Christian Bale

Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Forbes magazine ranked him as one of the highest-paid actors in 2014. Born in Wales to English parents, Bale had his breakthrough role at age 13 in Steven Spielberg's 1987 war film Empire of the Sun. After more than a decade of performing in leading and supporting roles in films, he gained wider recognition for his portrayals of serial killer Patrick Bateman in the black comedy American Psycho (2000) and the titular role in the psychological thriller The Machinist (2004). In 2005, he played superhero Batman in Batman Begins and again in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), garnering acclaim for his performance in the trilogy, which is one of the highest-grossing film franchises. Bale continued in starring roles in a range of films outside his work as Batman, including the period drama The Prestige (2006), the action film Terminator Salvation (2009), the crime drama Public Enemies (2009), the epic film Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and the superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). For his portrayal of boxer Dicky Eklund in the 2010 biographical film The Fighter, he won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Further Academy Award and Golden Globe Award ...

2 3 4

American Hustle (2013)

FunnyCleverDramaticSlow moving

A conman and his seductive partner are forced to work for a wild FBI agent, who pushes them into a world of Jersey power-brokers and the Mafia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David O. Russell
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Bradley Cooper  •  Amy Adams  •  Jeremy Renner

A conman and his seductive partner are forced to work for a wild FBI agent, who pushes them into a world of Jersey power-brokers and the Mafia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David O. Russell
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Bradley Cooper  •  Amy Adams  •  Jeremy Renner

The Prestige (2006)

CleverComplexMysteriousBrilliant

A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Hugh Jackman  •  Christian Bale  •  Michael Caine  •  Scarlett Johansson

A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Hugh Jackman  •  Christian Bale  •  Michael Caine  •  Scarlett Johansson

The Dark Knight (2008)

Action-packedBrilliantDarkIntense

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Heath Ledger  •  Aaron Eckhart  •  Michael Caine

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Heath Ledger  •  Aaron Eckhart  •  Michael Caine

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

A film adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy about lovers whose romantic affections are manipulated by fairy magic. The setting is updated to a Tuscan hill town in the late 19th century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Hoffman
CAST:  Stanley Tucci  •  Rupert Everett  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Sophie Marceau

A film adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy about lovers whose romantic affections are manipulated by fairy magic. The setting is updated to a Tuscan hill town in the late 19th century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Hoffman
CAST:  Stanley Tucci  •  Rupert Everett  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Sophie Marceau

American Psycho (2000)

DarkViolentBrilliantDisturbing

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mary Harron
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Reese Witherspoon  •  Justin Theroux  •  Josh Lucas

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mary Harron
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Reese Witherspoon  •  Justin Theroux  •  Josh Lucas

Batman Begins (2005)

Action-packedGrippingAdventurousIntense

Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Michael Caine  •  Liam Neeson  •  Katie Holmes

Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Christopher Nolan
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Michael Caine  •  Liam Neeson  •  Katie Holmes

Equilibrium (2002)

Action-packedFuturisticIntenseFast paced

In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. A man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kurt Wimmer
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Dominic Purcell  •  Sean Bean  •  Christian Kahrmann

In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. A man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kurt Wimmer
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Dominic Purcell  •  Sean Bean  •  Christian Kahrmann

Henry V (1989)

IntensePowerfulBrilliantDramatic

Gritty adaption of William Shakespeare's play about the English King's bloody conquest of France.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Derek Jacobi  •  Brian Blessed  •  James Larkin

Gritty adaption of William Shakespeare's play about the English King's bloody conquest of France.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Derek Jacobi  •  Brian Blessed  •  James Larkin

I'm Not There (2007)

Slow movingOriginalCleverDramatic

Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folksinger to international icon and revealing how Dylan constantly reinvented himself.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Haynes
CAST:  Cate Blanchett  •  Heath Ledger  •  Julianne Moore  •  Ben Whishaw

Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folksinger to international icon and revealing how Dylan constantly reinvented himself.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Haynes
CAST:  Cate Blanchett  •  Heath Ledger  •  Julianne Moore  •  Ben Whishaw

Laurel Canyon (2003)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Laurel Canyon focuses on Sam and Alex, a pair of upper-middle class lovebirds from the East Coast who relocate to Los Angeles. Enter Jane, Sam's estranged mother, a successful record producer, who's more than willing to put the couple up in her lavish digs. As Sam ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lisa Cholodenko
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  Christian Bale  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Natascha McElhone

