“This. Is. Sparta!“Who can forget? Scottish veteran actorGerard Butlerrose to big screen fame as an appealing hero in stylish, battle-oriented epics. In300, he sunk his teeth into the role of King Leonidas of Sparta to a $400 million worldwide box office take. He has also dabbled in virtually every other film genre out there — think:The Ugly Truth, Gamer, evenThe Bounty Hunter. By the 2010s, his leading-man credentials were firmly established. And now, Butler has more than 3 million Instagram followers — he can’t be stopped!
Amid exciting news that Butler’s hit filmPlanealready has a sequelin the works, we took a closer look at Butler’s filmography and how it holds up on that famous ratings site known asRotten Tomatoes.
10RocknRolla (2008) — 60%
Guy Ritchie has directeda handful of classics, includingLock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrelsand, more recently,RocknRolla. The 2008 gem follows old-school mobster Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson) who rules London’s underworld with an iron fist. As big-time gangsters and petty crooks (Tom Hardy and Idris Elba among the spread) all scramble to get their cut of a Russian mobster’s crooked land deal, street-wise hustler One Two (Butler) tries to play both sides of the fence as the lucrative deal falls into the lap of Lenny’s presumed-dead son. Highlight player goes to Thandie Newton, whose sexy turn steals every scene she’s in.
9300 (2006) — 61%
Zack Snyder teaming up with Butler? Yes, please. Most of us know the tale of300, taking place in 480 B.C. amid a state of war between Persia and Greece. At the Battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas (Butler), King of Sparta, leads his outnumbered warriors against the massive Persian army. Though certain death awaits the Spartans, their sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against their common enemy. Featuring some of the coolest action sequences in modern times, it’s no surprise this one ranks up high onButler’s Rotten Tomatoes page.
8Plane (2023) — 77%
Also ranked high on Rotten Tomatoes isPlane, a white-knuckle action movie centered on a pilot (Butler) who saves his passengers from lightning by landing on a war-torn island. When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on for help is an accused murderer (Mike Colter) who was being transported by the FBI.
“The first act is almost all set in this plane going through hell,“Butler recently told Inverse. “As an audience, we all imagine, when you hear about a plane going down, ‘What must that have been like?’ And we don’t skirt by it. It doesn’t happen in two seconds. There’s no escape from this. You’re watching everything happen. And that’s only the start. Then you’re able to actually get in more detail to these characters and how they react to that situation. What does it pull out of them? They’re on this island in this impossible situation and they’re underdogs. It felt like a great setup for a white-knuckle entertaining ride.”
Related:Best Movies Set on a Plane, Ranked
7Greenland (2020) — 78%
Judging by its 2020 release date, you may probably thank the COVID-19 pandemic for all the folks who may not know aboutGreenland. The heartfelt thriller follows John Garrity (Butler), his estranged wife (Morena Baccarin) and their young son as they embark on a perilous journey to find sanctuary as a comet hurtles toward Earth. As the countdown to the global apocalypse fast approaches, the family decides to embark on desperate, last-minute flight to a possible safe haven. It’s a fitting role for Butler, explaining whyGreenlandwas so well-received.
6Dear Frankie (2004) — 81%
Dear Frankiefollows the nine-year-old titular character and his single mom Lizzie (Emily Mortimer). Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they’ve run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his “adventures.” Frankie tracks the ship’s progress and discovers that it’s due to dock in his hometown. Lizzie must then choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger (Butler) to play Frankie’s father. It’s a unique project from Miramax that shows off Butler’s acting range.
5Copshop (2021) — 82%
In the mood for an action thriller? EnterCopshop, which focuses on con artist Teddy (Frank Grillo) as he hatches a desperate plan to hide out from lethal hitman Bob Viddick (Butler). After sucker-punching a rookie officer, Teddy gets himself arrested and locked up in a small-town police station. But jail can’t protect Murretto for long, as Viddick schemes his own way into detention, biding his time in a nearby cell until he can complete his mission. It’s another role that seems to have been written for Butler — he’s a (scary) hoot to watch in a villainous turn.
4The Vanishing (2018) — 85%
It was the transatlantic steamer Archtor that first noticed something was wrong. On its voyage to the port of Leith from Philadelphia, the Archtor passed the lighthouse on the Flannan Isles on August 03, 2025, and the crew saw that its light was off. After docking in Leith three days later, the news was passed on to the Northern Lighthouse Board that something was amiss on Flannan. The mystery is explored in 2018’sThe Vanishing,where Butler’s character leads a small relief boat to the tiny, isolated island where a lighthouse is located. They’re to replenish the stocks and replace the crew of three. After they dock, no one greets them. The three men have vanished, and we watch as strange events unfold. It’s a gripping film from start to finish.
Related:Best Movies Produced by Gerard Butler, Ranked
3Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (1997) — 92%
Your film is already off to a good start if Dame Judi Dench is cast to play a queen. InHer Majesty, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Brown takes place after the death of Queen Victoria’s husband. She withdraws from public life, so the court appoints a former servant of the prince, John Brown (Billy Connolly), to help her recover from her grief. Brown’s unorthodox ways and disdain for protocol draw the queen out of her shell, and the brash Scot becomes her sole confidant. However, their growing closeness causes a stir, as scandalous rumors begin circulating about the exact nature of their relationship. Dench is dynamite, and it’s fun to see Butler steal scenes in a supporting turn as Archie Brown.
2Coriolanus (2011) — 92%
Based on Shakespeare’s renowned play,Coriolanus, the titular character (played to perfection by Ralph Fiennes) is an arrogant and fearsome general who has built a career on protecting Rome from its enemies. Pushed by his ambitious mother to seek the position of consul, Coriolanus is at odds with the masses and unpopular with certain colleagues. When a riot results in his expulsion from Rome, Coriolanus seeks out his sworn enemy (Butler), and together, the pair vow to destroy the great city. It’s a rare treat seeing guys like Fiennes and Butler share scenes.Coriolanusproved that Shakespeare adaptations are still worth checking out during these modern times we’re living in.
1How to Train Your Dragon (2010) — 99%
And then there’s the 2010 animated hit that spawned an epic, loveable franchise:How to Train Your Dragon. Most of us know the original premise: Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a Norse teenager from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. His progressive views and weird sense of humor make him a misfit, despite the fact that his father (Butler) is chief of the clan. Tossed into dragon-fighting school, he endeavors to prove himself as a true Viking. Butler’s voice work further extended his acting abilities and proves to be a welcome addition for future animated releases. And we simply can’t wait forthe live-action adaptation!
