While many young actors are trying to get their break in Hollywood by starring in coming-of-age or young-adult movies, Barry Keoghan is one of the unique actors in the industry who are continuously choosing edgy films one after another and along the way he is proving his acting chops to almost every person in the world. The Irish actor appeared in Marvel superhero flick Eternals and then took on the role of Batman’s most famous villain, the Joker, in the new Matt Reeves film The Batman. The young actor has also worked with multiple accomplished industry directors like Christopher Nolan, Emerald Fennell, and Yorgos Lanthimos. So, if you think you are also slowly becoming a fan of this guy check out these 10 movies that are his best.
10. Eternals (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video)
Eternals is a Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film directed by Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao. The 2021 superhero action fantasy film follows the story of a group of immortal beings with superhuman powers who were secretly living on Earth for thousands of years, but now they all have to come together to fight against the evil Deviants. Keoghan plays the role of Druig one of the Eternals. Eternals also stars Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, Harry Styles, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Ma Dong-seok, and Brian Tyree Henry.
9. Black ’47 (AMC+ & Prime Video Add-On)
Black ’47 is an Irish period revenge thriller film directed by Lance Daly from a screenplay co-written by PJ Dillon, Pierce Ryan, Eugene O’Brien, and Daly. The 2018 film is set in 1847 and it follows the story of a battle-hardened soldier who leaves his British army post to go back to his home in Ireland but when he gets there he finds nothing but destruction and his decimated family. Now, he must exact his revenge against those responsible for the murder of his family. Black ’47 stars James Frecheville, Stephen Rea, Hugo Weaving, Barry Keoghan, Moe Dunford, Sarah Greene, Freddie Fox, Jim Broadbent, Ciaran Grace, and Dermot Crowley.
8. Mammal
Mammal is a thriller drama film directed by Rebecca Daly from a screenplay co-written by Daly and Glenn Montgomery. The 2016 film follows the story of a grieving divorcee who develops a bond with a homeless teenager who reminds her of her deceased son but their relationship is threatened by a gang of thugs with whom the boy was involved and also her ex-husband. Mammal stars Rachel Griffiths and Barry Keoghan in the lead roles with Michael McElhatton, Joanne Crawford, Aoife King, Rachel O’Byrne, Annette Tierney, Danika McGuigan, and Johnny Ward starring in supporting roles.
7. Calm With Horses (Tubi & Prime Video)
Calm With Horses is an Irish crime thriller film directed by Nick Rowland from a screenplay by Joseph Murtagh. The 2019 film is set in rural Ireland and it follows the story of an ex-boxer who becomes a feared enforcer for the drug-dealing Devers family while trying to be a good role model to his five-year-old son. Calm With Horses stars Barry Keoghan in a supporting role with Cosmo Jarvis taking the lead. The crime thriller film also stars Niamh Algar, Ned Dennehy, Anthony Welsh, Hazel Doupe, Brid Brennan, Simone Kirby, and David Wilmot.
6. ’71 (Tubi & Pluto TV)
’71 is a British thriller drama film directed by Yann Demange from a screenplay by Gregory Burke. The 2014 film is set during The Troubles as a young British soldier must find his way back to safety after his unit accidentally abandons him when a riot breaks out in the streets of Belfast. ’71 stars Jack O’Connell in the lead role with Jack Lowden, Ben Williams-Lee, Aaron Lynch, Tom Cowling, Sean Harris, Barry Keoghan, Sam Reid, Killian Scott, Charlie Murphy, and Sam Hazeldine starring in supporting roles.
5. Saltburn (Prime Video)
Saltburn is arguably Barry Keoghan’s biggest and most popular film. Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, the 2023 psychological thriller film is set in 2006 and it follows the story of a scholarship student Oliver Quick as he struggles to fit in at the University of Oxford with all of its upper-class fellow students. When he befriends a rich and popular student and gets invited to his estate, Oliver’s obsession with his new friend’s lifestyle leads to horrifying events. Saltburn stars Barry Keoghan in the lead role with Jacob Elordi, Alison Oliver, Rosamund Pike, Archie Madekwe, Carey Mulligan, and Ewan Mitchell starring in supporting roles.
4. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Max & Prime Video Add-On)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is an intense psychological thriller film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos from a screenplay co-written by Efthimis Filippou and Lanthimos. The 2017 film follows the story of a renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Steven Murphy who lives with his family in a spotless house but a fatherless insinuates himself into the doctor’s life and threatens to destroy his picture-perfect life. The Killing of a Sacred Deer stars Colin Farrell in the lead role with Barry Keoghan starring as the antagonist. It also stars Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone, Herb Caillouet, and Bill Camp.
3. American Animals (Prime Video, Tubi & Pluto TV)
American Animals is a heist thriller film written and directed by Bart Layton. Based on the Transylvania University book heist in Lexington, Kentuck in 2004, the 2018 film follows the story of four friends who plan to steal the rarest and most valuable books from the Transylvania University’s library. American Animals stars Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, Udo Kier, and Ann Dowd.
2. Dunkirk (Prime Video Add-On)
Barry Keoghan plays a small role in Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic. Written and directed by Nolan, the 2017 World War II survival film Dunkirk is set in 1940 and it follows a group of soldiers trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk with German forces gaining on them, the British soldiers and civilians lead a heroic rescue mission. Dunkirk stars Fionn Whitehead, Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Jack Lowden, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Tom Glynn-Carney, Aneurin Barnard, and Brian Vernel.
1. The Green Knight (Max & Prime Video Add-On)
The Green Knight is a fantasy epic film based on the Arthurian legends and while we don’t see Keoghan playing the role in this one either, he does have a great supporting character. Written and directed by David Lowery, the 2021 medieval fantasy film is based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and it follows the story of Sir Gawain as he accepts a deadly challenge from the Green Knight. The Green Knight stars Dev Patel in the lead role with Alicia Vikander, Ralph Ineson, Erin Kellyman, Keoghan, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, and Kate Dickie starring in supporting roles.