Every Hugh Jackman Movie Ranked Worst To Best

An entertainer of the highest order, Hugh Jackman was born to thrive on a stage, be it one in front of the lens of a camera or an audience on Broadway. Jackman began acting in school and spent the last five years of the 20th century kicking around his native Australia in various TV and stage roles before relocating to America and becoming a household name. 

At the time, Scottish actor Dougray Scott was slated to play Wolverine in the 2000 film "X-Men." When Tom Cruise wouldn't let Scott do it, Jackman got the role. He hasn't looked back since.

Nowadays, accepting a superhero role is a no-brainer; back then, believe it or not, it was considered a gamble that could result in career-ending typecasting as a guy in tights. Nevertheless, Jackman was playing the role of a Marvel hero on screen long before it became mainstream. And it would be that very role that would carry him through 9 appearances as the bladed mutant, right up to 2017's critically-acclaimed hit "Logan."

Superheroes aside, Jackman has orchestrated a career of varied roles across multiple genres. He's even put his vocal talents to use on the silver screen in films such as "Les Misérables" and "The Greatest Showman." In the public eye, Jackman is charming and thoughtful, always putting his best foot forward. Jackman is well-known for his philanthropic efforts, participating in a wide range of charity events through his social media platforms. 

More than twenty years after he first took Hollywood by storm, it's amazing to look back on Jackman's impressive output. Here's a ranking of every movie he's ever made.

This Dominic Sena thriller came at the height of the John Travolta renaissance and made headlines for Halle Berry's topless scene (she was paid $250k per breast); it also had the audacity to lift a bus with a helicopter over Los Angeles, making for some amazing sightings around the City of Angels. 

Jackman landed his first high-profile non-Wolverine role as a hacker on parole from past FBI intrusions. When he meets a pair of shady characters (Berry and Travolta) who coerce him into carrying out additional cyber breaches with the promise of a hefty payday, he finds himself caught up in a web of espionage, murder and sexual intrigue.

It sounds like a promising setup, but "Swordfish" ultimately didn't whisper the password most viewers were hoping for. The film's visual stylings were largely viewed as lackluster, the plot thin and meandering, and all these years later "Swordfish" is about as memorable as a meal you ate in 2001.

If you ever wanted to watch a "comedy" about butter, this 2011 film is likely the only chance you'll ever get. Because when it came to the box office, this movie certainly didn't do much cooking.

The flick tells the story of a champion butter sculptor (Ty Burrell), banned from competing in a competition simply because the Iowa State Fair believes others should have an opportunity to compete and win. His wife (Jennifer Garner) decides to compete instead — and also begins dating her former high school flame (Hugh Jackman), convincing him to help her sabotage the competition.

While the film had a unique premise, its satirical elements missed the mark. The characters were more cartoonish than the story called for, and the film's parodies of prominent political figures of the moment have left it dated barely a decade later. The film ultimately received mixed reviews from critics, who apparently preferred a "Butter" alternative.

Everybody loved "District 9," right? As a result Hollywood gave writer/director Neil Blomkamp carte blanche to follow it up, receiving in return ... "Elysium" and possibly the most annoying film of the past decade, "Chappie." It might just be the most disappointing sophomore and junior efforts since Richard Kelly followed "Donnie Darko" with "Southland Tales" and "The Box."

"Chappie" asks big questions about when a sentient consciousness assumes the characteristics of life, following a scientist who helps design weaponized robots for policing and his jealous rival (Jackman). Jackman sports a killer mullet and a tinge of ferocity as he becomes determined to one-up his competitor — who creates a true-to-life A.I. and implants it into a damaged robot later named Chappie.

The flick didn't win over critics over or audiences, receiving a mixed reception. The characters in the film aren't likable, feel one-dimensional, and never really go anywhere. Chappie was clearly intended to be the heart and soul of the film, but instead became its A.I. albatross.

At some point this list will start getting to the "good" Hugh Jackman movies, but first there must be some acknowledgement of a film best left forgotten — undoubtedly the worst of Jackman's Wolverine appearances.

Possibly the most disliked film in the "X-Men" series, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" marked Jackman's first solo Wolverine adventure. The film highlights the origins of the Marvel mutant hero, who is at least a couple centuries old and has fought in every major military engagement since the Civil War. Paired alongside his brother Victor (Liev Schreiber) for much of this existence, the pair eventually part ways over Victor's insatiable bloodlust, with our hero content to go live a life of solitude. When Victor re-emerges, however, and seemingly kills his brother's love interest, the plot kicks in. Of course, this is all part of a ploy by Wolverine nemesis Stryker (Danny Huston) to experiment on him, giving our favorite mutant the metal claws and reinforced skeleton that makes him Wolverine.

