Every Heath Ledger Movie, Ranked By The Late Actor's Staying Power
Heath Ledger burst onto the international acting scene with the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. From that moment, he captivated audiences with his raw talent and intensity. Ledger fearlessly tackled a diverse range of roles, from Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain to the Joker in The Dark Knight. His performances were marked by a rare depth and commitment, earning him critical acclaim and posthumous accolades, including for his portrayal of the Joker.
Ledger's staying power as an actor lies not only in his undeniable talent but also in his ability to disappear into his characters, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Despite his tragic passing in 2008, Ledger's legacy continues to inspire, solidifying his status as one of the greatest talents of his generation. Below is what he was able to accomplish in film during his lifetime.
- 145 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: The Joker
Premise: In this sequel to Batman Begins, Batman faces his greatest challenge yet in the form of the anarchic Joker. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman aims to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City. However, the latter’s alliance with the Joker throws the city into turmoil. As the Joker pursues his own agenda, Bruce Wayne faces immense loss, ending in the sacrifice of his Batman persona’s public image.
Standout Heath Moment: The opening bank robbery scene shows each member of the Joker’s men acting on orders to kill the person next to them. The Joker is revealed to have not only orchestrated the entire robbery, but emerges as the sole survivor with the stolen money. The scene establishes the film's tone and Ledger's Joker as a mastermind capable of coldly manipulating others to achieve his goals.
Lasting Impact: The Dark Knight is often hailed as the quintessential Batman film by audiences and critics alike. It not only overshadows many other iterations of the character, but even the other Christopher Nolan Batman films. It won an incredible 163 awards and was nominated for 164 others. Among the wins was a posthumous best supporting actor Oscar for Ledger's portrayal of the Joker.
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- 238 VOTES
Who Does Heath Play?: Patrick Verona
Premise: Sisters Kat and Bianca Stratford are dismayed with their overprotective father, who forbids Bianca from dating until Kat does. To overcome this, Bianca and her prospective boyfriend Cameron devise a plan to find a suitor for the antisocial Kat. To this end they hire the mysterious Patrick Verona to win her over. While Patrick is initially motivated by the money, he and Kat gradually warm up to each other and develop a genuine connection.
Standout Heath Moment: One of the film’s most iconic moments takes place after Patrick had angered Kat with his reluctance to kiss her. With the help of the school marching band, Patrick descends the bleachers while singing “Can't Take My Eyes Off You.” He succeeds in winning Kat over again, marking the point at which both characters start to have unmistakable romantic feelings for each other.
Lasting Impact: Not only has 10 Things I Hate About You secured its place as a classic romantic comedy, but it was Ledger’s first international role and it propelled him to stardom.
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- 332 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Gabriel Martin
Premise: The Patriot follows Benjamin Martin, a veteran and farmer, and his family. He is drawn into the American Revolutionary War after one of his sons joins the Continental Army and another is killed by the British Colonel William Tavington. Martin joins to seek vengeance against Tavington and the British, and he becomes a skilled and respected leader. Martin leads a militia in successful guerrilla warfare tactics against the British, and he and his men face further personal loss as the British carry out cruel retribution.
Standout Heath Moment: After his wife and her family are killed by Tavington, Gabriel rallies several militiamen to track him down. They succeed and Gabriel even manages to shoot Tavington, however the latter survives and mortally wounds Gabriel. It is not only a tragic end for him, but his father is forced to live through the death of another son.
Lasting Impact: While not the most historically grounded film, The Patriot is one of Hollywood’s best-known works set during the American Revolution. Ledger received a boost in his career from his work on this hit, earning a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for favorite male newcomer.
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- 444 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: William Thatcher
Premise: Squire William Thatcher impersonates a nobleman to compete in medieval jousting tournaments. With the help of his friends Roland, Wat, and Geoffrey Chaucer, William rises through the ranks and captures the attention of the noble lady Jocelyn. However, his deception is threatened by his rival, Count Adhemar, who ultimately uncovers his true identity. Despite many immense hurdles, William perseveres and ultimately wins both the tournaments and Jocelyn's heart.
Standout Heath Moment: The stockade scene following the reveal of William’s deceit showcases some of the character’s lowest and highest points. As he suffers the humiliation of the crowd’s abuse, his friends stay by his side in a display of loyalty. Then Prince Edward releases him, reflects upon William’s positive “knightly” qualities, and properly knights him.
Lasting Impact: A Knight’s Tale was a moderate success, winning four awards and receiving nineteen nominations. However the film’s themes of comedy and medieval adventure give it a unique charm that audiences have loved for years.
