitting action, and Robert Pattinson balancing flamboyance and ferocity wonderfully.
As Neil, Pattinson appears to be little more than a guy who talks the talk, but he slowly evolves into someone who will carry the emotional weight of the film on his shoulders. And, of course, Pattinson excels with that responsibility, delivering killer lines with poignancy and an unnerving calmness.
Good Time
If The Lost City of Z was Pattinson showing he could take on more mature roles, Good Time was the first sign that this actor was ready to really cut loose and go to extreme places with his work. The Safdie Brothers constructed a taut thriller for their revered sophomore effort, but the movie flies or dies on Pattinson’s performance in the lead role.
With bleach blonde locks, dramatic facial hair, and a frenetic energy, Pattinson’s Connie is a man possessed and is absolutely captivating in every single scene. It was also the first time Pattinson really dived into an undesirable, unlikeable character, and he nailed it.
The Batman
While franchise work might seem like the last thing Pattinson would want to do after shaking his roots in the Twilight saga, the actor took on the cape and cowl to become the most iconic character of them all, Batman.
The Batman is everything fans of the hero should want to see. It transports us to a grimy Gotham City, where every street corner feels genuinely dangerous, as Matt Reeves introduces us to a younger Bruce Wayne who is far less stoic and commanding, instead filled with doubts and anger.
Pattinson not only captures all of that in his portrayal of Bruce, but when he dons the mask and starts beating down bad guys, he’s truly terrifying. The Batman is the best cinematic translation of the DC character to date.
The Lighthouse
Throughout this list, we’ve discussed moments here and there where Robert Pattinson has allowed his weird side to come to the fore. In The Lighthouse, he cranks that up to 11, as he and Willem Dafoe essentially go crazy-for-crazy in this warped black and white horror that is as unsettling as it is hilarious.
From grudge matches with a menacing seagull, to drunk dancing and absurd confessions, The Lighthouse is more than happy to lure you in with moments of levity. But don’t be fooled, by the end, Robert Eggers is determined to mess with your mind, and it’s a beautiful, twisted nightmare that you’ll probably want to experience again and again.
Honourable mentions
- Life
- Cosmopolis
- Twilight
- The King
- Mickey 17
Where to watch the best Robert Pattinson movies streaming online
Check out the list below on where to watch all these Robert Pattinson movies streaming on services like Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video and more.
