10 Essential James McAvoy Movies

Image via 20th Century Published Aug 8, 2026, 1:52 PM EDT Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows. In addition to reviewing, writing, and commentating on both new and old releases, Liam has interviewed talent such as Mark Wahlberg, Jesse Plemons, Sam Mendes, Billy Eichner, Dylan O'Brien, Luke Wilson, and B.J. Novak. Liam aims to get his spec scripts produced and currently writes short films and stage plays. He lives in Allentown, PA. Sign in to your Collider account James McAvoy is one of the most underrated actors working today, and is rarely given enough credit for his range. While he announced himself as a charismatic young star with his breakout role in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, McAvoy soon proved that he could be a romantic lead, a terrifying villain, and a compelling action star. He’s the rare actor who can elevate any material he is in, as even terrible films like Dark Phoenix and Victor Frankenstein benefited from his work. McAvoy is one of the rare stars who is a compelling leading man, yet could also be described as a character actor because of the risks that he’s been willing to take. While he’s young enough that he still has many years of great performances ahead of him, McAvoy has already left behind an impressive track record. 10 ‘The Last Station’ (2009) Image via Warner Bros. The Last Station is an underrated period drama that proved that McAvoy was well-suited for adapting himself within a film set in a very specific historical era, as he is well cast as a young secretary that attempts to reason with the legendary author Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) during the final years of his life. While both Plummer and Helen Mirren received Academy Award nominations for the film, McAvoy’s work was overlooked; in many ways he had the most challenging role, as he had to convey a youthful perspective to a drama about established figures within culture. The Last Station is a far more entertaining, humorous, and heartfelt drama than it has any right to be, and it’s to McAvoy’s credit that he is able to spin such a full-bodied, complete performance out of a film that could have been nothing but “Oscar bait.” 9 ‘The Last King of Scotland’ (2006) Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures The Last King of Scotland is a haunting biopic about the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who was portrayed by Forest Whitaker in a performance that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. While Whitaker’s work captures the essence of one of the most brutal figures in contemporary history, McAvoy gives a performance as a fictional doctor who traveled to Uganda during this period to provide aid, and ended up becoming a confidant to Amin. McAvoy is able to show the ethical crisis faced by his character, who fears what will happen if he abandons Amin, and wants to provide assistance to the Ugandan people by using any power that he can. Although much of the film that centers on this character was completely made up, McAvoy does a solid job with his performance, which captures the essence of those that Amin brought within his company. 8 ‘Starter for 10’ (2006) Image Via Picturehouse Starter for 10 was the first sign that McAvoy was a true leading man, and it's one of the most underrated coming-of-age films of the 21st century. He stars as a young university student who joins a trivia team during his first year, and gets swept up in a competition that unlocks his inner ambition. Starter for 10 is a surprisingly profound dramedy that examines the class issues in Great Britain and how they relate to young students, especially those who feel that they must provide for their families. At the same time, McAvoy is able to show the flaws of a character who makes serious mistakes that threaten to compromise his ethics, and retains his charisma without idealizing the role. The film also indicated that he had a tremendous amount of potential as a romantic lead because of his terrific chemistry with Rebecca Hall. 7 ‘Welcome to the Punch’ (2013) Welcome to the Punch is an underrated action film that essentially plays out as a British version of Heat, as it combines the cat-and-mouse thrills of Michael Mann’s classic crime epic with the intensity of thrillers set within the London underworld. McAvoy plays an obsessive police officer who becomes focused on pursuing a brilliant bank robber (Mark Strong) who eluded him years prior, leading him to face a bout of depression and alcoholism. McAvoy gives a mature performance because his character is on a redemptive arc, and has become so intent on being redeemed in the eyes of his fellow officers that he is willing to cross ethical boundaries in order to complete his mission. Strong is another underrated British character actor who is deserving of much more credit, so to see him and McAvoy go head-to-head is a treat. 6 ‘Trance’ (2013) Image via Pathe Distribution Trance is a complex and experimental crime thriller from Danny Boyle, a director who has managed to take a chance on nearly every genre imaginable. McAvoy plays the attendant of a British museum who is taken hostage after a bank robber (Vincent Cassel) steals a valuable work of art; although he tries to connect with a psychic (Rosario Dawson) to get back his memories, he begins to realize that he was implicated within the crime. McAvoy works as an unreliable narrator whose motivations are made all the more complex as the film continues, and he fits within the jarring tonal fluctuations as Boyle inverts the type of story that he is telling. Trance was met with confusion upon its initial theatrical rollout, but time has proven to be kind to the unconventional film, with McAvoy’s chemistry with Dawson being one of the major reasons to seek it out. 5 ‘Filth’ (2013) Image via Steel Mill Pictures Filth features the single most transformative performance of McAvoy’s career, given that the novel of the same name was considered to be “unadaptable” for many years. He stars as Bruce Robinson, a Scottish police investigator who has developed a serious addiction for sex and drugs, but must actually show his merits as a cop when he is drawn into an enigmatic murder case that could implicate his superiors within law enforcement. Filth forced McAvoy to play a vile, yet tragic character who reveals himself to have more layers as the story continues and more facts about his past are unveiled. It’s hard to imagine any other actor being the right fit for the role, as McAvoy was able to be hilarious, horrifying, detestable, charismatic, and heartbreaking all at once without ever sacrificing the zany, avant garde approach to the material. 