The 70+ Best Ian Holm Movies

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Updated May 16, 2024 77 items
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Over 80 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 70+ Best Ian Holm Movies

List of the best Ian Holm movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Ian Holm's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Ian Holm movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Ian Holm movies will be at the top of the list. Ian Holm has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Ian Holm movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Ian Holm films to end the squabble once and for all. Holm was born in Essex on September 12, 1931 and died June 19, 2020. He was knighted with the Order of the British Empire in 1989.

If you think the best Ian Holm role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Ian Holm performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

Items here include everything from Alice Through the Looking Glass to Loch Ness.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Ian Holm movies?" and "What are the greatest Ian Holm roles of all time?"

Ian Holm is no stranger to working with popular directors, including Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott and Peter Jackson. Movie fans who love Ian Holm have also been known to enjoy films starring John Rhys-Davies and Tom Wilkinson.

  • Alien
    1

    Alien

    Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt
    27 votes
    In Ridley Scott's 1979 movie Alien, the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, led by Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), encounter an unknown life form after being awakened from stasis to investigate a distress signal from a distant planet. This sci-fi horror film, known for its atmospheric tension and iconic creature design, takes the audience on a harrowing journey through the claustrophobic confines of a spaceship. As the alien organism infiltrates their ranks, survival becomes paramount, and no one is safe. The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, testament to its groundbreaking cinematic visuals.
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  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    2

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
    17 votes
    In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) press on towards Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), rightful heir to the throne, marshals the forces of good for an epic battle against Sauron's evil army at Minas Tirith. This third installment in the fantasy trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, won a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture. It's a tale of bravery, friendship, and the enduring struggle between good and evil.
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  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
    3

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
    19 votes
    In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a young hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), is entrusted with an ancient ring. This ring, darkly powerful and coveted by the malevolent Dark Lord Sauron, must be destroyed to save Middle-earth. Guided by the wise wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and joined by a diverse group of companions, Frodo embarks on a perilous journey towards Mount Doom, the only place where the ring can be unmade. This epic fantasy film won four Academy Awards and launched one of cinema's most celebrated trilogies.
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  • The Fifth Element
    4

    The Fifth Element

    Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm
    23 votes
    In The Fifth Element, a science fiction spectacle directed by Luc Besson, former special forces soldier Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) finds himself in the middle of a cosmic struggle. He's entrusted with protecting Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), the fifth element and humanity's last hope against a looming evil. The pair, aided by flamboyant radio host Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker), embark on a thrilling race against time. Their quest? To gather four elemental stones and prevent the annihilation of life as we know it. Set in a strikingly imagined 23rd century, this film is an action-packed rollercoaster ride with a touch of comedy.
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  • Ratatouille
    5

    Ratatouille

    Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano
    14 votes
    In the animated movie Ratatouille, Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), a rat with an exceptional palate, dreams of becoming a chef. Living in Paris, he stumbles upon Gusteau's restaurant and forms an unlikely alliance with Linguini (Lou Romano), a clumsy garbage boy. Together, they defy societal norms and culinary traditions to serve up delectable dishes that challenge the status quo. Directed by Brad Bird, this Pixar production is an Oscar-winning blend of comedy and adventure that explores themes of friendship, ambition, and the joy of cooking.
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  • Chariots of Fire
    6

    Chariots of Fire

    Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, John Gielgud
    16 votes
    In the celebrated film Chariots of Fire, we find ourselves in the post-World War I era. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), two British runners, emerge as central characters. Their paths to victory, driven by personal convictions and defiance against societal norms, intertwine in this tale of athletic prowess. The film is a compelling historical drama, brimming with determination and human spirit. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, underscoring its cinematic significance. The narrative unfolds amidst the backdrop of the 1924 Olympics, yet it transcends beyond mere sportsmanship into themes of faith, identity and class distinction. Director Hugh Hudson masterfully encapsulates the essence of these real-life figures - their struggles, triumphs and indomitable will. From training grounds to triumphant tracks, Chariots of Fire races through an engrossing journey that leaves a lasting impact on its audience.
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  • Brazil
    7

