Tom Hardy is one of the most beloved actors currently working in Hollywood. His versatility, rugged persona, distinctive voice, and ability to portray complex characters with depth and authenticity have made him one of the most compelling actors in the film industry. From his rise to fame through roles in Christopher Nolan’s Inception and The Dark Knight Rises to his Oscar-nominated performance in The Revenant, Tom Hardy has proved his ability to shapeshift while maintaining his signature charisma. Most recently, he starred in the gangster series MobLand opposite Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, and in the gritty action-thriller Havoc.
If you can’t get enough of Tom Hardy, check out 10 of his best performances in both movies and TV shows, and see all available streaming options for each title.
Locke (2013)
In one of his most intricate performances to date, Tom Hardy stars as the only character to appear on screen during the two-hour duration of the psychological drama Locke. Hardy plays Ivan Locke, a construction foreman in charge of overseeing the largest concrete pour in European history. The entire film takes place in the confines of his BMW X5 while he is driving, fielding a series of phone calls from his wife of 15 years, his two sons, people he works with, and an affair partner who is in the process of giving premature birth to his child. Hardy’s performance is fascinating and demonstrates his ability to capture multiple emotions at the same time, giving his character a real feeling of loneliness, care, and burden as he tries to keep his life from imploding.
Bronson (2008)
Tom Hardy gives another career defining performance in director Nicolas Winding Refn’s Bronson. The film is based on the life of “Britain’s most notorious prisoner,” Michael Peterson (aka Charles Bronson). After robbing a bank, Bronson was originally sentenced to seven years in prison, only to find himself locked away for life, spending years on end in solitary confinement and in high security psychiatric hospitals due to multiple violent outbursts and hostage-taking. The film is an exploration of Bronson’s mind and motivations, and Hardy juggles his subject’s violence and physicality with his artistry and vulnerability to perfection.
The Revenant (2015)
Alejandro Iñárritu’s Academy Award-winning The Revenant saw Tom Hardy star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the epic story of identity and revenge. DiCaprio plays frontiersman Hugh Glass who, after being mauled by a grizzly bear, is abandoned by his travel companions thanks to the deceptive trapper John Fitzgerald, played by Hardy. Fitzgerald’s piercing stare coupled with his ruthless and sadistic nature, make him one of the most dangerous baddies Hardy has played thus far—and earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Tom Hardy’s performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is unlike any of his others. Usually playing charismatic hard men, in this role he shows a softer, somewhat defeated character we rarely see from him. The film features an all-star cast including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Toby Jones, and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others, and takes place in 1970s London in the midst of the tensions of the Cold War. The British Secret Service are hard at work to find a double agent in their ranks, and Hardy plays the softspoken Ricki Tarr, the spy who first discovers the mole and recounts his story to Gary Oldman’s George Smiley.
Peaky Blinders (2014–2022)
Steven Knight’s popular period crime drama Peaky Blinders saw Tom Hardy join the cast in the second season to play Alfie Solomons, the leader of a Jewish gang from Camden Town. Calculating and unpredictable, Alfie and Tommy share an understanding for business and respect for each other despite multiple betrayals. Hardy’s portrayal of Alfie makes him one of the most memorable characters in the series, presenting him as straightforward and rational, while giving him a layer of contained volatility and danger that erupts in unexpected moments.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Batman villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises was one of the roles that made him into a household name. Although it was always going to be a tough task to follow Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight, Hardy made Bane a formidable opponent in Christopher Nolan’s final Batman instalment. From his hulking physique to his muffled, peculiar accent, Hardy brought just the right amount of menace and camp to make Bane both enjoyable to watch and a suitably diabolical foe for Christian Bale’s Batman to fight against.
The Bikeriders (2023)
Jeff Nichols’s The Bikeriders documents the rise and fall of the Vandals biker gang from 1965 to 1975. Hardy plays Johnny, the aging leader of the Vandals who tries to keep a level of control on a group that is changing underneath him. As the gang expands, creating new chapters, new members including young upstarts and traumatised Vietnam veterans threaten the stability of the biker community. Austin Butler stars opposite Hardy as Benny, one of the younger faithful members whom Jonny wants to see take over leadership. Throughout the film, Hardy adapts gracefully to the role of a grizzled, hardened mentor as he himself ages into a new era.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Tom Hardy’s Mad Max is a far cry from Mel Gibson’s iteration, giving him a quieter, more thoughtful quality. In Mad Max: Fury Road, Hardy stars opposite Charlize Theron as the tragic figure surviving in a post-apocalyptic down under where clans fight for dwindling resources while roaring around the desert in menacing ramshackle vehicles. Hardy’s Max is both soft spoken and dangerous, and his portrayal gives the character humanity and humility as he gracefully steps out of centre stage, making way for Theron’s Furiosa.
Taboo (2017)
Taboo is Hardy’s critically acclaimed pet project, as he wrote the story with his father Chips and made the series with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Over eight episodes, Taboo tells the story of James Delaney (Hardy), a businessman and explorer returning home to London in 1814 after 12 years in Africa. The series explores the darker side of business, politics, and class discontent at the time, and Hardy’s performance as Delaney brings all the depth, versatility and grittiness we’ve come to expect from him.
Venom (2018)
Hardy’s foray into the world of superheroes sees him take on the role of Eddie Brock (aka Venom) in first Sony’s Venom films and then the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. From his American accent to his Jekyll-and-Hyde portrayal of the human-symbiote duo, Hardy gives his performance both a more straight-edge feel compared to his other roles while also dialing up the humour we rarely see from him. Hardy has since gone on to play the role in two sequel films, Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Venom: The Last Dance.
Where to watch the best Tom Hardy movies and TV series streaming online
Find out how (and where) to stream the best Tom Hardy movies and TV series online by scrolling down to the list below. The series and films are all available to stream online across a variety of platforms in the United Kingdom, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, ITVX and more!
