Henry Cavill’s best movies and TV shows show the amazing rise to fame the actor has had as well as the promise the rest of his career holds in store. Born in St Helier, Jersey, Cavill made his feature movie debut in the period adventure movieThe Count of Monte Cristo,establishing himself in the business and leading to roles in smaller projects. However, the role that took Cavill from a relatively unknown performer to a household name wasSuperman in Zack Snyder’s first DCEU movie,Man of Steel.
Though Superman is still the role most fans associate with Cavill, he has continued to prove himself capable of shedding that reputation with other terrific and fun roles. He has played the villains in big action movies, taken on more comedic roles, and even starred on the small screen. With his commanding presence and searing intensity, Cavill has held his own on screen with the likes of Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe. From the big titles to some underseen gems, the best movies and TV shows from Cavill’s career highlight his amazing talents.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Cast
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a World War II film depicting a British Army unit’s covert operations against Nazi forces. The movie focuses on the Special Operations Executive, a clandestine organization established by Winston Churchill, whose unconventional tactics helped shape modern black operations.
Henry Cavill reteamed with director Guy Ritchie for a wild and thrillingwar movie based on a wilder true story.The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfaretakes a look at a little-known aspect of British history during World War II when the government decided to form an unorthodox team of reckless soldiers who were known for not playing by the typical rules of combat.Cavill stars in the movie as Gus March-Phillipps, the leader of these commandos.
Cavill is a lot of fun, embracing his comedic side more than most other movies.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfarefeels like an ideal war movie for Ritchie to helm as it is filled with wacky characters and the kind of cheeky humor Ritchie always infused into his British gangster movies. Cavill is a lot of fun, embracing his comedic side more than most other movies, while the cast is excellent, including Alan Ritchson and Eiza González.
Enola Holmes 2
Acting as a sequel to Enola Holmes (2020), Enola Holmes 2 sees the titular detective and younger sister of Sherlock Holmes pulled into another mystery when a young factory worker asks Enola to help solve her sister’s disappearance. Unlike its predecessor, Enola Holmes 2 is not based on the novel series by Nancy Springer. The story instead takes inspiration from the 1888 matchgirls' strike in London. Millie Bobbie Brown reprises her role as Enola, with Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter also reprising their roles as Sherlock and Eudoria Holmes.
Henry Cavill stepped into the role of one of literature’s most iconic heroes inEnola Holmes, but it is the sequel that really allows him to play around with the part.Enola Holmes 2sees Millie Bobby Brown return to the titular role as Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister, who shares his penchant for investigations and solving mysteries while proving herself quite talented at it. This new adventure has her digging into a new case that ends up connecting to one Sherlock (Cavill) is also investigating.
Following Cavill’s brief appearance in the first movie, it is a lot of fun to see him and Brown sharing more screen time togetherand allowing Cavill the opportunity to truly make his ownversion of Sherlock Holmes. However, it is Brown’s movie and she gives a charming and fun performance as the hero in this genuinely interesting mystery.
The Witcher
The Witcher, released in 2019, follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a turbulent world where humanity’s darker nature often eclipses the monstrous.
Henry Cavill was at the forefront of one of the biggest titles on Netflix,The Witcher. Based on the popular video game series,The Witcherfinds Cavill starring as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who treks through the dangerous fantasy world and finds himself mixed up in constant adventures and high-stakes mayhem. However, he also finds that there are worse things than monsters out there and makes some powerful enemies in his journey.
The series is an ambitious, big-budget fantasy adventure that embraces the darkness and violence of the world. Though Geralt is a largely emotionless hero,Cavill is able to bring humanity and even humor to the role, making him a terrific protagonist. Following Cavill’s surprise departure from the series,Liam Hemsworth takes over the role of Geraltbut will have some big shoes to fill.
Man of Steel
Man of Steel is a 2013 reboot of the Superman franchise, directed by Zack Snyder. Henry Cavill stars as Clark Kent, who discovers his extraterrestrial origins and extraordinary powers.
Henry Cavill stepped into the role he is still best remembered for inMan of Steel, becoming the iconic hero Superman.Zack Snyder started his vision of the DC universewith this darker and more serious take on Superman with Cavill exploring the character as a lost soul on Earth, torn between the lessons Jonathan Kent taught him about not exposing himself to the world and his responsibility to do something good with his powers.
His Superman feels like a hero with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
While Cavill doesn’t get a chance to embrace the lighter side of Superman the way other actors have, he does give an impressive take on the hero. His Superman feels like a hero with the weight of the world on his shoulders. WhileMan of Steelwas met with a lot of controversy, there are many who call it an underrated superhero masterpiece andstill consider Cavill one of the best Superman actors.
Stardust
Stardust is a fantasy-based romantic adventure-comedy by director Matthew Vaughn and based on the original novel by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. In the film, Tristan, a young man who lives in an English town near a magical border wall, decides to catch a fallen star to win the affection of a woman named Yvaine. However, Tristan soon learns what - or who - the star is, and a grand adventure back to England begins.
