One of the most decorated and prestigious actors to have ever come from Australia and a true Hollywood legend in his own right, Geoffrey Rush has enjoyed a sublime career. After toiling away through the '70s and '80s, he landed his breakthrough role in 1996’s Shine, excelling in a lead performance that earned him an Academy Award. From there, he has gone from strength to strength, appearing in everything from critically revered sleeper hits to major blockbuster triumphs.
A versatile talent, Rush excels at bringing charm and comedic wit to some characters while reveling in making others deeply flawed and disturbing. Across the dozens of film credits he has accumulated through a dazzling career, these a few stand out among critics and fans. These are Geoffrey Rush's best movies, enduring testaments of his remarkable versatility and on-screen prowess.
10 'Quills' (2000)
Directed by Philip Kaufman
CloseA brilliant historical fiction that maintains a captivating basis on a real person, Quills sees Geoffrey Rush star as the Marquis de Sade, a controversial French writer who lived from 1740 to 1814 and became known for his explicit sexual material and views. The 2000 movie speculates on de Sade’s ultimate fate, following the author in his final years as an inmate in an insane asylum where he clashes with overseer François Simonet de Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix) while publishing his work through laundress Maddy LeClerc (Kate Winslet).
A deep dive into the depraved mind of de Sade, Quills flaunts a sexual openness that can make it a difficult viewing, particularly with some of its more violent scenes. Still, Philip Kaufman intelligently uses provocative material to spur contemplation rather than shallow excitement. Rush received an Oscar nomination for his lead performance, while Winslet and Phoenix earned praise for their trademark brilliance.
9 'Holding the Man' (2015)
Directed by Neil Armfield
One of Geoffrey Rush’s more underrated features and a relatively recent release, Holding the Man stands as an Australian romantic drama focusing on LGBTQIA+ issues enriched by tender performances. Based on a true-life story, it follows the relationship between Timothy Conigrave (Ryan Corr) and John Caleo (Craig Stott), two classmates from Melbourne who fall in love in the late 1970s. However, their romance is tested by external factors, including the AIDS virus.
Holding the Man excels as one of the best LGBTQ+ movies in recent years, reminding viewers that Rush can excel as a valuable supporting player as easily as he can as the lead.
Beautiful yet heart-wrenching, Holding the Man thrives as a romantic tragedy, presenting a touching love story that is only made more emotionally powerful with its basis on reality. Its fantastic supporting cast includes Guy Pearce, Sarah Snook, Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Fox, and Geoffrey Rush, who appears as an acting teacher who clashes with Tim at NIDA. This underrated gem excels as one of the best LGBTQ+ movies in recent years, reminding viewers that Rush can excel as a valuable supporting player as easily as he can as the lead.
8 'Lantana' (2001)
Directed by Ray Lawrence
An enticing co-production between Australia and Germany, Lantana is an underrated crime mystery with an entrancing focus on relationships and betrayal. It follows Detective Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia) as he is entwined in a web of adultery and deceit while investigating the disappearance of Valerie Sommers (Barbara Hershey), a psychiatrist still grieving the murder of her daughter. Rush co-stars as John Knox, Valerie’s husband and the prime suspect, resigned to the fate of his collapsing marriage.
Using insinuations and suspicious characters to emphasize its core message of trust, betrayal, and forgiveness, Lantana represents Australian cinema at its most bold and ambitious.
Intricately plotted and exploring the lives and dynamics between a wide range of interlinked strangers, Lantana finds an all-encompassing appeal that is complemented by the cast’s strong performances. Rush is magnetic in one of his most elusive roles, portraying a difficult character that few other actors could handle. Using insinuations and suspicious characters to emphasize its core message of trust, betrayal, and forgiveness, Lantana represents Australian cinema at its most bold and ambitious.
7 'Munich' (2005)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
CloseHelmed by Steven Spielberg and using its historical setting to generate a rousing and intense story, Munich is a film that packs even more of a punch today than it did upon release. Set in the aftermath of the terror attack on the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich that left 11 Israeli athletes dead, it follows a small group of Jewish men tasked with carrying out assassinations in retaliation. However, as the mission goes on, the group’s leader, Avner Kaufman (Eric Bana), expresses doubts over the morality of his assignment.
While falling short of Spielberg’s greatest-ever films, Munich still features the iconic filmmaker’s knack for engaging storytelling and compelling action, making the 166-minute runtime breeze by as a riveting and thought-provoking thriller. Rush plays the part of Ephraim, Kaufman’s handler who works for Mossad and takes issue with the operative’s reservations concerning the mission. It's a detached and slightly sinister role, and Rush brings it to life with stoic commitment.
6 'Shakespeare in Love' (1998)
Directed by John Madden
Another historical fiction that granted Geoffrey Rush ample opportunity to showcase his comedic talents in a meaningful supporting role, Shakespeare in Love is an Oscar-winning smash hit that remains one of the defining films of the late 90s. It tracks a fictional affair between William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) and the theater-loving daughter of a wealthy merchant, Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). While the romance helps Shakespeare overcome his writer’s block to pen "Romeo & Juliet," it does present some other precarious issues.
Ultimately thriving as a delightful, witty, and visually sublime period rom-com, Shakespeare in Love became one of the biggest hits of its year, winning seven Academy Awards and grossing $289.3 million worldwide. Geoffrey Rush was nominated for his portrayal of Philip Henslowe, Shakespeare’s employer and owner of The Rose Theatre, while Paltrow and Judi Dench won Oscars for their respective performances. Despite its infamous reputation as a Best Picture winner, Shakespeare in Love is an endlessly charming and enjoyable rom-com that deserves all the praise it got.
