Mads Mikkelsen has deservedly become the face of contemporary Danish cinema. Initially wanting to pursue a dancing career, Mikkelsen had changed his mind after ten years and decided to enroll at a Theater Academy. Already a prominent figure in Denmark in the late 90s and early 2000s, he started to receive more global recognition after his villainous role in Casino Royale.
What truly made him well-known in the eyes of the general audience are his highly praised performances as Dr Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal, which some say is the best Lecter adaptation, and his role of Kaecilius in Marvel’s Doctor Strange. Now that he’s been cast to replace Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, he has more eyes on him than ever. As we await the release of the third Fantastic Beasts film, here’s a look at Mads Mikkelsen’s best movies, ranked.
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8 A Royal Affair (2012)
If you want to watch Mads Mikkelsen in a period drama, A Royal Affair is the perfect pick for you. And boy did it receive amazing critical responses — deservedly so. This Danish historical drama was nominated for both Academy and Golden Globe Awards for Best Foreign Film in 2013. Mikkelsen plays the role of a physician of King Christian VII of Denmark, who is having an affair with his wife. Mikkelsen’s acting is so tremendous, it makes you wish he’d be cast in more period pieces. If you’re interested in Nordic movies that tackle the 18th century, this is the one for you.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Another Round (2020)
Mikkelsen once again showcases his acting range playing the character of teacher Martin. And honestly, we just need more movies where the Danish actor dances drunkenly. The movie perfectly captures what it feels like to be lost in life, but also tackles the social topic of Scandinavian drinking culture. Another Round secured multiple wins, such as Best International Feature Film, at the 93rd Academy Awards and a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
6 The Green Butchers (2003)
Interestingly, Mikkelsen became familiar with slaughtering people and cannibalism on-screen way before getting cast for the role of Hannibal Lecter. The Green Butchers is a black comedy that follows the story of two friends, Svend and Bjarne, who decide to open their own butchery and somehow get involved in some pretty dark situations. Even by European standards, the movie can get a little weird, but it certainly shows that Mikkelsen is capable of also playing pathetic little men.
5 After the Wedding (2006)
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The real question is: does Mads Mikkelsen have a movie where he plays a happy character? Sometimes, we just want to watch him laugh on screen, but that’s probably too much to ask. There’s no doubt, though, that he perfectly fits these melodramatic characters who fight inner turmoils; just as his character Jacob in After The Wedding, who suddenly finds out he has a daughter and that his ex-wife is dying. And, of course, we can’t miss mentioning the family conflicts and drama mixed into the intriguing plot line.
4 Riders of Justice (2020)
Thanks to this role of Markus in Riders of Justice, Mikkelsen got nominated not once, but twice for a major Danish awards ceremony Zulu, along with his role in Another Round. He plays the character of a soldier who returns home from deployment after finding out his wife was killed in a train crash. When a statistician approaches him and suggests the crash was caused by a violent bike gang, they recruit a group of men to get revenge. There’s a lot of character development before the story truly kicks in, so certainly prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.
3 Men and Chicken (2015)
There’s a high possibility you’re going to ask yourself “What is this movie?” if you’ll ever decide to watch it. The movie takes you on a peculiar journey of a family coming together and trying to accept each other as one. Men and Chicken fully allows you to experience Mikkelsen’s gifted acting skills. As he plays his character of Elias, he blends in with the character so perfectly, you almost forget he stars in the movie. We recommend giving this movie a watch, if you want a good laugh.
2 Casino Royale (2006)
Not only is Mads Mikkelsen part of the Star Wars and Harry Potter franchise, he also secured himself the role of Le Chiffre in the James Bond series. Playing the role of an antagonist banker who finances a world’s terrorist organization has given us the opportunity to see Mikkelsen give his all while torturing James Bond (Daniel Craig). For many, Casino Royale served as a stepping stone to become avid fans of the James Bond franchise and the grossed numbers of $616 million worldwide were the evidence.
1 The Hunt (2012)
Even if you don’t personally like Mikkelsen, you certainly have to compliment his critically acclaimed performance in The Hunt. He plays the character of a teacher called Lucas who gets wrongly accused of sexually assaulting one of his students. It focuses on the mass hysteria that entails, but also at what negligence during childhood does to a child. Even knowing that no child abuse takes place in the movie, it is difficult to watch. The Hunt was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Golden Globe Awards.
