Benedict Cumberbatch may well be one of the most well-liked actors working today. The Sherlock actor has starred in many critically acclaimed and major blockbuster films that have seen him garner both huge box office results and an Oscar nomination in his twenty-year career.
Rotten Tomatoes is an authority on seeing just how acclaimed and beloved Cumberbatch's roles and films are. The site is a go-to for movie lovers who want to gauge the quality or acclaim of a film from its famous Tomatometer score. The actor has himself a fair few great scores in his career, so here are the best Benedict Cumberbatch movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Updated on June 13th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: With new movies releasing multiple times a year, and additional critical reviews making Rotten Tomatoes scores in a state of flux, Benedict Cumberbatch continues to wrack up "fresh" movies on the site. While many of his best films include his appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has a diverse body of work beyond his time as Doctor Strange, which includes a lot of period dramas full of very different characters.
FOUR LIONS (2010) - 83%
Four Lions is a British, satirical dark comedy that humorously follows four young British-Muslim men who aspire to be terrorists. Cumberbatch has a small, funny role in the film as negotiator Ed, which is not massively memorable.
The film came from before Cumberbatch was the revered and recognizable star that he is today, released in the same year as the role that shot him to fame, Sherlock. The film was a surprise to some and delivered on the dark humor advertised in a clever way, from debuting feature-film director Chris Morris.
STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS (2013) - 84%
A film that is a bit more well known, Star Trek: Into Darkness is the second in the series of rebooted Star Trek films and follows the crew on a mission to capture a weapon of mass destruction which has caused huge damage to the fleet.
That weapon is one man, Khan, played by Benedict Cumberbatch in one of his only famous villainous roles to date. The film is a good sequel, which of course contains brilliant visuals and the great sci-fi action that carries over from the first installment, and Benedict plays the Star Trek super villain well, as an actor of his skill tends to do.
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (2011) - 84%
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an incredibly loved spy story. The original novel has been adapted into a few different forms, including the award-winning series created for BBC in the 1970s, so the movie had a lot to live up to.
The story features twist after twist, which is why it's such a hallmark of the spy genre. Cumberbatch is just one of many working in the spy game as he plays one of the bosses of the many field agents the movie centers on. His part isn't a huge one, but a necessary one in the pieces of the puzzle.
THE COURIER (2020) - 85%
Though The Courier had its premiere in January 2020, its theatrical release was delayed until mid-2021, building the anticipation for the movie while theaters around the world were closed. It's another spy movie on Cumberbatch's resume.
Inspired by real events, Cumberbatch stars as a man recruited to pass messages to a Russian spy in the 1960s. Greville Wynne is a regular businessman, chosen because intelligence officers think it would be better to use a "regular person" than a spy to avoid suspicion. Wynne ends up in prison in Russia for transporting those messages and has to maintain his innocence while there. It's a psychological drama for fans of the genre.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018) - 85%
Doctor Stephen Strange's first appearance alongside a slew of our MCU heroes came in Avengers: Infinity War as our heroes seek to stop Thanos in his quest for the infinity gauntlet and the ability to cut the universe's population in half.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays the role of Stephen Strange and subsequently Doctor Strange brilliantly. Infinity War is one of the MCU's finest with its visuals and fantastic film and the usual brilliance from our main cast. A great part of the brilliant and well-received film was the dynamic between Doctor Strange and the characters he was stuck on Titan with, leaving fans wanting more.
1917 (2019) - 88%
1917 was one of the most anticipated WW1 films in a long time when it was released in 2019. Early reviews heralded it as one of the best, and though rankings dropped slightly after release, audiences were still largely impressed with it.
Cumberbatch has a supporting role as Colonel Mackenzie, while the bulk of the story actually centers on two young soldiers trying to get a message to him. The film is anchored by the legendary Roger Deakins with his unequivocal cinematography and Sam Mendes' direction.
THE IMITATION GAME (2014) - 89%
Getting the nod over Starter For 10 due to its far superior audience score and number of reviews, The Imitation Game is the story of the tragic and heroic Alan Turing during WWII as he builds a machine to decrypt codes from the Germans.
It is to this day Benedict Cumberbatch's only Oscar nomination and he is outstanding in the film, anchoring down a brilliant biopic. The film is a good insight into the tragedy of inequality as well as diving excellently into the mind and story of a man who is now rightfully considered both extraordinary and a hero of his time.
DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) - 89%
Speaking of the hero, Doctor Strange is the origin story of the sorcerer and how he went from being a medical surgeon to a wielder of such great power. It may not be as loved by audiences, but the Rotten Tomatoes critics pull together to recommend this film more.
Hailed for being one of the best MCU origin stories with its good balance of story and blockbuster tropes as well as visuals, Doctor Strange has a great performance from Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role. Though it may not be a film that will be remembered as much as other MCU movies, it still has a lot of fun spectacle to offer.
STARTER FOR 10 (2006) - 90%
A film not many may have heard of, Starter For 10 is one of Cumberbatch's earliest feature film performances. It is a comedy and coming-of-age story of a working-class English teen looking to make it in the private university world.
Cumberbatch shows glimpses of his comedic abilities in a lot of his roles and stays true to that comedic ability in this film. While in a smaller role, Cumberbatch still does well and kicks off a build towards bigger, better roles en route to becoming the star he is today.
WRECKERS (2011) - 92%
Wreckers is a drama about an incredibly messy dynamic between two brothers. Cumberbatch plays the older brother, David, who has spent most of his life protecting his younger brother (Shaun Evans), but with a degree of ownership over him that leaves the younger brother troubled.
When David and his wife Dawn (Claire Foy) move to the town where David grew up and receive a visit from his younger brother, their relationship begins to slowly unravel as secrets are exposed. The movie is an emotional ride that features Cumberbatch and Foy doing some of their best work.
THOR: RAGNAROK (2017) - 93%
While not the main focus of the film, nor even that prominent a character, Doctor Strange has a great cameo in the brilliant Thor: Ragnarok, which follows Thor - and Hulk - on their adventure as they are trapped on the other side of the galaxy. They must stop Hela from unleashing Ragnarok in what is the best of the Thor series.
Cumberbatch and Hemsworth both shine in the brief meeting between the two, with Hemsworth shining throughout the fantastic, funny, and visually appealing film that packs an emotional and comedic punch. Cumberbatch shines when paired with the main Avengers.
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021) - 93%
The focus of this installment of the MCU is definitely on Spider-Man, but Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange has a supporting role as he attempts to help Peter Parker reclaim his life. Unfortunately for Peter, Strange's help brings more drama as his spell goes awry.
Strange and Peter then differ in how they want to fix the problem, putting the two at odds for the first time in the MCU. There isn't a knock-down, drag-out, Civil War style fight between the two, but the situation does allow the audience to get to know Doctor Strange a little bit better.
THE POWER OF THE DOG (2021) - 94%
Cumberbatch's turn as Phil Burbank is very different from his other roles. While Cumberbatch is known for portraying more "gentlemanly" characters, Phil is a rough cowboy and ranch owner. He belittles those around him with little regard for their feelings.
The movie follows themes of masculinity and closeted sexuality, mostly centered around Phil and his relationships with those in his life. Cumberbatch embraces the drastically different character well, giving him a depth that allows the audience to sympathize with him.
AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019) - 94%
One of the best and biggest superhero films of all time, Avengers: Endgame brought to an end an era of the MCU and a moment in film history that will arguably never be matched. It follows our surviving heroes as they attempt to fix the events of Infinity War and defeat Thanos once and for all.
The film is wildly entertaining and gives an emotionally pleasing ending to the saga of Marvel films, even if there are some problems with the time travel aspect of it all. Doctor Strange is not in the film for long so Cumberbatch cannot shine too bright in an ensemble that all deliver excellently in their given moment, nonetheless, he plays his role with grace.
12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013) - 95%
One of the finest and most emotionally draining movies of the decade, 12 Years A Slave packs a punch and is brilliant in every aspect. It is a true story based on the memoirs of the main character, Solomon Northup, which follows him as he is kidnapped and sold into slavery, enduring and surviving multiple plantations for years.
Where Cumberbatch fits in as one of the slaveowners, Ford, he is portrayed excellently as a nicer character, especially compared to Michael Fassbender's Epps. The film is painful in its beauty and features fantastic performances and direction from Steve McQueen, and on a whole is probably still the best movie of Cumberbatch's whole career, so far.