Andrew Garfield boasts an impressive career showcasing his range through a multitude of roles working alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Garfield expressed an interest in acting from a very young age and made his film debut in 2007 when he starred in Lions for Lambs, alongside Hollywood legends Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Robert Redford. After he began to make an impact on the film industry, it wasn’t long before Garfield found himself in the international spotlight through his role in the 2010 hit The Social Network. Not long after this, his stardom was even further catapulted with his appearance as the new Peter Park in The Amazing Spider-Man, producing several sequels and becoming a box office sensation. By this point, Garfield was a household name and had carved a career which would see him continue to star in some of the most celebrated movies of our generation.
After his portrayal of Spider-Man, Garfield enjoyed a large variety of acting opportunities and began to star in roles which garnered him widespread critical acclaim. His performances in more developed roles like Silence and Hacksaw Ridge saw Garfield gain buzz around Academy Award nominations, eventually resulting in his nomination for Best Actor for Hacksaw Ridge. This buzz has continued throughout his career, producing an array of celebrated movies. Let’s take a look at Andrew Garfield’s best movies.
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6 Under the Silver Lake
Under the Silver Lake was a 2019 black comedy thriller which was written, produced and directed by David Robert Mitchell. Garfield plays the protagonist, Sam, who is investigating the disappearance of his neighbour Sarah (Riley Keough). The movie served as a follow up to Mitchell’s widely popular It Follows, implementing neo-noir techniques to differentiate itself from its predecessor. Under the Silver Lake is highly unique in its artistic choices, making comical references throughout which at some points make the film feel bizarre. This only adds to the unique experience of the film–even at one point referencing Garfield’s previous work in The Amazing Spider-Man–and was a career move he felt was synonymous with him moving on from Spider-Man, representing his own growth as an actor.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Silence
Silence came into existence in 2016 after Scorsese had trying to adapt the Shūsaku Endō novel to the cinema for over 25 years previously. The project has been attached to multiple actors over the years including names such as Daniel-Day Lewis and Benicio del Toro, however the role ultimately went to Garfield, marking his movement into films which would gain him notoriety amongst critics. Garfield portrays Sebastião Rodrigues, who carries an enormous weight on his frail malnourished body throughout the film, grappling with religion and faith under Scorsese’s masterful direction. Garfield would later remark on how it was a ‘gift’ to work on the project, noting Scorsese’s masterful direction and a turning point for his career.
4 The Amazing Spider-Man
Upon its release in 2012, The Amazing Spider-Man saw Garfield propelled into international superstardom. The franchise saw a reboot from the 2002 Spider-Man franchise fronted by Tobey Maguire under Sam Raimi’s direction. The story of Peter Parker is retold by director Marc Webb, which follows Peter’s transition into life as a superhero, with castmates such as Emma Stone, who plays Garfield’s classmate and love interest, Gwen. The film proved to be a huge success and continued the Spider-Man franchise into a new era. Garfield’s performance is endearing as the title character and offers audiences a fresh take on a beloved franchise, making the story feel renewed and providing a pleasurable viewing experience.
3 The Social Network
Before Garfield was projected into the widespread fame he achieved after The Amazing Spider-Man, Garfield achieved his first taste of the international spotlight through his role in the widely successful The Social Network, directed by David Fincher. The film portrays the founding of social networking site Facebook and the many complicated legal proceedings and lawsuits that surrounded it. The film boasts an ensemble cast including Justin Timberlake and Jesse Eisenberg and marked Garfield’s movement into mainstream cinema and stardom. Garfield plays Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s friend and later rival,
Eduardo Saverin and the is even more relevant today given the evolution, devolution and multiple scandals associate with Facebook. Garfield reflected on the unusual directing choices used by Fincher, but acknowledged they were beneficial to the film’s success.
2 Hacksaw Ridge
2016 saw a major turning point for Garfield’s career, and this was largely thanks to his involvement with Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, a dramatization of real events and experiences of Desmond Doss during World War II, who became the first person to receive the medal of honour without ever firing a single gunshot. The film was a box office success and went on to achieve huge critical success, particularly for Garfield. The film received 6 Oscar nominations overall, including Best Actor for Garfield, noting a monumental shift in his career trajectory.
1 Tick, Tick… Boom!
Garfield’s latest project, Tick, Tick… Boom! is directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and marks a drastic shift in Garfield’s versatility as an actor. The musical was highly anticipated with an ensemble cast including Vanessa Hudgens one MJ Rodriguez. The film tells the story of playwright Jonathan Larson, responsible for Rent and, of course, Tick, Tick… Boom. The film is a complete shift from anything Garfield has done before, proving his skill a musical theatre actor in a performance which lights up the screen. Garfield was met with critical appraisal and Oscar buzz which has been generated once again for his performance.
