Charlie Hunnam’s best movies and TV shows feature beloved series, big blockbusters, and some underseen gems, all that showcases the actor’s great talent. Hunnam is a British actor who got his start on British television with his first role in the teen drama seriesByker Grove. He then went on to play more complex characters in the seriesQueer as Folkand even showed off his comedic skills in the Judd Apatow sitcomUndeclared. Despite the short run of those series, they helped to launch Hunnam’s Hollywood career.
Hunnam earned countless fans with his performance as Jax Teller in the popular seriesSons of Anarchy, but his success goes far beyond that show. Hunnam has worked with some wonderful filmmakers, like Guillermo Del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón, and Guy Ritchie, while also sharing the screen with acclaimed actors like Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, and Nicole Kidman. He has some big projects on the horizon, withCriminalandOriginal Monster: Ed Gein, but Hunnam has already showcased an amazing career.
Triple Frontier
Cast
Triple Frontier is an action movie that sees five former Special Forces operatives reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers, these unsung heroes undertake this dangerous mission for themselves instead of the country. But when events take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, loyalties, and morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival.
Charlie Hunnam joined an all-star cast that also includes Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, and Pedro Pascal in theNetflix original movieTriple Frontier. The film follows a group of former soldiers who reunite with the plan of traveling to South America to rob a notorious drug kingpin. However, their thoroughly planned heist and escape plan begins to fall apart when greed takes over.
Hunnam plays William ‘Ironhead’ Miller, one of the five soldiers who take part in the mission. William is often the voice of reason and morals in the group, reminding the others that getting killed or killing innocent people is not worth the money they are going after.Triple Frontieris a gripping thriller with some exceptional performances and terrific chemistry from this incredible ensemble. The action is grounded and real, making it all the more impactful.
Pacific Rim
In a post-apocalyptic future, Earth battles a deadly race of alien monsters called the Kaiju, who have begun arriving on the planet through an interdimensional portal in the Pacific Ocean. In an attempt to combat the Kaiju, humanity has created Jaegers, giant robot suits powered by at least two pilots that can match their enemy for size and strength. When the Kaiju begin to become too strong, however, a washed-up Jaeger pilot must return to the program to participate in one final mission to save Earth for good.
Charlie Hunnam stepped into blockbuster territory under the direction of an Oscar-winning filmmaker.Pacific Rimis Guillermo Del Toro’s massive big-budget sci-fi movie that imagines a future in which the world is terrorized bygiant kaiju monsterswho emerge from the oceans and wreak havoc on their cities. As a last line of defense, the military builds massive robots with specially trained pilots to fight the monsters.
Hunnam takes the heroic lead role as Raleigh Becket, one of these pilots who must return to the fight following the death of his brother and co-pilot. The movie is pure popcorn fun, not taking itself too seriously yet allowing the stakes to remain high. Del Toro is a master at crafting memorable movie monsters, and while they lack the humanity and depth of some of his other creations, he delivers on the monster mayhem with some thrilling action sequences.
Queer as Folk
Queer as Folk, released in 1999, follows the lives of friends Stuart Jones, Vince Tyler, and newcomer Nathan Maloney as they navigate relationships and self-discovery in Manchester’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene. The series explores themes of identity, friendship, and the complexities of modern life.
Charlie Hunnam launched his career with his role in the acclaimed and groundbreaking British dramaQueen as Folk. The show was an honest and intimate look at the lives of several gay men living in London and dealing with the many struggles of their lifestyles. It was also a show about the support and love within the LGBTQ+ community.
Hunnam plays Nathan Maloney, a young teen who is open and confident with his sexuality,which differs from a lot of his peers who are still shy about being “out”. The show was a nuanced look at many aspects of these characters' lives but always had a fun vibe as well. Though it had a short two-season run, it was a very influential series that led to an American remake as well as a recent reboot.
Cold Mountain
In the final days of the American Civil War, a wounded soldier embarks on a perilous journey back to Cold Mountain, North Carolina, to find his girlfriend.
Though Charlie Hunnam was seemingly on his way to becoming a big Hollywood star in the early 2000s, the actor avoided many leading man roles, choosing instead to take on smaller parts in movies from exciting filmmakers. Such is the case with Hunnam’s role in the Best Picture nomineeCold Mountain. Set during the American Civil War, the movie stars Jude Law as a Confederate soldier who abandons his post and begins to long journey home to his love (Nicole Kidman), who is struggling to maintain her family farm.
Hunnam abandons his good looks and charm to play the creepy and ruthless villain Bosie. This sadistic man is hired to hunt down deserters from the war and seems to take great pleasure in his job. The movie is a sweeping romantic epic from late director Anthony Minghella with strong performances from a cast that also includes Renée Zellweger, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Cillian Murphy.
Green Street Hooligans
Expelled Harvard student Matt moves to London and gets drawn into the violent world of football hooliganism. Joining the Green Street Elite, led by Pete, he learns about loyalty, brotherhood, and the brutal consequences of gang rivalries.
While Charlie Hunnam has starred in a lot of high-profile and popular projects, there are also some lesser-known movies that fans should seek out. One such movie isGreen Street Hooligans, a British crime drama that stars Elijah Wood as a young Harvard student who is wrongfully expelled from school and moves to London. There, he meets Pete (Hunnam), who takes him under his wing and introduces him to the violent and exciting world of football hooligans.
