The Best Daniel Day-Lewis Movies

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Updated May 10, 2024 29.0K views 20 items
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Vote for your favorite Daniel Day-Lewis movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

Here are the best Daniel Day-Lewis movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Recognized as one of the greatest actors of all time, Daniel Day-Lewis is widely known for being a very dedicated method actor who remains completely in character throughout production even if it means risking his own health. Nevertheless, Daniel Day-Lewis has proven time after time that he is still one of the best working actors today, earning three Academy Awards for Best Actor, the most by any actor in history. Daniel Day-Lewis'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 Daniel Day-Lewis movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Daniel Day-Lewis movies will be at the top of the list. Daniel Day-Lewis has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Daniel Day-Lewis movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Daniel Day-Lewis films to end the squabble once and for all.

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

The list of films include There Will Be Blood, My Left Foot, The Gangs of New York, and many more.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Daniel Day-Lewis movies?" and "What are the greatest Daniel Day-Lewis roles of all time?"

Daniel Day-Lewis is no stranger to working with popular directors, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson. If you're a fan of Daniel Day-Lewis, then check out our lists of the best Jeff Bridges and Philip Seymour Hoffman movies as well.

  • The Last of the Mohicans
    1
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means
    412 votes
    In the stirring historical drama, The Last of the Mohicans, protagonist Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) navigates the perilous landscape of 1757 colonial America. Amidst the chaos of the French and Indian War, he embarks on a mission to rescue two daughters of a British colonel. The film intricately weaves an entrancing tale of love, honor, and survival against a backdrop of all-consuming war. Directed by Michael Mann, it received an Academy Award for Best Sound. Its poignant narrative and striking cinematography make it a cinematic masterpiece that immerses viewers in a tumultuous era long past.
  • Lincoln
    2
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn
    377 votes
    Lincoln, a historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Set during the Civil War era, the film focuses on Lincoln's monumental struggle to pass the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery nationwide. Sally Field portrays Mary Todd Lincoln, his emotionally volatile wife, while Tommy Lee Jones plays Thaddeus Stevens, a fervent abolitionist congressman. The movie is a compelling exploration of political maneuvering and moral dilemmas. It won two Oscars including Best Actor for Day-Lewis's riveting portrayal of this iconic leader.
  • There Will Be Blood
    3
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor
    525 votes
    Set amidst the rugged American West landscape, There Will Be Blood unfolds as a historical drama of epic proportions. At its core is Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), a silver miner turned oil prospector, consumed by his insatiable thirst for wealth and power. A chance encounter leads him to a small town sitting atop an ocean of oil. As he exploits the land, his pursuit clashes with Eli Sunday's (Paul Dano), a charismatic preacher. The movie, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, won two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Day-Lewis.
  • In the Name of the Father
    4
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson
    286 votes
    In the Name of the Father, a gripping drama based on true events, unfolds the story of Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis), an Irishman wrongfully accused. He's caught in the web of the Guildford Pub Bombings, a notorious IRA act in 1974. Together with his father Giuseppe (Pete Postlethwaite), they face the wrath of British justice. Directed by Jim Sheridan, this film won several award nominations including seven Oscars. The plot swirls around their fight for truth and freedom, exposing deep-seated corruption within the system. It's a tale of resilience, underlining human spirit against all odds.
  • My Left Foot
    5
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Ray McAnally, Brenda Fricker
    309 votes
    No one expects much from Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a boy with cerebral palsy born into a working-class Irish family. Though Christy is a spastic quadriplegic and essentially paralyzed, a miraculous event occurs when, at the age of 5, he demonstrates control of his left foot by using chalk to scrawl a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother (Brenda Fricker) -- and no shortage of grit and determination -- Christy overcomes his infirmity to become a painter, poet and author.
  • Gangs of New York
    6
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz
    469 votes
    In the gritty, historical drama Gangs of New York, director Martin Scorsese paints a vivid picture of 1860s Manhattan. The storyline follows Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young Irish immigrant seeking revenge against Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), the ruthless gang leader responsible for his father's death. As Vallon navigates the city's complex web of corruption and violence, he finds himself drawn into the political turmoil leading up to the infamous Draft Riots. The film, known for its meticulous historical accuracy, garnered ten Academy Award nominations.
  • The Age of Innocence
    7
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder
    179 votes