Henry Cavill would go on to work with director Matthew Vaughn years later in the spy action comedyArgylle, but the two collaborated much earlier in their career with Cavill taking a small role in Vaughn’s second directorial feature.Stardustis a magical fantasy adventure that features Charlie Cox as a young man who sees a falling star and decides to capture it to present it to the woman he loves, only to find the star is a personified entity whose power is sought by dangerous enemies.
Stardustremains one of Vaughn’s best and most underrated movies, taking the audience into this beautiful, entertaining, and funny fantasy world.Cavill gets to embrace his villainous role in the small role of Humphrey, Cox’s romantic rival in the story. He is joined by the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, and Robert De Niro.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Based on the television series of the same name, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. Set during the height of the Cold War, the film follows a CIA operative and a KGB agent who are forced to work together to stop an international criminal conspiracy. Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, and Hugh Grant star alongside Cavill and Hammer.
While there are a lot of fans who wanted to seeHenry Cavill play James Bondat some point in his career, the actor proved himself capable of the role in this underrated spy movie.The Man From U.N.C.L.E.is based on the series from the 1960s of the same name. Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo, an American spy who is forced to team up with a KGB agent (Armie Hammer) in order to stop an arms dealer from launching a nuclear weapon.
Director Guy Ritchie infuses the movie with a suave and cool 60s style that makesThe Man From U.N.C.L.E.a supremely cool spy movie.Cavill fits this tone perfectly, carrying the movie with his charismatic and winning performancewhere he plays the hero who feels like he can save the day without spilling his drink.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a reimagining of the 2017 film, where Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans, including Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg, to defend Earth from a looming cosmic threat, following Superman’s previous sacrifice. Released in 2021, it continues the DC Extended Universe narrative.
Henry Cavill’s time as Superman in the DCEUwas marred by mixed results and downright disasters. Following the theatrical release ofJustice League, it seemed as though there was no hope for Zack Snyder’s original vision for the cinematic universe. However, Snyder’s fans should never be underestimated as they launched a passionate campaign to allow his version of the massive team-up movie to finally be released and it actually worked.
It was an epic adventure that paid tribute to the grand mythology of these characters.
While there were plenty of critics of Snyder’s previous DC movies, many agreed thatZack Snyder’s Justice Leaguewas the best thing Snyder made in this superhero universe and a marked improvement over the theatrical version. It was an epic adventure that paid tribute to the grand mythology of these characters. It also gaveHenry Cavill another chance to explore his complex take on Superman, including donning the black suit.
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic story, portraying the tale of Edmond Dantès, a falsely imprisoned man who escapes and seeks revenge. Set in the early 19th century, the film follows Dantès’ transformation and quest for justice against those who betrayed him.
For one of his first movie roles, Henry Cavill helped bring one of literature’s most famous revenge stories to the big screen.The Count of Monte Cristois a new version of Alexander Dumas’ adventure story, starring Jim Cavizel as a man who is betrayed by his best friend (Guy Pearce) and thrown in prison. After staging a daring escape, he reinvents himself as a wealthy count, seeking to take down those who wronged him.
Cavill has a pivotal role as Cavizel’s son who has grown up thinking Pearce is his father. He is torn between these two rivals. The movie is a rich and thrilling take on the tale with the prison escape sequence making for an entertaining first half of the movie followed by the terrific revenge plot unfolding.
The Tudors
The Tudors is a historical drama television series that chronicles the reign of King Henry VIII of England, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The show explores his tumultuous relationships, including his marriages to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, while delving into the intrigue, politics, and drama of the Tudor court.
Though Henry Cavill has mostly stuck to movies since his career took off, it was on television that he found one of his breakout roles.The Tudorsis a historical drama set in 16th-century England, focusing on the Tudor dynasty and specifically the reign of Henry VIII as king. The series divers into the constant drama of the royal court with intrigue and backstabbing hiding around every corner and an increasingly aggressive ruler on the throne.
Cavill starred in all four seasons ofThe Tudorsas Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, one of the king’s closest allies but someone he also clashed with consistently. Cavill shows his charisma and strength in the role, while the show itself is gripping historical fiction that marked a highlight of the genre long before it became so popular with mainstream audiences.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Mission: Impossible - Fallout: Released in 2018, the film continues the saga of Ethan Hunt as he grapples with the fallout of a mission gone awry. With the IMF’s integrity in question, Hunt and his team must navigate treachery within their ranks while facing a looming global threat.
Once again, even though Henry Cavill was denied his opportunity to play James Bond, he was given the chance to join a spy franchise that has exceeded the current 007 movies.Mission: Impossible – Falloutis the sixth entry intheMission: Impossiblefranchise, which sees Tom Cruise return as Ethan Hunt as he must team with a destructive CIA operative (Cavill) to stop a nuclear threat.
While the plot is nothing innovative in the franchise, it is the actionMission: Impossiblefans show up for and this movie certainly delivers on that front. From the Halo jump sequence to the brutal bathroom brawl to the helicopter climax,Mission: Impossible – Fallouthas been hailed as the best installment in the franchise and one of the greatest action movies of all time.Cavill is also a standout from the film, making for the perfect foil to Cruise.