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- 527 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Jimmy
Premise: The film follows Jimmy, a bouncer who is approached to deliver a bag of money to crime boss Pando. Jimmy accepts, seeing it as his ticket to a better life. However when he loses the money, he must scramble to repay the debt by robbing a bank to avoid Pando’s wrath. As Jimmy races against time to fix his mistakes, he and his friend Alex are exposed to the brutality of Sydney’s crime world.
Standout Heath Moment: The film’s bank robbery scene presents a unique blend of tension and comedy. While he and his associates succeed in getting the money, the effort is carried out with exceptional incompetence. One robber manages to knock himself unconscious, while another is killed after failing to note two police officers nearby.
Lasting Impact: Two Hands is remembered as one of the better recent examples of Australian cinema. The film’s performances, cinematography, and music won it an astounding fifteen Australian film awards and it was nominated for nineteen more.
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- 620 VOTES
Monster's Ball
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Who Does Heath Play?: Sonny Grotowski
Premise: Hank and Sonny Grotowski are a father and son who work as prison guards. The inexperienced Sonny finds himself regularly overwhelmed by his father’s prejudices and role in the executions of death row inmates. After Sonny commits suicide following a tumultuous fight with his father, a depressed Hank meets Leticia, the wife of an inmate executed on his watch. As Leticia loses her own son not long after, the two bond over their shared grief.
Standout Heath Moment: Sonny’s final confrontation with his father is a tragic moment that defines the rest of the film. Sonny dies with his father having just told him that he always hated him and failing to understand the former’s trauma. Hank is left to grapple with his son’s death, eventually better understanding his toxic relationship with his own father Buck.
Lasting Impact: The film was a critical success upon its release, and led to Halle Berry becoming the first woman of color to receive an Oscar for best actress. Though Ledger’s name was absent from any wins or nominations, the film itself won fifteen.
- 720 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Ennis Del Mar
Premise: The film revolves around two cowboys, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, who meet while herding sheep. They gradually develop a deep emotional and physical connection that transcends friendship. After their job ends, they part ways and start families, but they continue to meet in secret over the years. They struggle to reconcile their love with societal expectations and their conventional families. Their hidden relationship ultimately ends tragically with Jack’s off-screen death, leaving Ennis heartbroken.
Standout Heath Moment: A central point of the film is the tent scene. In it Ennis and Jack share an intimate moment in a tent during a cold night on the mountain. Ennis confesses his fears and insecurities, with the two becoming intimate and forgoing what society expects of them. While the two fight the following morning, this moment cements their life-long mutual affection.
Lasting Impact: The film challenged traditional perceptions of masculinity and sexuality, and helped contribute to conversations about LGBTQ+ representation in film. It won 141 awards including a best director Oscar for Ang Lee, the first Asian director to reach this milestone.
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- 812 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Jake Grimm
Premise: In this stylized retelling of the Brothers Grimm and the stories they compiled, Will and Jake Grimm are con artists who travel and pretend to defeat monsters for money. However, one day they find themselves intertwined with actual malevolent supernatural forces. The pair face several monsters as they endeavor to defeat the vampiric Mirror Queen.
Standout Heath Moment: Will comes across Jake attempting to use a catapult to enter a tower. When the former berates him for the effort, Jake professes his desire for his brother to believe in him, taken by the fact that the fairy tales they had made their living on are real. A frustrated Will relents and starts to be more empathetic to his brother's perspectives.
Lasting Impact: The film had a mixed reception, with praise being attributed to the bizarre comedic sensibilities of director Terry Gilliam, one of the comedic minds behind Monty Python. Pacing and a relatively slow narrative on the other hand were among the complaints leveled against it. It did manage to win four minor awards and five serious and ironic nominations, but nothing too esteemed.
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- 98 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Skip Engblom
Premise: Lords of Dogtown follows the story of the Zephyr Competition Team, known as the Z-Boys, in 1970s Venice, California. The film follows the rise of skateboarding as a cultural phenomenon and the Z-Boys, who revolutionize the sport. Led by Jay Adams, Tony Alva, and Stacy Peralta, the Z-Boys become local legends but face challenges as they navigate fame. Each faces their own struggle to maintain their authenticity as the team and sport become more commercialized.
Standout Heath Moment: The wheel scene is a pivotal moment where local skateboarders discover the potential of urethane wheels. They quickly notice that urethane wheels provide a smoother and faster ride. This leads board designer Skip to the realization that there could be profit in backing the skaters in competitions.