The film was hampered by lazy writing and clichés of action and revenge-quest films including the "fridging" of a love-interest in an effort to move the character's story forward. Perhaps its most grievous sin (and the one it is best remembered for today) is casting Ryan Reynolds for the first time as Wade Wilson and then butchering the character beyond all recognition — a point repeatedly driven home in the years since by audience love for Reynolds' "Deadpool" efforts, as well as all the tongue-in-cheek "anti-Jackman" digs that Deadpool/Reynolds gets in regularly as a reminder of how badly this film treated the character.

Just as Jackman was becoming a known commodity in Hollywood, he appeared in this forgettably-titled rom-com based on the book "Animal Husbandry." The source material has a woman looking at dating through a new lens after she embraces the so-called "Old-Cow-New-Cow theory," which views coupling from a detached, animalistic point of view. Much like the title, "Someone Like You" lost touch of the hook that made it stand out.

Ashley Judd, a considerable star-on-the-rise herself at the time, headlined the film as a production assistant on a talk show desperate to discover the reasoning behind her bad luck in the romance department. The producer of the show (Hugh Jackman), who appears to be an insufferable womanizer, is looking for a roommate and invites her to live with him. 

As with any romantic comedy, the duo hate themselves at first, but after she suffers another catastrophic relationship, she moves in with him out of spite and a  relationship between the two begins to evolve.

Remembered today (if at all) as just another generic rom-com from the genre's gasping final days, "Someone" is shallow and predictably written with clichés throughout. The film may have appealed to insatiable romantics, but never managed to bring anything new with the film's over-saturated genre, and Judd and Jackman didn't have enough chemistry to reach any new heights. 

Calling it "a romantic comedy as lamely generic as its title," Variety critic Todd McCarthy wrote: "This adaptation of Laura Zigman's popular novel 'Animal Husbandry' leaves no stone unturned in its attempt to be as conventional and predictable as possible."

Seen by many at the time as a potential franchise killer, this threequel had Brett Ratner taking over for Bryan Singer, who had largely been viewed as the architect behind the virtues of the first two "X-Men" films. Ratner did his usual thing, delivering an audience-minded flick heavy on action and light on anything of substance — even stooping to some early fan service with the manifestation of a Juggernaut meme — but while the film made money, it certainly isn't the "X-Men" film most fans want to watch when craving a mutant moviegoing experience.

Following Wolverine and the rest of the gang as they grapple with Jean Grey's (Famke Janssen) new identity as Dark Phoenix,it turns out she is being manipulated by Magneto (Ian McKellen) to wage war against humankind. "X-Men: The Last Stand" unceremoniously killed off multiple beloved characters including James Marsden's beloved take on Scott Summers, as well as Patrick Stewart's Professor Xavier (even if he would rise again in other films). Jackman's Wolverine was too love-drunk to make competent decisions for much of the film, and many of the characters ceased resembling the emboldened mutant heroes that the first two films had established them to be. In many ways, "The Last Stand" feels like the Joel Schumacher "Batman" films, made by a filmmaker choosing frivolity over authenticity and pursuing mainstream success at the expense of the source material.

Ultimately disappointed by a weak portrayal of their most beloved characters, fans wouldn't have to be angry for long —  many of the film's events would later be undone by time alterations made in the far superior "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

Australians Nicole Kidman, Jackman and Baz Luhrmann (coming off "Moulin Rouge!") paying epic tribute to their motherland? This movie has to be amazing, right?

Wrong. Rife with adventure and ambitious in scope, "Australia" was a notorious dud, casting Kidman and Jackman against a World War II backdrop. With Kidman's character attempting to sell the cattle station of her husband (murdered prior to her arrival from England), Jackman's hunky character is hired to herd the cattle across the Australian terrain to facilitate the sale. Nothing goes as planned, a romance is sparked, period costumes are in abundance — yet somehow, not a single shrimp is thrown on a barbie, nor baby eaten by a dingo.

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Some reviewers enjoyed the visualization of the Australian countryside, while others felt Luhrmann's efforts weren't as authentic and sincere as the film's marketing touted them to be, instead embracing unwelcomed elements of camp and Australian clichés. 

A fascinating story made into a film a few decades too late, this Jackman drama came and went at the box office faster than Gary Hart's presidential aspirations.

