The Best Daniel Day-Lewis Movies
Ranked By
3.5K votes
889 voters
5 reranks
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite Daniel Day-Lewis movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
- 1Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell MeansIn 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.More The Last of the Mohicans
- #86 of 86 onThe Best Silent Movies of All Time
- #17 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #27 of 263 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- 2Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David StrathairnLincoln, 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.More Lincoln
- #128 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #84 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #11 of 59 onThe Best Movies Based on Non-Fiction Books
- 3Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'ConnorSet 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.More There Will Be Blood
- #199 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #56 of 80 on80 Good Long Movies To Watch, Ranked
- #3 of 139 onThe Best Movies Of 2007
- 4Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma ThompsonIn 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.
- #288 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #111 of 240 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #23 of 50 onThe Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the '90s
- 5Daniel Day-Lewis, Ray McAnally, Brenda FrickerNo 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.More My Left Foot
- #140 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #322 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #44 of 83 onThe Best Movies Of 1989, Ranked
- 6Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron DiazIn 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.More Gangs of New York
- #662 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #154 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #16 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
- 7Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona RyderWealthy 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.More The Age of Innocence
- #55 of 80 onThe Best Period Romance Movies
- #256 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #273 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- 8Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul ScofieldAfter 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.More The Crucible
- #32 of 35 onGreat Movies That Take Place In Autumn
- #18 of 47 onThe Best Historical Movies from the '90s
- #24 of 54 onThe Best Movies 'Loosely' Based On True Stories
- 9Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Brian CoxRising 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).More The Boxer
- #72 of 95 onThe 100+ Best Movies Of 1997
- #35 of 153 onThe Best Movies Named After Songs
- #16 of 18 on18 Irish War Movies That You've Probably Never Seen
- 10Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Julian SandsIn 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.
- 11Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena OlinSuccessful 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.
- #279 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #110 of 122 onThe Best Movies Of 1988
- #103 of 119 onThe 100+ Best Rated-R Romance Movies
- 12Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward FoxGandhi, 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.More Gandhi
- #47 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #119 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #54 of 67 onThe Best Movies Of 1982
- 13Daniel Day-Lewis, Gordon Warnecke, Saeed JaffreyIn 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.More My Beautiful Laundrette
- #16 of 18 onThe Most Underrated Romance Movies Of The '80s
- #38 of 51 onThe 50+ Best British Rom-Coms, Ranked
- #25 of 157 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Gay Themes
- 14Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener, Camilla BelleJack 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.
- 15Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence OlivierCaptain 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.
- 16Murray Head, Glenda Jackson, Peter FinchSunday 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.
- 17Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope CruzItalian 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).More Nine
- #193 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #41 of 48 onThe Biggest Oscar Bait Films of All Time
- #11 of 77 on75+ Movies And Shows With Nine In The Title
- 18Daniel Day-Lewis, Joan Cusack, Keith DavidStars 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.
- 19
Nanou
Daniel Day-LewisNanou is a 1987 drama film directed by Conny Templeman. - 20Daniel Day-Lewis, Mirjana Jokovic, Gabriela AcherWomen like a foundation-sponsored free dentist (Daniel Day-Lewis) motorcycling through Patagonia, South America.