Lasting Impact: Lords of Dogtown has a mixed reputation, with the film as a whole being criticized as underwhelming while Ledger’s performance specifically received heavy praise. His performance accounted for the film’s only award win, a COFCA Award for Actor of the Year.
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- 1017 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Alex Bernier
Premise: Alex Bernier, a young priest and member of the secret Carolingian order, investigates the mysterious death of his mentor, Cardinal Driscoll. As Alex delves deeper into the case, he discovers a sinister plot involving a power struggle within the Church. Alongside his friend Thomas, a conflicted priest, and Mara, a once-possessed artist, Alex confronts the demonic forces responsible. He faces deception, the deaths of those close to him, and nearly his sense of self in order to discover the truth.
Standout Heath Moment: A core element of the film is the existence of “Sin Eaters,” who can absolve others of their sins before death and ensure their path to heaven. Alex, who was seeking out the villainous Eden for his killing of Mara, performs a Sin Eater ritual on him after stabbing him with a dagger. However, Alex is told by Thomas, another Carolingian, that in doing so he became a Sin Eater.
Lasting Impact: The Order failed to win over audiences upon its release, earning $11 million against a $35 million budget. The film did not do well after its release, and to this day has an audience score of 38% and a critic score of just 10% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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- 1118 VOTES
Blackrock
Who Does Heath Play?: Toby Ackland
Premise: Blackrock is about a group of teenagers in a small Australian coastal town. When a girl named Tracy is found murdered on a local beach after a party, tensions rise among those present. Jared Kirby, who witnessed her being assaulted that night, struggles with guilt and grief over not intervening. He is left with the choice of maintaining loyalty to his friends and turning in those involved.
Standout Heath Moment: The beach scene is the most pivotal moment of the film. Toby is presented as one of the last people to see Tracy alive. While he did not initiate her assault, he failed to oppose his friends and ran away with them once it was over. Jared’s witnessing of this leaves him and audiences believing Toby had a hand in her subsequent murder.
Lasting Impact: Blackrock explores themes of violence and the criminal harm that can come from toxic notions of masculinity and loyalty. In 1997 screenwriter Nick Enright won an AWGIE Award for his work, while the film was nominated for a further five AACTA Awards that year. There was also a YoungStar Award nomination for Ledger's performance, a first in his then-fledgling career.
- 1216 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Ned Kelly
Premise: Ned Kelly follows the life of the infamous historical Australian outlaw. Audiences are taken from Kelly’s youth to his eventual demise, depicting his struggles against injustice and oppression by the British authorities. As he becomes a symbol of resistance for the oppressed Irish-Australian community, Kelly leads a band of rebels in a series of audacious robberies and confrontations with law enforcement. The film explores his complex character, his relationships, and the events that led to his infamous armor-suited last stand.
Standout Heath Moment: The climactic battle between Kelly, his gang, and the police at the inn shows the moral contrast between the factions. Kelly makes the safety of the people inside one of his main priorities, while the police are primarily motivated to capture the lawbreakers. Kelly’s last stand is presented as an effort to ensure people can escape the gunfire.
Lasting Impact: Ned Kelly had already been a popular historical figure in Australia, and domestically received twelve awards nominations and two wins for sound and costume design. Internationally however the film had a more muted response, receiving criticism for directing choices and leaving it with a Rotten Tomato audience score of just 53%.
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- 1316 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Harry Feversham
Premise: Against the backdrop of the 1880’s Gordon Relief Expedition, the film follows the story of Harry Feversham. He is a young British officer who resigns from the army just before his regiment is deployed to Sudan. Branded a coward by his peers and fiancée, Harry embarks on a journey of redemption to prove his bravery and loyalty. Disguised as an Arab man, Harry ventures into enemy territory to rescue his friends and regain his honor.
Standout Heath Moment: One of the film’s most memorable moments is the battle between the British and Sudanese. The British are caught by surprise and despite forming an infantry square are overwhelmed. In this scene Harry is among the Sudanese in disguise, and amidst the chaos of the fighting saves his blinded friend Jack.
Lasting Impact: The movie failed to recoup its budget at the box office. Additionally the film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its production values and performances but criticism for its pacing and adherence to the historical events. Despite its shortcomings, it has gained a modest following over time for its setting and themes.
- 1410 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Tony Shepard
Premise: The movie follows a traveling theater troupe led by Dr. Parnassus, who has made a deal with the devil, Mr. Nick. The troupe's magical mirror allows people to enter their own imaginations, but there's a catch in that they must choose between light and darkness. Tony Shepard joins the troupe and becomes entangled in Dr. Parnassus's quest to save his daughter Valentina from Mr. Nick. As Tony's past and true identity are revealed, he becomes central to the battle between good and evil.
