Highlights

• Christian Bale starred in several top-grossing films, including Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, each surpassing $375 million.
• Bale's performances showcase depth, transforming physically for roles and embodying complex characters.
• Despite mixed reviews, Thor: Love And Thunder, with Bale as a villain, still grossed over $760 million worldwide.

Christian Bale is one of Hollywood's most versatile actors, renowned for his ability to disappear into a wide range of roles.

Bale had his breakthrough role at age 13 in Steven Spielberg's 1987 war film Empire Of The Sun.

He gained wider recognition for his performance as serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, and in the title role in The Machinist.

In 2005, he played the superhero Batman in Batman Begins, reprising the role in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, earning deserved acclaim for his performance in the trilogy.

In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Bale as one of the highest-paid actors. Today, Christian Bale has an estimated net worth of $120 million.

Over the past three decades, the Academy Award winner has starred in over 50 films, grossing over $6.59 billion worldwide.

Let's take a look at the ten highest-grossing Christian Bale movies.

10 Public Enemies (2009)

Global Box Office, Public Enemies - $214,104,620

Michael Mann's Public Enemies brings Bryan Burrough's 2004 non-fiction book to the big screen, vividly depicting the FBI's efforts to capture notorious bank robber John Dillinger.

Christian Bale takes on the role of FBI agent Melvin Purvis, who is tasked with capturing Johnny Depp's Dillinger.

To prepare for the role, Bale reportedly immersed himself in historical research and trained with real FBI agents, to accurately depict the methods used during that era.

Public Enemies is noted for its meticulous attention to detail, from the costumes and settings to the historical accuracy of its plot.

Mann insisted on filming at actual locations associated with Dillinger, adding a layer of authenticity that enhances the viewing experience.

Public Enemies grossed $97.1 million domestically, with a worldwide gross of $214.1 million against its production budget of $100 million.

9 Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Global Box Office, Ford v Ferrari - $225,508,210

Ford v Ferrari races through the heart of 1960s motorsport history, capturing the intense rivalry that drove Ford to challenge Ferrari's dominance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Christian Bale stars in this sports drama as British race car driver Ken Miles, who, along with automotive designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), takes on the seemingly impossible task of building a car for Ford to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.

Bale's charismatic and profoundly human performance highlights his versatility as an actor. Bale underwent a remarkable physical transformation, shedding pounds to embody Miles' lean physique.

The film's racing scenes and the palpable camaraderie between Bale and Damon ignite the screen and leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Ford v Ferrari excelled at the box office, grossing $117.6 million in North America and $107.9 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $225.5 million on a production budget of $97 million.

8 American Hustle (2013)

Global Box Office, American Hustle - $251,171,807

American Hustle was an unsettling tale of deception and redemption set against the backdrop of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Directed by David O. Russell, the film dives into the colorful world of cons and comebacks, where the line between the con artist and the conned is perilously thin.

Christian Bale stars as Irving Rosenfeld, a brilliantly cunning con man whose complex schemes are as layered as his own life.

Bale underwent a remarkable physical transformation for his role, gaining 40 pounds and adopting a risky comb-over, paired with a posture that speaks volumes of his character's burdens and chameleon-like adaptability.

This role challenged Bale physically and demonstrated his ability to embody deeply flawed yet oddly charismatic characters, earning him widespread acclaim and an Oscar nomination for "Best Actor."

The film struck gold at the box office, pulling in $150.1 million in North America and $101.1 million internationally, rounding up to a global total of $251.2 million.

American Hustle made a net profit of $27 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues for the film.

7 Exodus: Gods And Kings (2014)

Global Box Office, Exodus: Gods And Kings - $268,175,631

Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods And Kings presents a visually stunning re-imagining of the biblical tale of Moses.

Christian Bale steps into the sandals of Moses, the storied Hebrew prophet who rises against his adoptive brother Ramses to lead his people out of Egyptian bondage.

With its sweeping landscapes and massive scale, the film attempts to capture the essence of an ancient struggle through state-of-the-art visual effects and meticulous production design.

The film's grandeur and scope and Bale's gravitas make for a fascinating, if not entirely uncontroversial, final product.

Critics praised the visual effects and cast performances but criticized its pacing, screenplay, lack of emotional heft, and inaccuracy of the source material.

Exodus: Gods And Kings topped the box office during its opening weekend with $24.1 million.

It went on to gross $65 million in the U.S. and Canada and $203 million in other territories, for a total of $268.2 million worldwide.

6 Pocahontas (1995)

Global Box Office, Pocahontas - $346,079,773

Disney's Pocahontas is an animated classic that narrates a romanticized tale of a legendary Native American figure and her encounter with English settler John Smith.

Christian Bale lends his voice to the character Thomas, a young settler and friend of John Smith. Pocahontas was Disney's first animated feature based on a historical figure, albeit with considerable artistic license.

