For over four decades, John Malkovich has been Hollywood’s wild card, and this actor knows how to play anyone from a sweet soul to a total psychopath, somehow making it all look effortless. Whether he’s scheming, brooding, or just plain weird, Malkovich has never phoned it in. Honestly, he doesn’t just act, he actually disappears into roles, transforms, and sometimes even plays himself. Yep, this man’s range stretches from serious drama to full-blown chaos, and fans love him for it.
And the best part? You will never know what you’re getting with a Malkovich movie, except of course one thing, it’s going to hell lot of interesting. From working with legendary directors like Steven Spielberg to popping up in cult classics, Malkovich has stayed unfiltered, unpredictable, and totally unforgettable. So, let’s take a look at the 10 best Malkovich movies, ranging from the films that made him famous to the ones that made him an icon in the coolest way possible.
10. Places in the Heart (1984)
Though John Malkovich may have been orbiting Hollywood’s radar since the early ‘80s, but Place in the Heart is the film that made him famous, and actually earned him some serious critical street cred. In the movie, Malkovich plays Mr. Will, a blind World War I veteran who’s got quiet grit and simmering dignity. Well, this one’s Malkovich’s best roles that stole hearts and scenes with just his voice and stillness.
Malkovich’s performance didn’t just move audiences, it apparently landed him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and won him several critics awards, including honors from the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Board of Review.
Directed by Robert Benton, Place in the Heart tells a tale of tender, powerful stories of survival, grief, and unlikely friendships during the Great Depression. The movie has swept through awards season like a slow-burn miracle. And for Malkovich, it wasn’t just a breakthrough, it was his first glimpse of the unpredictable brilliance he’d bring to screens for decades.
You can watch the movie on Apple TV.
9. The Killing Fields (1984)
In The Killing Fields, John Malkovich didn’t just show up, he actually walked in as photojournalist Al Rockoff. Yep, it was described as one of the best roles of his early career. The movie is set against the brutal backdrop of Cambodia’s Khmer Rogue regime and unpacks a gut punch with raw performances and haunting storytelling.
While the spotlight mainly falls on Haing S. Ngor’s Oscar-winning turn as Dith Pran, Malkovich’s supporting role actually added an intense layer of urgency and journalist grit. His sharp presence definitely didn’t go unnoticed as he snagged Best Supporting Actor wins from the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics, proving this wasn’t just a sidekick gig.
Also, this film wasn’t just a box office win, it was a critical powerhouse with three Oscar wins and multiple BAFTA trophies. And for Malkovich? Well, it was one of those performances that made him famous.
You can watch the movie on Apple TV and Prime Video.
8. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
In Dangerous Liaisons, John Malkovich slithered yet another one of his best roles portraying the seductive and sinister Vicomte de Valmont. His character is so manipulative that he could charm nuns out of their vows. Yep, and his performance? Well, it’s so venomous and velvet, pairing beautifully with Glenn Close’s icy brilliance and Michelle Pfeiffer’s tragic innocence.
This steamy French period drama features corsets, scandal, and more betrayal than a royal court, and it all clicked under Stephen Frears’ wickedly sharp direction. Moreover, Malkovich’s role didn’t just steal scenes, it practically made him famous in international circles, landing him a David di Donatello nomination and a Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor.
While the film bagged three Oscars (including Best Adapted Screenplay and Costume Design), it was Malkovich’s dark charisma that made the twisted tale unforgettable. Who knew powdered wigs and heartbreak could look this good, or this deadly? Dangerous Liaisons remains a masterclass in manipulation, with Malkovich at his most deliciously devious.
You can watch the movie on Apple TV.
7. Of Mice and Men (1992)
In Of Mice and Men, John Malkovich plays one of his best roles as Lennie Small, a gentle giant with the mind of a child and the strength of a bull. This heartbreaking adaptation of Steinbeck’s classic novella made him famous to a new generation, proving Malkovich wasn’t just good at playing villains, he could shatter your soul, too.
Alongside Gary Sinise (who also directed), Malkovich brought raw tenderness to Lennie’s dreams of rabbits, land, and a world that would finally accept him.
The film itself is a gut punch in Dust Bowl clothing, drenched in hope and tragedy. Malkovich didn’t just act, he became Lennie, making the character’s innocence, confusion, and final fate feel painfully human. The Cannes Film Festival even took notice, with Sinise snagging a Palme d’Or nomination. If you’ve ever wanted to cry over soft things, broken dreams, or friendships that run deeper than blood, this is the film, and Malkovich is the reason it hurts so good.
You can watch the movie on Apple TV and Prime Video.
6. In the Line of Fire (1993)
In In the Line of Fire, John Malkovich dialed up the menace and gave us one of his best roles ever as Mitch Leary, a piano-wire-wielding, model-gun-building, ex-CIA assassin with a personal grudge and presidential ambitions of the murdering kind. Yep, his chilling performance didn’t just make him famous as a go-to villain, it earned him an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Facing off against Clint Eastwood’s aging but determined Secret Service agent, Malkovich was magnetic, eerily calm one second, explosively unhinged the next. His cat-and-mouse phone calls with Eastwood were the stuff of psychological thriller gold. Whether he was crafting a plastic gun or taunting Eastwood mid-chase, Malkovich made Leary iconic, a villain you weirdly wanted to listen to.
