Everyone has a favorite actor, and for some, seeing a familiar name in the cast of a movie they're about to see, immediately guarantees a good time. Dutch actor Rutger Hauer became one of these comforting names in Hollywood cinema. It doesn't matter if he's in the starring role or just there for a tiny cameo, his magnetic screen presence keeps audiences glued to the screen.
Featuring roles from his shining debut to the one that brought him mainstream fame, here are some of the best Rutger Hauer movies, ranked:
8 Split Second (1992)
Directed by Tony Maylam and Ian Sharp, Spilt Second is a horror sci-fi film and a collaboration between the United States and the United Kingdom. Rutger Hauer shines as a seasoned detective who is down to his last strands of patience as he spends each day obsessing over crucial little details. It is a stellar performance, full of nuances and a perfect depiction of the post-grief human condition.
Due to an intense wave of global warming, London is experiencing heavy floods and an excessive amount of rainfall. If that wasn't enough of an inconvenience, a serial killer who rips out vital organs from his victims is back again. Rookie police officer Dick Durkin (Alastair Duncan) has to team up with the jaded, anxiety-driven veteran officer Harley Stone (Rutger Hauer) to solve the case.
7 Sin City (2005)
Based on the comics by Frank Miller and directed by him and Robert Rodriguez, this crime-anthology film boasts an ensemble cast of versatile actors, each story having its own unique plot line. Rutger Hauer plays the role of Cardinal Patrick Henry Roark, a cannibal, who is one of the two cornerstones of the Roark family, which rules over the city with an iron fist. Playing villains comes naturally to Rutger Hauer, and this role was nothing short of brilliant till the very end.
Sin City combines four separate storylines into one longer anthology, narrated by a mysterious salesman (Josh Hartnett). He tells the tale of four strangers: a vigilante named Marv (Mickey Rourke) who's searching for his lost love Goldie (Jaime King), an old cop named John (Bruce Willis), who's hunting a serial killer called the Yellow Bastard (Nick Stahl), and Shellie (Brittany Murphy), a sex worker trying to escape from her ex-pimp Jack (Benicio del Toro).
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6 Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (2002)
In the directorial debut by celebrated actor George Clooney, this biographic spy movie is a must-watch for all fans of celebrity game shows, and the spy movie genre. Rutger Hauer plays the role of Keeler, a German-American secret agent from East Berlin. It's a role that is right in the veteran actor's ballpark, and despite his limited screen time, he is extremely pivotal as a special guest feature.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind follows the life of Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), a game show producer who is thriving at his job. Unbeknownst to all his fans, Barris used to live a different life as a covert assassin, under the orders of CIA agent Jim Byrd (George Clooney). With more than 33 people in his kill count, Barris is no ordinary man, and it seems like his secrets are soon about to come to light.
5 Batman Begins (2005)
Directed by the Academy Award-nominated Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins marks the inception of the beloved Dark Knight Trilogy. Rutger Hauer brings his veteran acting chops to the table in the pivotal supporting role of William Earle, the man who takes over Wayne Enterprises during Bruce Wayne's absence. It is a much more contained role in comparison to some other characters Rutger Hauer has played in the past, but he does this one with such chilling gravitas that it's more than enough to strike fear into any businessman's heart.
Young Bruce Wayne (Gus Lewis) witnesses his parents' murder by a mugger, and his normal life takes a drastic turn. 14 years later, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) equips himself with the teachings of various martial arts, vowing to fight against injustice, and returns to Gotham City to reclaim Wayne Enterprises and save the city from a secret society intent on destroying it.
4 Flesh and Blood (1985)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, this romance adventure film takes the audience to sixteenth-century Italy. Rutger Hauer shines as a ruthless mercenary, the anti-hero that the audience just can't help but root for. The realistic portrayal of a man who will leave no stone unturned for his glory was extremely well received by critics, making the film a cult classic.
Taking inspiration from authentic historical sources, Flesh and Blood follows a group of mercenaries led by Martin (Rutger Hauer). Abandoned by the nobleman Arnolfini (Fernando Hillbeck), Martin sets out to seek revenge, and kidnaps Arnolfini's soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh). A bloody battle soon follows.
3 Turkish Delight (1973)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, Turkish Delight is an erotic drama film that marks the brilliant debut of Rutger Hauer, in a role that is sure to leave a lasting impact. Hailed as the most successful film in the history of Dutch cinema, it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film upon its release. Rutger Hauer received immense praise for his portrayal of a deeply troubled young artist, whose life changes because of love.
Olga Stapels (Monique van de Ven) is a young woman with a fiery spirit, who comes across hitchhiking artist Erik Vonk (Rutger Hauer) one day, offering him a ride. A simple favor takes a dramatic, and catastrophic turn as the two become involved in an intensely physical relationship, much to the disapproval of Olga's mother (Tonny Huurdeman).
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2 Soldier Of Orange (1977)
Directed by frequent collaborator Paul Verhoeven, this romance-thriller film is set during World War II, an era that Rutger Hauer has played numerous roles from. This time around, he plays the role of an aristocratic Dutch student who becomes embroiled in turbulent resistance movements, changing his life drastically. The role is a picture-perfect depiction of what it means to be a hopeful youth in such a cruel time, a painful reminder of the repercussions of war.
The film tells a story of love, loyalty, betrayal, and camaraderie. Erik Lanshof (Rutger Hauer) is a Dutch aristocrat who, along with his fellow students: Guus (Jeroen Krabbé), Nico (Lex van Delden) and Alex (Derek de Lint), he becomes a part of the resistance movement against Nazi occupation during World War II.
1 Blade Runner (1982)
Adapted from the novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, written by Philip K. Dick and directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner is what launched Rutger Hauer into mainstream popularity. He received critical and audience acclaim for his role as the leader of the synthetic human fugitives that wreak havoc everywhere they go. A role that served as the perfect utilization of Rutger Hauer's acting prowess as an antagonist, the film and its characters have only grown more popular with time.
Set in a dystopian world in 2019, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is an overworked cop suffering from exhaustion and burn-out. Tyrell Corporation is a powerful enterprise responsible for bioengineering synthetic humans called replicants, on various space colonies. When one of the space colonies gets compromised and a group of replicants, led by the villainous Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) escapes to Earth, it is up to Deckard to be the reluctant hero and send them back to where they came from.