4 ‘Atonement’ (2007) Image via Focus Features Atonement is one of the most heartbreaking romantic epics of the 21st century, and became a major player within the 2007 awards race because of how perfectly it adapted a controversial novel. McAvoy stars as a poor English worker who falls in love with a wealthy young woman (Keira Knightley), but he’s forced to leave her behind to serve in World War I after being falsely accused of a horrific crime. Atonement was the closest that McAvoy ever got to earning an Academy Award nomination, as he was recognized by both the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes before being looked over by the Oscars, even though the film itself was nominated for Best Picture. While Atonement has one of the greatest World War I action scenes ever committed to film, it only works as well as it does because McAvoy and Knightley sold a heartbreaking romance that was doomed to end in tragedy. 3 ‘X-Men: First Class’ (2011) Image via 20th Century Studios X-Men: First Class was a bold new take on the X-Men franchise because Matthew Vaughn developed a prequel, set in the ‘60s, that explored the origins of Charles Xavier’s School. Patrick Stewart’s performance as Professor X in the original X-Men trilogy was so beloved that it was hard to imagine anyone else taking over the role, but McAvoy showed a different side to the character as a womanizing, charismatic scientist who advocates for the freedom of mutants as they face suppression. The most successful aspect of the X-Men prequels was developing the bond between Professor X and Magneto, as Michael Fassbender proved to be the perfect counterpart for McAvoy. The idea that they began as friends who shared a common interest made for a surprisingly emotional story, especially since McAvoy depicts Charles as being a character of such great empathy. Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory? 🕷️Spider-Man 😈Daredevil 🤖Iron Man 💀Punisher ⚡Thor 🛡️Cap FIND YOUR HERO → 01 What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you. AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully. NEXT QUESTION → 02 It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think. ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep. NEXT QUESTION → 03 How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours? AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard. NEXT QUESTION → 04 How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything. AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust. NEXT QUESTION → 05 You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it. AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are. AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind. NEXT QUESTION → 07 Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are. AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against. NEXT QUESTION → 08 When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story. ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly. NEXT QUESTION → 09 What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of. AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing. NEXT QUESTION → 10 The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully. ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over. REVEAL MY HERO → Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed. 🕷️ Spider-ManYou carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing. You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will. You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you. Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up. Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything. 😈 DaredevilYou fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free. You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks. You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy. Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own. Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you. 🤖 Iron ManBrilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem. You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic. You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility. Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too. You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man. 💀 The PunisherYou've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief. You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude. You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned. Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours. Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute. ⚡ ThorPowerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry. You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth. You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on. Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector. You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much. 🛡️ Captain AmericaYou believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will. You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard. Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you. Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost. In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 2 ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014) Image via 20th Century Studios X-Men: Days of Future Past is the most ambitious X-Men film of the entire franchise because it combined two generations of characters to tell a time travel story about the preservation of mutantkind. McAvoy gives his best performance as Charles ever because the film is set in an alternate reality in which he has become overwhelmed by his inability to protect mutants and addicted to drugs that suppress his powers, which forces Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to bring him out of retirement. McAvoy shows genuine conflict within Charles as he gives himself over to the responsibility of becoming a leader and learning all that he represents; few comic book films have scenes that are as powerful as the one between McAvoy and Stewart, which sees Charles rediscovering hope as he speaks to his past self through connecting with Logan’s mind and memories. 1 ‘Split’ (2017) Image via Universal Pictures Split is the role McAvoy will always be best known for, despite playing many iconic characters, because it is one that he created singularly and turned into an icon. It was after Joaquin Phoenix dropped out at the last minute of M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller that McAvoy stepped in to take on the role of Kevin Dunn, a character who has multiple personalities. McAvoy essentially had to give 23 different performances and is able to differentiate the different personas through his radical transformation, creating a surprisingly tragic figure that nonetheless poses danger. Split was an original film that marked a major risk for everyone involved, but McAvoy’s performance was so acclaimed that it became one of the highest-grossing Blumhouse films ever, launched Shyamalan’s comeback, and led to the crossover film Glass that saw Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson reprising their roles from Unbreakable. Split Release Date January 19, 2017 Runtime 117 minutes