The movie faced criticism for its historical inaccuracies and creative liberties, sparking debates about its portrayal of real events and cultural representation.

Like many of Disney's animated classics from the 1990s, Pocahontas was a box office hit. The film had a budget of $55 million, typical for animated films of that era.

It nearly septupled its budget, earning $141.5 million in North America and $205.5 million internationally, for a total global gross of $346 million.

5 Batman Begins (2005)

Global Box Office, Batman Begins - $375,325,692

Batman Begins revolutionized the superhero genre with its grounded, dark, and realistic portrayal of the Caped Crusader.

This film revitalized the Batman franchise and set a new standard for film reboots, influencing numerous other series, including James Bond, to adopt a more serious and realistic tone.

Christian Bale's portrayal of Bruce Wayne, a tormented billionaire driven to become a vigilante, is intense and introspective, perfectly capturing the psychological depth of a character grappling with deep personal trauma.

Bale's commitment to the role involved rigorous physical training and a deep dive into the character's psyche, which helped make his Batman a figure both feared and revered.

Though initially met with skepticism, his unique, now-iconic, gravelly voice has become a definitive aspect of his portrayal.

At the box office, Batman Begins grossed $205 million in North America, and reached a global total of $375 million.

While it was not the top earner of 2005 right out of the gate, its impact ensured the launch of two highly successful sequels.

4 Terminator Salvation (2009)

Global Box Office, Terminator Salvation - $371,353,001

Terminator Salvation sought to rejuvenate the iconic franchise by plunging viewers into the apocalyptic future previously only hinted at in earlier films.

In this fourth installment, Christian Bale steps into the role of John Connor, the prophesied leader of the human resistance against Skynet's robotic onslaught.

The film ambitiously sets the stage for the events that would lead to the franchise's time-traveling narratives, and Christian Bale brings a relentless intensity to Connor, portraying him as a battle-hardened soldier and a strategic thinker with a deep emotional core.

His performance is rich in both action prowess and psychological depth.

Despite these efforts, the film diverges from the franchise's traditional focus on a singular, unstoppable threat, opting for a broader, more explosive depiction of the conflict.

According to Box Office Mojo, Terminator Salvation grossed $125 million in North America and $246 million from overseas territories, for a worldwide gross of $371 million.

3 Thor: Love And Thunder (2022)

Global Box Office, Thor: Love And Thunder - $760,928,081

In Thor: Love And Thunder, Christian Bale makes a dramatic return to superhero cinema, stepping into the role of the menacing antagonist Gorr, The God Butcher, a stark departure from his previous heroic portrayal of Batman.

Bale's Gorr is a complex villain, driven by deep-seated grief and a haunting desire for vengeance against the gods, making him a captivating figure of darkness in the otherwise humor-laden film:

Following the critically acclaimed Thor: Ragnarök, the film was met with immense anticipation.

Despite facing mixed reviews from audiences who found the tonal shifts jarring, it performed robustly at the box office.

Thor: Love And Thunder grossed $343.3 million in the United States and Canada and $417.7 million in other territories, for a total of $760.9 million worldwide.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the film's net profit was $103 million, factoring in production costs and box office revenues.

2 The Dark Knight (2008)

Global Box Office, The Dark Knight - $1,008,497,140

Considered a masterpiece – not only among Batman films, but in superhero cinema as a whole – Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight has inspired endless discussion and analysis.

Despite Christian Bale's Batman often being overshadowed by Heath Ledger's Joker, the film's exceptional quality ensures it remains compelling from start to finish.

As the Joker's reign of chaos escalates, Bale's Batman grapples with vengeance, loss, and the ever-blurring lines between heroism and vigilantism.

Their electrifying on-screen chemistry is the driving force behind this modern classic, which led the film to a riotous performance at the box office.

Bale received a $10 million base salary for The Dark Knight, and an additional $20 million performance bonus.

The Dark Knight grossed $535 million in North America and $473 million internationally, for a total of $1.008 billion worldwide, making it the first superhero film to surpass the $1 billion mark.

1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Global Box Office, The Dark Knight Rises - $1,085,289,416

The Dark Knight Rises delivered an emotionally satisfying conclusion to Nolan's trilogy.

Christian Bale donned the iconic cape and cowl for the last time, delivering a powerful finale to his portrayal of the caped crusader.

This installment introduces new adversaries and allies, including Tom Hardy's formidable Bane and Anne Hathaway's Catwoman.

Set eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the film follows Bruce Wayne as he comes out of retirement to save Gotham City from the brink of destruction.

Bale's portrayal of a physically and emotionally scarred Bruce Wayne weighed heavily on the audience. The film's intense action sequences, intricate plot, and character development make it a fitting end to the trilogy.

Bale earned $15 million for his final appearance as Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, and it is the highest-grossing Christian Bale movie to date.

The film earned $448.1 million in North America and $632.9 million in other countries, summing up to a worldwide total of $1.081 billion against a production budget of $250 million.