Shakespeare in Love
RComedyDramaHistoryRomance Where to Watch*Availability in US
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Release Date January 29, 1998 Cast Geoffrey Rush , Tom Wilkinson , Steven O'Donnell , Tim McMullan , Joseph Fiennes , Steven Beard Runtime 122 Writers Marc Norman , Tom Stoppard5 'Elizabeth' (1998)
Directed by Shekhar Kapur
CloseThe film that catapulted Cate Blanchett to international stardom, Elizabeth is a biographical period drama following Elizabeth I’s ascension to the throne and the early days of her reign, facing many political and personal challenges. Geoffrey Rush co-stars as Sir Francis Walsingham, a cunning and deceptive master of espionage who returns from exile to serve as Elizabeth’s advisor and bodyguard despite the young queen not knowing if she can truly trust him.
While it is certainly guilty of bending historical fact to suit its own narrative needs, Elizabeth is an intelligent and gripping exploration of a pivotal chapter in human history. It explores the political viper’s pit of 16th-century royalty with depth and suspense, even if it lacks nuance. Nonetheless, Elizabeth still stands as one of the best films of Cate Blanchett’s career, a defining highlight of Rush’s filmography, and a lush, riveting, and compelling portrayal of one of the most influential figures in history.
4 'Finding Nemo' (2003)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
A crowning achievement of Disney animation in the 21st century, Finding Nemo hasn’t lost a shred of its appeal, charm, and popularity in the 20 years since its release. It famously follows Marlin (Albert Brooks), a meek clownfish from the Great Barrier Reef who must embark on an epic voyage to rescue his son. Meanwhile, young Nemo (Alexander Gould) winds up in a dentist’s aquarium and plots a daring escape with the other fish in the tank.
While Disney’s trademark animation is as breathtaking as ever, and a wondrous sense of adventure sees the 100-minute runtime fly by, Finding Nemo finds its greatest strength in its litany of lovable characters. Among the best of them is Geoffrey Rush’s Nigel, a good-natured pelican who is friends with the fish in the dentist’s aquarium and helps Marlin be reunited with Nemo. It's a brief but memorable role, and Rush makes the most out of it. He is a small but meaningful part of Finding Nemo, a heartwarming and earnest depiction of family, love, and the bonds that tie them together.
Finding Nemo
GAnimationAdventureComedyFamily Where to Watch*Availability in US
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Release Date May 30, 2003 Cast Albert Brooks , Ellen DeGeneres , Alexander Gould , Willem Dafoe , Brad Garrett , Allison Janney Runtime 100 Writers Andrew Stanton , Bob Peterson , David Reynolds3 'The King’s Speech' (2010)
Directed by Tom Hooper
A charming and quaint tale of an unlikely friendship based on a true story, The King’s Speech was an instant hit upon release, winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. As George VI (Colin Firth) realizes he will succeed his father as the King of England, he seeks professional help to amend his stammer. Finally, George finds an effective helper in Lionel Logue (Rush), an Australian-born speech therapist whose unconventional methods help King George lead England through WWII.
Firth, who won the Oscar for Best Lead Actor, was particularly brilliant, portraying King George as a deeply relatable and anxious man whose abrasive traits shelter a rooted self-doubt and vulnerability. The blossoming of the friendship between him and Logue, while progressing with predictable beats, is a touching and sincere display that brings a refreshing honesty to the story. Despite its somewhat by-the-numbers approach, The King’s Speech stands among the best movies of its decade, largely thanks to the committed and vulnerable portrayals of its two well-matched leads.
The King's Speech
RDramaHistoryBiography Where to Watch*Availability in US
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Release Date September 6, 2010 Cast Colin Firth , Helena Bonham Carter , Derek Jacobi , Robert Portal , Richard Dixon , Paul Trussell Runtime 118 minutes Writers David Seidler2 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' (2003)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
A swashbuckling fantasy adventure and one of the most energetic blockbusters of the 21st century so far, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl sees Geoffrey Rush excel as the main antagonist, Captain Barbossa. It follows Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), a blacksmith who teams up with Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to save his beloved Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), the Governor’s daughter, from a notorious crew of undead pirates.
A divine spectacle of pure entertainment, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was an instant adventure classic that breathed new life into the swashbuckling genre. It was a commercial smash hit and still holds up incredibly well today. The special effects are truly outstanding for their time, and the performances of all involved ensure the film maintains its riveting allure. Rush reprised his role in the following films, with his more heroic turn in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End marking a rewarding and similarly enthralling adventure film.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
PG-13ActionAdventureFantasy Where to Watch*Availability in US
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Release Date July 9, 2003 Cast Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce Runtime 143 minutes Writers Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Stuart Beattie , Jay Wolpert1 'Shine' (1996)
Directed by Scott Hicks
The defining triumph in Rush’s career, Shine is the film that catapulted him to international fame. Rush won the Academy Award for Best Actor while presenting an enduring highlight for the Australian film industry on an international scope. The biographical drama explores the life of David Helfgott (Rush), a gifted pianist who endures a difficult childhood at the hands of his father, the trauma of which leads to a mental breakdown later in life. However, he returns to the spotlight and earns widespread acclaim.
Shine deftly avoids shallow sentimentality to be a richly involving biopic and the grandest achievement of Rush’s career.
With Noah Taylor and Alex Rafalowicz also portraying Helfgott at different stages of his life, the film is a brilliant realization of the pianist’s torrid yet extraordinary life. Still, it is undeniably Geoffrey Rush’s incredible performance that makes Shine such an emotionally stirring hit, one that deftly avoids shallow sentimentality to be a richly involving biopic and the grandest achievement of the actor’s career.
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