Depicting the ruthless politics that defined the 1988 POTUS election, "The Front Runner" casts Jackman as Hart, the infamous Senator and Democratic candidate whose sexual exploits took him from the top of the polls to the bottom of the tabloids. Directed ably by Jason Reitman, the film follows Hart's fall from grace as he gets wrapped up in the sort of sex scandal that once threatened the livelihoods of politicians at a time when the American public didn't seem so willing to forgive their candidate's extra-marital activities.

If you're looking for a slightly-sensationalized recreation of events that once dominated national headlines, "The Front Runner" does a capable job of telling the Hart story, and Jackman handles his role with aplomb. While some critics the final product, "The Front Runner" never truly finds any great truth in the material it addresses. As a result, it received a mixed reception critically.

Jackman starred in this re-telling of the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo and, ultimately, the French musical based on the novel. In this classic tale, Jackman stars as Jean Valjean, pursued for years by an unrelenting lawman known as Javert (Russell Crowe) because Valjean had once broken parole. After receiving the kindness of a Bishop, Valjean sets out to live a good life of integrity and help others along the way. The film adapts many of the classic tunes from the French stage production and the actors receive a chance to put their pipes to the test on the silver screen. Jackman doesn't disappoint, putting his musical gifts on display.

The film garnered positive praise from many film reviewers, and was a decent financial success at the box office. "Les Misérables" is a timeless classic that most around the globe are well-acquainted with, and although some cringed at Crowe's singing voice, most viewers seemed to feel that this cinematic adaptation did its source material justice.

It might not be highest-grossing or even best-remembered Jackman non-Wolverine film, but in the eyes of many, "The Prestige" is the best film Jackman has ever been connected with. This stellar, mind-bending Christopher Nolan flick details the early days of magic through the tale of two magicians: Robert "The Great Danton" Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred "The Professor" Borden. 

Set in London in the 1890s, the two magicians rise to prominence and become petty rivals — starting their shows simultaneously, constantly one-upping each other, even sabotaging the acts of their adversary. As the rivalry grows more intense and desperate, and scientific twists and turns are added into the mix via Nikola Tesla (an excellent David Bowie), the film leave viewers guessing throughout a third act that pulls the rug right out from under its audience.

"The Prestige" is more than a simple film about stage performers. It's about the pursuit of glory, and how far some men will go to obtain it. Nolan masterfully directed a highly influential, expertly-designed film that ranks near the top of his impressive body of work — and that of Jackman as well.

This biographical drama stars Taron Egerton as Michael Edwards, a British skier who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. 

After being rejected by British Olympic officials and taunted by fellow skiers from other teams, he decides to train himself to become a ski jumper. After injuring himself, however, he catches the eye of Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman) a former ski jumper himself. After Edwards convinces Peary that he is persistent in achieving his dream, Peary decides to take him under his wing and train Eddie.

"Eddie The Eagle" was widely met with positive reviews from critics, and although it often falls back on the formulaic nature of these kinds of inspirational sports films,  the talent in front of the camera elevates the experience considerably.

For many years, "X2" was considered one of the best superhero movies ever made; two decades later, there have certainly been enough impressive competitors (even from its own franchise) to knock it from its perch. But nevertheless, its opening sequence with Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) infiltrating the White House is among the greatest sequences the genre has ever produced.

The sequel to "X-Men" managed to heighten the superhero fantasy of a cadre of mutants seeking to defend the innocent. The film added additional fan favorite characters including not only Kurt Wagner but also the villainous William Stryker (Brian Cox), who experimented on Wolverine during the Weapon X program. This is the film where Wolverine advances his romantic attachment to Jean Grey (despite her relationship with Scott Summers), and the cerebro-fueled effort to kill all mutants across the globe in an instantaneous genocidal act certainly keeps the stakes high.

The film was praised for its cast and their solid performances alongside more explosive drama both in the narrative and in the visceral action sequences on screen. "X2" is one sequel that outshined its predecessor in almost every way.

Chronicling the true, unfortunate tale of the largest public-school embezzlement of the 21st Century, this HBO movie cast Jackman as the superintendent of the disgraced Roslyn Union Free School District on Long Island. As a student reporter begins writing about a construction project at the school (at the encouragement of Jackman's character), she begins uncovering financial oddities including fraudulent expense cards tied to staff. Trying to put out the fire as it keeps increasing in volatility, he can't stop the revelations from making headlines — including his own efforts to embezzle some $2.2 million.

"Bad Education" earned rave reviews, with many pointing to Jackman's performance as a standout. If there's one Hugh Jackman movie on this list you likely haven't seen, and want to correct that, this is the flick you need to track down.