Standout Heath Moment: After convincing Parnassus to change the style and venue of his show, Tony becomes the main voice of the attraction. He lures people in with eloquent promises of having their dreams realized. Unknowingly, he is in fact helping Parnassus in his feud with Mr. Nick by luring patrons into the Imaginarium.
Lasting Impact: The movie is best remembered for being the last theatrical release to feature Ledger, who died during the production. He was substituted by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell in several scenes that were written or rewritten to be set in the Imaginarium. The film did fairly well, with two Oscar and BAFTA nominations for its creative direction.
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- 155 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Robbie Clark
Premise: I’m Not There is a semi-biographical film that explores the life and legacy of Bob Dylan. In a unique narrative choice, it does so through multiple fictionalized characters. Each represents a different aspect of Dylan's persona, from his folk roots to his electric phase and beyond. The film delves into Dylan's music, personal life, and cultural impact, using unconventional storytelling techniques to capture the complexity of his identity and influence.
Standout Heath Moment: After finding success as a film star, Robbie and his wife Claire have dinner with friends. Here he allows his chauvinistic opinions to come through at a time when Claire was already put off by his increasingly self-centered attitude and interactions with other women. She storms off, leaving Robbie to yell at paparazzi and rebuff his friend's criticism of his behavior.
Lasting Impact: An aspect of the film that tends to overshadow the others is that this was the final film starring Heath Ledger to be released while he was alive. The film itself managed to snag twenty-nine award wins, including an Oscar for Cate Blanchett’s performance.
- 167 VOTES
Who Does Heath Play?: Giacomo Casanova
Premise: Ledger plays the charming and witty Giacomo Casanova, a notorious womanizer in 18th-century Venice. Casanova finds himself in a dilemma when he falls for Francesca, a strong-willed woman engaged to a wealthy nobleman. To win her heart, Casanova must overcome several obstacles while avoiding the wrath of the Inquisition.
Standout Heath Moment: Casanova stands on trial, accused of various crimes after his true identity is revealed and he has taken credit for the illegal writings of the mysterious Bernardo Guardi. When it is clear he will be executed, Francesca steps forward to defend him by revealing to the Inquisition that she is the real Guardi. While this only leads to them both being sentenced to death, Casanova's willingness to die over her secret shows how his selfish ways have begun to dissipate.
Lasting Impact: Casanova did not perform well, receiving mixed to negative reviews from both critics and audiences. Of the five awards won, only Ledger and Oliver Platt received any for their performances, these being a COFCA and NYFCO Award respectively.
- 176 VOTES
Paws
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Who Does Heath Play?: An actor playing Oberon in a production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
Premise: Paws follows a computer-savvy talking dog named PC, who carries a floppy disk given to him by his former owner, Alex. Alex was a programmer that was killed by his former wife Anja, who hoped to acquire his research. PC’s goal is to keep the information from her, and Zac, the film’s protagonist. The pair bond over the course of the film, with PC using a computer program and microphone to speak.
Standout Heath Moment: While Ledger doesn’t get much screen time, it is a decent amount for an unnamed role. His efforts to interact with and kiss fellow cast member Samantha are foiled by Zac, for whom the latter is a love interest. He is later seen performing in the play.
Lasting Impact: While the film does have some big names attached like Billy Connolly, Paws is not generally well known outside of Australia. It did win an ASSG award, but it did not receive much recognition beyond that. One of its most noteworthy qualities is that it is the second film to feature Ledger after Blackrock.
Actors: Billy Connolly, Nathan Cavaleri, Myriam Emelie Francois
Released: 1997
Directed by: Karl Zwicky - 186 VOTES
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Who Does Heath Play?: Dan
Premise: Candy follows the tumultuous relationship between young lovers Candy and Dan as they descend into drug addiction. The film explores their journey from initial experimentation to full-blown addiction and the impact it has on their lives and relationship. As they struggle, they find themselves trapped in a destructive cycle of highs and lows, unable to fully break free. The movie is divided into three acts that chronicle different stages of the relationship.
Standout Heath Moment: One of the film’s most heartbreaking moments is the miscarriage scene. Dan and Candy make a desperate effort to quit heroin in light of the latter’s pregnancy, but it nevertheless ends in a loss. The two subsequently continue trying and failing to overcome their addictions.
Lasting Impact: Although not critically well received, Candy has a decent 77% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Among the cast members, Abbie Cornish and Geoffrey Rush were awarded an FCCA award, while Ledger won the best actor award at the Valenciennes International Festival of Action and Adventure Films.
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