Iconic Roles: the Best Daniel Radcliffe Movies Worth Watching

Iconic Roles is a look at some of the best performances in film and television by actors and actresses.

Daniel Radcliffe is back and ready to shake fans’ world as Al Yankovic in the upcoming Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. The 33-year-old actor is best known for his role as Harry Potter but has moved on from the wizarding world for a while now. Following the end of the Harry Potter series, Radcliffe has landed many roles, some of which are really, really peculiar.

Here is a list of the best Daniel Radcliffe movies and performances to rewatch ahead of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which debuts on The Roku Channel on Friday, November 4.

Harry Potter in the Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)

Radcliffe’s breakout role was an orphan gifted with magical powers who has to defeat You-Know-Who to save the wizarding community. Initially, it appeared that Radcliffe was the less talented actor among the protagonist trio when compared to Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Over the years, however, Radcliffe developed his skills and added his personal touch to the Harry Potter character. The Harry Potter film series is one of the most successful ever, grossing almost $8 billion at the box office. The eight movies featured some British royalty actors, including Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, and more.

Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings (2013)

Radcliffe showed his maturity when he had to portray one of the symbols of the Beat Generation, Allen Ginsberg. The British actor showed great chemistry with Dane DeHaan, who portrayed Lucien Carr. Directed by John Krokidas, Kill Your Darlings follows the relationship between Ginsberg and Carr during their days at Columbia University. Both Radcliffe and DeHaan captured the spirit of those restless artists who founded the famous American counterculture movement in the sixties. While the movie never passed the audience test during its theatrical run and bombed at the box office, it deserves at least a watch from every movie lover. Critics have loved it since its premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Ignatius Perrish in Horns (2013)

2013 was quite the year for Radcliffe. The British actor needed to leave behind his role as the most famous wizard in the world, so he tested himself in some peculiar films. His work as Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings has already been praised, but Horns deserves a special mention too. After his girlfriend is raped and murdered, Ig needs to prove his innocence. The movie blends several genres, ranging from fantasy to comedy and horror. While the story didn’t get much love, Radcliffe’s phenomenal performance left a mark on critics and audiences alike.

Nate Foster in Imperium (2016)

What were the chances of seeing one of the most beloved actors in the world portraying a white supremacist? Yet Radcliffe proved that he is quite ductile in exploring the wide array of possibilities cinema offers. In Imperium, Radcliffe portrays Nate Foster, a young FBI agent who needs to infiltrate a white supremacist sect to prevent a terrorist attack. The movie had a limited release, but the disturbing story has been well-received by critics. Radcliffe channeled all his rage in a very gritty performance.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Arguably, the best performance of Radcliffe to date. The movie directed by the Daniel Scheinert-Daniel Kwan duo enchanted the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, also thanks to the farting corpse portrayed by Radcliffe. Briefly, the story follows the absurdist journey of Hank Thompson (Paul Dano) and Manny, his corpse companion. Critics still praise the film as one of the best Daniel Radcliffe movies, a real gem in his filmography.