    Brazil

    Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond
    16 votes
    In the dystopian masterpiece Brazil, Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) is a low-level bureaucrat trapped in a soul-crushing, overly bureaucratic society. A clerical error sets off a chain of events that lead him into a world of rebellion and romance. Jill Layton (Kim Greist), a truck driver mistaken for a terrorist, becomes the object of his obsession. Directed by Terry Gilliam, this film is an audacious blend of fantasy and grim reality, offering an incisive satire on bureaucracy. The movie won two BAFTA Awards, including Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects.
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  • Time Bandits
    8

    Time Bandits

    John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall
    16 votes
    In Time Bandits, a young boy named Kevin (Craig Warnock) gets swept away on a time-traveling adventure with six dwarfs. Led by Randall (David Rappaport), they've stolen a map charting all the holes in the fabric of time from the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson). Their journey whisks them through historical epochs, encountering iconic figures like King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) and Napoleon Bonaparte (Ian Holm). This 1981 British fantasy film directed by Terry Gilliam is rich in quirky humor, vivid imagination, and unexpected surprises - an eccentric romp through space and time.
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  • From Hell
    9

    From Hell

    Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm
    20 votes
    The first tabloid star of the twentieth century, he remains the most notorious and enigmatic serial killer in history. "From Hell" puts an intense urban spin on the horrific legend of Jack the Ripper and unravels a chilling alleged conspiracy involving the highest powers in England.
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  • Henry V
    10

    Henry V

    Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed
    10 votes
    In this gritty screen adaptation of Shakespeare's play about the heroic and ruthless king, Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) determines to lay claim to the kingdom of France. Henry's self-doubt and the diminished morale of his army stand in the way of a victory that would unite the two countries and provide Henry with a queen (Emma Thompson). However, his sheer determination and his impassioned speeches ready his men for the bloodiest of battles -- Agincourt.
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  • The Day After Tomorrow
    11

    The Day After Tomorrow

    Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ian Holm
    16 votes
    In the thrilling disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow, Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid), a paleoclimatologist, sets out on a daring mission to rescue his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) amidst a sudden and extreme shift in global climate. The world plunges into a new Ice Age almost overnight, leaving cities frozen and societies in chaos. Meanwhile, Sam and his friends hunker down in the New York Public Library, battling against time and the biting cold. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this movie is a chilling tale of survival against nature's most brutal forces.
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  • Big Night
    12

    Big Night

    Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini
    9 votes
    Chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Stanley Tucci) are immigrant brothers from Italy who open their dream restaurant, Paradise, in New Jersey. However, Primo's authentic food is too unfamiliar for the local tastes, and the restaurant is struggling. When famous Italian-American bandleader Louis Prima is scheduled to appear at Paradise, the two brothers put all of their efforts into the important meal, which will likely decide the fate of their restaurant.
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  • Existenz
    13

    Existenz

    Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe
    13 votes
    In Existenz, a mind-bending sci-fi thriller directed by David Cronenberg, Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is the world's leading game designer. She invents a virtual reality game system named 'eXistenZ', which directly connects to the user's nervous system for an immersive experience. Her life takes a sharp turn when she becomes a target of real-world assassins, forcing her to go on the run with marketing trainee Ted Pikul (Jude Law). As they delve deeper into the game's complex layers, the line between reality and the virtual world blurs, leaving them questioning their very existence. The film is a labyrinthine exploration of technology's grip on our perceptions and lives.
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  • The Madness of King George
    14

    The Madness of King George

    Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm
    13 votes
    Aging King George III (Nigel Hawthorne) of England is exhibiting signs of madness, a problem little understood in 1788. As the monarch alternates between bouts of confusion and near-violent outbursts of temper, his hapless doctors attempt the ineffectual cures of the day. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (Julian Wadham) attempt to prevent the king's political enemies, led by the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), from usurping the throne.
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  • The Lost Boys
    15