Green StreetHooliganswas a movie that helped Hunnam shed the “pretty boy” persona of his earlier career and adopt some of the tough “bad boy” charmthat would serve him well in some of his most famous roles. The grittiness and brutality of the movie are mixed with a sense of camaraderie among the characters, which makes for an oddly charming story that continues to find more and more fans.
Undeclared
Undeclared is a comedy series that follows freshman Steven Karp and his dorm mates at the fictional University of Northeastern California. Fresh out of high school and free from parental supervision, Steven and his friends try to juggle academics, romance, and the chaos that comes with the college experience.
Charlie Hunnam is mostly known for his intense roles, but an early sitcom showed off his comedic talents that don’t often get used.Undeclaredis a comedy that follows a group of students who make their way through the exciting, scary, and formative first year of college.Hunnam plays British theater student Lloyd, the ladies' man of the groupwho enjoys the dating life of college but deals with his own flaws as well.
Hunnam is extremely charming in the role but is also not afraid to make himself look foolish. He shares the screen with some established comedic stars, like Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel, but impresses with his own sense of humor. While the show is not as well-known as Judd Apatow’s other early comedy series,Freaks & Geeks,it is a hilarious show with some memorable guest stars, like Ben Stiller, Amy Poehler, and Adam Sandler.
The Lost City of Z
Based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller, The Lost City of Z retells the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, who journeys into the Amazon and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific community, which regards the indigenous populations as “savages,” the determined Fawcett – supported by his devoted wife, his son, and his aide de camp – returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case.
Though a largely underseen movie,The Lost City of Zhas Charlie Hunnam’s best performance as a leading man. The period adventure movie stars Hunnam as Percy Fawcett, a British explorer and geographer who set out on an expedition into the Brazilian jungle to find what he believed was a lost city. However, his pride and ambition soon lead him and his expedition part on a dangerous course where they discover the folly in their quest too late.
Hunnam is excellent in the lead role as a man whose bravery and determination are outweighed by his obsession that constantly clouds his judgment. He is joined in the cast by the likes of Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland, two actors set to reteam inChristopher Nolan’sThe Odyssey. It is a beautiful and haunting adventure movie that deserves to find a bigger audience.
Children of Men
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men is a dystopian drama set in the year 2027, where infertility has left humanity facing the possibility of extinction. Clive Owen stars as former activist Theo Faron, with Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam, and Pam Ferris in supporting roles.
Charlie Hunnam once again took on a small role in order to work with an acclaimed filmmaker, this time collaborating with Alfonso Cuarón on one of his best movies. Set in the not-too-distant future,Children of Menpresents a world falling apart after humanity has suddenly and inexplicably become unable to reproduce. Clive Owen plays a mild-mannered man who is recruited to escort a young woman, who is the first pregnant woman in decades, across the dangerous land.
Hunnam plays a memorable villain role as Patric, the violent yet dim-witted member of a rebel group. He fits in well with this sci-fi masterpiece in which Cuarón transplants viewers into this complex, gritty, and real vision of the future.Children of Menis a mesmerizing movie that has been called one of the best of the 21st century.
The Gentlemen
From writer/director Guy Ritchie comes The Gentleman, an action/crime comedy that follows a prominent American cannabis dealer in London as he attempts to leave the industry for good. When word gets out that the dealer is looking to sell off his business, several opportunists emerge from the woodwork, employing every manner of schemes and ploys they can to undercut him and claim the market for themselves.
While Charlie Hunnam and Guy Ritchie’s first collaboration onKing Arthur: The Legend of the Swordended up being a box office flop, they proved they could make a great team given the right project.The Gentlemenwas Ritchie’s return to his roots of British crime stories, likeLock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch. The moviestars Matthew McConaugheyas Mickey, an American weed kingpin looking to sell off his business and get out of the game only to find various obstacles in his path.
While McConaughey is presented as the protagonist,Hunnam really gets the more substantial role as Raymond Smith, Mickey’s loyal and effective right-hand manwho attempts to steer him through the various complications. The movie is a funny, violent, and energetic crime saga with plenty of colorful characters brought to life by a cast that includes Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell, and Jeremy Strong.
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is centered around the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), exploring the tensions between President Clay and Vice President Jax in the town of Charming. The narrative focuses on their differing visions for the club’s operations, blending legal and illegal enterprises.
Charlie Hunnam found his most iconic role, which also gave him the most complex character of his career thus far.Sons of Anarchyis a crime drama that takes a look at the lives of members of a tough and violent motorcycle gang in California.Hunnam leads the series as Jax Teller, the son of the club’s late former presidentwho struggles with the direction the club is heading down and his father’s vision for a more legitimate organization of camaraderie.
Right up until theend ofSons of Anarchy,Charlie Hunnam’sJax was the center of this modern-day Shakespearean tragedy. He was a heroic and noble protagonist at times, but the more loved ones Jax lost and the more betrayal he had to endure, the more he became the kind of ruthless killer he was trying not to be.Sons of Anarchyremains an incredibly rewatchable series with colorful characters, shocking twists, and plenty of violence.