    Wealthy lawyer Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is engaged to sweet socialite May Welland (Winona Ryder) in 1870s New York. On the surface, it is a perfect match. But when May's beautiful cousin Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is estranged from her brutish husband, arrives in town, Newland begins to question the meaning of passion and love as he desperately pursues a relationship with Ellen, even though she has been made a social outcast by Archer's peers.
  • The Crucible
    8
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield
    158 votes
    After married man John Proctor (Daniel Day-Lewis) decides to break off his affair with his young lover, Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder), she leads other local girls in an occult rite to wish death upon his wife, Elizabeth (Joan Allen). When the ritual is discovered, the girls are brought to trial. Accusations begin to fly, and a literal witch hunt gets underway. Before long, Elizabeth is suspected of witchcraft, and John's attempt to defend her only makes matters worse.
  • The Boxer
    9
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Brian Cox
    121 votes
    Rising teen boxer and Belfast native Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) was imprisoned for 14 years after getting involved with the Irish Republican Army. Newly freed from jail in his early 30s, Danny returns home and attempts to put his life back together. Reopening his neighborhood gym and reconnecting with his lost love, Maggie (Emily Watson), now a single mother while her husband is in prison, Danny battles against his former IRA compadres, including the militant Harry (Gerard McSorley).
  • A Room with a View
    10
    Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Julian Sands
    123 votes
    In this British drama based on the novel by E.M. Forster, Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham-Carter), a young Englishwoman, is touring Italy with her older cousin (Maggie Smith). At a hotel in Florence, Lucy meets the charming and free-spirited George Emerson (Julian Sands). Although intrigued by George, once she's back in England Lucy ponders settling down with the wealthy, staid Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis). When George reappears in her life, Lucy must decide between him and Cecil.
  • The Unbearable Lightness of Being
    11
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin
    72 votes
    Successful surgeon Tomas (Daniel Day-Lewis) leaves Prague for an operation, meets a young photographer named Tereza (Juliette Binoche), and brings her back with him. Tereza is surprised to learn that Tomas is already having an affair with the bohemian Sabina (Lena Olin), but when the Soviet invasion occurs, all three flee to Switzerland. Sabina begins an affair, Tom continues womanizing, and Tereza, disgusted, returns to Czechoslovakia. Realizing his mistake, Tomas decides to chase after her.
  • Gandhi
    12
    Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox
    153 votes
    Gandhi, an epic historical drama, unravels the life and times of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Ben Kingsley). Set against the tumultuous backdrop of colonial India, the film charts Gandhi's transformative journey: from a humble lawyer in South Africa to the spearhead of India's non-violent independence movement. Directed by Richard Attenborough, this Oscar-winning masterpiece paints an intimate portrait of a man who championed peace in a world torn by violence. It also features powerful performances by Rohini Hattangadi as Kasturba Gandhi and Roshan Seth as Jawaharlal Nehru. A riveting tale of resistance and resilience, Gandhi is a cinematic tribute to an extraordinary life.
  • My Beautiful Laundrette
    13
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Gordon Warnecke, Saeed Jaffrey
    77 votes
    In a seedy corner of London, Omar (Gordon Warnecke), a young Pakistani, is given a run-down laundromat by his uncle (Saeed Jaffrey), who hopes to turn it into a successful business. Soon after, Omar is attacked by a group of racist punks, but defuses the situation when he realizes their leader is his former lover, Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis). The men resume their relationship and rehabilitate the laundromat together, but various social forces threaten to compromise their success.
  • The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    14
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener, Camilla Belle
    88 votes
    Jack Slavin (Daniel Day-Lewis) is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose (Camilla Belle), on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, Kathleen (Catherine Keener), and her sons, Rodney (Ryan McDonald) and Thaddius (Paul Dano), to move in, Rose is upset. The complicated family dynamics makes things difficult for everyone in the house.
  • The Bounty
    15
    Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier
    95 votes
    Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.
  • Sunday Bloody Sunday
    16
    Murray Head, Glenda Jackson, Peter Finch
    67 votes
    Sunday Bloody Sunday is a 1971 British drama film directed by John Schlesinger. A free-spirited young bisexual artist has simultaneous relationships with a female recruitment consultant and a male Jewish doctor.
  • Nine
    17
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz
    80 votes
    Italian film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) grapples with epic crises in his personal and professional lives. At the same time, he must strike a balance of the demands of numerous women in his life, including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penélope Cruz), and his confidant (Judi Dench).
  • Stars and Bars
    18
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Joan Cusack, Keith David
    42 votes
    Stars and Bars is an American comedy film released in 1988, directed by Pat O'Connor and based on a book by William Boyd. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Henderson Dores.
  • Nanou
    19

    Nanou

    Daniel Day-Lewis
    44 votes
    Nanou is a 1987 drama film directed by Conny Templeman.
  • Eversmile, New Jersey
    20
    Daniel Day-Lewis, Mirjana Jokovic, Gabriela Acher
    39 votes
    Women like a foundation-sponsored free dentist (Daniel Day-Lewis) motorcycling through Patagonia, South America.