Laurel Canyon focuses on Sam and Alex, a pair of upper-middle class lovebirds from the East Coast who relocate to Los Angeles. Enter Jane, Sam's estranged mother, a successful record producer, who's more than willing to put the couple up in her lavish digs. As Sam ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lisa Cholodenko
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  Christian Bale  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Natascha McElhone

Little Women (1994)

With their father away as a chaplain in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, male friends ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gillian Armstrong
CAST:  Winona Ryder  •  Gabriel Byrne  •  Trini Alvarado  •  Samantha Mathis

With their father away as a chaplain in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, male friends ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gillian Armstrong
CAST:  Winona Ryder  •  Gabriel Byrne  •  Trini Alvarado  •  Samantha Mathis

Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987)

They're two best friends, a million miles from home. On an incredible adventure, beyond the boundaries of space and time. A fantasy about a lonely boy who is transferred from his dull life with his adoptive parents to the land where his real father is the king.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vladimir Grammatikov
CAST:  Nick Pickard  •  Christian Bale  •  Timothy Bottoms  •  Susannah York

They're two best friends, a million miles from home. On an incredible adventure, beyond the boundaries of space and time. A fantasy about a lonely boy who is transferred from his dull life with his adoptive parents to the land where his real father is the king.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vladimir Grammatikov
CAST:  Nick Pickard  •  Christian Bale  •  Timothy Bottoms  •  Susannah York

Newsies (1992)

CharmingDramaticFunMusical

A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenny Ortega
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Bill Pullman  •  Ann-Margret  •  Robert Duvall

A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenny Ortega
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Bill Pullman  •  Ann-Margret  •  Robert Duvall

Pocahontas (1995)

InspiringBeautifulFunMusical

Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Gabriel  •  Eric Goldberg
CAST:  Irene Bedard  •  Mel Gibson  •  David Ogden Stiers  •  John Kassir

Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Gabriel  •  Eric Goldberg
CAST:  Irene Bedard  •  Mel Gibson  •  David Ogden Stiers  •  John Kassir

Reign of Fire (2002)

In post-apocalyptic England, an American volunteer and a British survivor team up to fight off a brood of fire-breathing dragons seeking to return to global dominance after centuries of rest underground. The Brit -- leading a clan of survivors to hunt down the King ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Bowman
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Matthew McConaughey  •  Izabella Scorupco  •  Gerard Butler

In post-apocalyptic England, an American volunteer and a British survivor team up to fight off a brood of fire-breathing dragons seeking to return to global dominance after centuries of rest underground. The Brit -- leading a clan of survivors to hunt down the King ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Bowman
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Matthew McConaughey  •  Izabella Scorupco  •  Gerard Butler

Rescue Dawn (2006)

A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Werner Herzog
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Steve Zahn  •  Marshall Bell  •  Toby Huss

A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Werner Herzog
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Steve Zahn  •  Marshall Bell  •  Toby Huss

Shaft (2000)

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Jeffrey Wright  •  Christian Bale  •  Busta Rhymes

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Jeffrey Wright  •  Christian Bale  •  Busta Rhymes

The Machinist (2004)

SuspensefulDisturbingThought provokingDark

Trevor, an insomniac lathe operator, experiences unusual occurrences at work and home. A strange man follows him everywhere, but no one else seems to notice him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brad Anderson
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Aitana Sánchez-Gijón  •  John Sharian

Trevor, an insomniac lathe operator, experiences unusual occurrences at work and home. A strange man follows him everywhere, but no one else seems to notice him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brad Anderson
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Aitana Sánchez-Gijón  •  John Sharian

The New World (2005)

A drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terrence Malick
CAST:  Colin Farrell  •  Q'orianka Kilcher  •  Christopher Plummer  •  Christian Bale

A drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terrence Malick
CAST:  Colin Farrell  •  Q'orianka Kilcher  •  Christopher Plummer  •  Christian Bale

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

Gripping

Almost a decade has elapsed since Bowiesque glam-rock superstar Brian Slade escaped the spotlight of the London scene. Now, investigative journalist Arthur Stuart is on assignment to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic Slade. Stuart, himself forged by the music ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Haynes
CAST:  Jonathan Rhys Meyers  •  Ewan McGregor  •  Christian Bale  •  Toni Collette

Almost a decade has elapsed since Bowiesque glam-rock superstar Brian Slade escaped the spotlight of the London scene. Now, investigative journalist Arthur Stuart is on assignment to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic Slade. Stuart, himself forged by the music ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Haynes
CAST:  Jonathan Rhys Meyers  •  Ewan McGregor  •  Christian Bale  •  Toni Collette
2 3 4