    The Lost Boys

    Ann Bell, Ian Holm, Tim Pigott-Smith
    5 votes
    The Lost Boys is a 1978 docudrama mini-series produced by the BBC, written by Andrew Birkin, and directed by Rodney Bennett. It is about the relationship between Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies boys.
  • Hamlet
    16

    Hamlet

    Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates
    12 votes
    Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy about the young prince of Denmark who is plagued by indecision when he vows to avenge his father's murder. Filmed on location around the UK, including Stonehaven in Scotland, the film boasts an impressive ensemble cast.
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  • Garden State
    17

    Garden State

    Zach Braff, Ian Holm, Ron Leibman
    12 votes
    In Garden State, Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) returns to his New Jersey hometown after a decade, prompted by his mother's death. A struggling actor in Los Angeles, he's been numbed by prescribed medications, a legacy from his psychiatrist father, Gideon (Ian Holm). Upon returning home, Andrew meets and connects with the eccentric Sam (Natalie Portman), sparking a journey of self-discovery. Directed by Braff himself, this quirky dramedy deftly explores themes of family dysfunction, mental health, and personal growth without resorting to cliches or melodrama. It won the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture.
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  • Dance with a Stranger
    18

    Dance with a Stranger

    Miranda Richardson, Rupert Everett, Ian Holm
    7 votes
    This tale of murderous revenge focuses on Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed by the state in England. Ellis (Miranda Richardson), a former prostitute and single mom, falls for David Blakely (Rupert Everett) when she meets him in a club. Although Blakely comes from an aristocratic background, compared with Ellis's hardscrabble upbringing, the two start a torrid affair. But when David starts to pull away, Ruth is overwhelmed by jealousy and turns to extreme measure to get him back.
  • Nicholas and Alexandra
    19

    Nicholas and Alexandra

    Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Tom Baker
    7 votes
    When Tsar Nicholas weds the German princess Alexandra, the marriage proves unpopular with the Russian people, a situation not improved when she has four daughters. When she finally bears a son, the infant's acute hemophilia can only be controlled by the powers of the fanatical monk Rasputin.
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  • Young Winston
    20

    Young Winston

    Simon Ward, Anne Bancroft, Robert Shaw
    7 votes
    Lavish rendering of Winston Churchill's early life, from his school days, through his adventures in Africa, to his first days in Parliament. It begins with Churchill as a junior officer in India out to make a name for himself. It is suggested that becoming a war correspondent would be a good career move. His colorful, often controversial, reports make him a household name, aiding his passage into politics.
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  • The Emperor's New Clothes
    21

    The Emperor's New Clothes

    Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim McInnerny
    9 votes
    History records that when the great Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated at Waterloo he lost his power, his country and his freedom. Exiled to the island of St. Helena, he purportedly died a broken man. Yet history has been known to be wrong. Now comes a decidedly different version of events, an original tale about Napoleon's last great adventure -- and the adventures of the lowly imposter who assumed his identity in a grand conspiracy to outwit the world.
  • Robin and Marian
    22

    Robin and Marian

    Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw
    11 votes
    Long after their original adventures in Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood (Sean Connery) and his trusty sidekick, Little John (Nicol Williamson), fight alongside Richard the Lion-Heart (Richard Harris) in France. After Richard dies in battle, the pair revisit Sherwood, where Robin learns that his beloved Maid Marian (Audrey Hepburn) serves as mother superior at a nearby convent. When the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw) orders her arrest by royal edict, Robin faces his old nemesis one last time.
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  • The Sweet Hereafter
    23

