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Henry Cavill has starred in some truly epic movies and shows. His filmography is quite lengthy, and it’s only certain to grow in the coming years, as he has decades left in his acting career. Henry Cavill is known for giving his performances his all, especially ones he is self-passionate about, like The Witcher. With a possible Warhammer series from Amazon in the works, Cavill certainly has enough interest to keep him busy. Let’s take a moment and look back at the best Henry Cavill movies and shows that you should watch if you’re a true Cavill fan.
1. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
This adaptation of the novel of the same name from the great Alexandre Dumas is one of the first entries in Henry Cavill’s filmography. He doesn’t play one of the major roles in the film, but at just 19 years old, he seals the deal as side character Albert Mondego in the final act.
If you don’t know the story of The Count of Monte Cristo, this 2002 adaptation is a great way to get into it. It’s slightly different from the novel but just as enjoyable. A young Edmond Dantès is falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned before he can marry his fiancée. While imprisoned, he and his cellmate deduce that a rival lover is responsible for his imprisonment.
The cellmate also happens to know the location of a cache of treasure but was captured by authorities before he could locate it. After several years, Edmond is freed, locates the treasure, and returns to Parisian high society as the Count of Monte Cristo, ready for revenge.
2. The Tudors (2007 – 2010)
Who doesn’t love a historical fiction drama set in 16th-century England? The Tudors has a long list of cast members, many of whom are big names. Cavill wasn’t exactly world-famous when he starred in The Tudors, but he definitely brought the same level of skill and enthusiasm that he has in all his projects.
Cavill plays Charles Brandon, the 1st Duke of Suffolk, and is one of the prime members of the King’s Court and also brother-in-law to Henry VIII, the king of England. Charles plays a large role throughout the series and is almost unrecognizable with his short-cut hair and 16th-century attire. If you’re a fan of historical dramas and Cavill, you need to watch this series.
3. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
One of the best action-spy movies of all time, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an excellent entry when it comes to the best Henry Cavill movies. Based on the 1964 TV series of the same name, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. sees Henry Cavill in the lead role as Napoleon Solo, a CIA operative tasked with stopping a criminal organization planning on unleashing hell on the world by starting a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
It’s the peak of the Cold War, so tensions are already high. Solo is forced to team up with KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) to stop the bad guys before it’s too late. Their only lead is the daughter of a missing scientist. If they can find her in time, they just might be able to prevent the end of the world. Cavill always does well in action movies, and with famed director Guy Ritchie at the helm, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is certainly a hit film you need to see.
4. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
This list wouldn’t be complete with the film where Henry Cavill reloads his fists. Tom Cruise is the main star in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, but Henry Cavill does an excellent job as Special Agent August Walker. Tasked with assisting Ethan Hunt (Cruise) in finding three stolen plutonium cores.
It’s a Mission: Impossible movie, so you already know the action will be on point. It helps if you’ve seen the previous Mission: Impossible films to understand the entirety of the plot in this one, but it’s not exactly a requirement to enjoy Cavill’s performance.
5. Enola Holmes (2020)
If you love detective movies like Knives Out, you should definitely check out Enola Holmes. It’s different in taste than the Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr., but just as enjoyable. Obviously, Cavill doesn’t play the role of Enola Holmes (who is played by Millie Bobby Brown) but takes on the renowned role of Sherlock Holmes. If you enjoy this one, Enola Holmes 2 was just released this past year and was just as stellar.
6. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
When the original Justice League directed by Zack Snyder was released in 2017, it’s safe to say it bombed, having grossed around $660 million worldwide against its estimated total budget of $750 million (yikes).
However, when Zack Snyder released his 242-minute runtime director’s cut in 2021, fans immediately changed their tunes, making it one of the most acclaimed DC superhero films yet. You can skip Man of Steel, which is just another Superman origin story film, and watch this one if you want to see Cavill play Clark Kent.
7. The Witcher (2019 – 2023)
The Witcher is a bittersweet entry on our list of the best Henry Cavill movies and shows, considering how his time on the series ended. Thankfully, it cemented his ability to turn his own passion for a fantasy universe into an amazing on-screen performance.
Cavill plays Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a witcher. Geralt uses his supernatural abilities to kill various monsters and creatures like Strzyga, dragons, and the undead. Unfortunately, due to creative differences, Cavill stepped away from his role as Geralt after the third season, much to everyone’s disappointment.
