Mark Wahlberg has found success in big action blockbusters and buddy cop films. Audiences know that Wahlberg can kick down any door as well as crack a good one-liner. His career spans a wide range of genres, and he has become a veteran actor at this point in his career. Wahlberg has developed a niche set of skills that he brings to each of his different projects that he has worked.
Wahlberg may be known as an action movie star, but he is able to show another side of him on screen. He also has the ability to give audiences emotion, and, at the very least, play the part of support in a beautiful way. Fans of Wahlberg know that he can carry an action-focused story that leaves them on the edge of their seats, however; they also like to see what else he can give them. Here are 10 Mark Wahlberg movies where he showed the most range, ranked.
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10 Lone Survivor
Universal Pictures
From time to time, Wahlberg does a military genre movie and really takes on the performance. He has a huge respect for the armed forces, so when he steps into one of these roles, he doesn’t leave anything behind and gives a moving performance. Lone Survivor is loosely based on actual situations, which gives audiences a harrowing and serious story. History details how the movie follows the elite four-man Navy SEALs team as they search for Ahmad Shah, a militia leader aligned with the Taliban, as part of a mission called Operation Red Wings.
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9 Patriots Day
Lionsgate
Wahlberg steps into another character that he deems as patriotic as he represents the Boston law enforcement in Patriots Day. This film is another example of his respect for the armed forces or those who take an oath to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Patriots Day is based on a true story about the 2013 Boston marathon bombings. This movie takes on a complex topic that needed to be treated with a lot of forethought. Wahlberg portrays Sergeant Tommy Saunders, who leads the search for the terrorist, and with respect to the reality of what happened that day, reads into his performance.
8 Three Kings
Warner Bros.
Wahlberg really shows his emotional range when he steps into a military role which is reinforced in the movie Three Kings. He stars alongside other notable actors, George Clooney and Ice Cube. The film takes place during the final years of the Gulf War, which Reel Views says this is the first American movie to tackle this subject. Wahlberg and his group of military men attempt to find a hidden treasure using the war as cover to shroud their movements. As they embark on this life-changing quest, their skills become extremely useful.
7 We Own the Night
Mark Wahlberg in We Own the Night
We Own the Night is the perfect example of what Wahlberg can do in a criminal thriller space. Wahlberg portrays an NYPD Captain who is involved in an attack orchestrated by the mafia. The film takes place in New York City 1988, as two brothers who aren’t quite on the same side of the law, but don’t see eye to eye, take on a shady Brooklyn nightclub owner. We Own the Night is about a family being ripped apart and brought back together. It shows raw emotion at its center as well as being filled with action sequences.
6 The Basketball Diaries
New Line Cinema
Many of Wahlberg’s best films have him as the lead, however, The Basketball Diaries features Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead. DiCaprio stars as Jim Carroll, who is a storied writer, musician, and poet. This film is another real-world story about Carroll’s drug addiction that derailed his career and affected his mental health. Wahlberg is Carroll’s friend Mickey, who is a bad influence on Carroll. The Basketball Diaries is one of Wahlberg’s breakout roles as he perfectly portrays the deeply troubled teen looking for an escape.
5 Deepwater Horizon
It’s safe to say that Wahlberg is genuinely attracted to stories that truly happened. His performances seem to be more grounded when he has some sense of reality to connect to, which can be seen in Deepwater Horizon. The tense and gripping movie is detailed by TIME as remarkably close to real life unlike many other films based on true events. As disaster films go, Deepwater Horizon has the look and feel of typical movies in this genre using big explosions, a dramatic score, and a hero stepping in to save the day.
4 Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights has become a cult classic with a phenomenal cast that includes Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Heather Graham. The film follows Jack Horner, who, in the 1970s, is an adult filmmaker that tries to take his art to the next level. Wahlberg plays porn star Dirk Diggler. Diggler comes to realize what comes with the porn star life and the adult industry. It’s a comedy with an edge that shows Wahlberg’s raw talent. He won Artios Awards, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and MTV Movie Awards, as well as was nominated for Best Lead Actor at the 2nd Golden Satellite and Circuit Community Awards.
3 Instant Family
Instant Family depicts the highs and lows of the fostering process, and according to Refinery 29, draws on the director Sean Anders’ real life experiences. Anders fostered and later adopted three children with his wife Beth, who decided they wanted children later in life. This film is slightly different from Wahlberg’s normal body of work as audiences typically see him in action-packed films. Instant Family relies on Wahlberg’s charisma and comedic timing to knock it out of the park in this comedy.
2 The Fighter
Paramount Pictures
Not only does Wahlberg star in The Fighter, but he also produces this film. This project was extremely important to him, but is often overlooked. There are plenty of boxing films out there, but Wahlberg’s incredible performance finds its place in this true story. Mickey Ward, portrayed by Wahlberg, was a real-world boxer looking for fame and success. Ward is guided by his brother who has faced similar problems within the industry. The Fighter is about brotherhood as Ward’s inspirational story shows his path to victory.
1 The Departed
Plan B Entertainment
The Departed is an epic thriller from the brilliant director Martin Scorsese. The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga, and Wahlberg, who has a great working relationship with Scorsese. The film follows law enforcement agencies looking to take down the Irish Mafia. Wahlberg plays Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam, who plays the middle man between the agencies while also keeping the identities of the undercover agents a secret.