    The Sweet Hereafter

    Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Bruce Greenwood
    13 votes
    A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer (Ian Holm) arrives to help the survivors' and victims' families prepare a class-action suit, but his efforts only seem to push the townspeople further apart. At the same time, one teenage survivor of the accident (Sarah Polley) has to reckon with the loss of innocence brought about by a different kind of damage.
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  • The Aviator
    24

    The Aviator

    Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale
    16 votes
    In The Aviator, we journey through the life of Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ambitious industrialist and film tycoon. Struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, he nonetheless achieves enormous success in aviation and Hollywood. The award-winning movie, directed by Martin Scorsese, showcases Hughes' achievements, including creating a world-class airline and producing big-budget films. Cate Blanchett plays Katharine Hepburn, Hughes's love interest and one of several starlets in his life. A drama based on true events, The Aviator is a testament to one man's triumphs and tribulations in the face of adversity.
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  • Night Falls on Manhattan
    25

    Night Falls on Manhattan

    Andy Garcia, Lena Olin, Richard Dreyfuss
    12 votes
    New attorney Sean Casey (Andy Garcia), a former policeman, has been unexpectedly tapped to prosecute a case against drug dealer Jordan Washington (Shiek Mahmud-Bey). Washington's lawyer, Sam Vigoda (Richard Dreyfuss), claims that there is a police cover-up against his client. However, Casey wins the trial and soon becomes county district attorney. It's then that he finds evidence that there may have really been corruption in the force, and it could involve his father, Liam (Ian Holm).
  • Mary, Queen of Scots
    26

    Mary, Queen of Scots

    Vanessa Redgrave, Glenda Jackson, Patrick McGoohan
    8 votes
    Mary, Queen of Scots (Vanessa Redgrave), teenage wife to the king of France, returns to Scotland after her husband's death. Elizabeth Tudor (Glenda Jackson), believing her cousin Mary and her Roman Catholic beliefs to be a political threat, creates romantic dilemmas to distract her. Mary's subsequent marriage to Lord Darnley (Timothy Dalton), her relationship with courtier David Riccio (Ian Holm), and a third marriage to Lord Bothwell (Nigel Davenport) lead to her abdication and exile.
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  • Les Misérables
    27

    Les Misérables

    Anthony Perkins, Ian Holm, John Gielgud
    8 votes
    Les Misérables is a 1978 British television film based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The film was written by John Gay, produced by Lew Grade, and directed by Glenn Jordan. The film originally aired on CBS on December 27, 1978.
  • A Life Less Ordinary
    28

    A Life Less Ordinary

    Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz, Holly Hunter
    13 votes
    A couple of angels, O'Reilly (Holly Hunter) and Jackson (Delroy Lindo), are sent to Earth to make sure that their next supervised love-connection succeeds. They follow Celine (Cameron Diaz), a spoiled rich girl who has just accidentally shot a suitor (Stanley Tucci) and, due to a misunderstanding, is kidnapped by janitor Robert (Ewan McGregor). Although Celine quickly frees herself, she stays with Robert for thrills. O'Reilly and Jackson pursue, hoping to unite the prospective lovers.
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  • Strangers with Candy
    29

    Strangers with Candy

    Amy Sedaris, Deborah Rush, Carlo Alban
    11 votes
    Runaway Jerri Blank returns home at the age of 47 ready to pick up where she left off. This means the ex-con and former drug addict is returning to high school as a freshman. Going through adolescent doldrums and temptations is tough enough for any student, but as a middle-aged drug abuser, Jerri discovers her return to education is more challenging than she ever imagined.
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  • Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
    30

    Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce
    9 votes
    As Viktor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) is dying he shares a tale of gruesome terror with a sea captain. Viktor, using previous experiments by a brilliant scientist, was able to bring a creature (Robert De Niro) assembled from body parts back to life. Once he realized how destructive his experiments had become, he abandoned the creature and tried to live a normal life with his fiance (Helena Bonham Carter). The lonely creature seeks out Viktor and demands one of two things: a bride or revenge.
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