This underrated political thriller wasn’t just gripping, it showed Malkovich’s terrifying range, turning him into one of the ‘90s most compelling screen threats. No metal detectors, no problem.
You can watch the movie on Apple TV.
5. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
In Shadow of the Vampire, John Malkovich plays obsessive filmmaker F.W. Murnau with a manic edge that could give Dracula himself a fright. While Willem Dafoe stole the awards buzz (and an Oscar nom) as the creepy, maybe-not-pretending vampire Max Schreck, Malkovich is the mad puppet master pulling all the undead strings behind the camera.
Fueled by artistic madness and laudanum, his Murnau is terrifyingly committed, offering his lead actress as vampire bait just to get the perfect shot. Yikes.
This twisted behind-the-scenes horror flick is both homage and fever dream, a love letter to cinema wrapped in blood-soaked celluloid. Malkovich’s intense performance as a director willing to sacrifice his crew for “art” wasn’t what made him famous, but it reminded everyone why he’s one of Hollywood’s most deliciously unhinged actors.
Shadow of the Vampire wasn’t a mainstream blockbuster, but it gave us one of Malkovich’s best roles, literally, where the only thing more terrifying than the vampire was the director filming him.
You can watch the movie on Prime Video.
4. Ripley’s Game (2002)
Though Ripley’s Game did not have set the box office on fire, but John Malkovich’s cold-blooded turn as Tom Ripley is one of those under-the-radar best roles that fans never stop recommending. Honestly, forget the tortured charm of Matt Damon or the noir cool of Andrew Scott, Malkovich brought a whole new flavor to Highsmith’s iconic sociopath: calm, cultured, deadly, and somehow still likable. He plays Ripley like a snake in designer loafers, always five moves ahead and completely unbothered.
While Ripley’s Game didn’t win Malkovich awards or make him famous, it cemented his status as the king of classy menace. His chemistry with Dougray Scott added emotional tension to this tale of murder, manipulation, and midlife crises.
Moreover, the film’s failure wasn’t on him, it’s just one of those hidden gems that aged like fine Venetian wine. And in true Ripley fashion, Malkovich returned to Highsmith’s twisted world decades later in Netflix’s Ripley. Once a conman, always a scene-stealer.
You can watch the movie on Amazon Video and The Criterion Channel.
3. Being John Malkovich (1999)
Being John Malkovich is the role that literally made him famous, well, as himself. In this brilliantly bizarre Spike Jonze debut, John Malkovich plays a surreal version of John Malkovich, a performance so meta, that it looped through time and landed him on “best role ever” lists. The plot? A puppeteer finds a portal into Malkovich’s mind. The result? A dark, hilarious, mind-bending masterpiece that dives deep into identity, ego, and, well, Malkovich.
Malkovich didn’t just lean into the madness, he literally launched himself into it, spoofing his persona with unhinged brilliance. While he didn’t grab an Oscar nod (rude!), he won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor and snagged a permanent spot in pop culture’s weird Hall of Fame. This was the kind of film that proved Hollywood could be brainy, bonkers, and brilliant all at once. And yes, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich, say it three times, and you’ll start seeing why this was peak Malkovich.
You can watch the movie on Apple TV.
2. Burn After Reading (2008)
Burn After Reading gave us John Malkovich in one of his most unhinged, foul-mouthed, and absolutely perfect roles ever. As Osborne Cox, a rage-filled, vodka-soaked ex-CIA analyst who spirals into madness after two dim gym employees think his memoir is a government secret, Malkovich brought the thunder (and a hatchet). This black comedy was the peak Coen Brothers: ridiculous, razor-sharp, and wrapped in chaos.
While not the role that made him famous, Malkovich’s turn here is easily one of his best. He plays the only sane man in a world of delusional weirdos, and it’s glorious. He even snagged a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, because who else could yell “You morons!” and make it Oscar-worthy?
Paired with Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, and George Clooney, Malkovich was the explosive cherry on top of this espionage sundae. Honestly, nobody reads Rage quite like Malkovich.
You can watch the movie on Netflix.
1. Red (2010)
Red gave us peak Malkovich as Marvin Boggs, a conspiracy-loving, gun-toting ex-CIA agent with zero chill and a pink stuffed pig full of dynamite. While this wasn’t the role that made him famous, it was definitely one of his best roles for pure, chaotic fun. Surrounded by legends like Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, and Helen Mirren (who casually machine-guns people in evening gowns), Malkovich stole every scene with wild-eyed brilliance.
This action-comedy gem turned retirement into riot mode and earned Red a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical. Malkovich bagged a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, proving once again that he could mix explosions with eccentricity like no one else.
Whether he was licking batteries, blowing things up, or yelling “Old man, my ass!”, Marvin was a paranoid delight. Red was goofy, loud, and packed with AARP-certified badassery. And honestly? Malkovich was the most unpredictable grenade in the bunch.
You can watch the movie on Paramount+ and Prime Video.
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